Daqin Zhentiansi

No longer just pure heaviness, this time the sword's edge was entwined with a chilling, soul-corroding aura.

It was from the fight against the crows that I had just learned the application of some of the cold poison soul power!
Before the sword even arrived, the chilling will that could freeze the soul caused the light in the core golden man's scarlet "pupils" to flicker slightly!
"Clang—Sizzle!!!"

The clang of metal against metal was accompanied by a piercing cutting sound!
The indestructible golden body was actually cleaved open by the heavy sword forged in the Chaos Furnace, and the strange cold poison attached to it interfered with the core energy.
Its breastplate shattered, revealing a complex array of gears and a fist-sized core radiating intense golden light!
Zhang Yuan extended his left palm, and a giant hand formed from chaotic true essence instantly grabbed it!

"Click!"

A crisp cracking sound!

That fiery core was crushed!
The towering body of the core golden figure suddenly stiffened, its crimson eyes went out, and it instantly lost all power, collapsing like a golden mountain!

With the paralysis of the core golden figure, the entire bronze figure formation suddenly stopped moving!
Cheng Yue's pressure was greatly reduced, and Xuan Chengzi's Xuan light shone brightly, instantly binding several golden figures!
Yin Xiaozi seized the opportunity and controlled the sword slave to launch a fierce attack on the golden man's joints.

Zhang Yuan was like a tiger among sheep, his Yuanyue Heavy Sword slashing and smashing, specifically targeting the joints.

Without a central coordinator, the remaining Golden Warriors fought independently, greatly reducing their power.

Under Zhang Yuan's overwhelming power, and with the support and restraint of Cheng Yue and Xuan Chengzi, the remaining eleven golden figures had their core joints shattered one by one, collapsing to the ground and turning into piles of lifeless metal debris.

The fierce battle ended, leaving only heavy breathing and the crackling of metal cooling in the lava canyon.

Yin Xiaozi greedily searched through the remains of the bronze figures and, sure enough, found three pieces of 'Refined Blazing Sun Gold' inside a golden figure. These pieces contained blazing golden energy and were extremely effective in strengthening fire-type magic weapons. He treasured them and put them away.

Inside the shattered chest cavity of the core golden man, Xuan Chengzi found a well-preserved dark gold metal plate, along with a pile of scrapped parts. The plate was covered with runes in extremely ancient script.

After examining it carefully, a look of surprise appeared in his eyes: "This is a fragment of a scroll, the 'Soul-Forging Sword Manual'!"

"It seems to be an ancient secret method that uses divine weapons as a guide to draw upon the evil energy of Geng metal to forge the sword's soul and nourish the spirit. It can perfectly complement and confirm the sword soul stone I obtained."

He carefully put the metal plate away.

Cheng Yue stood leaning on his sword, his breathing unsteady, but his eyes gleamed with a sharp light.

The extreme battle where he forcibly drew upon the earth's energy to collide with the magic-breaking Jin man deepened his understanding of the "clumsy sword".

In particular, his technique of breaking through with a single point and unleashing tremendous power seemed to open a new window for his profound swordsmanship.

He comprehended the laws of power and destruction, sensing the transformation that was taking place.

Zhang Yuan's target was a recess above the massive head of the fallen golden core, which was being tightly protected by its giant hand.

A long sword was stuck in the groove!
This sword has an ancient and slender shape, with a deep indigo blue blade that seems to be forged from black iron tempered by a ten-thousand-year-old cold spring, exuding a more pure and ghostly chill than the Soul-Devouring Crow.

At the hilt of the sword, a pearl the size of a dragon's eye, with what appeared to be black flames leaping within, was inlaid.

The Nether Spring Sword!
Zhang Yuan reached out and drew his sword.

A chilling yet powerful force, imbued with the essence of the soul, surged into his body in an instant, seemingly about to freeze his meridians and soul!

