Chapter 354: Illusion

Chapter 354: Illusion



"Hmph... Star Shift Ascetic is just an empty title."

High in the sky, a peculiar flying bird scattered hazy and illusory light, obscuring a patch of the void.

On the cloud bed, Yu Xue, the Great True Monarch, let out a cold snort, "They'll swarm him, and that Taibai Sword Immortal will definitely flee. Sword Cultivators, as arrogant as they are, aren't fools. This White Tiger Seven Slaying Sword Array is the arena he's set up. If we follow his rules, he'll give us a chance to catch him. If we don't, he'll definitely escape far away... not even giving us time to set up the Mountain and River Map."

As he spoke, he glanced at the Void Cloud Great True Monarch.

In the hands of the Void Cloud Great True Monarch, a scroll was unfurled, depicting mountains, rivers, and the myriad forms of the human world.

As the Void Cloud Great True Monarch chanted, streams of light overflowed from the Mountain and River Map, filling the four directions of the void.

"The Mountain and River Map has the effect of sealing the void. After I finish casting, no teleportation will be possible here, not even with teleportation arrays, escape talismans, or Nascent Soul teleportation."

The Void Cloud Great True Monarch smiled faintly, "But it doesn't matter... The White Tiger Seven Slaying Sword Array inherently has the ability to seal the void. It's not like we're aiding the enemy."

"If it drags on too long, Taibai Sword Immortal might get bored and leave on his own."

Yu Xue, the Great True Monarch, spoke leisurely, "Therefore... the most suitable approach is to send nine Nascent Soul Mid-stage cultivators to test it."

Nascent Soul Mid-stage cultivators were relatively rare, but the definition of Nascent Soul Mid-stage combat power was much broader.

For example, Fang Xing's cultivation level in the Cultivation World could now be considered Nascent Soul Mid-stage combat power.

Yu Xue, the Great True Monarch, continued to transmit his thoughts through divine perception.

After a moment, below, led by Ten Thousand Beasts True Monarch, Qing Zhu Sword Monarch, and Cloud and Rain Twin Monarchs, with the assistance of Star Shift Ascetic and other Nascent Soul cultivators, they gathered nine Nascent Soul Mid-stage cultivators and charged into the White Tiger Seven Slaying Sword Array.

"Haha... They're doing exactly as I wish."

Inside the sword array, Taibai Sword Immortal witnessed this scene and was extremely satisfied, "Within the grand array, a separate space is formed. Finally, I can test my sword against each of them!"

His eyes flashed like lightning as he fixed his gaze on Qing Zhu Sword Monarch, "The sword array technique is quite interesting. You're my first choice!"

A flash of light, and when Taibai Sword Immortal appeared again, he was already standing opposite Qing Zhu Sword Monarch.

His expression solemn, he performed an ancient ritual, "My sword's name is 'Taibai', forged from Taibai Gold Essence, one foot three inches long. Please give me guidance!"

This was the etiquette of sword cultivators, introducing their flying sword before making a move.

In the Cultivation World, perhaps no other magical treasures had such a ranking.

But with the fame of sword cultivators spreading far and wide, the former Primordial Soul Sword Sect had created the 'Famous Sword Catalog', divided into the Heaven, Earth, and Human rankings, evaluating the flying swords of the Fifth Stage, Fourth Stage, and Third Stage...

As for those below the Third Stage, they weren't even considered lifebound flying swords, and in the eyes of the Primordial Soul Sword Sect, they didn't deserve to be called flying swords, at best they could be called sword-shaped magical tools or spirit tools...

Each time the 'Famous Sword Catalog' was republished, it was a grand event in the Cultivation World.

Unfortunately, after the Primordial Soul Sword Sect's destruction, the 'Famous Sword Catalog' became a thing of the past.

As Taibai Sword Immortal performed the ritual, his dantian roared, and a shadow of a platinum flying sword appeared, emitting a clear sword cry.

"What a remarkable lifebound flying sword, the purity of its sword light is something I've rarely seen in my life."

Qing Zhu Sword Monarch sighed, "If the Primordial Soul Sword Sect still existed, your 'Taibai' would definitely rank in the top ten of the Earth list!"

