Chapter 416
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Chapter 416: Breaking the Mountain Gate
Xuantian Sect’s entrance gate.
Various colors of True strength were released into the air, causing ripples and distortions like water waves, making the Xuantian Sect’s entrance gate tremble slightly from time to time.
Further away, under the command of Southern King Wang Songhe, soldiers lined up and shot waves of arrows into the sky, which then froze in mid-air.
Many martial artists from Peach Blossom Villa have mastered True strength.
Even a somewhat ordinary 3rd rank Spirit Refining martial artist, after mastering True strength, could unleash a full-strength strike that could reach tens or even hundreds of meters into the air.
At this moment, the various colors of True strength breaking through the sky were quite spectacular.
"The progress in martial arts nowadays is truly unbelievable," the floating stone sword next to Lu Yanbei spoke:
"When I was young, there were hardly a few superb martial artists in the whole Jiu Province who could take the second step towards achieving superb rank and undergo the qualitative change into internal strength."
"Who would have thought, now there is already a perfected ‘Divine Transformation Technique’…" Earth Sword Immortal couldn’t help but exclaim.
In the past, a 3rd rank Spirit Refining martial artist, compared to a 4th rank martial artist, had advantages only in spiritual refining intuition. They may not necessarily have advantages in speed, strength, and internal strength.
With the appearance of the ‘Divine Transformation Technique’, the difference between a 3rd rank True strength martial artist and those of 4th rank and below is like night and day.
If we were to go by the martial arts rank system established by the Founding Emperor Yan during the founding of Great Yan, a 3rd rank True strength martial artist may even surpass the first step superb rank Spirit Refining martial artist in the path of internal strength.
After all, the latter has only reached the peak in Spiritual Refining Method, their internal strength may not necessarily exceed that of a 1st ranked martial artist by much.
Amongst the noisy sounds.
"Wu Mingkong, why aren’t you moving?" someone spoke up.
"You came all this way, but not putting any effort, isn’t that a bit unkind?"
Hearing the shouts of the people around him, Wu Mingkong then stepped forward and threw a punch, the sound of the fist breaking through the air.
She had not yet mastered the Divine Transformation Technique. The punch she threw was just her internal strength before reaching its peak, and it was average in effectiveness.
"Huh? Are you putting in effort? It seems like you’re working without really putting in effort…" Others teased.
"Loud thunder but little raindrops, are you trying to slack off?"
"Is this girl pretending to be incompetent? But isn’t it a bit too late for you to pretend?"
"I’ve said it eight hundred times! I’ve only mastered the Hua strength technique in martial arts skills, which is quite insignificant now. Don’t overestimate me."
Wu Mingkong was starting to get a headache.
It’s not that she’s working without effort. After all, she is the second of the seventy-two wise men under Martial Saint, with a very solid foundation.
Excluding the "Divine Transformation Technique," with her superb martial arts skills, she is almost invincible.
It’s just that her True strength hasn’t fully developed yet, and in a real fight, she is indeed not as dazzling as the third-ranked True strength martial artist next to her.
"I wish I had hidden my talents when I first arrived at Peach Blossom Villa," Wu Mingkong regretted in her heart.
"It’s all because I’m a unique genius, it’s my fault for being too dazzling…"
"If only I had been more modest back then, there wouldn’t be a need for me to stand out now…"
"This young girl…" Earth Sword Immortal glanced sideways at Wu Mingkong.
Although he couldn’t read minds, he could guess a bit about this young girl’s thoughts, which indeed reminded him of his own youth…
Happening right now.
Suddenly, the sky darkened, with rolling dark clouds, as if a stormy sea surged, engulfing the hilltop.
Looking back, the direction of the mountain foot was already engulfed in a mass of dark clouds, and in the blink of an eye, it was pitch black.
Boom!
Several purple lightnings appeared suddenly from the mountain gate, the bright light pierced through the darkness, splitting the gloomy clouds and night.
This purple lightning was very terrifying, in an instant the lightning crisscrossed, causing chaos and destruction.
The protective True strength of many True strength martial artists was pierced through, their bodies instantly vaporized, leaving behind charred remains.
The intense heat burned the air, even scorching the stone steps on the ground.
Boom!
The stone steps in front of the mountain gate along with the part of the mountain beneath them were cut through by the purple lightning, sliding down with a thunderous roar.
"Retreat—" Many martial artists’ faces turned pale as they used their light skills to escape from the collapsing mountain.
Despite being led by Qiao family members, many martial artists bravely approached the entrance of Xuantian Sect.
