Just as the old patriarch forced me to my death, I achieved the unity of Dao and fruition.

The flames on the deathmatch stage had not yet died down.

Five crimson sword rivers collided with that crimson sword sun, and the resulting spiritual waves crashed one after another onto the Nascent Soul level magic array.

boom!

boom!

boom!

The magic array's light barrier was shaken, causing ripples to spread continuously.

Those ripples, when seen by the disciples below the stage, resembled waves on water.

But those who truly understand the art know that each ripple is enough to kill a group of Qi Refining disciples.

This is a battle between Golden Core sword cultivators.

With a wave of his hand, there was neither sword light spanning several feet nor fireballs flying everywhere.

Instead, spiritual energy flowed like a river, and sword intent pressed down upon the realm.

After only one exchange, the ground inside the deathmatch arena was already burning red.

The array patterns lit up one by one, only to be submerged by the waves of fire.

Zhou Lieyang stood behind the crimson sword, his robes fluttering, his expression much more serious than before.

Gu Changjin remained standing in the same spot.

His white hair was blown by the fire and wind, and his figure looked old, but when he changed the hand seals, the five rivers of crimson flames did not dissipate. Instead, they intertwined in mid-air and transformed into a sword energy fire prison.

Once the Fire Prison was formed, all the spiritual energy of heaven and earth within a radius of a hundred feet was forcibly drawn into it.

It was like a giant furnace, trying to forge Zhou Lieyang and his sword inside.

Zhou Lieyang's eyes narrowed.

"Excellent tactic!"

The Crimson Glass Sword slashed horizontally.

With a single sword strike, the crimson sword yang suddenly split into seven.

Seven small swords revolved around him, and with each rotation, a beam of sword light shot into the sky.

Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom!

Seven sword lights struck the fiery hell in succession.

The arena was ablaze with flames, as if the entire arena had been dragged into underground magma.

Gu Changjin waved his sleeve.

Above the fiery hell, another thirty-six fine sword energies descended.

Each sword aura was small, yet frighteningly sharp.

They didn't fall randomly; they blocked all of Zhou Lieyang's escape routes.

Zhou Lieyang had no choice but to take the hit head-on.

The Crimson Glass Sword transformed into a curtain of crimson copper in his palm.

The sword curtain unfolded, like a red-hot city wall.

Thirty-six sword energies landed on the sword screen, exploding with a series of ear-piercing sounds.

The Foundation Establishment disciples below the stage felt their scalps tingle.

Even through the magic array, they could feel their eardrums throbbing with pain.

"This...this is truly the end of his lifespan?"

"Isn't Elder Gu about to pass away? How can he still be fighting like this?"

"Old ginger is spicier."

"That old man really knows his stuff. No wonder he made a name for himself in the Western Wilderness back then."

"Zhou Lieyang is one of the strongest sword cultivators of the middle generation in the Crimson Cloud Sect. Elder Gu actually managed to fight him to a draw?"

Some Xuan Yang Sect disciples were initially unsure of what to do.

After all, the rumors circulating within the sect about Gu Changjin's situation were too nasty.

Life is about to end.

The Golden Elixir has decayed.

Forced to die.

It sounds like they're just feeding the enemy kills.

But now that I look at it, it's nothing.

This is hardly a suicide mission.

This is clearly a true Golden Core sword cultivator.

Even in his old age, he would still be an old swordsman capable of burning through mountains and rivers.

Neither Yun Qingli nor Li Fenshan spoke on the high platform.

The two sect leaders stared intently at the dueling arena.

Li Fenshan's face remained calm, revealing neither his joy nor anger.

But he was already feeling a little uncomfortable.

Gu Changjin was more troublesome than he had anticipated.

If this old man really fights with all his might, even if Zhou Lieyang wins, it will definitely not be an easy victory.

Yun Qingli was also watching the deathmatch on the surface.

But half of her heart wasn't on stage.

Lu Huaizhen did not reply to the spirit message.

