Chapter 919: Sword Immortal + Divine Sword = Holy Emperor?

“Lack of conviction must be punished!”

Dao Qiongcang then turned his attention to the Eastern Domain swordsmen. This time, he didn't kill them, but merely disciplined them.

The Ten Epoch Saint Spirit Array trembled, and a radiant light descended, purifying all negative states from the swordsmen, before slamming them forcefully onto the ground. They fell to the ground one after another, groaning in pain.

The Spirit Refiners nearby quickly helped up their friends and comrades, fearing that after being struck, these individuals might speak rashly. They added, “Hall Master Dao has freed you from the influence of qi deviation and used holy light to strengthen your conviction. You absolutely must not act recklessly.”

The Eastern Domain swordsmen? How could they dare to act recklessly? After getting up, they bowed in fear and anxiety, saying, “We were almost influenced by that broken sword and nearly lost our lives. Thank you, Hall Master Dao, for saving us.”

Some swordsmen, obsessed with famous swords, observed the situation around them and fell into deep thought. Could it be a famous sword? As far as I know, only the Demonic Sword, Myriad Weapons Demon Lord, which has been lost for centuries, could influence all swordsmen to this extent...

Someone was shocked: “A demonic sword? You mean that broadsword up there is the fourth among the Twenty-One Famous Swords?”

“Possibly!”

“If this demonic sword can be so powerful without a wielder, how strong must the top three famous swords be?”

Everyone fell silent. So, the reason a Half-Saint intervened was the fourth-ranked famous sword, the Demonic Sword, Myriad Weapons Demon Lord?

Rumors began to spread rapidly.

Dao Qiongcang's saintly manifestation in the sky, after locking down the demonic sword, shifted its focus to the black dragon scale.

He was about to move, intending to take down this strange object as well.

However, time had been lost due to the demonic sword. During this delay, the heartbeat sound within the Saint Emperor Dragon Scale had accelerated to its peak, then abruptly stopped.

Thump! As the last dull thud ceased, everyone felt their souls tremble, a sense of foreboding filling their hearts.

Old Man Huang Yang, being close by and possessing strong Grand Void spiritual perception, exclaimed, “This dragon scale has mutated again!” He could see wisps of black demonic energy beginning to emanate from it.

Hong Dang, the Dragon Subduer, his face filled with shock, involuntarily retreated a little. “Terrifying! The last time the dragon scale mutated, a demonic sword burst forth. What will appear this time?”

In the distance, the dragon scale began to vibrate at a high frequency. Black demonic energy dissipated with the tremors, instantly filling the heavens.

Dao Qiongcang's saintly manifestation remained unperturbed. With another lift of his immortal sleeve, the Ten Epoch Saint Spirit Array was summoned, unleashing purifying light to eliminate the demonic energy.

With a hiss. This time, the eagerly awaited positive outcome did not materialize. The moment the light touched the demonic energy, it was instantly stained black.

The blackness climbed up the light, permeating the heavenly patterns of the Ten Epoch Saint Spirit Array. The sacred, bright white heavenly patterns were instantly defiled, turning completely black.

Night descended!

“Oh my heavens...” The Spirit Refiners from East Heaven King City and Yunlun Mountains gazed at the surrounding world, which had suddenly transformed into a dark realm enveloped by demonic energy, and were all seized by panic.

The Ten Epoch Saint Spirit Array had temporarily replaced the world within a hundred thousand li radius, becoming everyone's spiritual anchor. But now, the light failed to purify the demonic energy; instead, it was contaminated. Consequently, the entire world turned into a living hell.

Ghastly! Terrifying!

After the heavenly patterns were contaminated, the demonic energy began to permeate everything. In the black world, demonic energy erupted from the ground, black liquid dripped from the tips of the leaves in the forests, and even people were affected by their inner panic, appearing entranced and babbling incoherently.

“They've all been demonized...” Rao Yaoyao had never imagined that the Saint Emperor Dragon Scale, possessing merely a wisp of the Demonic Emperor Black Dragon's power, could exert such a profound influence on everything outside the Void Island.

She pondered briefly, realizing the limitations of Dao Qiongcang's intervention from across two domains.

