Chapter 1514: Double Owl Dragon Queen and Seven Slaughter Pillars Kill All Who Do Not Submit and Execute the Defiant

"Retreat!"

Mei Siren shouted sternly.

Everyone followed him, retreating step by step, including the Ban Sheng figures.

The battlefield was completely overshadowed by the magnificent golden palace, and Xu Xiaoshou's figure was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, through the Chuan Dao Jing that Feng Zhongzui was holding up, one could vaguely see some scenes inside the palace by piercing through it.

Ye Xiaotian was also retreating.

He was on the verge of running away with Yu Jing Cheng in his arms, but that would be utterly ridiculous.

Was this city his, Dao Xuanji's, or Xu Xiaoshou's?

Why wasn't anyone taking care of it?

He wanted to stay and face life and death together, but it seemed too troublesome. In the end, his eyes darted around, and he lifted up the Zhang Zhong Shi Jie in his palm, swiftly pulling away.

"Di Jian's supreme Tian Jie..."

"The eruption in a perfectly matched state..."

"Bei Bei isn't holding back at all; she's even pulling out her ultimate trump card... But, as expected of a Jian Xian!"

Inside the grand palace, Xu Xiaoshou remained calm and unafraid, taking in all the changes around him, even daring to venture into danger.

He had witnessed Ming Jian Tian Jie before.

The strongest instance was Mei Siren's Tai Cheng Jian Tian Jie, which had boldly clashed against the avatar of Wang Ze Sheng Di's will!

Yet, even in that strongest form...

Mei Siren and Tai Cheng Jian weren't a perfect match; that was a forced Tian Jie, so its power was weakened.

This was Xu Xiaoshou's first time seeing someone like Bei Bei, a Jian Xian wielding a Ming Jian on the level of the Hun Dun Wu Da Shen Qi, performing a Tian Jie.

And it was a perfect Tian Jie!

The only regret was that her cultivation realm was far below Mei Siren's...

"From my initial estimate, it has the combat power of a Ban Sheng level, and not just an ordinary one."

"This might be the root of why she could rank among the Qi Jian Xian and take on the role of Bai Yi Zhi Dao Zhu Zai."

"Are you afraid?"

Xu Xiaoshou looked down at Zang Ku, which was stiffly refusing to straighten and trembling uncontrollably.

"Wu..."

Zang Ku was almost sobbing—who wouldn't be afraid?

Even from Di Jian, Xu Xiaoshou had never seen a Jian Ling with such vivid emotions.

He provoked it, saying, "If you're afraid, I can swap you out for your two big brothers right now, but then you'll never surpass them for the rest of your life."

Snap!

Zang Ku suddenly sprang straight, its sword body taut.

The sound of its sword cry echoed endlessly in the magnificent palace.

Xu Xiaoshou smiled and grabbed it, giving it a light shake to form a sword flower. "Here it comes..."

Winds howled, and the heavens changed color.

Under the watchful eyes of thousands, the crowd in front of the Five Domains' Chuan Dao Jing saw a massive illusory shadow of an eight-faced Di Jian, tens of thousands of zhang high, suddenly condense atop the enormous imperial palace trapping Xu Xiaoshou.

It towered into the clouds, hanging without falling, its enormous sword tip already piercing into the imperial palace.

Merely standing there, without any command, it drew in endless Jian Yi from tens of thousands of li around, gradually arming and solidifying itself.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

The Zhang Zhong Shi Jie outside Yu Jing Cheng was torn open by spatial leaps, and countless spirit swords howled in.

One by one, the flying swords turned golden as they flew, spitting out sword light that converged into golden Jian Long.

Boom, boom, boom...

Outside the city, the Jian Xian and Jian Sheng spectators, along with the Jian Li from various places around Yu Jing Cheng, surged in like a spectacular Jian Chao.

The tide swept in from all directions, formed by various Jian Yi, and ultimately solidified into another golden Jian Long.

The two Jian Long thus knocked open the doors of the imperial palace and charged into the heart of Di Jian.

The Chuan Dao Jing's image shifted, entering the Tian Jie intent.

They saw that the palace's dome had been breached, with a massive sword tip like one that could destroy the world protruding in.