Last night she sent a message to Lu Huaizhen, hoping he would stay in the cave today and not come to the scene of the deadly battle.

After all, the people from the Crimson Cloud Sect are all here. If Li Fenshan loses control, things will get very troublesome.

But Lu Huaizhen never replied.

This is not normal.

Although Huaizhen is sometimes playful, he would never fail to reply to her on such an important matter.

For a Golden Core cultivator, a sudden feeling of unease is often not unfounded.

She wanted to go see it for herself.

But today's battle is a fight to the death, and all the sects of the Western Wilderness are present. As the sect leader, she simply cannot get away.

So early in the morning, she sent her trusted disciples to Qingmang Mountain.

I hope I'm just overthinking it.

Yun Qingli suppressed her emotions and looked at the stage again.

Gu Changjin and Zhou Lieyang clashed again.

This time, Zhou Lieyang's seven sword suns exploded simultaneously, and the flames transformed into a giant crimson bird with wingspans of tens of feet.

The giant bird swooped down, its sharp claws tearing towards Gu Changjin's head.

Gu Changjin raised his hand.

The fiery waves on the ground surged back, transforming into a hundred-foot-long fiery sword that slashed across the sky.

The giant bird collided with the fire sword.

The entire deathmatch arena suddenly trembled.

The protective array's light barrier was dented by the shock.

Many disciples in the audience instinctively stepped back.

Some of the Qi Refining disciples turned pale and almost lost their balance.

One of the outer sect leaders couldn't help but squint.

"Gu Changjin truly lives up to his reputation as a veteran swordsman."

Another late-stage Golden Core cultivator beside him nodded in agreement.

"If this person were not nearing the end of his lifespan, he would be no ordinary individual."

"It's a pity that I couldn't go further when I was young."

"It's a pity, but even if he wins today's battle, he'll probably burn out his last bit of life force."

Upon hearing this, the sect leaders fell silent for a moment.

The cruelest place in the cultivation world is here.

No matter how strong you are when you are young, if you can't overcome that hurdle, you will eventually grow old.

old.

Then it will be targeted by newcomers.

They were plotted against by the sect.

It was used by the family to exchange for benefits.

On the stage.

boom!

Another hard-fought battle.

Zhou Lieyang took seven steps back, each step causing the array patterns on the platform to flicker violently.

Gu Changjin also retreated several feet.

He coughed, clutching his chest, his face paling slightly.

Of course, it was all an act.

Seeing this, Zhou Lieyang felt a little more at ease.

He thought the old man could really keep fighting.

It turns out he was just putting on a brave face.

"Senior Gu."

Zhou Lieyang raised the Crimson Glass Sword, and the flames on its blade gradually condensed.

"The competition has only just begun."

"Now, I'm going to get serious."

Gu Changjin's eye twitched slightly upon hearing this.

No.

Dude.

You're being too pretentious.

I've already let the water out of the ocean, and you're still telling me to take it seriously?

However, he had to admit that Zhou Lieyang did indeed have some real skills.

There's a reason why the Crimson Cloud Sect dared to send him.

To be able to master a fire-type sword technique to this extent at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm is truly remarkable, making one a prodigy in the Western Wilderness.

But that's just calculation.

If Gu Changjin were to go all out, a single sword strike would leave him questioning his existence.

But not now.

The play hasn't been played out enough.

Gu Changjin said hoarsely, "Young man, if you have the ability, then show it."

Zhou Lieyang snorted coldly.

The crimson sword sun rose again behind him.

This time, it's not just one round.

It has nine wheels.

Nine swords rose into the sky, like nine small suns hanging on the deathmatch arena.

In every round of sword sunlight, there is the shadow of the Crimson Glass Sword.

This is the signature sword technique of the Crimson Cloud Sect.

Nine Yang Burning Sword Technique.

When cultivated to its peak, the nine yang energies unite as one, and a single sword can burn mountains and boil seas.

Zhou Lieyang has certainly not reached his peak yet.