He also pinched a sword technique, and a flying sword filled with green wood essence appeared, "My sword's name is 'Qingli', forged from a ten-thousand-year-old Green Dragon Wood, two feet three inches long, weighing ninety-nine pounds. Please give me guidance!"

As Qing Zhu Sword Monarch activated his sword technique, the shadow of his flying sword in his hand instantly split into two, then four, then eight... filling the sky with green sword lights, forming a sword array resembling a verdant bamboo forest.

"So flashy..."

Taibai Sword Immortal gently caressed his 'Taibai Sword' and shouted, "Wait for me, Great True Monarch, and Taibai Sword will rank in the top three of the Earth list!"

With a movement of his sword technique, the radiant lights dimmed, and it seemed as if only one sword existed in the world. The 'Slaughter Sword Canon' was the embodiment of his emotions, and as he thrust his sword, the world became solemn and murderous. The wooden attribute sword array dimmed and withered...

A white-hot sword light pierced through the autumnal and desolate sword array, and after a moment, the sword array exploded.

Only a green Nascent Soul remained, holding a small green sword, its face filled with panic, attempting to break through and teleport.

"Stop!"

Upon seeing this, Taibai Sword Immortal coldly smiled, and a restriction light appeared on his flying sword, commanding the White Tiger Seven Slaying Sword Array.

Silver-white pillars of light descended, like a cage, forcing Qing Zhu Sword Monarch's Nascent Soul out of the void.

Then, Taibai Sword transformed into a white light, like a white rainbow piercing the sun, and pierced through the green Nascent Soul.

A miserable scream! Taibai Sword Immortal retracted his flying sword, waved away the sword light, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

In his dantian, the sword infant of his lifebound sword giggled and drew out a small 'Taibai Sword' from his body.

At this moment, on the body of the Tai Bai Sword, a faint bloodstain actually appeared!

"The first one!"

Tai Bai Sword Immortal muttered to himself, his eyes filled with murderous intent and bloodthirsty madness, as he rushed towards the next array gate...

...

"Good!"

In the center of the White Tiger Seven Kill Sword Array, Fire Dragon True Monarch, through the Heaven Earth Mirror, witnessed this scene, and a hint of joy appeared on his face.

"After all, this is only the first one. If he didn't have such combat strength and rashly attracted so many Nascent Soul True Monarchs, and then attempted to break through the 'Nine Maternal Divine Infants Sword Refinement Technique', he would have gone mad long ago..."

Fang Xing shook his head, not very optimistic about Tai Bai Sword Immortal.

"Consider Tai Bai lucky to have met me this time. Otherwise, he might have been schemed to death..."

He took a step forward and arrived outside the White Tiger Seven Kill Sword Array.

The Nascent Soul True Monarchs outside sensed something, and they saw a figure shrouded in blood-colored mist walking out of the sword array, holding a blood-colored flying sword.

"Who are you?"

"A remnant of the Primordial Soul Sword Sect?"

"Isn't the Killing Sword Lineage passed down from generation to generation?"

...

"The heavens give birth to all things to nurture man, and man repays the heavens by killing, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!"

Fang Xing let out a long howl, and the phantom of his Rotten Iron Sword struck out in an instant.

Whoosh! A blood-colored sword light instantly attacked, slaying a Nascent Soul Early-stage True Monarch!

His head dropped, and the look of astonishment on his face hadn't even appeared yet!

"Great Freedom Profound Gold Sword Qi, instant kill number one!"

"It's the Golden Sword Lineage!"

"Attack!"

The other Nascent Soul True Monarchs revealed a wary expression, as this Blood Sword Monarch's cultivation was at the Nascent Soul Mid-stage, and his flying sword technique was exceptionally sharp.

Fang Xing struck with his sword, but immediately retreated with his sword.

His body and sword were as one, and his sword's speed of retreat reached its limit, allowing him to move freely among the numerous Nascent Soul True Monarchs.

The other Nascent Soul True Monarchs, even when displaying powerful techniques, were cautious, afraid of harming their companions.

This was the essence of fighting against ten or a hundred opponents—to retreat far away after a missed strike, and then try again!

...

High in the sky.

"The Golden Sword Lineage?"

Yu Xue Great True Monarch stood up, his eyes shining: "I never thought... that I would be able to obtain another Mystic Iron Sword Token. It is said that if the five great tokens are combined, it can even open the secret realm deep within the Primordial Soul Sword Sect, which is the ultimate foundation of a Holy Land..."

