Chapter 224: The Might of the Heavenly Firmament!

Chapter 224: The Might of the Heavenly Firmament!

Reinforcements have arrived!

Although Zhang Yong and the others were not of high cultivation realms, they were all well aware that the one who had just blocked the Sand Python's attack with a single strike was undoubtedly a being beyond the Organ Realms. However, they didn't know which Marquis it was.

Almost in the next instant, a figure appeared at the entrance of the passage, and with a casual wave of his hand, the crimson long blade embedded in the rock wall was pulled out and fell into his grasp.

The figure was unfamiliar to Zhang Yong and the others, causing many of the soldiers to startle.

However, someone immediately recognized the clothing Chen Mu was wearing as the sect attire of the Seven Mysteries Sect.

And in the very next moment, without saying a word, Chen Mu, who had just landed, gripped the Flame Blade and swung it in a swift strike. In the blink of an eye, the blade's edge unleashed a tempest of wind and thunder, transforming into a crimson blade of raging flames that stretched for five or six zhang. It tore through the sandstorm, and with just one strike, it shredded the demonic energy of the fifth-stage Sand Python, shattered its scaly armor, and severed its massive head!

The enormous python head fell at the entrance of the passage, its mouth still opening and closing slightly, while the gigantic headless demon body writhed and twisted frantically in the sandstorm, but it couldn't stop the ebbing of its life force.

The fifth-stage Sand Python was slain in a single strike!

"Good boy," Zhang Yong, the captain of this fortification, praised Chen Mu. Although his own cultivation realm was only at the Sinew Transformation Realm, he had been stationed at Yunlu Pass for a while, and his experience allowed him to recognize the power of a fifth-stage Sand Python. Even the Organ Realms Marquis would struggle to defeat it, yet Chen Mu had effortlessly resisted its attack.

At this moment, Zhang Yong could only see Chen Mu's back, and with the wind and sand obscuring his vision, it was difficult to discern Chen Mu's identity. But before he could finish his thoughts, a voice reached his ears from the raging wind and sand outside.

"Hahaha, Chen, the Inner Gate True Disciple, truly lives up to his reputation as a Rising Talent! Your blade is swift, and so are you! I'm in awe!"

The voice was now familiar to Zhang Yong.

Yunlu Pass stretched for over two hundred li, and aside from Xia Hou Yan, there were seven other Marquises, each patrolling a section. The voice that Zhang Yong recognized belonged to Marquis Cui Sheng, who was patrolling the northernmost section of Yunlu Pass.

Outside the Passage:

After Chen Mu had slain the Sand Python with a single strike, he surveyed his surroundings. Within the sandstorm, a raging whirlwind swept up the yellow sand, obscuring the sky and blocking out the sun. Visibility was limited to barely a zhang, and one could only rely on their perception of qi to assess the situation.

As Cui Sheng's voice reached his ears, Chen Mu also turned his gaze to the side and rear. Amidst the ruins, a man clad in light armor and with a gray braid tied behind his head was wielding a long spear, battling a fifth-stage Demon Lizard. With each wide-open strike, he suppressed the Demon Lizard.

At the same time:

Cui Sheng also had the leisure to observe Chen Mu's side.

He had actually arrived earlier than Chen Mu, as this was the section he was patrolling. However, he had been hiding from a distance, observing the situation without revealing himself. Even when Zhang Yong's hiding place was exposed, and the Earth Quintessence Stone array base was breached, he hadn't taken action.

The situation here was beyond his ability to handle alone. There were at least four or five fifth-stage demon beasts, and even if he could block the Sand Python, he wouldn't be able to defend this place alone. If he were to be besieged by fifth-stage demon beasts, it would be a huge problem, and he might even fall.

So, he had planned to temporarily abandon the pass if the situation became dire.

But before he could make up his mind,

As he watched Zhang Yong's side struggling, he hesitated about whether to intervene. But before he could act, Chen Mu's blade sliced through the sky, blocking the Sand Python's attack and then swiftly emerged from the sandstorm. With a single strike, he severed the python's head, and in the blink of an eye, he had slain the fifth-stage demon beast!

There was nothing more to say.

Cui Sheng unleashed his long spear, harnessing the power of the heavens and earth with the Gales Wind Concept to overwhelm the Demon Lizard. At the same time, Chen Mu's figure flickered, and he plunged back into the sandstorm, heading towards the other demon beasts.

