Chapter 1263: Dueling

Led by Chu Qing, the Sacred Sons of the Cangxuan Sect ascended into the air with Genesis Qi, soaring directly towards the majestic ancient mountain under the gaze of countless onlookers. Their destination was the highest and final peak. At its summit, a mysterious jade tablet glowed brilliantly, drawing countless covetous and greedy gazes.

As they neared the ancient Jade Tablet Mountain, Chu Qing, Zhou Yuan, and the others sensed a vast and immense Heaven and Earth Genesis Qi permeating the area. Under its influence, their airborne movements felt suppressed, and they began to descend.

"It seems flying is not permitted on Jade Tablet Mountain," Chu Qing remarked. His eyes narrowed slightly. With a wave of his hand, he was the first to descend, quickly landing halfway up the seventh peak. This area was dense with towering trees, and they positioned themselves atop their canopies.

Chu Qing stood at the forefront, his usually carefree expression now uncharacteristically solemn. He did not lead them further, instead fixing his gaze straight ahead. The path to the summit was completely blocked by several imposing figures, some standing, others sitting cross-legged. The three figures at the very top were Jiang Taishen, Zhantai Qing, and Jin Chanzi.

Outside Jade Tablet Mountain, countless eyes were fixated on this spot. Everyone knew this clash would be the most significant, surpassing even the engagements involving the other four great sects. Jiang Taishen and his allies had already claimed the final jade tablet for the Sacred Palace. However, Chu Qing and the Cangxuan Sect's Sacred Sons would certainly not concede. Thus, a true confrontation was inevitable for whoever wished to claim the "King of Jade Tablets." With no one else to interfere, this was likely the ideal battlefield.

"Chu Qing, if you regret this now, there's still time," Jiang Taishen said indifferently, his white hair dancing lightly in the wind. "I permit you to withdraw and compete for other jade tablets."

Chu Qing chuckled. "Jiang Taishen," he replied, "to speak like this now seems rather indecisive, doesn't it? This isn't the Jiang Taishen I know."

Genesis Qi flowed between Jiang Taishen's slender fingers. With slightly lowered eyelids, he stated, "I simply wished to avoid wasting time unnecessarily. Nevertheless, since you insist on seeking death, I won't hinder you. After all, this is indeed a fitting burial ground."

He slowly raised his hand and gently waved it. "Give them a grand welcome."

As he spoke, the Sacred Palace's Sacred Sons instantly broke into sinister smiles. With a clench of their hands, ancient, mottled scrolls appeared.

*Rip!*

They tore open the scrolls, unleashing an incredibly violent surge of Genesis Qi that caused thunderous roars to echo across the heavens and earth. Countless beams of light erupted from the scrolls, intertwining in the sky to subtly form an ancient, scroll-like diagram. Like a brilliant curtain, it overshadowed the heavens and obscured the sun. A terrifying fluctuation continuously emanated from it, causing the heavens and earth to change color.

The commotion was immediately noticed by countless onlookers, who erupted into an overwhelming clamor.

"What is that?! Such terrifying Genesis Qi fluctuations!"

"Is it some sort of Genesis Treasure?!"

"The Sacred Palace is truly formidable, to possess such hidden methods!"

At the Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace, Zuoqiu Qingyu and Lv Luo exchanged glances, a hint of worry in their beautiful eyes as they sensed the immense power of the Sacred Palace's technique.

On the seventh peak, Chu Qing also looked up at the ancient light diagram, his pupils contracting slightly. "Is that the Spirit Slaughtering Diagram?!" he murmured.

At his words, Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan's expressions changed.

"The Spirit Slaughtering Diagram? How can that be!"

Legend speaks of a Saint-grade Genesis Treasure within the Sacred Palace called the Spirit Slaughtering Diagram. Its power is immeasurable, capable of destroying heaven and earth. It's rumored that the former Sacred Palace Master even fought the Cangxuan Grand Ancestor using this very treasure. Such a supreme treasure, almost a foundational artifact of the sect, how could it possibly be in the hands of a few Sacred Sons? Furthermore, their abilities would surely be insufficient to activate it.

"Your perception isn't bad," Jiang Taishen said with a faint smile. "This is indeed the Spirit Slaughtering Diagram, but it's merely a replica personally refined by our esteemed Palace Master, and it can only be used once."

Nevertheless, Li Qingchan and the others felt their hearts sink. The Spirit Slaughtering Diagram was a genuine Saint-grade Genesis Treasure. Even if what Jiang Taishen held was merely a replica, its power was still not to be underestimated.

"However, I believe it should be more than enough to eliminate you." He raised his hand. "Proceed."

