Chapter 165

Chapter 165: No Matter Ten Thousand Techniques, None Surpasses a Single Knife Blade

The voice echoed through the vast, empty expanse; the complexions of those gathered flickered with uncertainty.

"Since you are so confident, let this prince witness your true abilities," the Third Prince, Xuan Yu, laughed loudly as he appeared on the battle platform.

Bu Linglong, Li Xieyun, Qi Zijun, the man in black, Meng Feixian, and Monk Juexin successively ascended the platform.

"The grand show finally begins."

Ao Bing stirred with excitement; Yue Ruyi too felt a surge of anticipation.

"Even if Nangong Zhandao wins this battle, he will likely pay a considerable price," Lian Jiuyou solemnly remarked.

"Let’s watch and see."

Qin Changsheng of the Unsurpassed Sacred Ground smiled.

"Nangong Zhandao, top of the Hidden Dragon List, the title is well-deserved," Bu Linglong’s gaze was icy. "However, your attempt to fight against many alone is seeking your own death."

"Today will be your demise."

The eyes of the gathered flashed, each harboring their own hidden agendas.

Strangling Nangong Zhandao in the cradle (eliminating him early) was essentially the consensus of the various sects.

Nangong Zhandao must die.

Though a victory today might be considered unsporting, since it was Nangong Zhandao who actively requested it, no one could criticize even if he were killed.

Boom!

Bu Linglong made the first move. Circulating the Taihao Tai Xuan Classic, she lightly drew her fingertip through the void, seeming to carve out a separate realm that isolated Nangong Zhandao within.

This divine ability was precisely: Pointing Heaven and Painting Earth.

"You wish to die; I shall grant your wish."

Li Xieyun was engulfed in a towering wave of demonic energy, resembling a supreme troll. He conjured a blood jade; strands of crimson divine patterns surged forth, instantly dyeing heaven and earth red, converging to form a sea of blood.

Clang!

A sword’s hum exploded. Xuan Yu wielded a pitch-black Dao blood jade sword; the sword was intensely bizarre, resembling an ancient tree. With a mere flutter, countless branches and leaves seemed to bloom across the sky, like endless flying swords slashing toward Nangong Zhandao.

A sharp sword intent arrived first, striking directly at the Purple Palace primordial spirit within Nangong Zhandao.

Buzz!

Meng Feixian mobilized her magical power; countless avatars charged into the sea of blood, a sky-blotting tide of palm seals bombarding Nangong Zhandao.

Monk Juexin chanted endlessly; his five fingers pressed down like a mountain, Buddha patterns swirling, suppressing the space.

For a moment, the seven individuals each revealed their divine abilities.

"Will Nangong be alright?" Lan Youruo was utterly worried.

"Sister, your concern muddles your judgment," Lin Qianmo said. "Nangong Zhandao is not without sense. Daring to fight against many alone means he must possess sufficient confidence."

Qilou Yan looked at Lan Youruo, a subtle expression in her eyes.

She had observed Lan Youruo’s affection toward Nangong Zhandao these past days, though Qilou Yan didn’t hold any optimism for the pair.

After all, Lan Youruo was the current saintess of the Moon God Clan.

Good timing.

Nangong Zhandao remained unflustered amid the crisis. With a single thought, a divine dagger flew out from his Purple Palace and landed in his grasp.

This dagger was not the Magic Eye Heavenly Dagger he had obtained in the Return to the Ruins.

That dagger was an imperial weapon, unsuitable for the Hidden Dragon Gathering.

However, this dagger had been refined day and night by Nangong Zhandao, perfectly attuned to his spirit, allowing him to enter the unity of man and blade at any moment.

Clang!

"Rebirth Divine Dagger Technique!"

Nangong Zhandao channeled his magical power and unleashed the divine ability.

Swoosh!

The dagger’s radiance shattered Bu Linglong’s divine ability, cleaving the entire sea of blood in two, and countless palm imprints crumbled beneath the sword energy.

The heavenly dagger tore through the void, annihilating every incarnation of Meng Feixian.

Monk Juexin’s divine ability was also shattered by Nangong Zhandao in an instant.