"Go!"

Void Cloud Great True Monarch rubbed his hands together and then stretched them towards the sky.

The 'Mountain River Map' transformed into a phantom of the land and completely merged with this world: "The void blockade is complete. This time, it's like catching turtles in a jar."

Boom!

As soon as he finished speaking, the spirit pet flying bird that was scattering hazy, misty light let out a miserable cry, and its body exploded, turning into a sky full of blood mist.

Fang Xing's true body stepped out of the void, his face showing a hint of delight: "Two Great True Monarchs... The second Nascent Soul is blessed. This time, I might really get a windfall and advance to the Nascent Soul Late-stage!"

"My 'Illusion Cloud Bird'..."

Void Cloud Great True Monarch's face was filled with pain, and he then looked at Fang Xing: "A Body Cultivator? How did you discover the Illusion Cloud Bird's disguise?"

"Haha, I never explain things to the dead."

Fang Xing let out a cold laugh and directly slapped out with his palm.

Of course, he wouldn't tell them that although this strange bird's hiding ability was strong, under the reconnaissance of the 'Mingkun Ship', it was as good as nothing.

After all, the methods in the cultivation world were mostly used to defend against cultivators. Facing this kind of advanced universal technology, a detector that could scan millions of miles in an instant, it was like having no defense at all.

Boom!

Under the Covering Heaven Hand, both Yu Xue Great True Monarch and Void Cloud Great True Monarch felt as if the void in all directions had solidified into rocks, pressing down on them with intense threat.

The Star Martial Nine Ultimates, created by Fang Xing, naturally increased in power with the elevation of his cultivation realm.

With his current realm and technique, when the Covering Heaven Hand was unleashed, its might was comparable to when the Martial Saint had just used the Great Sun Buddha Palm—of course, without consuming the Great Sun Divine Nature.

"A Body Cultivator Great True Monarch?"

Yu Xue Great True Monarch roared, and a blood-colored long sword appeared in his hand.

This long sword was slender, and it seemed to have countless blood plasma condensed on it, forming a blood-colored river.

Within the blood-colored river, countless blood-red talismans swam.

After circulating his demonic power, behind Yu Xue Great True Monarch, a true magic image appeared.

This true magic image was nine zhang tall, wearing dark red armor with countless ancient talismans, a bull-horned helmet, and a pair of crimson eyes. Its face was pitch-black.

At this moment, the true magic image roared, holding the blood-colored long sword spirit treasure, and slashed fiercely!

Boom!

The palm print in the sky and the blood-red sword light madly consumed each other, and strands of formidable aura and power struck the true magic image, causing it to become riddled with holes!

"My Demonic Blood Transformation divine ability? It's actually not enough?"

Yu Xue Great True Monarch showed a look of surprise: "Void Cloud, be careful of this person, he's not an ordinary Great True Monarch!"

After just one move, he had suffered a small loss, so this Yu Hua Palace Grand Hall Master naturally wouldn't dare to be careless.

As Yu Xue Great True Monarch opened his mouth, behind Fang Xing, a sudden flash of color appeared in the void.

A sharp claw emerged.

It seemed to have suddenly materialized from the void, its body cloaked in a chameleon-like camouflage, and its aura was so well-concealed that it was nearly undetectable.

Even a Nascent Soul Great True Monarch would be caught off guard by this spiritual beast's sneak attack, suffering a significant loss!

Crack!

The beast's claw struck Fang Xing's back with the force of a thousand tons, but it was blocked by a resilient layer of aura.

Fang Xing's body didn't move an inch.

"A fourth-stage middle-grade spiritual pet? And it has such a powerful invisibility and concealment ability, truly impressive..."

He twisted his body, grabbing the beast's claw, and a sinister smile appeared on his face.

"Come out!"

Fang Xing exerted force with both hands, immediately dragging out the strange invisible attacking pet—a beast resembling both a tiger and a leopard, its body covered in chameleon-like scales.

"Release my 'Illusion Beast'!"

Void Cloud Great True Monarch roared, and a three-treasure Ruyi Spirit Treasure fell upon Fang Xing.

