Chapter 452

Chapter 452: Taking Action.

Hearing the reprimand from the Blood Separation Sect cultivator, Ji Yang silently took out the spiritual treasure in hand!

As the aura of the spiritual treasure radiated, the harsh words from the Blood Separation Sect cultivator were instantly swallowed back.

If Ji Yang were just a late Void Refinement stage cultivator, they would not have taken him seriously, as there were still differences among those at the same stage.

However, a late Void Refinement stage cultivator with a spiritual treasure posed a far greater threat than the previous one.

Such a cultivator could not be easily dealt with.

At that moment, the Blood Separation Sect cultivator inwardly regretted his choice; why did he pick this person?

Yet now that the arrow was on the string, if he backed down, it would undermine his own face. How could he step down?

After all, he was a talented individual from the Blood Separation Sect, and though he did not grasp the essence of the Way, he held a top-tier treasure in hand.

Moreover, he represented not only his own thoughts but also the unspoken agreement of the other cultivators present.

Thinking this way, the Blood Separation Sect cultivator continued,

“Hmph, don’t think that just because you have a spiritual treasure, you can do whatever you want. Among the various cultivators here, there are many who have mastered the essence of the Way. Do not assume that you can oppose us with this item!”

With just those few short sentences, he had clearly divided Ji Yang from the other cultivators into two opposing sides.

The implication was that as soon as Ji Yang took action, he would be against the other cultivators present.

Behind him, a cultivator from the Blood Separation Sect who had mastered the essence of the Way also took a step forward, clearly unwilling to shift focus to another cultivator.

Even if Ji Yang had a spiritual treasure, he was still only one person, and this other cultivator had mastery of the essence of the Way!

The other cultivators present remained silent, showing no intention to act nor to intervene, merely watching the spectacle unfold.

If Ji Yang could weaken the Blood Separation Sect’s strength, that would be quite good.

Seeing that his spiritual treasure failed to intimidate those present, Ji Yang’s expression grew darker.

A tiger not showing its power is truly taken for a sick cat.

As the Blood Separation Sect cultivator began speaking again, Ji Yang no longer hesitated. He exerted force with his feet, and his body shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, quickly and fiercely heading towards the Blood Separation Sect cultivator.

Since his spiritual treasure couldn’t scare them, he would simply use his fists.

Ji Yang did not activate the spiritual treasure, as the staff in hand was not suitable for the current situation and would not have good effects.

"Hiss!"

Ji Yang’s move caught the attention of various cultivators present.

The other cultivators were astonished; in this situation, he actually dared to take action openly. Could he really be that confident in his strength?

“Hmph, how bold!”

Seeing Ji Yang take action, the Blood Separation Sect cultivators quickly reacted. The one targeted by Ji Yang looked frightened, with disbelief evident on his face, as if he could not believe Ji Yang would act at this moment.

The speaker was the cultivator from the Blood Separation Sect who had mastered the essence of the Way. As the public face of the Blood Separation Sect, he naturally could not allow any of his junior brothers to be harmed under his watch.

Witnessing Ji Yang’s attack, this person reacted swiftly, leaping forward to stand in Ji Yang’s attack path.

He felt anger towards Ji Yang’s strike and manifested his true skills, with the profound essence swirling around him.

The essence of the Way he had comprehended was the Way of Easing!

This essence of the Way can slow down cultivators’ movements within a certain range, causing even spells to become sluggish. It is said that if this essence is mastered to a great extent, there is a chance to comprehend a trace of the essence of time.

That is the supreme essence in the Cultivation World! Even grasping just a bit of it is enough to provide endless benefits, making him stand out among cultivators of the same level.

It is precisely because of this Power of Easing that the sect appointed him as the leader of the Blood Separation Sect.

When facing Ji Yang’s attack, he did not hesitate to use this essence, preparing to subdue Ji Yang and prove his strength!

As this essence manifested, the other cultivators present also focused their attention.

After all, this path is one that many cultivators will have to walk; although they have yet to comprehend their own essences, they can still gain insights through similar experiences.

As the essence unfolded, the cultivators predicted the outcome of Ji Yang’s actions.

Only essence can combat essence, and clearly, Ji Yang’s attack lacked any essence!

If he relied on the spiritual treasure in hand, he might still be able to resist. Yet, this person seemed somewhat overconfident, bringing out the spiritual treasure but not using it, which puzzled the other cultivators present.

Seeing their senior brother take action, the Blood Separation Sect cultivator’s expression quickly returned to normal, now filled with confidence.

With his senior brother acting, he had nothing to worry about.

At this moment, Ji Yang also reached the range of the essence’s attack.

As Ji Yang’s figure was enveloped, he felt a power unlike any other covering him, causing his movements to slow down, making it difficult for him to strike quickly.

Having dealt with essences several times, Ji Yang quickly understood the essence’s true nature, but knowing it didn’t change the fact that the Power of the Essence was not something ordinary spells could break.

Even with all his spiritual energy activated, Ji Yang still couldn’t quicken his actions.

The sword energy he attempted to unleash at a critical moment also became extremely sluggish, failing to deliver an effective attack.

