63: Sword Domain in its infancy
The Blood Prison Cage was slashed open by a single sword strike, and sunlight pierced through the crimson, reflecting upon Ye Chen's pale yet resolute face.
He knelt on one knee, gasping violently, each breath pulling at his nearly exhausted Meridians and burning Dantian.
Forcibly unleashing a sword strike that exceeded his own limits had almost drained him of all his strength, and even his Soul felt waves of weakness.
But, it was worth it!
That sword strike, "Nirvana Returning to Ruins," had not only broken open the cage but had also thoroughly vented the pent-up anxiety, anger, and unwillingness in his heart, as well as his insights into destruction and rebirth!
At this moment, although he was weak, his Sword Heart had never been more transparent and bright!
"Cough, cough..." He coughed up congealed blood mixed with fragments of his internal organs, yet he struggled, using his sword to prop himself up, and slowly straightened his body.
His gaze passed through the crack in the cage, locking eyes with Elder Blood Dove in the distance, whose face was gloomy, without the slightest hint of retreat.
"Little beast... you dare... you actually dare to destroy my Blood Prison!"
Elder Blood Dove's voice trembled slightly from extreme rage, and the killing intent in those blood-red eyes almost condensed into reality.
He could not understand how a mere Kaiyuan Realm Fourth Level brat could unleash such a terrifying sword strike that pointed directly at the annihilation of the Origin!
This power made even him feel palpitations!
This boy must not be left alive! He must be strangled here at all costs!
"Senior Brothers, follow me and charge out!"
Chen Feng was the first to react. Enduring the pain of the Domain's suppression, he shouted loudly, and his cyan sword qi erupted once more, turning into a sharp cone that fiercely charged toward the crack Ye Chen had slashed open!
"Charge!"
The remaining Disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall who still had strength were also invigorated, erupting with their strongest power and following closely behind.
Ye Chen's sword strike had not only broken open the cage, but it had also cleaved through the despair in their hearts!
"Want to leave? All of you stay for this Elder!"
Elder Blood Dove was furious. He gripped his withered palm tightly, and the fractured Blood Prison Cage began to writhe violently.
Countless blood-colored tentacles and vengeful spirits stretched out from the barriers, crazily entangling and attacking Chen Feng and the others who were trying to break out, while the barrier was also repairing itself at a speed visible to the naked eye!
"Your opponent is me!"
A cold, low shout rang out.
Ye Chen's figure had appeared between Elder Blood Dove and the crack in the cage before anyone knew it!
The qingfeng sword in his hand pointed diagonally at the ground. On the blade, the dark golden radiance was no longer just flowing; it was like breathing, creating a strange resonance with the surrounding space.
An invisible "field," carrying the meaning of Nirvana and termination, quietly spread out with him at the center.
The range of this "field" was extremely small, only three zhang in radius, far less grand than Elder Blood Dove's prototype of the Blood Prison Domain, but it was exceptionally resilient and pure!
Within this small "field," the viscous Blood Fiend Qi and the wails of vengeful spirits seemed to be isolated outside. The air became clear, and only the purest Nirvana Sword Intent flowed and pulsed.
"Sword... Sword Intent Domain prototype?!"
Elder Blood Dove's pupils constricted sharply, and he exclaimed in shock, his voice filled with unbelievable horror.
"How is this possible?! You are only at Kaiyuan Realm Fourth Level! No, it's the Fifth Level?! You just broke through?!"
He clearly felt that the moment Ye Chen stood up, his aura had already broken through the barrier and stepped into the Kaiyuan Realm Fifth Level!
Moreover, he had actually condensed his own Sword Intent Domain prototype during the battle!
This was simply unheard of!
A Domain is the manifestation of the preliminary Fusion of will, spiritual power, and the rules of heaven and earth; it is the key to higher Realms!
Countless Cultivators at the Kaiyuan Realm Peak could not touch its threshold in their entire lives, yet this brat had actually done it at the Kaiyuan Realm Fifth Level!
Although the range was extremely small and highly imperfect, it was indeed a prototype of a Domain!
It was a Domain of a higher level than the Blood Prison he had formed by relying on external resentment, one that originated from his own Dao of the sword!
"Monster... you are a monster!"
For the first time, a hint of retreat arose in Elder Blood Dove's heart, but more than that, there was a crazy determination to destroy him!
If this boy were allowed to grow, he would surely become a great threat to the Dark Hall!
"Sea of Blood... Raging to the Heavens!"
He no longer held back. His arms spread wide, and his blood-red robe billowed.
Endless crimson blood energy rushed out from within him like a dam-bursting flood, turning into a churning ocean of blood that struck fiercely toward Ye Chen's small Sword Intent Domain!
He wanted to use absolute power to crush this newly sprouted threat!