Yu Xue Great True Monarch waved his blood-red long sword, feeling somewhat surprised: 'I didn't expect Void Cloud to be so patient. Aside from the 'Illusion Cloud Bird,' he secretly tamed a fourth-stage middle-grade 'Illusion Beast.' Amazing...'

The Illusion Beast was famous in the vast sea of cultivation for its ability to evade Nascent Soul divine perception and its invisibility. It was already extremely rare in ancient times and is considered extinct in the present era.

A fourth-stage middle-grade Illusion Beast was enough to evade the divine perception of a Great True Monarch and even succeed in sneak attacks.

Even Yu Xue Great True Monarch, upon realizing that Void Cloud Great True Monarch possessed such a spiritual beast, felt a chill down his spine.

Bang! Bang!

The three-treasure jade Ruyi and the blood-red long sword struck Fang Xing's back repeatedly, emitting dull sounds.

Fang Xing's physique was already formidable, capable of withstanding a fourth-stage superior Spirit Treasure. Now, after being tempered by the 'Nine Sources Star Body Refinement Secret Art,' it was almost comparable to a fifth-stage body cultivator!

Under the relentless assault of the two Great True Monarchs' Spirit Treasures, he remained as steadfast as an unyielding mountain.

"Die!"

Gripping the Illusion Beast's claws, he roared, and his arms exerted immense force.

Rip!

The fourth-stage middle-grade Illusion Beast let out a mournful cry, as if being torn apart by five horses. Its sturdy body was torn apart, and a fist-sized essence pill flew out, containing a cute-looking infant beast's shadow.

However, due to the blockade of the Mountain and River Map, the essence pill couldn't escape into the void and could only retreat as a streak of light.

"Hmph!"

Fang Xing coldly snorted, and his mental power pierced the essence pill like a fine needle, causing the Illusion Beast's soul to scream in agony and dissipate instantly.

The essence pill, now ownerless, fell from mid-air.

Only then did he turn around and look at the two Great True Monarchs: "Have you...had enough?"

How swift were the divine perceptions of Great True Monarchs? While Fang Xing dealt with the Illusion Beast, the two Great True Monarchs unleashed a barrage of attacks.

Unfortunately, no talismans, treasures, or wonders could breach Fang Xing's defense.

When Fang Xing turned back, Yu Xue Great True Monarch and Void Cloud True Monarch wore expressions of shattered Dao hearts.

"Impossible... How could there be such a Great True Monarch in this world?"

Although Nascent Soul Late-stage cultivators varied in strength, the gap shouldn't be this significant. How could there be such a freak who could fight two and still dominate?

To easily kill Nascent Soul Late-stage Great True Monarchs was not the power of a Nascent Soul, but that of an Incarnation!

Moreover, he would undoubtedly advance to the Incarnation Heavenly Venerable and even ascend through Essence Transformation!

"Die!"

Fang Xing, not wanting to waste time, suddenly manifested a red sun in his palm.

With a flip of his hand, a great sun descended!

The first style of the Great Sun Buddha Palm—Great Sun Illumination!

Limitless light, limitless life!

Fang Xing's eyes deepened, and he saw that under the great sun's radiance, a figure identical to his own emerged from Void Cloud True Monarch's Dantian, blocking the sun's brilliance.

It was the mighty 'External Incarnation' ability!

As for Yu Xue Great True Monarch, he wore a layer of pitch-black demon armor and patted the corpse bag at his waist. A headless corpse with disheveled hair and surging corpse energy, seemingly about to advance to the fourth-stage superior level, was released to block the disaster. His original body's arm exploded, and he was about to transform into essence blood, wrapping his damaged body to escape!

Those who reach the Nascent Soul Late-stage are the outstanding talents of the cultivation world, blessed with great fortune. Even an ordinary Incarnation Venerable might not defeat them with a single move!

Therefore, Fang Xing's response was simple: he unleashed the second palm!

—Palm of Mountains and Rivers!

Countless golden Swastika symbols appeared like countless grains of sand, and the void was filled with falling flowers and rising golden lotuses... It was as if a Buddhist kingdom descended from his palm!

In an instant, the golden Swastika symbols sealed the external incarnation and the fourth-stage superior corpse refinement.

Then... they engulfed the two Great True Monarchs' original bodies!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end