Seeing Ji Yang trapped, the Blood Separation Sect cultivator sneered, his face filled with pride.

Under the cover of his essence, even a late Void Refinement stage cultivator would have no power to resist!

Moreover, since this person wasn’t using the spiritual treasure, perhaps after this battle, he could acquire an additional one?

This thought gave him a long-lost thrill, and he summoned his own treasure, preparing for a quick resolution!

Meanwhile, Ji Yang, engulfed by the essence, silently sensed the power contained within, trying to ignite his own essence. Yet this time, it seemed somewhat ineffective, as the Essence of War did not activate on its own.

If it were other cultivators, they would find it hard to fight against this kind of essence once enveloped.

But Ji Yang was not in that category.

Although Ji Yang had not passively triggered the Essence of War, in the next moment, a flash of lightning flickered in his hand.

This flash of lightning appeared and vanished quickly, seemingly unaffected by the essence.

And that brief flash of lightning gave a bad premonition to the Blood Separation Sect cultivator, who was controlling the essence and preparing to attack Ji Yang.

"What was that just now?"

The ominous feeling intensified his seriousness, and he quickened the flow of the essence in his body, while Ji Yang’s movements became even more sluggish.

After completing all this, the Blood Separation Sect cultivator produced a long spear in his hand and hurled it out. The spear instantly transformed into a beam of light, rushing towards Ji Yang.

Faced with the oncoming spear, Ji Yang, trapped in the essence, found it impossible to evade.

However, Ji Yang showed no panic in his eyes. Just before the spear reached him, he unleashed a violent burst of black lightning from his hand.

That was not lightning; it was the world-destroying thunder he had absorbed earlier.

With the appearance of the world-destroying thunder, the previously enveloping essence of the Way vanished in an instant! Ji Yang’s movements returned to normal at that moment.

Facing the oncoming spear, the revived Ji Yang simply threw a punch, launching the powerful spiritual treasure away.

As the instigator, the Blood Separation Sect cultivator, while retracting his essence, also flickered with a trace of the power of lightning calamity.

“What is this?”

“What’s happening?”

……

A wave of astonishment spread through the crowd as they watched the Blood Separation Sect cultivator’s essence shatter, but they did not sense any profound essence left on Ji Yang. Clearly, what Ji Yang used was not an essence of the Way.

Yet if it wasn’t an essence, how could he so easily break the Power of Easing?

“That seems to be the power of lightning calamity?” one cultivator hesitated to say.

Hearing this, the other cultivators quickly understood; it indeed resembled the power of lightning calamity.

“I think I recognize this person, Fellow Daoist. He is the one I mentioned before, the one who crossed the calamity in the middle of the secret realm!” exclaimed a cultivator with surprise.

Previously, he had been too far away and, overwhelmed by the might of the calamity clouds, did not dare to look closely. But now, reflecting on it, that figure bore a striking resemblance to Ji Yang, combined with the terrifying power of lightning calamity, left little doubt.

Upon hearing these words, the other cultivators cast serious looks toward Ji Yang.

They were aware of the information flow, and the events from the secret realm had reached their ears. However, since they had not witnessed it firsthand, they were still somewhat skeptical, thinking there might be exaggeration involved.

Yet what they were witnessing now forced them to question the truth of the earlier gossip.

As the heavenly thunder calamity, even if it was just the dispersing power of lightning calamity, if absorbed, it could indeed counteract essence of the Way. In some ways, it could even be superior, after all, even cultivators at the Unity with the Dao stage needed to face tribulations.

Moreover, the black lightning within this person’s body looked like no ordinary power.

Yet the cultivators still felt that tales of the might of the calamity clouds were exaggerated.

However, this person’s strength was certainly not to be underestimated.

At this moment, the Blood Separation Sect members all looked grim.

They had thought their senior brother would easily triumph, but unexpectedly, this individual had shattered even their senior brother’s essence.

Seeing their senior brother defeated, the other Void Refinement stage cultivators stepped forward, ready to engage Ji Yang in battle.

Just as they prepared to strike, the Blood Separation Sect cultivator, who had mastered the essence, timely interrupted:

“Do not act hastily.”

Stopped by their senior brother, the others had no choice but to hold back.

“This Fellow Daoist possesses such strength, surely, he isn’t an unknown. May I ask which sect you belong to?” asked the Blood Separation Sect cultivator after advising the others.

Ji Yang lightly replied,

“I am Xuanqing, just a mere scattered cultivator!”

Hearing Ji Yang’s response, the crowd fell into thought, but soon showed puzzled expressions, having not heard of that name before.

As for Ji Yang’s identity as a scattered cultivator, they found it hard to believe; how could a scattered cultivator wield a spiritual treasure?

However, seeing Ji Yang did not wish to reveal more, they dared not press further.

A few Blood Separation Sect cultivators still wanted to defend their senior brother, but under his stern gaze, they held their tongues.

Likewise, Ji Yang did not strike again; his goal had already been achieved, and further action seemed pointless. He figured that now, no one would let him take the lead anymore.