64: Chapter 64: A Glimpse of the Sword's Way

In a valley to the northeast, Ling Jianxin stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in white robes.

His aura was as deep as the sea. Merely by standing there, an invisible Sword Domain naturally formed within a three-foot radius around him.

Nascent Soul Great Perfection!

As the number one Genius of the Supreme Dao Palace in the past hundred years, Ling Jianxin's true strength had long since surpassed the scope of his peers.

Four people stood behind him: Su Qinghan, Li Changsheng, and two True Disciples of the Dao Palace at the Nascent Soul Early Stage.

In front of the five, five Nether Hall Disciples lay in a pool of blood, including even a deacon at the Nascent Soul Early Stage.

The fragment hovered quietly in Ling Jianxin's palm.

"Two more to go."

Ling Jianxin's tone was flat, as if killing five powerful enemies just now was merely a trivial matter.

Su Qinghan said respectfully, "Senior Brother, there is the aura of Liu Ruyan to the southwest. To the due west, there is an intense chaotic battle, and the Tyrant Blade Li Tianxiong is also among them."

Ling Jianxin nodded, "Go due west first. Liu Ruyan is cunning; let her deal with the Nether Hall first."

The five turned into five streaks of sword light and sped towards the west.

In the shadows, White Bone Scholar and the others watched this scene from afar.

"Such powerful Sword Intent..."

"Even from several miles away, one can feel that sharp aura."

A look of gravity flashed in Blood Slaughterer's eyes.

White Bone Scholar said in a deep voice, "Ling Jianxin has already condensed the Taishang Sword Heart, and his Sword Intent has formed a domain. Ordinary Nascent Soul middle stage Cultivators cannot last more than three moves against him."

"We absolutely must not have a direct confrontation with him."

Xiao Ran did not participate in the discussion, but instead secretly communicated with Li Changsheng through a Soul link.

Why not just ask directly?

"How strong is your Senior Brother?"

Li Changsheng replied, "Unfathomable."

"Three months ago, he sparred with an Elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect at the Early Stage of Spirit Severing and remained undefeated for a hundred moves."

Xiao Ran felt a chill in his heart. Fighting across realms was a standard trait for geniuses. But fighting a Nascent Soul Cultivator while at the Golden Core stage was already the limit. Fighting a Soul Transformation Cultivator while at the Nascent Soul stage... that was on an entirely different level.

"Senior Brother's goal is the seventh complete fallen immortal token. He wants us to provide support from the sidelines, mainly to guard against sneak attacks from the Nether Hall."

"You had better not show yourselves, otherwise Senior Brother might clean up the Demonic Path first." Li Changsheng continued to pass on information.

Xiao Ran understood. In the face of absolute strength, any schemes must give way.

"Let us retreat to the outer perimeter first and wait for the opportunity when the token is complete." White Bone Scholar ordered decisively.

The five quietly retreated and hid in a secluded valley on the edge of the Shadow-Ghost Hills.

...

To the west, the chaotic battle was nearing its end. Tyrant Blade Li Tianxiong was covered in blood, and the door-sized broadsword in his hand was stained with blood.

Seven corpses lay at his feet: three Disciples from the Shenxiao Sect and four Cultivators from the Hundred Beasts Villa.

"Hahahaha! Satisfying!"

"This last fragment belongs to me!" Li Tianxiong laughed wildly.

He reached out to grab the fragment hovering in the air. But just at that moment, a cyan sword light descended from the sky like a sword of divine punishment, striking directly at Li Tianxiong's head!

"Ling Jianxin!"

Li Tianxiong's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly swung his blade to block.

"Clang!!!"

As the blade and sword clashed, a deafening roar erupted. Li Tianxiong retreated seven steps, his tiger's mouth split open, and blood flowed down his wrist.

Ling Jianxin, however, landed lightly, his white robes unstained by dust.

"The fragment, I want it." Ling Jianxin said indifferently.

A fierce light flashed in Li Tianxiong's eyes, but feeling the opponent's unfathomable Sword Intent, he ultimately gritted his teeth and backed away.

"Fine! Ling Jianxin, I concede this time!"

"But the Ancient Battlefield is long, we shall see!"

He turned and transformed into a blade of light to escape, without any hesitation.

Ling Jianxin didn't even glance at him; he simply reached out, and the fragment fell into his palm.