Amidst the swirling sand and dust, a faint beam of wind and thunder traversed the pass, and wherever it went, no demon beast could match its might. Whether they were third, fourth, or even fifth-stage demon beasts, none could withstand the Flame Blade.

"Amazing, truly amazing..."

Cui Sheng watched as Chen Mu rampaged through the pass, slaying demon beast after demon beast, and he couldn't help but marvel inwardly.

Indeed, Chen Mu, the Rising Talent, was far superior to Cui Sheng, who was an Inner Gate disciple. Whether it was strength or speed, Chen Mu far surpassed him, and even with all his might, Cui Sheng struggled to defeat the Demon Lizard. Although he managed to force it back, he couldn't finish it off, highlighting the vast gap between them.

Moreover:

Chen Mu couldn't have come directly from the Seven Mysteries Sect to the northern fortifications. He must have first gone to the main city gate and then received the request for aid from the seventy-seventh northern fortification. That was why he had rushed over so quickly.

Calculating the time:

It seemed Chen Mu had arrived in just over half a quarter of an hour! This indicated that Chen Mu's movement speed far exceeded that of Xia Hou Yan.

"Hah!"

Cui Sheng let out a loud shout, his braid swinging behind him as he thrust his spear, piercing the Demon Lizard's skull and pinning it to the rock wall.

Lifting his head again, he looked towards Chen Mu, only to find that Chen Mu had almost annihilated all the demons within the pass. Wielding the Flame Blade, he moved through the sandstorm, meticulously clearing the battlefield.

"Chen Zhentran," Cui Sheng called out, drawing his spear. Without rushing to deal with the demon lizard's remains, he headed towards Chen Mu amidst the sandstorm.

However, just as he was gradually approaching Chen Mu within the storm, he suddenly sensed something, and his expression changed dramatically. "Be careful! Something's not right!" he shouted.

Almost immediately after Cui Sheng's words, a terrifying pressure erupted from the swirling sandstorm. Countless spear-like formations of sand, driven by the raging winds, emerged from all directions, targeting both Cui Sheng and Chen Mu, who held the Flame Blade. Most of the attacks were directed at Chen Mu, while only a few struck Cui Sheng.

Cui Sheng's face paled, and without hesitation, he brandished his spear, creating a semicircular arc around him. He harnessed the power of the Gale Wind, causing even the nearby sandstorm to shift and collide with the sand spears aimed at him.

Boom! Boom! Boom!!!

Despite shattering the sand spears upon impact with his spear, each one was incredibly heavy. After three consecutive strikes, Cui Sheng's hand holding the spear trembled slightly.

The sheer power of the sand spears left Cui Sheng deeply concerned.

"Sand Phantom!" he exclaimed.

It was the sixth-stage demon beast, the Sand Phantom!

This demon, which he had believed to have left earlier, was still present. As the Marquis of Yunlu Pass, he was well acquainted with the Sand Phantom and had even engaged in combat with it on multiple occasions. He was aware of its strength as a sixth-stage demon beast, and even though it might not be the strongest in the desert, it was still incredibly formidable within the sandstorm. Typically, his only option would be to flee, as a solo confrontation was out of the question.

Only by gathering the strength of four or five Marquises could they hope to challenge the Sand Phantom!

On the other side, a loud boom reverberated, and amidst the sandstorm, a burst of wind, thunder, and fire created a shockwave.

Chen Mu, wielding the Flame Blade, emerged from the wind and sand, surrounded by over a dozen shattered sand spears that crumbled into yellow sand.

"Chen Zhentran, be careful. This is the sixth-stage demon beast, the Sand Phantom. It excels at hiding within sandstorms and can harness the power of the winds, making it extremely difficult to deal with. Although its demonic energy is vast, its physical body is slightly more fragile than other demons," Cui Sheng warned as he stepped closer to Chen Mu.

If Chen Mu hadn't been present, Cui Sheng would have immediately fled upon sensing the Sand Phantom. However, with Chen Mu's demonstrated strength, he might be able to hold his own against the Sand Phantom.

Moreover, with Cui Sheng, a Marquis, by his side, the Sand Phantom's weakness could be exploited. Despite its formidable power, its physical body was less sturdy than other demons. If Chen Mu could directly withstand the Sand Phantom's attacks and draw its attention, Cui Sheng might be able to launch a surprise attack on its vulnerable body, delivering a fatal blow.

