Chapter 251: As the Godchild Fights

Xu Qing's body neared almost the moment Sheng Yunzi opened his mouth, and he unleashed a punch.

With a roar, Sheng Yunzi blocked with a wave of his hand, his body recoiling, his eyes glowing even more intensely.

"Just let me see what's truly amiss with your body."

Xu Qing remained silent, his eyes radiating fierce killing intent as he abruptly gave chase.

The two clashed again in an instant, a colossal boom echoing. Sheng Yunzi, employing an unknown technique, radiated golden light in all directions, forming a dazzling sea. Xu Qing was forced to recoil and avoid it. The moment he dodged, the sea of light coalesced into countless glittering runes, which then surged towards Xu Qing. These runes possessed an inherent destructive power, transforming into a sealing force upon impact. Immediately, a luminous halo enveloped the sky, and the ruins below trembled.

As Xu Qing was bombarded and sealed by the luminous runes, a flicker of excitement crossed Sheng Yunzi's eyes. He clearly had a strong suspicion and only needed confirmation. With his left hand, he formed a series of hand seals, retreating three steps, each step accompanied by a distinct incantation. With the first step, a chilling gale intensified around Sheng Yunzi, turning the air frigid. The second step saw threads of green light materializing from thin air, rapidly converging before him into the nascent form of a sword. By the third step, this nascent sword rapidly expanded from palm-sized to a massive hundred-zhang greatsword.

This sword, entirely green and seemingly ethereal, exuded an astonishing aura potent enough to shatter souls. With the three steps complete, Sheng Yunzi's spiritual power remained profound. A strange gleam in his eyes, he raised his right hand and pointed at Xu Qing, his voice seeming to meld with the chilling winds around him. "Sky-Shattering Soul Severance!"

Xu Qing's body erupted in a torrent of flames, forming a surging inferno that caused the luminous runes to shatter layer by layer. His gaze fixed on the colossal green sword, his eyes narrowed. The next instant, the massive green sword, swift as lightning, roared towards Xu Qing, closing the distance in a flash. Xu Qing attempted to dodge, but the sword seemed to lock onto his soul, making evasion impossible.

A fierce glint appeared in Xu Qing's eyes, and he decided to stop dodging. He pressed his hands forward, forming a hand seal, and flames surged within him as if an entire world were ablaze, the firelight rising to engulf the sky. In an instant, the greatsword neared, bypassing Xu Qing's physical body. The moment it made contact, it seemed to pierce directly into Xu Qing's essence, shrinking as it did so. In the blink of an eye, it completely entered Xu Qing's body, transforming into a soul-severing force that surged directly towards his spirit.

Yet, the very instant this soul-severing sword pierced him, Xu Qing's Life Lamp manifested as a large black umbrella, appearing before his Sea of Consciousness and forming a protective barrier. A cold light flashed in Xu Qing's eyes; he no longer wished to conceal it. Battling a formidable foe like Sheng Yunzi, he understood that his Life Lamp couldn't truly be hidden. Its manifestation of power couldn't simply appear out of nowhere, and his shadow was already fully occupied suppressing the opponent's spiritual aperture. Given this, concealment was futile. It was better to reveal it directly and then find a way to eliminate Sheng Yunzi.

The soul-severing sword slammed into the large black umbrella. As black flames erupted around the umbrella, the green soul-severing sword proved powerless against it. It shattered instantly like an egg striking a stone, dissolving into countless green lights that were forcefully expelled from Xu Qing's body as the large black umbrella expanded. From a distance, as countless green light particles shot outwards from Xu Qing's body, a magnificent canopy suddenly appeared above his head. A black canopy, exuding an ominous aura, with black flames cascading like liquid from its edges. At this moment, Xu Qing, clad in a purple robe and suspended in mid-air, became an utterly captivating sight. It also struck awe and terror into the hearts of all cultivators observing the battle.

Not only Sheng Yunzi but everyone nearby witnessed it. "A Life Lamp!"

Sheng Yunzi's eyes widened, his mind engulfed by a surge of overwhelming emotions, his breathing becoming unprecedentedly rapid. His entire being was utterly consumed by ecstasy. He had long suspected something was unusual about Xu Qing. Despite possessing only three-fire combat power, even with an Emperor-level cultivation technique, it should have been impossible for Xu Qing to contend with him until now. The moment he saw the black umbrella, his suspicions were confirmed. He instantly understood why Xu Qing could subdue Sima Ling, and why Xu Qing dared to challenge him. All his questions were answered.

Xu Qing's expression remained calm, devoid of any panic. While the revelation of his Life Lamp was significant, what mattered more to Xu Qing was the thought that if he could seize Sheng Yunzi's Life Lamp, his own combat power, with two Life Lamps, would also reach the six-fire level. "If I eliminate Sheng Yunzi, the risk of exposure will be greatly reduced. If the news still spreads, then I'll simply leave Seven Blood Eyes, flee far away, and live anonymously. Though this would mean abandoning the interests of the main city port, and losing what I could gain there, obtaining Sheng Yunzi's Life Lamp would make it all worthwhile." A glint of murderous intent flashed in Xu Qing's eyes; he was about to strike.

However, Sheng Yunzi threw his head back and laughed heartily, waving his hands. Instantly, hundreds of sword energies materialized before him. With a flick of his sleeve, these sword energies abruptly shot towards the ground below. To the horror of the cultivators gathered outside the temples on the ground, they found themselves utterly unable to dodge. In the blink of an eye, the sword energies pierced directly through them. Piercing screams echoed. These sword energies did not dissipate. Instead, they fanned out in layers, surging into the ruins, relentlessly slaughtering every cultivator Sheng Yunzi believed had witnessed Xu Qing's Life Lamp. He was silencing witnesses. The manifestation of a Life Lamp was far too momentous; he would not permit this news to escape. He already considered Xu Qing's Life Lamp his own, and the thought of acquiring two Life Lamps, which would elevate his combat power to an unimaginable seven-fire level, filled him with intense exhilaration.

