Chapter 73
Even though they had known this outcome was inevitable, the feathered immortals still felt a pang of sorrow.
Feng Chiyue didn’t care about their sadness. She would continue moving forward, never looking back.
After everyone left, Que Chenyi glanced at Qing Xun and said slowly, “The pressure is on you now, isn’t it?”
Qing Xun frowned slightly. As a member of the younger generation, although she had heard many stories about the Phoenix Sovereign, that figure was merely a historical figure. She couldn’t equate her with Feng Chiyue. The Phoenix Sovereign was like a hazy shadow, while Feng Chiyue was a vibrant, living being. She looked at Que Chenyi, confused.
But Que Chenyi didn’t elaborate, only a hint of pity in her eyes. After the war, Feng Shuo would definitely take their future leader under her wing and hone her skills. As for Phoenix Mountain, they wouldn’t miss this opportunity either. It would be a fierce battle for Qing Xun’s allegiance.
In Kunlun Mountain.
The Blood Sun Devouring Ring, hanging above the palaces like a blazing sun, cast a crimson glow on the clouds, tendrils of fire trailing from it.
A Daoist priest from the Realm Beyond Heaven emerged from its shadow. He stared ahead, holding a pearl, which he placed beside him, channeling his power into it. Within the Blood Sun, dozens of figures sat, watching him intently.
Que Chenyi, Chang Huai, and the others at the barrier tensed up.
Although there were no Heavenly Soldiers charging at them, the aura emanating from that Daoist priest was far more dangerous. After all, with all the soldiers sacrificed to the artifact, its vast power was now concentrated in him. Before he could even launch his attack, several figures shot out from the barrier, their speed breaking the sound barrier.
Feng Shuo led the charge. She was also from the Phoenix lineage, and “Feathers United” protected her as well.
The others included Nine-Tailed Fox immortals from Qingqiu, wandering immortals who had joined their side, and true dragons. The latter, lacking the protection of “Feathers United,” were far more vulnerable. The Daoist priest from the Realm Beyond Heaven waited until the pearl was fully charged, then launched it. It wasn’t particularly fast, but with the Blood Sun Devouring Ring’s enhancement, it shot forward like a meteor.
But just as it was about to hit one of the dragons, a soft moonlight descended, and the Celestial Mother’s twelve manifestations appeared.
While the Heavenly Court’s Blood Sun Devouring Ring was like a raging sun, the moonlight at the feathered lineages’ barrier was gentle and ethereal, like flowing silk, but it wasn’t as fragile.
The Daoist priest’s attack missed. He felt a pang of regret, but he had known that the Celestial Mother had turned against the Heavenly Court. This wasn’t just the Phoenix Sovereign’s revenge but also the Celestial Mother’s attempt to seize power. He channeled his magic power, meeting the incoming attacks, and a deafening explosion reverberated through the air. He glanced at the Blood Sun Devouring Ring behind him, and moments later, his comrades emerged, ready for the final battle.
It didn’t take long for all the Daoist priests within the Blood Sun to join the fight.
Feng Chiyue stood atop the barrier, and with a flick of her sleeve, she walked forward as if strolling through a garden. When a beam of golden light, an attack from one of the Realm Beyond Heaven immortals, shot towards her, she simply brushed it aside, deflecting the artifact hidden within. Her aura surged, and she drew a crimson sword, its blade shimmering.
A phoenix cry echoed through the sky, blending with the humming of the sword.
Wherever she walked, flames erupted.
The one who intercepted her wasn’t a feathered Star Monarch but a Daoist priest from the Realm Beyond Heaven, one of those who had agreed to sacrifice the Phoenix Sovereign for “peace” all those years ago. Seeing her, he hesitated, bowing slightly, remaining silent. At this point, all “righteous” justifications were meaningless. Only strength mattered. He channeled his magic power, and a green aura, vast and boundless, enveloped him. He cultivated wood-element techniques. As long as a single trace of this aura remained, it would regenerate endlessly. Compared to his comrades, his techniques weren’t as aggressive, but their endurance was unmatched.
Feng Chiyue ignored his courtesy, not even looking at him directly. A crimson light blazed behind her, a wave of searing heat surging forward, clashing with the green aura. In an instant, the entire world turned crimson.
His wood energy had reached a level where it was impervious to fire and water. He watched calmly as the two forces collided, but then he frowned slightly, realizing that he was being overpowered. He flicked his dust whisk, and the solid green aura transformed into countless tiny needles.