A person under the sword was like a drop of dew hanging in the desert, offering scant relief but utterly insignificant.

"Di Jian: Double Xiao Long!"

Accompanying this call, a majestic illusory shadow of a golden empress appeared on the sole supreme throne in the palace.

She merely floated up, gently raising both arms...

Boom! Boom!

The two massive golden dragons outside the palace charged in with the momentum of ten thousand swords, loyally protecting their ruler.

Even the mere aftermath swept over like waves of Jian Yi tens of thousands of zhang high, instantly submerging the isolated boat and drowning Xu Xiaoshou, who was trapped in the imperial palace.

"Has Xu Xiaoshou died?!"

Feng Zhongzui exclaimed in shock, quickly zooming in on the image.

Everyone hurriedly looked, only to see Xu Xiaoshou in the Jian Yi waves, like a rootless duckweed...

But he was the root!

He rooted himself in the void, unmoved as the surging Jian Yi passed through his body.

He observed the swords forming thoughts, his fingertip brushing over Zang Ku, then casually flicking it upward.

"Bo Jian Style."

In that instant, the myriad waves reversed.

Following Zang Ku's sword thought, it slashed toward the empress's figure on the throne.

"Bo Dao?"

"Reverse Dao?"

Feng Zhongzui cried out in alarm, "He's reversed the Jian Yi waves of Double Xiao Long, using sword thought as the edge to return a strike! This is the second-generation Che Shen Nian!"

The image cut to the empress's illusory shadow on the throne.

She stood in the air, with a golden dragon coiling around each sleeve, exuding an aura of unyielding authority.

"No mistake!"

"Double Xiao Long was just the aftermath earlier."

"Double Xiao Long is the manifestation of absolute imperial control over ten thousand sword techniques; Bei Jian Xian's mastery of this realm is simply masterful."

"Now, this is the true attack after Di Jian's Tian Jie—keep your eyes wide open!"

As Feng Zhongzui's passionate words fell, a chilling sound suddenly exploded in the imperial palace:

"Trespassers, execute!"

The empress flicked her sleeve, and the golden dragon from her right arm extended. "Go!"

Roar! The dragon's cry stirred spatial waves, distorting even the Chuan Dao Jing's image.

In the next instant, it collided with the Jian Yi waves led by the sword thought.

Bang, bang, bang, bang...

The violent explosions and layered spatial distortions seemed about to blast through the Chuan Dao Jing and hit the faces of the spectators in the Five Domains.

But it was only a brief standoff...

"Zang Ku can't hold on!" Feng Zhongzui shouted sharply:

"How can a San Pin spirit sword withstand the might of Di Jian's liberation from a Hun Dun Shen Qi?"

"What is Xu Xiaoshou doing? If you want to die, don't drag Zang Ku down—it's such a spirited sword... How about giving it to me?"

The once-unstoppable sword thought suffered its first defeat, torn to shreds by the golden dragon, the embodiment of Di Jian's liberated absolute imperial will.

Xu Xiaoshou's face turned grave; this was the first time he'd seen someone "outmatch" Che Shen Nian in a direct attack.

"Execute!"

The empress decreed, and the golden dragon bit down from above.

In a critical moment, Xu Xiaoshou instinctively thought to block with his sword, but sensing Zang Ku's trembling emotions, he realized its quality wasn't up to the task.

So...

When facing an attack of this level and only able to respond in the ancient Jian Xiu way...

My first choice is still to have Si Jian.

Haven't I relied on the fearsome reputation of having Si Jian for so long?

If I were Ba Zun An or Mei Siren, with only a poor sword in hand, how would I turn the tables with the weak against Di Jian's Tian Jie?

In the blink of an eye!

Xu Xiaoshou could only draw his sword, unfolding the Qing He Jian Jie around him.

As Zang Ku followed, it transformed into a massive, sky-piercing cyan great sword.

In that instant, even the golden dragon's advance was slightly delayed.

"Hong Mei San Liu: Qing Shi Jian!"

This Qing Shi Jian, condensed from the entire Qing He Jian Jie and struck in a way that broke through space and time, viciously slashed at the head of the golden dragon on the right arm of Double Xiao Long.

"Xu Xiaoshou's gone mad!"

Outside the scene, Feng Zhongzui's hand trembled at the sight.

