Innate Immortal Seed

Chapter 230: Chapter 228: Physical Showdown

Ju Bo Arhat’s three disciples rose to their feet, and a dense Buddha Light emanated from them, causing the entire Burial Immortal Valley to tremble.

Like master, like disciple. The three monks, dressed in yellow robes and red kasayas, each walked onto a golden arena and stood silently in a corner, not saying a word and remaining perfectly still.

Two other Perfect Core Formation True Men had just arrived. One of them looked like an old farmer, wearing a bamboo hat and carrying a Spirit Hoe. After a brief bow, he walked directly onto the fourth arena.

The last person had a vicious and malevolent look, his upper body bare.

From his head to his waist, he was tattooed with ferocious Demon Beasts. Upon closer inspection, one could see they were nine Dragon Beasts, each with a different appearance.

These nine Dragon Beasts seemed to be alive, writhing and climbing on his body, even letting out hisses and roars.

”Ju Bo Arhat, if I fight one battle for you, can I exchange it for a Top-Grade Buddha Treasure, one that can dispel Evil Qi and pacify Heart Demons... Does that promise still hold true?”

The vicious, burly man did not move immediately, instead asking from mid-air.

”This humble monk does not speak falsehoods. When this is over, Donor Luu may come to the Dharma Aspect Sect and select a Magical Treasure.”

Ju Bo Arhat, neither angry nor upset, placed his palms together.

”Luu Rugao, the one who calls himself ’He Who Grasps Sun and Moon’?”

True Monarch Jiulian’s eyelid twitched; he had obviously heard this person’s name before.

”That’s right. This man has committed too many sins of slaughter. Although the Cultivation Technique he practices becomes more powerful the heavier the Evil Qi, the Nascent Soul Level of Evil Qi he has accumulated has surpassed the limits of his control. He is at constant risk of Qigong Deviation. That is why he sought out this humble monk, wanting to exchange his service for a Buddha Treasure to eliminate the Evil Qi and reduce the risks in his Cultivation.”

Ju Bo Arhat explained truthfully.

Luu Rugao, known as ’He Who Grasps Sun and Moon’, was called the number one Loose Cultivator of Beiyuan. He had never joined any Sect and had reached the Perfect Core Formation Realm through his own Cultivation.

He was also a Body Refining Cultivator. The Cultivation Technique he practiced was suspected to be a secret art from Ancient Times, one that allowed him to gain Evil Qi by continuously killing his opponents.

It could both rapidly increase his Cultivation and make his physical body increasingly powerful.

Dozens of Core Formation Cultivators and Tier Three Demon Beasts had died at Luu Rugao’s hands, which had created this overwhelming, sky-high Evil Qi.

However, he was very careful in choosing his targets, never going after the Direct Disciples of the three Nascent Soul Major Sects.

So, despite having countless enemies, he had managed to survive until today.

’Perhaps Fang Tiancheng would be a better match. Since he can borrow the power of his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, he wouldn’t be at too much of a disadvantage physically...’

As this thought occurred to True Monarch Jiulian, he was just about to use Sound Transmission to arrange the matchup order.

But then something else occurred to him, and he refrained from taking further action, quietly watching as the five Core Formation True Men from Liang Country each chose their opponents.

...

Aside from Blood God True Man, the others all looked grim.

This matter had nothing to do with them, yet a single edict had summoned them to Burial Immortal Valley to engage in Combat with High Cultivators from Beiyuan.

This was especially true after they received True Monarch Jiulian’s Sound Transmission and learned that, according to the rules of Beiyuan, this was an arena battle where life and death were of no consequence.

With the exception of Peng Zefeng, the others were all figures who were revered as patriarchs in their respective Sects.

Forced into a fight to the death with nothing to gain, none of them were pleased.

”Everyone, I’ll go first... With the True Monarch’s lotus seeds, if any of you feel you’re outmatched, you can just concede. The worst that can happen is losing a bit of face.”

Peng Zefeng had received a Sound Transmission from True Monarch Jiulian, letting him know that Luu Rugao’s Evil Qi was astonishing and that he was experienced in life-or-death battles. Peng Zefeng knew he was no certain match for him.

After looking around, he proactively chose the Spirit Farmer who had arrived later, as he seemed to be the easiest opponent.

Blood God True Man snorted coldly. His body transformed into a ray of blood-red light and landed on the central arena.

