Chapter 311: The Power of Third-Level Magical Artifacts

The first time Yue Zutao heard of Chen Mobai was when the latter, still in the Qi Refining realm, unleashed the "Sword Qi Rainbow," sweeping undefeated through the sect's grand competition. His reputation as an unparalleled sword art genius spread throughout the cultivators of the Divine Wood Sect.

However, at that time, to Foundation Establishment cultivators, he was merely a genius who might one day join their ranks. Little did they know, just one year after becoming a true disciple, Chen Mobai successfully established his foundation. It was for this reason that when E Yun proposed bringing Chen Mobai to visit him, Yue Zutao readily agreed.

During their first meeting, Yue Zutao had a good impression of Chen Mobai. He was a genius, yet unlike Hong He and Mu Yuan, he lacked arrogance. His speech and demeanor were gentle and refined, completely unlike the devout, sword-obsessed cultivators of legend. But reflecting now, Yue Zutao felt he had judged a book by its cover.

Chen Mobai's true swordsman nature was deeply hidden, unlike those who merely feigned obsession and persistence. His sword art had already reached a state of acting on intuition. The sharpness, straightforwardness, and essence of the sword were all imprinted in his mind's ocean. Only in the moment of drawing his blade would the swordsman's unwavering forward thrust erupt, a spirit that would charge forth even against a multitude.

Chen Mobai was unaware of the admiration that arose in Yue Zutao's heart the moment he saw him fly into the air to confront Mu Hanxiong. Although he had experience battling and defeating hundreds of Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Minor Scarlet Heaven, this was his first encounter with a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. If he had a choice, Chen Mobai certainly wouldn't want a life-or-death duel with Mu Hanxiong. But given the current situation, he had killed Ji Daoyuan, and the Foundation Establishment cultivators from Mount Shaking Peak would undoubtedly seek revenge.

After Gong Wanshan's loud shout, three Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Rock Kingdom intervened to help Mu Hanxiong break free from the formation of Lian Chenghai and his three companions. Mu Hanxiong seized the opportunity to kill one, his hands stained with blood, venting the surging rage he felt over Ji Daoyuan's death.

"I will use your life to offer sacrifice to Daoyuan," Mu Hanxiong said coldly. At this moment, he was clad in full body armor, with a rust-colored black and red aura swirling around him, making him resemble a deity carved from steel.

"You might be the first late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator I kill," Chen Mobai replied, "I'll remember you." As Chen Mobai finished speaking, he was about to activate the Heavenwood Talisman to make the Azure Sun sapling, given to him by Chu Zuoxu, fully bloom.

A streak of green spiritual light flew over, blocking his path. It was Fu Huakun, the Inspector of the Hall of Rewarding Goodness, the late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Divine Wood Sect who was second only to Chu Zuoxu in power on this expedition.

"Leave him to me; you go deal with the other Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Rock Kingdom."

Fu Huakun had previously been unable to act because he was repairing the Earthen Gold Blade Array. Now that he had flown up, it likely meant the array had been completely re-established. Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai looked up. Sure enough, the Earthen Shield, which had previously been split with three cracks, was now slowly repairing and healing, bolstered by the surging spiritual energy from the earth veins.

However, with Fu Huakun engaging Mu Hanxiong, who was now controlling the Earthen Gold Blade Array? But this was not the time to worry about that. Since Fu Huakun had come to engage in battle, he must have made the necessary arrangements.

"Inspector Fu, be careful," Chen Mobai warned, "This person is not to be underestimated." Although Chen Mobai hadn't directly fought Mu Hanxiong, during their aura confrontation, his Void-Piercing Spiritual Eye had perceived the immense vitality and blood energy within his opponent's body. Mu Hanxiong was indeed no ordinary individual, comparable to Lu Qiulong back then.

Fu Huakun nodded. Then, activating the Heavenwood Talisman, the sapling in his palm expanded, transforming into a twelve-meter-tall Azure Sun Spirit Tree.

