Chapter 917: Advantage in Reserve, Three Breaths to Form the Sacred Array, Unfathomable Divine and Ghostly Dao Sky

An arrow from the Sinful Bow, shot from the Middle Domain.A demonic sword, bursting forth from the Holy Emperor's dragon scales.In a flash of lightning, under the gaze of countless onlookers, the two made their first contact.

"Clang—!"A harsh, explosive clang of clashing weapons erupted, sounding as if it could tear eardrums.

Even the Tàixū present furrowed their brows, forced to use their spiritual essence to shield themselves from the splashing aftermath of the holy power.

"Boom, boom, boom…"A magnificent wave of holy power spread out, shattering the space for several miles around.

The arrow, leading with its tip, tore open a black-and-red energy shockwave that exploded after being pushed back but firmly held its ground under the immense impact. The demonic sword, however, remained as solid and unyielding as its form suggested, bearing immense pressure without retreating an inch. Its overwhelming demonic energy was likewise pushed back, dissipating endlessly.

An even match!

On one side was the Demonic Sword of Myriad Weapons, the Ancestor of Demons, constrained by the spatial limitations of Void Island, only able to be remotely manipulated and operating at a fraction of its full power. On the other side was the Sinful Bow's arrow, striking with full force across two domains, intent on completely crushing the malicious scheme of the ghost beasts.

No one could have predicted the outcome of this first remote clash between a Holy Emperor and a Half-Saint. Yet, the opposing shockwaves, one from above seeking to suppress and the other from below striving to resist, profoundly shocked all the Tàixū spectators.

"What immense power…""What immense power?!"

The Tàixū exclaimed in awe.

Lightning flashed fiercely and golden sparks scattered across the field as the two massive shockwaves clashed relentlessly, neither willing to yield.

One breath, two breaths, three breaths…They were still locked in a stalemate!

The Tàixū watched, their eyes burning with intense fascination.

This was a confrontation at the level of holy power. Even the aftermath alone exuded such might that no one dared to approach even an inch. For even a single residual shockwave could instantly shatter the physical body of anyone who came too close!

"The demonic sword… it's about to give way…"Teng Shanhai stared intently, clearly seeing the overwhelming shockwave from the Sinful Bow's arrow growing larger and larger.

Meanwhile, the demonic sword, struggling to hold on below, was increasingly losing its power and being forced back step by step.

"Boom!"Finally, after thirteen breaths of clashing, the Demonic Sword of Myriad Weapons could no longer withstand the pressure and was sent tumbling backward by the Sinful Bow's arrow.

"We won!" Teng Shanhai exclaimed with delight.

Ai Cangsheng's arrow, taking advantage of the geographical superiority of the Holy Spirit Continent, had indeed proven too much for the Demonic Emperor Black Dragon, who was restricted by the inner island of Void Island, to contend with.

Rao Yaoyao, however, looked solemn, shaking her head slightly. "I'm afraid you underestimate the Demonic Sword of Myriad Weapons…"

Teng Shanhai's smile froze, and he turned to ask, "What do you mean?"

Rao Yaoyao pointed at the flung-back demonic sword and said gravely, "Among the Twenty-One Famous Swords, the Demonic Sword of Myriad Weapons, as a demonic sword, also held the title of number one on the Famous Sword Ranking in ancient times. Otherwise, it wouldn't be called 'Lord of Myriad Weapons'!"

"The demonic sword has been dormant for too long, so much so that you've all forgotten its greatest ability…" Rao Yaoyao sighed.

"What is it?" Teng Shanhai's heart clenched.

The thirteen Tàixū around him also looked on, curious.

Of the Twenty-One Famous Swords, apart from a few that have appeared on the continent and whose information is known to the public, most of the long-lost famous swords are only known by name, their abilities remaining a mystery to the world.

Rao Yaoyao explained, "The demonic sword's greatest ability is that each time it clashes with another weapon, it can weaken the essence, spirit, and power of the opposing weapon. One clash weakens it once; ten clashes weaken it ten times."

"In ancient times, there was a legend about the demonic sword: 'Lord of Myriad Weapons, one sword, one rank.'"

"Here, 'one rank' refers to the opponent's weapon dropping one rank in quality with each clash, while the demonic sword devours the opponent's weapon's essence to enhance itself and increase its own rank by one!"

As Rao Yaoyao spoke, wonder gleamed in her eyes.

