Chapter 1217: Snatching Things in Front of Our Heavenly Court Sect?

"Indeed, it's the nascent form of the Samsara Dao Fruit!" The sudden appearance of the figure confirmed Lu Yang's speculation.

The Nine Nether Sect's situation was somewhat similar to that of the Immortal Sect; both had used the power of faith to condense nascent forms of Dao Fruits. The difference was that the Immortal Sect worshipped a non-existent entity, the "Immortal Celestial." Therefore, they not only condensed the nascent form of the Immortal Dao Fruit through faith but also manifested the Fourth Master. In contrast, the Nine Nether Sect simply believed in reincarnation, which is why they only condensed the nascent form of the Samsara Dao Fruit.

"Who are you, daring to trespass our sect!" Mu Baiyi was furious. The Fengdu Celebration was paramount in the Nine Nether Sect's eyes, representing the peak of their collective faith. The emergence of the nascent Samsara Dao Fruit was the clearest proof of this. The Nine Nether Sect would not permit anyone to disrupt this celebration.

The figure drew out a bloody long staff, pointing it at Mu Baiyi. The staff was jet black, its surface stained by the blood of countless slain enemies over the years, which had turned from red to black.

"I am Lord Si Heng, commanded by the Emperor to come here and claim the nascent form of the Samsara Dao Fruit. If you are wise, retreat at once. If not, then do not blame me for being merciless!"

"Lord Si Heng?" Lu Yang's eyes narrowed slightly. According to the confession of a Great Qian prisoner, Lord Si Heng was a trusted subordinate of the Central Heavenly Emperor, wielding the nascent form of the Yin-Yang Dao Fruit. Furthermore, this was not condensed by the power of faith but gained through his own enlightenment. No wonder his timing was impeccable, appearing the moment the nascent Samsara Dao Fruit emerged. The Great Qian Dynasty excelled at using the power of faith to condense nascent Dao Fruits. It was likely Lord Si Heng had been waiting in the Fengdu dimension specifically for the nascent Samsara Dao Fruit.

Lord Si Heng's appearance stunned all the Nine Nether Sect faithful, but their reaction wasn't fear, but rage. They hurled teacups, plates, solar lights, and anything else they could grab at the hovering Lord Si Heng. Lord Si Heng snorted coldly, erecting a barrier to prevent the projectiles from hitting him.

"You have a death wish, it seems. I haven't acted in 300,000 years; the world has forgotten my legends!"

"Then try it!" Being in Fengdu, on their home ground, Mu Baiyi showed no fear. Moreover, since the newcomer claimed the fruit on the small sapling was the nascent Samsara Dao Fruit, there was even less reason to yield. Lord Si Heng swung his bloody long staff, striking at Mu Baiyi.

"Avici Hell Millstone!"

A massive millstone appeared, blocking Mu Baiyi.

"Such a thing dares to block me!"

With a resounding crash, before the millstone could display its profound abilities, it was shattered by Lord Si Heng. However, behind the millstone was not Mu Baiyi, but six pitch-black coffins.

"Rise!" Mu Baiyi roared. The coffin lids flew off, and six stiff corpses sprang upright from within.

"Are these the six foundational figures Li Shidi mentioned for the Nine Nether Sect?" Lu Yang transmitted his voice to Meng Jingzhou.

"Most probably."

Li Haoran had told Lu Yang about the Nine Nether Sect's strongest foundation: the corpses of six former Nine Nether Sect masters. These masters had all been Tribulation Transcendence stage cultivators in life, each representing a glorious period in the sect's history. In times of life-or-death crisis, the current Nine Nether Sect master would control these corpses to fight.

Lord Si Heng's view had been obstructed by the millstone, so he hadn't seen where the six coffins came from. Lu Yang, as an observer, had a clear view: these six coffins were buried near the altar, occupying the six most auspicious Feng Shui positions. Mu Baiyi's lack of fear for Lord Si Heng didn't mean he was unaware of the opponent's power. As merely an early-stage Tribulation Transcendence cultivator, he certainly couldn't defeat Lord Si Heng alone. It was better to deploy the Nine Nether Sect's strongest trump card from the start.

While the Nine Nether Sect had not developed reincarnation spells, they were highly proficient in corpse manipulation techniques. They could enable these corpses to temporarily possess combat awareness, maintaining about 80% of their strength from when they were alive.