"Then I'll kill you first," Mu Hanxiong declared. Seeing Fu Huakun's domain unfold, Mu Hanxiong knew that if he didn't kill this man today, he wouldn't be able to personally slay Chen Mobai. He took a deep breath, and a torrent of black and red aura surged around his entire body. Simultaneously, three streaks of spiritual light of the same color flew over and landed beside him.

"Peak Master, we'll hold him off. You go after that sword cultivator from the Divine Wood Sect. If he isn't eliminated, there will be endless trouble later."

Mu Hanxiong's gaze sharpened, but he offered no objection. He turned to bypass Fu Huakun and flew towards Chen Mobai. Seeing this, Fu Huakun couldn't help but frown. He slapped his storage pouch, and a glimmer of dark green light flashed, instantly transforming into a wooden humanoid puppet. The wooden puppet, wielding a massive wooden spear over two meters long, agilely leaped from the Azure Sun Spirit Tree and thrust towards Mu Hanxiong.

"You'll have to get past us first!" However, this wooden puppet was intercepted by a Foundation Establishment cultivator from Mount Shaking Peak, who wielded a ring-hilted greatsword. The greatsword chopped down, like a massive boulder thrown into calm waters. The majestic blade light, in the instant of engagement, sent the puppet and its wooden spear flying back towards Fu Huakun.

But at that moment, three more streaks of dark green light flew out from Fu Huakun's storage pouch. Three more second-tier wooden puppets appeared, armed with wooden sabers, wooden swords, and wooden shields, forming a small four-sided battle array around him and the Azure Sun Spirit Tree.

"We'll help too," said two more Foundation Establishment cultivators who flew over. One of them was Gong Wanshan, and the other, also a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, seemed to be the patriarch of a Foundation Establishment family from the Rock Kingdom. These two, along with the three Foundation Establishment cultivators from Mount Shaking Peak, totaled five individuals who collectively attacked Fu Huakun. Although Fu Huakun had a higher cultivation, he had no choice but to abandon other thoughts at this moment and fully unleash the "Everlasting Life Scripture" to its utmost.

From his storage pouch, eight more first-tier wooden puppets flew out. Along with the four second-tier wooden puppets already present, they formed a simplified Heavenwood Divine Light Array, centered around the Azure Sun Spirit Tree. Witnessing this, Gong Wanshan and the other four exchanged glances, immediately feeling a headache. Once a cultivator from the Divine Wood Sect deployed this formation, even their combined efforts might not be enough to break through this domain.

However, on the battlefield, retreat was not an option. If they failed to stop Fu Huakun here, he would be able to act freely, posing a significant problem whether he targeted Mu Hanxiong or the Qi Refining cultivators from the Rock Kingdom charging in. If Mu Hanxiong was held back, that Divine Wood Sect youth who had mastered the "Sword Rainbow Split Light" technique would guarantee a fatal outcome for any of them in a one-on-one fight. And if they bypassed Fu Huakun's current strongest offensive, then the Heavenwood Divine Light Array would show the Rock Kingdom's Qi Refining cultivators what "mowing them down" truly meant.

The destructive power of the "Everlasting Life Scripture" was generally moderate, but only when compared to cultivators of the same realm. Against Qi Refining cultivators, even ordinary wooden arrows would be irresistible second-tier spells. The Rock Kingdom had dispatched a total of twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators and twelve hundred Qi Refining cultivators for this assault on Rolling Thunder Mountain.

The strongest among them, Ji Dingjin and Chu Zuoxu, were locked in a battle high in the air, their spiritual energies rippling and shaking the mountains. But everyone knew that Ji Dingjin merely holding Chu Zuoxu back was already the greatest victory. As the Divine Wood Sect's second strongest cultivator after Chu Zuoxu, Fu Huakun hadn't appeared earlier due to repairing the Earthen Gold Blade Array, but Mu Hanxiong had constantly kept an eye out, anticipating his arrival. However, while waiting, Mu Hanxiong grew impatient and descended into the Thunder Kingdom's Qi Refining cultivators, who had formed a battle array, to rampage for a while. Lian Chenghai and the other four major Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Thunder Kingdom, who had been holding back, were forced to join forces to pull Mu Hanxiong out of the Qi Refining battlefield to prevent excessive casualties among their clansmen. It was also at this point that Ji Daoyuan, full of confidence, confronted Chen Mobai and was struck down by a single sword blow.