She knew the legends of the demonic sword, but this was her first time witnessing its abilities firsthand.

Clearly, in her eyes, while the demonic sword's legends contained some exaggeration—it wasn't so extreme that the opponent's weapon would drop a rank and the demonic sword would ascend a rank with every single clash—its abilities were genuinely real!

Rao Yaoyao paused, then looked at the Sinful Bow's arrow, which, having gained the upper hand, relentlessly flew straight towards the dragon scales. A look of worry had already appeared on her face.

"Look, the power of the Sinful Bow's arrow has already weakened."

Everyone looked towards the Sinful Bow's arrow at her words, but they couldn't discern why.

The Sinful Bow's arrow's power had indeed weakened, but only slightly. Surely it wasn't that exaggerated?

Rao Yaoyao claimed it weakened due to the clash.

Everyone present, however, thought that some loss of power was entirely normal when a Half-Saint's arrow clashed with a Holy Emperor's sword. Why would it be as exaggerated as dropping a whole rank?

Just as they pondered, everyone saw the flung-back Demonic Sword of Myriad Weapons, which, after embedding itself in the ground, paused for a moment before its blade erupted in a fierce hum once more.

"Clang—!"

From this sound, everyone could sense the demonic sword's emotions.Elation!Excitement!Cheers!

"It's… it's back…" Daoist Huang Yang's eyes were filled with disbelief as he looked at the Demonic Sword of Myriad Weapons, which had returned with renewed vigor, preventing the Sinful Bow's arrow from striking the dragon scales.

"It really got stronger!" Teng Shanhai also keenly perceived that this resurrected demonic sword had a slightly stronger aura than before.

The Sinful Bow's arrow had no desire to engage with the demonic sword; its sole purpose was to shatter the Holy Emperor's dragon scales. Yet, just as it was about to make contact, the demonic sword arrived in time, executing a daring spin and fearlessly positioning itself between the Sinful Bow's arrow and the Holy Emperor's dragon scales.

"Clang—!"

The arrow's tip struck the demonic sword's body once more, and the clashing sound scraped across one's soul, sending shivers down their spine.

This time, it wasn't blade against arrowhead, but arrowhead against the sword's body.

Everyone could see that the demonic sword, being in a passive defensive position, was at a disadvantage. Yet, in the previous clash, the two sides had held for thirteen breaths. This time, it took a full twenty-six breaths before the demonic sword was finally sent flying by the arrow.

As for the Sinful Bow's arrow, although it was deflected sideways by the demonic sword's interception, it arced in a wide circle, still aiming directly at the dragon scales, never letting go.

"The demonic sword… it really is getting stronger!"

All the Tàixū present clearly witnessed this visible ability to devour and evolve, turning to Rao Yaoyao with eyes full of disbelief.

If the demonic sword truly possessed such an ability, it would almost be the greatest sword in the world. Any weapon that clashed with it a few times would be reduced to a mundane object, as inferior as rotten wood, wouldn't it?

Rao Yaoyao remained silent.

She lowered her gaze to Xuancang in her hand, clearly feeling its tremor.

Even Xuancang, one of the Five Divine Artifacts of Chaos, was unwilling to clash or compete with the demonic sword? Then those ancient legends must all be true.

"We're going to lose…"Rao Yaoyao's heart grew heavy as she watched the Sinful Bow's arrow, its speed having plummeted by more than three times.

"In ancient legends, the demonic sword's peak period was when it ranked first on the Famous Sword List. Its most glorious achievement was reducing another famous sword to a mere mundane object after seventy-two clashes!" Rao Yaoyao's words were startling.

Click.All the Tàixū present were stunned into silence.

Teng Shanhai was somewhat dumbfounded, saying, "If it truly has this ability, after a few clashes, the other sword's rank would drop, and the demonic sword could just shatter it at will, right? How could there be as many as seventy-two clashes? This legend you're talking about must be false!"

Rao Yaoyao sighed deeply, "The demonic sword is too arrogant. What it loves most is to abuse, not to kill—to devour all the fame of another famous sword and torture it to death. This is the demonic sword's true nature!"

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.

It was said that famous swords possessed spirits, but only now did everyone truly realize that the spirits of those peak famous swords were so profound they were no less than human.

Demonic Sword, Demonic…Lord of Myriad Weapons, Lord…This famous sword was profoundly embodying its unique title!