"Great Sky-Rending Hand!""Ruyi Seal!""Mad Demon Fist!""Boundless Myriad Poisons!""Nether Sky!""Styx of No Return!"

A giant hand that could tear through the sky, a Ruyi seal that suppressed all with the mind's will, a Mad Demon Fist that required madness to master, a poisonous mist capable of killing countless beings with just a speck—

Six Tribulation Transcendence cultivators attacked simultaneously. Each had been a renowned figure in the underworld during their time. Their combined assault, employing their most skilled techniques, was enough to instantly slay even a peak Tribulation Transcendence cultivator!

"Mere Tribulation Transcendence cultivators dare to strike at me. Mortals, today you shall learn what a nascent Dao Fruit truly is."

Lord Si Heng's expression was icy. He activated his nascent Yin-Yang Dao Fruit, causing six areas of space to twist, from which six figures emerged.

"What?!" The appearance of these six figures stunned Mu Baiyi, who displayed an expression of disbelief. These six figures were identical to the six previous Nine Nether Sect masters.

"Go."

Lord Si Heng commanded. The six figures he created were not exact duplicates, but their complete opposites. Whatever techniques the opposing six Tribulation Transcendence cultivators used, these six figures would employ completely contrary techniques, thus achieving a stalemate.

Lu Yang perceived the underlying principle: "The Yin-Yang Dao Fruit of Senior Nine Heavens Immortal can define Yin and Yang, leading to their mutual annihilation. A nascent Yin-Yang Dao Fruit cannot achieve this; it can only create puppets that possess techniques completely opposite to the enemy's, thereby indirectly achieving a similar neutralizing effect."

"Is this the power of a nascent Dao Fruit?" Mu Baiyi couldn't believe his eyes. The trump card his Nine Nether Sect had accumulated over tens of thousands of years was nullified by a single move?

"Mortals, I told you, you will pay for your foolishness."

Sect Master Chi and Liu Zhen, who had initially intended to help, now showed fear. Such supernatural methods meant their intervention would change nothing. Lord Si Heng descended, sweeping aside the still-ready Mu Baiyi with a single staff strike. He then prepared to uproot the nascent Samsara Dao Fruit along with its sapling.

Suddenly, Lord Si Heng's hairs stood on end. Sensing a fatal danger, he hastily retreated. A streak of sword light grazed the edge of his body. Had he been even a moment slower, he would have been sliced in two. The sword light vanished, leaving the altar split into two parts, one large and one small.

Lord Si Heng was both shocked and enraged. Was this sword qi from a sword cultivator? Weren't sword cultivators always known for their grandeur and directness? How could there be a sword cultivator who ambushed others?!

"Tsk, he's surprisingly hard to kill." Lu Yang strolled forward, casually holding his Qingfeng Sword. It seemed Lord Si Heng was indeed a cultivator forged in battle, possessing a strong sense of danger. "It's not very polite to snatch things right in front of our Heavenly Court Sect, is it?"

Mu Baiyi, being helped away by others, was thrilled to see Lu Yang make his move. "Young Sect Master Lu!"

"People from the Heavenly Court Sect?" Lord Si Heng smirked coldly. He had seen Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou while lurking in the Fengdu dimension. "The Emperor told me long ago that the Heavenly Court Sect never even existed in ancient times!"

"What could your Emperor possibly know? He doesn't even know about the Tinder Dynasty."

Meng Jingzhou pushed off with his legs, shooting like a cannonball directly at Lord Si Heng. Lord Si Heng blocked with his staff, but the web between his thumb and forefinger split open instantly! He realized he couldn't take that punch head-on. He swung his staff in a wide arc, using the momentum to redirect Meng Jingzhou to the side. Meng Jingzhou was flung away by Lord Si Heng, landing next to Lu Yang.

"Lu, why are you wasting words with him? Let's just subdue him first!"

"What's your hurry? I was just about to pump him for information, and you interrupted me."

"Why bother getting information from him? He doesn't even know about the Tinder Dynasty. He's clearly completely illiterate; what could he possibly know?"

"Are you two done yet?!" Lord Si Heng was enraged. He absolutely loathed being called illiterate.