Chapter 1070: Sword Reverses Yin and Yang to Open Prison Gates, Ten Kings of Hell Tread the Mortal World

Before he could think further, the next second, Mei Jiren provided the answer.

Facing a Half-Saint, Mei Jiren never intended to defeat him using only the first two stages of the "Void" and "Nine" sword arts. The echoes of the Nine Sword Art hadn't faded when another sound, layered upon the first, emerged!

"A sword art known as 'Ghost.' The way of the ghost: Yin and Yang hinder, hell's gate seals. Now, the sword opens the gate, and a hundred ghosts walk at night."

As he finished speaking, the sky darkened.

Xu Xiaoshou, despite being in a vanished state, still felt as if he had once again entered the Nightwatcher's domain, his six senses nearly gone. The Nine Swords had barely sealed the gate of hell, and the shadowy entities flying out were originally just illusory sword-shapes, mere false constructs derived from the Nine Sword Art. Now, guided by the Ghost Sword Art, these shadowy entities, these illusions, all transformed into ferocious, clawing specters. They swept through the scene, countless in number, blotting out the sky and sun!

Not only that, but the Ten Yama Kings, who Mei Jiren had been standing on, simultaneously broke free from their shackles, stepping into the air and leading the charge. Ghost Kings at the fore, lesser spirits sweeping through. And Mr. Jiren, commanding the hundred ghosts, seemed possessed by a ghost god at this moment, his intent directed at the mortal realm, his aura turning profoundly chilling.

This sword strike was finally fully formed! As it reached its climax, the Forest of Miracles truly manifested a "Night Parade of One Hundred Demons," with monstrous specters filling the fields and piercing wails echoing across the sky. The shrill screams were bone-chilling, causing goosebumps and a sense of profound dread in anyone who heard them.

"Ghost Sword Art, First Realm, Soul Manipulation Arcana..."

Xu Xiaoshou's hair stood on end, his pupils trembled, and he shivered uncontrollably. This was his first time witnessing the Ghost Sword Art among the Nine Sword Arts, and it was safe to say... he was truly terrified! Because the Ghost Sword Art, unleashed after Mr. Jiren had already laid the groundwork with two major realms, was simply too astonishing and terrifying.

Could even a being specializing in soul arts block such an astonishingly brilliant sword strike for a single moment? And did Jiang Buyi possess any defensive methods for the soul or will?

To put it another way! With the "Sword Manifestation" enhancing it, this sword strike could undoubtedly sever a Half-Saint's divine soul. And the so-called Half-Saint Jiang Buyi... did your soul also possess the highest level of Half-Saint defense?

***

"We came to the right place!"

A hundred miles away, two figures stealthily approached amidst rustling sounds. Under the utterly dark sky, a cold moon hung overhead. Seeing the scene of a hundred ghosts parading before him, Xiao Kongtong trembled with renewed excitement.

"What... what is this?!" Ye Xiaotian was utterly stunned. What was he seeing? Having only been crouched outside the battle for half an instant, how many stages of the Nine Great Sword Arts had Mei Jiren unleashed in succession? Didn't they say ancient sword cultivators spent their entire lives struggling to even master the first realm of *one* of the Nine Great Sword Arts? How could it be that for some people... realms were just thrown around like they were worthless, appearing in a grand, sweeping display?

"That's Mr. Jiren!" Xiao Kongtong clutched his sack tightly, staring intently ahead. "The world only sees Mr. Jiren's refined and gentle side. No one would imagine his true nature has been like this all along, from beginning to end. It's just that in the past, no one could force him to use his sword."

"Ghost Sword Art?" Even Ye Xiaotian, as slow-witted as he was, knew what it was upon seeing the hundred ghosts sweep by.

"Precisely." Xiao Kongtong nodded slightly, inexplicably excited, and muttered to himself: "Sword reverses Yin and Yang to open the gate of hell, Ten Yama Kings step into the mortal world. Samsara collapses and Fengdu falls, a million soul banners escort ghosts and gods... Undoubtedly, this is the most orthodox Ghost Sword Art; this is 'Soul Manipulation Arcana'!"

