Innate Immortal Seed

Chapter 267: Chapter 265: Can You Still Use Cloud Escape Without Clouds?

’Cloud Escape truly is a supreme escape technique. Without a way to counter it, one would indeed be invincible against cultivators of the same realm...’

Bai Zichen felt a headache coming on. The mainstream escape techniques in the Cultivation Realm were still the Five Elements Escape Techniques.

For instance, the Wood Escape of Master Qingmu from the Five Elements Sect and the Water Escape of Master Hei Shui were already considered remarkable Tier Three Magic.

They could be highly effective in various situations, serving as the best means for concealment and escape.

However, once others knew about them, the Five Elements Escape Techniques were easily countered.

But Cloud Escape and Star Escape were known as two of the most mysterious escape techniques in the world. Cultivators who could comprehend them not only had exceptional talent but also possessed immense good fortune.

This was because even if those same cultivators were to start over, they might not be able to successfully comprehend such techniques a second time.

This made them extremely difficult to pass down, causing them to be easily lost to time.

Huang Ping Wanderer had reached Foundation Establishment Perfection at an age that would have made him seem ordinary in a Super Major Sect like the Celestial Star Sect. Yet, on the strength of his Cloud Escape and Harmony Pill Discussion alone, he had moved a Nascent Soul True Monarch to deign to accept him as a disciple, preparing to list him as a Core Disciple.

This showed just how rare and precious the Cloud Escape technique was.

After offending a Nascent Soul True Monarch from the Five Phoenix Sword Sect, he was only stripped of his status as a Sect Disciple and not crippled. This was partly out of consideration for how difficult it was to cultivate Cloud Escape.

”Youngster Bai, I’m done playing with you... I’m leaving. Who in this world can stop me besides a Nascent Soul True Monarch!”

Huang Ping Wanderer swallowed a mouthful of blood, inwardly cursing. ’A Tier Four Flying Sword is just too ridiculous! I’m already transformed into clouds and mist, yet I’m still affected.’

The mere aftershocks that seeped through were enough to make his internal organs vibrate violently, to the point he suspected they had shifted out of place.

He knew he had chosen the wrong target this time. It was better to run far away. He’d wait until he took down Master Zhu, used the Danxia Sect’s stored elixirs to cultivate to Late-Stage Core Formation, and then come back to deal with Bai Zichen.

”So this is a disciple from a Central Domain Major Sect? Nothing special!”

Bai Zichen slapped his Moon Xuan Sword. A beam of Sword Light, like a bolt of silk, erupted, overshadowing the blazing sun as it stretched for thousands of feet.

Huang Ping Wanderer sneered. He activated his Cloud Escape, transforming into clouds and mist. With a single leap, he was about to flash out of the Sword Light’s range and land in another cloud several miles away.

Suddenly, the sun shone brightly in an azure sky. For a thousand miles, there was not a single cloud.

Huang Ping Wanderer’s form tumbled out of the mist. He tried to manifest a cloud mass again, but it was still dispersed by an invisible force.

With his signature skill broken, he showed a panicked and flustered expression for the first time.

Before the Sword Mark Jade Disc in the Sword Tomb Secret Realm, Bai Zichen had comprehended only two of the strongest Sword Marks: one was the Heaven and Earth Opening Sword Intent, and the other was the Change the Celestial Phenomenon Sword Intent.

Just as he was hesitating whether to use the Moon Xuan Sword’s Origin Power, inspiration struck. He imitated the Sword Light he had seen on the jade disc.

The moment this sword move was executed, the sky was swept clean. For a thousand miles, not a single cloud remained.

Furthermore, the change in the celestial phenomenon was not just limited to the sky; even the cloud mass that Huang Ping Wanderer had transformed into was simultaneously swept away.

As the Sword Light descended, Huang Ping Wanderer, his Cloud Escape having failed, could only brace himself.

A Dragon Pattern Bronze Cauldron flew out from above his head, rapidly swelling from the size of a palm to the size of a room. It met the Sword Light from below, producing a sharp, grating sound that made one’s head spin.

Countless dragon patterns appeared on the bronze cauldron, but a single sword strike tore a huge gash in it, nearly penetrating the entire vessel.

PTHOO! ℯ

As if struck by lightning, Huang Ping Wanderer could no longer hold on and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

The Dragon Pattern Bronze Cauldron was his Lifebound Magical Treasure, linked to his heart and spirit. The damage to the cauldron implicated him, injuring him as well.

’A Tier Four Flying Sword is this terrifying!’

Only now did he realize he had greatly underestimated the destructive power of a Tier Four Flying Sword.

