Chapter 1153: Pear Blossom Sword

Ling Mei.

The Grand True Person of the Sword Gate, the Dui Jin Sword Immortal.

Among the Three Profound Ones, the Azure Profound is renowned for its Intent Swords. For many years, during the struggle between the North and South, and especially since the Solar Orthodoxy took control of Jiangnan, there has been no shortage of Sword Immortals in the region. From Hengzhu in the far south to Xiuyue in the far north, Sword Immortals have appeared.

The Sword Immortals from these orthodoxies possess formidable divine powers and magic, none of them inferior. There’s no need to mention the one who ascended to Jade True, but even the Grand Owl-Eyed Monastery Sword Immortal, whose talent was slightly lesser, required a direct disciple of the True Lord to personally suppress!

The Sword Gate, however, is an anomaly. While it boasts the highest number of Sword Immortals in Jiangnan, it has few Purple Mansions.

Perhaps the reverence for virtue allowed this special lineage to produce more Sword Immortals, while upholding the sword intent, in turn, imposed more stringent moral requirements on this lineage. Everyone strove for sword intent, and the emerging geniuses sought sword intent before divine powers, wasting their youth. This further exacerbated the decline in the number of divine powers. Ever since Cheng Liuxing and his disciples perished, the glory of the Sword Gate diminished sharply, and even the emergence of a Grand True Person, Ying, could not salvage it.

Even more so for a Grand True Person level Dui Jin Sword Immortal!

No matter how much preparation he had, the terrifying power that surged forth the moment that autumn yellow light ignited still sent a chill down Qi Lanyan’s spine, making him realize.

"The power of this Dui Jin Sword Immortal already overwhelms Jiangnan and Jianghuai, directly rivaling Lou Xing!"

Those sword pupils shone for only a moment, and Qi Lanyan felt a cold wind assault him, his eyes filled with dazzling white light. He only had time to swing his sword horizontally, with only one thought in his mind.

"What a fast sword."

It is often said that Zhenmu (Upright Wood) is as strong as metal. This art sword, embodying the nature of Zhenmu, borrowing from water and fire, and serving as the metal virtue, appeared to have a plain luster but was in fact indestructible and quite sharp, no weaker than an ordinary spirit sword. On normal days, Qi Lanyan had used this item to outwit countless opponents!

But what came now was also of the upright nature—Dui Jin, the uprightness of all metals.

"Clang!"

That streak of white light was like a fleeting white horse passing a crack, but it lacked the graceful sway of the Moon Quelled Sword. Instead, it contained a vast and unshakable uprightness of pure Yang!

"Boom!"

As the white light in Qi Lanyan’s pupils dissipated, a spot of crimson color had already appeared on his neck, instantly climbing straight up to his chin, as if sweeping across his lips, and disappearing at the corner of his eye.

"Thud!"

As if countless falling leaves drifted down, the young man stepped back, reappearing dozens of feet away. His pupils were dilated; the bloodstain from before seemed like an illusion, but his expression suddenly turned grim.

The art sword in his hand was dim and dull, flickering with inch-sized, crack-like bright white sword patterns.

The young man’s heart suddenly leaped:

"Uncle-Master…"

Wang Ziya was in the Profound Mystery Temple, but he hadn't yet made a move!

His uncle-master's original mission was to restrain the South; there was no reason for him to break his word. His delayed appearance could only mean one thing.

Exiled Qi!

The layers of dark clouds covered the sky, churning like a storm, as if heavy, turbid mud was being constantly trampled by a giant beast entering a lake, stirring up a shocking tempest. The sound of the Underworld Grand Hall continually vibrating could faintly be heard.

"Yang Ruiyi… definitely laid a trap!"

His sudden scheme forced Yang Ruiyi to comply, and even alienated the Yang and Li families, making the Grand General take the blame. How could Yang Ruiyi not be angry? He must have schemed against Qi Lanyan!

As the chill swept through Qi Lanyan’s mind and he retreated, he already threw up his sleeve:

Xiao Chonglin!

Light green phantasmagoria instantly bloomed around him, and patches of trees swayed. The dense forest crashed down, engulfing all surrounding scenery, finally revealing the white light’s true form.