But the Chaos Furnace roared, like a giant beast awakening, and instantly devoured and melted the foreign chill!
Sensing danger, the Netherfire Pearl throbbed violently with black flames, as if trying to resist, but was firmly suppressed and subdued by the oppressive power of the Chaos Furnace.

After trembling violently in Zhang Yuan's hand for a few breaths, the Youquan Sword gradually calmed down, and the eerie light on the sword became gentle and restrained, as if it had been given a new life form.

He silently experienced the power of the Nether Spring Sword and the method that Xuan Chengzi called the "Soul-Forging Sword Manual".

"The chill of the deep spring, the fire of soul refining, the solidity of Geng metal..."

In Zhang Yuan's sea of ​​consciousness, the illusory image of the Chaos Sword became slightly clearer.

The Yin-cold soul attribute of the Nether Spring Sword, the flame power of the Netherfire Pearl that tempers the soul, and the sharp killing quality of the Bronze Man and Golden Fiend were all stripped of their most primordial Dao pattern fragments by the Chaos Furnace and integrated into his own "True Domain".

He felt that his chaotic true essence had become thicker and purer, its all-encompassing nature had become more profound, and his understanding of attack and defense at the soul level had also leaped to a new level.

This force seemed to create a strange and dangerous clash with the struggling, fiery sword in the senses, deepening the connection between them.

“The Sword Tomb is getting increasingly strange,” Xuan Chengzi said with a solemn expression, putting away the remnant of the Soul-Forging Sword Scroll. “First, the sword monument was tainted by the Calamity Fire, crows are rampant here, and the Golden Man of Destruction has appeared in the world. These are definitely not ordinary disturbances.”

"The restlessness of that fiery sword and the endless strange occurrences in this place are subtly connected."

Cheng Yue calmed his breathing and said in a deep voice, "That's right. The Soul-Devouring Cold Crow and the Fiery Prison are naturally incompatible, yet they have been able to occupy this place and form a large scale. There must be a powerful external force supporting them."

"And that array of mechanical bronze figures seems more like some kind of protective force that was activated in advance."

Yin Xiaozi was also sensing the faint guidance of the raven's essence that he had just analyzed within his body, pointing to a place where coldness and heat met in the depths of the lava river, but he just silently memorized it.

Zhang Yuan remained silent, slowly returning the Youquan Sword to the depths of the Chaos Furnace space for gentle tempering and refinement.

He closed his eyes for a moment, and his divine senses, which had become more acute after merging with the power of the Nether Spring, spread out like invisible tentacles.

Deep within the earth's veins, the struggles and roars of the Calamity Fire Sword became even clearer, like the beating of a drum, causing the spatial laws of the Melting Heart Prison to subtly distort.

Deeper still, countless ancient and ferocious sword intents seemed to awaken primordial beasts, exhaling a destructive aura within the earth's core.

One of the chilling wills, carrying an endless aura of slaughter and seemingly forged from bones, particularly made his heart tremble slightly.

He opened his eyes, his gaze seemingly piercing through the endless lava and sulfurous smoke, looking towards the entrance to the fourth level.

"Let's go. The changes here are just the beginning." Zhang Yuan's voice was deep and firm.

"The deeper storm has only just begun. That bone sword... is quite interesting."

He only mentioned his impression of the "bone sword" from that single glimpse.

He then took the lead, stepping over the remains of the golden golem, followed closely by Cheng Yue, Xuan Chengzi, and Yin Xiaozi, their figures once again disappearing into the churning heat of the lava hell and the increasingly dangerous unknown.

Their gains were considerable, but the terrifying entity at the core of the Sword Tomb was slowly baring its fangs.

----------------

The edge of a lava lake.

On a huge obsidian platform that had been burned to a dark brown color, Zhang Yuan sat cross-legged.

The Yuanyue Heavy Sword was stuck diagonally in the hard, iron-like lava ground beside him. The sword absorbed the omnipresent fiery energy of the Molten Heart Hell, emitting a low, breathing hum.