"We lost!""This time, we've truly lost!"

The Tàixū in the field watched the demonic sword, which, with another excited leap, fiercely hacked down from the sky towards the Sinful Bow's arrow, and could already see the outcome.

Yes, this time, it truly was a "hack"!

After two clashes, the Sinful Bow's arrow had been weakened by more than one level, while the Demonic Sword of Myriad Weapons, like a ravenous beast, had eaten its fill and now possessed an inexhaustible surge of energy.

In its excitement, it no longer wished to toy with its opponent but to deliver a swift end, severing all vitality from the Sinful Bow's arrow. Thus, it mercilessly slashed downwards from the heavens.

"Boom!"

The space, which had been healing, was cleaved apart once more.

Without any suspense, before the Sinful Bow's arrow could strike the Holy Emperor's dragon scales, it offered no resistance whatsoever, being forcibly cleaved in two by the demonic sword and shattered into nothingness.

"This… this is too fierce…"

Daoist Huang Yang and the others were so frightened their faces turned pale.

If that sword were to fall upon their heads…Ugh, they dared not imagine!

So, a Half-Saint's arrow was ultimately no match for a Holy Emperor's power? Did this world truly conceal such terrifying power, yet to be discovered by mortals?

Just a remote clash between Saints made the Tàixū present feel like frogs in a well; the moment they truly glimpsed the vast sky, the sense of powerlessness that arose was inexpressible.

"Utter defeat!"Teng Shanhai clenched his fists.

He didn't want to accept this outcome, but he had no choice but to acknowledge that the Sinful Bow's arrow had been vanquished by the Demonic Sword of Myriad Weapons after just three clashes.

"No!"At this moment, Rao Yaoyao's lips curled into a resolute smile, letting out a confident sound.

Teng Shanhai couldn't help but frown at her, thinking, *Are you truly set on contradicting me just to show off your intelligence?*

Rao Yaoyao, smiling faintly, said to Teng Shanhai, "The outcome you can see, do you think those beings on Holy Mountain wouldn't see it?"

Teng Shanhai froze.

This battle, after all, spanned two domains, two realms.

Besides Ai Cangsheng, who possessed the Eye of the Grand Dao and could see the battle unfolding in the Cloud Ridge Mountains to fire an arrow, who else could see it?

Moreover, before Ai Cangsheng fired the arrow, he couldn't have known that a demonic sword capable of weakening the spiritual essence of his Sinful Bow's arrow would burst forth from the Holy Emperor's dragon scales, could he? To achieve this, the great powers on Holy Mountain should have already reached their limit, right?

Rao Yaoyao, however, calmly pointed at the shattered Sinful Bow's arrow in front of them and said, "Don't forget, Holy Mountain has not only Lord Cangsheng, who can see all five domains, but also the unpredictable and destiny-calculating Lord of the Dao Hall!"

No sooner had her voice fallen than from the shattered Sinful Bow's arrow, a pattern of heavenly secrets suddenly emerged.

"One!"

This was a simple "single-stroke pattern," the very first pattern of heavenly secrets that all heavenly secret practitioners would draw when first learning the art.

It had no practical function, serving only to communicate with heavenly secrets and initiate the next stage of learning.

Everyone present watched, bewildered, as none of them understood the art of heavenly secrets.

Far away, Yu Zhiwen, seated in her principal position in the Cloud Realm, felt anxiety but dared not leave her post for an instant. At this moment, however, she seemed to sense something, tilting her head and looking towards the direction of the invisible single-stroke pattern in the sky, her star-like pupils trembling.

"This is…"

Deep underground within the Cloud Ridge Mountains.Situ Yongren, still setting up formations, surrounded by three hundred and sixty-five heavenly secret arrays, also felt something, raising his eyes with a bright gaze.

"This fluctuation of heavenly secrets… it's somewhat familiar. Is it Master?"

"Master… has made a move?"

Above the Fourth Dragon Vein.Xu Xiaoshou, in the guise of Mu Zixi, pretended to be suppressed by the holy power like the other spirit refiners on the mountain, unable to rise an inch.

Others couldn't see what was happening in the sky above.

Xu Xiaoshou's "Perception," however, was constantly observing the great battle in the heavens.

"Gods fighting, gods fighting!""At this moment, absolutely, absolutely must not expose myself!""A Holy Emperor fighting a Half-Saint, damn it, Bā Zūn'ān, you want to scare this girl to death…"

Xu Xiaoshou had long anticipated that Bā Zūn'ān's move would exceed his imagination.