He was particularly aware that a Life Lamp held even greater significance for Heavenly Palace Golden Core cultivators. A single Life Lamp could enable a Heavenly Palace Golden Core to directly manifest a Heavenly Palace hidden within the mist of fate. Two lamps would mean two such palaces. Thus, he didn't even bother to recall his external protectors. He worried that those three might also be overcome by greed, especially since his Life Lamp was different from Xu Qing's. The reason he dared to expose his own Life Lamp was that few in Yinghuang Province could seize it, and he merely held the right to use it; it wasn't truly his. But Xu Qing's – he could sense it now – was different.

"This is a Life Lamp that completely belongs to him! How dare he display it? Seven Blood Eyes' foremost prodigy, he's been hiding so deeply!" Sheng Yunzi's eyes, for the first time, gleamed with intense avarice as he burst into laughter. "I never imagined my grand opportunity would be here, Xu Qing! My Life Lamp… it's with you!"

As he spoke, Sheng Yunzi's entire body blazed with golden light, and behind him, the Miemeng completely materialized within that radiance, revealing its full form. Its colossal body measured a hundred zhang, with a green physique, a red tail, a long, wide mouth, and a bloated belly. It appeared incredibly grotesque and bizarre. Upon its appearance, the Miemeng shrieked skyward, glaring ferociously at Xu Qing. Xu Qing's eyes narrowed in response. Behind him, black flames erupted and spread in all directions, as the Golden Crow materialized, its tail flames flickering and shaking the very air around them.

The next instant, Xu Qing, eyes blazing with killing intent, charged forward. Sheng Yunzi, his face alight with avarice, charged equally. In the blink of an eye, Xu Qing and Sheng Yunzi clashed once more in mid-air. This time, their engagement was even more furious than before. Previously, their exchanges had primarily focused on brute strength, speed, and defensive capabilities. Few magical arts were employed, and Emperor-level cultivation techniques had also remained dormant, as both sought to observe their opponent's weaknesses. Now, the confrontation had reached a fever pitch. Both sides ceased their probing, every move a lethal strike.

Sheng Yunzi unleashed his Emperor-level cultivation technique, the Miemeng Devours Heaven Art, manifesting the ferocious Miemeng bird, which lunged, trying to devour the Golden Crow. Xu Qing countered with the Golden Crow Refines All Spirits, his Golden Crow shrieking with boundless ferocity, and fiercely drew the Miemeng towards itself. From a distance, the Miemeng emanated golden light while the Golden Crow manifested black flames. One devoured, one absorbed; one seized, one refined – a colossal display that stirred the winds and clouds. Xu Qing and Sheng Yunzi mirrored their spiritual beasts, endlessly intertwining in mid-air, exchanging blows. At times, Xu Qing was blasted towards the earth, which cracked beneath him, only for him to burst forth and rejoin the fray. At other times, Sheng Yunzi was sent flying a great distance, crashing through buildings that crumbled under the impact, only to emerge amidst the roar of destruction.

As their battle raged, the sky twisted and the earth fractured. Realizing neither could overpower the other, they simultaneously summoned their respective Life Lamps, forming umbrella-like projections. Xu Qing's black umbrella radiated terrifying power with its black flames, while Sheng Yunzi's multicolored umbrella emitted streams of light, forming an inscrutable force. They mutually suppressed each other, unleashing an even more violent roar, yet neither gained the upper hand.

Only after a moment, with ferocity now burning in both their eyes, did they simultaneously unleash the full might of their Emperor-level cultivation techniques and Life Lamps, each striking the other with devastating force. The next instant, both spat blood, their bodies recoiling a hundred zhang from the central Dao Temple. They stood poised in the sky, as if cleaving the heavens in two.

On one side stood Sheng Yunzi, draped in a golden Daoist robe. A sea of golden light surrounded him, reflecting upon the earth, and a multicolored canopy shimmered above his head, effusing streams of light. Behind him, the grotesque Miemeng roared as if to swallow the heavens. Coupled with Sheng Yunzi's extraordinary visage, he resembled a young sovereign descending upon the world, exuding an air of absolute dominance. On the other side stood Xu Qing, clad in a purple Daoist robe. A black sea of fire burned around him, engulfing the sky, and a black canopy, eerie and grim with flowing flames, floated above his head. Behind him, the Golden Crow spread its wings, its eyes reflecting a fierce intent to refine the world, its tail flames flowing around Xu Qing's entire body, cloaking him in what resembled a divine robe. Combined with Xu Qing's peerless countenance, he seemed a young ancient emperor walking among mortals, a figure of timeless eminence.

Sheng Yunzi gazed at Xu Qing, his eyes burning with intense light. While brimming with murderous intent, he couldn't help but admit that Xu Qing was indeed incredibly powerful. To call him worthy of an ancient emperor's talent would be no exaggeration. In fact, in the minor worlds beyond the Ancient World Continent, such combat power could already rival that of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

The Ancient World operated on an extremely high level. According to the ancient texts he had studied, innumerable lesser worlds existed outside the Ancient World Continent before the arrival of the divine remnants. The cultivators within those lesser worlds were incredibly weak; even those at the Grand Perfection of Foundation Establishment possessed only a single-fire level of combat power. They simply could not compare to the Ancient World Continent; the disparity was immense.