Ye Xiaotian was dumbfounded for another moment. "I understand the principle, but what are *you* talking about?" Why did this person spout such flowery phrases—incantations? cultivation techniques?—whenever the Nine Great Sword Arts were mentioned?

"Look carefully. Is the scene before us not exactly as I described?" Xiao Kongtong didn't explain, staring intently, afraid to miss even a single moment of the unfolding spectacle.

Ye Xiaotian looked again, comparing it. Indeed, the Nine Swords summoned by Mei Jiren's Sword Manifestation had now established the gate of hell, and the Ten Yama Kings he had been standing on had already charged forward.

But...

"I saw the first two lines, but what about the rest? Where's Fengdu, where are the soul banners?" The more Ye Xiaotian watched, the more his hair stood on end. Ancient sword cultivators truly were abnormals!

"If you were to see the last two lines, you'd be not far from death." Xiao Kongtong didn't turn his head, explaining with extreme speed: "These are the two realms my teacher summarized when he first performed the Ghost Sword Art. The first part describes the Ghost Sword Art's First Realm, 'Soul Manipulation Arcana,' and the latter part describes its Second Realm, 'Lord of Fengdu.'"

"If it truly reached the 'Lord of Fengdu' level, once the sword was used... either you and I would both be affected, our divine souls forcibly manipulated by the wielder, becoming part of that hundred-ghost parade to harm others. Or, you would be the wielder's target, needing to single-handedly contend against Fengdu's million-strong soul army! Such a sword strike could even take down a ghost god, let alone a mere King Stage cultivator like you?"

Ye Xiaotian: "..."

What freaks! Ancient sword cultivators truly were freaks among freaks! Could soul attributes also be cultivated through acquired means?

"But if it's just 'Soul Manipulation Arcana,' can it really kill a Half-Saint?" Ye Xiaotian asked again. "Why didn't Mr. Jiren use the latter two lines you mentioned?"

"I don't know." Xiao Kongtong also had no answer, only speculating: "Perhaps it wouldn't, or perhaps, he held back?"

Held back... Ye Xiaotian was dumbfounded. A Void trying to fight a Half-Saint, and you're telling me the supposedly weaker party was still holding back? Is this really a Void, really a Sword Immortal?

"Just watch." Xiao Kongtong didn't want to say any more. "Even if he held back, with the three realms of ancient sword arts combined so perfectly and the 'Sword Manifestation' enhancement, this is already a sword strike no ordinary Half-Saint could withstand."

***

The Half-Saint, viewing from within the rainbow celestial cloud that formed his body, was shocked himself. Within the battle, Jiang Buyi was utterly bewildered. At this moment, as the sole target, he was completely overwhelmed. Who would have thought that a mere Sword Immortal, truly below the Half-Saint level, could unleash a sword strike so powerful after using "Sword Manifestation"?!

"Is *this* considered one sword strike?" Jiang Buyi was practically cursing under his breath. One sword strike unleashed: "Sword Manifestation" enhancement, three realms. Forcibly elevated from the Void level to a height capable of blaspheming and even slaying a Saint! Jiang Buyi finally understood Mei Jiren's earlier words. He truly wasn't exaggerating!

"This sword... it can wound a Half-Saint, perhaps even slay one, but that remains unknown."

That "remains unknown" part, it turns out, was because he genuinely hadn't slain one before, not something added to mislead him or exaggerate!

"Madman!" Jiang Buyi cursed furiously. He was no titan when it came to souls. His only comfort was a Half-Saint level soul-defending treasure, which, for now, might just barely suffice. But even if it was enough... what advantage could he gain from resisting this soul-damaging sword art that was nearly capable of slaying a Saint?

