Chapter 252: Sun and Moon Compete in Glory

Xu Qing gazed at Sheng Yunzi, acknowledging his immense strength. Sheng Yunzi was, without a doubt, the most formidable opponent he had encountered since embarking on his cultivation journey. This was despite Xu Qing having used his shadow to obscure one of Sheng Yunzi's Dharma Apertures, thereby reducing his combat power by one 'fire'. Otherwise, Xu Qing knew he would not have been Sheng Yunzi's match.

Even with one less 'fire', Sheng Yunzi's techniques were endless; his Emperor-level cultivation method was astonishing, and he possessed countless divine abilities. Most notably, his fate lamp's protection rendered Xu Qing's poison ineffective.

"If I acquire his fate lamp, I can also achieve such protection; my soul body, guarded by the fate lamp, will become even more complete." Xu Qing narrowed his eyes, staring at Sheng Yunzi's neck and the fate lamp cover above his head, his killing intent intensifying.

As Xu Qing looked at Sheng Yunzi, Sheng Yunzi was also gazing at Xu Qing. In his heart, Xu Qing had essentially become one of the top three cultivators of the same realm he had fought in Yinghuang Prefecture over the years. Sheng Yunzi had not expected to encounter such a person in a small place like South Phoenix Continent.

"It seems the ancestor was right; a great era has arrived, producing numerous prodigies and rising monsters. Within this great era lie immense opportunities. For instance, if I incorporate Xu Qing's fate lamp into my body, I will instantly gain an additional 'fire' of combat power at the Foundation Establishment realm. More importantly, it concerns the Heavenly Palace. The value of the fate lamp isn't just manifested in Foundation Establishment; it's more significant for the Heavenly Palace Golden Core realm. Once I fuse his fate lamp, with two fate lamps, the moment I break through to the Heavenly Palace Golden Core realm, the fate lamps will transform into Heavenly Palaces. I'll be able to project two palaces above my fate mist first. Each palace grants six 'fires'. The moment I step into the Core Formation realm, I will possess at least twelve 'fires' of power. After nurturing for a period and truly opening the first Heavenly Palace, I can gain eighteen 'fires' of power.

"And his Emperor-level cultivation method. If I kill him in today's battle and devour his 'Golden Crow Refines All Souls' cultivation method, my 'Extinct Meng' will have a greater chance of entering the second stage. Throughout history, even the descendants of ancient emperors and rulers were unable to advance their Emperor-level cultivation methods to the second stage within the Foundation Establishment realm. It's difficult to advance such methods even in the Heavenly Palace Golden Core realm, showing how incredibly hard it is. But once successful, an Emperor-level cultivation method no longer bestows just one 'fire' but six, similar to a Heavenly Palace. If I succeed, the moment I enter the Golden Core realm, I will possess eighteen 'fires' of power, and quickly reach twenty-four. With such combat power, I will undoubtedly be the foremost prodigy of Yinghuang Prefecture. Then, joining the Sword Holders with this status, my path will lead to meteoric success, directly reaching Feng Hai Commandery."

In the sky, Sheng Yunzi and Xu Qing stood on opposite sides, their auras soaring. Sheng Yunzi's side was filled with seven-colored light, turning the ground vibrant. On Xu Qing's side, darkness enveloped all directions; black flames burned the sky, emitting thunderous roars. Their gazes met across the distance, each sensing the other's rising killing intent.

The next instant, they moved simultaneously. From a distance, the scene was incredibly shocking: two different skies rapidly crashed into each other. It was the legendary divine birds, Extinct Meng and Golden Crow, screeching and devouring each other. It was two protective covers, erupting with their respective divine lights. It was a life-and-death battle between the young sovereign and the young ancient emperor. The sounds echoed in all directions, winds and clouds changed color, and the earth trembled as they exchanged blows. As the battle intensified and the sky seemed about to explode, Xu Qing and Sheng Yunzi unleashed their full power, their bodies shaking violently, forcing them both to retreat.