A profound sword, entirely pure white, adorned with crack-like pale golden pear blossom patterns.

It was almost upon him.

Qi Lanyan’s expression suddenly changed. Great light appeared in his palms, revealing two dark beads, which he brought together in front of him, chanting urgently:

"The method lies in the Yin!"

Blackness instantly climbed onto his hands. His figure had just risen and disappeared, but the sword light struck the empty space like a falling star, falling from thin air!

"Boom!"

Yin water, like a waterfall, poured in all directions but was cleaved in half by extremely sharp sword qi. The young man fell again from thin air, spitting blood, vast sword intent swirling around him, cutting numerous dense bloodlines across his face!

Qi Lanyan, however, showed no surprise or anger, his expression relaxing. The purple silk sash tied around his waist was now clutched in his palm, growing at an astonishing speed, like layers of purple mist, finally locking the pear wood treasured sword in mid-air!

But suddenly, a cold, snowy white light flowed down:

Departure from the past.

The pear wood treasured sword vanished into thin air. Beneath the layers of purple silk, there was only a golden sword mark, like a living creature. The long sword had already withdrawn, pointing directly at Qi Lanyan’s glabella!

"Departure from the past."

"What a ‘departure from the past’!"

Qi Lanyan had no time to consider how fitting the "departure from the past" chosen by the Underworld for Ling Mei was. The pear blossom treasured sword was already surging forth. He had to raise his head, inhale deeply, and exhale a stream of azure light.

As this light emerged, it remarkably changed the heavens and earth, bringing forth an endless wind that shone brilliantly from east to west. His figure rose with the wind, dissipating like smoke.

Li Yunchun.

This divine ability was completely different from the previous phenomenon. It was not like wood but like wind, mottled with green, not only lifting Qi Lanyan’s figure but also causing the cultivators to the north to tremble, indistinctly enveloping the surroundings.

But the man in white only took one step, and the second divine ability gleamed, a stretch of autumn white like snow, drifting forth.

This white light was clearly sudden, yet it came imperceptibly. It seemed to fill the sky, yet it also appeared to have endless gaps. The gale into which Qi Lanyan had transformed whirled, but he could not escape. Instead, within these blade-sharp gaps, he was constantly battered and rapidly weakened.

Jun Duiyu!

Qi Lanyan evidently anticipated this divine ability. His face was icy cold, and a clear light enveloped him. A mysterious aura of invulnerability immediately rose from his body. Drawing back, he finally raised the profound drum, holding in his hand the small golden stick, and struck the drum surface heavily. A circle of golden light rippled out.

A field of Wutu Light!

The autumn landscape transformed by Jun Duiyu seemed to meet its nemesis, melting away like snow before a raging fire, fiercely pushed back by the golden light. The divine ability was instantly broken, and the sword mark beneath the purple silk also became motionless. Even the spring movement wind stirred by Qi Lanyan’s Li Yunchun stopped. The pear blossom treasured sword retracted its sharpness and returned to its owner’s hand!

All divine abilities over the entire Xianhu Lake stagnated, almost universally declining. Even the exiled Qi in the sky trembled, revealing a wisp of light within.

This was the Wutu Light, renowned as being without flaw!

Qi Lanyan, momentarily freed, was overjoyed. He leaped out, a small white jade bead already shining in his palm. Just as he was about to recite a spell, he unexpectedly saw all light before him disperse, and a halberd blade gleamed within the Wutu Light!

Li Zhouwei!

"Tuoba Ci… that scoundrel!"

Qi Lanyan was intercepted by the Sword Immortal, and Zhe Lu had retreated to a corner of the battlefield to contain, so the one responsible for blocking Li Zhouwei was naturally Tuoba Ci! His sudden appearance here was, of course, due to Tuoba Ci’s inadequacy!

Rage flared in the young man's heart like kindling, but Tuoba Ci, beside him, was even more helpless, stifling his humiliation.

"The Profound Seal is suppressed by his Huaijiang Map; I have no means to restrain him. With a Scarlet Broken Arrow and a Jun Daowei, if he insists on going out there, who can stop him?"

