Cultivating To Immortality

Chapter 748: Kill

In Yuan Zhen’s eyes, the power of the Sword Array was like the collapse of the heavens.

Three swords struck simultaneously, and the majestic Sword Qi transformed into a cold moonlight, pouring out from the full moon.

The swords hummed and whistled under the moon.

The moment the moon’s shadow fell, Yuan Zhen’s face turned pale, and he hurriedly activated the Ming Wang Technique, attempting to protect his body.

The attack speed of this Sword Array was simply too fast; there was no time to dodge!

However, as soon as the Buddhist golden light covered his body, it was shattered by the surging Sword Qi.

The Buddhist texts on the surface of the Sunken wood bowl (Chenmu Boyu) flashed continuously, but they also kept breaking under the onslaught of the Sword Qi.

Yuan Zhen’s mind was in chaos. He gritted his teeth and finally conjured a golden-red kasaya. With a wave of his hand, Buddhist light burst forth.

The kasaya spun around him once before disappearing, replaced by a golden barrier like rippling water.

The solitary moon finally fell, colliding with the golden barrier with a resounding crash.

The Sunken wood bowl (Chenmu Boyu) shattered and dented, and Yuan Zhen felt a sweetness in his throat. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, and he staggered, almost falling to his knees.

Song Yan’s face was calm, but he was also somewhat surprised.

This was the first time since he had learned the Huan Yue (Ring Moon) Sword Array that he hadn’t immediately suppressed and killed his opponent.

"Is it a High Grade Spiritual Artifact?"

He saw that the golden barrier around Yuan Zhen, which resembled rippling water, though shaking and seemingly unstable, was able to block most of the Sword Qi from the falling moon.

Song Yan had never witnessed such defensive capabilities on any High Grade Spiritual Artifact.

So he guessed it was a Top Grade Spiritual Artifact.

However, his guess was wrong.

This protective kasaya was a Low Grade Spiritual Artifact.

Yuan Zhen’s magical power was rapidly depleting. With his current Qi Refining Perfection Cultivation of the Holy Technique, activating this Low Grade Spiritual Artifact was simply too strenuous.

Even using this Low Grade Spiritual Artifact to resist the opponent’s killing move was extremely difficult for him.

What exactly is going on... How could there be such a person in Chu Capital?!

Meanwhile, on the other side, Devilish Qi surged around Zen Body. He raised both hands, and countless Devilish Qi gathered and condensed in his palms, forming a huge six-foot-long Chan Staff.

He could already clearly perceive that due to the main body’s crisis and an instinctive fear, his power was gradually beginning to wane.

However, he was helpless, as he was merely a Clone.

Due to the flaws of the Demonic Technique, the Clone’s intelligence was not high, but he knew that to save his main body, he had to kill this Qi Refining Cultivator.

Carrying immense pressure, a large staff came directly towards Song Yan.

However, the dark five fingers of the White Bone Dharma Body’s right hand had already grasped one end of the Chan Staff.

The terrifying force, far exceeding that of Qi Refining, pushed the Dharma Body back several feet.

At this moment, another large white bone hand appeared, grasping the other end of the Chan Staff.

Wind and thunder arose on the white bones, covering the Dharma Body.

It lowered its head abruptly and actually slammed the Demonic Qi Chan Staff, breaking it in half with a loud crash!

It pulled its hands back, holding the two halves of the Chan Staff, one in each hand.

The Dharma Body had no intelligence.

Its appearance had only one thought.

"Kill!"

It stepped forward, rotated the broken staff in its left hand, and hooked it around Yuan Zhen’s Zen Body’s neck.

Then, it held the other broken staff in its right hand and, with great force and weight, thrust it into the Zen Body’s lower back from behind.

Pfft.

The broken staff instantly pierced the Clone’s body.

"Ugh..."

Yuan Zhen’s Clone paused slightly.

A large amount of Devilish Qi uncontrollably flowed out from the pierced wound, being absorbed into the Dharma Body’s palm, transforming into new flesh and skin.