"Damn it, if only my six 'fires' of combat power were still active!" Sheng Yunzi's expression was grim. Flames raged within his body as he desperately tried to dispel the black shadow on his 120th Dharma Aperture. But no matter how fiercely his flames raged, the shadow stubbornly persisted, using all its might to block the volcano-like Dharma Aperture, preventing any trace of spiritual power from escaping and thus preventing Sheng Yunzi's fourth fate fire from forming.

This intensified the killing intent in Sheng Yunzi's eyes. As he retreated, he saw Xu Qing's body flicker in the distance, approaching him with sharp killing intent. A decisive look appeared in his eyes; he bit his tongue and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

"Ghost-Clad Multitude, Seal Body and Soul!"

As he spoke, his mouthful of blood instantly expanded, reaching a hundred zhang in the blink of an eye. It suddenly transformed into a blood-colored robe that violently swept towards Xu Qing. Xu Qing's eyes narrowed. The Golden Crow behind him shrieked, and black flames spread, just as he was about to burn it away. But the next moment, the blood-robe arrived forcefully, regardless of self-damage or cost, and violently coiled around Xu Qing. A sealing force suddenly erupted, causing Xu Qing's body to involuntarily pause in mid-air. A cold glint flashed in Xu Qing's eyes. The Golden Crow roared behind him, and his fate lamp burned above his head as he prepared to dispel the sealing force.

Just then, Sheng Yunzi's gaze sharpened, and he raised his right hand. "Mystic Heaven Blood Fiend Sword!"

As he uttered the words, his right hand formed a seal. In an instant, his right hand turned crimson, his whole body's blood qi surged, and a beam of blood light erupted from above his head, shooting straight into the sky. Upon closer inspection, a flying sword was distinctly visible within the blood light. The sky trembled as if dragons and serpents flew within it. Majestically, it seemed enveloped by a blood-colored curtain, turning the entire sky crimson.

Within this crimson sky, a massive sword tip appeared, spanning a hundred zhang. Upon its appearance, it plunged downwards, revealing an even grander sword body. The sword body bore numerous markings and countless severed limbs. As this sword emerged, the sky roiled with surging clouds. With immense momentum, the blood light around the sword also transformed into a sea of blood, roaring as it spun into a colossal vortex.

A terrifying power erupted within, converging at the tip of the great sword. Appallingly, this crimson great sword descended vertically, whistling towards Xu Qing. Its speed was immense, reaching him in an instant. Xu Qing wanted to retreat, but the blood-robe around his body, though constantly being burned, held him with all its might. A sense of crisis surged within Xu Qing's mind. He looked up at the approaching great sword and, without hesitation, immediately activated the protection granted by Grandpa Six.

In a flash, the great sword descended, piercing directly above Xu Qing's head, striking the protection granted by Grandpa Six. A tremendous sound, like thunder, resonated through the clouds. Xu Qing's body trembled violently. As the protective force rapidly diminished, his body was continuously pushed downwards by the overwhelming power of the great sword, almost striking the ground.

Just then, a cold glint flashed in Sheng Yunzi's eyes. His raised right hand swept horizontally towards Xu Qing. "Soul-Suppressing Demon Sword!"

A second beam of blood light suddenly erupted from above his head, also a flying sword that grew as it met the wind. Before him, it distinctly formed a second crimson great sword. This sword was the same length and shape as the one descending from the sky, bearing the same markings. However, instead of falling from above, it materialized directly in front of Sheng Yunzi and horizontally swept towards Xu Qing, like an autumn wind sweeping leaves. This scene was astonishing in its momentum; the second great sword swept through like an army, instantly collapsing all structures in its path, and causing the ground to indent as if suppressed.

As a mountain-toppling, sea-overturning force roared and exploded, Xu Qing's expression darkened. The second sword had already swept over and struck his protection directly. At this moment, with the great sword pressing down heavily from above and the other great sword sweeping horizontally in front, both longswords unleashed terrifying power. Even with his protection, Xu Qing still coughed up blood.

But Sheng Yunzi's killing moves weren't over. Almost simultaneously with the manifestation of the Mystic Heaven Blood Fiend Sword and the Soul-Suppressing Demon Sword, he raised both hands, clapped them together, and with a ferocious, murderous expression, fiercely pointed at Xu Qing. "Northern Ghost Asking Heaven Sword!"

