God Emperor

Mu Lingxi operated the Eight Barren Exercise to its limit. Her clasped hands were completely wrapped in Divine Qi. Prints formed continuously, dozens coming out of each finger.

Whoosh!

A huge gear formed behind her. The eight Half-Saint beast spirits—the python, winged dragon, sky spider, silver wolf, tortoise, whale, snow tiger, and phoenix—appeared on the edges of the gear.

The eight beasts absorbed Spiritual Qi at the same time and poured it into Mu Lingxi’s delicate body. Her aura grew stronger and stronger.

Then a gust of frigid Qi radiated from under Mu Lingxi’s feet. It froze the entire scroll world, turning it into a world of ice and snow.

“Is the Demonic Saintess going to use the strongest attack of the Eight Barren Print?”

“The last of the Eight Barren Print—the Divine Barren Sky-Sealing Print?”

“The power of the Divine Barren Sky-Sealing Print is infinitely close to a saintly spell. Can she withstand the power of the attack with her cultivation?”

“This Demonic Saintess’ abilities are honestly terrifying. If she really uses the Divine Barren Sky-Sealing Print, she can hurt a first level Half-Saint. Lin Yue wouldn’t be able to take it.”

Fighting against a first level Half-Saint and injuring one were two completely different things.

As Mu Lingxi’s energy grew stronger, everyone held their breath. They stared unblinkingly at the scroll world. They wanted to know just how scary the Divine Barren Sky-Sealing Print was.

The six in the Heir Seats on the mountaintop were affected too. Even they weren’t completely confident in withstanding the Divine Barren Sky-Sealing Print.

After all, Mu Lingxi had only recently reached the Eight Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm. What would happen if she reached the Ninth Change?

Whoosh!

Cold wind blew through the scroll world. It swept up a flurry of snowflakes that flooded towards Zhang Ruochen.

Zhang Ruochen slid backwards. The cold wind actually forced him back around 200 feet.

“Sword Two!”

Zhang Ruochen gripped his Golden Snake Divine Rapier. Instantly, 3000 beams of Sword Qi gathered with the sword as the center. They spun quickly, forming a huge Taichi print.

“Eight barren force, seal the sky!”

Mu Lingxi reached out a slender hand and slapped in Zhang Ruochen’s direction. The Divine Barren Sky-Sealing Print was unleashed. The huge burst of saintly power crushed towards him.

Zhang Ruochen disappeared from the spot. He transformed into light and rushed forward, stabbing at Mu Lingxi. He charged as if nothing could stop him, combining with the 3000 beams of Sword Qi and Taichi print.

Boom, boom.

As soon as they hit the Divine Barren Sky-Sealing Print, the 3000 beams of Sword Qi exploded one after another, turning into strands of smoke. Then the huge print collided with the Golden Snake Divine Rapier.

There was a huge smack and the sword—a saint weapon—actually exploded. It broke into seven sections and flew backward. Three fragments hit Zhang Ruochen on the shoulder, chest, and thigh. They left three bloody marks.

Though the sword was broken, the power that had burst from the sword’s explosion helped Zhang Ruochen break apart the Divine Barren Sky-Sealing Print.

By the time Zhang Ruochen had stopped, his finger was already between Mu Lingxi’s eyebrows.

His finger had a golden glint. A tiny Taichi print spun around his finger, radiating with sharp Sword Qi. If he moved an inch more, he could stab through Mu Lingxi’s skull.

However, Mu Lingxi had no look of fear on her face. She stood in place without moving as if she knew that Zhang Ruochen would rather injure himself than hurt her.

“I lost!” Mu Lingxi batted her lashes as if she’d been freed.

Zhang Ruochen retracted his finger and clutched his chest. He coughed and blood dribbled from his lips.

The sword fragment had pierced his lung, causing serious internal injuries. The previous battle had happened in a flash and ended before many people could see what had happened.

On the mountaintop, Xue Hongchen chuckled. “Seeing how Lin Yue protects the Demonic Saintess, there must be something between them. It seems that we’re quite similar. Neither of us can bear to hurt beauties, but we’re both men with many lovers. If there’s a chance, I should chat with him.”

Lin Yue was able to defeat Mu Lingxi because he’d used his own power and the Divine Barren Sky-Sealing Print’s power to shatter the Golden Snake Divine Rapier. The power of the explosion had pierced the print.

However, the more powerful people could see that Lin Yue was more powerful than Mu Lingxi. With his Tao of Sword, there was a 70% chance that he could stab through the print. It was also possible to kill Mu Lingxi with that strike.

In that case, he didn’t have to break his sword and get hurt. Why didn’t he then?

The only explanation was that he didn’t want to hurt or kill Mu Lingxi. He could only choose the worst option. Not only had he destroyed his saint weapon, but he’d also hurt himself.

Xue Wuye chuckled. “Ouyang Huan, you sent the little Saintess against Lin Yue. Did you already know that they have some unspeakable relationship?”

Ouyang Huan was abnormally calm. “Their relationship is their private matter,” he said indifferently. “What does it have to do with me? Grudges, love, jealousy, and hatred are part of human nature. I’m just an observer.”

Xue Wuye smiled and shook his head. He didn’t speak any further.

