Looking up at the myriad Heavenly Swords in the sky, the Red Sun Martial Sage's heart trembled, disbelief flashing in his eyes.
"How could one person possibly control such overwhelming power of heaven and earth? Could it be some kind of special secret treasure?"
A storm of shock surged within him.
No wonder he thought that way.
It was simply too incredible. A single Heavenly Sword was already powerful enough; ten thousand Heavenly Swords were a force even the Ancient Saints had to fear and respect. It must be known that these peak geniuses from every era had already forged an unmatched foundation far surpassing ordinary Heaven-Man cultivators, basically invincible in the Heaven-Man Realm.
But the young Daoist before him was far stronger than even their foundational strength.
This exceeded his understanding.
"What exactly is this person's background?" His mind raced with countless images.
But there was no more time for pondering.
The ten thousand Heavenly Swords came crashing down.
The sea was completely suppressed.
The many onlookers turned pale in shock. They had retreated again and again since the battle began, but now were forced to continue retreating until the two combatants were almost invisible. Some weaker warriors could barely track the fight by sensing fluctuations in aura.
Ye Qinghe's mouth opened slightly:
"So this is what Xiao Jiu looks like when he's unleashing full power? So cool!"
She was filled with amazement and overwhelming relief.
That little kid who once followed her around had unknowingly become so strong, now a towering pillar of the True Martial Sect.
One after another, the True Martial disciples trembled with excitement.
They all believed Ning Qi to be the reincarnation of an Ancient Saint and were completely absorbed in the fierce battle before them.
Under countless stunned gazes, the Heavenly Swords rained down like stars, their utmost sharpness carving tiny cracks through the void.
Ning Qi did not test the waters with sword energy; he unleashed everything from the start.
The Red Sun Martial Sage felt immense pressure. He looked up and roared angrily, while behind him the great sun unleashed its power without restraint, golden-red light radiating. The compass spun rapidly, and a mighty fire lion burst forth, followed by a dense swarm of fire crows.
Both had already given their all.
Fire crows burned the sea, Heavenly Swords suppressed the sun.
This scene was etched into everyone's eyes, destined to be remembered forever.
Boom! Boom!
Terrifying trembling roars echoed nonstop.
Heavenly Swords pierced through countless fire crows, unstoppable. The Golden Crow and fire lion charged out but were suppressed under the onslaught of the Heavenly Swords. The overwhelming numbers outweighed quality. The horizon was dyed crimson. The two sides clashed, but it was clear the sharpness of the Heavenly Swords remained undiminished.
Ning Qi changed his sword formation.
The remaining Heavenly Swords shifted again.
In the next moment, a giant Heavenly Sword condensed, resembling an ancient sword-shaped mountain. Not only was its sharpness greater, but it also carried a heavy, imposing aura, pressing down on the Red Sun Martial Sage with overwhelming majesty.
The Red Sun Martial Sage's expression changed drastically, a strong sense of crisis prickling his entire body.
Without hesitation, he spat out a mouthful of spiritual blood. The pain was excruciating, and his heart felt like it was bleeding, but he had no choice.
The previously dim great sun was irrigated by the spiritual blood and erupted with dazzling light once more.
The giant Heavenly Sword collided with the crimson great sun.
The terrifying roar caused the heavens and earth to fall into a brief silence. Everyone stared blankly at the scene before the sound exploded again, forcing many to cover their ears in pain. Some bled from all seven orifices, panic-stricken as they took life-saving pills. Watching this battle was even more dangerous than fighting for one's life, yet many could not look away.
As the light faded, the young Daoist stood atop his dragon, calm and elegant, his gaze steady ahead. In contrast, the Red Sun Martial Sage looked somewhat battered, his face pale, fury burning in his eyes with a cruel glint.
"Good! Good! Good! Looks like today we'll fight to the death!" He ground his teeth. "Since you won't stop, then we'll fight hard today. Even if all my plans of ten thousand years are destroyed in one day!"
Ning Qi remained silent, only sneering mockingly.
He could see through the other's bluster. The threat of ten thousand years of plans ruined was just a scare tactic to intimidate him.
Too bad.
He was not an Ancient Saint.
Even if he couldn't kill the opponent today, he had to make him pay a heavy price. One mouthful of spiritual blood was not enough.
Thinking of his master coughing up blood, a cold glint returned to his eyes.
The power of heaven and earth gathered, his internal aura quickly stabilizing. The white dragon beneath Ning Qi raised its head, ready to strike again. The Red Sun Martial Sage cursed silently but prepared to fight for his life again. If he left in disgrace now, his reputation would be completely destroyed.