"Today, you will surely die," Mu Hanxiong declared, flying before Chen Mobai. "Even immortals from the upper realms can't save you!" Mu Hanxiong glanced at Fu Huakun, who was being besieged by five opponents, then flew directly in front of Chen Mobai and spoke chillingly.

His answer came in the form of a brilliant purple flame sword light. Chen Mobai didn't bother with further words. His extensive combat experience in the Minor Scarlet Heaven made him acutely aware of his strengths and weaknesses. Although his spiritual energy, thanks to his Dual Phase Cultivation, was almost comparable to a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, it was definitely no match for a late-stage one. Therefore, this battle had to be decided quickly.

Mu Hanxiong was naturally aware of the potency of sword light. Body cultivators from Mount Shaking Peak particularly feared high-tier sword cultivators who had mastered sword light. In fact, during the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages, body cultivators could be considered the strongest within their respective realms. This was because, apart from cultivators practicing unique cultivation methods, even sword cultivators found it difficult to breach their defenses. However, sword cultivators who had mastered the "Sword Rainbow Split Light" were different. Their extremely condensed sword qi could sever even refined iron, let alone the physical bodies of body cultivators. However, Mu Hanxiong had been at the Foundation Establishment stage for over a hundred years. He had fought against several elders from Golden Light Cliff who had mastered sword light, and after several near-death experiences, he possessed unique combat experience and techniques against high-tier sword cultivators.

"Iron Armor Technique!" He roared, and the black and red aura swirling around him instantly merged with his armor. This solidified into an additional layer of qi armor on the surface of his second-tier magical artifact. Coupled with his own formidable physical body, under a total of three layers of defense, Chen Mobai's purple flame sword light was actually caught by his palm. Although Mu Hanxiong's palm was also split open and oozed a wisp of green smoke, there was no doubt that he could indeed withstand the sword light.

With a resounding boom, Mu Hanxiong's body moved swiftly through the air, closing the distance to Chen Mobai and unleashing a powerful palm strike. Sword cultivators typically had high offense and low defense, the exact opposite of body cultivators. If a body cultivator could get close enough to land a single hit, they could crush the sword cultivator's fragile body into smithereens.

However, Chen Mobai had undergone hundreds of battles in the Minor Scarlet Heaven, and the geniuses from the Four Great Dao Academies and Ten Grand Palaces had long devised numerous tactics to counter such close-quarters attacks. He was already adept at handling them. As his powerful divine sense circulated, the Scarlet Cloud Smoke Silk around him condensed into a dark red cloud of smoke, like an extremely soft cotton cloth, dissipating more than half of Mu Hanxiong's surging and formidable palm force. Following this, countless green light particles flew out, and the Azure Scale Bracers unleashed their full power, forming six layers of scale shields.

Mu Hanxiong's left palm struck down, dispersing the smoky cloud and breaking through three shields. Although the force of that palm strike was completely expended, his right hand was already raised and swinging down. An even more terrifying and immense palm force cleared all the surrounding mist around Chen Mobai, and the remaining three layers of scale shields also shattered into thousands of fragments, scattering through the air. But what met Mu Hanxiong's strike was a Golden Jade Axe. After Chen Mobai infused this top-tier second-tier magical artifact with five drops of liquid spiritual energy, it erupted with an unprecedented jade-like luster. Its sharp properties were fully unleashed, and while it broke through Mu Hanxiong's immense palm force, it also severed his triple defenses of qi armor, physical armor, and flesh.

Amidst a flash of blood, nearly half of Mu Hanxiong's palm was severed, yet his expression remained unchanged. After clamping the Golden Jade Axe with the bones of his right hand, his left palm, now replenished with qi, ruthlessly slammed down towards Chen Mobai, who was currently without any defense. But at that moment, Mu Hanxiong saw a sudden clear, shimmering glow in Chen Mobai's eyes. Immediately after, a purple flame sword light erupted, like a purple meteor, stabbing towards Mu Hanxiong's glabella.

