Chapter 1861: Highlight

"You are the esteemed Mr. Zhu Yike!"

Zhu Yike had almost blurted out, "You are your Grandpa Zhu Yike," but for some unknown reason, the words changed course at the last moment.

Evidently, this was not a graceful way out.Perhaps it offered no escape at all.Zhu Yike found himself in an impossible situation.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

Fortunately, people began arriving from below the mountain. From Fushang City, the nearest settlement, dozens of figures swept through the sky. However, upon sensing the situation on the mountain, they quickly landed, showing respect while also finding safe cover. Figures also appeared in the distance; these were all spirit refiners who had converged near Spirit Elm Mountain, either actively or passively, drawn by the massive influx of spectral creatures from the Ghost Buddha Realm. In short order, all the surrounding mountain peaks were teeming with spectators.

"He is Hua Changdeng…"

The title "Cloud Mountain Saint Emperor" was not widely recognized in the Five Domains. Those who revered him called him "Sword Emperor Hua," while some fearless individuals, knowing that ancient sword cultivators paid little heed to such formalities, dared to call him by his given name. In contrast to Hua Changdeng, the thin-faced, monkey-mouthed, and unremarkable Zhu Yike was clearly more renowned in the Five Domains and the Apricot Realm.

"Look, isn't that Sir Zhu from the Apricot Realm standing opposite him?""Zhu Yike, of the 'Zhu of the House' lineage, and Sir Li, of the 'Li of the Wood' lineage, are two of Master Shou's most trusted confidants, one managing external affairs and the other internal.""Since achieving sainthood half a year ago, Sir Zhu has swept through the Apricot Realm and the Five Domains, proving invincible among semi-saints, with no true rivals.""Even if he couldn't defeat an opponent, he always managed to escape unscathed after toying with them. Is he actively challenging the Saint Emperor this time, hoping to test the Ghost Sword Immortal's prowess?"

"Prowess, my ass!" Zhu Yike, standing in the midst of the confrontation, heard the hushed whispers and turned green with anxiety. "Why am I the main character in this fight?"

Hua Changdeng also caught the crucial words "Master Shou," and his expression shifted slightly. He fixed his gaze on Zhu Yike and asked, "Where is Xu Xiaoshou?"

*Did Master Shou offend you?* Zhu Yike was momentarily stunned. He knew his master was a troublemaker, but hadn't Hua Changdeng just arrived on the Sacred Continent? How could the two of them already have a connection?

"Master Shou…" Zhu Yike's eyes darted around; he knew that saying "I don't know" was equivalent to saying "I want to die." He quickly glanced towards the Northern Domain. "There was an anomaly in the Time Boundary Rift. As the savior, Master Shou went there immediately after receiving the information."

He didn't stop there. Having followed Master Shou for so long, he had learned by observation that some opportunities for survival could truly be talked into existence. He immediately retorted, "Sword Immortal Hua, exalted on the Heavenly Ladder, was the mastermind behind the Sacred Palace at that time, protecting our Sacred Continent for eternity. Now, a crisis has arisen in the Time Boundary Rift; semi-saints cannot withstand it, and some have already fallen. The remaining situation relies solely on Kui Lei Hanh struggling to hold on, and I hear that who's coming is…" His ear twitched, and he immediately corrected himself: "The Ancestor God! The Ancestor God wishes to lay claim to the Sacred Continent! There are priorities, Sword Immortal Hua. Why are you not helping Kui Lei Hanh, but instead causing trouble for Eight-Tenths and Master Shou in such a minor place?"

The question was sharp, as if he didn't know Hua Changdeng was an enemy. At the same time, Zhu Yike's peripheral vision caught sight of people approaching from Fushang City, including sword immortals like Gou Wuyue and Feng Tingchen, who had once been as renowned as Hua Changdeng. He had found an opportunity to survive and began retreating while speaking, attempting to move towards the arrivals from Fushang City, a place where many masters had gathered. *I am certainly not the main target. If I can just blend into the crowd, Hua Changdeng wouldn't bother pursuing a small fry like me…* Zhu Yike's mind raced, yet he became even more composed.

But this time, Hua Changdeng did not leave. While he hadn't been to the Deer-Patterned Forbidden Zone in the Xuyue Gray Palace of the Southern Domain and needed to investigate its truth, he knew what had happened in the Time Boundary Rift more clearly than anyone present. He also knew, of course, that Xu Xiaoshou wasn't there at all. Or rather, throughout the entire Sacred Continent, he hadn't yet found any trace of Eight-Tenths or Xu Xiaoshou. *Had they hidden?* Hiding wasn't important. These two, who were full of lies at first sight, were so protective of Eight-Tenths and Xu Xiaoshou, which suggested their identities were not simple, and they must know the whereabouts of the two.