Suddenly, both looked sharply in the same direction. Far away across the sea, a blind old man leaning on a cane appeared. He sighed helplessly.
Recalling the man's actions on Zhenxuan Mountain, Ning Qi's face shifted slightly, while the Red Sun Martial Sage's heart leapt with joy. He coldly shouted:
"Today we settle this!"
He was confident the Heaven-Slaying Martial Sage would stop the two, so he was no longer nervous. If that was the case, he could not afford to lose his prestige.
Ning Qi saw the other's arrogance and said nothing.
Only the white dragon pounced even more ferociously.
If the Heaven-Slaying Martial Sage intended to intervene, Ning Qi was powerless for the moment. But until the Martial Sage spoke, it was as if he didn't see anything.
Streams of spiritual power shook the void.
The white dragon overwhelmed the dim Golden Crow with brutal attacks. The Red Sun Martial Sage endured without enhancing himself with spiritual blood. The great sun compass, at some unknown time, had already fallen into his hands, supplying spiritual power at maximum capacity.
The Heaven-Slaying Martial Sage arrived nearby.
He was about to speak.
Suddenly, the once calm mist shifted.
To everyone's astonishment, the mist opened like a giant beast's maw and swallowed the Heaven-Slaying Martial Sage whole.
Ning Qi's eyes flickered, as if he understood something. A faint smile rose in his gaze.
The Red Sun Martial Sage's expression changed drastically.
Ning Qi wasted no time.
In this brief moment, his internal force fully restored. He waved his hand, and the void manifested countless Heavenly Swords once more. Though fewer than before, still enough to form a giant Heavenly Sword again.
Seeing the giant Heavenly Sword press down again, the Red Sun Martial Sage gritted his teeth and spat another mouthful of spiritual blood. The great sun's light surged, and the Golden Crow cried out.
The roar shook the horizon again.
But this time, Ning Qi did not stop.
His eyes shone with golden light, filled with cold killing intent. From the last fight, he had already grasped the Red Sun Martial Sage's strengths and weaknesses. He had powerful bursts but only sparingly used spiritual blood. This was the opportunity!
He would not use the same tactic twice.
At the moment the great sun and Heavenly Sword collided, Ning Qi's mind unified with his body, unleashing the Innate Divine Sword Qi he had nurtured for a long time!
The strength of "Ten Thousand Swords Return to Sect" lay in its endless continuity and vitality, but the Innate Divine Sword Qi was even sharper and more explosive in single-target killing power, surpassing even the giant Heavenly Sword.
In the void, a finger-thick spatial rift spread a hundred feet, lingering instead of dissipating immediately.
The Red Sun Martial Sage's face twisted in terror, disbelief filling his pupils.
But at this moment, he was in a state where old power had faded and new power had not yet emerged. Though spiritual blood helped, it wasn't something he could just spit out at will. His roar was mixed with traces of fear:
"Heaven-Slaying Martial Sage, save me!"
The mist churned, but no one emerged.
He grew desperate. At this critical moment, he gritted his teeth and threw the great sun compass. The Golden Crow wailed as it was pierced by the terrifying sword energy. The great sun compass clashed with the sword energy, ringing sharply. Its light dimmed further. The sword energy vanished in an instant. A strange aura rose from the Red Sun Martial Sage's body as he howled, one arm rising into the air before being shredded to pieces. Only the great sun compass was carried back by the residual sword energy.
Ning Qi raised an eyebrow.
This Ancient Saint was truly hard to kill.
But he did not give up.
He prepared to forcibly nurture a second stream of Innate Divine Sword Qi.
Ning Qi stepped forward, his body radiating light. He struck out with a palm, shaking the void. His terrifying physical power made the Red Sun Martial Sage's mouth receive a slap, several teeth instantly knocked out, blood spraying wildly. Ning Qi thought to himself how tough Ancient Saints were—if it were someone else, they'd have been beaten into a bloody mess long ago.
The True Martial Sect disciples watched with overwhelming excitement, their blood boiling.
Daoist Longshan's lips curled slightly without anyone noticing.
Ning Qi delivered several more slaps, seizing the opening, treating the Red Sun Martial Sage like a punching bag.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Above the sea, the young Daoist was frighteningly ferocious.
The Red Sun Martial Sage flew back hundreds of feet, his eyes bloodshot.
An unbearable humiliation!
An unbearable humiliation indeed!
His raging aura exploded, ready to fight to the death recklessly.
A soft sigh sounded. Ning Qi's fist was stopped by an unbeatable force, gently pushing him backward. His eyes flickered. Sword energy swept up the falling great sun compass and retreated. He decided to stop while ahead. The forcibly nurtured Innate Divine Sword Qi gradually calmed.
