Chapter 216: Domain Expansion

Chen Mobai had no idea that simply by using his Foundation Establishment-level liquid spiritual power to unleash the Divine Wood Sword's full might, he had been recognized by everyone in the Divine Wood Sect as an unparalleled sword genius.

His mind was now focused on only one thing: defeating the opponent before him and avenging last year's crushing defeat.

"I don't know what power you possess, but encountering me means only defeat for you."

Before Chen Mobai could speak, Mu Yuan spoke first. After finishing his words, he immediately activated a blue talisman: the Skywood Talisman!

However, unlike Ding Ying, when he activated this talisman, he also used a blue-gray seed in conjunction with it. The seed landed, instantly burst forth from the ground, and in the blink of an eye transformed into a three-meter-tall tree, blooming like morning clouds.

Since Chen Mobai had only exchanged for the cultivation method of the Longevity Scripture and not the corresponding spells, he didn't know that the Skywood Talisman was a talisman designed to complement the Longevity Scripture's most formidable "Skywood Divine Light Array," which was also the Divine Wood Sect's most complete and powerful spell system.

On Qingguang Island, Chen Mobai had already witnessed the power of the "Skywood Divine Light Array." It integrated spirit vein nourishment, spiritual energy gathering, offensive Skywood Divine Light, and defensive Spirit Leaf Light Shields, making it the most versatile and all-encompassing array with no blind spots.

Cultivating the Longevity Scripture to its highest realm meant becoming the array itself. Wherever one stood, it would be a "Skywood Divine Light Array," with Skywood Divine Light covering heaven and earth, sweeping across all directions.

However, cultivators at the Qi Refinement stage certainly couldn't achieve this. Therefore, even before the Divine Wood lineage separated from the Five Elements Sect, Patriarch Hunyuan developed the "Skywood Talisman" to assist Qi Refinement disciples in using the "Skywood Divine Light Array." The Skywood Talisman sealed a surge of wood spiritual energy, allowing a pre-prepared "tree seed" to instantly grow and transform into the spiritual tree array core needed for the "Skywood Divine Light Array."

The Skywood Talisman varied in grade, but its primary power depended on the level of the tree seed. Although Ding Ying had a Tier 2 Skywood Talisman, her tree seed was only at the peak of Tier 1. While immensely powerful against Qi Refinement cultivators, it resulted in shattered trees and broken leaves when faced with genuine Tier 2 sword qi.

However, the aura of Mu Yuan's tree seed was different. After blossoming, the spiritual tree was vibrant green, vaguely resembling the spiritual tree Chen Mobai had guarded on Qingguang Island. It was a Tier 2 Cyan Sun Spiritual Tree!

Since Mu Yuan had already displayed this technique during his battle with Yuan Chiye, Chen Mobai had long since inquired about it. Although he was confident in his half-step Foundation Establishment realm, confidence was not arrogance. When he encountered something unclear, he asked. Xi Jinghuo, as a second-generation immortal, also practiced the Two-Phase Art and was very knowledgeable about the Longevity Scripture. As soon as Chen Mobai asked, he fully informed him about both the Skywood Talisman and the tree seed.

Cultivators outside the Eastern Barrens referred to this Divine Wood Sect technique as "Domain Expansion." Once the "Skywood Divine Light Array" was deployed over a suitable spiritual vein, even sword cultivators with astonishing combat power dared not engage in a direct confrontation with Divine Wood Sect cultivators. If this technique, once deployed, didn't render one immobile, the Divine Wood Sect would have long since dominated the Eastern Barrens. However, this weakness was perfectly compensated for in limited-area competitions like arena battles. Mu Yuan had indeed defeated Yuan Chiye by relying on this move.

"I hope this time, you can last ten moves."

Hearing Mu Yuan's words, Chen Mobai recalled last year's devastating defeat, where he had been utterly helpless. "Junior Brother, that's precisely what I was going to say to you." But this time, Chen Mobai's confidence was completely different. Could a mere ninth-level Qi Refinement cultivator possibly defy heaven under the suppression of a half-step Foundation Establishment realm?