Jiang Buyi regretted it. He really should have left immediately back then. Face wasn't important; if his soul was harmed in this battle, that would be truly counterproductive! But there was no medicine for regret in this world. With Ghost Kings leading and a hundred specters sweeping past, clawing and snarling as they rushed towards his position, Jiang Buyi realized he was locked on. He had no choice but to take this sword strike head-on! And since he had to play the role of that foolish fat man, even if his face was truly battered, he had to endure!

"Hold on!""Jiang Buyi, you are a Half-Saint!"

From being supremely arrogant to having his will completely crushed by the "Sword Manifestation." At this moment, Jiang Buyi was completely unaware that he had actually developed fear towards a sword cultivator below the Half-Saint level. Normally, he would immediately eliminate such an emotion that could potentially become a future inner demon. But with the current crisis, he couldn't afford to worry about such things.

"Soul-Loss Sacred Tower!" Jiang Buyi, who had never used a weapon from beginning to end, believing it beneath him to use one against such weaklings, summoned his first Sacred Artifact, and it was a defensive one. He raised both hands. A dark, bruised-purple holy light descended from the sky. This was a soul-attribute Sacred Tower, combining offense and defense, entirely translucent and profoundly mysterious. As soon as it descended, it enveloped Jiang Buyi. The thirty-foot-high tower, with walls nine feet thick, could provide anyone with a genuine sense of spiritual security.

But the moment the Sacred Tower settled, Jiang Buyi clearly sensed something was wrong. A faint premonition made him realize that this single Sacred Tower might not be enough to withstand Mei Jiren's extraordinary soul attack.

"Immortal-Fiend Shard!" Through the translucent Soul Sacred Tower, everyone could see Jiang Buyi, in a hurry, summoning another ancient bronze shard from within his body. The ancient shard, initially no bigger than a palm, transformed into a human-sized, rapidly rotating object after being infused with Saint Origin, hovering before Jiang Buyi. Faintly, a trace of power surpassing even a Half-Saint emanated from it.

"Mei Jiren!" Jiang Buyi suddenly roared. Even the Immortal-Fiend Shard was trying to emerge on its own to protect him—this was something he hadn't anticipated. But with this supreme treasure, capable of withstanding even Saint Emperor attacks, out from the Teardrop Family treasury, he no longer had any fear. Physical, elemental, spiritual, soul attacks... the Immortal-Fiend Shard could block them all! In his haste, Jiang Buyi found something he could rely on for safety, no longer fearing any so-called ancient sword cultivator attacks!

"Come on!" Jiang Buyi coldly declared, "This Saint will stand right here! If I take a single step back, consider me..."

He hadn't even finished speaking when that incredibly flat voice, like Death itself reciting a decree, suddenly reappeared in his ears.

"A sword art known as..."

Jiang Buyi's mind instantly exploded. At that moment, a cold gust pierced him from his feet straight to the crown of his head. The Nine Sword Arts, *three* realms have already been used! What are you doing?! What more do you want to do?! You old bastard, get lost!

Jiang Buyi had no idea how an ancient sword cultivator like Mei Jiren would attack next. In his terror, he could only follow his spiritual intuition, suddenly shaking his hand and conjuring the nine great soul-defending Sacred Artifacts stored within his soul. A bell, a cauldron, a shield, a bead, a talisman, blood, a dragon soul, crystal armor, and an eyeball... All nine items, creating an impenetrable barrier within the Soul-Loss Sacred Tower, enveloped Jiang Buyi, forming an absolute soul defense.

But no matter how impenetrable, as the hundred ghosts bore down, Mei Jiren's unperturbed voice still pierced his eardrums, making his hair stand on end and sending a chill down his spine.

"A sword art known as 'Illusion.' The way of illusion...""Splendid and magnificent, a divine realm in the heavens, boundless and eternally unwavering...""Calling truth falsehood, calling falsehood truth, all things are illusion, time and space transformed..."

The mesmerizing incantation, each word a burst. Jiang Buyi's mind was instantly blasted blank.

"Im-poss-ible!" he roared in shock and fury.

