Daqin Zhentiansi

The soul and thoughts invaded by Yin Xiaozi instantly felt an unimaginable burning heat and an unparalleled torment of being slowly sliced ​​by ten thousand swords!
That was not physical burning and cutting, but a conceptual one—"annihilation"!
"Uhhhhhhhh-!"

Yin Xiaozi let out a miserable howl that far exceeded the pain of his own body.

His soul was as if it had been thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil in purgatory, convulsing and twisting violently!

He felt his original demonic thoughts being devoured, torn apart, and purified by this overwhelming sword intent galaxy!
Furthermore, an irresistible torrent of will, as heavy and majestic as the heavens and the earth, surged in the opposite direction along the connection of demonic energy!

跪！
surrender!

surrender!

跪！
This will is simple, brutal, and direct, devoid of any skill; it is purely a crushing force and an absolute superiority in rank!

Like a giant elephant trampling down on a crawling ant!
Yin Xiaozi's thoughts of resistance were laughably fragile in the face of that will.

His thinking was forcibly twisted, and the ferocity and arrogance deep within his soul were instantly erased, leaving only boundless fear and absolute awe derived from the level of life itself.

"thump!"

Under Cheng Yue's incredulous gaze.

The withered, ruthless, and enigmatic elder-level demon of Zhao Zhou's Dark Palace—Poisonous Hand Yin Xiaozi—suddenly collapsed to his knees, kneeling heavily on the rusty ground several feet in front of Zhang Yuan!

His demonic energy dissipated, his emaciated body trembled violently, his head was buried deep, his forehead pressed against the cold, hard black stone ground, and he uttered a weak and humble plea:

"Master...Master...Yin Xiaozi...I know my sins...I beg you...to spare my life..."

His words were broken and intermittent, each one brimming with fear and utter submission, devoid of any semblance of the majesty of a demonic leader.

Zhang Yuan looked down at the lowly demonic cultivator beneath his feet with indifferent eyes: "Get up. From this moment on, your life no longer belongs to yourself."

"Yes...yes! Thank you for your mercy, Master!" Yin Xiaozi was as if he had been granted a pardon. His voice trembled as he struggled to his feet and stood respectfully beside Zhang Yuan with his hands at his sides.

Just then, as Yin Xiaozi knelt in submission, a strange gray light flashed and disappeared between his brows.

The light transformed into an ancient and profound rune, resembling the tip of a broken sword, which fell into Zhang Yuan's hand and formed a subtle connection with his sea of ​​consciousness.

Sword Slave Brand!

Yin Xiaozi painstakingly seized control of the hundreds of sword slaves at the core of this place, gaining ownership and control over them!

Zhang Yuan's mind stirred slightly.

The hundreds of sword slaves in the core area, who had been corrupted by demons and radiated a fierce, dark green glow, had their eerie light in their eyes dimmed, becoming more restrained and cold. They were arranged in several columns, like the most loyal army, silently following behind Yin Xiaozi.

Yin Xiaozi immediately took out a small banner covered with cracks and emitting ancient spatial fluctuations. With a gentle wave, hundreds of powerful sword slaves instantly turned into streams of light and were absorbed into the banner.

This item is called the "Ten Thousand Fiends Gathering Soul Banner." It was originally a magical treasure used by Yin Xiaozi to collect vengeful spirits and evil energy, but now it has become a container for storing this steel army.

Zhang Yuan had a clear grasp of everything about these hundreds of sword slaves in his mind.

Cheng Yue watched this scene, his heart surging with emotion, and remained silent for a long time.

Brother Zhang not only crushed his powerful enemies with absolute strength, but also subdued the infamous demon, and even took over the Rusty Sea Core Sword Slave Legion that the demon had painstakingly seized!
Such manipulative and unpredictable methods are both awe-inspiring and captivating.

Zhang Yuan put away the brand, glanced at the Rusty Sea Plain, which was now even more empty and silent, with only countless ownerless sword slaves remaining on the outer perimeter, and put away Yuan Yue: "Let's go."

