From a martial arts disciple to a god through countless trials and tribulations

Chapter 228 Shangyang vs. Qingqiu

"Long..."

This was an extremely heavy blow. A huge stone tablet formed from the condensed solar immortal energy cleaved the sky, runes flashed, and it slammed Hu Qing, who was at the top-tier cauldron level, into the ground, staining the earth with blood.

The runes on the surface of the stone tablet surged, exuding a vast and majestic aura that gave one a suffocating feeling.

"Woo!"

Hu Qing screamed in agony, countless bones broken, his blue hair stained crimson with blood, severely wounded by a single blow.

He transformed into a six-tailed blue fox the size of a small mountain, struggling to crawl out, but Chen Xuan embraced the dark gold stone tablet, like the Great Sage smashing down his heavenly staff, slamming Hu Qing's body into the ground for the third time.

"Chen Xuan! How dare you lay a hand on Qingqiu? Do you intend to provoke a war between Qingqiu and the Southern Wilderness?" Zhao Shenhu shouted, his calm demeanor vanishing and replaced by a serious expression.

The group of Qingqiu foxes behind him were filled with righteous indignation and were agitated, all glaring angrily at Chen Xuan, who had acted violently.

"Has the Holy Son of the Southern Wilderness gone mad? Stop it immediately!"

"Lord Hu Qing is a top-tier cauldron of the eighth level, yet he allowed Chen Xuan, who had just entered the cauldron, to be swatted like a mosquito and severely injured!"

"No! That's the Doubu secret technique, 'The Great Stele-Smashing Hand Seal'!"

"The secret technique that made Wu Taotie famous is renowned throughout Yunmeng Prefecture. Many powerful cultivators have died because of this technique, and Chen Xuan actually stole it..."

"..."

Some of the younger Taoist foxes, their faces pale, stared blankly at the young human in front of the group of great demons of the Southern Wilderness. This Holy Son Chen Xuan was too fierce and ruthless!

Not only the foxes of Qingqiu were caught off guard by this scene.

Even the great demons of the Southern Wilderness seemed taken aback at this moment.

This is because this group of powerful Qingqiu foxes includes more than forty cauldron demons, which is more than half the number in the Southern Wilderness.

In fact, when Zhao Shenhu besieged the Great Ghost of the Southern Wilderness, although there were sporadic battles, there was not a single large-scale bloody battle, and he maintained a certain degree of rationality and restraint.

While Shan Jun held the White Fox God captive, he also refrained from killing her, leaving her with a final chance.

Because, although the Southern Wilderness is powerful, it is a disorganized mess... Moreover, even if it were to unite, it would still be far inferior in strength to an ancient power like Qingqiu, which has produced many powerful figures in each generation.

After all, the Southern Wilderness is just a major power in Yaoguang Prefecture, but there is a major prefecture in the Southern Region named Qingqiu, and Qingqiu's influence extends to several surrounding prefectures.

But now, Chen Xuan came up without saying a word and directly attacked Hu Qing, who had spoken rudely.

This was undoubtedly a slap in the face to Qingqiu.

"Zhao Shenhu, release the great monster in the southern part of the Southern Wilderness, and then withdraw from Guyao Mountain. Otherwise, let's fight."

Chen Xuan stopped, looked at Zhao Shenhu, and said calmly, "I'll only say this once."

"Ugh..." In the cracked earth, Hu Qing was barely breathing, on the verge of death. If he did not receive treatment, he would die in no time.

Chen Xuan had long disliked this group of foxes. Guyao Mountain was the core territory of the Mountain Spirit Goddess, but these Qingqiu foxes from other places had been swaggering around here for a long time.

Whose territory does the Mountain Spirit Goddess own?

Isn't that Chen Xuan's?
Moreover, these foxes had even plotted to capture Chen Xuan. Although they didn't intend to kill him, their actions were still extremely disgusting.

Furthermore, this group of Qingqiu foxes also captured many large monsters from the southern part of the Southern Wilderness.

