Chapter 285: Extreme Pursuit

Everyone dispersed. Xu Yang brandished his Dao Heart Whisk, and a powerful purifying Dao light spread outwards, rapidly dissipating large areas of the collapsing blood-red energy. This also exposed the culprits hidden in the shadows, who had been emitting powerful sword qi.

Three elderly men with white hair and beards stood calmly before them in a triangular formation. Their appearance and demeanor still conveyed a certain ethereal, transcendent quality, yet all three were enveloped by the malevolent aura of Asura power, which emanated from their brows.

"These three individuals' souls have been corrupted by Asura power," Xu Yang observed. "While they have gained power beyond their original capabilities, they have also, to some extent, become puppets. They are no longer truly themselves."

Xu Yang made this judgment immediately. At the same time, the Empress and Ling Yao positioned themselves to his left and right, while the others retreated behind the three of them.

In just a single encounter, everyone realized that these three old men—the ones on the left and right—were both at the Great Perfection of Divine Infant realm. The one in the middle was definitely a Tribulation Transcendence realm expert, though it was hard to determine his exact strength at that moment.

Within their team, only the Empress and Ling Yao were capable of confronting them one-on-one.

Long Kun could also manage, though with difficulty, but compared to Ling Yao's powerful solo combat abilities, he was better suited to protecting the others and providing reliable support from the rear.

"You three are puppets left by Tuoba Yun to stop us, aren't you?" Xu Yang said. "It seems he already guessed we would find this place."

The strongest old swordsman in the middle spoke slowly: "Leave, young ones. His Majesty has declared that as long as you no longer hinder the expansion of Northern Jin's dominion, he will not entangle with you further, and the Cold Moon Empire can also be preserved. However, if you continue to be stubborn, this Burial Ground of Cultivators will truly become your eternal grave."

Xu Yang scoffed. "I can imagine how proud Tuoba Yun must have felt when he said that. He has already inherited the power of Asura and reached the peak of human cultivation; this is no secret to us."

The leading old man finally opened his eyes and gazed at Xu Yang with unconcealed admiration. "You still surprise me, Xu Yang," he said. "In some ways, the threat you pose to His Majesty is far greater than we imagined. But this only strengthens our resolve to eliminate you. The Northern Jin Dynasty will no longer tolerate any who stand in its way."

The old man's tone was full of arrogance. After obtaining the true Asura inheritance, Tuoba Yun's subordinates also grew arrogant and reckless.

However, from their perspective, it was understandable. Their master had already reached the pinnacle of human cultivation, the Tribulation Transcendence realm. Why wouldn't they act conceited now?

"Alright," Xu Yang declared, "before we find Tuoba Yun, you obstructors will eventually be cleared out. Let us see just how powerful this Asura's strength truly is."

As soon as Xu Yang finished speaking, the three old men simultaneously entered a state of readiness, immediately releasing their powerful auras. However, when incredibly realistic soul bodies condensed from their long swords, Xu Yang's team was completely stunned.

"What?!" someone exclaimed. "Sword... sword souls?"

It should be known that before this, Long Kun and the others had only seen a complete sword soul for the first time within Xu Yang's Sky Sword—even Ling Yao hadn't. But these three old men before them had condensed three sword souls!

"Hmph," the Sky Sword Soul snorted. "While these are indeed sword souls, half of them are simulated by Asura power. They cannot be compared with the true sword soul power of their original owners; they only enhance their sword path power to a certain extent. There's no need to panic."

"Haha," someone scoffed, "so they're just three fakes trying to pass themselves off as the real thing!"

"Hmph," one of the old men retorted, "I hope you won't complain that our sword souls aren't pure enough later!"

The old men's expressions suddenly turned cold. For a swordsman, insulting his sword was undoubtedly equivalent to hitting their sore spot—something they absolutely could not tolerate.

"Attack!"

The two old men on the left and right simultaneously shot into the sky, meeting the Empress and Ling Yao respectively.

The Empress was at the Great Perfection of Divine Infant realm. Although her combat ability was slightly inferior due to her illusionist attributes, her powerful spiritual energy was enough to suppress her opponents.

Ling Yao, on the other hand, was a pure swordsman. Having just awakened the power of the Heavenly Sword, it was her time to test her blade, and her momentum subtly began to suppress her opponent.

Only Xu Yang and the strongest Tribulation Transcendence realm expert from the opposing side made no move, simply gazing calmly at each other.

"Old man, don't put on airs," Xu Yang said. "In front of me, Xu Yang, you're not qualified to show off."

The power of Dao began to manifest. Xu Yang did not immediately unleash his strongest Dao of Slaughter, which would release a terrifying killing aura as cold as purgatory. Instead, he chose to spar with his opponent head-on, hoping to stimulate his own cultivation advancement.

*Whoosh!*

At a certain instant, Xu Yang and the Tribulation Transcendence swordsman moved simultaneously. Each unleashed a sword glow, and terrifying sword qi instantly spread across the void battlefield in all directions, causing the endless blood-red aura around them to completely dissipate.

This demonstrated the terrifying power of the Tribulation Transcendence realm! Everyone who could enter this realm could be called a top-tier figure on the continent. Aside from the mysterious domains yet to be developed, Tribulation Transcendence experts were universally revered by cultivators across the continent.

"Good heavens, this level of power is truly awe-inspiring!" Long Kun exclaimed. "If I could ever reach this level, I'd be content for life!"

Long Kun said, unable to resist patting his belly.

*Rumble!*

With a swing of a sword, the Asura sword souls exerted their power simultaneously, sending three waves of grayish-white sword qi, representing Asura power, surging towards them.

Ling Yao's movement technique allowed her to flash back while simultaneously unleashing a Cross Empty Slash, repelling the powerful Asura sword energy.

The Empress, on her side, freely switched between illusion and reality, dodging the opponent's attack seemingly out of thin air.

Only Xu Yang's side was the most domineering. Without a word, he met the Asura sword glow with a forceful slash, instantly annihilating its aura.

"Senior Brother!" the old swordsman on the left suddenly exclaimed. "These three are all formidable and not easy to deal with. Let's combine and form an array! Our mission is just to buy time; it's not yet time to fight them to the death."

The old swordsman on the left suddenly spoke. The Tribulation Transcendence swordsman in the middle pondered for a moment and finally nodded, his empty, grayish-white pupils suddenly flaring with a faint glow!

In an instant, all the auras around the void quickly gathered towards the three men, forming a unique Asura domain barrier that shrouded their bodies and bought them enough defensive time for their combined formation.

"Sword Soul Fusion!"

The three old men spoke simultaneously. Above their heads, three grayish-white sword glows shone with dazzling silver light, quickly beginning to merge under the propulsion of this powerful force.

At the same time, their individual released sword souls also merged into one.

"My goodness," someone exclaimed, "this aura... it's too strong!"