As the heavenly dagger descended, it clashed with Xuan Yu’s golden divine sword. The sword energy from both sides exploded violently, causing Xuan Yu’s body to shudder, his bones actually bursting under the tremendous pressure.

Xuan Yu felt a cold dread seep into his heart.

Everyone knew that Nangong Zhandao’s dagger techniques were peerless.

But from this single strike alone, it was clear they were far beyond peerless—Nangong Zhandao’s physical strength was terrifying.

Boom!

The group’s divine abilities were shattered by Nangong Zhandao’s single dagger strike, yet moments later, that same strike fell again, as if Nangong Zhandao had swung once more.

They frantically channeled their divine abilities to resist.

But the moment they blocked one strike, another descended.

This cycle repeated endlessly.

"Cyclical powers?"

Meng Feixian’s expression shifted immediately. The heavenly dagger ability they witnessed wasn’t Nangong Zhandao striking repeatedly—it was them being trapped by the power of the Rebirth Divine Dagger Technique, caught in an unending cycle.

That was why the strike kept falling again and again.

"This guy’s divine ability is absolutely masterful," Xuan Yu realized it too.

Nangong Zhandao’s Rebirth Divine Dagger Technique was countless times more exquisite than Qi Wuhen’s cyclical powers.

They couldn’t even distinguish reality from illusion at first glance, wasting enormous strength.

Boom!

Meng Feixian removed her bracelet, channeling her magical power into it. Divine patterns flew out, evolving into a towering divine tree that pierced the heavens and earth.

The divine tree grew wildly, its branches tearing through the sky.

Finally, the group laid eyes on Nangong Zhandao.

He stood tall and unwavering, gripping his dagger with one hand.

"You are quite remarkable."

Nangong Zhandao looked at Meng Feixian and gave a slight nod.

To immediately spot the flaw in his blade technique and break his divine ability, Meng Feixian’s strength was clearly extraordinary.

"I doubt many of you could withstand this strike."

Dread settled among the onlookers.

With seven fighters joining forces earlier, most hadn’t taken it too seriously.

But after witnessing the terror of the Rebirth Divine Dagger Technique, no one dared underestimate it.

The slightest lapse could mean death.

Swoosh!

The next moment, Nangong Zhandao swung his blade again.

Boom!

As the celestial saber descended, everything in existence began to collapse as if the world faced annihilation, the cosmos turning to ruins.

Xuan Du Heaven-Creating Style.

This strike was his own insight drawn from the Xuan Du Forgetting Emotions Heaven Book.

To create heaven, one must first destroy the world.

To rebuild the mundane realm amidst the wasteland.

This blade moved from life to extinction, then death to rebirth.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The heavens and earth shattered; all living things seemed as insignificant as specks of dust.

"Just how profound was this brat’s comprehension to master such a terrifying divine ability?"

The Mystic Law Sect’s Great Emperor, the Empress of the Holy Mother Palace, and other emperor-level powerhouses watched Nangong Zhandao’s strike with chills down their spines.

They had no doubt: had they faced him at his level, this blade would have obliterated them.

Certain death.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Xuan Yu frantically empowered his golden divine sword, transforming it into a towering golden divine tree whose vast canopy blotted out the sky, striving to withstand Nangong Zhandao’s annihilating sword intent.

Monk Juexin chanted ceaselessly; a golden Buddha manifested, its sacred chants echoing majestically.

Yet beneath Nangong Zhandao’s blade, the golden tree withered. Xuan Yu’s personal armor couldn’t withstand the destructive energy — he aged rapidly before their eyes.

The golden Buddha cracked, its radiance dimming.

"No!"

Bu Linglong screamed in terror. Beneath the primordial might capable of cleaving heaven and earth, she turned to flying ashes. Her sacred artifact crumbled to dust as her life ended utterly beneath Nangong Zhandao’s blade.

Dao King’s gaze turned icy cold.

For the Taihao Heavenly Sect’s journey to the Yuan Realm, every promising young genius they had dispatched… all had fallen.

What humiliation!

His gaze sharpened, and murderous intent erupted abruptly.

"Join forces!"

