Chapter 451 - 449: Launch

Chapter 451: Chapter 449: Launch

「Half a month later.」

A black mist shrouded heaven and earth, stretching for countless miles and turning the entire region into a land fit only for mortals!

Within this world shrouded in black mist,

majestic mountain ranges rose and fell without end,

casting enormous, menacing silhouettes.

At that moment, a magnificent ship, its hull aglow with runic light, tore through the thick black clouds with world-shaking momentum and charged into the mountain range!

"Ahead lies Heaven’s End Valley!"

"This is a strategic location, a choke point that controls the southern plains and directly threatens Luoyan City."

"Two years ago, the Cultivators stationed in Luoyan City were attacked and suffered heavy losses. After a thorough investigation, we learned that the attackers ran rampant by using Heaven’s End Valley as their thoroughfare."

"This time, we will annihilate the Demon Cultivation Clan here!"

The flying ship, having broken through the heavy black clouds, hovered in the air above the valley entrance.

Gu Xuanqing, the Grand Elder of the Ancient Sword Sect, floated before the ship, his deep and powerful voice echoing across its deck.

On the ship’s deck,

the disciples of the Ancient Sword Sect all wore grim expressions. Their gazes were fixed on the mysterious and dangerous-looking valley below, their hands clenching unconsciously.

Within the valley, the black mist was even denser. It churned and roiled as if it were alive, a truly chilling sight!

"Prepare for landing!"

Gu Xuanqing waved his hand.

At his command, the ship slowly descended. The light from the surrounding Array flickered ever more intensely, as if resisting the corrosive dark power from below.

Faintly, a continuous series of popping and cracking sounds could be heard.

Within the black mist, flashes of dark light appeared one after another.

It was the sound of the peripheral Low Tier Arrays, which acted as Guard Arrays, being crushed!

Facing the enemy who had caused the Ancient Sword Sect to suffer a major loss last time, the well-prepared Gu Xuanqing chose a direct assault—a blitz to overwhelm them with speed!

As the ship landed in an open area at the valley’s entrance,

the disciples of the Ancient Sword Sect moved quickly. Following their pre-arranged plan, they leaped from the ship in an orderly fashion, forming defensive formations around it to guard against sneak attacks from the mist.

At that very moment,

"Annihilate my Li Family? Hmph! Such arrogance!"

From within the valley,

a hoarse, booming voice echoed out.

Immediately after,

the mist within the mountains seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, converging into a colossal hand several hundred yards wide that came crashing down toward the ship!

A terrifying divine might swept through the sky,

causing the faces of the Ancient Sword Sect disciples, who had already taken up their formations around the ship, to turn pale and their stances to become unsteady.

"A mere bluff!" At that very moment, however, a cool voice rang out from within the ship.

SHIING!

Along with a clear sword hum, the sky trembled.

A condensed beam of sword light, dozens of yards long, shot out from the ship like a bolt of lightning. It soared into the air, instantly piercing the sky and slashing toward the black hand that was crashing down!

The sword light collided with the massive hand of black mist.

BOOM!!!

In an instant, it was as if a thunderclap had torn apart heaven and earth. Terrifying waves of Magical Power spread out in all directions from the point of impact.

Wherever they passed, visible ripples appeared in the air, as if it could not bear the weight!

The black hand in the sky was struck by the sword light. Terrifying Sword Qi burst forth, tearing it to shreds and scattering it into a shroud of mist that dissipated into the air.

’That was one incredible strike!’

At that moment, Shen Changchuan stood on the ship, watching the scene unfold, and couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe.

The one who had acted

was the Ancient Sword Sect’s Sword Son, Jian Wuheng.

His Cultivation was at the Soul Emergence Ninth Layer Late Stage, making him even stronger than Gu Xuanqing!

Before Shen Changchuan’s meteoric rise,

Jian Wuheng had been the most outstanding, peerless prodigy in the Tian Nan Domain’s Immortal Cultivation Realm for the past century!

He was also the Ancient Sword Sect’s only candidate to reach the next Divine Travel Realm!

During the half-month journey,

Shen Changchuan had gotten to know him through Gu Xuanqing’s introductions.

There was no arrogance typical of a prodigy, nor any sense of confrontation.

As two great prodigies of the Tian Nan Domain from different generations, the two instead felt a sense of mutual respect.

Thus, throughout the journey,

Shen Changchuan had exchanged insights on the Cultivation of Swordsmanship and Magic with him, verifying his own understanding.

He had gained a great deal from the experience!

As for Jian Wuheng himself,

Shen Changchuan had to admit

that when it came to the Cultivation of Sword Dao Techniques, the man was more than just a cut above him!

Coupled with his Cultivation Realm of Soul Emergence Ninth Layer Late Stage,

his current strength was far superior to Shen Changchuan’s own!

At the very least,

Shen Changchuan was certain that if he were to fight him, he would be no match at all!

What Shen Changchuan didn’t know

was that compared to his admiration, Jian Wuheng’s feelings toward him were a mixture of complexity and regret.

The complexity stemmed from Shen Changchuan having come so far in just over twenty years, with such a profound understanding of Sword Dao Techniques.

Jian Wuheng admitted that he himself was far inferior when he was thirty.

Right now, he was a step ahead of Shen Changchuan.

But given the talent the young man had shown, that gap would likely be closed very soon!

This caused Jian Wuheng, who had been accustomed to surpassing others ever since he embarked on the Path of Immortal Cultivation, to feel an immense pressure from a junior catching up for the first time!

It gave rise to an unprecedentedly complex feeling in Jian Wuheng’s heart.

As for the regret,

it was because Shen Changchuan had also displayed extraordinary talent in the Cultivation of Sword Dao Techniques.

But unfortunately,

he was clearly not a Swordsman who was true to the Sword Dao; he was merely an ordinary Cultivator who treated the Sword Dao as a useful tool.

This made Jian Wuheng feel as if a priceless pearl had been cast into the darkness.

Of course,

regret was just regret.

Jian Wuheng wouldn’t try to make Shen Changchuan completely change his ways and focus solely on the Sword Dao just because he had a talent for Sword Dao Techniques.

Of Jian Wuheng’s inner thoughts,

Shen Changchuan was naturally unaware.

At this moment, his gaze was fixed on the sky where clouds roiled and Sword Qi lingered,

and he felt immense pressure building within him.

’In ten years, he’ll probably participate in the Immortal Sect’s centennial grand competition, too!’

Shen Changchuan thought to himself.

The Ancient Sword Sect was founded by a former disciple of the Yuqing Immortal Sect, and the techniques practiced within it were all passed down from the Yuqing Immortal Sect.

Therefore, as the Sword Son of the Ancient Sword Sect, Jian Wuheng was also qualified to participate in the centennial grand competition ten years from now.

In fact, he would definitely participate!

After all, the winners of the competition could obtain a fortuitous opportunity to advance to the Divine Travel Realm!

’The Southern Great Domain has Thirty-Six Small Domains, and the Tian Nan Domain is only one of them—and a relatively low-ranking one at that.’

’In the grand competition, there will be no shortage of people like him! There might even be experts whose strength far surpasses his!’

Shen Changchuan’s expression was grave as countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

In ten years,

he not only had to catch up to the strength of someone like Jian Wuheng but also surpass him

if he wanted any chance of placing in the top ten of the Immortal Sect’s grand competition.

For the first time,

Shen Changchuan felt an unprecedented amount of pressure!

After all,

a prodigy like Jian Wuheng

already possessed extraordinary strength.

And in ten years, he certainly wouldn’t be standing still.

By then, his power

would only be even greater!