Chapter 1246: Boy, What About the Ten Breaths We Agreed On?

"Canyue Xiancheng's Xiao Kongdong, for colluding with Sheng Nu and causing chaos in Tiankong Zhicheng, is hereby added to the Sheng Shen Diantang's Baiyi Zhushah list, effective immediately."

"The affiliated force Canyue Xiancheng, located in the Dongyu Jian Shen Tian Bazun Realm, is to be returned to the control of Sheng Shen Diantang starting today."

"During Baiyi operations, any resisters should be suppressed first; those who remain obstinate shall be killed without mercy."

"This decree is specially issued and proclaimed to the world."

On Xuankong Island, the crowd was still stunned by Xiao Kongdong's single sword strike that had obliterated the semi-saint avatar of the Three Emperors Yan Wuse, when a resounding sacred voice echoed through the air.

Above the ruins of Zui Yi Dian, a black-red scroll unfurled and expanded in everyone's view, nearly filling the entire sky.

It contained only a declarative description in ancient script, without any inherent power.

Yet, the fact that such a matter was announced via a Ban Sheng Xuan Zhi spoke volumes about its gravity and far-reaching impact.

"Ban Sheng Xuan Zhi has been issued, so the Xiao Kongdong in the mirror must be real!"

"Sheng Shen Diantang's methods might not always gain widespread approval in the Lianling Realm, but in important occasions like this and for major announcements, they wouldn't make judgments without evidence."

"Ah? Does that mean my senior brother is in real trouble? Oh no, my senior brother, how could you get involved in this!"

"You're crying too soon. Let's see who issued this Ban Sheng Xuan Zhi. Maybe your senior brother won't exist much longer."

"What do you mean?"

"Lunluo!"

Amid the noisy discussions on Xuankong Island, above the Zui Yi Dian ruins, Yan Wuse clenched his hand, turning the Ban Sheng Xuan Zhi in his palm into specks of light that merged into the Tian Dao.

This imprint entered the minds of all Lianling Shi on Xuankong Island. Once they left, they would naturally spread the word.

Yan Wuse wasn't afraid; he just always kept a contingency plan.

—In case he failed to eliminate Xiao Kongdong here and encountered some mishap afterward.

As the saying goes, old trees have drooping branches, and old people grow wise.

Even with absolute confidence, Yan Wuse wouldn't be blindly reckless like Rao Yaoyao; his roots were firmly planted in all directions.

"Sheng Jie Fusu."

With a snap of his fingers, sacred power gathered at his head, fully restoring the upper half of his face, which had only shown his mouth before.

Thus, without any external interference, the Three Emperors Yan Wuse returned to his peak state.

Crack!

He twisted his neck and cracked his knuckles, his bones popping like a long sleeper stretching in the morning light.

After the stretch came the real business.

"How interesting, so interesting."

"A fake Ba Zun An in Xiao Kongdong, a fake Xiao Kongdong in Xu Xiaoshou, a Mei Siren who cut down Number Two, a Tianren Wusui with an undying body... So many!"

"So many jumping clowns!"

Yan Wuse counted on his fingers, realizing he couldn't even tally all the "anomalies" he'd observed since being suppressed.

Yet, even these murmurs, once spread, stirred up a massive uproar on Xuankong Island.

"Does the Eighth Jianxian not exist?"

"A Tianren Wusui with an undying body?"

"Isn't that one from Yanwang's side supposed to have a decaying body? He has two constitutions? Both are among the five great absolute bodies?"

"Surely Yan Lao must be mistaken?"

"Impossible, Yan Lao couldn't be wrong!"

"So, does that mean we've all been played by them?"

Yu Ling Di wore a look of shock and doubt.

But he acted quickly. Seeing Yan Wuse fully recovered and seeming ready to leave, he darted over.

"Yan Lao, do I need to follow you..."

He had already unbound from the Ci Mian Zhi Men, but before he could finish, Yan Wuse vanished.

A residual shadow lingered before dissipating, and in the Qianli Chuanjing Shu,

Yan's figure appeared.

"This speed..."

Everyone gasped in awe.