Feng Chiyue raised her sword, and the crimson light behind her flashed, lunging forward like a volcanic eruption, overwhelming his needles. With a humming sound, the light surrounding her slashed towards him. Alarm bells rang in his head, and he hurriedly summoned the Blood Sun Devouring Ring’s power to protect himself. The sharp sword beam struck his protective aura, leaving a deep gash. He sighed in relief, but just as he was about to counterattack, he noticed a spark landing on his robes, a tiny ember burning a small hole. He quickly brushed it away, but then countless crimson lights flashed, and a magnificent phoenix manifestation emerged from the flames, filling half the sky. With a flick of her sleeve, a wave of Karma Fire crashed down on him, colliding with the Blood Sun Devouring Ring’s power.
He felt as if he were trapped in a raging inferno, unable to escape. He desperately channeled the artifact’s power, hoping to draw more strength. He wished his comrades would come to his aid, but they were all occupied, unable to help him.
“Elder Sister,” Feng Chiyue called out suddenly.
His heart skipped a beat. He realized that Ming Jian Su hadn’t appeared yet. Where was she hiding? When would she unleash that deadly sword strike? His focus wavered, and a flaw appeared in his defense. He had drawn a vast amount of power from the Blood Sun Devouring Ring, but it needed to be channeled through him. It couldn’t compensate for his weakness. Thus, in his final moments, he saw Feng Chiyue’s cold, mocking smile.
“So foolish,” she said, raising an eyebrow. Her Karma Fire Sword sliced through his defenses, and she slapped him across the head, his skull shattering, blood and flesh splattering.
The battle didn’t end quickly. The Heavenly Court’s Star Monarchs were being defeated, but the Blood Sun Devouring Ring’s power continued to grow. Initially, one or two feathered immortals could handle a single Star Monarch, but now, it often took several to hold one back. After all, not everyone was as powerful as Ming Jian Su and Feng Chiyue.
Feng Chiyue had already killed many Star Monarchs. Her opponents kept changing, and she noticed that their connection to the Blood Sun Devouring Ring was becoming increasingly tight. Sometimes, her senses, incredibly sharp, would detect danger before it even manifested, and she would instinctively block the incoming attacks.
These enemies were troublesome, but not invincible.
Their cultivation levels varied. Not everyone could handle that vast power. Even with ten percent of its full potential, a weakling could only utilize three or four percent. She slashed forward with her Karma Fire Sword, severing everything in her path, flames raining down like meteors, an endless sea of fire. The sword beam, a fleeting flash of light, crossed the crimson sky, so fast it seemed as if it had never existed. When it landed, time and space froze.
The Daoist priest, unable to react, was obliterated.
A phoenix’s Nirvana was a rebirth from the ashes of death. Naturally, she was more powerful now.
Moreover, she had undergone Nirvana in the Abyss of the Milky Way, the origin of primordial energy, drawing upon the very foundation of both the Immortal Realm and the Demon Realm. How could she not be powerful?
In the Purple Empyrean Palace.
The Heavenly Emperor had been observing the battle coldly.
He noticed that the golden barrier was advancing towards Kunlun Mountain.
He was now the master of the Blood Sun Devouring Ring and could sense its growing power.
Ming Jian Su was absent for some reason. Perhaps this was an opportunity to eliminate Feng Chiyue!
He made a decision and finally emerged from his hiding place.
Seeing the twelve moon images, he felt a surge of disgust. He wanted to kill the Celestial Mother himself, but Feng Chiyue was the priority.
“Long time no see, old friend,” he said, his body enveloped in a blood-red aura. He had borrowed power from the Blood Sun Devouring Ring, reaching a level of cultivation he had never achieved before. Behind him, the artifact flickered, like a raging river, its flames swaying.
Feng Chiyue glanced at him and, without hesitation, slashed towards his face.
He scoffed and, with a simple hand seal, deflected her attack. He had been conserving his strength, and now he unleashed it, striking back with a blinding beam of light. The world trembled, and countless sparks flew. He was surrounded by a blinding radiance, which gradually faded. He looked ahead and saw Feng Chiyue standing unharmed, her phoenix manifestation shielding her from all attacks.
His smile faltered, but he quickly regained his composure. This was just the beginning.
The Blood Sun Devouring Ring had been crafted by Qing Hong Star Monarch. He was technically its master, but to enhance its power, he had sacrificed himself, transferring ownership to the Heavenly Emperor. As its sole master now, his connection to the artifact was stronger than any other Daoist priest’s. He could draw even more power from it. As for the consequences for those Star Monarchs fighting on the front lines, he didn’t care.