Before he could say more, the next instant, everyone understood why.

Crack!

Qing Shi Jian splintered with cracks.

Inside, Zang Ku shook violently, even shedding a black fragment from its sword body.

"Using force to counter force is a good strategy, but Zang Ku is too fragile—it's not fragile by nature, but it can't compare to Di Jian! Is Xu Xiaoshou trying to turn Zang Ku into another broken sword like Qing Ju after Duan Jian?"

Feng Zhongzui's eyes widened.

It couldn't withstand it...

Just from this clash, Xu Xiaoshou realized that even the second flow of Hong Mei San Liu couldn't endure Di Jian Tian Jie's impact.

The others probably couldn't either.

It was too tough!

Bei Bei's perfect unity of person and sword with Di Jian had elevated her combat power to an ultimate peak.

Was this the power of a "perfect Tian Jie"?

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't bear to let Zang Ku shatter like that.

As Qing Shi Jian clashed, he immediately withdrew the sword.

But withdrawing meant losing not just Qing Shi Jian and Zang Ku, but all the momentum he'd built up from the start!

Swoosh...

The golden dragon's shadow pierced straight through his chest, splattering blood across the entire imperial palace.

Feng Zhongzui's shocked cry rang out just in time:

"He's wounded!"

"I heard even Xuanji Dian... ow, old family head, don't hit!"

"Anyway, I heard Xu Xiaoshou rarely gets injured enough to bleed these days; even some... oh, certain Ban Sheng can't touch him at all."

"For Zang Ku's sake, he endured the strike of Double Xiao Long with his own body. I love it... but he'll regret it!"

In the imperial palace, Xu Xiaoshou grunted, lowering his gaze to see the wound on his chest already healing...

But just then!

He felt something wrong—his blood and qi were rapidly boiling inside, giving birth to streams of golden Jian Qi.

The Jian Qi turned into ten thousand swords within his body, rampaging and destroying everything, before being summoned back to the massive Di Jian overhead...

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

In the Chuan Dao Jing's image, countless golden Jian Qi shot out from Xu Xiaoshou's body, bringing a mist of blood that returned to the towering giant sword suspended above the imperial palace.

That world-piercing sword shadow instantly became more solidified.

"Xu Xiaoshou, injured?"

At that moment, in front of the Chuan Dao Jing, Gu Qing and the others—Qiao Qian Zhi Xiao Qi Xiu, Xin Gu Gu, Shuo Shu Ren, and everyone else on good terms with Xu Xiaoshou—leaned forward in unison, their expressions tense.

This guy who dared to tear apart Sheng Di Qilin with his hands—was he truly unable to handle Di Jian Tian Jie now that his power was restricted?

Was Qi Jian Xian Bei Bei really that terrifying?

"He underestimated Di Jian and also underestimated Tian Jie..." Gou Wu Yue murmured softly.

"That's right, as Bai Yi Zhi Dao Zhu Zai, how could I be just a figurehead?" Dao Qiong Cang habitually sided with the Sheng Shen Hall.

Gou Wu Yue silently turned back, glancing at him.

Sometimes, he really couldn't tell if this flashy old Daoist was unconsciously sarcastic, doing it on purpose, or if he was just overthinking it.

Of course, there was another possibility...

This guy was pretentious to the bone; even a simple sentence could be interpreted straight or twisted, hinting or mocking.

"What about you? What do you think?" Dao Qiong Cang ignored Gou Wu Yue, rubbing his hands and glancing at Ba Zun An...

In the end, he turned his head back and chuckled at Gou Wu Yue.

He was doing it on purpose!

Gou Wu Yue didn't even bother to glare; he just looked toward Ba Zun An, who was focused intently.

Ba Zun An had been staring at the Chuan Dao Jing's image for so long that his eyes felt dry and blurry. He rubbed them and said hoarsely:

"He's still lacking and underestimated Ming Jian Tian Jie."

"But don't forget, he's only been in the scene for over a year; the strongest Tian Jie he's seen was Mei Siren's imitation."

"You couldn't resolve Nu Lan Zhi Sheng, Mei Siren wasn't compatible enough with Tai Cheng Jian, Rao Yao Yao sought sesame while losing watermelon, Xuan Cang ignored her completely, and I'm even worse now... We're all useless."

