Talisman Emperor

The outcome was decided with a single strike.

If this scene were to be seen by the others in the outside world, their jaws would definitely drop to the ground.

The reason was simple. Even though the black clothed figure was condensed into form by a mysterious energy within the Illusory Heaven Immortal Domain, its cultivation and strength were on par with the challenger.

It was even to the extent that its imposing aura, vital energy, and will were a projection of the challenger, whereas Chen Xi was actually able cleanly slaughter his opponent with a single strike. It proved that his combat technique had arrived at an unbelievable extent when compared to his peers.

The facts were indeed so. The black clothed figure wasn’t a living being in the end, so it was impossible for it to possess such abundant combat experience and technique like Chen Xi possessed. 

This first level wasn’t difficult. The black clothed figure’s strength was equivalent to mine while its cultivation in the Sword Dao had exceeded the supreme grandmaster level, but unfortunately, its combat technique was only average and without anything unique. Chen Xi silently pondered on the black clothed figure’s combat strength.

“1st level, completed in the time of a single breath!” An indifferent voice that carried no emotion whatsoever resounded.

Om!

The voice hadn’t finished resounding in the air when an azure glow sweat out from beneath him, and it swept him up. In the next moment, he’d vanished on the spot.

When Chen Xi opened his eyes next, he’d arrived at the second level of the domain. This place was roughly similar to the first level, but when Chen Xi arrived here, there were already two black clothed figures waiting for him.

Swoosh! Swoosh!Two strands of sword qi that tore through the sky slashed down at Chen Xi.

“Kill!” Chen Xi didn’t dodge to the side and charge right towards them.

Pu!

Pu!

They crossed each other.

In the next moment, the two black clothed figures were split into half at the waist, and they died instantly. If it was others that had come here, they would have probably been unable to react in time, let alone crush their opponents so easily like Chen Xi.

“2nd level, completed in the time of a single breath!” The indifferent and emotionless voice resounded once more.

With Chen Xi’s current combat strength, he was naturally unhindered in this Illusory Heaven Immortal Domain. Moreover, every single time he passed a level, he would be directly sent into the next level. At the same time, the results would be recorded.

At the 3rd level was three black clothed figures with similar cultivations and strength as Chen Xi.

The 4th level had four.

The 5th level had five.

Up until an eighth of an hour later, Chen Xi had already slaughtered his way into the 18th level in one go, whereas his opponents had shockingly become 18 black clothed figures with similar strengths as him!

It was at this point that Chen Xi finally felt a thread of pressure, and he’d slowed down slightly.

According to Chen Xi’s knowledge, amongst the first 36 levels of the domain, the 18th level was a divide. The cultivation and strength of the black clothed figures wouldn’t increase as he went higher than the 18th level, yet the suppression that came from numbers would start to play a decisive role.

For example, Chen Xi’s opponents on the 18th level was 18 black clothed figures with similar strengths as him. When they attacked in unison, they even started to cooperate with each other and fight Chen Xi by setting up a formation amongst themselves. So the threat they posed would naturally increase greatly. 

    …

Outside the Illusory Heaven Immortal Domain.

There was a wall of light at the side of the Passage Stone Stele, and it displayed 36 light green symbols in an orderly manner. They represented the first 36 levels of the domain.

When Chen Xi entered the domain to challenge these levels, his name had swiftly condensed into a golden symbol, and it started to rise repeatedly until it arrived at the 18th level.

“The 18th level in an eighth of an hour?” A disciple that had been constantly paying attention to Chen Xi’s attempt couldn’t help but exclaim in shock, and he was filled with disbelief.

The attention of the others in the vicinity were drawn over as well, and then they revealed slightly dumbstruck expressions.

“I remember that some seniors of the academy once said that when Yun Fusheng arrived at the 18th level all those years ago, he seemed to have used around an eighth of an hour. Could it be that Chen Xi’s performance in the domain is actually on par with Yun Fusheng from all those years ago?”

“His speed is too swift! I had the honor to witness Zhen Lu and Ji Xuanbing challenge the Illusory Heaven Immortal Domain a few days ago, and I clearly remember that Zhen Lu had utilized an eighth of an hour and 37 breaths of time to arrive at the 18th level, whereas Ji Xuanbing utilized an eighth of an hour and 93 breaths of time. Compared to them, Chen Xi’s current performance is actually slightly more formidable.”

“That might not necessarily be the case. The Phoenix Clan’s Zhao Mengli had also utilized an eighth of an hour to arrive at the 18th level, but her subsequent speed was inferior to Zhen Lu, and it caused her to be only ranked at the 9th position on the Passage Stone Stele which is far inferior to Zhen Lu who’s ranked at the 5th.”

“Exactly, the key is still his results from the 18th level and above, and it’s still too difficult to determine exactly how far Chen Xi will go.”

The crowd discussed animatedly, and they were all curious about Chen Xi’s final results. They silently took note of the time in their hearts, and they wanted to see if Chen Xi was able to make a completely new record or not.

Ao Wuming and Jiang Canghai’s faces sank when facing this, and they kept silent.

“Hmph! No matter how swiftly he gets through the levels, it’s useless if he’s unable to advance into the Golden Immortal Realm.” In the end, Ao Wuming grunted coldly and used this as an excuse to console himself.

“It’s only the 18th level now, continue watching patiently.” Jiang Canghai smiled, yet his smile was slightly forced.

Ao Wuming nodded and didn’t speak any further.

