Chapter 592: Heavenly Blade Nine Techniques

"Is Cult Master Qin planning to use a borrowed knife to kill someone?" Yang Xingjun looked at Qin Mu, displeased. "Cult Master Qin may be young, but he's full of cunning. Young Master Qi, don't fall for his trick. If we kill the devil gods, we might find ourselves in a passive position."

Qi Jiuyi was unconcerned. "Don't worry, Xingjun. The devil gods are merely dogs raised by the Celestial Heavens; a few dead ones won't make much difference. Brother Qin wants to use this opportunity to assess my abilities, and I'd like to see his as well."

Qin Mu chuckled, "Brother Qi, your magnanimity far surpasses Yang Xingjun's. Yang Xingjun speaks to you so submissively, clearly anxious and apprehensive, likely because your status is much higher. You must be from the so-called Celestial Heavens. Is your purpose in coming here for me?"

Qi Jiuyi smiled faintly. "Brother Qin, you are truly intelligent. Perhaps your name should be Qin Yi."

Qin Mu replied, "It wasn't difficult to guess your purpose, so it's hardly clever, let alone worthy of the name Jiuyi. Your recent invitation for me to duel in Yankang likely has another motive as well."

Qi Jiuyi's heart tightened, but he merely smiled without speaking.

Qin Mu tilted his head to look at Yang Xingjun, saying, "Xingjun, your mind isn't on your battle with Grandpa Butcher. When you fight, you'll be cut down by a single strike. You can see for yourself later if what I said is accurate."

Yang Xingjun scoffed, "Is Cult Master Qin trying to undermine my dao heart?"

Qin Mu ignored him, looking instead at the other side. Many devil experts were arriving, including numerous masters from the Divine Bridge Realm, along with many practitioners from the Five Radiance and Celestial Being realms. It seemed his provocation had worked, and they couldn't resist rushing over.

The devil race values martial prowess, and divine practitioners in every realm are ranked by strength. In Li City, Qin Mu had fought several Seven Star Realm experts, who were among the top ten strongest devil god disciples, with Zhe Huali holding the top spot in that realm.

Other realms also had rankings. Among the divine practitioners who arrived, only those from the Seven Star Realm and one other unnamed realm were absent, as Qin Mu had essentially eliminated all the experts from those two realms.

The crowd advanced menacingly. The leading devil expert from the Divine Bridge Realm raised a hand, and everyone halted.

That Divine Bridge Realm expert's cultivation was nearly god-like, immensely powerful. Granny Si and the others felt a chill, sensing a clear threat to themselves.

Although they had compensated for their cultivation method's shortcomings, their training time was still relatively short. In the same realm, they were somewhat inferior to these devil experts who had practiced true god techniques since childhood.

However, given time, they could also refine all aspects of their physical bodies to the level of true gods. Moreover, the vital qi human form network Qin Mu had taught them was the gateway to cultivating the Dao. This cultivation method encompasses all facets of a young true god, involving not only the cultivation of the physical body but also the primordial spirit, refining vital qi, and honing Dao arts and divine abilities.

Merely cultivating the physical body to the level of a young true god is far from comparable to a genuine young true god.

"Cult Master Qin of Yankang!" The devil Divine Bridge expert's gaze settled on Qin Mu. He declared in a deep voice, "You may have no equal in the Seven Star Realm, but that doesn't mean you have no opponents in other realms. I, Shuye, disciple of Buriluo, have come to challenge you!"

Qin Mu asked curiously, "Senior Brother Shuye, what is your rank in the Divine Bridge Realm?"

"Second!" Shuye replied calmly. "The first-ranked is Tujun, but he is currently challenging the Devil God Palace to become a devil god, so he isn't participating. Once he becomes a devil god, I will be number one!"

Qin Mu shook his head. "Go invite him out of seclusion; you're not good enough. I once killed a Celestial Being Realm disciple of Buriluo, Buriyuxiao. His strength was impressive, but in the same realm, he was far inferior to me."