Hsss! Hsss!!!

As Cui Sheng spoke, demonic energy coalesced within the sandstorm, forming spear-like formations capable of piercing through diamond. These attacks came from all directions, shifting unpredictably within the sandstorm, making it challenging to discern their origin.

Chen Mu's expression remained unchanged. With a sweep of his Flame Blade, he summoned a five to six zhang-long blade of fire, effortlessly shattering the incoming sand spears. In a calm tone, he said, "So that's how it is."

Just as Cui Sheng had described, the Sand Phantom excelled at concealing its presence and energy within the sandstorm. Even in Cui Sheng's perception, its position shifted unpredictably, making it challenging to pinpoint its location immediately.

However, Chen Mu remained unfazed. Standing his ground, he continuously swung his blade, blocking attacks from all directions while maximizing his perception to detect the Sand Phantom's traces within the nearby sandstorm.

"Chen Zhentran, there's no need to panic," Cui Sheng assured him. "This sandstorm won't last long. Once it starts to dissipate, the Sand Phantom will find it difficult to conceal itself completely. Its strength will weaken, and if it doesn't retreat, we will surely defeat it here."

Seeing that Chen Mu was handling the Sand Phantom's attacks without much difficulty, Cui Sheng felt slightly relieved. However, he was concerned that Chen Mu might reveal a weakness in his defense while counterattacking, so he provided assistance from the side while offering continuous reminders.

However...

At this moment, Chen Mu didn't respond. As he swung his blade to fend off the surrounding attacks, he closed his eyes. After less than ten breaths, his eyes snapped open—he had found it!

With a sweep of his Flame Blade, Chen Mu shattered several incoming sand spears. Then, he took a step forward, leaving his defensive position and charging towards the sandstorm on his right. As his blade slashed, a large area of the sandstorm dispersed to the sides, and from within the rolling sand, a humanoid figure emerged.

It was hunched over, resembling an elderly person in their twilight years, with skin that appeared black and yellow.

The sixth-stage demon beast, the Sand Phantom!

Witnessing this, Cui Sheng was momentarily stunned. He couldn't believe that Chen Mu had managed to locate the Sand Phantom even before the sandstorm had weakened. After all, Cui Sheng himself was a master of the Gale Wind Concept's second step and had spent many years in the desert, engaging in combat with the Sand Phantom on numerous occasions. Even then, he had found it challenging to pinpoint the Sand Phantom's location during the most intense sandstorms.

"How is this possible...?" Cui Sheng muttered, a hint of astonishment in his voice as he gazed at Chen Mu's back.

Chen Mu's strength and speed surpassed his own, which he could understand. But the fact that Chen Mu's perception was also superior left him perplexed. After all, even with Chen Mu's genius, there shouldn't be such a significant gap in their mastery of the Gale Wind Concept.

At that moment, Chen Mu didn't have the leisure to ponder deeply. After pulling out the Sand Phantom from the sandstorm, he immediately unleashed his full power. The Flame Blade in his hand blazed with crimson flames, extending five to six zhang long, merging with strands of lightning arcs to form a terrifying lightning-fire longsword. With a single slash, he aimed to cleave the withered and diminutive body of the Sand Phantom.

The Sand Phantom's humanoid eyes widened in astonishment, a very human-like expression of surprise. However, facing Chen Mu's strike, it remained calm, raising its withered yet elongated arms and waving them effortlessly.

Whoosh!!!

The endless yellow sand nearby surged forward, instantly condensing into two giant hands made of sand, which clenched together in the midst of the storm, firmly trapping Chen Mu's five to six zhang-long blade of fire between their palms!

"What a great opportunity!"

A flash of light shone in Cui Sheng's eyes, and without hesitation, he leaned back, focusing the Gale Whirl Intent on his spear to its limit. The power was visible to the naked eye, encircling the spear with a sharp aura. With a mighty throw, the entire spear transformed into a beam of light, piercing towards the diminutive body of the Sand Phantom!

Having fought the Sand Phantom for many years, Cui Sheng knew that although it was skilled in manipulating demonic energy, its physical body was fragile, even less resilient than some fifth-stage demonic beasts. If he found the right opportunity, a single strike could take its life!

However, the Sand Phantom remained unperturbed by Cui Sheng's attack. It raised its withered right hand, and from the storm of sand around it, a hand made of yellow sand emerged, grasping the incoming spear and holding it tightly, preventing it from advancing further.