"In comparison, Bei Bei is young and vigorous, like a copy of Wen Ting and that other one; she's not to be underestimated, and Di Jian's supremacy is beyond doubt."

"The taste of a perfect Tian Jie—besides those kids taught by Old Wen in Zang Jian Zong, only you all could have experienced it on me back in the day... Who could Xu Xiaoshou learn from?"

His words made people want to punch him, yet also fall into deep thought.

Ba Zun An pointed at the Chuan Dao Jing and continued to Gou Wu Yue:

"But he's still doing what he does best—he's learning."

"From Di Jian's Tian Jie after its supreme state, from Zang Ku's direct clash to test its strength and suffer the consequences, from no resistance to personally feeling the power of a perfect Tian Jie..."

"There's no better way to solve problems than through direct contact; Bei Bei will be his best teacher, filling in the gap no one else could teach him."

"And after that..."

Ba Zun An paused, and Gou Wu Yue, Dao Qiong Cang, Shuo Shu Ren, Wei Feng, and even some people drawn in by this high-level discussion in front of the Chuan Dao Jing, all turned to look.

Ba Zun An smiled wryly and shrugged lightly:

"Zang Ku is already so spirited now; I can't imagine what it would be like with You Si Jian and Yan Meng in a Tian Jie together... No!"

"Maybe you don't need to imagine—you can recall it."

Dao Qiong Cang's eyes narrowed at the words, and in his mind appeared the terrifying scene of a white-robed swordsman with Xian Jian Zi Tian Zui, Yao Jian Nu Lan Zhi Sheng, Xiong Jian You Si Jian, Shang Jian Da Bei Lei Wu Jian, and Qing Ju (not yet broken) all Tian Jie at once.

His teeth gritted quickly, his face distorting as he said mockingly, "Oh, oh, you can..."

He spread his hands, "Imagine it!"

He opened his hands in front of Ba Zun An like a blooming flower, "Imagine it!"

Then in front of Gou Wu Yue, "Imagine it!"

And to Shuo Shu Ren, "Have you imagined it?"

And Wei Feng...

"Get lost!"

"Oh, alright."

The golden dragon pierced through his chest, and Xu Xiaoshou felt the Jian Qi inside him could no longer be suppressed, constantly regenerating and bursting out.

"Under attack, passive value: 9999."

"Under attack, passive value: 9999."

He had underestimated her!

He thought with just Zang Ku, taking down Bei Bei would be effortless.

But he never expected this girl to be so formidable after Tian Jie; Xu Xiaoshou's mind flashed with countless sword styles...

Some from Mei Siren, some taught by Xiao Dazui playing Ba Zun An.

But without exception, they were enough for others; against Di Jian's supreme Tian Jie, they still fell short.

Roar—

After one golden dragon came another.

"Execute."

From the supreme throne, the empress lifted her left hand, and another golden dragon emerged, echoing the first as it returned...

Double dragons playing with the pearl!

And that pearl was the ridiculous Xu Xiaoshou!

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh...

The Chuan Dao Jing showed a bloody scene, with blood mist spreading across half the sky, endless.

The Jian Qi bursting from Xu Xiaoshou's body condensed bit by bit into the towering giant sword.

Everyone could see it.

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't block Double Xiao Long!

If he couldn't block this, once that giant sword solidified and struck with Di Jian's liberated final blow...

"What will Xu Xiaoshou do next?" Feng Zhongzui's eyes dimmed slightly, staring fixedly at the image; deep down, he was betting on Xu Xiaoshou and didn't want to see him lose.

Hiss—

Before Xu Xiaoshou moved, Zang Ku couldn't take it anymore.

After multiple side clashes and brushes with the golden dragons, its sword body was covered in cracks, and its edge was dulled.

But the wounds seemed unable to suppress Zang Ku's will!

Sensing its wielder in a deadlock, Zang Ku let out a cry of pain while strongly conveying an invitation:

"Fusion!"

"Merge with me!"

"Like her... liberate, Tian Jie! We can do it too! Don't be afraid!"

Xu Xiaoshou, who had endured the injuries for so long, finally received Zang Ku's first intense battle invitation.