Although these great demons did not support Chen Xuan, the demons of the Southern Wilderness had no reason to be bullied by outsiders.

"Buzz!"

The landscape scroll unfolded before Chen Xuan, overflowing with radiance. Blazing balls of fire, like those from a molten furnace, flew out, revealing magnificent yet chilling gauntlets, breastplates, and skirt armor...

Dew-covered armor.

Chen Xuan was putting on his armor in front of all the Qingqiu foxes, and the sweltering heat made the area feel like summer.

After advancing to the next level, he was finally able to fully utilize the divine power of the peerless treasure.

"You..." Upon hearing this and seeing this, Zhao Shenhu's expression changed rapidly, and his charming face showed an extremely embarrassed look.

"Your Highness, the Holy Son, is actually willing to save us." The red bird at Zhao Shenhu's feet, as well as some of the large monsters in the mountains who were kept and played with like livestock, were all stunned, their eyes flashing.

This group of powerful ghosts who followed the mountain spirit into Guyao Mountain was originally numerous, but after a series of tragic events, less than ten remain.

In Zhao Shenhu's view, at Chen Xuan's left foot, the little earth dog, Shan Jun, sat quietly. It was a peak furnace that had stepped into Tao Hongchen, but since Chen Xuan arrived, it had stopped speaking, showing a loyal demeanor driven by Chen Xuan.

To Chen Xuan's right was the renowned Hua Liuli, the two realm masters of Yunmeng. With her ethereal beauty and graceful bearing, she wore a flowing white fairy robe, resembling a flawless goddess descending to earth, her charm captivating.

This is a peak-level Heavenly Fate Cauldron. Now that the Earth element is recovering, her strength is also increasing. Moreover, she is good at gathering crowds for battle, so she is not to be trifled with. Judging from the situation, she is determined to stand on Chen Xuan's side.

Zhao Shenhu felt heavy-hearted, as both of them were no less powerful than him in terms of strength alone.

"Release the White Fox Goddess, and we'll leave Guyao Mountain immediately," Zhao Shenhu said in a deep voice after a moment of silence.

At this moment, he had no choice but to submit to Chen Xuan.

Outside the entrance to Guyao Mountain lies the seemingly perilous Taixu. Zhao Shenhu is confident he can cross it safely, but without the protection of the White Fox God with a divine soul, a large number of other foxes will perish.

Zhao Shenhu still doesn't understand why, when Baicao Zhenjun descended upon Guyao Mountain, he didn't rescue the imprisoned Baihu'er Shen.

Moreover, a full nine days have passed.

But this group of foxes seemed to have been forgotten by True Lord White Grass.

In the Qingqiu Mountains, True Monarch Baicao had always been at odds with True Monarch Zhao, who was recuperating from an injury. Was she really going to sit idly by and watch her juniors suffer because of this power struggle among the upper echelons? Zhao Shenhu was indignant.

"Redeem the White Fox Goddess with something of equal value," Chen Xuan said coldly.

He summoned the Emperor's Banner, and the ten-foot-tall banner pole was planted into the ground. The banner fluttered, and one corner of the banner resembled a giant hand, wrapping around a listless eight-tailed white fox spirit.

"This is impossible!"

Zhao Shenhu's expression changed drastically: "Chen Xuan, your extortion of Qingqiu is going too far. We will never accept such unreasonable and unrealistic demands."

The White Fox God was a nascent divine soul body formed through divine travel, requiring countless rare and precious materials. How could these cauldrons possibly offer items of equal value in exchange? After all, even the two world lords, Hua Liuli, who were "rich enough to rival a state," only possessed a handful of treasures from the mortal realm.

Isn't Chen Xuan being so harsh deliberately making things difficult for the fox?

"You've started learning the second half of the Nine-Tailed True Scripture, the Divine Travel True Scripture, right? In exchange, I'll give you the secret techniques and essentials of the Zhao family of Qingqiu," Chen Xuan said calmly.