    …

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Numerous terrifying strands of sword qi intersected together within the 18th level, and they covered the heavens and the earth like a world filled with ghastly sword qi.

“Kill!” Chen Xi’s figure passed through the dense sword qi while he executed his combat technique to a completely new height. The inheritances of the swords of the five elements, wind, lightning, Yin, and Yang were easily executed by him and sprayed out like a tide.

In an instant, it was impossible to determine exactly how many strikes he’d executed, and it was only possible to see that every single time his figure flashed, a black clothed figure would be blasted flying.

After a short moment.

“18th level, completed in the time of a single breath!” The indifferent and utterly emotionless voice resounded, and then Chen Xi’s figure had vanished.

Just like this, Chen Xi charged all the way with sword in hand, and he advanced triumphantly. Even though the pressure he felt grew steadily as he advanced, it was unable to injure Chen Xi, thus it was naturally impossible to obstruct his footsteps.

Hiss! Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!

At the 35th level, ball after ball of rain made of light exploded, and it represented black clothed figures being slaughtered one after the other.

At the same time, Chen Xi was in a slightly sorry state as he dodged, and he had a serious expression. He’d truly sensed enormous pressure that was like tidewater that surged towards him from all directions.

There were an entire 35 black clothed figures in the 35th level. Every single one of them had strengths that were equal to his own, and when joined together, if this force was in the outside world, then it would be sufficient to sweep through all the students at the Mysterious Immortal Realm within the outer court.

Yet at this moment, Chen Xi could only face them by himself.

This was a test, and it was a challenge towards his limits!Not bad. I need such pressure in order to unearth even more of my potential. Once I charge through the 36th level, I’ll definitely be able to charge into the Golden Immortal Realm! At this moment, Chen Xi had clearly grasped a trace of the critical factor he needed to advance. It was so clear as if it was right before his eyes and right within his reach, yet he forcefully restrained himself in the end.

It was fine if he didn’t advance, but as soon as he did, then he naturally had to attain perfection!

Kill!

Kill!

Kill!

At this moment, Chen Xi’s battle intent surged while his body emanated boundless divine radiance. Starclasp seemed to have transformed into a boundless starry sky in his hand, and he’d already brought out most of his potential and was on the verge of hitting his limit.

Rumble!

A strands of sword qi that overlapped the swords of wind and lightning soared through the air like a gale of lightning, and it whistled as it swept out and directly torn three black clothed figures before him into pieces.

At the same time, Chen Xi’s figure spun as he rose into the air and slashed apart an expanse of sword qi before suddenly retreating to avoid the assault of another expanse of sword qi. At the same time, he hadn’t stopped slashing successively with the sword in his hand.

His figure that was like a shadow and his extremely murderous, fierce, and swift attacks caused it to be impossible to differentiate if he was dodging or attacking. Or perhaps, his combat technique was dodging and attacking at the same time, causing his opponents to be unable to lock onto him.

Pu! Pu! Pu!

A few more heads shot into the sky, and then Chen Xi suddenly stopped moving. He put Starclasp away with a clang, and when he turned around once more, there was only a single black clothed figure standing before him.

I’m almost there. The corners of Chen Xi’s mouth curled up slightly as he casually stretched out his index finger and pointed lightly, causing a stream of sword qi to shoot out violently…

At this moment, outside the Illusory Heaven Immortal Domain.

“30 minutes and 35 breaths of time. Looks like Chen Xi has been trapped on the 35th level as well. All those years ago, Yun Fusheng seemed to have broken through this level in around this much of time as well.” 

When they saw the golden symbol on the wall of light that represented Chen Xi had stopped at the 35th level for a long time, many people heaved sighs of relief in their hearts, and they seemed to feel that only a scene like this was normal.

“Those black clothed figures on the 35th level possess a formidable joint attack technique while their cooperation is extremely well. In all these years, many experts have wasted a great amount of time at this level, causing them to be have no chance of breaking any records.”

“There’s still the 36th level above the 35th level. That’s the barrier that’s the most difficult to surmount. If Chen Xi continues to be delayed here, then even if he enters the 36th level smoothly, he’ll be unable to leave his name on the Passage Stone Stele.”

The others discussed animatedly as well when they heard this. Obviously, they felt that Chen Xi didn’t have much a great chance to break the records on the Passage Stone Stele.

However, right at this moment, the light green symbol that represented the 35th level suddenly dimmed down, and at the same time, the symbol that represented the 36th level suddenly lit up.

Everyone was instantly stunned, and they revealed shocked expressions.

Ao Wuming and Jiang Canghai’s face sank, and their hands beneath their sleeves couldn’t help but clench together tightly.

How could they be unable to discern that even if the amount of time Chen Xi utilized to pass through the 35th level at this moment was slightly inferior to Yun Fusheng from all those years ago, he was slightly swifter than Zhen Lu, Ji Xuanbing, and Zhao Mengli!

In other words, so long as Chen Xi maintained this sort of combat strength at the 36th level, then it was extremely likely for him to make a new record!

“I knew it, I knew it would be like this! Chen Xi, you have to hold on! So long as you’re able to leave your name on the Passage Stone Stele, then the reputation of your Star Alliance will be even more resounding!” Xuanyuan Yun stared fixedly and without blinking at the changes on the wall of light from the side, and a wisp of excitement surged out from his heart as he muttered to himself.

At this moment, the entire surroundings were deathly silent. Everyone was silently taking notice of the passage of time while waiting to see if Chen Xi would be able to make a new record.