"Still not working..."

Cui Sheng's brows furrowed, realizing that the Sand Phantom had successfully blocked Chen Mu's previous strike, and it still had strength to spare. Among all the Sand Phantoms he had encountered, this one was relatively powerful.

As he witnessed his spear being blocked and Chen Mu's lightning-fire blade halted, the Sand Phantom calmly stood amidst the yellow sand, its human-like gaze assessing the two of them. Suddenly, a change occurred.

Chen Mu, standing in the center of the yellow sand, held the hilt of his sword, maintaining his sword-wielding posture. He raised the five-zhang-long lightning-fire blade, facing off against the two giant hands made of sand. The lightning-fire light in his eyes flickered and then quietly faded away, as if dissolving.

The Gale Whirl Intent, Thunderous Intent, and Fiery Intent all receded at once, as if melting away, transforming into a faintly discernible pure spiritual energy. Consequently, the five-zhang-long lightning-fire blade also vanished into thin air.

Sensing this sudden change, Cui Sheng was momentarily stunned.

Chen Mu, surrounded by the complete absence of the Gale Whirl, Thunderous, and Fiery Intents, calmly extended his right hand without swinging his sword. With a subtle press and a pat, he said, "Malevolent spirits, showing off in front of experts."

In an instant, the heavens and earth changed color!

Under the Sand Phantom's startled gaze, the sky above the sandstorm seemed to collapse, and a terrifying force of heaven and earth converged, forming an invisible giant hand. Like the sky falling and the earth caving in, this invisible hand pressed down.

"Gaaah!"

The Sand Phantom let out a harsh, raspy, and unpleasant shriek, its eyes filled with fear as it looked upwards. It raised its withered arms, gathering demonic energy frantically. The two giant sand palms that had blocked Chen Mu's lightning-fire blade split apart once more, transforming into two giant hands that reached upwards, attempting to withstand the invisible hand pressing down from above.

However, the giant sand palms, spanning several zhang, collided with the invisible hand that seemed to push down the sky. They held their ground for less than a single breath before starting to crumble from the edges, disintegrating into scattered sand.

The Sand Phantom's body trembled violently, and it struggled to keep its arms raised. It wasn't that it didn't want to escape, but its entire body was immobilized. Everything around it was suppressed by the overwhelming force of the Heavenspan Technique, and the once-light air now felt thick and heavy, as if sealed within mud. Even taking a single step was unbearably slow!

Boom!

In the end, the giant sand palms were crushed under the pressure, and the Sand Phantom's body, along with the sand palms, was imprinted by the invisible hand onto the withered and heavy Yunlu Cliff, its withered body crushed into a pool of black goo!

The heavens and earth became serene and clear.

As Chen Mu calmly lowered his hand, the surrounding yellow sand returned to normal, swirling and howling with the storm. However, the Sand Phantom that had once controlled the sand was now reduced to a pile of sludge.

Cui Sheng was left speechless, his eyes filled with undeniable shock.

"Heavenspan Technique... This is... Heavenspan Technique..."

A formidable sixth-stage demonic beast, the Sand Phantom, had been crushed by a single palm, reduced to a pile of flesh. What a shocking scene!

Even Xia Hou Yan, standing here, couldn't have achieved such a feat. It wasn't that Xia Hou Yan's power fell short of that single palm strike, but the Heavenspan Technique's power, against a demonic beast with strong demonic energy but a weak physical body, was like a dimensional strike.

The Sand Phantom's lifelong accumulation of demonic energy was solely used to manipulate the power of wind and sand. But under the Heavenspan Technique, all natural phenomena, such as wind and thunder, were absolutely suppressed by a higher force. Without the wind to borrow power from, the Sand Phantom lost its ability to harness the power of heaven and earth, leaving it to rely solely on its own demonic energy to resist Chen Mu's strike, which was fundamentally impossible against the might of the heavens!

Chen Mu, the Rising Talent List's pride, had joined the Seven Mysteries Sect, cultivating at the Mystic Wind Peak for over a year. He had not ventured out into the world, and in Jade State and the Cold Northern Region's eleven provinces, he had gradually been forgotten.

Today, as he emerged from his seclusion, he had already mastered the second step of the Heavenspan Technique and killed a sixth-stage demonic beast with a single strike!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end