This thought flashed by. Tuoba Ci suddenly turned his head and saw a middle-aged man carrying a sword in front, his face composed. The same Dui Jin energy as the Sword Immortal protected him, sharp and unparalleled, making Tuoba Ci raise an eyebrow in silent contemplation.

"Sword Gate… Cheng Jiuwen."

And Qi Lanyan had no chance to show his anger. Watching the halberd blade flash with a pale light, the King of Wei’s aura surged, his divine power limitless. He stood still for a moment.

He had just used his ultimate flawless Wutu Extermination Light!

"Is it Jun Daowei?"

Qi Lanyan’s mind went blank:

"How is that possible?"

Although Li Zhouwei was indeed charging with this divine ability, and the miraculous power of Daowei’s return to the right path was certainly at work, Qi Lanyan deeply understood that Jun Daowei’s power was not infinite. In the current age, it was impossible for Wutu Light to be within the scope of his return to the right path!

"Then… why?"

He had no time to think further. The purple silk in his hand flew, both ends held in his left and right palms. The originally soft purple silk now surged with purple-gold light, as if cast from refined iron.

"Clang!"

Yet, the long halberd, gleaming with a white radiance, was light and ethereal. Before the iron-like silk, it shattered like琉璃 (Liuli, glazed ceramic), and even more dazzling golden light, like a swimming dragon, passed over the silk, directly piercing Qi Lanyan’s glabella!

Just now, during the battle between Cheng Xunzhi and Qi Lanyan, Li Zhouwei was using Tuoba Ci to stack the Great Ascension Bright King. Now, with divine power imbued, the wonder of pre-emptive strike was vividly displayed!

The accumulated power of concentrated light, combined with it, cast down a white radiance, fixing Qi Lanyan in place!

This disciple of Guanhua had a profound cultivation and was laden with treasures, but the Dui Jin Grand True Person had already forced him to a desperate situation. At this moment, his divine abilities were out of order, his six senses weakened, and he was firmly locked down.

A trace of hesitation flashed in his pupils. The familiar Dui Jin killing intent swept over him. He clenched his teeth and closed his eyes tightly, communicating with the jade talisman in his sleeve.

"Crack!"

His Daoist robe spontaneously protected its master, condensing heavy barriers that cracked audibly before the golden blade. The long halberd, though sinking into mud, advanced layer by layer, finally piercing his glabella.

But the light on the young man’s chest brightened slightly, revealing a green jade gemstone. This miraculous operation was extremely close to Zhenmu, making his whole body as hard as metal, locking all damage. Qi Lanyan’s body suddenly shattered, transforming into rolling Xun wind. A great chill filled his heart, the jade talisman in his sleeve shattered, and only then did the bright white Jueyin light rise!

Cheng Xunzhi was emerging from behind him!

This Sword Immortal's divine ability responded, transforming into streaks of golden-white profound patterns, clinging and twisting, constantly moving, locking together, forming a shattered rhombus.

Slaying the palace.

Sixteen golden-white blades of varying sizes appeared, their sharp edges, whether pointed or long, rotated, all aiming at one spot, causing the Xun wind to swirl chaotically and all lights to become heavy. The young man was immediately forced out!

The pear blossom treasured sword would give him no more time to react; the white-gold color was intensely concentrated.

Infinite Sharpness.

Li Yang Yu Xin Pure Yang Sword!

With Li Zhouwei's delay, this Dui Jin Grand True Person, empowered by four divine abilities, had ample time to unleash his sword intent. The entire world darkened, all colors condensing on that one sword. The light curtain condensed by the life-preserving jade talisman of this direct disciple of Guanhua instantly solidified, as if struck by some terrifying force, immediately caving in.

"Crack…"

White light splattered, shattering with a roar!

The sword intent still carried residual power; the long blade entered the fabric, light flashing. Qi Lanyan’s Daoist robe, dark in color, billowed, as if its colors were dramatically changing before this sword intent, and was instantly passed through!

The Dui Jin Sword finally pierced into the Dharma body covered by the spiritual treasure’s miraculous power.

