"So, Fellow Daoist is actually a Tier Four Body Cultivator. What powerful Forbidden Breaking Divine Techniques!"
He never expected that the cultivator before him, who called himself "Jue Qing", was not only a Tier Four Array Master but also a successful Body Cultivator. His comprehensive methods clearly made him a difficult opponent.
"However..."
Seven-Star Daoist took a deep breath, a look of unwillingness flashing in his eyes:
"Without a fight, I can't resign myself to this! The Void Crystal is a rare treasure of the world; how can it be handed over so easily?"
As he finished speaking, the mana around Seven-Star Daoist surged frantically. His cyan-gray Daoist robe fluttered without wind, rattling loudly, and the surrounding void trembled slightly under the immense force.
With a tight grip, he opened the Seven-Star Box once more. The box's mouth gleamed brilliantly, and seven flying needles floated in front of him like awakened spiritual snakes.
The needles, snow-white in color, were engraved with intricate star runes. As mana infused into them, the runes glowed with a faint silver light, emanating a chilling intent. The tips of the needles even gathered sharp auras specifically to break through Dharma Bodies!
"Go!"
Seven-Star Daoist shouted decisively, his voice full of a do-or-die resolve.
With a flick of his finger, the seven flying needles transformed into seven beams of light, shooting towards Chen Sheng like meteors pursuing the moon, leaving fine traces in the void with slight starlight fluctuations.
Seeing this, Chen Sheng's eyes narrowed. With a quick wave of his sleeve, the seventy-two Array Banners in the void suddenly burst with spirit light, preparing to swiftly maneuver into place to form the Thunder Kill Array.
But before the banners could form their array, Seven-Star Daoist suddenly opened his mouth and spewed a gray misty light, which instantly spread, transforming into an all-encompassing gale in the void.
Within the wind, countless starlights twinkled, as though the entire starry sky had been swept in, carrying a bizarre force that twisted reality as it howled.
Krijg op elke leeftijd een erectie met deze oude truc! Tweemaal daags innemenOpen
Wherever the divine wind passed, the surrounding void began distorting, the originally stable space ripples became violent, and even small space cracks appeared, flickering within the wind.
More terrifying was the inversion force within the divine wind, like an invisible giant hand, striking the seventy-two Array Banners fiercely.
The banners wavered violently, their spirit light flickering like dying candles in the wind, unable to achieve formation smoothly. Some were even blown off course by the wind, drifting randomly in the void.
"Meteor Inversion Divine Wind!"
Chen Sheng raised an eyebrow in surprise, not expecting Seven-Star Daoist to master such a domineering Daoist Skill, no wonder he dared to fight even knowing the Grand Array was restrained by Forbidden Breaking Divine Light.
True to form, a Nascent Soul Cultivator from a Loose Cultivator background had some hidden tricks, and one minor slip could lead to a downfall.
But Chen Sheng remained composed, having pushed his Sword Heart to the limit. Every move of Seven-Star Daoist, every flaw in the divine wind, was clear in his perception.
With a flick of his finger, the Tingyu Flying Sword in his Dantian suddenly shot forth, transforming into a brilliant Sword Light, tracing a beautiful arc through the void.
Upon appearance, the Sword Light divided into seven identical beams, each radiating with majestic Sword Momentum, infused with the Power of Heaven and Earth, like divine weapons cleaving the skies, charging at the seven flying needles.
"Zheng! Zheng! Zheng!"
The seven beams of Sword Light collided with the seven flying needles mid-air, their crisp metallic clash echoing through the void. The shockwave from the collision spread like a tide, dispersing much of the "Meteor Inversion Divine Wind."
The starlight on the needles dimmed, obviously damaged by the Sword Light.
"Sword Intent Formation, Nascent Soul Sword Monarch!"
Seven-Star Daoist's expression drastically changed, eyes full of disbelief. He had thought his opponent was merely a Body Cultivator and an Array Master, not expecting him to be a Nascent Soul Sword Monarch who had comprehended Sword Intent Formation!