Fang Tiancheng and Wan Qi followed close behind, each choosing an eminent monk from the Dharma Aspect Sect, leaving only Luu Rugao unchosen.

”Brother Yann, please look after these two juniors for me.”

Master Ge Cang, with Bai Zichen and Qi Yue in tow, took a single step to appear beside Yann Yuanzai.

”Rest assured. Nothing will happen to them on my watch.”

Yann Yuanzai patted the Starlight Longsword in his hand and laughed heartily, exuding immense confidence.

”The Supreme Elder sealed a Sword Talisman inside my Xing Yao Sword. At a critical moment, he can take control of the Flying Sword with his power. Not even a Nascent Soul True Monarch would dare to face that strike.”

”Brother Yann, what impressive spirit! It’s no wonder the Xing Yao Sword acknowledged you as its master... In a few more years, you’ll achieve Heart Sword Communication and be able to wield it freely.”

Master Ge Cang looked at the only remaining golden arena in the air and stepped onto it.

All five golden arenas were now occupied. As Ju Bo Arhat slapped a palm against his Golden Alms Bowl, the Buddha Light flared, and the arena battles began.

”Junior Martial Uncle Yann, that doesn’t seem to be a Tier Three Flying Sword, does it?”

Bai Zichen stared intently at the Starlight Flying Sword. As a Sword Cultivator, he had a basic sensitivity towards Flying Swords.

”That’s right. This is the Tier Four Xing Yao Sword, passed down within our Sect’s Secret Realm...”

Yann Yuanzai laughed heartily, drawing the sword halfway from its sheath.

The blade was transparent, with countless fine points of starlight coalescing and dispersing within it. The hilt was engraved with seven brilliant stars.

”It seems you’re a Sword Cultivator as well? A pity I don’t have a spare Sword Key, or I’d give you one. Even non-disciples can use a Sword Key to enter the Secret Realm. You can’t access the innermost layer, but everywhere else, your Swordsmanship is what matters. We could see what rewards you could obtain.”

”Senior Brother Yann, is it this kind of Sword Key?”

Bai Zichen’s heart stirred. He took an Ancient Bronze Sword-Shaped Key out of his storage bag.

”That’s right, this is it. Where did you get it... Ah, that makes sense. Back then, we joined forces with several other Sword Cultivation Sects to explore the Secret Realm and distributed quite a few Sword Keys. It’s possible some ended up scattered about.”

Yann Yuanzai took the Sword Key to verify its authenticity, then tossed it back.

”With this, you can enter the Sword Tomb Secret Realm. Once things here are settled, you can come find me at the Sword Sect anytime.”

”Thank you, Junior Martial Uncle Yann.”

Bai Zichen hadn’t expected the Sword Key that Ancestor Yangg gave him back then to be related to the Tianhe Sword Sect. However, he seemed to recall Senior Brother Liang Yu mentioning that day that the Sword Key came from a Nascent Soul Major Sect.

’In the Sword Tomb Secret Realm, you can even obtain a Tier Four Flying Sword like the Xing Yao Sword. Even if I don’t have the status of a Tianhe Sword Sect disciple and can’t get the best rewards, just getting a Tier Three Flying Sword would be great.’

’But it’s no wonder this Junior Martial Uncle Yann is so confident. With a Tier Four Flying Sword in hand, an ordinary Core Formation True Man probably couldn’t withstand more than a few of his strikes... Even against a Nascent Soul True Monarch, by borrowing the power of the Tianhe Sword Sect’s Supreme Elder through the Sword Talisman, the might unleashed by the Tier Four Flying Sword would be enough to force everyone to recoil from its power.’

In terms of Tier, a Tier Four Flying Sword is equivalent to a Top-Grade Spiritual Treasure.

It was practically at the pinnacle of Magical Treasures in this realm.

Those legendary Tier Five Treasures are all Immortal’s Treasures or Ancient Exotic Treasures passed down from Ancient Times. They are not something current Artifact Refiners have the ability to create.

”Consider yourself unlucky. If it weren’t for that Top-Grade Buddha Treasure, I definitely wouldn’t be here.”

Luu Rugao’s eyes gradually turned crimson as his Evil Qi surged, forming a suit of thick armor on the surface of his body.

At the same time, the nine ferocious Dragon Beasts transformed—some became Arm Guards, one a Heart-Protecting Mirror, another an Inner Armor, and they even formed the two Dragon Head Steel Whips in his hands.

