246: Chapter 246 Sword One

Chu Changsheng flicked his wrist, and his joints emitted a crisp cracking sound, as if that sword strike just now was merely a warm-up, and his breathing hadn't even been disrupted in the slightest.

He casually carried the nine heavens dragon roar sword over his shoulder, the blade colliding with his shoulder armor with a soft "clang" — this sound was not loud, but like a pebble cast into stagnant water, it was exceptionally clear in the deathly silent Void Battlefield —

causing many people's hearts to skip a beat.

His gaze swept past Chayuzi and the other four, who were stumbling to steady themselves, toward the densely packed yet silent Southern Region Coalition in the distance. A flamboyant smile suddenly curled at the corners of his lips, revealing a mouthful of snow-white teeth, carrying a bit of mockery, a bit of arrogance, and a bit of world-dominating haughtiness:

"Just now, who was it that said... they wanted to crush whom?"

As his voice fell, the void seemed to freeze for an instant.

He tilted his head slightly and picked his ear with his finger, his movements as casual as if he were taking a stroll in his own courtyard, yet his words were like ice-quenched blades, piercing straight into people's hearts:

"My ears aren't too good, I didn't hear clearly."

"Care to say it again?"

The three light, airy sentences, containing not a shred of Spiritual Qi, were more piercing to the bone marrow than the sharpest Sword Qi.

On the Void Battlefield, only the turbulent energy continued to emit a low howl, like the whimpering of a giant beast, making the silence of the Southern Region Coalition appear all the more wretched and embarrassing.

Chayuzi and the other four stumbled to steady themselves, blood hanging from the corners of each of their mouths, their Auras disordered like a candle in the wind, the manifested Dharma Forms dim, on the verge of dissipating.

The looks they cast at Chu Changsheng were half deep-seated terror, half gnashing-toothed resentment, but the terrifying scene of that sword breaking the Five Elements and entering a no-man's land still swirled in their minds like a nightmare —

not one of them dared to utter another word of arrogance.

A single "Sword One" had not only broken the Five Elements Extinction Array they were so proud of and had spent hundreds of years of effort on, but it had also completely shattered their confidence and spirit as Mahayana Peak Stage Cultivators.

In front of Chu Changsheng, they were like ants seeing a Divine Dragon, left only with instinctive fear, lacking even the courage to look up and meet his gaze.

On the periphery, within the ranks of the Southern Region Coalition, it was also deathly silent.

Those gazes that had just been aggressive and self-assured, thinking they controlled the whole situation, were now all darting away like frightened rabbits, not daring to meet Chu Changsheng's eyes, which were smiling yet bottomless.

Everyone knew clearly that those who had clamored the loudest just now would have their faces slapped the hardest —

No one wanted to be that bird that sticks its head out and provoke this newly ascended Sword God.

This was no different from seeking one's own death.

Just in this atmosphere so oppressive it was suffocating, even making breathing feel heavy, a long and peaceful Dao name suddenly sounded, like clear spring water dripping into a quiet pond, and also like the morning bell and evening drum —

slowly breaking the deathly silence.

"Immeasurable Heavenly Venerable."

The White-Browed Daoist of the Supreme Dao Palace flicked his horsetail whisk gently, the snow-white filaments tracing a soft arc in the air, his feet stepping on misty clouds as he drifted forward several zhang.

He had the hair of a crane and the face of a child, with a ruddy complexion, and his plain white Daoist robe was spotless; his immortal, wind-like, and bone-like appearance now made him the first person to speak in this frozen atmosphere —

appearing like a natural mediator.

"Fellow Daoist Chu truly has Heaven-Defying talent. To have such heaven-reaching means upon first entering the Late Mahayana Stage, this poor Daoist is full of admiration."

The White-Browed Daoist's voice was gentle and mellow, like a spring breeze brushing the face; one could not discern any joy or anger, yet his words hid sharp edges:

"This is a dispute between the Shenwu Dynasty and the Tai Miao Ancestral Witches, and we originally did not wish to interfere too much."

"It is just that... the primordial jianmu and the World Tree are Spiritual Roots nurtured since the beginning of Heaven and Earth; they concern the Luck of the Southern Region and even the entire Human Race, and maintain the balance of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi."