With this, the seventh fallen immortal token was only missing the final fragment. And the last one was in the hands of Liu Ruyan.

...

At the edge of the Seven Star Soul-Locking Array, Liu Ruyan looked at the three Nether Hall Disciples inside the Formation with a charming laugh: "Three Fellow Daoists, this fragment... do you really not want it?"

Gui Li's voice was cold.

"Liu Ruyan, throw the fragment in, and my Nether Hall will owe you a favor."

"A favor?" Liu Ruyan covered her mouth and chuckled.

"I dare not accept a favor from your Nether Hall, but..."

She changed her tone.

"If the three of you are willing to accompany me in Dual Cultivation for three days, what does it matter if I give you this fragment for free?"

"You seek death!" Gui Sha was furious, the Soul banner shook, and three ghost shadows lunged out.

Liu Ruyan's figure was like smoke, easily dodging, and just as she was about to continue teasing, her expression suddenly changed.

A figure in white had appeared ten feet behind her at some unknown time. Ling Jianxin!

"Fellow Daoist Liu, give me the fragment, and you may leave safely." Ling Jianxin's voice was calm, yet carried an unquestionable majesty.

Liu Ruyan's charming smile froze on her face. She could feel that she had been locked onto by a terrifying Sword Intent. If she made the slightest move, it would be a thunderous blow.

"Senior Brother Ling is joking; how would I dare to compete with you?" She forced a smile and gently tossed the fragment over.

Ling Jianxin took the fragment, didn't even glance at Liu Ruyan, and turned to walk towards the Seven Star Soul-Locking Array.

At this moment, the fallen immortal token in the center of the Formation had absorbed forty-six fragments, lacking only these few in Ling Jianxin's hand.

The three Nether Hall Disciples' faces were livid. They had worked so hard to set up the Formation and collect the fragments, and they were on the verge of success. Yet someone had to come and cause trouble.

"Ling Jianxin! Do you really want to make an enemy of my Nether Hall?" Gui Qi shrieked.

Ling Jianxin did not stop his pace: "Leave the Formation, or die."

A simple six words, yet they contained monstrous Sword Intent.

The three Nether Hall Disciples looked at each other, and all saw the determination in each other's eyes.

"Seven Star Soul-Locking Array, rotate!" The three simultaneously formed hand seals, the seven Soul banners shook wildly, and the monstrous ghost Qi gathered into a thousand-foot ghost claw, grabbing towards Ling Jianxin!

This strike was already comparable to the full-force strike of a Late Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator!

Ling Jianxin finally stopped. He slowly looked up, a flash of cyan sword light passing through his eyes.

"Sword Domain, open."

"Hum!"

With him as the center, a hundred-foot radius instantly transformed into a world of swords!

Countless Sword Qi were generated out of thin air, each one condensed into substance, shredding the ghost claw layer by layer.

"Pfft!" The three Nether Hall Disciples vomited blood simultaneously, and cracks appeared on the Soul banners. The Sword Domain continued to expand, and wherever it passed, the ghost Qi dissipated and the Soul banners shattered!

"Retreat!" Gui Li roared.

The three turned into three ghost shadows and fled frantically. The Seven Star Soul-Locking Array was broken!

Ling Jianxin stepped into the center of the Formation and pressed the final fragments into the fallen immortal token.

"Hum!!!"

The seventh complete fallen immortal token was born!

A crimson-black light soared into the sky, illuminating the entire Shadow-Ghost Hills.

And at this moment, the three complete fallen immortal tokens in Xiao Ran's embrace suddenly vibrated violently!

Not only him, but the tokens in the possession of Jian Wuchen in the direction of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Fairy Youyue in the direction of the Xuan Yin Cult, and the fleeing Tyrant Blade Li Tianxiong all vibrated simultaneously!

The six complete fallen immortal tokens and the seventh newly born one produced an unprecedentedly strong resonance!

"Boom!" The light from the seven tokens converged in the sky, actually tearing open a ten-foot-long spatial fissure!

From the fissure, a desolate and ancient sigh echoed: "On the day the nine tokens gather... the time when Immortals and Demons return..."

The voice echoed between heaven and earth, lingering for a long time. The fissure slowly closed, but that sentence was deeply branded in the hearts of everyone who heard it.

Immortals and Demons return? What does that mean?