A Tier Four Body Cultivator, a Tier Four Array Master, a Nascent Soul Sword Monarch—three top-tier abilities in one person; such an opponent was astonishingly formidable!
Before Seven-Star Daoist could recover from his shock, Chen Sheng acted again.
"Kill!"
He waved his sleeve, recalling the Tingyu Flying Sword and slashed it forcefully. The sword merged into the void, drawing in the surrounding Thunderbolt Power, rolling thunder sounded, making the void hum with vibrations.
In the next moment, the Sword Light split into thousands of flying swords, each exuding fierce Sword Qi, quickly weaving into a massive Sword Array, encasing Seven-Star Daoist completely.
As the Sword Array operated, Sword Qi crisscrossed, cutting the void with scars, countless small space cracks opened and closed within the array, exuding a devouring aura.
Seven-Star Daoist had no time to recall the damaged Seven-Star Needles, merely tapping his Mud Ball Palace hastily, spitting a dark red corrosive light, which enveloped him entirely.
This light was his refined Protective Divine Technique, using his Essence Blood to resist ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators. However, against Chen Sheng's Sword Array, it seemed fragile.
The Sword Qi fell on the corrosive light with sizzling sounds, dimming it visibly, threatening to shatter at any moment.
Observing this, Chen Sheng made another hand sign, causing the center of the Sword Array to shake violently. The Tingyu Flying Sword released a seven-colored divine light, sweeping across the array like a rainbow.
It was the killing move "Seven Emotions Divine Light" from the Seven Emotions Sword Scripture, swirling all worldly phenomena within the divine light. It did not attack the physical defense but assaulted the Dao Heart, a formidable intangible weapon.
The divine light was formless and intangible, yet directly impacted the cultivator's Dao Heart, impervious to ordinary defenses.
Seven-Star Daoist's mind instantly became hazy, his vision suddenly changed.
He felt he had returned to his youthful pursuit of immortality, climbing a thousand-foot peak, the mountain wind howling past his cheeks, eagles circling overhead, a profound abyss below, one misstep leading to his demise.
Next, the scene shifted!
He saw his arduously acquired cultivation resources being seized by a formidable enemy, witnessed himself suffering from heart demon backlash during seclusion; waves of pain, fear, and despair surged, almost overwhelming his Dao Heart.
Chen Sheng watched quietly as Seven-Star Daoist fell into confusion, knowing that just pushing the Sword Array a bit further would easily annihilate his opponent's Dharma Body.
Yet he refrained from acting!
For he lacked the means to prevent a Nascent Soul from escaping into the Inner Void, and once Seven-Star Daoist's Dharma Body was destroyed, his Nascent Soul would surely flee, thus becoming an unending enemy.
Chen Sheng wasn't afraid of Seven-Star Daoist's vengeance, using the false identity of "Jue Qing" now. Still, an eventual exposure would risk the Yunlan Chen Clan's ire against a rootless Nascent Soul True Monarch.
Nevertheless, fact remained that Seven-Star Daoist, stemming from Loose Cultivation, had a Dao Heart much firmer than ordinary cultivators. In mere moments, he bit his tongue sharply, forcefully regaining clarity through essence blood.
When he saw the hovering Tingyu Flying Sword exuding lethal intent above him, he wore a bitter smile and slowly withdrew his mana, cupping hands toward Chen Sheng:
"Fellow Daoist's methods are beyond me, thank you for sparing me."
He knew full well that if his opponent wished to destroy his Dharma Body and seize his Spiritual Treasures, he had no means of resistance, being fortunate enough already.
Seeing Seven-Star Daoist admit defeat, Chen Sheng also withdrew the Sword Array and Tingyu Flying Sword, looking at him with an indifferent voice:
"Since Fellow Daoist concedes, please leave. Should we meet again, refrain from engaging in pointless conflict."
Seven-Star Daoist offered a bitter smile, spoke no more, recalled the scattered Seven-Star Needles, turned into a stream of light, and quickly vanished into the void.