No one knew when the Heaven-Slaying Martial Sage had appeared between the two.
"Red Sun, stop. If you exhaust your spiritual blood, you will have to start over." The old man sighed softly.
The Red Sun Martial Sage's wild aura was quelled by powerful energy, but his eyes were still blood-red, like a beast choosing its prey. He stared at Ning Qi, burning with hatred and longing to tear him apart. His left arm was severed, but for a Martial Sage, it did not affect strength. However, after being beaten like this in front of so many, he was about to go mad.
"He must pay the price!" the Red Sun Martial Sage roared.
Ning Qi calmly met his gaze:
"Then continue. Afraid of you?"
The Heaven-Slaying Martial Sage was slightly troubled. He glanced subtly at the young Daoist, a ripple in his heart. This boy was truly extraordinary. Then he looked at the Red Sun Martial Sage again and finally said:
"Today's matter ends here."
Ning Qi knew continuing was impossible. Having suffered no loss, he nodded calmly.
But how could the Red Sun Martial Sage accept this?
He had suffered huge losses today.
His dignity shattered.
He would probably become a laughingstock in the future.
"Impossible!" His eyes turned icy cold.
The blind old man suddenly turned his head. His hollow gaze made hearts shiver with fear. He stared at the Red Sun Martial Sage and said calmly:
"I said, it ends here."
The Red Sun Martial Sage felt as if doused with ice water. His anger and resentment instantly extinguished. His expression flickered, but he finally gritted his teeth and said:
"Fine, just for the Heaven-Slaying Martial Sage's face!"
But in his heart, he thought if he found a chance when the Heaven-Slaying Martial Sage was absent, he would definitely avenge today's humiliation!
When the spiritual opportunity awakening came, the Heaven-Slaying Martial Sage would be too busy to care. Perhaps that would be the chance.
He had vaguely grasped the young Daoist's true nature. He might not be an Ancient Saint, though his foundation was beyond reason and his methods strange, his depth was definitely not as profound as his own.
With this thought, he coldly glanced at Ning Qi and gradually calmed his fury.
"Return the great sun compass!"
Ning Qi showed no sign of embarrassment:
"What compass? Never seen one."
The Red Sun Martial Sage exploded with rage. He had clearly seen the boy take the compass back when he was unable to control it, then vanish. Now he brazenly lied with his eyes open, utterly shameless!
"You're talking nonsense. You clearly took it!" He looked toward the Heaven-Slaying Martial Sage.
Ning Qi feigned innocence:
"Really never seen it. That lousy thing might have been shattered by my sword energy just now."
The Red Sun Martial Sage grew even more furious.
The Heaven-Slaying Martial Sage looked helpless:
"My young friend..."
Ning Qi felt a little regretful. He had wanted to take the great sun compass to study and compare it with the Yu King Bead, but now it seemed he had to hand it over. The Heaven-Slaying Martial Sage was too powerful to cross.
At that moment, a tremendous roar echoed.
Everyone's attention was drawn.
The mist covering the surrounding sea suddenly fluctuated violently and rapidly contracted. A solitary island appeared, its scenery obscured by mist. Only faint glimpses of immortal cranes and palaces could be seen, with gentle breezes stirring the air.
Many cultivators were shocked.
"Is this the true appearance of the True Martial Hall? Isn't it a celestial palace fallen to the mortal world?"
Most present had never set foot on the island and were excited, some already eager to head toward it.
But in the next moment, they stopped in horror.
Boom!
Another tremendous roar.
The sea overturned, and pillars of water shot into the sky.
Then, the island hiding the immortal palaces came alive. Accompanied by a deep, ancient roar, the island rose into the air, endless waves rolling off its edges. Shrouded in white mist, it resembled a celestial waterfall from the heavens.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
This was no island.
It was a gigantic turtle beast!
The giant turtle was over a thousand feet long, its head held high as it roared deeply. Its four legs stomped like pillars shaking the sea, while its tail twisted like a spiritual snake in the mist.
Ning Qi's heart shook with astonishment. He finally understood the trace discovered when visiting the True Martial Underground Palace long ago. It was this giant turtle.
He met the giant turtle's gaze and saw a familiar approving look, confirming his previous guess.
The Heaven-Slaying Martial Sage had not been swallowed by the mist for no reason. Ning Qi's lips curved into a slight smile. He knew the great sun compass probably had found its resting place.
Meanwhile, the Red Sun Martial Sage's face darkened little by little.
The giant turtle moved its gaze, finally resting it on the Heaven-Slaying Martial Sage. Its deep voice shook the horizon:
"Old friend, long time no see."