"Then I will find the answers myself," Hua Changdeng murmured to himself, and a sense of desolation filled Spirit Elm Mountain. Though there was not the slightest hint of killing intent, Zhu Yike clearly sensed death when he saw the copper lamp in the opponent's hand sway again. He knew that if he didn't act, there was only one path: death!

"Steal from Heaven, Replace with Sun!" Zhu Yike flung a copper coin from his sleeve. This time, he chose not to retreat, but to confront the challenge directly.

Hua Changdeng had just barely begun to shake the copper lamp in his hand, and before the candle flame inside showed any abnormality, with a soft *thud*, the copper lamp in his hand vanished, replaced by a familiar copper coin.

"Sir Zhu has made his move!" Spirit Elm Mountain immediately erupted in commotion, and everyone was filled with anticipation. No one had seen their initial exchange, and few had sensed the traces of time reversal that had occurred there. Naturally, to everyone's eyes, this brave semi-saint, Zhu Yike, was not at a disadvantage against the Saint Emperor Hua Changdeng; he even took the initiative!

"Ah—" But a scream echoed almost simultaneously. Zhu Yike had just used "Steal from Heaven, Replace with Sun" to directly steal the copper lamp from Hua Changdeng's hand—he succeeded! However, the hand gripping the copper lamp suddenly erupted with translucent, ghastly white karmic fire. It felt as if he had gripped not a physical object, but an intangible, formless, massless, chilling, yet searingly painful compressed mass of flame.

"White Karmic Sinfire…" Gou Wuyue gazed intently, his voice heavy. Not just him, but most of the ancient sword cultivators present knew that the Ghost Sword Immortal cultivated a terrifying spectral fire, honed to its ultimate state. White Karmic Sinfire burned the soul, capable of incinerating a person's seven emotions and six desires. After consuming them, it could also breed karmic evil energy, disturbing one's Dao Heart. Once touched, it could not be shaken off or escaped. Aside from the method of a gecko shedding its tail, the only remaining path was to be burned dry and utterly consumed.

"Son of a bitch…" Zhu Yike naturally recognized this heavenly fire. He was knowledgeable. Upon sensing inner demons growing and desires about to spiral out of control, he unhesitatingly performed a hand seal. "Invert Heaven and Earth!" He intended to transfer all the physical damage inflicted by the fire to his fingernails. This way, by simply plucking off his fingernails, he could escape the attack and adherence of the White Karmic Sinfire with minimal cost.

But at the same time, Hua Changdeng put down the copper coin in his hand and placed his hand on the Ghost Hunter sword at his waist. Zhu Yike's scalp tingled; his battle-hardened instincts told him that even if his technique succeeded, his head would be separated from his body in the next instant. "The pressure is too great!" He immediately aborted the technique and severed his right arm. He also cut off the part of his soul that had been tainted by the White Karmic Sinfire, demonstrating a resolute "heroic severing of the wrist." While spitting out a mouthful of vital blood, he immediately changed his move, conjuring a piece of paper. As he tore apart the space in front of him, he flung it onto the copper lamp.

"Leap onto Paper." The copper lamp transformed from three-dimensional to two-dimensional, pressed into the paper. Hua Changdeng's eyebrow twitched slightly; he was surprised for the second time.

Zhu Yike took off running, shouting as he went: "Senior Wuyue, save me! Sir Eight-Tenths said, do you still remember your agreement from the White Cave?"

Gou Wuyue… Everyone collectively turned their gaze towards Sword Immortal Wuyue, who was outside the immediate battlefield. Gou Wuyue had already recalled his Blade of Nulance, standing with his sword on the mountain rocks. Upon hearing this, he knew it was nonsense. There was no agreement whatsoever between him and Eight-Tenths. Xu Xiaoshou, and his people, were all the same: as soon as they opened their mouths, anything could come out.

Hua Changdeng, however, had listened. He turned his gaze to Gou Wuyue behind him and, seeing a slight shake of the head, knew… This was the third time! Oh no, counting the times Xu Xiaoshou had tricked him in the Cloud Mountain Imperial Realm, it was more than just the third time!