"Puchi."

Qi Lanyan’s face turned rapidly pale; his entire body was almost cut in half at the waist, with only a layer of skin and flesh still connected. The purple silk wrapped around his waist with lightning speed. The Sword Immortal's gaze was cold; he drew his sword back and struck again!

This sword, vast as mountains and rivers, crashed down, yet it vanished into thin air before Qi Lanyan.

The color at the top of the sky had dissipated. The long-bearded Daoist put away the green stone covered with sword marks. His usually peaceful eyes held a slight hint of anger. He gently shook the gourd in his hand!

In an instant, thunder fell, and raging flames surged forth from thin air, encircling Qi Lanyan. Wang Ziya then turned the mouth of the gourd and murmured:

"Fellow Daoist Cheng! This humble Daoist has been waiting for you for a long time!"

At his call, a deep purple light immediately fell from the mouth of the gourd, like a hazy world, causing Cheng Xunzhi to focus his gaze and his expression to gradually become solemn.

In this brief moment, Qi Lanyan forcibly swallowed the blood in his mouth. The purple silk sash was already tied around his waist, wrapped several times, tightly knotted. The unique power of Zhenmu responded, attempting to contain the sword intent as much as possible.

And his hand did not stop; one hand held the art sword, the other formed into two fingers, pressed against the sword's spine!

"By decree!"

The art sword was full of golden light, locking the long halberd flying from the raging flames. Qi Lanyan’s face paled slightly, and the deep halberd mark on his glabella was rapidly shrinking:

"You want to take advantage of this to suppress me? Naive!"

Qi Lanyan cultivated the Jiao Mu (Hornwood) orthodoxy, which is best at healing. This orthodoxy is not particularly remarkable in combat, but as the wood virtue's most proficient healing divine ability, it is least sensitive to injuries. The Zhenmu spiritual treasure on his chest also contains profound powers, complementing each other; when wood thrives, it is rigid and impervious to damage!

This sword strike, though seemingly causing severe injury, had 70-80% of its power dispelled by that Guanhua orthodoxy’s protective talisman and Daoist robe. With the spiritual treasure on him, he could lock all injured areas, so his injuries were not serious!

His only regret was that the sword intent was terrifying, and the Profound Immortal Treasure Purple Silk, needed to suppress the injuries, could no longer be used.

There was no trace of panic in his eyes, only calmness and coldness. He flipped the art sword, yet it clung tightly to the long halberd like a festering wound. His tone was cold:

"The bothersome one has finally left… Your Highness."

But there was no response from the flames. The halberd's power grew increasingly terrifying, causing his art sword to tremble slightly. Wang Ziya’s protective lightning and flames slowly faded, revealing the scene on the other side.

The halberd's golden hilt was clasped in the man's hand, and raging black flames reflected in Qi Lanyan’s eyes, causing his pupils to dilate.

Behind Li Zhouwei were six black flame arms, each holding a treasure.

A Lock Profound White Pattern Gilded Treasure Plate, corresponding to a Violet Gold Marvel Blade Profound Thunder God Mace, light flashing, thunder rumbling; a Sun Yang King Axe with Heavy Gold Light, facing a Crimson Purple Black-bottomed Tingzhou Esteemed Banner, thick and solid, surpassing the Great Void; a Qianyang Emperor Bracelet from the Wei lineage, and an Old Loyal True Lord Huaijiang Immortal Map, clearly radiant, majestic and reaching the Dao's peak!

The white in this Guanhua successor's eyes flickered. He heard Li Zhouwei’s voice, the first time he had heard this King of Wei speak. The voice was cold and magnetic:

"Fellow Daoist Qi."

The entire sky had already darkened, like a giant beast of a sunset resting on the horizon. The two thick arms covered in white scales held the newly forged white-bright King Halberd, and the crescent-moon-shaped blade had already jammed Qi Lanyan’s art sword.

The King of Wei’s scales were black and gold, smooth and flowing. His face was covered by plates, revealing only intense black flames and a pair of cold golden eyes sunken in the darkness:

"Don’t imitate Guang Chan."