However, most of them lacked experience in dealing with Immortal Gate cultivators. Seeing the cultivators’ techniques, their faces stiffened.
But then, in front of them, amidst the originally bright purple lightning sea that was as bright as daylight, a figure appeared, partially blocking that dazzling brightness.
"Since this is referred to as the second Inhuman War after forty years… and war involves casualties."
"Those who dare to come with me know what they are getting into, it is their own choice," Qiao Mu whispered.
Xuantian Sect is, after all, one of the Nine Immortal Gates.
Even with only one Nascent Soul cultivator overseeing the Mountain Protection Formation, it still stood out. The multiple strikes of purple lightning were too fast, even for him, to save the True strength martial artists.
Qiao Mu was not naive enough to think his martial prowess alone could take down Xuantian Sect unscathed.
However, the deaths of these martial artists still troubled him.
In full view of everyone, his hand expanded at an incredible speed.
His palm’s five fingers grew into thick iron pillars in an instant, leaving five long marks under the sliding mountain, barely stopping its descent.
With his other hand, he raised the King Qin Sword and pointed it towards the Xuantian Sect’s gate.
"Come!"
The voice sounded like a large bell, echoing all around, causing even the surrounding dark clouds to pause for a moment.
In the next instant, the wandering purple lightning around him seemed to come alive and targeted him, striking from all directions.
Qiao Mu’s eyes shone brightly, his body spinning like a top as he swung the King Qin Sword towards the purple thunder, unleashing a powerful burst of True strength.
"Hua strength…shifting stars in combat!"
At that moment, the purple lightning moved like a snake on the blade of the King Qin Sword, resembling a purple sun spinning and leaping on the tip of the sword.
Wu Mingkong’s face was brightened by the dazzling light.
However, her expression was not as admiring as the other martial artists around her, showing only reverence for the Qiao family’s martial arts and shock.
"What’s that? Does he call it Hua strength?"
Wu Mingkong’s understanding of martial arts has reached a superb level, and she may even learn true Hua strength from the "Hua strength Grandmaster" Qiao Jinyin.
She has a deep understanding of Hua strength kung fu.
So at this moment, her confusion and puzzlement are even stronger than that of other martial artists.
"Hua strength, Hua strength, this is how martial artists fight, resolving enemy’s moves, and even their energy… how can it even dispel magic spells?"
"Could it be that after mastering the Divine Transformation Technique and possessing True strength, it can have such a wonderful effect…"
For a moment, a ridiculous idea crossed Wu Mingkong’s mind.
"Could it be that Qiao Jinyin is real?"
"And is the Hua strength kung fu truly the Qiao family’s ancestral martial art?" Wu Mingkong was a bit confused for a moment.
Next to her, the Earth Sword Immortal also made a soft noise, and the tip of the stone sword moved slightly.
Suddenly, Qiao Mu swept his sword horizontally, and the purple sun on the sword tip, along with the vast True strength surging through his body, turned into a dazzling sword light pouring out.
"Heavenly Slashing Swordsmanship!"
The sword light intertwined with purple electricity, forming a bright white and light purple light path. With a loud bang, clear cracks appeared in the air, followed by the shattering of the Xuantian Sect’s mountain gate, causing the entire mountain to shake violently.
Then, Qiao Mu let out a sigh of relief, his face slightly pale. His swollen left arm gradually returned to its original state as he stepped past the Xuantian Sect’s mountain gate.
With a loud smack.
At the mountain gate, the jade plaque with "Xuantian Sect" lost its faint halo and fell behind Qiao Mu, shattering on impact.
"It’s broken!"
Behind Qiao Mu, the various martial artists each used their light skills, eager to move forward.
But Qiao Mu stopped in the crowd, looking calm as he glanced at the bustling people in front of him, nodding slightly with satisfaction.
"After this battle, I can peacefully become a preacher at Peach Blossom Villa, which wouldn’t be bad."
These Jiu Province martial artists were more enthusiastic than he had expected. Teaching martial arts at the villa could be a good idea.
Just like Wang Songhe said, using martial arts to defeat immortals is not a task for just one person or family. Forcing oneself would not only make it difficult but also disrespect other martial artists who aspire to vanquish immortals.
After experiencing the taste of the 2,500-year Long Life Dream, he indeed lacked the confidence to face the next Long Life Dream with a clear mind.
It felt like finishing a long marathon – relieved but mentally exhausted to the extreme.
"Take it easy."
Qiao Mu walked slowly through the crowd, but his surroundings were reflected in his heart.
He walked with lowered brows, occasionally lifting the King Qin Sword in his hand to strike. A sharp sword light pierced through the air, shattering a rainbow light that flew up.