*Sizzle.* The karmic fire burned, and the paper turned into green smoke. The copper lamp burned through Zhu Yike's technique on its own, lying quietly on the mountain, with White Karmic Sinfire flowing across the ground.

"What terrifying flames…" The spectators on Spirit Elm Mountain all retreated simultaneously, and some recalled something: "I remember Head of the Abnormality Department Xi also seemed to wield this kind of heavenly fire, and even had a semi-saint level White Karmic Yama Lord contracted? But his flames didn't inflict such damage; a mere touch claimed a semi-saint's arm?"

Just a copper lamp caused the renowned Sir Zhu of the Apricot Realm to flee in disarray. What if Hua Changdeng truly drew his sword? No one cared where Zhu Yike fled to. They only knew he was escaping further and further, completely out of the range of Spirit Elm Mountain. Instead, everyone looked at the Ghost Sword Immortal, who had been toyed with in the arena. At this moment, the Ghost Sword Immortal's face clearly showed a complete lack of desire for further communication. The Ghost Hunter sword at his waist was slowly lifted, its blade emitting a faint blue glow.

"Mo!""Stars Shift!"

Zhu Yike, who had already fled into Fushang City, felt a chill down his spine and unhesitatingly cast his spell in advance. In an instant, starlight descended upon him. Meanwhile, on Spirit Elm Mountain, Gou Wuyue, also among the spectators, noticed starlight descending above his head.

"Hmm?" Gou Wuyue was puzzled. His vision blurred. What Gou Wuyue saw was no longer the scenery of Spirit Elm Mountain. He had arrived at the tavern near the south gate of Fushang City, amidst the familiar chaotic ruins left by Xiao Kongtong.

"Boom!" A blue sword light tore through the air from a distance. While slightly stunned, Gou Wuyue suddenly realized that his and Zhu Yike's positions had been swapped. "This fellow…" He didn't dare to hesitate, drawing the Blade of Nulance with a clang. That was a sword strike from Hua Changdeng.

"Mo!" The same blue glow emanated from the sword blade, and he too unleashed a sword strike. The light "Mo" sword strike from the Ghost Hunter sword on Spirit Elm Mountain came cutting lightly, and Gou Wuyue responded with the "Unfettered Desireless Sword" of the Blade of Nulance.

"Mo of the Three Thousand Sword Dao!""Second Realm, Unfettered Desireless Sword!"

There were many ancient sword cultivators present, such as the Four Sons of the Buried Sword Tomb, who easily understood the significant difference between these two "Mo" sword strikes. Hua Changdeng merely used the Mo Dao, yet forced Sword Immortal Wuyue to parry with his second realm technique? There was no more time for anyone to react. Two blue sword lights, one vertical and one horizontal, slammed into the sky above Fushang with a roar.

"Boom!" The cross-shaped blue light suddenly illuminated the entire night. Ten thousand miles of space rapidly decayed, yet a sustained explosion of sword light clashes did not occur. Gou Wuyue's sword light seemed to be corrosive. After only half a breath of intense struggle, his Mo Sword technique gradually consumed Hua Changdeng's Mo Sword technique, as if "eating" it.

"What was that?" On Spirit Elm Mountain, the ancient sword cultivators who witnessed this scene from afar were all astonished. "How could Sword Immortal Wuyue's Unfettered Desireless Sword be so strange? Was it still the Unfettered Desireless Sword?""Rather than 'eating,' it's more like 'merging.' Does Mo Sword technique also have a master, where the subordinate ones can be integrated into the master?" Gu Qingyi mused."Oh?" Gu Qing'er raised an eyebrow."Oh?" Gu Qing'san raised both eyebrows and added, "Is that so?"Su Qianqian's pupils trembled slightly. The two casually executed swords vanished effortlessly, their collision and release of power handled with remarkable ease. Such a level was completely beyond that of ordinary ancient sword cultivators. The two of them seemed to have ascended to a new height, capable of entirely reinterpreting ancient sword arts.

In Fushang City, the one-armed Gou Wuyue calmly sheathed his sword, his expression grim. He said gravely: "You cut the wrong person!"

Hua Changdeng, of course, knew that in that instant, Zhu Yike had vanished, and his opponent had become Gou Wuyue. *This was excellent.* He did not stop his sword because of this. As soon as this "friendly greeting" ended, losing the reason to continue striking, he stared at Gou Wuyue's severed arm from afar, opening his mouth. But in the end, he didn't ask anything.

"Sir Zhu is powerful!"