Shuye was enraged. Suddenly, Buriluo descended from the sky, landing before the many devil experts. Shuye and the other devil masters quickly bowed in greeting: "Venerable King!"

Buriluo raised a hand, indicating they needn't be so formal. "No need for excessive courtesy. In the same realm, none of you are a match for Young Friend Qin. Unless you're ranked first in your respective realms, there's no point in stepping forward just to be killed by him!"

Mute, Butcher, and the others felt a chill. A true devil had descended; even if they attacked together, they would be no match!

Buriluo's gaze shifted from Butcher's face to Mute, then to Yang Xingjun, and finally settled on Qin Mu.

Qin Mu's heart leaped. He quickly reached for his chest, only to remember that the jade pendant wasn't hanging there, but had been embedded into his vertical third eye by Earth Duke.

Seeing Qin Mu's hand reach for his chest, Buriluo's heart skipped a beat. Remembering the time he was severely wounded by an out-of-control Qin Mu, a faint ache arose in his own chest. He laughed heartily, "Young Friend Qin, there's no need to panic. I mean no harm. I've merely come as a witness this time; I won't attack you."

Qin Mu sighed in relief, lowered his hand from his chest, and bowed, saying, "Senior Buriluo is a highly respected figure who acts justly. I have always admired that about you."

Qi Jiuyi's gaze also fell on Qin Mu's chest. His heart stirred slightly, and he smiled, "That jade pendant really was hanging there. Knowing its location makes things much easier."

Suddenly, another breathtaking beauty, radiating brilliance, approached and appeared beside Buriluo. Her gaze swept over Butcher, Mute, Yang Xingjun, and the others, then settled on Granny Si. The radiance on her own face immediately dimmed considerably.

She too was a stunning beauty, but next to Granny Si, she instantly paled in comparison.

One was merely stunning, the other was unparalleled; they couldn't be compared.

Upon seeing the woman, Qin Mu cautiously asked, "Youdu Luli?"

"Indeed, it is I." Luli withdrew her gaze, a trace of jealousy stirring within her. She offered him a sweet, very charming smile, though her voice was a deep, rough male one: "Such unparalleled beauty. Even I feel pity, and a touch of jealousy. What is this sister's name?"

Granny Si was about to answer when Qin Mu shook his head and whispered, "Granny, many Youdu spells target the soul. If they know your true name, they'll have a way to deal with you."

Granny Si quickly abandoned the idea of revealing her true name.

Luli chuckled, "Qin Fengqing, I truly didn't expect you to become like this. You've genuinely disappointed me. I was hoping to acquire this unparalleled beauty's body to play with! And this noble person, are you surnamed Qi?"

Qi Jiuyi smiled faintly. "Qi Jiuyi of the Qi clan greets Legate Luli."

Luli's voice remained deep, but her tone became mournful: "It seems the Celestial Heavens doesn't trust me, sending Young Master Qi. That truly chills me to the bone."

Qi Jiuyi said casually, "If the Legate had no hidden agenda, why would you care about my presence?"

Luli sneered, "Since I'm here, you won't be taking Qin!"

Qi Jiuyi smiled. "I never intended to take him away. After I've used Brother Qin, I can hand him over to you."

Luli's eyes lit up. "It's a deal then!"

Qi Jiuyi merely smiled.

Qin Mu frowned. Buriluo's personal arrival had disrupted his plans. He had originally intended to have Qi Jiuyi duel with the devil experts to assess the young man's abilities from the Celestial Heavens, and incidentally, to create animosity between Qi Jiuyi and the devil race.

However, Buriluo's direct presence prevented the devil experts from challenging them.

Now, Luli, who had been hidden in Xing An's Life-and-Death Divine Treasure, had also appeared. Luli had once controlled Xing An to capture Qin Mu, but Xing An had turned against her and expelled her from the Life-and-Death Divine Treasure.

She and Qi Jiuyi were rivals, both desiring to capture Qin Mu. Yet, with just a few words, Qi Jiuyi dispelled Luli's hostility. Now, united against a common foe, Qin Mu became their single target.

"Plans never keep up with changes. I can't control all the variables..." A subtle worry stirred within him.