From Zui Yi Dian to Duo Yuan, even the most skilled in evasion techniques among Tai Xu experts would need half a day.

Yet Yan Wuse had done it in the blink of an eye, almost like instant teleportation—to Duo Yuan.

Spitting on the ground, Yan Wuse rubbed his hands and smoothed back his pale golden hair, smirking as he looked up.

"Ten breaths?"

His forehead creased, right eyebrow arching high. "You seemed pretty cocky after striking down my intent avatar?"

Xiao Kongdong's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression solemn, offering no reply.

The wild winds of Duo Yuan whipped his robes, fluttering wildly, casting a sense of isolation over the entire island.

Xiao Kongdong stood like an emotionless swordsman, sword in hand, waiting alone for his opponent.

And now, the opponent had arrived as promised.

"Then I'll start counting, shall I?"

Yan Wuse whistled, raising his first finger. "Ri Lun." Still this move?

Everyone watching through the Qianli Chuanjing Shu froze.

But before they could question it, they saw light spots gathering behind Yan Wuse, forming thin layers of Ri Lun all at once.

In an instant, over ten thousand blazing white suns appeared, nearly blinding all observers.

The intense light stripped Yan Wuse's form of all other colors, leaving only his backlit silhouette in black.

Xiao Kongdong's heart skipped a beat.

He had thought of retorting, but never imagined Yan Wuse's true form could summon over ten thousand Ri Lun! He could handle one, but ten thousand?

"Go."

With a casual command, Yan Wuse sent the ten thousand Ri Lun surging toward Xiao Kongdong.

Xiao Kongdong immediately unleashed his Wuxiang Jian Ti.

His flesh dissolved in an instant, and with the Kongdong Wuxiang Sword in hand, he swung it in a motion embodying the principle of four ounces deflecting a thousand pounds.

Drawing on the "Bo Dao" power from the three thousand sword paths, this single strike diverted the ten thousand Ri Lun behind him, then redirected them forward.

"Hide Jian Shu · Na Wudao."

Xiao Kongdong didn't return the Ri Lun to sender. Instead, as he opened his mouth to swallow the Kongdong Wuxiang Sword into his body, he also absorbed the Ri Lun's power along with it.

"Oh?"

Yan's expression turned fascinating.

He watched as Xiao Kongdong's Wuxiang Jian Ti, now a formless mass of sword intent, sword qi, and sword thought, swelled after devouring such vast energy.

The ten thousand Ri Lun's power was contained by the Kongdong Wuxiang Sword at his spine, like swords sheathed.

Then...

"Infinite Qiong Shu · Guan Yi Zhan!"

Xiao Kongdong spat out the sword, reaching into his Wuxiang Jian Ti as if from a sheath, and yanked it free.

The ten thousand Ri Lun's power was instantly digested, transforming into ten thousand brilliant sword lights that slashed toward Yan Wuse.

"Yo ho ho?"

Yan's eyebrows shot up.

He knew ancient sword techniques, but Hide Jian Shu was rarely used, even rarer than ancient sword cultivators.

Xiao Kongdong wielding it to this level was truly unexpected. But...

"Is that it? Is that all?"

With a mocking tone, Yan Wuse's body shattered into spots as he faced the ten thousand sword lights enhanced by the first realm of Jiu Jian Shu.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

The endless sword lights slashed through, as if about to burst from the Qianli Chuanjing Shu, delivering a visual shock that made everyone cover their eyes, wincing from blood tears as they cursed and retreated.

But the ten thousand "Guan Yi Zhan" strikes, under Xiao Kongdong's guidance,

weren't aimed at those outside the mirror or at Yan Wuse, but at the very Dao principles of this realm. Hisses filled the air as the rules of heaven and earth, like fragile bubbles, were shredded.

Among them was the Dao of Light.

Severing the Dao of Light was to force Yan Wuse's form out of hiding.

"Clever."

Sure enough, with the Dao broken, Yan Wuse reappeared, stroking his chin, now with nowhere to hide.

Yet the ten thousand "Guan Yi Zhan" strikes circled back through the void and headed toward Xiao Kongdong.