Was this still that cowardly sword?

A faint smile tugged at his lips.

Tian Jie?

Even if Zang Ku Tian Jie now, could it defeat Di Jian's Tian Jie?

It was possible to lead as the wielder, with Zang Ku as support, for a reverse Tian Jie...

But, in my current state as an ancient Jian Xiu, could I be stronger than Di Jian, one of the Hun Dun Wu Da Shen Qi?

Buzz!

Double Xiao Long struck again.

Xu Xiaoshou hadn't moved yet when You Si Jian flew out on its own, slashing in front of the dragon's head—it couldn't watch anymore.

Boom!

Space surged, darkness emerged, and the two were evenly matched.

At the sight, Zang Ku's sword body tensed even more, as if it wanted to snap itself in humiliation.

"Merge with me!!!"

Another golden dragon flew in, and before Zang Ku could act, Yan Meng followed, thrusting a sword into the dragon's head and fiercely knocking it away.

Zang Ku writhed in agony.

So weak!

I'm so weak!

I want to get stronger!

"Merge!!!"

But was Tian Jie the only way to fight?

Xu Xiaoshou still had many cards up his sleeve, but compared to those, he could endure more.

He wasn't just making Zang Ku anxious.

He wanted to make You Si Jian and Yan Meng anxious too!

These two big shots were used to being superior, arrogant as could be; they didn't even show their spirituality on normal days and could crush enemies just like that.

For the wielder to make them Tian Jie was no easy feat.

And now...

Di Jian's Tian Jie was unparalleled in the world!

This was not just suppressing Yan Meng, who sneered at Mo Zhu Wan Bing; it was also crapping on the head of You Si Jian, another of the Hun Dun Wu Da Shen Qi!

Could they tolerate it?

Xu Xiaoshou didn't know if they could, but he could endure a bit longer!

Zang Ku, getting no response from its master, anxiously spun and jumped in mid-air but couldn't join the battlefield.

Because Double Xiao Long had been divided by You Si Jian and Yan Meng; they each opened their own fronts, holding their ground without falling behind.

But Double Xiao Long was merely one aspect of Di Jian's Tian Jie intent—how could that be all?

Before the palace throne, the proud empress pointed a finger, and that chilling sound rang out again:

"Di Jian: Seven Tu Zhu!"

Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom...

As the sound fell, seven Di Jian shadows descended from the nine heavens, piercing through the palace dome and forming a sword array that trapped Xu Xiaoshou and the three swords inside.

"Kill!"

With that single command,

The Seven Tu Zhu sword array lit up with golden light, and the palace filled with countless noble Di Jian.

At their guards, eyes glared fiercely, with bloodthirsty light awakening.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh...

Ten thousand swords shuttled back and forth among the Seven Tu Zhu, cutting through all laws.

This not only pierced Xu Xiaoshou but also sent the three swords flying, bombarding them with endless Jian Qi.

It even freed Double Xiao Long!

Every clash of sword against sword...

Every pierce of Jian Qi and Jian Yi...

Drew out wisps of imperial Jian Yi, converging back into the towering giant sword.

Once the Seven Tu Zhu array formed, the convergence speed increased by thousands, even tens of thousands of times.

That ten-thousand-zhang Di Jian grew brighter and brighter.

It felt heavy enough to fall from the sky and pierce through the entire Tian Jie intent of Di Jian's supreme state—the imperial palace!

"Xu Xiaoshou, you've lost."

Just as Xu Xiaoshou had spared her life earlier with a single strike, at the critical moment, Bei Bei's voice drifted out.

No one knew when she had vanished from the imperial palace and stepped onto the top of the towering Di Jian, controlling its final strike without letting it fall.

"Submit, or die!"

But unexpectedly, as soon as these words were spoken, Zang Ku, You Si Jian, and Yan Meng, who were being tossed around in the Seven Tu Zhu array, all shuddered.

At that moment, Xu Xiaoshou smiled.

He received three strong invitations.

"Merge!!!" Zang Ku went mad.

"Come on, then let you try once." Yan Meng, the big shot, spoke up.

"Let me go mad, let her go mad, and let you go mad too..." You Si Jian made the final statement, "Liberate me, and no sword in the world will stand!"

(The end of this chapter)