The three of them left the metal graveyard without lingering and headed towards the entrance leading from the first level to the second.

……

The end of the first level.

An ancient altar made of deep purple jade stands majestically.

In front of the altar was a huge portal that emitted distorted spatial fluctuations, like a deep abyss vortex. That was the entrance to the second level of the Sword Tomb—"Azure Cold Pool".

At this moment, the atmosphere around the altar was tense.

Several handsome young men and women, dressed in luxurious clothes and surrounded by a faint aura of immortality, blocked the way with unfriendly expressions.

Their clothing was embroidered with the emblems of top immortal sects such as Taixu Sword Pavilion and Qingxu Temple, and their eyes were as sharp as hawks as they scrutinized the approaching trio of Zhang Yuan.

One of the young men, dressed in a robe with cloud patterns and exuding a sharp and imposing aura, glanced at Zhang Yuan, whose aura was deep and composed, and then at Cheng Yue, whose temperament was upright and honest.

Finally, his gaze fixed on Yin Xiaozi, who was wearing a dark green cloak and whose demonic energy, though subdued, still exuded a chilling aura. His face was instantly filled with undisguised contempt and anger.

"Who are you?!" The young man from the Taixu Sword Pavilion shouted sternly, his jade-white spirit sword humming and trembling as he pointed it at Zhang Yuan and his group.

"Hmph! Who would have thought that a fellow Daoist would so degenerate as to collude with this wicked brat from Zhao Zhou!"

"You have truly defiled our sacred place of cultivation! Could it be that this demon has used evil magic to bewitch and control you two?!"

A young female Taoist priest from Qingxu Temple beside him also raised her eyebrows and shouted, "Hand over the demon behind you at once!"

"Otherwise, don't blame us for acting on behalf of Heaven, eliminating this scourge for Yangtianzhou, and severing this filthy demonic bond between you two!"

The aura of the group surged, and their chilling sword intent and Daoist spiritual light locked onto the three, revealing their killing intent.

A fierce glint flashed in Yin Xiaozi's eyes. As an elder of the Dark Palace, how could he have ever been questioned to his face by such a junior?

His body was enveloped in a dark green aura that seemed to be stirring, and his cultivation at the third level of the Grandmaster Realm was slowly gathering.

Cheng Yue's expression also darkened, his hand pressed on the hilt of his sword, and his aura instantly became as heavy as a rock.

Zhang Yuan remained expressionless, not even glancing at the few immortal elites, and walked straight towards the abyss-like entrance without pausing.

His disregard instantly ignited the anger of those people!

"Arrogant fool! Stubborn and unyielding! Then experience the methods of our immortal sect!" The young man from Taixu Sword Pavilion was furious, feeling that his dignity had been greatly challenged.

He let out a sharp cry, his body moving with his sword. A fierce white sword aura, as sharp as if splitting the heavens and earth, suddenly burst out, tearing through space and slashing straight at Zhang Yuan!

Wherever the sword light pointed, the space of the Purple Jade Altar froze!

Yuxu.

As expected of an elite from a major sect in Yangtian Continent, he displayed the strength of a Grandmaster at the third level with his first move.

Just as that earth-shattering sword energy was about to strike Zhang Yuan's head!

"stop!!!"

A powerful and majestic divine shout, like thunder, suddenly rang out from the other side of the vortex portal!
At the same time, a golden sword light, faster and more refined than the white sword aura, seemingly formed from the force of a rushing river, struck the side of the white sword aura with unparalleled precision, like a dam cutting across a river!
"boom--!!!!"

A deafening roar erupted above the altar!
A dazzling shower of energy light burst forth, so bright it was blinding!
A violent gust of air swept past, causing the previously aggressive young cultivators to lose their footing and stagger back several steps, staring in horror at the dissipating energy storm in the sky.

As the sword light dissipated, a resolute-faced, imposing man in a golden sword robe suddenly appeared at the edge of the distorted spatial vortex, shielding Zhang Yuan behind him.

He exuded the aura of a grandmaster, as deep and unfathomable as a prison, and the golden broadsword in his hand was still trembling slightly.