But before the incantation had fully settled, Jiang Buyi watched in horror as his Soul-Loss Sacred Tower, which was supposed to protect him, seemed to turn into an illusion, and the hundred ghosts passed right through it! And the nine great Saint-level soul artifacts around him, which originally enveloped him impenetrably, now appeared to have an added layer between his "person" and the "artifacts"—a vast distance, though seemingly close!

"What is this?""Spatial attribute? Temporal attribute?""You're just an ancient sword cultivator; how could you possibly master so many things at once? You're not Eight Revered An... This is impossible!"

Jiang Buyi was going mad. Infinite holy power suddenly erupted around him, forming a shield. But that shield, the next second, moved away from him, like a compassionate Bodhisattva trying to protect the entire Void Island from harm by this sword strike. But the hundred ghosts were now right in front of him! Them! These specters! They all passed through!

"Time... Space... Trans... fer..."

At the last moment, even Jiang Buyi himself understood what kind of ultimate sword art Mei Jiren was using. His so-called Illusion Sword Art's First Realm, "Time-Space Transfer," was actually used as support, sending everything that had just been set up directly before him. The sword light magnified in his pupils. The specters sublimated in an instant.

*Whoosh!* Jiang Buyi felt himself floating, entering a state of exquisite beauty. His entire being had entered another time-space. In this time-space, the Soul-Loss Sacred Tower was gone, the Immortal-Fiend Shard was gone, and the nine great soul-defending Sacred Artifacts were gone.

All that remained... were ferocious specters appearing, and piercing wails. Jiang Buyi abruptly snapped back to reality. It wasn't that he had floated into another time-space; it was Mei Jiren's sword strike that had sent all his soul-defending Sacred Artifacts into another time-space. And then, it had unreservedly unleashed its entire soul attack upon him, who was now stripped of even "clothing defense."

—Absolute soul attack vs. an undefended Half-Saint not specializing in soul arts.

***

Outside the battle, Xiao Kongtong abruptly stood up, while Ye Xiaotian clapped his hands over his head. Even Xu Xiaoshou, in his vanished state, couldn't help but hold his jaw, which had dropped in astonishment, utterly awestruck by this "Time-Space Transfer" that was subtly brilliant, like a divine maneuver!

*Boom!*

Without any suspense, the colossal suspended greatsword materialized by the Void Sword Art was the first to blast Jiang Buyi's physical body out from amidst his various soul-defending Sacred Artifacts, through parallel time-space, sending it behind his soul Sacred Artifacts. And then...

*Swish swish swish swish swish swish swish swish swish!*

Nine sword cries sounded as the Nine Sword Art, having completed its hell-gate formation, angrily tore through the air and pierced into Jiang Buyi's Half-Saint true body: one into his forehead, one into his throat, one into his chest, one into each shoulder, one into each palm, and one into each foot! *Sizzle sizzle!* Flesh was torn, skin ripped open. Jiang Buyi was firmly locked and confined in the void, only his pupils trembling as he awaited the arrival of the hundred ghosts.

The Ten Yama Kings followed closely behind the swords. *Boom!* One of them struck, sending Jiang Buyi's soul body flying out of his physical body. The robust, sturdy, and extraordinary Half-Saint soul body was like fish on a chopping block before the utterly ferocious, several-yards-tall Ghost King, ready to be slaughtered at will.

*Rip!*

An arm torn off, a leg ripped away, a head twisted off, a torso severed... In a flash of light, Jiang Buyi's soul body disintegrated in the high sky, behind his physical body! Lesser spirits swept through, night crows gnawed at his soul. The scene was bloody and unbearable to witness.

*Hiss-ah-ah-ah—!*

The agonizing echoes of his soul reverberated through the heavens.

Not long after... heaven and earth finally returned to silence, and the Forest of Miracles ceased its operation. Outside the battle, the three observers were all thoroughly horrified.

"Alas." Mei Jiren gazed at the miserable scene before him, silently closed his eyes, then dispelled the Sword Manifestation, letting out a long sigh. "This old man said, this sword strike can wound a Half-Saint, perhaps even slay one."