He raised his hand and swung a whip. Evil Qi swept out, forming a hundred-zhang whip shadow. A tangible killing intent locked onto Master Ge Cang.

A Cultivator with a weaker will, when assaulted by such Evil Qi, would often become mentally unstable and be unable to use even half of their full strength.

”Insignificant clown!”

Master Ge Cang snorted coldly, and myriads of lightning bolts surged across his body.

After entering the Late-Stage Core Formation Realm, his Qiantian Primordial Yang Divine Thunder Net had advanced another level. It was no longer limited to just the form of Divine Thunder.

The Divine Thunder ignited the Evil Qi as if it were oil being thrown on a fire.

Not only did it fail to harm Ge Cang, but the Divine Thunder instead traveled along the Evil Qi, threatening to backlash against Luu Rugao himself.

”I see no need for you to seek out a Buddha Treasure. Today, I’ll use my Divine Thunder to perform your Refinement instead!”

Luu Rugao decisively detonated the two Dragon Head Steel Whips in his hands. He retracted all the Evil Qi into his body, causing his frame to grow even larger.

”Do you really think my strength will decrease without the Evil Qi? Let me tell you, I should be thanking you... It had long since become a burden, limiting my performance. Power that you can control yourself is the only true power.”

Luu Rugao thrust both palms forward, unleashing the purest form of physical Giant Power.

The air seemed to be rapidly compressed, letting out an overburdened, explosive crack. Even the golden Buddha Light on the arena was shaking wildly.

”Let me show you why I have the moniker ’He Who Grasps Sun and Moon’...”

”A contest of physical strength? Excellent!”

Master Ge Cang laughed loudly. Ever since he had perfected the fourth level of the Glazed Fire Divine Body, he hadn’t had a chance to fully unleash his physical strength.

BOOM!

A palm, colored like the Five Crystal Glaze, slammed into a pair of giant palms as large as cattail fans. The terrifying physical collision kicked up a storm on the arena, causing it to tremble.

The chaotic airflow stirred up between their palms directly dispersed the Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth, turning a small area of the arena into what was practically a Land of Absolute Spirit.

”Exhilarating! Again!”

Master Ge Cang felt that although the force coming from his opponent’s palms was immense, it couldn’t break through the defense of his skin at all.

He could feel the vast vital energy within his opponent’s body, and the continuous shockwaves transmitted between their palms were enough to grind a mountain into dust.

He felt utterly invigorated.

After he had cultivated the fourth level of his Five Crystal Glaze Body, he had practically reached the highest possible Realm for this Body Refining Technique. After all, the final level required two Tier Five Spiritual Materials that had vanished from the Cultivation Realm.

At the same time, the difficulty of cultivating it had also reached a near-impossible level.

Now, when Ge Cang went all out, his physical strength surpassed even that of a Demon Beast of the same tier.

Only by this rare chance of encountering a powerful Body Refining Cultivator could he clash with pure physical strength and fully unleash the power of his formidable physique.

’What the hell? How can this person be stronger than me in Body Refining... Could he be some Tier Four Shapeshifting Great Demon in disguise, here to toy with me?’

Luu Rugao complained bitterly in his heart. He couldn’t for the life of him figure out how a Late-Stage Core Formation Cultivator could surpass him in physical strength.

After just a few exchanges, he was already at an absolute disadvantage.

A palm struck, and his Inner Armor shattered, reverting to a Dragon Beast tattoo.

However, it lay there listlessly, no longer resembling the ferocious Spirit Beast from before.

”Kill!”

Luu Rugao spat out a bone dagger from his mouth. It actually had a teleportation effect, reappearing in the next instant to stab at Master Ge Cang’s chest.

DING! DING! DING!

A series of crisp cracking sounds rang out, somewhat like pottery shattering.

A white mark appeared on Master Ge Cang’s chest, on his Five Crystal Permanent Casting Body. Cracks spread out from it like a spiderweb.

Not even his Glazed Fire Divine Body could block it completely. The bone dagger pierced about an inch deep before he grabbed it, splattering fresh blood.

”Jia Wood Rebirth, Heaven-Supporting Divine Wood!”

Master Ge Cang’s feet took root. Standing on the arena, he seemed to transform into a Heaven-Supporting Divine Wood, and the wound on his chest healed instantly.