As he spoke, instantly in the sky above Xu Qing, within the crimson vortex, ghostly figures rapidly formed. These figures were peculiar; they had no faces and carried swords on their backs. Their aura exuded an icy chill and emitted sharp sword qi. Upon appearing, they descended abruptly from the vortex, surrounding Xu Qing from all eight directions. There were eight ghostly figures in total, all facing away from Xu Qing. With a low roar from Sheng Yunzi, these eight sword-ghosts moved in unison, simultaneously raising their hands to grasp the swords on their backs. They instantly turned and, facing Xu Qing, whom they had surrounded, launched a sword strike. Sword qi surged like a vast sea, magnificent in its expanse, and its speed rivaled that of clouds and lightning. Eight swords descended upon Xu Qing.

These eight swords were too fast, like a sudden storm or a ghost appearing and disappearing in a flash of lightning. They instantly struck Xu Qing's protection. At this point, with a total of ten swords striking, Grandpa Six's protection, after being depleted at Sea Star Island and enduring for so long, finally ran out of reserve power and shattered. As it disintegrated, most of the ten swords dissipated, but some sword qi still pierced into Xu Qing's body, heading straight for his fate fire.

Xu Qing's expression was grim. Although he finally managed to completely burn away the blood-robe on his body, causing it to vanish into thin air, the sword qi erupting within him brought excruciating pain, and he spat out blood. Seeing Sheng Yunzi swiftly approach from a distance, Xu Qing's aura became unstable. Without hesitation, he rapidly retreated, his internal fate fire blazing as he fully suppressed the sword qi.

All this took time to describe, but in reality, it happened in a flash. As Xu Qing retreated, Sheng Yunzi, swift as lightning and leaving dust in his wake, caught up to him in the blink of an eye, raising his right hand to strike. However, Xu Qing had finally suppressed the sword qi within him. He abruptly turned, a fierce glint in his eyes. He raised his right hand and slammed it down fiercely towards the approaching Sheng Yunzi. Instantly, a dragon roar echoed behind him. The Cang Long materialized, its colossal body shaking heaven and earth. The moment it appeared, it passed directly through Xu Qing's body and, from behind him, swallowed the incoming Sheng Yunzi whole.

Sheng Yunzi's expression darkened. He formed a hand seal and pressed his hands forward. Instantly, the Extinct Meng behind him also moved to devour. His fate lamp protection also spread out, resisting with full power. Amidst the roar, the Cang Long collapsed, but it still forced Sheng Yunzi back several steps, causing his fate lamp protection to ripple like water. However, Xu Qing's counterattack wasn't over. Almost the instant the Cang Long shattered, the Dharma Ship appeared.

He didn't use any divine essence attack, as that would disperse its power and wasn't suitable for the current situation. As soon as the Dharma Ship appeared, Xu Qing controlled it to violently ram Sheng Yunzi, and a self-destruct force erupted within it. Sheng Yunzi had just destroyed the Cang Long when the Dharma Ship arrived, giving him no time to dodge. Xu Qing's Dharma Ship immediately self-destructed. The deafening booms reverberated in all directions as the divine essence and the ship's own power transformed into terrifying spreading fluctuations.

Sheng Yunzi's entire body trembled, his expression ferocious. He was still forced to retreat again, and his fate lamp protection fluctuated violently. The next instant, as he retreated, Xu Qing formed a hand seal with both hands. Above his head, in the sky, a purple Heaven Blade suddenly materialized and slashed down.

This wasn't enough. The poison Xu Qing had laid out around them was now finally activated by his gestures, instantly enveloping all directions. It generated corrosive power specifically targeting Sheng Yunzi's fate lamp protection, rapidly weakening it. The reason he had previously consumed Grandpa Six's protection and waited until now to activate his other moves was all to buy time. He needed to find a way to break Sheng Yunzi's fate lamp protection. Otherwise, with the fate lamp protection constantly active, this battle would be difficult. Therefore, he needed time to incorporate more poisons and blend their effects, making the pervasive toxins more corrosive. Only then could they unleash their full power upon activation. Now, as the Heaven Blade slashed down, the full force of the poison erupted.