The sword fight at Spirit Elm and Fushang ended. The surrounding spectators began to feel a surge of excitement. A mere slight move from the former Sword Immortals was enough to cause such shock, yet Zhu Yike managed to maneuver between these two, still finding room to act.

"Who can be the number one semi-saint?""Only our Sir Yike!"

Since Gou Wuyue had been transferred to Fushang City, there was no doubt that Zhu Yike must have taken his previous position. Many in the Southern Domain were aware of the "Stars Shift" technique, as Zhu Yike had not performed it for the first time. The starlight that had fallen on Sword Immortal Wuyue earlier had also been noticed by keen observers. Now, on Spirit Elm Mountain, everyone's gaze shifted simultaneously. Even Feng Tingchen, the head of the Feng family, who had previously stood beside Gou Wuyue, holding his Crane Sword Listening to Dust, couldn't help but move a step to the side.

But a glance revealed that the person beside him was still Gou Wuyue."No!""It's not Gou Wuyue!"

He appeared to be Gou Wuyue, but was in fact merely wearing a disguise of "Deceive the Heavens and Cross the Sea," lacking the essence of an ancient sword cultivator. Not only Hua Changdeng saw through it, but half the people on Spirit Elm Mountain could also guess that at the same time as "Stars Shift," Zhu Yike had completed a disguise technique. But wasn't this technique revealing itself, leaving a tell-tale sign?

*Clap-clap!* Under the gaze of countless eyes, "Gou Wuyue" clapped twice and, in front of Hua Changdeng, cast another spell:"Stars Shift!""Deceive the Heavens and Cross the Sea!"

In an instant, starlight descended from the heavens, enveloping all the spectators within a radius of several miles. Hua Changdeng only saw chaotic light and shadow around him, with figures shifting out of place, as everyone collectively swapped positions. After the swap, everyone's faces were easily altered; some looked like ancient sword cultivators disguised as spirit refiners, while others were spirit refiners disguised as ancient sword cultivators. The disguise technique was quite crude. But when hundreds of spectators across the mountain all became crudely disguised individuals, Zhu Yike, who was trying to blend in, vanished as if a stone had sunk into the sea—he was gone!

"Interesting…" The corner of Hua Changdeng's lips subtly lifted. He hadn't seen anyone perform techniques with such mastery in a long time. However, faces altered by techniques might deceive human eyes. Could the unchanging soul of a seeker also "deceive the heavens and cross the sea"? Hua Changdeng had always appeared in human form because it made him seem like a normal person to outsiders, preventing him from scaring others. But essentially, Hua Changdeng always prioritized his soul perception, with his body and will serving as secondary paths. Now, his mind sank, delving into his soul.

"Boom!" On Spirit Elm Mountain, what the masses saw was no longer Hua Changdeng. In their moment of profound shock, what they saw when they looked up was a half-bodied ghost deity statue rising from within the endless ghost realm, amidst a tide of spectral creatures, and emerging from a dark blue Gate of Fengdu beyond the heavens! It was like the half-bodied War Ancestor statue emerging from the sea in ancient times, eclipsing the sky, towering among the clouds, viewing all living beings below as mere ants.

This time, Hua Changdeng, having revealed his soul form, lowered his gaze and looked towards Spirit Elm Mountain. With a single glance, amidst countless tiny ants, he found the most trembling soul body.

"Ah, this…" Zhu Yike looked up, his face full of bitterness and helplessness. It was as if he saw the sun falling from the starry sky, immense and formless, grand and indescribable. He had clearly exhausted all his tricks, climbed to the highest peak attainable by a semi-saint in the path of techniques, and pushed himself to the absolute limit. What he saw when he looked up was a mountain beyond a mountain. After Hua Changdeng entered the path of the soul, simply relying on the foundation of this path, without even activating half a technique or sword skill, he could see through everything about Zhu Yike. Everything about him was exposed!

"It was worth it.""I never thought that in my lifetime, I, Zhu Yike, could also trick Sword Emperor Hua, forcing you to use your soul path, it was worth it…"

*Whoosh.* The phenomenon receded. The half-bodied ghost deity statue was like a reflection in a mirror or the moon in water; everyone snapped back to reality. They then saw the copper lamp lying by the mountain rocks tremble, its candle flame flickering. The ancient sword cultivator closest to Hua Changdeng's previous position went limp and collapsed to the ground. Two wisps of green smoke flew from his body and merged into the copper lamp's candle flame. With a *sizzle*, the candle flame brightened by a third.