Crippled mumbled softly behind him, "The brat botched it..."

Yang Xingjun glanced at Qin Mu, a smile spreading across his face as he suddenly relaxed. "Cult Master Qin, your mind seems to be in disarray. Your entire strategy has been thoroughly disrupted. You're now in a state of anxious indecision, which could easily lead to Young Master Qi defeating you. Does Cult Master Qin need some time to compose himself?"

"Alright!" Qin Mu immediately said, "I do need to adjust my mindset. Grandpa Butcher, Yang Xingjun, perhaps you two should settle your grievances first."

The smile on Yang Xingjun's face stiffened. He hadn't expected the young man to actually agree.

Butcher roared with laughter, tearing open his clothes to bare his chest, and looked up at the sky. "You damned heavens, I've cursed you for so long, and now I can finally make you bleed! Yang Xingjun, please —"

A blade intent soared heavenward, tearing the sky apart. A pale cloud was instantly cleaved perfectly in two!

Butcher's fighting spirit was overwhelming, his gaze sharp as a blade, fixed on Yang Xingjun.

Yang Xingjun felt pierced by those two gazes as if struck by blade light. Startled, he leaped into the air, where golden light erupted around him. His form rose higher and higher, his wings dramatically unfurling behind him, layers of golden feathers instantly spreading out in all directions.

Feathers continuously surged from Yang Xingjun's body, transforming him from his human form into a three-legged divine bird, gleaming golden. He merged with the scorching sun in the sky, appearing like a golden crow within the great sun itself!

The golden crow let out a deafening shriek: "Heavenly Blade, I severed you last time, and all your blade techniques were shattered by me. What can you accomplish today?"

"You think I've been eating vegetarian food in Crippled's Village all these years?" Butcher let out a long cry, drew his blade, and leaped into the air, treading on clouds. His body instantly grew immense. The blade light in the sky became dazzlingly bright, eclipsing even the scorching sun of Yang Xingjun, as it slashed towards that sun!

"Blade Splits Moon Ring!" Qin Mu couldn't help but exclaim in excitement: "The ninth move of the Pig Slaughtering Blade Technique!"

Ba Shan Libationer's eyes were glazed over. He looked up at the sky, realizing that the 'Pig Slaughtering Blade Technique' Qin Mu mentioned was the Heavenly Blade Eight Forms. However, Butcher's Heavenly Blade Eight Forms only comprised eight moves, yet now Butcher was executing a blade technique he had never seen before.

The Heavenly Blade now had a ninth move. The Heavenly Blade Nine Forms! Blade Splits Moon Ring!

In the sky, dazzling blade light converged. Butcher's figure was no longer visible; only an incredibly bright blade light, gathered like a full moon, met the opposing golden sun!

Within the great sun, countless golden feathers converged into a sword, carrying fierce solar true fire, rushing towards the opposing moon ring.

*Buzz*— The golden sword and true fire surged into the moon. Suddenly, the moon's light burst forth, as if it absorbed sunlight and reflected it back as moonlight. The blade's radiance instantly intensified severalfold!

The bright moon dissipated, transforming into an earth-shattering blade light!

Qin Mu was inexplicably excited, reciting loudly: "From the Jade Gate Pass, chasing foes at Mount Jinwei. Flute plays plum blossom tunes, blade splits moon ring!"

He was reciting the blade incantation for the 'Blade Splits Moon Ring' technique!

In mid-air, blood rained down.

Butcher's imposing figure stood between heaven and earth, bathed in divine blood and raging flames. His Heavenly Blade flowed with light, slicing through the sun. He laughed heartily, "Drums beat upon the sea, martial aura fills the clouds. I wish to cleave the head of a god, and drive forth to the Gate of Recklessness!"

At this moment, a human youth, carrying a demonic blade, emerged from the devil camp and hurried towards the scene. He looked up, witnessed this sight, and his mind was greatly shaken, inadvertently falling into a state of enlightenment.

In mid-air, Yang Xingjun's head fell, smashing onto the ground in front of the devil camp with a resounding thud.