Facing this raging sea of blood that was enough to submerge mountains, Ye Chen's eyes were calm. He slowly raised his qingfeng sword, the tip pointing toward the sea of blood.
Within the three-zhang Sword Intent Domain around him, the dark golden radiance suddenly brightened!
Countless dark golden sword beams, as fine as ox hair, generated out of thin air. As if they had life, they circled and danced around him, instantly shredding and annihilating all the Blood Fiend Qi that invaded the Domain!
"Nirvana... Sword Domain, open!"
He whispered softly, as if making a proclamation. Immediately, he took a step forward!
He had actually taken the initiative to meet the raging sea of blood!
"Boom—!"
The sea of blood and the small dark golden Domain collided with a roar!
The scene of the Domain being instantly crushed, as expected, did not appear!
Although the dark golden Domain was small, it was like a reef in the raging waves, standing firm and immovable!
Countless dark golden sword beams, like the most loyal guards, rushed toward the sea of blood one after another, constantly dissolving and purifying it!
Wherever the Domain passed, the sea of blood retreated, and the vengeful spirits dissipated!
Ye Chen walked within his own Sword Domain, his pace steady, like a monarch of the sword inspecting his territory.
Elder Blood Dove's Blood Prison power, which was sufficient to suppress Chen Feng and the others, could not invade the three-zhang radius around him!
"Impossible! This is impossible!"
Elder Blood Dove appeared crazed, continuously driving the sea of blood to attack, but he could only watch as the dark golden Domain advanced steadily through the sea of blood, getting closer and closer to him!
He felt it! What was contained within that Sword Domain was a more essential rule of destruction that surpassed his own power of Blood Fiend!
His power was fundamentally suppressed!
"Old dog, take my sword strike!"
Ye Chen suddenly accelerated, and the Sword Domain contracted and condensed along with him, finally completely gathering on the qingfeng sword!
He himself seemed to have transformed into a peerless divine sword that slashed through the sea of blood and opened up Chaos!
"Slash!"
A dark, chaotic-colored sword light, condensed to the extreme and seemingly capable of severing Karma and ending Reincarnation, tore through the sea of blood and, at a speed that transcended thought, slashed directly at Elder Blood Dove's glabella!
This sword strike contained his newly broken-through cultivation, his initially formed Sword Intent Domain, and his indomitable, death-defying will!
Elder Blood Dove's expression changed drastically; he felt a fatal threat from this sword strike!
He let out a strange cry, no longer caring about his dignity, and pushed his hands forward violently.
A thick, blood-colored shield composed of countless vengeful spirit skulls condensed in front of him, while his figure retreated explosively!
"Chi—!"
The sword light slashed onto the blood-colored shield, and still, there was no earth-shattering roar.
The shield, like residual snow under the scorching sun, quickly dissolved and disintegrated, and even the vengeful spirits within it let out their final wails before being completely annihilated!
Although the sword light had been weakened by more than half, the remaining Sword Intent was still like maggots on bones, instantly catching up to the retreating Elder Blood Dove and grazing his left shoulder!
"Puff!"
A withered arm, trailing a streak of jet-black blood, shot into the sky!
"Ah—!"
Elder Blood Dove let out a shrill, painful scream. His right shoulder was smooth as a mirror, and blood gushed out like a fountain!
He glanced at Ye Chen with extreme resentment, no longer having any intention of fighting.
Blood light exploded around his body, and he turned into a blood rainbow, fleeing toward the horizon with a speed faster than when he came, as if his life depended on it, not even having time to leave behind a harsh word!
After Ye Chen slashed out with that sword, he could no longer hold on. The Sword Domain instantly dissipated, and he fell from mid-air, barely supporting his body with the qingfeng sword, only then managing not to collapse.
His face was as pale as paper, his aura was withered to the extreme, and he almost didn't even have the strength to lift a finger.
But he had won!
Relying on his newly broken-through cultivation and the comprehended Sword Domain prototype, he had actually forced back the Kaiyuan Realm Peak Elder Blood Dove, who had touched the threshold of a Domain, and even severed one of his arms!
At this time, Chen Feng and the others finally joined forces to completely tear open the slowly repairing Blood Prison Cage and rushed out.
They looked at Ye Chen, who was stumbling while standing, his aura weak but his eyes bright, then looked at the blood rainbow fleeing in a sorry state in the sky, and the withered arm on the ground.
For a moment, no one spoke; only heavy panting and indescribable shock filled the forest.
Sunlight completely dispelled the bloodiness, shining down on the youth's blood-stained yet straight spine.
"Ye... Junior Brother Ye..."
Chen Feng's voice carried a hint of dryness and awe.
Ye Chen slowly turned his head, revealing a tired yet gratified smile: "Senior Brother Chen... the crisis... is temporarily resolved. We... should continue on our way..."
His gaze turned once again toward the direction of Qingcheng.
The obstacles on the journey home had been slashed open by his sword!