He channeled his magic power again, feeling it surge even higher. He could unleash several more attacks like that. He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t know when Ming Jian Su would appear. He had to use his full strength to suppress Feng Chiyue. His eyes were cold and sharp. But she simply stared at him, her expression indifferent, as Karma Fire rained down, incinerating everything.
He focused his will, unleashing another powerful attack, a torrent of energy surging towards her. Her eyes flickered. She didn’t need to withstand this attack directly. Her eyes turned a brilliant, pure gold, and she activated a teleportation technique, a mystical ability she had gained after Nirvana. She rarely used it. With a twist of her power, his attack missed, all its energy diverted elsewhere.
That “elsewhere” was the Abyss of the Milky Way, where she had undergone Nirvana.
The Abyss of the Milky Way was located underground, its countless branches connecting to the entire Immortal Realm, its primordial energy separating into pure and turbid, flowing towards various paradises. And the greatest paradise in the Immortal Realm was naturally Kunlun Mountain. His attack, upon reaching the Abyss of the Milky Way, followed the path of pure energy, and moments later, a deafening explosion reverberated through the air. Kunlun Mountain, shattered, collapsed into ruins.
Countless eyes turned towards the source of the commotion. The Blood Sun Devouring Ring hung in the sky, but the palaces and pavilions that had stood for millennia were gone, reduced to dust and rubble, not even a single broken wall remaining.
The Heavenly Emperor’s face darkened.
“So the Heavenly Court, like the Vermilion Birds’ old nest, was also built by an incompetent fool?” Feng Chiyue said casually. “It collapsed so easily.”
The Heavenly Court was protected by powerful formations. Breaching them from the outside wasn’t easy. He didn’t know how she had done it. He only knew that, with the destruction of the Purple Empyrean Palace, his authority as the Heavenly Emperor was shattered. Even if he retained power, he would become a laughingstock. His hatred towards her intensified, and he roared, his attacks becoming even more focused and powerful.
But this time, she didn’t use her teleportation technique.
Because before she could act, a sword intent sliced through the air.
A brilliant sword beam, trailing a river of sword energy, swept forward, all obstacles—wind, clouds, even his magic power—melting away like snow. The sword intent didn’t stop after shattering his attack but continued towards him.
He felt a moment of disorientation, a flaw appearing in his defense. The sword beam struck, and he froze, his body suddenly heavy. Countless golden sparks flew from him as a protective robe shielded him from the attack. He snapped out of his daze and, channeling his magic power, erected layers of defenses. The sword beam didn’t retreat but split into seven, slashing relentlessly. However, the previous impact had weakened its power. It couldn’t advance any further.
“Ming Jian Su!” he snarled, his eyes filled with venom.
Emerging from the river of starlight, she didn’t even glance at him. She simply went to Feng Chiyue’s side and, seeing that she was unharmed, sighed in relief.
“You should have seen it, Elder Sister,” Feng Chiyue said, smiling. “The way Kunlun Mountain exploded.”
Ming Jian Su chuckled. “It’s fine. We can always blow it up again.”
Feng Chiyue nodded. “You go, Elder Sister,” she said, smiling. “I’ll deal with the Heavenly Emperor.”
Ming Jian Su nodded, her gaze fixed on the Blood Sun Devouring Ring.
In her previous life, her main weapon had been the Endless Sword Case. As for the swords themselves, she had used and discarded them, never truly merging them with the case. And during her reincarnation, she had encountered Undefeated. Although Undefeated liked the case, their connection was distant. This refinement was to achieve a perfect “fusion” between the case and the swords. They would become one, “united” when combined. During this process, she had also comprehended a new Heavenly Dao sword technique—One Sword, Endless!
She raised her hand, and the seven sword beams returned, merging into one. She stared at the Blood Sun Devouring Ring. They claimed it was limitless, capable of devouring everything. Then she would see if it could withstand her endless sword energy! She dashed forward.
Seeing her move, the Emperor’s heart skipped a beat, and he was about to give chase, but Feng Chiyue’s attack intercepted him. “This artifact can devour any attack,” he scoffed. “Do you really think you can destroy it?”
“Why not?” she retorted, meeting his furious gaze. “Just because you’re a useless fool, don’t assume everyone else is like you.”
Restrained by Feng Chiyue, he couldn’t interfere with Ming Jian Su. Si Li Star Monarch and the others, emerging from the ruins of Kunlun Mountain, tried to stop her, but they quickly found themselves paralyzed. She activated the “Heavenly Dao’s Authority” technique, and a wave of sword energy swept across the world, everything returning to its origin, reduced to dust!