His gaze slowly swept over the phantom of the jianmu behind Patriarch Tian Yuanzi that covered the sky and sun and radiated ancient vitality, then turned to the World Tree behind Chu Changsheng, whose leaf veins flowed with Chaos light and seemed to contain a world. His tone was grave, every word and sentence carrying unquestionable "moral righteousness" —

as if he alone were the guardian standing on the high ground of Heaven and Earth's moral principles:

"Such divine objects should not be monopolized by one family or surname; they ought to benefit all living beings, only then will it accord with the Heavenly Dao."

"Fellow Daoist Chu's sword strike just now was miraculous, seemingly having touched the Origin of the Dao; this poor Daoist feels inferior. However, human strength has its limits. Fellow Daoist has just ascended to the Late Mahayana Stage; your Realm is not yet stable, your Foundation is not yet set, and your Spiritual Qi reserves may not necessarily be deep."

He changed the subject, his gaze like a torch:

"With your own strength, do you truly wish to go against all our Fellow Daoists in the Southern Region?"

These words could be described as needles hidden in silk, first praising then suppressing, manipulated just right. It pointed out Chu Changsheng's so-called "weakness" of an "unstable Realm," attempting to shake people's hearts.

It also raised the primordial jianmu and the World Tree to the height of "Southern Region public property," occupying the moral high ground, attempting to force Chu Changsheng into an isolated and helpless situation —

after all, once the label of "monopolizing supreme treasures" was slapped on, even allies of the Shenwu Dynasty might harbor misgivings.

As soon as the words fell, Fen Jiuzhou of Burning Heaven Valley chimed in with a muffled voice, sounding like a muffled thunderclap, causing the void to tremble slightly, carrying a domineering air that could burn mountains and boil seas:

"Fellow Daoist White-Browed's words are extremely correct! The primordial jianmu and the World Tree are supreme treasures of Heaven and Earth, nourishing all things and maintaining Luck; their ownership should be discussed by all the strong in the Southern Region to benefit the entire cultivation world —"

"How can one person or one Imperial Dynasty be allowed to keep them privately?"

"Fellow Daoist Chu, even if you have heaven-shocking sword techniques, can you truly defeat the combined strike of the hundreds of Mahayana Fellow Daoists present? Those who know the times are heroes; I hope you will reconsider!"

His gaze was grim:

"Do not, because of a moment of obsession, end up with your body destroyed and your Dao dissipated, leaving a bad reputation for ten thousand years!"

He was burly, surrounded by raging flames, and although he did not deliberately release his Aura, he carried an inherent pressure that could burn everything, his words full of naked threats —

making no effort to conceal his greed and dominance.

Immediately after, an old monk from Little Sumeru Mountain also slowly stepped forward. He wore a golden kasaya embroidered with complex scriptures, which flowed with faint golden light in the void; his face was sorrowful, his eyes slightly closed, his hands pressed together as he recited a Buddhist chant:

"Amitabha. Benefactor Chu, your Killing Intent is too heavy. The sword strike just now that broke the array injured five Fellow Daoists, which already harms Heavenly Harmony."

"The primordial jianmu and the World Tree are of great importance and involve too much; the slightest carelessness could trigger a monstrous catastrophe, causing the suffering of living beings. If your sword techniques are heaven-reaching, using them to guard the common people would be infinite Karma —"

"If used for private fighting and competing for supreme treasures, I fear you will suffer Heavenly Retribution."

"Why not stop for now? Let us, the various sects of the Southern Region, jointly recommend virtuous and capable people to preside over this, and discuss a safe plan to ensure the supreme treasures are safe and to spare all living beings from disaster —"

He lowered his eyes and pressed his hands together:

"What does the Benefactor think?"

His words were compassionate, seemingly considering the common people of the world in every sentence, but in reality, he was singing in harmony with the White-Browed Daoist and Fen Jiuzhou, all for the sake of competing for those two Heaven and Earth Spiritual Roots, yet they insisted on draping themselves in a layer of "Great Righteousness" —

appearing high-sounding, as if they were the saviors.

And Chengxin, the Buddhist son who had rushed over, witnessed this scene. Watching the White-Browed Daoist and others invert black and white, using Great Righteousness to seek private gain, and then looking at Chu Changsheng's calm and indifferent demeanor, as if everything were under control —

he helplessly shook his head, a complex light flashing in his eyes.