This was a Top-Grade Defensive Magical Treasure that had been nourished by Pill Qi for a hundred years. Because of his special Cultivation Technique, Huang Ping Wanderer had no high requirements for other Magical Treasures, so he had spent more than half his fortune on refining this Dragon Pattern Bronze Cauldron.

Among the Magical Treasures available for Core Disciples to choose from in the Celestial Star Sect, this cauldron was ranked first in defense and had a great reputation.

He had once seen several of his senior brothers spar with disciples from the Five Phoenix Sword Sect and use this cauldron to block their sword light bombardments, which was why he had been so confident.

Only now did he understand that the aftershocks he had endured earlier were merely one-thousandth of the sword’s true power. The rest of the damage had been dissipated by his transformation into cloud and mist; otherwise, he would have collapsed long ago.

’At most three strikes, and my precious cauldron will shatter...’

Huang Ping Wanderer’s eyes were bloodshot. He could feel the threat of death.

He took out a finger-width Talisman from his chest. It was covered in fine, ancient patterns and emitted an astonishingly sharp and fierce aura. Just looking at it made one’s eyes sting.

A trace of reluctance and heartache showed on his face, but he still decisively activated and deployed it.

’No matter how good a Treasure is, it’s only valuable if you’re alive to use it.’

He was, after all, a Cultivator nurtured by the Celestial Star Sect. Even though he hadn’t engaged in Combat many times over the past century, his judgment and reaction speed hadn’t declined.

The Myriad Golden Spear Talisman, a Tier Four Low-Grade Talisman!

This Talisman was an introductory gift from his Nascent Soul Master when Huang Ping Wanderer first became his disciple.

After being expelled from the Celestial Star Sect, he had always carried it with him.

It was both a life-saving trump card and a symbol of hope in his heart, as he had never given up the idea of returning to the Celestial Star Sect.

An endless golden light burst forth, forming all sorts of weapons in great variety, all carrying an inhumanly ferocious and incomparably sharp aura.

Each ray of golden light manifested the image of a weapon, shooting out in all directions with Huang Ping Wanderer at the center.

”A Tier Four Talisman!”

Bai Zichen’s eyes narrowed. Without further hesitation, he communicated with his Moon Xuan Sword.

He activated the Moon Xuan’s Origin Power. The Moonlight Sword Light surged, and countless strands of silk-like moonlight hissed softly, suppressing the innumerable golden lights like mercury flooding the ground.

With a twist, the silk-like Sword Light pierced through the golden light-weapons, riddling them with holes.

’What kind of power could a Tier Four Flying Sword display when combined with the Refining Sword into Silk Realm and unleashed at full force?’

This was a question long hidden in the depths of Bai Zichen’s heart. Even he couldn’t say for sure. Today, he could finally unleash it without reservation.

As far as the eye could see, nothing could withstand the silk-like moonlight for even a single breath.

The Myriad Golden Spear Talisman was a famous area-of-effect Talisman. Despite its name, it actually contained nine hundred and ninety-nine blades of golden light.

Each ray of golden light could easily kill an Early-Stage Core Formation Cultivator.

But before the silk-like moonlight, they were as fragile as paper, shattering at a touch.

One was destroyed the moment it was generated, compressed into a small space, unable to break through.

”Converge!”

The intent preceded the action. The moment Bai Zichen began to form a Finger Decision, the Moon Xuan Sword already understood his thoughts.

The Sword Silks shot out in a concentrated burst. Several more orbs of Spirit Light around Huang Ping Wanderer shattered as his Protective Treasures were broken. The silks bypassed the golden light-blades and caused countless blossoms of blood to erupt from his chest.

His opponent had even brought out a Tier Four Talisman. Bai Zichen was truly afraid this cultivator might have another trick up his sleeve to turn the tables, so he was willing to damage the Moon Xuan Sword’s Origin Power to secure a quick kill.

This would prevent him from pulling out another Tier Four Talisman or some other Secret Treasure a moment later, adding unforeseen complications.

The corners of Huang Ping Wanderer’s mouth twitched. He could only feel countless Sword Silks darting through his body, as if he were being sliced by a thousand knives.

After the immense pain, all sensation left him, and his body began to fall from the sky.

His limbs and bones, his Dantian Qi Sea, and even his Sea of Consciousness had all been turned to mush.

Under the onslaught of the crisscrossing Sword Silks, any means of escape or self-preservation was futile.

Recalling the Moon Xuan, he struck down the last few golden light-blades.

Because of Huang Ping Wanderer’s death, the Myriad Golden Spear Talisman lost its controller. A few rays of golden light flew off erratically, veering toward a mountain peak dozens of miles away.

”Hm?”