She stopped when she was about a mile away from the Blood Sun Devouring Ring.
The wind billowed her robes, the embroidered cranes spreading their wings, their figures elegant and ethereal.
The merged sword still resembled “Undefeated,” its two primordial black and white branches, yin and yang intertwined, tightly bound together.
The light flowing across its blade was a pure, azure blue.
As she unleashed her sword, waves of sword intent surged forward like waterfalls, converging into a vast river in the sky.
The crimson light that had filled the world was replaced by a clear, azure blue, not the color of the sky itself, but endless sword intent! Wherever it passed, it left behind an enduring trace, constantly generating new sword energy. Vast and majestic, it shimmered like countless shooting stars. Those who witnessed this breathtaking sight quickly averted their gazes, lest their souls be injured by its brilliance.
The moment the surging energy collided with the Blood Sun Devouring Ring, its aura intensified.
The Star Monarchs connected to it felt the power they could draw increase.
The feathered immortals, Fox immortals, and true dragons felt the pressure mounting. “Feathers United,” transformed into a single feather, covered the barrier, swaying precariously, as if it were about to shatter.
Que Chenyi, Chang Huai, and the others watched, their hearts pounding.
Within the Twelve Earthly Branches Formation, the clear light surrounding the Celestial Mother’s manifestations gradually dimmed, as if she were losing her grip on the formation. But then she channeled her power once more, and behind the twelve moons, ten suns slowly rose. She stepped into the formation, her twelve manifestations merging with her, vanishing. However, the formation remained intact. On the contrary, a brilliant light erupted, depicting a magnificent scene of sun and moon sharing the sky. They revolved endlessly, stabilizing the situation!
The Heavenly Emperor’s expression darkened, but then he realized that Ming Jian Su’s attack on the Blood Sun Devouring Ring was also a form of sacrifice, and he felt a perverse sense of satisfaction. However, a sudden change occurred. The artifact trembled violently, as if unable to withstand the endless sword energy. Its flames formed a barrier, but it couldn’t stop her attack. A sword beam pierced through it, followed by the rest of the sword energy. While absorbing everything, the Blood Sun Devouring Ring’s true form remained hidden. But now, having reached its limit, it revealed its “true self.”
A crisp sound echoed through the air.
It wasn’t as loud as thunder, but it seemed to be the only sound in the world.
Alarm bells rang in his head. As the artifact shattered with a deafening boom, he had already activated a teleportation technique, fleeing towards the Jianmu tree.
Not all the Star Monarchs on the battlefield were as perceptive as him.
With the Blood Sun Devouring Ring destroyed by “One Sword, Endless,” its power dissipated. The Star Monarchs lost their borrowed strength, their auras weakening, their protective shields, once formidable, now as thin as paper.
In an instant, over a dozen figures exploded into bloody mist.
Ming Jian Su summoned the Endless Sword Case and chased after the Heavenly Emperor.
She herself turned and walked towards Feng Chiyue.
Feng Chiyue embraced her. “Are you happy now, Elder Sister?”
“It’s not over yet,” Ming Jian Su replied.
Her sword heart was clear, her sword like an eye. She saw the Emperor fleeing towards the Jianmu tree. Was he planning to abdicate and escape to the Realm Beyond Heaven?
A wave of sword energy stripped away his protective auras.
She and Feng Chiyue chased after him, their attacks relentless, but they always held back, leaving him alive.
After realizing that the Blood Sun Devouring Ring was useless, his first thought had been to escape to the Realm Beyond Heaven. If he couldn’t stay in the Lower Realm, he would go to the Upper Realm. He couldn’t let go of his power, but his life was more important.
After sacrificing several protective artifacts, he finally reached the Jianmu tree.
He started climbing, looking back at Ming Jian Su and Feng Chiyue, wanting to laugh.
Suddenly, Ming Jian Su raised her sword, as if to cut down the tree.
His eyes widened in terror. But after a clang, the towering tree remained unharmed.
He sighed in relief and finally laughed.
So what if he had lost? What could they do to him?
But just as he was about to escape to the Realm Beyond Heaven, he smelled a faint fragrance of lotuses.
Several lotuses flashed before his eyes, and he felt a heavy pressure pinning him down. He couldn’t control his body and fell.
He crashed into the ground, creating a deep crater.
Before he could even get up, several sword beams pinned him down, his limbs pierced.
Feng Chiyue glanced at him and clicked her tongue. “What?” she asked. “Even the Realm Beyond Heaven doesn’t want its trash back?”
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