The simultaneous rise of nine sword-shaped suns was already frightening enough.

The temperature inside the deathmatch arena surged again.

The ground began to crack.

A crimson, magma-like spiritual fire flowed from the cracks.

This is no ordinary flame.

Instead, it is a sword fire forcibly condensed by a Golden Core sword cultivator using their own Golden Core fire energy to draw upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Each wisp could burn through the protective spiritual light of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Gu Changjin looked up and a serious look appeared in his eyes.

It's all just acting.

We must not overturn.

He clasped his hands together and then pulled them outwards.

He stretched the raging fire into a long, crimson line.

Once the long line was drawn, it instantly spread into hundreds of sword threads.

The sword threads crisscrossed, like a giant fiery net of swords, stretching across his front.

Nine rounds of sword-shaped suns crashed down.

Swordsman Online responds.

Boom boom boom—

A series of explosions echoed throughout Yingke Peak.

Inside the deathmatch arena, flames soared hundreds of feet into the sky, only to be forcefully suppressed by the Nascent Soul formation.

All the outsiders could see was the frantic collision of crimson, gold, and dark red spiritual light within the magic array's light screen.

With each collision, the light curtain vibrates.

Each tremor sent shivers down the spines of the disciples below the stage.

This is the true battle of the Golden Core cultivators.

Without the magic array, the two of them would probably have destroyed half of the entire Welcoming Peak long ago.

Zhou Lieyang grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed.

Gu Changjin's aura was clearly waning, so how could his sword technique remain so stable?

Has this old man's golden core not shattered yet?

Gu Changjin became increasingly annoyed as the fight progressed.

almost.

If they continue acting like this, they'll easily be exposed.

We can't let Zhou Lieyang really feel too comfortable.

It's time to take my natal spirit sword out for a spin.

only……

Gu Changjin sighed inwardly.

too ugly.

But no way.

He raised his hand and gestured.

Inside his dantian, that dusty gray thing suddenly trembled.

The next instant, a gray-black sword shadow flew out from his body.

Calling it a sword shadow is a bit of a stretch.

It was about four feet long, dark gray all over, with a pitted and uneven surface, like a long strip of black iron that had not yet been forged.

There is no sword edge.

There is no hilt.

Even the shape of the sword is not quite complete.

But the moment it appeared, the sword energy around Gu Changjin suddenly sank.

The nine-round sword sun that was about to press down on him was actually cut open by the gray-black sword shadow.

boom!

The Nine Yang Sword Technique was broken.

Zhou Lieyang retreated with his sword in hand, his expression suddenly changing.

But the next moment, when he saw what was in front of Gu Changjin, his expression froze again.

"This... is your natal spirit sword?"

The audience erupted instantly.

"what?"

"What is that?"

"A sword? That's a sword?"

"Where's Elder Gu's old Jinyang Sword? Wasn't it fiery red, exuding the aura of a swordsman?"

"What are these dusty black iron bars?"

"Could it be that my natal spirit sword is about to shatter?"

The Xuan Yang Sect disciples were also dumbfounded.

The Jinyang Sword in their memories was a crimson spirit sword that, once unsheathed, blazed like the sun in the sky.

He's very handsome.

Standard equipment for sword cultivators.

But this thing now...

It's really hard to praise.

Yun Qingli frowned as well.

Of course she remembered Gu Changjin's Jinyang Sword.

But this thing is clearly wrong.

On the other side of the platform, Han He was also watching the battle.

He doesn't have to guard the treasure vault all day, so he came specifically to see this deadly battle.

He was originally wondering how to get back the three things Gu Changjin took after his death.

When Han He saw the gray-black sword shadow, he was completely stunned.

No.

That old man is too greedy!

Did they know that the Star Sword Embryo might be taken back by the sect and directly fused into their natal spirit sword?

Han He's heart skipped a beat.

broken.

The Star Sword Embryo cannot be retrieved.

and many more.

What about the Soul-Splitting Star Marrow and the Profound Extreme Pill?