Chapter 406

Chapter 406: The Might of the Essence of the Way

Ji Yang intentionally controlled the power of his sword energy, engaging in a back-and-forth battle with the group.

However, this scene stunned his companions who had followed him out.

They had never seen a Golden Core stage cultivator capable of fighting several Spirit Transformation Stage cultivators and appearing to have no disadvantage whatsoever.

If they were to tell them that this young man was just a Golden Core stage cultivator, they would never believe it.

At this moment, the several cultivators from Qianji Gate were dismissive. Though Ji Yang’s strength was indeed formidable, under the siege of multiple opponents, he was barely holding on. If they persisted a little longer, once Ji Yang’s magical energy was exhausted, victory would naturally tip in their favor.

As they struggled in combat, Ji Yang’s sword energy became weaker, like a candle flickering in the wind, utterly powerless.

Ji Yang’s weakness brought joy to their faces. It was clear that his magical energy could not support such high-intensity and high-frequency sword energy; their opportunity had come.

They immediately unleashed stronger attacks in an attempt to slay Ji Yang.

However, as the battle continued, they sensed something was wrong.

Clearly, Ji Yang’s sword energy was diminishing, yet they couldn’t break through at all. No matter the magical artifacts, spells, or puppet attacks, everything quickly wore down under Ji Yang’s sword energy, failing to even produce residual force.

It was as if their attacks melted into the air upon contact.

This sense of helplessness could only be felt by those engaged in the battle.

Faced with this situation, the cultivators became anxious.

They believed they could hold their own against a Void Refinement stage cultivator for some time, but under Ji Yang’s sword energy, they couldn’t muster any fighting spirit.

This overwhelming pressure began to shift their mindset.

At this moment, Ji Yang remained unaware of their thoughts. He was lost in the chaos of the surrounding attacks, the Xuantian Breathing Technique circulating rapidly within him. Ji Yang sank into a peculiar state.

He could clearly see the trajectories of the incoming attacks and comprehend how much magical energy their wielder had expended.

In this state, his primordial spirit energy became more responsive and clear than ever. With just a casual wave of his hand, he could urge his iron pick to unleash sword energy, annihilating the incoming attacks into nothingness.

Yet, before Ji Yang could further explore this profound experience, a frenzied scream suddenly pierced through his ears:

“Ah! I can’t take it anymore!”

With that, a cultivator from Qianji Gate dropped his magical tool and puppet, fleeing in panic.

“Liu Shidi, wait for me!”

Seeing their fellow disciple run away, the other Qianji Gate cultivators also disregarded their battle with Ji Yang and hurriedly retreated.

They would rather face the Void Refinement stage cultivator than continue fighting Ji Yang.

Even if they lost to the former, they wouldn’t feel this helplessness. Against Ji Yang, they could not muster any fighting spirit; it was simply too torturous.

As they fled, Ji Yang, who was immersed in his unique experience, felt a surge of anger. He shouted out to the retreating cultivators:

“Where do you think you’re going?!”

With this roar, the cultivators who had been casting Escaping Techniques and preparing to escape suddenly fell from the sky like dumplings, crashing to the ground with resounding thuds.

Ji Yang was taken aback; he hadn’t expected his shout to be this effective.

This made him ponder.

Is this the Essence of War? Not only does it enhance my combat ability, but it can also integrate the essence into my words and actions, influencing others?

Though Ji Yang possessed the Heart Sword divine ability, allowing him to see his enemies’ weaknesses, he could not fully control himself.

Additionally, he had the attack effect of the Feather Transformation Ascension Skill, which could confuse enemies’ minds for a short time. However, if an opponent’s primordial spirit energy was strong enough, they would not be significantly affected.

The essence of the Way felt utterly different to him, even enabling him to influence others without lifting a finger.

Experiencing the essence of the Way firsthand made Ji Yang understand the terrifying aspects of a cultivator at the Unity with the Dao stage.

After all, every cultivator at the Unity with the Dao stage possessed corresponding essences of the Way, and he had never fought against one before.

The elders from the three Heaven Demon Sect were only late Void Refinement stage cultivators and had not reached the Unity with the Dao stage, which meant their mastery of the essence of the Way was insufficient, and they had not unleashed its full power.

Though powerful, Ji Yang also sensed its flaw: it consumed True Essence at a significant rate.

Ordinary cultivators, even if they understood a certain essence of the Way, would likely need to be at least at the Void Refinement stage to use it.

However, this posed no great problem for Ji Yang. Although he was only at the Spirit Transformation stage, the True Essence within his body was rich and equal to that of a late Void Refinement stage cultivator, not to mention Ji Yang had access to Techniques and pills.

Unfortunately, with the disappearance of that feeling, Ji Yang could no longer actively sense the Essence of War, nor could he use it.

It seemed he needed to transform this passive skill into an active one.

Once he mastered the essence of the Way, his strength would certainly increase again, bringing him closer to the Unity with the Dao stage.

Ji Yang put aside his thoughts and walked towards the position where the others had fallen.

The companions who had followed Ji Yang out of the mine stood frozen in place.

The frightening scene of how Ji Yang’s shout had caused several Spirit Transformation Stage cultivators to fall from the sky lingered in their minds; such terrifying power surely could not belong to a Golden Core stage cultivator.

Perhaps it was an elder from the He Dao Sect hiding their strength as they entered the secret realm.

Their earlier intentions to find some secret silver mine from Ji Yang dissipated, and taking advantage of Ji Yang’s inattention, they hurriedly fled the scene.

By the time Ji Yang arrived, the disciples of Qianji Gate had scrambled to their feet.

Now, they looked at Ji Yang with a mix of fear:

“Senior, this is our storage bag. It contains many spiritual stones; please accept it.”

“Senior, please have mercy and let us go.”

Their faces showed pleading expressions.

They were not mere scattered cultivators but disciples of Qianji Gate. The sect had its own cultivators at the Unity with the Dao stage, and as disciples of a large sect, they had not only seen cultivators at that level but also personally experienced the power of the essence of the Way.

Ji Yang’s earlier shout had instantly robbed them of their will to resist, even causing the True Essence within them to collapse. This terrifying power could only be the essence of the Way.

A cultivator wielding the essence of the Way was not someone they could contend with.

Even their senior brother Zheng Cai would not be a match for a cultivator at the Unity with the Dao stage, let alone them.

At that moment, they only wanted to survive, with no other thoughts in mind.

“Humph, you think mere spiritual stones can buy your lives? What do you take me for?” Ji Yang replied lightly.

The disciples grew even more anxious and quickly produced another storage bag:

“Senior, this is a secret silver mine we recently collected; please accept it.”