"Wishful thinking! The secrets are not to be passed on to outsiders!" Zhao Shenhu resolutely refused.

"Waaah!" the white fox cried out in a continuous shriek, "Little Zhao, say yes, say yes... I can't fall into his hands, I'll really die!"

She was filled with sorrow. Having witnessed the outcome of the negotiations between True Lord Baicao and Emperor Jiang, she knew clearly that True Lord Baicao would not target Chen Xuan. Therefore, falling into Chen Xuan's hands was truly a hopeless situation, with no one to turn to for help.

Moreover, the white fox spirit had been wandering around Guyao Mountain for several years, far from the temple where her body was buried in Qingqiu. She was about to suffer irreversible problems and was about to become a wandering ghost.

Even more serious is...

Chen Xuan used the Emperor's Banner to suppress her, causing her to live in constant fear and torment, her heartstrings nearly breaking.

"I have the Nine-Tailed True Scripture, as well as the secret techniques and essentials of the Bai family. I also know countless secrets. I'll give them all to you. Whatever you want, I'll give it to you." When Bai Hu'er saw Zhao Shenhu refuse, she immediately turned to Chen Xuan and pleaded, her eyes lowered and tears welling up in her eyes.

"You're just a spoils of war. Even if I don't release you, these things are mine anyway." Chen Xuan sneered, "Who gave you permission to interrupt?"

The Emperor's Banner swayed slightly, its surface fluttering, and black smoke and profound energy lashed the restless white fox spirit's delicate body like long black whips.

"Waaah!" White Fox cried out in anguish, her body wracked with pain from the beating, her alluring face contorted with humiliation.

However, she could only submit to Chen Xuan's power. Because Chen Xuan's achievements in the Divine Soul realm were no less than hers, a young and newly promoted Divine Traveler. Even if she fought desperately, she would ultimately be suppressed by Chen Xuan's overwhelming power.

"Aunt Bai! Chen Xuan, how dare you treat the White Fox Goddess like this!"

Zhao Shenhu's eyes widened in fury, and a fierce glint appeared on his otherwise effeminate face as he said in a stern voice:
"Stop! Chen Xuan, I'm giving you face because you are the Holy Son of the Southern Wilderness. If I didn't, you would be a lowly heir of a second-rate power, of low status. How dare you insult Qingqiu? You are not qualified, and neither is Xinzhai!"

Although the True Lord of the Bai family is indifferent.

However, the White Fox God is a kind-hearted spirit who is willing to mentor the younger generation. He is even willing to use the "Classic of Mountains and Seas: Qingqiu" to lead these younger generations into Guyao Mountain to seek great opportunities...

Although it ultimately led them into danger, the White Fox Goddess's initial intentions were good. She had a good reputation and was deeply loved and respected by the younger generation of foxes in Qingqiu.

But what is Chen Xuan doing right now?
In front of them, the white fox spirit was whipped severely. This scene was unacceptable to all the foxes of Qingqiu, who felt deeply angry and humiliated.

"If we can't redeem the White Fox Goddess, she'll stay in the Southern Wilderness and become a second-rate servant to me, serving tea and water in the future," Chen Xuan said casually, opening his arms as the scarlet dew-covered arm armor fell down, the buckles closing with a crisp metallic sound.

"Woof!" The little mountain dog grinned, its face full of approval: "Let's do it this way!"

"You!" At this moment, Zhao Shenhu was completely enraged. Having had enough of the suppression he had endured for so long, he screamed sharply:
"Chen Xuan, once you leave Guyao Mountain, you won't even have the right to stand shoulder to shoulder with us. You'll only be able to humbly look up at Qingqiu from the shadows!"

"Yes, what is the Southern Wilderness Holy Son compared to a behemoth like Qingqiu? Even the Mountain Spirit Goddess is no match for him." Some fox-like creatures whispered among themselves, equally enraged. The Mountain Spirit Goddess is a True Lord, a formidable being.