Just then, Mu Yuan snorted coldly and plucked two leaves from the nearby Cyan Sun Spiritual Tree. With a flick of his finger, a layer of misty sword qi attached to the leaves, like two streaks of light, shooting towards Chen Mobai with sharp whistling sounds. Mu Yuan actually possessed considerable skill in swordsmanship. This technique of plucking leaves and turning them into flying sword qi demonstrated his extraordinary talent. Seeing this move, the Divine Wood Sect disciples watching from below the arena couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

However, Zhou Wangshen and others in the pavilion, who knew Chen Mobai's true capabilities, couldn't help but scoff. In their view, Mu Yuan was simply "showing off before Lu Ban," making a fool of himself in front of an unparalleled sword genius. However, this Junior Brother Chen seemed unwilling to completely overwhelm Mu Yuan, as he didn't immediately employ his "sword qi like a rainbow" realm but instead used a Crimson Flame Sword Talisman. Two fiery red sword qis erupted, meeting Mu Yuan's sword qi-infused flying leaves precisely, causing two large bursts of sparks in mid-air.

"It's actually a Tier 2 Crimson Flame Sword Talisman!" Seeing a single talisman unleash two crimson sword qis, the audience below was astonished. Such a cost-ineffective talisman was rarely sold on the market. Could he have refined it himself?!

Just as this thought flashed through the minds of Zhou Wangshen and the others, Chen Mobai pulled out eight more Crimson Flame Sword Talismans with both hands. Crimson sword qi erupted, intertwining like streaks of light, covering Mu Yuan and the Tier 2 Cyan Sun Spiritual Tree. A green leaf fell, landing precisely in Mu Yuan's palm. His powerful Longevity spiritual energy surged forth, and in an instant, he activated the "Spirit Leaf Art." A massive leaf-shaped light shield covered him and the entire spiritual tree, blocking the crisscrossing net of Crimson Flame Sword Qi.

"My spiritual energy consumption is a bit high; I need to finish this quickly." After blocking Chen Mobai's talisman barrage, Mu Yuan felt that he only had about 80% of his spiritual energy left and realized he couldn't fall into his opponent's rhythm. His face radiated a verdant spiritual glow. He reached out and slapped the Cyan Sun Spiritual Tree beside him, then drew strands of blue light from the spiritual tree, which converged in his palm into a clear, emerald spiritual light. It was precisely the simplified version of the Skywood Divine Light that Ding Ying had previously used: Skywood Spiritual Light!

Just then, Chen Mobai pulled out a Crimson Flame Sword Talisman drawn on a golden bamboo leaf. As Mu Yuan's expression subtly changed, a wisp of purple fiery sword qi formed, like a thread of fire, bursting towards his glabella in an instant. It was actually a Tier 3 Crimson Flame Sword Talisman! This possessed the power equivalent to a Tier 2 spell. Left with no choice, Mu Yuan had to retrieve a verdant spiritual pearl from his storage bag. Chen Mobai recognized it as a Tier 2 Jade Spirit Pearl, which, when infused with spiritual energy, could transform into a light shield with astonishing defense.

During his battle with Yuan Chiye, Mu Yuan had already revealed all his trump cards. Chen Mobai had been waiting for this. He intended to shatter all of Mu Yuan's ultimate techniques and magic treasures, making him experience the most complete defeat possible!

As Mu Yuan exhaled a mouthful of pure Longevity spiritual energy, transforming the Jade Spirit Pearl into a light screen to ward off the astonishing wisp of purple fire sword qi, Chen Mobai also opened his storage bag. A pure azure flying sword leaped out, like a nimble spiritual fish.

"He's finally serious!" Seeing Chen Mobai finally draw his sword, Zhou Wangshen and the others, who knew his "true capabilities," couldn't help but sigh for Mu Yuan. They knew that this junior brother, the sect master, had reached the end of his competition journey.