The Ten Epoch Saint Spirit Array had limited power. If it were to expend holy energy to help countless innocent Spirit Refiners, the power available to confront the Demonic Emperor Black Dragon would inevitably be weakened. The Demonic Emperor Black Dragon was a Saint Emperor, while Dao Qiongcang was only a Half-Saint. He was already at a disadvantage in terms of cultivation realm, so how could he afford to be distracted by mortals?

Rao Yaoyao then said, “Teng Shanhai, guard the Void Island rift. Notify me immediately if there's any other movement.” With that, she grasped the Profound Azure Divine Sword and leaped to the side of Dao Qiongcang's saintly manifestation.

Teng Shanhai was startled. “What are you doing? In a confrontation of saintly power, what can a mere Seven Swords Immortal like you accomplish? You only talk about others, never considering your own safety, do you?”

Rao Yaoyao calmly took out a drop of saintly blood, opened her crimson lips, and consumed it on the spot.

“I'll do... what I can!”

She said no more, closing her eyes and slowly raising the Profound Azure Divine Sword.

Buzz!

Void sword intent crisscrossed, tearing open a bright edge in the demonic energy-shrouded dark world, manifesting before the eyes of the demonized people, thanks to the assistance of saintly power.

“Mortal World Sword...” Rao Yaoyao tapped her toes, leaping into the air. Like a carp gracefully entering a lake, her figure became incorporeal, merging into the void.

“One Sword - Forging the Heart!” The Profound Azure Divine Sword transformed into ripples expanding from the center of a lake, striking towards the countless Spirit Refiners infected by demonic energy. In the depths of their souls, it engaged in a direct confrontation with the Demonic Emperor Black Dragon's Black Dragon Power.

Rao Yaoyao primarily cultivated the Sword Art of Emotion, one of the Nine Great Sword Arts. The first realm of the Sword Art of Emotion, the Mortal World Sword, was a trial of one's mental state.

With this sword, Rao Yaoyao did not harm the Spirit Refiners in the slightest. Instead, under the influence of holy power, she transformed the Demonic Emperor Black Dragon's Black Dragon Power into an obstacle for countless Spirit Refiners on their path of heart forging. If the Spirit Refiners could overcome this obstacle, they would not only instantly dispel the influence of the Black Dragon Power but also elevate their mental state by more than one level.

Alas... Though the idea was good, Rao Yaoyao overlooked the disparity in power levels.

Even Dao Qiongcang's Ten Epoch Saint Spirit Array had been defiled by the Black Dragon Power. Her “Mortal World Sword,” a technique that required borrowing holy blood to execute, in terms of its saintly energy aura alone, couldn't even compare to a fraction of the Ten Epoch Saint Spirit Array.

Pffft! In just half a breath, Rao Yaoyao's figure was jolted back from the void. She spat out a mouthful of blood, her eyes filled with horror.

On the path of mental cultivation, her sword could not even transform the slightest bit of the Black Dragon Power, let alone assist all the Spirit Refiners. It was futile!

A soft, saintly voice echoed in her ear: “Rao Yaoyao, do not push yourself. This is a confrontation of saintly power; you have not yet stepped into this realm.”

Rao Yaoyao turned her head, looking at Dao Qiongcang's saintly manifestation. She knew this was Dao Qiongcang's warning. But she did not heed it.

Rao Yaoyao calmly analyzed, “The Demonic Emperor Black Dragon painstakingly sent out its dragon scale, so there must be a mystery within it. The Heavenly Dao's seal on the Saint God Continent targets everyone. Even if you are the Master of the Main Hall, can you be an exception and exert your full Half-Saint power?”

After a pause, she continued to transmit her voice: “You've already expended considerable power using the Ten Epoch Saint Spirit Array to seal space-time and prevent the Saint Emperor's remnant consciousness from escaping. If you expend more effort to deal with the troubles of the mortal Spirit Refiners, how much strength will you have left to contend with the Saint Emperor Dragon Scale?”

Dao Qiongcang's saintly manifestation remained silent, seemingly having been struck by Rao Yaoyao's words.