His eyes were slightly closed, his aura calm and serene, as if he had merged with this raging, scorching world.

Only the subtle spatial ripples created by his presence in the surrounding air revealed the terrifying power hidden within.

Cheng Yue stood not far away, closing his eyes to regulate his breathing, the sword intent flowing around him was more refined than before.

Although his injuries had not fully healed, the experience of repeated fierce battles had only added a sharper and more profound edge to his aura, like steel forged through countless trials. Yin Xiaozi stood silently to the side like a shadow, his withered body slightly hunched.

His cloudy old eyes occasionally swept over the churning sulfurous clouds and the slowly flowing lava river, and the aura beneath his dark green cloak was cold and gloomy.

This is near an important pass leading to the fourth level, the "Ice and Fire Sword Corridor".

The platform has gradually attracted forces from no fewer than ten different factions.

Teams from various immortal sects, demonic sects, and powerful families in Yangtian Continent each occupied a corner, with figures ranging from a dozen to several hundred people.

The air was thick with the smell of sulfur, blood, and an invisible sense of vigilance and hostility.

The brutal selection process on the third level of the Sword Tomb ensures that those who survive to reach this point are all elites, but it also adds a touch of ferocity to their already formidable nature.

"Om..."

The space rippled slightly, and several familiar auras were the first to break through the crimson mist.

Ling Hao landed first, his once spirited face now bearing several hideous scars, his torn robes covered in congealed scabs, and the sword aura surrounding him was even sharper and more menacing, like a deadly weapon ready to draw blood.

Behind him, Lei Yun, Chen Hu, Xia Yuwei and others filed out one after another, each of them covered in dust and their aura fluctuating, clearly having experienced a fierce battle. However, the sharp light in their eyes and the surging cultivation fluctuations on their bodies showed that they had gained a lot and had been deeply tempered.

The group was noticeably smaller than when they entered, and a sense of tragedy and heaviness weighed heavily on the hearts of the survivors.

"Senior Brother Zhang!"

When Ling Hao saw Zhang Yuan, his eyes lit up, and he immediately led his men to join him. Although exhausted, he felt a sense of belonging and peace.

However, this brief gathering did not bring much relaxation.

The disadvantage in the number of disciples of the Great River Sword Sect was now obvious. Including Zhang Yuan's side, there were only about twenty people.

Compared to their previous formidable reputation in the Blood Sea and the depths of the Sword Tomb, they now appear "weak" in number on the platform where they have gathered.

Several pairs of eyes, filled with malice and greed, immediately pierced through like needles.

An invisible pressure began to spread and converge towards the area where the Great River Sword Sect was located.

The first to launch an attack were a group of demonic cultivators from the Yin Sha Sect.

The way they looked at the disciples of the Great River Sword Sect was like sizing up prey waiting to be slaughtered.

Immediately afterwards, cultivators from several less powerful sects, including Xuan Guang Sect and Jin Xia Island, who had suffered considerable losses and were eager to replenish their "harvest" or establish their prestige, also moved forward several steps, their auras subtly intertwined, forming an invisible net of pressure.

Ling Hao and the others' expressions changed drastically. They quickly moved closer together, forming the initial shape of a sword formation, with beads of sweat appearing on their foreheads.

Lei Yun's hand gripped the hilt of his sword, his knuckles turning white; Chen Hu's muscles tensed, as if facing a formidable enemy; Xia Yuwei's pretty face was frosty, her beautiful eyes revealing a hint of barely concealed panic.

The oppressive feeling of being surrounded by wolves is far greater than that of facing a single powerful enemy.

"The Great River Sword Sect, the Blood Sea Butcher, seems to be nothing more than that now. The Sword Tomb is dangerous, so it's normal to lose a few disciples."

A mocking, cold voice rang out. The black-robed elder leading the Yin Sha Sect chuckled sinisterly, "But I wonder if you can protect the opportunities that my fellow disciples possess?"