Just as Bai Zichen swept Huang Ping Wanderer’s belongings into his hand, he sensed a fluctuation of Ice Soul Cold Power.

Flying higher to take a look, he saw that the golden light-blades that had flown dozens of miles away had been blocked by an Ice Mirror. The golden light refracted several times on the mirror’s surface before gradually dissipating.

It was this stray golden light-blade that had exposed the person. Focusing his gaze, he saw that the white figure, as small as a black dot, was actually the white-robed female cultivator who had left the Pill King Conference early.

He inwardly cursed his carelessness. His entire focus had been on the Combat with Huang Ping Wanderer, so he hadn’t taken the opportunity to hang his Sword Light high in the air and scan the entire area.

Coupled with the fact that the white-robed female cultivator had intentionally concealed her presence, he really hadn’t noticed her from so far away.

”What is your purpose in hiding here?”

Bai Zichen wrapped his voice in True Essence and sent it across the distance, gripping the Moon Xuan Sword once more.

”Don’t misunderstand. I have no ill intentions. I just happened to be passing by... By the time I wanted to leave, you two had already started fighting. I stopped, fearing I might cause a misunderstanding.”

The white-robed female cultivator flew into the sky, facing him from a distance.

”Of course, I was also curious about the famous Master Bai and wanted to witness your Swordsmanship.”

”You know of me?”

Bai Zichen was slightly curious. They had clearly never met, yet she spoke as if she had heard of him.

”Of course. Is there anyone in the Beiyuan Cultivation World who doesn’t know the great name of Bai Zichen? The Sword Fool evaluated you as having the greatest Sword Dao Talent since the Near Ancient era. None of us believed it. We thought it was just an excuse the Tianhe Sword Sect came up with to cover up the embarrassment of losing a Tier Four Flying Sword.”

The white-robed female cultivator’s voice was cold, but a strange light flashed repeatedly in her eyes.

”I didn’t expect that seeing you today, you’d truly live up to your reputation and more. The Refining Sword into Silk Realm, mastery of an embryonic Sword Intent... That man just now had the foundation of a Celestial Star Sect cultivator. Aside from his Magical Treasure being a bit lacking, he was completely at the standard of a Core Disciple from a Super Major Sect. Even I would be helpless against his Cloud Escape.”

”What’s more, he even had a Tier Four Talisman. Once he used it, I would have had to rely on a Secret Treasure to escape... Under such circumstances, for Master Bai to still be able to cut down an opponent a full level higher than himself—even among the Super Major Sects of the Central Domain, that’s the kind of heaven-sent talent one might see once in a thousand years. Although I didn’t find any clues about the Nine Yang True Flame on my trip to Liang Country, witnessing a battle like this has already made it worthwhile.”

”You flatter me, Fellow Daoist. May I ask your name?”

Bai Zichen truly hadn’t expected that Yann Yuanzai’s evaluation of him had already spread so far as to become common knowledge in Beiyuan.

”I am Xue Chan. We will have opportunities to meet again in the future... Until we meet again.”

After speaking, the white-robed female cultivator’s body transformed into a cold light, stirring up flurries of wind and snow as she swiftly departed.

’Xue Chan... Next time I see someone from the Tianhe Sword Sect, I can ask if there’s such a female cultivator in Beiyuan.’

Bai Zichen muttered to himself. He could, of course, tell that the white-robed female cultivator’s strength was not to be underestimated; she couldn’t be judged as a simple Mid-Stage Core Formation Cultivator.

Just like Huang Ping Wanderer. Who would have known that someone who appeared to have only Early-Stage Core Formation Cultivation was not only hiding his true Mid-Stage Core Formation cultivation but also possessed numerous Divine Techniques.

When he brought out the Myriad Golden Spear Talisman, even a Perfect Core Formation Cultivator would have had a hard time dealing with him.

”I really tired you out this time. Go back and rest.”

The Moon Xuan Sword conveyed feelings of exhaustion and grievance. Bai Zichen quickly sent it back into the Supreme Qingwei Sword Box to recuperate.

Because his Realm was not high enough, he had to use the Moon Xuan Sword’s Origin Power to ascend to the Refining Sword into Silk Realm, which was extremely damaging to the Flying Sword itself.

After this Combat, the Moon Xuan Sword would need at least ten years of nourishment to recover.

If he were to use the Flying Sword’s origin power again during that time, the continuous deficit would even affect its Flying Sword Tier.

This was also why he tried his best to rely on the Moon Xuan Sword’s own sharpness and its Tier Four characteristics when facing enemies.

Unless it was a last resort, he would never push the Moon Xuan Sword to the point of activating its Origin Power.

This was a Flying Sword he could use for a long, long time!