Only after Seven-Star Daoist's silhouette completely vanished did Chen Sheng let out a sigh of relief. He raised his hand, taking out the Five-Colored Dust Transformation Cauldron, eyeing the Void Crystal lying quietly inside, a glimmer of joy in his eyes.
With this Void Crystal, the last barrier to his mid-stage Nascent Soul breakthrough finally vanished completely.
Watching the Seven-Star Daoist depart into the distance, Chen Sheng no longer lingered. With a wave of his hand, the seventy-two floating array banners in the void instantly converged, intertwining with the spirit light of the Five-Colored Dust Transformation Cauldron in his palm.
In just a moment, they transformed once again into a five-colored talisman vessel, over ten feet long.
The entire vessel shimmered with brilliant hues, and the Five Elements Array Pattern on the hull resonated subtly with the fluctuations of the void, appearing more vibrant than before.
Chen Sheng's figure flickered, appearing within the vessel, which transformed into a streak of light, fleeing deeper into the void, leaving behind only the ripples of space disturbed by the magical combat, slowly calming.
Inside the vessel, it was tranquil. Chen Sheng sat cross-legged, placing the Five-Colored Dust Transformation Cauldron in front of him. The cauldron's lid gently opened, and the completely transparent Void Crystal slowly floated out, suspended in mid-air.
Within the crystal, faint void auras circulated, trembling slightly as if alive, emitting energy waves that subtly resonated with the Void Mark in Chen Sheng's Dantian.
He took a deep breath, activating the "Seven Emotions Sword Scripture," and his Divine Sense, like delicate threads, cautiously extended towards the Void Crystal.
Unlike the past aggressive refinement of treasures, this time, he deliberately slowed his pace, using his Sword Heart to guide the Void Power within the crystal, gradually merging it into himself.
When the Void Power first entered his body, it carried a touch of arrogance, darting through his meridians like mischievous fish.
Yet, unhurried, Chen Sheng soothed them with the rhythm of the "Seven Emotions Sword Scripture," breaking down the Void Power into countless tiny streams of energy, gently guiding them into his Dantian.
With each strand of energy merging, the Sword-carrying Nascent Soul in his Dantian lightly trembled, and the Void Mark on his brow became distinctly clearer.
Outside, the void continued to recede, while inside, the Void Crystal seemed to dim noticeably to the naked eye, and the aura surrounding Chen Sheng gradually became more substantial.
...
Two months of time quietly slipped away during the refinement.
Een lepel voor het slapengaan, en de wormen zullen binnen een dag uit het lichaam verdwijnenOpen
On this day, the Five-Colored Talisman Vessel abruptly halted in a vast expanse of void, and the Void Crystal within the vessel completely dissipated, transforming into the final strand of pure Void Power, flooding into Chen Sheng's Dantian.
The void aura around him suddenly became intense, and the Five Elements Spiritual Light originally enveloping his body began to merge with the void, as if he had become a part of it.
Chen Sheng slowly opened his eyes, a ripple of void flickering within them. He let out a deep breath, the breath becoming faint white mist that instantly vanished upon contact with the void:
"Mid-stage Nascent Soul... it's finally here!"
Introspection of the Dantian revealed the five-inch-tall Sword-carrying Nascent Soul, the last vague Void Mark on its brow now complete, transformed into a clear, purple mark, echoing with the long sword behind it.
The Nascent Soul's mana surged by fifty percent, and its once-white body appeared more solid, the hand gripping the sword exuding a greater ease in wielding the void.
His Divine Sense expanded, effortlessly covering a range of 1,500 miles, with every subtle fluctuation in the void clearly perceived within his senses.
How much stronger it was compared to the Nascent Soul Early-stage!
More delightfully, at this moment, Chen Sheng's control over the Void Power had stepped into a new domain.
With a thought, he abruptly withdrew his mana, merging entirely with the void, leaving no trace behind.
This wasn't the crude method of using Void Power to conceal in the outer void as before but truly stepping into the Inner Void—gentle Void Energy surrounding him like warm water, with none of the past stagnation and resistance, instead carrying a hint of familiarity.
