Chapter 1649: Before The Battle Lines (I)

The streak of silver reflected in Chengyan's eyes, and his heart turned ice-cold.

[Deadly Thunder Formation Destroyer].

The Azure Pond Sect's [Deadly Thunder Formation Destroyer]!

This treasure originated from the Douxuan Dao lineage, and had once been one of the great thunder treasures of the Dao of Techniques. That single streak of silver light contained one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one Formation Destroyer Wedges. Drawing out just ten could break an ordinary Foundation Establishment Realm formation. When all one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one were assembled, it became one of the very few treasures in Jiangnan capable of swiftly shattering a Purple Mansion Realm formation!

Changxiao had inherited its Dao lineage from a Douxuan Grotto Heaven in the Eastern Sea. As the first Purple Mansion Realm cultivator ever nurtured by Changxiao Gate, Chengyan knew this treasure better than the vast majority of Azure Pond Sect cultivators!

Yet beyond the power of [Deadly Thunder Formation Destroyer] itself, what it represented chilled Chengyan to the bone.

[Deadly Thunder Formation Destroyer] would never have ended up in his hands for no reason. The Azure Pond Sect must not only approve of this, but be fully backing it! Ning Wan is of no further use now. So it's that one surnamed Si... He wants me dead as well...

And behind the Azure Pond Sect... is most likely the Yang Family...

It shouldn't be... Absolutely shouldn't...

But in the space of a single thought, the silver light in Li Zhouwei's palm burst apart into countless streams of radiance. Each streak transformed into a silver-white, hiltless, diamond-shaped blade over a meter long, every one engraved with profound thunder patterns!

Thunder roared as it surged between the blades. Specks of silver filled the heavens, packed densely yet arranged with perfect order across every corner of the sky. Together they formed an immense net that smothered the world beneath it, leaving no room to breathe.

Every gaze on the mountain sect turned to fall on Chengyan. The Daoist Master had no time left to think. No matter how the situation had changed, he could not stand by and allow [Deadly Thunder Formation Destroyer] to breach the grand formation!

Buzz...

Dense Majestic Earth radiance finally erupted forth, sweeping through every corner of the mountain until the entire range trembled. The light intertwined as it rose, and within a single breath, transformed into a colossal umbrella that soared into the sky. Woven from earthy brown and golden yellow, its surface was traced with intricate gold and green patterns, blotting out the heavens as it intercepted every bolt of thunder and every ray of light!

Boom!

The silver-white lightning could do nothing but course helplessly across the umbrella's surface before being ground away and shattered by the Majestic Earth radiance. Light and thunder were shut out, plunging the Changxiao Gate into darkness. Chengyan's voice rolled across the night like thunder itself.

"Li Zhouwei! You resort to this demonic slaughter... What place have you left for True Essence?!"

Yet the wondrous Bright Yang heavenly gate suspended amid the light and lightning remained utterly unmoved. The golden-eyed youth stepped forward, and the center of his brows flared brilliantly. Bright Yang radiance poured from the heavenly gate, surging upward along the folds of his robes.

"Changxiao has defected to the north, and you, Chengyan, have defiled yourself with depravity. What right do you have to speak of True Essence? I did not come today for the sake of True Essence, nor did I come to uphold righteousness. I came..." Li Zhouwei bared his teeth in a ferocious smile, his eyes icy with killing intent. "... to avenge what happened at Lake Xian."

Before the last word even left his mouth, dazzling radiance surged forth. Majestic Earth light flashed across Chengyan's body; he dared not be careless. Crossing his hands before his chest, he summoned forth a pearl.

The Majestic Earth spirit embryo, the [Majestic Blossom Pearl]!

The Majestic Earth radiance was unimaginably dense, like an immeasurable expanse of solid earth. It received every strand of the [Heavenly Radiance, Hidden Light], sending ripples of deep violet flames across its surface.

Rumble...