However, the White Bone Dharma Body’s momentum did not stop. It released its right hand, changed its palm into a fist, and punched the Clone, making it stagger.

Before it could stabilize itself, it passed the broken staff from its left hand to its right and hurled it violently towards the Clone.

Bang!

The broken staff firmly impaled the Clone to the ground.

The Demonic Path Clone and the main body were connected by their minds, and at this moment, a tearing pain and fear surged through.

Yuan Zhen’s mind was unstable, and the flow of his already faltering magical power instantly became chaotic.

Song Yan pointed from afar, and an incomparably sharp Sword Yuan condensed at his fingertip, instantly shooting out.

Without stable magical power support, this Sword Yuan became the last straw that broke the camel’s back.

The kasaya was torn open with a "rip."

In his desperation, Yuan Zhen could only forcefully suppress the intense pain in his mind, activate his last bit of magical power, and, using the fluctuations of the tearing kasaya, rapidly retreated backward.

However, after barely dodging the Sword Array, an endless wave of fatigue and pain surged over him.

He staggered a few steps but ultimately failed to stabilize himself, collapsing onto the ground. His expression was somewhat dazed, as if he no longer had any thought of resisting.

Song Yan’s expression was cold.

Six sword shadows flowed out from the sword scabbard, circling around Yuan Zhen.

Boom!

At this moment, the Devilish Qi of the Demonic Path Clone suddenly surged, colliding violently with Song Yan’s Dharma Body, as if making a final desperate struggle.

On the verge of death, the Clone became even more frenzied. The Demonic Flames exploded, transforming into staff shadows that swept in all directions, blasting the Dharma Body away, and then heading straight for Song Yan’s face.

Bang!

In the nick of time, the White Bone Dharma Body did not hesitate. Its right palm struck, actually detaching its own left hand!

The white bones of the left arm shattered with a crash, transforming into countless Sword Qi that instantly condensed into a Flying Sword phantom in the right palm, with wind and thunder surging upon it.

If one looked closely, the form of this Flying Sword was very similar to the Unmoored Boat, only several circles larger.

The Flying Sword was violently hurled, instantly piercing through the demonic body.

The Clone fell to the ground, motionless.

Song Yan walked slowly towards him.

Yuan Zhen was bleeding from his seven orifices, his kasaya tattered like a few rags.

"You... who exactly are you..."

He weakly raised his head, only to see Song Yan had already walked up to him, his shadow falling over him like a malevolent spirit looking down.

He seemed to realize something and cried out repeatedly, "Don’t kill me! I have a Demonic Path Holy Technique on me! And her..."

Yuan Zhen pointed to Wu Huaguo, "Do you know what treasure she has? If you let me go, I’ll tell you how to obtain it..."

Song Yan was unmoved, bending his sword finger.

The six sword shadows spun rapidly.

Just then, Song Yan felt a surge of Devilish Qi entwine his ankles and elbows, and the sword shadows’ rotation paused.

"Hmm?"

Looking down, Yuan Zhen’s Demonic Path Clone, though on its last breath, still dragged its broken body to Song Yan’s feet.

He looked at Yuan Zhen, his tone dull: "Quick... escape..."

Escape... Yuan Zhen’s thoughts snapped back from his daze.

"Yes... escape, I must escape!"

"The Holy Technique has not yet reached Major Achievement, I cannot die at the hands of an unknown junior!"

But at this moment, a large dark palm slowly reached down and grabbed the head of the Demonic Path Clone.

The Dharma Body, though missing a left arm, was not significantly affected in its movements.

Golden patterns flowed between the dark fingers and palm, slamming the Demonic Path Clone’s head fiercely into the ground.

Then, it pulled the Flying Sword phantom from the Demonic Path Clone’s back, raised it high.

In Yuan Zhen’s dazed gaze, it thrust down violently, burying it into the Clone’s head.

The entire mountaintop suddenly fell silent.

Bang!

The Clone exploded with a crash, transforming into a vast demonic mist that continuously surged into the White Bone Dharma Body.

Yuan Zhen stared blankly for a long time; everything before him felt unreal, like a grand dream.