As the saying went, the experts focused on the techniques while outsiders just watched for fun. The people at the peak chatted calmly, while the Monks at the foot of the mountain didn’t know what had happened. They were in an uproar again.

“Lin Yue actually destroyed the Demonic Saintess’ Divine Barren Sky-Sealing Print. He’s so powerful. But he’s hurt and he lost a saint weapon. I’m afraid he can’t keep fighting.”

“Didn’t you notice that Link had used the third realm of Sword Two, Yin and Yang Split?”

“What?”

“The third realm of Sword Two?”

All the monks present who used swords were completely shocked. Many of the people in the Fish-Dragon Realm who called themselves sword geniuses could barely reach the first realm of Sword One.

In the last millennium, only around 20 or 30 people in the Fish-Dragon Realm could cultivate Sword One to the tenth realm completely. The majority of those people had all become sword saints and were worshipped by many swordsmen.

Lin Yue was only in the Seventh Change and he’d already cultivated Sword Two to the third realm. This was naturally shocking. Didn’t this mean that he would have the chance to cultivate Sword Two fully while still in the Fish-Dragon Realm?

“If this youth doesn’t die, he will definitely become another sword saint,” an old Saint said inside the city. “He might even surpass Sword Saint Zangyue of the Yin and Yang Sect.”

Monks of the Four Symbols Sect, the Eight Trigram Sect, and the Taichi Sect were even more shocked. Regardless of whether they were younger Monks or older Half-Saints and Saints, everyone was shocked.

A young man in a Tao robe stood beside Saint Xuanyi. He was tall and thin and had two dark mustaches above his lips.

His eyes were sharp, making him look handsome. “If Lin Yue is only at this level, he’ll be dead if he goes against me.”

This man was Shao Lin. He was the strongest member of the Four Symbols Sect below the Half-Saint level.

Shao Lin had once been a sword genius from the Yin and Yang Sect. He had been chosen with Qi Feiyu and Gai Tianjiao and was sent to train in the Sword Pavilion. If one only considered their sword talent, then Shao Lin was more excellent than Qi Feiyu and Gai Tianjiao.

The Yin and Yang Sect had placed great hopes in him too. They’d used all sorts of resources on him. They wanted him to represent the sect at the Sword Technique Conference.

Unfortunately, Shao Lin was from the Four Symbols Sect. He’d entered the Yin and Yang Sect just to use their resources and strengthen himself. He’d never thought of working for the Yin and Yang Sect.

Perhaps, in his eyes, the Yin and Yang Sect were just a bunch of fools.

After Shao Lin improved greatly in his cultivation, he betrayed the Yin and Yang Sect, returning to the Four Symbols Sect.

A few years had passed. Under the full effort of the Four Symbols Sect, Shao Lin’s cultivation had reached an impossibly high level. He would represent the Four Symbols Sect at the Sword Technique Conference and steal the Sword Pavilion.

Shao Lin’s eyes contained cold arrogance. “Lin Yue’s Tao of Sword is quite good. Sadly, he was born a few years too late. Our Sword Two’s are both in the third realm, but there’s still a big difference. I’m already before him. My Sword Two is only a step away from the fourth realm.”

“In the end, Lin Yue is only in the Seventh Change, while I’m already at the pinnacle of the Ninth Change. There’s a big gap in both cultivation and Tao of Sword. If I lose to him, I would have wasted all the years the sect has used to train me.”

Saint Xuanyi nodded. “The effort the Four Symbols Sect has put into you is unprecedented. The resources spent are enough to produce ten Half-Saints. It’s unjustifiable if you still lose. But even though Lin Yue has overflowing talent, he still isn’t at your level. He shouldn’t have the chance to win against you.”

Evidently, Saint Xuanyi was also confident in Shao Lin.

…

After the battle between Zhang Ruochen and Mu Lingxi, the scroll world under their feet was completely shattered. It transformed into smoke and melded into Scroll Mountain. The two of them reappeared on the steps of the mountain, along with the heavily injured Ling Ji and Luo Sha.

Huang Yanchen walked towards Lin Yue. “You seem to be hurt badly,” she said. “Will you continue fighting?”

Zhang Ruochen’s face was pale, but he still smiled. “Actually, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have involved you in the fight between the Demonic Sect and the Yin and Yang Sect. However, I must continue climbing. After all, I owe the Yin and Yang Sect for teaching me their ways. I must fight today.”

Pausing, he added, “Do you have the courage to continue climbing with me?”

Huang Yanchen stared hard at Zhang Ruochen. Her eyes were extremely troubled. There was doubt, friendship, and deep suspicion.

Her left hand was behind her back. She gripped a fragment of the Golden Snake Divine Rapier so tightly that it cut her hand. Blood dripped down.

She had the Xuanwu Source and had cultivated the Sacred Book of Xuanwu. Even though the Golden Snake Divine Rapier had been re-forged, changing its aura and shape, there was still a shred of Xuanwu aura that she’d noticed.

“If you go, I will follow, no matter how dangerous it is,” she said. “I just wish…you won’t abandon me.”

Tears filled Huang Yanchen’s eyes, but she worked hard to control herself. She couldn’t let her emotions spill out. She couldn’t let the outsiders see.