The Majestic Earth radiance shuddered beneath the Bright Yang light, but ultimately held firm without yielding. Though its brilliance was rapidly being consumed, Chengyan had only just begun to feel a flicker of relief when a spark of Supreme Yang brilliance burst out from within the drifting radiance. The two manifestations resonated with one another, and the spirit embryo in his hand instantly became scorching hot!

He poured the full power of his divine ability into the spirit embryo while searching for an opening. Yet the [Heaven-Venerating Gate] overhead remained perfectly still, silently fixed upon him. Li Zhouwei himself had done nothing more than activate the art between his brows.

Chengyan had been a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator for over sixty years. Though his innate ability fell short of the great prodigies of his generation, his experience was anything but lacking. Without the slightest hesitation, he abruptly raised his head and flicked out a single point of radiant light.

The Majestic Earth divine ability, [Immortal Without Flaw]!

The tiny mote of radiance intertwined divine ability and art into one. It appeared utterly ordinary, yet carried an indescribable quality. The Daoist Master's expression darkened, but his confidence in his own divine ability remained absolute.

How arrogant... Even if I've made no progress these past years, do you think you can defeat me with one hand behind your back?

The mote rapidly expanded, pulsing through the air like a living thing. The seven-colored light merged into pure white, blossoming into countless rays of Heavenly Glow. Then Chengyan felt heat bloom across his face. Raising his eyes slightly, he realized the golden-eyed youth had already closed the distance!

Buzz...

A brilliant, razor-sharp halberd descended without warning. Tangled strands of brilliance fell like ropes woven from radiance, carrying the Supreme Yang Resonance Radiant Art.

They flickered ceaselessly within the glow, but Chengyan said in an icy voice, "Bright Yang... Even Bright Yang must submit before Majestic Earth!"

This mote of [Majestic Radiance that Subdues Techniques and Suppresses Light] had been extraordinarily difficult to cultivate. Combined with the Majestic Earth divine ability [Immortal Without Flaw], it embodied the inviolable might of [Majestic Earth Without Flaw] itself. Its purpose was to suppress all techniques and buy him the precious moment he needed to maneuver! The instant he dispersed the entangling Hidden Light, he was ready to slip into the great void!

Even if you are the White Qilin, you possess only two divine abilities! With your hands full dealing with my Majestic Radiance, how could you possibly have any room to strike again?!

But before the thought had even finished, a streak of golden light leaped from the halberd, transforming into another golden halberd. It bypassed the clash between the original weapon and the radiant light, thrusting straight toward Chengyan's face!

Chengyan was no Buddhist cultivator. He had no intention of underestimating that strike. Forced to manifest another divine ability to block the Bright Yang strike, he paused for the briefest instant. At that very moment, the brilliance between the golden-eyed youth's brows abruptly turned to darkness, taking on the aspect of a solar eclipse.

[Imperial Divergence Light]!

Countless streams of light emerged from within the eclipse. Tipped with gold, the black lights slithered through the air like agile venomous serpents, tracing elegant arcs as they stirred up a violent storm of mana.

The spell art alone made Chengyan's face flush, leaving lingering fear in its wake, What a terrifying art! Fortunately, my Majestic Radiance is holding the line!

Sure enough, the countless black-and-gold streams of light had only just unfurled in the sky when that single mote of ethereal radiance swelled in response. Like the vast, solid earth itself, it swallowed every ray of light without leaving a single one behind!

At last, Chengyan broke free, and stepped into the pitch-black great void. Just as confusion began to surface in his mind, a sudden chill swept over him. He snapped his head upward.

There, within the great void, a purple-gold thunder mace gleamed brilliantly. Lightning crackled across its surface, which was covered in profound patterns engraved with sigils for slaying demons and eradicating evil. Purple-gold radiance poured downward, bringing with it an entire sea of lightning!

Chengyan's protective spirit umbrella was still outside in the mountains. Caught completely off guard, he was instantly trapped within the sea of lightning, unable to maneuver. Yet the purple-gold thunder mace showed no sign of stopping. Its radiance only grew brighter as it unleashed another bolt of lightning.

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