A faceless puppet, manipulating the Flying Sparrow Hairpin, burst forth from behind Chen Mobai, unleashing spiritual energy fluctuations no weaker than a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"A puppet?" Mu Hanxiong was somewhat surprised to see the exquisite Faceless Puppet. Although confident in his triple defenses, his glabella and sea of consciousness were too vital, so he dared not take the risk. His left palm, which was originally aimed at Chen Mobai's face, lifted upwards, seizing the purple flame sword light. Then, black and red aura circulated, forcefully grinding away the sword light with his Iron Armor Technique. The shockwave from the two spiritual energy bursts separated them, allowing Chen Mobai to evade his opponent's relentless assault.

Seizing this opportunity, Chen Mobai had already used the Heavenwood Talisman to unfurl the sapling. Although he had focused on the Pure Yang Scroll in recent years, he frequently practiced the spells of the "Everlasting Life Scripture" within the Divine Tree Secret Realm. As Mu Hanxiong charged again, the Heavenwood spiritual light condensed into a giant helical spearhead, which, under Chen Mobai's divine sense control, slammed into his opponent, sending him flying. However, the Heavenwood spiritual light's attack power was indeed somewhat lacking. Only Mu Hanxiong's outermost qi armor was broken; he flew up completely unharmed and charged towards Chen Mobai once more.

Amidst a tearing sound, Chen Mobai's fully prepared Fiery Divine Lightning spell activated. Crimson electrical light, like a spiritual snake, burst from his palm, striking Mu Hanxiong heavily. Bolt after bolt of lightning continuously struck down. Mu Hanxiong's eyes widened. After consuming a qi-replenishing pill, he pushed his Iron Armor Technique to its limit, somehow enduring the Fiery Divine Lightning and a barrage of wooden arrows. He forcibly charged forward again, reaching Chen Mobai's front.

But at that moment, Chen Mobai took the fully charged Flying Sparrow Hairpin from the Faceless Puppet's hand. He opened his mouth and exhaled, transferring his own Primal Yang Qi into the small and exquisite flying sword. In an instant, the sword light blazed intensely, as if a sun that had been trapped in darkness had broken free from the horizon's shackles, erupting with unprecedented dazzling brilliance. Mu Hanxiong, who had just charged forward, directly met Chen Mobai's strongest sword strike, which was empowered by his Fire Spirit Body, the Sun Ascension Art, and the Azure Sun Flame Seed—a triple enhancement!

As this sword strike was unleashed, Rolling Thunder Mountain seemed to be illuminated by another sun! Mu Hanxiong's eyes widened. Beyond his triple defenses of qi armor, physical armor, and flesh, he also pulled out a second-tier defensive spirit talisman. But even so, under this one sword strike, all his defenses were still shattered.

Amidst a flash of blood, Chen Mobai slightly frowned. He felt that this sword strike might not be enough to completely kill Mu Hanxiong. Hesitating for a moment, he brought out his last trump card, a magical artifact. The Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror rose behind his head. Of the fifteen remaining drops of Everlasting spiritual energy in his dantian sea, he sacrificed twelve and infused them into this third-tier magical artifact. A golden, translucent flame spewed forth from the mirror's surface, landing on Mu Hanxiong, who had just endured the sword light.

Mu Hanxiong's chest had a deep, bone-exposing wound from the sword light, gushing with blood. Yet, relying on his four layers of defense, he had survived Chen Mobai's strongest sword strike.

"Hahahaha, so the Sword Rainbow Split Light is nothing more than this! After this battle, I've glimpsed the path to Foundation Establishment perfection. Divine Wood Sect boy, to thank you, I'll leave you a complete corpse... Ah... what is this..."

As the golden flame descended, Mu Hanxiong's proud qi armor, physical armor, and flesh were instantly incinerated into ashes. The Peak Master of Mount Shaking Peak, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, scattered into a shower of ashes before everyone's terrified gaze.