*Boom!*

As his voice faded, the ancient light diagram hovering in the sky suddenly erupted with a thunderous roar. The Genesis Qi from the heavens and earth surged towards it, completely absorbed by the diagram.

*Hiss!*

Moments later, the center of the light diagram slowly split open, resembling a monstrous maw. From it, countless light orbs, each the size of a human head, spewed forth. Each orb was a condensed mass of immense Heaven and Earth Genesis Qi, emitting an aura of extreme danger.

The next moment, countless Genesis Qi orbs descended in an overwhelming barrage, their dazzling light obscuring the sky. Each orb was as potent as a Sacred Son's full-strength attack. With such a massive bombardment, even a figure like Chu Qing would struggle to withstand it directly.

Outside the mountain, countless onlookers watched in utter horror. They clearly hadn't anticipated the Sacred Palace's trump card to be unleashed so swiftly. Even if the Cangxuan Sect's Sacred Sons could withstand such an assault, it would undoubtedly result in heavy casualties. The Sacred Palace's might was indeed not to be easily provoked.

Below, Li Qingchan and Kong Sheng's expressions visibly changed, as they too recognized the terrifying power of the Sacred Palace's offensive.

Just as they were about to intervene, Chu Qing suddenly ascended. Gazing at the descending destructive orbs, he declared, "Jiang Taishen, with a mere replica, you expect to wipe out all the Cangxuan Sect's Sacred Sons in one sweep? You vastly underestimate the foundation of my Cangxuan Sect."

He clasped his hands together, then slowly parted them. As Genesis Qi light converged in his palms, a delicate, small azure umbrella materialized between them. Ancient runes were etched onto the umbrella's canopy, and upon its appearance, it immediately began to absorb the Heaven and Earth Genesis Qi. The small azure umbrella shot forth, rapidly expanding against the wind to a thousand feet in size, where it hovered directly above the Cangxuan Sect's Sacred Sons.

*Boom! Boom!*

Countless destructive orbs rained down, striking the azure umbrella. However, ripples immediately spread across its surface, directly deflecting all the destructive orbs back. The deflected orbs collided with each other in the sky, unleashing violent shockwaves.

Li Qingchan and the others gazed at the enormous azure umbrella in astonishment. "Is that the Sect Master's Heavenly Net Umbrella?" she gasped.

Sect Master Qingyang possessed a treasure known as the Heavenly Net Umbrella. Though not a Saint-grade Genesis Treasure, it was a top-grade Heaven-tier artifact and a rare treasure. They had never imagined it would appear in Chu Qing's possession. Evidently, Sect Master Qingyang had secretly entrusted this item to Chu Qing to counteract the Sacred Palace's tactics.

From atop the massive tree, Jiang Taishen observed the enormous azure umbrella, his brow furrowing slightly. Chu Qing indeed possessed hidden abilities. It seemed even the Spirit Slaughtering Diagram wouldn't easily wipe them out.

"Heh, interesting," Jin Chanzi chuckled from the side. "Sect Master Qingyang entrusted even the Heavenly Net Umbrella to Chu Qing. He seems quite wary of our Sacred Palace."

Zhantai Qing's red lips parted slightly. "With the Heavenly Net Umbrella protecting them, our Spirit Slaughtering Diagram likely won't be able to eliminate them."

Jiang Taishen gave a faint smile. "It's fine," he said. "We never intended to dispatch them so easily. The Spirit Slaughtering Diagram's ultimate purpose isn't to kill them, but to trap them."

He clasped his hands and swiftly formed a hand seal. In the sky, the colossal light diagram suddenly quivered, spewing forth an immense mist. Within the mist, sharp whistling sounds resonated, causing people's souls to tremble and disorienting them.

"This Soul-Bewildering Mist can disorient the soul. Trapped within it, one is effectively confined in a heaven-and-earth prison, with no escape."

Jiang Taishen lightly flicked his sleeve, casting a calm glance at the trapped Cangxuan Sect Sacred Sons. "The rest of the Sacred Palace's Sacred Sons," he instructed, "continue to activate the Spirit Slaughtering Diagram and maintain the suppression." He then turned his attention to Zhantai Qing and Jin Chanzi. "The three of us can use this opportunity to head straight to the summit, retrieve the jade tablet, and then return to have some fun with them."

As his words faded, he pushed off with his toe, his figure shooting forward. Zhantai Qing and Jin Chanzi nodded, a smirk playing on their lips as they looked towards the mist-shrouded area. These Sacred Sons of the Cangxuan Sect truly harbored wishful thinking, attempting to contend with the Sacred Palace. They wondered how dismayed Chu Qing and the others would look once the jade tablet was in their possession. With these thoughts, both sneered aloud, then darted forward, following Jiang Taishen as they swiftly sped towards the majestic mountain peak.