However, Qingqiu was a top-tier power during the Mountain and Sea Era. Throughout the entire Immortal and Ghost Era, Qingqiu has produced at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, True Monarchs!
Chen Xuan has the protection of the Mountain Spirit Goddess? But Zhao Shenhu is still the youngest son of the True Lord of Qingqiu, with whom he has a closer relationship!

Could the Qingnang Daoist Temple have been resurrected from the dead?
Qingqiu was able to nearly wipe out the lineage of Qingnang Daoist Temple during its most glorious era, and even caused Taixuan to perish. Why would they fear the resurgence of Qingnang Daoist Temple?
If pushed too far, it's not impossible that another war between humans and demons could break out across the entire Southern Region!

"Long!"

Zhao Shenhu's aura surged, and a fierce wind swept through the air. Behind him, a huge eight-tailed celestial fox phantom appeared in the sky, its eyes as red as blood and its expression fierce and sinister.

"Everyone, don't be impulsive!" Bai Hu'er was extremely anxious. She didn't care that Chen Xuan would whip her anymore. She pleaded with a sob, "If True Lord Baicao agrees to a ceasefire, then all of you foxes will die in vain. Qingqiu will not seek revenge!"

She knew all too well that Emperor Jiang had persuaded True Lord Bai Cao, and True Lord Bai Cao was a man of his word, rarely going back on his promises.

Furthermore, True Lords often live for thousands of years, and the lifespan of demon True Lords is even longer than that of humans. True Lord White Grass has witnessed the life and death of hundreds of generations of foxes, so she wouldn't care about this generation of foxes at all...

If they care, True Lord Baicao will take them with him on his way nine days ago!

Chen Xuan knew this reason, and therefore would not let Zhao Shenhu and his group of foxes who had made mistakes get away with it.

“This…” Zhao Shenhu was slightly lost in thought upon hearing Bai Hu’er’s advice.

"boom!"

The next moment, a terrifying battle erupted in an instant.

"I'll give you a way out, but you're determined to seek your own death. I'll grant your wish." The moment Chen Xuan donned the Morning Dew Armor, he drew the pale blue-white Awakening Insect Immortal Sword in his right hand, which transformed into a scarlet flame and attacked.

A blinding line of fire streaked across the sky, the brilliant True Martial Sword Intent illuminating the heavens, and a fierce aura soared into the sky!

"I'll take you all to mine!" Hua Liuli shouted softly, while activating her Heavenly Mandate power to summon the Cauldron's subordinates, and closely following behind Chen Xuan, launching a powerful attack together.

At first, Qingqiu Fox only wanted to capture Chen Xuan to force the Mountain Lord, but as for her companion, it was clear that they wanted her dead!

At this moment, she was overjoyed that Chen Xuan was going to cause trouble for these foxes.

"Roar! Kill!" The little earth dog roared, took a step forward, and transformed into a tiger-shaped giant with a height of a thousand feet. Its body was broad and its fists were like those forged from metal, unleashing a shocking fist light.

It knew Chen Xuan's temperament well; Chen Xuan would either not come at all, but since he did come, he would definitely do something!

Therefore, the moment Chen Xuan arrived, the mountain king had already gathered its strength and responded to Chen Xuan's actions in an instant.

"Roar!" Upon seeing this, the twenty or thirty mountain demons behind them immediately burst into laughter, baring their fangs. Terrifying energy fluctuations emerged like volcanoes, shaking the mountains and rivers. Various immortal radiances illuminated the land for hundreds of miles around.

These mountain spirits, having been surrounded by the Qingqiu foxes for too long, were already fierce and tyrannical, and their hearts were filled with boundless rage.

Chen Xuan has such a stubborn temper; he attacked the Qingqiu Foxes as soon as he arrived. How could they not follow him? They would be happy to die in battle for him!
"You are deliberately looking for trouble, you are barbaric!"