He didn't absorb them this time.

Instead, he invoked Mo Jian Shu, manipulating the sword qi torrent to guide them.

"Qing He Jian Jie."

With a command, the ten thousand "Guan Yi Zhan" converged into a azure sword qi flood.

This strike combined Jiu Jian Shu, Hide Jian Shu, and the first realm of Mo Jian Shu, dealing true damage as it slashed toward Yan Wuse's elemental body!

"Wow!"

Yan Wuse let out a strange cry, genuinely impressed.

A simple "Guan Yi Zhan" might not threaten his true form, but this amplified version, with multiplied power, true damage, and enhancements, made his heart race slightly.

"Die Yue."

He retreated ten li in an instant, creating a safe distance.

No longer playful, Yan Wuse twirled his fingers like blooming flowers, condensing a thin silver moon before him.

Die Yue, an innate spirit technique.

It could devour most energy attacks and absorb all light-based abilities, converting them into its own defense.

In Yan Wuse's eyes, spirit techniques had no fixed rank—only how they were used.

Right now, Die Yue was the perfect technique to consume Ri Lun's power and boost its own quality.

Under the enhancement of sacred power, it could withstand "Guan Yi Zhan" while using the defense boost to further weaken the attack.

Sizzle!

A sharp crack as the first "Guan Yi Zhan" easily tore through Die Yue's defense.

But Yan Wuse retreated another half step.

With precise calculation, he pointed his finger, summoning nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine Die Yue layers, forming a barrier of moons ahead.

"Guan Yi Zhan" pierced through them all in a flash.

By the time it shredded the last layer, its remaining energy was halted by Yan Wuse with a single finger.

He handled the rest of the "Guan Yi Zhan" the same way. What seemed like a deadly assault ended with Yan Wuse retreating just ten li, lowering his eyes and stroking his beard, elegantly blocking the ten thousand strikes with his fingertips.

Everyone watching through the Qianli Chuanjing Shu was stunned.

"This control... Damn, it's absolutely masterful!"

"'Die Yue' isn't even a high-grade spirit technique, but in Yan Lao's hands, it feels like a Sheng Wu move!"

"Is this the true light of Lianling? This is the combat awareness of the three realms?"

"My senior brother doesn't stand a chance no matter how you look at it. How did Xu Xiaoshou manage to cripple Yan Lao before? This is just too, too..."

On Duo Yuan, Xiao Kongdong stood frozen, feeling like it was all a dream. He wasn't surprised Yan Wuse could block his attacks, but the precision—using no extra force and stopping "Guan Yi Zhan" with just a fingertip—was beyond his wildest expectations.

"Congratulations, you've successfully clashed with a semi-saint and survived the first round." Yan Wuse, like an outsider, vanished from ten li away and reappeared at Xiao Kongdong's side, clapping. "But I've got your power figured out now, oh."

Xiao Kongdong whipped his head around.

Yan Wuse returned to his original spot, letting his hand drop by his side.

Zzzzt—

Purple Jie Dian light gathered in Yan Wuse's palm, extending into an electric spear.

The purple spear tip pierced the ground, its tail reaching skyward, with electric serpents coiling and crawling over his body, adding a wild, domineering flair to his pale gold robes.

"Dian Liang Qiang!"

Xiao Kongdong's heart sank.

This wasn't a spirit weapon; it was a spirit technique.

If the earlier Die Yue was just playful sparring,

Then Dian Liang Qiang was the real peak Sheng Wu, the technique that first built Yan Wuse's fame in "Lianling Zhiguang."

This Sheng Wu delivered one calamity per strike, utterly ferocious.

The most bizarre legend was that in his youth, Yan Wuse had used this spear to force a Zhan Dao expert into nine deadly thunder tribulations.

And then, amidst those tribulations, he stabbed straight through, utterly unreasonable!

Seeing this Dian Liang Qiang, Xiao Kongdong immediately thought of his current realm.

"Ready for the semi-saint position?"

"Maybe something unexpected is about to happen, oh!"