It was none other than Yuwen Zhen of the Cloud Blazing Sword Sect, who had stood shoulder to shoulder with Zhang Yuan in the Blood Sea and witnessed his divine might!
"Senior Brother Yuwen?!" The young man from Taixu Sword Pavilion exclaimed in surprise when he saw the newcomer's face, his face filled with disbelief.

Yuwen Zhen is a rare prodigy among the younger generation in Yangtianzhou.

Even if the disciples of Taixu Sword Pavilion had never seen him in person, most of them had seen his figure and images.

Yuwen Zhen's gaze swept over the horrified group, especially the young man from the Taixu sect who had made the move. His voice was as cold and deep as ancient ice, carrying an undeniable authority:
"Insolence! You few dare to draw your swords against him?!"

"If you do not wish to suffer the same fate as the Xuan Tie Devouring Rock Beast and the Star Sword Formation in front of Senior Brother Zhang Qingyang, apologize immediately! And then—get out!"

Who?
Zhang Qingyang?
"Zhang... Zhang Qingyang?!"

"The top of the Blood Sea Ranking?! Zhang Qingyang, who slew the Blood Sea Demon?!" "He is... Zhang Qingyang?!"

Yuwen Zhen's words struck the hearts of several elite cultivators like a thunderclap.

The previous resentment and arrogance were instantly overwhelmed by an even greater fear!

Their gazes toward Zhang Yuan were filled with shock and disbelief, as they recalled the rumors of rampant slaughter in the sea of ​​blood...

A chill instantly shot up my spine and straight to the top of my head!

Under Yuwen Zhen's icy gaze, the young men and women turned pale and their lips trembled.

They dared not utter another word, nor even look directly at Zhang Yuan's back. They hastily bowed towards the vortex portal, whether as a sign of respect or reverence was unclear.

Then, in a disheveled state, he turned his sword around and fled into the distance like a stray dog, disappearing instantly into the mist of the first level, fearing that if he stayed any longer, he would suffer the same fate.

Yuwen Zhen then turned around to face Zhang Yuan, his face now filled with extremely solemn respect, even with a hint of barely perceptible excitement and fervor.

He clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhang Yuan, looked up and said, "Senior Brother Zhang! I am here to receive fellow disciples on the orders of the sect, but I did not expect to encounter a few ignorant people who have offended you. Senior Brother, please!"

Zhang Yuan glanced at Yuwen Zhen, nodded slightly, and clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Brother Yuwen, please."

With one step, the abyss vortex swallowed the light, and the cold, oppressive feeling of space receded like a tide.

Zhang Yuan and Cheng Yue appeared in a completely different world.

The second level of the Sword Tomb.

A deep, cold pool.

Entering this place is like stepping into an enormous, liquid jade cave.

As far as the eye can see, there is only deep, tranquil, crystal-clear blue water, the surface of which is vast and boundless, like a frozen sea.

The dome is a huge ice ridge that has been hanging for thousands of years, refracting faint light from an unknown source, making the entire space look bizarre and wonderful.

The biting chill was not just cold; it also carried a strange power that could freeze one's true essence, seeping into the bone marrow.

The air was filled with a rich, watery aura, but mixed with an inescapable smell of blood and rust, the source of which was the seemingly calm water ahead.

Danger is imminent!

"Woo-wooo!!!"

A sharp, piercing roar shattered the silence without warning!

The once smooth, mirror-like surface of the water suddenly burst into countless huge splashes!
More than a dozen ferocious-looking monsters leaped out of the water!

They resemble tigers in shape, but are covered in dark green scales, and their huge mouths have protruding fangs like serrated guillotines.

Most terrifying of all is its back, where thick bony fins, as thick as an adult's arm and with edges as sharp as divine weapons, stand tall, gleaming with a cold, piercing metallic luster under the dim light of the cold pool!
It was the ferocious beast that struck fear into the hearts of everyone on the second floor of the Sword Tomb—the saber-toothed tiger shark!