All his aspirations and ambitions vanished in an instant.

...

His face was ashen. He sat cross-legged on the ground, slowly bringing his hands together.

"Amitabha."

The Cloud Piercing Sword descended.

A torrent of Sword Qi engulfed him.

When the dust settled, only a riddled corpse lay on the ground, lifeless.

At the same time, the Dharma Body behind Song Yan slowly dissipated.

Whoosh—

His breathing gradually slowed.

This might not have been the most thrilling battle Song Yan had experienced so far, but it was almost a fight where he had exerted his utmost effort.

Dharma Body, Sword Array, Sword Yuan, Sword Qi, Lifebound Flying Sword.

All available means were unleashed in an instant, with the goal of completely destroying the opponent’s resistance with the force of thunder.

Fortunately, it was a close call, but he ultimately managed to kill him.

As the Demonic Path Clone dissipated, the Restriction binding Wu Huaguo naturally broke and disappeared, yet she dared not move.

Looking at Song Yan’s figure and calm face, she felt a sense of unreality.

She had initially thought it would be a desperate battle, or even that Yuan Zhen would suppress Song Yan.

However, this Fellow Daoist Song seemed unwilling to toy with his opponent. He employed terrifying methods, brutally killing the "Demonic Path Yuan Zhen," and then casually finished him off.

Unbelievable.

Was this truly the combat power a Qi Refining Realm Cultivator could possess?

Although the aura he displayed was far from the might of the Family’s Foundation Establishment Elders, the inexplicable sense of oppression was something she had never encountered.

To possess such power at Qi Refining Realm, if he were to establish his Dao Foundation... As for whether it was a Demonic Technique or not, Wu Huaguo no longer cared at all.

The other party had used this "Demonic Technique" to save her life.

This was a Holy Technique!

Her eyes gleamed; now she only had one thought in her mind.

"This Fellow Daoist Song must be properly courted; he will surely become a pillar of support for the Family in the future!"

"He is the Wu Family’s great Opportunity!"

...The warm sun shone through the leaves and flowers of the courtyard trees, casting fragmented golden light onto the pavilion.

In Shanyang Courtyard.

Song Yan sat opposite Wang Ke, perusing an ancient Daoist book.

Wang Ke, meanwhile, held a thin golden page, placing pieces on the chessboard, sometimes muttering to himself, his brows furrowed, seemingly deep in thought.

The Chess Dao Competition ended somewhat hastily and unceremoniously.

Some said that Great Master Yuan Zhen from the Central Domain couldn’t accept defeat and tried to attack Wang Ke, but was slain by a sword from Wang Ke’s companion.

Others said that Demonic Cultivators used the Chess Dao Competition to secretly attack the Wu Family Patriarch, but were suppressed by a mysterious Guest Elder of the Wu Family.

Rumors flew, and no one could say for sure.

In any case, the finals were fraught with twists and turns.

But the champion of the Chess Dao Competition ultimately went to Wang Ke.

On this point, no one had any objections.

"Sigh," Wang Ke suddenly sighed, "It’s truly strange, which ancient sage left this ancient chess manual?"

"The layout and moves don’t seem like a chess score at all."

Song Yan didn’t even lift his head, fully engrossed in the ancient book in his hand, letting Wang Ke grumble to himself.

Wang Ke’s protective Restriction had been destroyed by Yuan Zhen, who had used some unknown Demonic Technique secret method.

Song Yan had to ensure this person arrived alive at Chu Capital, otherwise he would have long returned to Lanxi Cave with Liang Feng and his wife.

Song Yan had only briefly scanned the spoils of war obtained from killing Yuan Zhen.

This ancient book was one of them, containing a detailed introduction to Cultivators’ Foundation Establishment, so he picked it up to read.

The path taken by Buddhist Cultivators differs somewhat from ordinary Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment. For example, the Buddhist Realms corresponding to Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment are called "Hinayana Buddhism."

The Qi Refining corresponding Realm is divided into two: Coarse Concentration and Fine Abiding.