Throughout the battle at Yunlun Mountains, everyone believed that Half-Saint Dao Qiongcang's intervention was boundless in its power and glory. In reality, Dao Qiongcang's difficulties were known only to those of Rao Yaoyao's status level.

“You conserve your strength to deal with the dragon scale; I'll handle the Spirit Refiners' troubles.” Rao Yaoyao wiped away the blood from the corner of her mouth. The power of the holy blood was surging within her as time passed, and her words carried immense confidence.

Dao Qiongcang's saintly manifestation paused for a moment, then no longer stopped her. He said, “Act within your capabilities, and remember, your life is more important than everyone here combined.”

A flicker of impatience crossed Rao Yaoyao's eyes. “Don't tell me these things!” With that, she ignored Half-Saint Dao Qiongcang, leaping into the sky again and raising the Profound Azure Divine Sword high above her head.

Holy blood, frankly, was merely Half-Saint essence blood. And the Seven Swords Immortals, to be blunt, were only at the Grand Void Realm.

Having executed the previous “Mortal World - Forging the Heart” sword, Rao Yaoyao deeply understood the vast disparity between Saint Emperor power and powers below the Saint realm. For outsiders, this gap was simply impossible to bridge in a short time.

Rao Yaoyao was different.

She slowly raised her gaze, devoutly staring at the Divine Sword Profound Azure, and whispered, “I'm counting on you...”

The Profound Azure Divine Sword, one of the Five Divine Artifacts of Chaos and the fortune-suppressing treasure of the Saint God Temple headquarters on Gui Zhe Holy Mountain, had been brought forth for this mission, primarily to handle the current emergency. If there was any external power in this world capable of resisting Saint Emperor power, it could only be the power of destiny, nurtured within the Profound Azure Divine Sword for thousands of years, and imbued with the power of multiple Half-Saints and even Saint Emperors. The power of destiny of the Saint God Temple! And also, a portion of the power of destiny of the Saint God Continent!

Rao Yaoyao stood suspended in the air, her expression solemn. She released the sword from her grasp, joined her fingers, and drew them across her chest in a cross shape.

“Profound Azure, open!” she commanded with a clear cry.

Though the Profound Azure Divine Sword had no wielder, it now spun rapidly before Rao Yaoyao. As it spun, strands of destiny power flew out like golden sparrows, appearing like the first rays of dawn illuminating the night, and a glimmer of hope sparked in the eyes of all the demonized Spirit Refiners.

In the hundred-thousand-li dark world. On the ground, maddened Spirit Refiners clawed wildly and shrieked. In the sky, a female sword immortal, her robes fluttering, guided her sword, breaking the deadlock.

The sword immortal's command transformed destiny. The divine sword soared, as sparrows heralded dragon roars.

“Roar—” In mere moments, the massive amount of destiny power emanating from the Profound Azure Divine Sword transformed into a five-clawed golden dragon, coiling upwards and directly breaking through the black Ten Epoch Saint Spirit Array's blockade.

At the same instant, Rao Yaoyao's eyes burst with divine radiance. She grasped the rapidly spinning Divine Sword Profound Azure with one hand, her robes rustling from the surging air.

“Sword of Detachment...” The resounding dragon roar vanished as Rao Yaoyao gripped the sword. With her sharp cry, the golden dragon of destiny, which had been circling in the sky, flowed into her body.

“Slay the demons!”

She unleashed a horizontal slash. This sword, empowered by the force of destiny, directly tore through the void and brutally struck the Black Dragon Power in the depths of all the Spirit Refiners' souls.

There was no persuasion. No transformation.

At this moment, Rao Yaoyao did not choose a roundabout method to allow the Spirit Refiners to overcome the Black Dragon Power on their own. Because she understood. Mortal Spirit Refiners simply could not overcome the Black Dragon Power by themselves. And with this sword, now augmented by the golden dragon of destiny, there was no need for circumvention.

Boom! With a single slash completed.

Gold replaced black. The hundred-thousand-li dark world was replaced by brilliance, and the Ten Epoch Saint Spirit Array regained its light.

As for the maddened Spirit Refiners, the blackness in their eyes was similarly dyed golden, before finally returning to their rightful clarity.