At this moment, their eyes were bloodshot, and their frenzied, bloodthirsty aura locked onto Zhang Yuan and his two companions who had just broken in!

"It's a group of saber-toothed tiger sharks!" Cheng Yue's pupils shrank, but his reaction was extremely fast.

He stepped forward, blocking Zhang Yuan's flank, and the ancient gray cloth longsword behind him appeared in response!

"Clumsy Sword - Breaking the Mountain!"

There was no dazzling sword light, only the ancient sword body bearing immense pressure as it cleaved down!

Wherever the sword wind passed, the air emitted a muffled boom.

A massive gray sword aura phantom instantly materialized, crashing down like a collapsing mountain towards the two tiger sharks charging at the forefront!
"boom!"

The water surged up like a wall!

Two ferocious tiger sharks were sent flying into the water by this brutal sword strike.

The hard scales cracked and dented, and one of the dorsal fins was even grazed by the edge of the sword energy, making a teeth-grinding snapping sound!
With a flick of his wrist, Cheng Yue transformed the gray cloth longsword in his hand into a solid, imposing barrier.

Each parry was incredibly precise, deflecting the gaping maws that lunged at them or the menacing bony fins that slashed at them.

The sword's edge vibrated, producing a clanging sound like metal striking metal.

His steps were deliberate, as if rooted to a giant rock.

Although each block caused a slight surge of qi and blood, he firmly held his ground, demonstrating the profound strength of Zhao Zhou's sword cultivation.

Just as Cheng Yue was locked in a fierce battle with several tiger sharks, a violent conflict also broke out in the cold pool on the other side.

"Quick! Form the 'Flying Star Chain Array' to trap it!"

"It's injured! Attack its eyes and the soft scales on its belly!"

"Watch out for its dorsal fin attack!"

Seven or eight cultivators dressed in the robes of different sects were surrounding a lone tiger shark.

Judging from their attire, there were disciples from medium-sized sects in Yangtianzhou, such as the Liuyun Sect and the Iron Fist Sect, and even two rogue cultivators.

Their swords flashed and talismans clashed, and their teamwork was quite good, but they seemed to be struggling against the tiger shark, which had a strong defense and was extremely ferocious.

A disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sect narrowly avoided the sweeping bone fin, and seized the opportunity to thrust out his longsword, gathering all his true essence to slash a gash in the tiger shark's belly, from which foul-smelling beast blood gushed forth.

"Good opportunity!" another burly man from the Iron Fist Sect roared, his fists covered with metal gauntlets, creating a gust of wind as he slammed them hard into the tiger shark's head.

The tiger shark roared in pain, its movements slowing slightly.

"Zheng!"

A clear, melodious sword cry rang out from a sharp-eyed rogue cultivator at the rear of the group.

His slender sword transformed into a streak of light, seizing the opportune moment to pierce the tiger shark's relatively vulnerable eyelid with unparalleled precision!
"Ouch——!"

The tiger shark let out a dying scream, its massive body thrashing and struggling violently.

"Now! Cut off its dorsal fin!"

The leading disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sect was filled with excitement and greed.

Several attacks were instantly unleashed at the base of the dorsal fin, which stood as tall as a sword.

After a series of violent slashes and an energy burst, a crisp sound rang out as the thickest, silver-gray bone fin was severed!

"It's done! Haha! I got it! The top-grade spiritual material 'Frosty Abyss Sword Bone'!"

The Flowing Cloud Sect disciple carefully put the slime-covered bone fin into his storage ring, his face filled with ecstatic joy, as if he had obtained a priceless treasure.

The other companions also breathed a sigh of relief, their faces showing envy and the joy of their achievement.

For them, this top-grade spiritual material was a treasure that could not be obtained outside the Sword Tomb.

Such an opportunity can only be found in the Sword Tomb.

Just as the Liuyun Sect members were rejoicing over their acquisition of a dorsal fin, a calm yet sharp voice rang out:
"You all have worked hard to clean house."

A streak of moon-white light appeared in an instant from the distant mist.

The light streaked so fast that it left only a lingering afterimage in one's field of vision. (End of Chapter)