Li Xieyun, Qi Zijun, and the man in black were terrified.

Even the formidable Bu Linglong had turned to ash.

How could a single person withstand Nangong Zhandao?

The three poured their magic power together. The Nine Dao Palaces rose and fell, instantly consolidating twenty-seven layers of domains to counter Nangong Zhandao’s world-ending force.

Meanwhile, Meng Feixian activated a jade-white divine bone.

It appeared to be the skeleton of some ferocious beast, crystalline and translucent, etched with ancient divine patterns. At a mere glance, it was utterly spellbinding and dizzying.

"A divine bone from an Illusion Beast?"

Ye Xu’s eyes flickered.

The Illusion Beast and the Da Meng Clan were essentially of the same origin, born capable of wielding illusory divine power. Its divine bone naturally held this primal energy.

Relying on this Illusion Beast divine bone, Meng Feixian seemed to vanish into thin air, disappearing completely from the battle platform.

However, the emperors present knew well that Meng Feixian hadn’t truly vanished. She had retreated into the realm of dreams, effectively rendering herself absent from the present reality.

Such a method could only be performed by the Da Meng Clan with their enigmatic powers.

"Even with ten thousand methods, these people stand no chance against a single slash from Nangong Zhandao."

Ao Lie sighed deeply. With just one stroke, Nangong Zhandao had instantly slain Bu Linglong and grievously wounded Monk Juefa and Third Prince Xuan Yu.

Even the three top-tier talents—Li Xieyun and his companions—had to combine their strength to resist.

As for Meng Feixian, she had been forced to resort to such an esoteric evasion technique just to escape with her life.

Nangong Zhandao was invincible.

"I concede."

"This monk concedes."

A few breaths later, Xuan Yu and Monk Juefa, unable to hold on any longer, immediately yielded.

Nangong Zhandao did not press them further.

His gaze settled on Li Xieyun and the other three. "Do you four wish to continue?" he asked lightly.

Continue?

Li Xieyun and his companions exchanged silent, wordless looks.

If they continued, would the path ahead lead to life or death?

This divine art had not yet reached its end.

Now was the stage of annihilation; what followed next would be the creation of the heavens.

Could they still withstand it?

Meng Feixian, hiding within her dream, felt a chill in her heart upon hearing Nangong Zhandao’s words.

Had Nangong Zhandao already seen through her hiding place?

"Since you still need to consider, I will make you give up completely." Nangong Zhandao’s gaze was cold as the power of the Profound Metropolis Creation of the Heavens Style erupted fully.

His original intention was merely to use everyone to verify his own strength.

Now that goal had been achieved.

Therefore, whether they surrendered or not was unimportant to Nangong Zhandao.

"Wait."

"I surrender."

Seeing that Nangong Zhandao’s killing intent had arisen, everyone backed down.

Li Xieyun, Qi Zijun, and the man in black immediately surrendered and admitted defeat.

They did not want to lose their lives in the Yuan Realm.

"And you…"

Nangong Zhandao’s gaze looked toward the empty heavens and earth. His eyes penetrated the mundane world and saw a mass of chaos that did not exist in the present world yet was based on reality.

That glance made Meng Feixian’s heart die completely.

Nangong Zhandao had seen through her divine ability.

Without hesitation, Meng Feixian manifested herself and said sincerely and respectfully, "This young lady surrenders."

"Sister Meng…"

The people of Godfall Ridge felt a tumultuous mix of emotions in their hearts.

Meng Feixian was considered the top genius at Godfall Ridge, and even she was not a match for Nangong Zhandao, which left them utterly despondent.

Moreover, she was not alone.

All seven top geniuses had been defeated by Nangong Zhandao’s hands.

Such dominance was hard to find in another.

"I concede."

Nangong Zhandao restrained his magic power and turned to depart.

"Presumably, no one has any objections to first place in the Hidden Dragon Gathering."

Ye Xu smiled. In his mind, the first place position had never held any suspense.

After all, as the child of fortune, his potential was immeasurable.

"Next, rest for a while and decide the rankings."

"Otherwise, the rewards I prepared for you would be difficult to distribute."