He could clearly sense the energy flow deep within the void, able to effortlessly convert surrounding Void Power into a shield, or even traverse briefly within the Inner Void, like a fish swimming in water, free and smooth.
He could also gradually extract the pure Void Energy from within, using it to refine Tier Four Spiritual Treasures, or to nourish the Nascent Soul, enhancing its strength further.
Chen Sheng's lips curled into a smile. From forming the Nascent Soul to now over two hundred and thirty years later, he finally crossed the threshold that so many cultivators faltered before, stepping into the Mid-stage Nascent Soul Realm.
"Mid-stage Nascent Soul, the Nascent Soul in the body is enough to flee into deeper voids, even if Late-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivators try to void lock. These abilities greatly enhance survival skills."
From this point, it's tolerable to destroy his Dharma Body.
However, to destroy his Nascent Soul, even Late-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivators would need to rely on Void Treasures like the Nascent Soul Cutting Gourd.
In the void, Chen Sheng slowly stretched his body, sensing the surging mana within and the familiar Void Power surrounding him.
"By the way..."
The pleasant sensation brought by the breakthrough had not entirely dissipated when a thought suddenly occurred to him—now that his cultivation had advanced, with his perception and control over energy far surpassing before, perhaps he could gain more insight into the restriction of the Indigo Treasure Bead.
With that thought, Chen Sheng summoned the bead with a raised hand, and with a flash of spirit light, the entirely azure bead, as if condensing the sea, floated in his palm.
The bead's surface still glimmered with deep luster, hiding what seemed like endless void within. Even with his current Mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation, he couldn't see through its essence.
"Previously, with insufficient cultivation, I could barely perceive even the outermost restriction. Now I must try to see if I can glimpse deeper mysteries."
He murmured to himself, without expecting to break the restriction but hoping to hone his Array Dao insights through the exploration process.
In recent years, it was through contemplating the subtle mysteries of the bead's restriction that his Array Dao cultivation rapidly advanced, even showing signs of surpassing his Alchemy, approaching Tier Four Middle Grade.
Taking a deep breath, Chen Sheng composed his heart and spirit, cautiously extending a thread of condensed Divine Sense, like a fine thread, towards the Indigo Treasure Bead.
As soon as the Divine Sense touched the surface of the bead, he felt the vast and boundless restriction—still as heavy and majestic as before, seemingly forged by the Laws of Heaven and Earth, indestructible.
Carefully, he guided his Divine Sense along the patterns of the restriction, attempting to capture more of its operational laws, his mind rapidly simulating array pattern changes, with insights in Array Dao flowing slowly like a stream.
But just then, an unexpected change occurred!
The originally calm Indigo Treasure Bead suddenly trembled slightly, and the azure light on its surface abruptly intensified. A dazzling blue light burst forth from within the bead, like surging tides, instantly enveloping Chen Sheng entirely.
The blue light carried an irresistible suction force, like an invisible whirlpool, firmly locking his form, even freezing the void around him.
"Not good!"
A strong sense of unease surged in Chen Sheng's heart. Instinctively, he wanted to activate the newly mastered Void Power to flee into the Inner Void and evade.
However, no matter how he tried to mobilize his heart and spirit, the Void Power within remained like trapped in a quagmire, unable to respond, and the space around him became as solid as iron, not a seam to tear open—he was utterly immobilized by the blue light!
This all happened in the blink of an eye; Chen Sheng didn't even have time to summon the Tingyu Flying Sword or the Five-Colored Dust Transformation Cauldron for defense.
The blue light suddenly contracted like an invisible giant net, tightly enveloping him.
The next moment, the light flashed abruptly, and Chen Sheng's figure vanished from the void, along with the Five-Colored Talisman Vessel beside him, as if swallowed by the blue light, disappearing completely into the bead.
In the emptiness of the void, only the Indigo Treasure Bead remained, floating where it was, the blue glow on its surface slowly retracting, returning to its original deep appearance, as if everything that just transpired was a mere illusion.
Only the lingering spatial ripple bore witness to the strange anomaly that took place here.