The Foundation Establishment corresponding Realm is divided into two: Desire Realm Concentration and Future Chan.

Yuan Zhen obtaining this ancient book describing Cultivators’ Foundation Establishment was certainly not for cultivating Buddhism. He likely intended it for the Foundation Establishment of his Demonic Technique, Yin Yang Zen Body.

This book mostly came from the Central Domain and contained many things Song Yan had never heard of.

The book stated that a Cultivator’s establishment of their Dao Foundation varied from person to person, influenced by countless factors.

Sometimes, even different moods and states of mind could affect the outcome of Foundation Establishment.

However, throughout history, many Cultivators, after successfully establishing their Dao Foundation, discovered that a certain special pattern would manifest on their Dao Foundation.

This was known as a "Dao Mark."

In essence, Foundation Establishment manifesting a Dao Mark was no different from ordinary Foundation Establishment.

It was just that ordinary Foundation Establishment was stable, while Dao Mark Foundation Establishment had some special advantages and disadvantages.

The book gave several examples.

For instance, Cultivators whose Foundation Establishment manifested a Dao Mark called "Jiuli" were usually brave and skilled in combat but prone to anger and wrath, often plagued by Heart Demons.

Another example was Cultivators whose Foundation Establishment manifested a "Channa" Dao Mark. Their Cultivation was ethereal and serene, undisturbed, but they were indecisive and found it difficult to deliver killing blows in battle.

The book provided many examples: some had faster Cultivation speeds but extremely shallow spiritual power.

Some had abundant spiritual power but extremely fragile Dao Foundations, and so on.

Those who exhibited this phenomenon were mostly individuals who were extreme or particularly outstanding in a certain aspect of Cultivation, or exceptionally talented.

Dao Mark Foundation Establishment is actually difficult to say whether it is good or bad.

After all, it does have advantages, but its disadvantages are equally obvious, sometimes even fatal.

However, it was inexplicably revered by many. In the eyes of ordinary Cultivators, having a Dao Mark seemed to signify extraordinary talent, surpassing ordinary people.

As the sole heir of the Sword Sect, Song Yan had not seen any content related to Dao Mark Foundation Establishment in the Spirit Transformation Chapter.

It seemed that this thing was irrelevant to a Sword Cultivator.

After finishing the entire Daoist book, he had a general understanding of some of the precautions and procedures for Foundation Establishment.

He guessed that the reason the Spirit Transformation Chapter mentioned Foundation Establishment so little was mainly because after severing the Spiritual Root and planting the sword, the Sword Dao Seed became the Spiritual Root of ordinary Cultivators.

Then the matter of Foundation Establishment would be largely similar to ordinary Cultivators, and there was no need for special explanation.

Originally, he knew nothing about Foundation Establishment and was naturally nervous.

With this, Song Yan’s heart settled down considerably.

Song Yan put away the book and looked at Wang Ke, who was still scratching his head in front of him, and said, "The Chess Dao Competition is over, and you’ve also obtained this chess manual. When will you depart for Chu Capital?"

Wang Ke was stunned, then said, "I can depart at any time."

"Then let’s leave tomorrow, lest there be further complications."

Of course, he was referring to the Luo Zhen Vine.

"Uh, alright," Wang Ke nodded.

Song Yan stood up and walked out of the courtyard.

He planned to visit the Wu Family before leaving. Previously, Wu Huaguo and Rong Xiaofeng, as a couple, had repeatedly invited him out of gratitude for saving their lives, but he had never gone.

Now that many matters of the Chess Dao Competition were settled, it would be good to visit and say goodbye before leaving.

Only Wang Ke remained, still muttering to himself over the golden page of the chess manual.

"This Five Stars Seizing Meridians True Variation Diagram, no matter how I look at it, doesn’t seem like a chess manual."

He lay back, using the sunlight passing through the golden page, seemingly still trying to discern something from it.

"Judging from the chess shape, the terrain and momentum, it looks like a Feng Shui divination technique."

Hearing this somewhat familiar name, Song Yan’s footsteps suddenly paused.