“What happened?” “What just occurred...” Everyone spread their hands, feeling a change within themselves, but unable to articulate what that change was.

On the other side, Teng Shanhai's single eye stared wide. “Is this... the second realm of the Sword Art of Emotion, the Sword of Detachment?”

The elegance of Rao Yaoyao's sword was utterly exceptional. Using the Sword of Detachment, the second realm of the Sword Art of Emotion among the Nine Great Sword Arts, she directly caused the countless Spirit Refiners present to forget their demonic desires deep within their souls. And then, everyone regained their clarity!

Such sword mastery... How terrifying! Teng Shanhai simply couldn't believe that Rao Yaoyao, who was at the same Grand Void Realm as him, could unleash such a sword.

“So, this is the true difference between the Seven Swords Immortals and ordinary Grand Void practitioners?” A bitter taste filled Teng Shanhai's heart.

Teng Shanhai had previously paid little heed to the Seven Swords Immortals, who were widely rumored across the continent to be the strongest combatants below the Half-Saint realm.

He always thought that among the Seven Swords Immortals, only individuals like You Tu and Hua Changdeng could wield power comparable to a Half-Saint within the Grand Void Realm, and that was due to their individual might. But these individuals were exceptions! Others simply couldn't match their achievements.

However, today, Teng Shanhai witnessed a different kind of splendor.

Rao Yaoyao too rarely unleashed her full power. Teng Shanhai had not even known before that Rao Yaoyao's comprehension of the Sword Dao of Emotion within the Nine Sword Arts had reached the second realm.

It was said that if you gave a Seven Swords Immortal a sword, they could contend with a Half-Saint. But the enemy now was the Saint Emperor Dragon Scale!

Although Rao Yaoyao was able to destroy the Saint Emperor Dragon Scale's Black Dragon Power with one sword, it was by borrowing the Profound Azure Divine Sword's power of destiny. However, one still needed the ability to borrow this power of destiny. Someone like him, Teng Shanhai... simply couldn't do it!

Rao Yaoyao's sword, in essence, was a declaration to the world: “Sword Immortal” plus “Divine Sword” equals “Saint Emperor Power”?

“It worked...” With one sword strike, the world regained its clarity, and a strange divine brilliance appeared in Rao Yaoyao's eyes.

With the previous “Mortal World - Forging the Heart” sword, she had not destroyed the Black Dragon Power, but through that direct confrontation, she clearly understood the gap between herself and a Saint Emperor, which was invaluable experience. This “Demon Slaying” sword, on the other hand, solidified her conviction.

In the path of ancient swordsmanship, Eight Revered Disciple was not the only one who could achieve perfection. He wielded four swords, capable of suppressing hundreds of generations. I wield the Divine Sword Profound Azure; a Grand Void cultivator can contend with the Saint Emperor Dragon Scale!

At this moment, Rao Yaoyao's conviction was solidified, and the confidence she had unconsciously lost over decades was regained. The three great mountains of the Sword Dao that had weighed on her heart – You Tu, Hua Changdeng, and Eight Revered Disciple – also seemed to begin crumbling.

Crack! Rao Yaoyao heard the sound of her own bottleneck shattering. Her eyes brightened considerably, knowing that having taken this step, she might now be qualified to reach the third realm of the Sword Art of Emotion, and even become a Half-Saint of the Sword Dao!

However, at this moment, Dao Qiongcang's deeply solemn voice sounded in her ear: “Rao Yaoyao, where is the golden dragon of destiny?”

“Huh?” Rao Yaoyao was startled. She had just unleashed a sword strike, borrowing the Profound Azure Divine Sword's power of destiny. Logically, after the strike, the golden dragon of destiny should return to the Profound Azure Sword's body, to be nurtured anew, without any loss. But upon checking now... “The golden dragon of destiny is gone?”

Rao Yaoyao's heart instantly stopped. That was nearly one-tenth of the power of destiny that the Saint God Temple had nurtured for thousands of years! How could it not have returned? How could it not have returned? How *dare* it not have returned?!

Rao Yaoyao's fair face instantly turned ashen, then drained of all color, and her entire body began to tremble.

“Where did the golden dragon of destiny go?”