The Sword God of the Universe

Chapter 2199: Chapter 2199: The Overbearing Black River Heavenly Monarch

The disparity in strength among the Immortal Rhythm Cultivators can be extremely vast.

For instance, Ji Bian, whom Jing Yan defeated back then, was a relatively ordinary Immortal Rhythm Cultivator, but Ji Bian was not the weakest among them. Ji Bian’s attack power was considerably stronger than the weakest Immortal Rhythm Cultivator. Generally speaking, the Shen Zhou Heavenly Monarch level stands at the high end among Immortal Rhythm Cultivators. Of course, there are significant differences in strength among the Shen Zhou Heavenly Monarchs. For example, Wuxia Heavenly Monarch is of slightly above-average strength among the Shen Zhou Heavenly Monarchs. Wuxia Heavenly Monarch is almost at the top-tier level among the Immortal Rhythm Cultivators and could kill Ji Bian with just a simple move.

At this moment, the leaders of the Four Great Forces who came to the Yellow Spring Cave, such as Xin Li and Gong Zhi, belong to the strongest tier among the Immortal Rhythm Cultivators. At their level, even an Immortal Venerable with relatively lower strength finds it challenging to kill them. However, they are still very far from the Immortal Venerable level, and none of them are certain if their dao path will lead them to the Immortal Venerable level.

In fact, even the Shen Zhou Heavenly Monarch is very close to the Immortal Venerable. In terms of realm, the Shen Zhou Heavenly Monarch is no different from Xin Li and the others, just with a significant difference in spells and other techniques. Existence like Xin Li can step into the Immortal Venerable realm at any time, and the same goes for the Shen Zhou Heavenly Monarch. Theoretically, they can cross into the Immortal Venerable level at any moment.

Ke Zun was repelled by the Black River Heavenly Monarch, and the expressions of those present turned somewhat unpleasant. Because, judging by the Black River Heavenly Monarch’s demeanor, the person he wants to stop is definitely not only Ke Zun. He might equally prevent others from entering the Netherworld Map.

“Black River Heavenly Monarch, what do you mean by this?” Ke Zun, with blood at the corner of his mouth and fury in his eyes, asked the Black River Heavenly Monarch.

The Black River Heavenly Monarch glanced indifferently at Ke Zun.

“Do I need to explain my intentions to you?”

“Wise up and don’t bother me!” The Black River Heavenly Monarch didn’t regard Ke Zun and the others in the slightest.

“Black River Heavenly Monarch, does this mean you intend to stop us from entering the Netherworld Map?” Lu Chun asked with a dark expression.

“You are correct. As long as I’m here, none of you should think of entering the Netherworld Map. I advise you all to leave the vicinity of the Netherworld Map and not waste your time here. Go search for your Netherworld Crystal Stones. The items inside the Netherworld Map are not for you to touch. Hmph, I, Black River, entered the Yellow Spring Cave seeking what’s inside the Netherworld Map,” the Black River Heavenly Monarch squinted at Lu Chun.

“Black River Heavenly Monarch, isn’t this too domineering? The Yellow Spring Cave has opened dozens of times, and the Netherworld Map appeared only once. Don’t you think you’re going too far?” people from the Ancient Land of Morning Light said, voice filled with solemnity.

“Enough, stop wasting words with me here! In any case, as long as I’m here, you can forget about entering the Netherworld Map. Instead of wasting time, you should start looking for the Netherworld Crystal Stones,” the Black River Heavenly Monarch said, waving his hand.

Jing Yan also stared at the Black River Heavenly Monarch.

Of course, Jing Yan also wanted to enter the Netherworld Map. The Netherworld Heart inside the map is something everyone desires. But the Black River Heavenly Monarch stood in the way, causing frustration.

“Fellow Daoist Jing Yan, have you noticed?” Xin Ruikun transmitted a message to Jing Yan.

Jing Yan looked at Xin Ruikun, momentarily unsure of Xin Ruikun’s meaning.

Xin Ruikun continued to transmit, “The Black River Heavenly Monarch we see should be just a division or avatar.”

“An avatar?” Jing Yan’s eyes slightly lit up.

Earlier, he hadn’t paid attention to this detail.

It’s not difficult for cultivators to create avatars; it simply requires consuming some resources. However, a cultivator’s avatars generally have very low strength, far from comparable to the main body. An avatar is different from a Dharma Body. The Dharma Body Jing Yan brought to the Immortal Domain is almost indistinguishable from the main body. Creating avatars is easy for cultivators, but creating a Dharma Body is extremely difficult. If an avatar is destroyed, it doesn’t affect the main body at all, but if a Dharma Body is destroyed, the impact is significant, and even the Divine Soul Body would suffer heavy damage.

Jing Yan nodded and transmitted back, “It is indeed an avatar; the aura feels far weaker than when it was outside Yellow Spring Cave.”

“Exactly! If it were the main body, Ke Zun wouldn’t be able to stand after that strike earlier. He might have been instantly killed. The Black River Heavenly Monarch’s strength is too formidable, even Yuantong Immortal Venerable couldn’t stop him from entering Yellow Spring Cave.”

“Fellow Daoist Rui Kun, but if it’s just an avatar, isn’t this strength a bit too strong? How can a mere avatar possess such power?” Jing Yan asked with some confusion.

Normally, a cultivator’s avatar, even an Immortal Venerable’s, can hardly reach the Immortal Venerable level in strength. Yet the Black River Heavenly Monarch’s avatar managed to injure Ke Zun with just one move.

“The Black River Heavenly Monarch’s avatar is different from us cultivators’ avatars. He has fused with a unique black river outside Faro Heaven. His physical body is almost undying; it’s extremely special. He can create many avatars at will and allocate a certain amount of strength to them as he pleases.”

“The avatar we see now has approximately thirty percent of his original strength. If his avatar is strong now, his main body would be relatively weaker. If the avatar retains thirty percent of the original strength, then his main body retains seventy percent of its original strength.”

“He left this avatar here to block us from entering the Netherworld Map while his main body is inside, searching for the Netherworld Heart,” Xin Ruikun divulged quite a bit of information to Jing Yan.

“About thirty percent of the strength…,” Jing Yan’s thoughts became active.

“Alas, even with thirty percent of the strength, we’re far from being a match! The Black River Heavenly Monarch obviously came prepared, knowing this avatar with thirty percent of strength is more than enough to prevent us from entering the Netherworld Map,” Xin Ruikun sighed.

“Swish!”

“Boom!” Just as Jing Yan and Xin Ruikun were exchanging messages, Lu Chun from the Mystic Moon Trading House charged towards the Netherworld Map.

Xin Ruikun could see that the Black River Heavenly Monarch left behind an avatar here, and naturally, Lu Chun and the others could see it too.

If it were the full-strength Black River Heavenly Monarch’s main body, Lu Chun and the others wouldn’t waste time trying to charge in; attempting an assault could result in instant death. But since it’s just an avatar, Lu Chun and the others naturally wouldn’t give up on the Netherworld Map so easily.

Lu Chun took the lead in charging.

“Ignorant fool!” The Black River Heavenly Monarch’s avatar, seeing Lu Chun charging towards him, coldly exclaimed, striking with both palms.

As terrifying energy waves rippled out, Lu Chun’s body was sent flying backward, just like Ke Zun earlier. However, Lu Chun was better prepared, activating all his defensive measures, so although he was knocked back, he wasn’t injured like Ke Zun. Of course, Lu Chun’s strength was slightly stronger than Ke Zun’s.