Zhao Shenhu's eyes blazed with fury, and at that moment, he felt a similar thought to that of the White Fox God. These people and ghosts from the remote countryside were utterly despicable, their behavior as fickle as turning the pages of a book.

"Zheng!"

Before Chen Xuan's scarlet figure arrived, a True Martial Sword Qi that split the heavens and earth descended like a snow-white river.

But Zhao Shenhu, as expected of a top-tier demon in the Southern Region, immediately launched a counterattack after a moment of surprise. He slapped his palm forward, and five golden claw lights tore through the sky, blocking the falling True Martial Sword Qi.

"boom!"

The attack collided, and surging energy ripples spread out in concentric circles, snapping ancient trees along the way and disintegrating into fragments.

Zhao Shenhu's expression changed slightly, and a deep, bone-revealing bloodstain appeared on his palm. Although he had forced a secret technique into his hasty counterattack, he still suffered some injuries under Chen Xuan's supreme sword light.

"A mere novice in the Xinzhai realm, having only defeated the physical body of the Martial Glutton, knows no bounds. I am a name on the list of demon immortals!"

Zhao Shenhu said coldly, his evil figure rising from the ground, the wind and clouds changing color. He was like a divine wind, rushing towards Chen Xuan at lightning speed.

"Just ranked last in the list of demon gods, and you have the nerve to brag about it everywhere? Is it some kind of honor?" Chen Xuan laughed. He had been communicating with Hua Liuli a lot recently and already knew the identities of this group of Qingqiu foxes.

"Defeating you is enough!" Zhao Shenhu roared. At the same time, he thought to himself, "Whether I seize the opportunity to snatch the White Fox Goddess from Chen Xuan, or continue fighting, or choose to retreat, I will have the initiative."

The legendary Shinzai, who only kills and never saves, is certainly terrifying, possessing a legendary mythical quality.

But how bad could someone like him, who could be listed in the pantheon of immortals, be, even if he was the last one?

Those whose names are recorded in the Register of Immortals are either born with immortality, or are destined by heaven, or are other exceptional individuals who are the most outstanding talents in the world.

Each one is just as good as Xinzhai!
Zhao Shenhu had great confidence in his own strength. Although Chen Xuan was incredibly powerful, he was a peak-level furnace of the Ninth Heaven, a difference of eight levels, which could erase any disadvantage.

"boom!"

A terrifying melee erupted at that moment.

The other Qingqiu foxes realized what was happening one after another, and the great demons of the cauldrons immediately followed Zhao Shenhu and engaged in battle, searching for suitable opponents for themselves.

Meanwhile, the Taoist foxes scattered and fled, frantically trying to escape the chaotic battle of this level of cauldron.

"call!"

Zhao Shenhu's body radiated celestial light, and the wind energy, along with the nine-tailed energy recorded in the "Nine-Tailed True Scripture," permeated the heavens and earth, stirring up twelve tornadoes that pierced through the heavens and earth. Each wisp of wind possessed a sharpness comparable to a peerless treasure.

At the same time, he formed a profound hand seal and commanded the wind energy. The gale in the twelve tornado storm instantly transformed into thousands of agile fox phantoms, which rode the wind and rushed towards Chen Xuan like a blot out the sky.

"Your Highness Zhao has mastered the 'Fox Taming Technique' of Qingqiu to perfection, and can almost cast it instantly!" some foxes exclaimed. This was an extremely powerful secret technique, which Zhao the Divine Fox was now swiftly unleashing.

It should be noted that only ordinary powerful cultivators are qualified to cultivate secret techniques, and even then, it takes some time to activate them.

But now, Zhao Shenhu has instantly unleashed it... After Chen Xuan entered the cauldron, his strength increased significantly, and he was also able to do this.

Furthermore, Chen Xuan could not only use secret techniques, but also instantly cast the more advanced and incomplete [True Martial Seven-Section Sword - True Martial Secret Technique].

"Zheng!"