There was regret, there was intolerance, and there was also a trace of deep powerlessness.

In the end, he did not say a word, turned around, and quickly exited the Void Battlefield, clearly unwilling to be drawn into this dispute that was destined to flow with blood and had no righteousness to speak of.

With the successive statements from the giants of the Southern Region, it immediately injected confidence back into the Southern Region Coalition that had been shocked by Chu Changsheng's sword strike.

Yes!

No matter how strong Chu Changsheng is, he has only just broken through, his Realm is not stable, and his Spiritual Qi reserves may not necessarily be deep!

On their side, there are thousands of Mahayana Cultivators, and they have top-tier forces with eternal Legacies like the Supreme Dao Palace, Burning Heaven Valley, and Little Sumeru Mountain sitting in charge, with deep Foundations and many experts —

even a wheel battle could exhaust him to death!

More importantly, the White-Browed Daoist and others had already defined this "fight for private enmity" as a "discussion on public property," which not only made their posture of joining forces look less ugly, but also allowed them to occupy the moral high ground and divide any potential sympathizers the Shenwu Dynasty might have —

it could be called killing two birds with one stone!

For a time, whispers resounded again within the ranks of the Southern Region Coalition, and the gazes that had originally been darting away gradually became scorching hot again, looking at the primordial jianmu and the World Tree with eyes full of undisguised greed and covetousness —

like hungry wolves staring at fat meat.

"Bullshit!"

An angry shout suddenly exploded like a thunderclap, instantly drowning out all the whispers.

Qian Wanguan's beard and hair stood on end, his Spiritual Qi surging, so angry that his whole body was trembling. He pointed at the White-Browed Daoist and others, cursing loudly:

"The primordial jianmu was transformed from Fellow Daoist Tian Yuanzi's life-bound Spiritual Root; they have accompanied each other since childhood, sharing life and death; the World Tree is an even greater supreme treasure that Senior Chu nurtured with his own body and brought forth against the Heavens, consuming countless efforts!"

"Where does this talk of 'Heaven and Earth public property' come from? You covet others' supreme treasures, so you pull on a tiger's skin to make a banner, fabricating high-sounding reasons —"

"Truly shameless to the extreme! Your skin is thick to the extreme!"

Jian Xiaotian snorted coldly, his Sword Qi soaring into the sky, turning into shadows of swords that filled the sky, sharp and revealing, as if they wanted to tear the void apart:

"If you want to fight, then fight; why say so much! You've said a pile of nonsense, it's nothing more than wanting to rob things!"

"Wanting to move the Foundation of my Shenwu Dynasty, wanting to seize Senior Chu's supreme treasure —"

His voice was like metal:

"Ask the swords in our hands first! Today, even if we die, we will never back down!"

Behind him, the group of Shenwu Dynasty Cultivators also roared angrily, their Spiritual Qi surging, their Battle Intent high, their voices resounding to the heavens, willing to advance and retreat with Chu Changsheng and Patriarch Tian Yuanzi —

even facing thousands of troops and horses, they would never bow their heads!

And Patriarch Tian Yuanzi remained calm, standing with his hands behind his back, as if the dispute of sharp tongues and hidden currents before him had nothing to do with him.

He just looked faintly at the White-Browed Daoist and others, his gaze carrying a trace of imperceptible mockery, as if watching a group of clowns performing hard on stage —

ridiculous and pathetic.

They thought that with a few empty words, they could take away his life-bound Spiritual Root, that they could shake Chu Changsheng's Foundation?

It was simply wishful thinking!

Above the Void Battlefield, swords were drawn and bows were bent; two completely different Auras collided with a bang. On one side was the greed and dominance of the Southern Region Coalition, and on the other was the determination and loyalty of the Shenwu Dynasty; the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was disordered because of it —

A great war that would sweep across the entire Southern Region was already on the string, ready to be fired!

Chu Changsheng twisted his earlobe with his fingertips, his brows slightly furrowed, as if extremely impatient with the buzzing noise in his ears — this tone, this posture, was like swatting away an annoying fly.

He slowly lowered the nine heavens dragon roar sword from his shoulder, the tip of the sword pointing obliquely at the void below, the dark blue void rippling slightly under the sword's edge, like a broken water surface, causing circles of ripples —

even the surrounding turbulent energy was quietly diverted before the sword's edge.