…………………………………….
The Mountain Protection Formation was broken at the same moment.
Inside the sect’s main hall, Elder Yao Yin, who was in charge of the formation, along with many golden core cultivators assisting in the formation, all shook at the same time, coughed up blood, and their faces turned pale.
"Elder Yao Yin?"
The golden core cultivators all paled, and gathered around.
They were not worried about Elder Yao Yin’s injuries, but about their own future…
"Elder, do we have any other options?"
"Elder?"
Some injured golden core disciples didn’t even ask and turned into streaks of light flying into the sky.
Elder Yao Yin was stunned for a while before gradually coming to his senses.
Even though he had reached the Nascent Soul Stage, he was known as an elder skilled in alchemy.
Initially entrusted with a great responsibility in a time of crisis, he felt no joy in taking full control, only a headache.
After pondering for a long time, he just let out a sigh.
Walking out of the grand hall, he happened to see a flood of martial artists rushing towards the gate of Xuantian Sect.
These martial artists, despite mastering True strength that allowed them to unleash powerful strikes in mid-air, only a few had learned the "Heavenly Dragon Eight Steps" technique, most of them relied on their feet to move around, creating a vast and overwhelming presence.
Elder Yao Yin sighed, saying,
"The situation is already beyond saving…"
He sat down on the ground, looking somewhat weary.
From the moment the leader of Xuantian Sect unexpectedly passed away, Xuantian Sect found itself in a desperate situation, and what followed was just a brief struggle for survival.
And now, their struggle has finally come to an end.
Watching Xuantian Sect reach a dead end right before his eyes, many thoughts naturally crossed his mind.
Elder Yao Yin couldn’t help but sigh:
"The majestic Nine Heavenly Immortal Gates, how could it be that one day, it was breached by a group of ordinary martial artists…"
"Our Xuantian Sect, as one of the Nine Heavenly Immortal Gates, has inherited the lineage from ancient times to the present, and even produced a True Immortal ascendant."
"But now, this ancient inheritance of the Immortal Gate, spanning through the ages, is on the verge of destruction, whether it be destroyed in the hands of ordinary folks who do not cultivate the immortal way——"
Before he finished speaking.
A blazing blood-red sword light suddenly tore through the air, slicing Elder Yao Yin’s shoulder at an angle, blood spraying out wildly.
"Where is your mother?" Xue Changhe held the Burning Sea sword in his hand, approaching with determination.
Elder Yao Yin coughed up blood, looking pale. Despite knowing his fate, he remained calm, shaking his head slightly.
"In front of these crude martial artists…"
"These crude martial artists have invaded your ancestral sect now." Li Changshi stepped forward, pressing his chest and pointing a blade at Elder Yao Yin’s neck.
"Are you a Foundation Building cultivator? A cultivator of immortality?" Elder Yao Yin glanced at Li Changshi.
"Since you have cultivated the path of immortality and reached the Foundation Building Stage in this vast world of cultivation…"
"Yes, the path of immortality is vast and boundless. It offers eternal life, the ability to soar through the skies, control the elements, and possess limitless power." To Xue Changhe’s surprise, Li Changshi nodded in agreement.
"We mortals are like mayflies before the Immortal Gate."
"Compared to the path of immortality, our martial arts are like a baby just learning to walk, far from reaching the same level."
"But I don’t really understand…" Li Changshi raised the long knife in his hand, his eyes slightly cold, the blade creating a sharp arc of light, then he swung it down.
"The immortal path is vast and lofty, we ordinary mortals are coarse and short-lived, should we be played with and plundered by the immortals, our fates overturned with a mere thought?"
A head flew up high, then from the clear light, a tiny Nascent Soul figure flew out and disappeared into the sky.
Li Changshi moved swiftly, striking another blow towards the sky, cutting the Nascent Soul figure in half with a powerful strike.
"inhuman beings and us ordinary people come from the same origin, both belonging to the human race. But obviously, you don’t see us as the same kind," he whispered.
"Even though we are short-lived, weak, and stumbling ordinary people, we still want to live with dignity…"
In the midst of chaos, Qiao Mu walked through the crowd, quietly listening to the commotion around him and catching snatches of conversations.
He did not draw his sword again, simply observing quietly.
At this moment, martial artists ran back and forth, their swords unleashing powerful strikes of True Strength, knocking down the fleeing cultivators.
The once peaceful Immortal Gate peak was now chaotic, filled with sounds of fighting and clashing weapons everywhere.
He lowered his eyes, but felt a strange sense of calm in his heart.