Chen Xuan, clad in the magnificent Morning Dew Armor, wielded the Jingzhe Sword with unstoppable slashing, unleashing beams of True Martial Sword Light that swept across the sky like crescent moons, cutting through everything in their path and clearing away the fox phantoms and sharp gales along the way.

Although the incomplete True Martial Secret Technique's sword move is not as powerful as the Shangyang Secret Technique or the Xingtian Secret Technique, its power far surpasses that of ordinary secret techniques.

In the blink of an eye, Chen Xuan unleashed over a dozen sword strikes, clearing a windless path through the air and directly breaking through Zhao Shenhu's secret technique.

He rapidly closed the distance between himself and Zhao Shenhu.

Once you get close, the power of the Five Hidden Martial Immortal Body - Shangyang Secret Technique in close combat will be fully revealed, and even Zhao Shenhu, who is listed in the Immortal Register, will not be able to gain the slightest advantage.

"clang!"

Just then, Zhao Shenhu's eight tails swayed in unison, creating a great gust of wind and radiating boundless immortal light, exuding a sharp and cold aura. Countless faint golden rays flashed and disappeared in the air.

"Hmm?" Chen Xuan's heart skipped a beat, and his figure suddenly stopped. He hovered in the air hundreds of meters away from Zhao Shenhu, his eyebrows furrowed.

In an instant, a vast net of heaven and earth appeared before his eyes. The power of the wind flowed and condensed into countless golden, hard threads, thinner than a hair, blocking the way and covering half the sky.

If Chen Xuan hadn't sensed something was wrong and stopped, but instead continued his rapid charge, he might have been cut into dozens of pieces of flesh by those tough threads.

"boom!"

Zhao Shenhu flicked his finger, and a thread of wind snapped, like a powerful fishhook thrown out, hurtling towards Chen Xuan.

The golden thread flowed with an invisible radiance of immortal energy, dazzlingly brilliant, seemingly separating the mortal world from the Great Void.

Many foxes were shaken. Hua Liuli was fighting against a top-tier cultivation vessel, and at this moment, her pupils also contracted.

This is a secret technique for becoming an immortal!
"【Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox Gu Wind Trace - Qingqiu Secret】! Great, we're saved." Some foxes knew that this was a technique passed down in Qingqiu, a method for ascending to immortality.

It's powerful enough to cut through even a defensive, top-tier magical artifact, let alone a human body.

Legend has it that once this secret technique is mastered, one can even use the power of a gale to cleave open a passage to the Great Ruins... Zhao Shenhu is also a heroic fox who has cultivated this secret technique.

"The Qingqiu Secret Manual, known as the Saint of the Wind, possesses destructive power comparable to the offensive secret manuals passed down by sword immortals, and its strength is no less than your Five Treasures Martial Immortal Body!"

Zhao Shenhu's cold voice continued: "If you know what's good for you, release the White Fox God, and I will let your reckless behavior go unpunished."

"Don't speak." Chen Xuan discerned Zhao Shenhu's secrets of Qingqiu.

He stood in mid-air, his Jingzhe Sword unleashing a dazzling, snow-white sword light. As he weighed the power of this thread of wind, flames soared into the sky, the heavens roared, waters overflowed, and the five elements of divine light surged wildly, as if the world was about to descend into chaos.

"Hmph! Once the secret of Qingqiu is revealed, all laws will be broken. This is the supreme divine power that the immortals of Qingqiu have continuously improved over the generations!" Zhao Shenhu sneered, and eight streams of energy shot out from his tail, like eight transparent stars, leaving countless wind streaks and threads, tearing open the sky and strangling towards Chen Xuan.

"Swipe!"

Chen Xuan's face was ashen, and the True Martial Sword Intent surged within the Jingzhe Sword in his hand, unleashing eight unstoppable sword lights to block the incoming attack.

The divine light emanating from his body became even more terrifying. The five elements circulated, with birth, death, flourishing, and reincarnation taking place. The divine light of his Five Treasures Martial Immortal Body was like a five-colored sun, illuminating the entire sky.

(End of this chapter)