"Instead of taking it to that fourth level where there is no hope of survival, wouldn't it be better to leave it for someone destined to receive it?"

"Well said! Zhang Qingyang, I've heard you've been scrambling for opportunities and killing people like flies. You must have reaped the greatest rewards! Be smart and hand over some of it, or you might be spared a whole corpse!" A young man in a golden robe from Jinxia Island shouted sternly, his eyes fixed intently on Yuan Yue behind Zhang Yuan.

The sense of oppression suddenly intensified!
The combined aura of nearly a hundred people from several factions almost materialized, pressing down heavily on the small obsidian platform.

The disciples of the Great River Sword Sect felt as if they could not breathe.

Just when things were at their most precarious—

"Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!"

Dozens of clear, sharp sword cries rang out simultaneously, tearing through the oppressive atmosphere.

A dozen or so sword cultivators, led by Yuwen Zhen of the Yunliao Sword Sect, arrived in an instant with sharp sword energy and landed beside Zhang Yuan.

Yuwen Zhen's sword light faded, and he clasped his hands in a deep voice, saying, "Senior Brother Zhang, Yuwen Zhen has brought his junior brothers to join us!"

Their appearance instantly boosted the morale of the Great River Sword Sect.

Almost simultaneously, a clear light shone down from the other side, and more than ten cultivators dressed in Qingxu Temple robes gathered around Xuan Chengzi. The clear light flowed around them, mysterious and unpredictable.

Xuan Chengzi nodded slightly without saying a word, but the clear light had already spread outward, steadily resisting the oppressive malicious aura.

The situation reversed in an instant!
The cultivators from Yinsha Sect, Xuanguang Sect, and Jinxia Island changed their expressions slightly and subconsciously took a half step back.

They did not expect that the Great River Sword Sect was not isolated and helpless. The elite disciples of the two great immortal sects, Tianxuan Sword Pavilion and Qingxu Temple, stood on the side of the Great River Sword Sect without hesitation!
Although they still do not have an absolute advantage in numbers, the momentum of these three alliances is far beyond what it used to be.

However, another unexpected event occurred!

"Hehehe..." Yin Xiaozi suddenly let out a piercing laugh, took a step forward, and without any visible movement, a ghostly green bone whistle shattered silently.

In an instant, the thick sulfur fog churning at the edge of the platform was torn apart by an even denser, viscous, dark green demonic energy!
Nearly a hundred figures rushed over, each shrouded in a fierce and sinister demonic aura. The leaders were all at the Grandmaster level!
The blood-flame patterns unique to the Dark Palace on their bodies were ferocious and eye-catching.

"Disciples of the Dark Palace, by the order of our elders, await the command of our lord!"

The hundred or so demonic figures landed with a thud and knelt on one knee to pay their respects to Zhang Yuan.

Their movements were perfectly synchronized, and their auras suddenly merged into one, forming a fierce and domineering pillar of demonic energy that shattered the chaotic aura of mixed immortals and demons!

The overwhelming, bloodthirsty demonic power emanating from the elite warriors of a hundred battles pressed down on the Yin Sha Sect and other forces, causing them to turn pale and retreat several feet, their faces devoid of any color.

The Great River Sword Sect, the Heavenly Pivot Sword Pavilion, the Pure Void Temple, and the Dark Palace!

On one side are the elite geniuses of the top immortal sects, and on the other side is the fierce power of the powerful demonic sects of Zhao Zhou!

A strange and powerful mixed force formed around Zhang Yuan, who was sitting with his eyes closed in meditation, shocking everyone present!

The air in front of the fourth-floor entrance seemed to freeze at that moment.

"Good! Well done, Zhang Qingyang!" A thunderous roar, filled with boundless rage and authority, resounded!

Several dazzling rainbows tore through the sky, and a vast and boundless immortal aura descended like a mountain crashing down! (End of Chapter)