But he never expected that this fellow wouldn't throw out tens of thousands of ghost beasts, but instead conjured a Holy Emperor's dragon scale, unleashed the Demonic Sword of Myriad Weapons, and engaged in a remote clash with the Half-Saints of Holy Mountain.

He's crazy!

How are we ordinary mortals supposed to cooperate in this battle? Are we supposed to risk our lives to cooperate?

He had thought that after breaking through to the Grandmaster realm and his passive skills advancing to Sovereign level, he could barely keep up with the big shots. But now it seems I'm not even a fart, am I?

Xu Xiaoshou dared not make the slightest move. He simply stared at the battle overhead, praying for it to cease.

However…The utterly vile Sinful Bow's arrow was indeed severed by the demonic sword.

But once that "single-stroke pattern" appeared, while outsiders sensed no anomaly, Xu Xiaoshou was stunned.

In his eyes, as the "single-stroke pattern" manifested, all the rules of the Grand Dao in heaven and earth were drawn forth, clearly discernible.

Fire, ice, space…

Xu Xiaoshou could see the elemental rules of various systems he had encountered most often, as well as the Dao of the Sword, the Dao of the Blade, and other peculiar minor paths. Each principle of the Dao seemed to have a small figure dancing upon it. Every movement would infuse the clearest understanding of that Dao into the mind of the observer.

"Why?"Xu Xiaoshou was utterly surprised that he could see all of this.

But the next second, he felt relieved.Weaving Mastery!

The foundation of "Weaving Mastery" was originally to use the Grand Dao as threads to weave a net of rules, manipulating all living and undead beings.

Xu Xiaoshou had rarely used this knowledge. But not using it didn't mean he didn't know how; once "Weaving Mastery" leveled up, all the knowledge had settled in his mind.

This included even the fundamental principles of all elemental Grand Daos. Xu Xiaoshou previously hadn't understood why, even though he had all attributes, his comprehension was so poor, yet he could grasp spatial rules so quickly.

Now he understood.

It turned out that "Weaving Mastery" had already fully structured and instilled all basic Dao principle knowledge systems into him. It was just that the sheer volume of knowledge was too vast for him to immediately accept, and even if he could conceive of it, he couldn't fully digest it in a short time. Therefore, all this knowledge had settled down.

When Xu Xiaoshou grasped spatial abilities using the spatial source stone, the reason he could comprehend so quickly wasn't because his understanding had improved, but because he had retrieved these simple fundamental concepts from his long-sealed memories.

"So powerful!"

After fully understanding all this, Xu Xiaoshou was once again amazed by the "single-stroke pattern" that had appeared in the sky.

What kind of ability was this? How could a mere "single-stroke pattern" manipulate the Holy Spirit Continent's network of rules, manifesting them all before his eyes?

And who was it that made all this possible?

With virtually no delay, Xu Xiaoshou found the answer.

Because, after the "single-stroke pattern" appeared, in the blink of an eye, it began to evolve.

One begets two, two begets three, three begets all things…

Three breaths later.The entire region of one hundred thousand li around the Cloud Ridge Mountains was sealed by dense patterns of heavenly secrets!

A massive Heavenly Secret Array rose from the ground, enveloping even the Eastern Heavenly King City, and completely locking down the entire expanse of the sky!

"Hmm…"

At this moment, everyone who looked up at the sky was lost in a daze.

The Heavenly Secret Array was too vast!

It replaced the blue sky and vast sea, becoming the true world in everyone's minds at that moment.

In this world, there were intricate and mysterious patterns, clearly discernible networks of Dao principles, captivating and enchanting to the soul. With just a glance, all the spirit refiners within the Eastern Heavenly King City and the Cloud Ridge Mountains fell into a state of sudden enlightenment.

Rao Yaoyao barely managed to pull herself away from that Half-Saint's immense power, cold sweat already breaking out all over her body, her heart filled with trepidation.

"The Ten Epoch Saint Spirit Array!"

"To fully manifest a Saint-level Heavenly Secret Array in just three breaths, and across two continental domains, by leveraging the residual power of Ai Cangsheng's arrow…"

"Dao Qiongcang, who was supposedly my contemporary, remained silent for decades, and now he has become… this terrifying?"