Yan Wuse seemed to muse to himself, chuckling lightly before shaking the Dian Liang Qiang to spark an electric flower and charging forward.

"Jiu Jian Shu · Jiu Fo Hu Guan!"

Xiao Kongdong thrust the Kongdong Wuxiang Sword into the ground, splitting it into three, then nine.

At the same time, the eyes of the gods below opened, summoning nine immense Buddhas to encircle him.

The nine swords around him formed a sealed Jian Guan, locking him inside.

This array from Jiu Jian Shu, combined with the power of Mu Xia Shen Fo, turned the intangible into tangible—it could minimize damage from unavoidable attacks.

"A mere trifle, laughable."

Even with Xiao Kongdong's full arsenal, Yan Wuse arrived before the nine immense Buddhas and scoffed.

He didn't even need another spirit technique; he just spun the Dian Liang Qiang and smashed it down viciously.

Boom!

The space for ten thousand li exploded on the spot.

The entire Duo Yuan, already blasted once, had its mountains—no, the entire mountain range—completely obliterated by the electric light.

Endless rules and Dao principles emerged, only to be shattered like the Qianli Chuanjing Shu.

"Holy shit!"

Everyone at Zui Yi Dian nearly popped their eyes out.

They all leaped back, feeling as if they'd been struck too. Regaining their senses, they exchanged glances, speechless and awkward, until someone broke the silence.

"Open it!"

"Open it again!"

"Damn it, hurry up, I'll give you pills!"

The burly man hastily swallowed a pill, trembling as he reactivated the Qianli Chuanjing Shu, though regret flickered in his eyes.

But curiosity outweighed everything else.

The mirror reopened.

Yet on Duo Yuan, the shadows of the immense Buddhas were gone.

It was clear that the combination of Jiu Jian Shu and Xin Jian Shu had been shattered by a single strike from Dian Liang Qiang.

The burly man searched and quickly spotted a cracked Jian Guan a thousand li away.

It was still hurtling further, its momentum undiminished! It pierced through mountains, through forests, clearly blasted out of Duo Yuan's bounds by that single strike!

Whoosh.

Yan Wuse, gripping the Dian Liang Qiang, soared up to meet it.

Inside the Jian Guan, Xiao Kongdong was covered in blood, his Wuxiang body reverting to its original form, his face a mask of shock and helplessness.

"The end."

Yan Wuse struck down again with the spear.

The Jian Guan shattered, the nine swords vanished, returning to one.

Xiao Kongdong desperately unleashed his Wuxiang Jian Ti again, trying to evade, but even the formless sword body was blasted apart by the sheer force.

The Kongdong Wuxiang Sword flew out of his hand, leaving him.

Sword qi, sword intent, and sword thought exploded everywhere, streaking blood across the void.

Xiao Kongdong seized the moment, gathering his remaining power to barely reform his human shape, clinging to his last breath.

"There's a chance, I still have a chance!"

"He must think this is an illusion from Huan Jian Shu, that I'm tricking him with a temporary illusion, since Huan Jian Shu is my foundation."

"But actually, all of this is real; I couldn't even react to Dian Liang Qiang's attack... But he doesn't know that; he must still think I'm strong..."

Sizzle!

Yan Wuse appeared suddenly behind him, turning the Dian Liang Qiang with a spin, an invert, and a thrust, impaling Xiao Kongdong into the void.

Zzzzt...

Electric currents surged, thoughts halted.

Xiao Kongdong's face stiffened, his hair standing on end.

He hung his head limply, seeing the purple electric spear piercing his heart, its tip stained with a demonic, beautiful blood.

Finally, the light faded from Xiao Kongdong's pupils.

"Ugh, ugh, ugh..."

His body convulsed, his consciousness blurred, his teeth chattered uncontrollably.

"Boy, what about those ten breaths you promised?"

Yan Wuse slid his elbow down the Dian Liang Qiang, leaning back against it, his golden hair falling.

He tilted his head, catching sight of Xiao Kongdong's twitching profile, and grinned.

"Was that arrogant ten-breath countdown relying on your enemy's mercy?"

"If that's all, I'd be very disappointed, oh."