Chapter 164 - Multi-Talented Sword Immortal!
"Yun Xiao has accepted the challenge..." A hush enveloped the vast Spirit Treasure Palace, immediately followed by a cacophony of demonic roars that echoed throughout the hall. Their eyes glowed crimson, claws clenched, malevolent energy emanated from their throats, and they snarled and roared with gleaming teeth.
"A bunch of demons pretending to be humans," Yun Xiao sneered inwardly. Using just a small trick with his body double had been enough to drive these beasts mad with fury. The Prince was surely angrier than the rest, but his lofty position and noble birth prevented him from screaming as the others did.
"People die for riches! Looks like we've got a greedy one on the hook," the Fifth Princess remarked coldly.
"Brother Kong Ming is a genius Primeval Demon of the Wind Fire Tribulation Realm, having passed the first Wind Fire Tribulation. His magic power is infused with the power of the tribulation," the Sixth Princess said, eyes full of adoration as she gazed upon the solitary, majestic white peacock.
"Survive for just thirty breaths and expect to become rich overnight? This son-in-law must've gone mad from poverty..." Moon Fairy spat out blood, cursing resentfully.
From that moment, the demons smirked while the humans gasped in alarm.
"Bro?" Stray Dog tugged at Yun Xiao's arm and whispered, "Riches are enticing, but this isn't child's play."
"Dog Bro, enough. I want to take this gamble! With this money, the possibilities are endless..." Yun Xiao gritted his teeth, eyes glued to the treasures before him.
Upon hearing this, the crowd sighed softly.
"This Sword Emperor may be talented, but he hails from the lower realms. It seems he can't shake off his innate, inferior nature, being blinded by the allure of wealth."
"It's clear that Chen Xi is strict with him. He mustn't have any spending money of his own."
"Poor soul!"
Watching Yun Xiao struggle and ultimately succumb to the lure of riches, heading toward the sealing formation, many murmured their thoughts.
"Old Zhao?" Stray Dog asked Zhao Xuanjian with a furrowed brow.
"It's fine." Zhao Xuanjian was the only one who knew the terrifying rate at which Yun Xiao's cultivation had soared in the lower realm! He understood better than anyone that while the kid might seem naive and easily swayed by greed, he was cunning deep down.
As he spoke, the Peacock Prince transformed into a white shadow, landing abruptly in front of Yun Xiao, then coldly commanded Zhao Xuanjian, "Please activate the sealing formation, Mister Zhao."
"Don't..." Many didn't wish for Yun Xiao to risk his life for riches and felt apprehensive.
"Activate!" It was Yun Xiao who spoke, eyes burning with determination.
"Very well!" Zhao Xuanjian gritted his teeth, personally activating the highest-level sealing formation. With a mournful expression, he turned to the audience and declared, "Place your bets, everyone! On behalf of the Spirit Treasure Palace, I'll be the bookmaker. You have thirty breaths to lock in your bets. When the time's up, the duel begins, and it too lasts for thirty breaths!"
Yun Xiao muttered under his breath, "Zhao Xuanjian, Madame Qian, Mr. Qian... they're truly birds of a feather."
With the sealing already in motion, the Peacock Prince calmed down. He watched indifferently as humans and demons placed their wagers. Simultaneously, he ordered the two younger princesses of the Violet Sky Immortal Empire, "Use ten Heavenly Essence Pills to heal my brother, Moon Fairy."
"Thank you, Your Highness," Moon Fairy replied, gratitude evident in his voice.
The two princesses nodded. Approaching Moon Fairy, the Fifth Princess produced a jade vial, extracting ten pills, resembling white jade, and fed them one by one into Moon Fairy's mouth.
"That's a top-tier Galaxy-grade healing elixir. Brother Kong Ming is genuinely kind to you," the Sixth Princess commented, her lips curling up with jealousy.
"Yes, I'm deeply ashamed," Moon Fairy murmured.
"Truly, you're really useless!" The Fifth Princess arched an eyebrow, chuckling, "Look at Brother Kong Ming. He's a Primeval Demon just like you. But that money-hungry fool won't even last three breaths against him, let alone thirty."
"The Peacock Prince's prowess is unmatched... I pale in comparison," Moon Fairy sighed.
"Cheer up! You have potential. Today, Brother Kong Ming will avenge you. Show gratitude, alright?" the Fifth Princess instructed.
"With my life, I swear loyalty to the Peacock Prince, pledging my eternal devotion and readiness to shed blood in his name!" Moon Fairy proclaimed, eyes burning with determination.
"That's more like it," the two princesses exchanged glances, thinking to themselves, Those ten Heavenly Essence Pills were well-spent.
Meanwhile, the betting at the Spirit Treasure Palace concluded.
Yun Xiao, appearing a tad sulky, remarked, "It's a shame I'm trapped within the sealing formation. I couldn't bet on myself winning."
"You should know when to quit," Blue Star retorted disdainfully.
Yun Xiao whispered, "I'm only at the Early Immortal Meridian Realm, while he's at the Early Wind Fire Tribulation Realm. That's a vast gap. Do I even stand a chance?"
"Just give it your best shot. You'll survive those thirty breaths," Blue Star assured. Having made a pretty penny recently, the duo wasn't even afraid of the Divine Dawn Empress. A mere demon prince certainly couldn't kill Yun Xiao.
"Even so, I want to win!" Yun Xiao's ambition and courage, fueled by his recent advancements in dao and sword techniques, and especially by his Nine Dragons Dantian and Nine Heavens Star Meridians, urged him on.
"The legacy of the Creator Immortal!" he thought. "I hope he gives me a good fight!"
In the grand duel at the Grand Temple against the likes of Mu Shuofeng and the four demons, it had been nothing more than child's play for Yun Xiao. A mere exercise akin to slicing melons and chopping vegetables. But the man before him today? He was unquestionably a true adversary.
Before the battle even began, a fierce gleam ignited in Yun Xiao's eyes, a thirst for combat overtaking his heart.
"Bets are placed, let the match begin!" Zhao Xuanjian declared. But he quickly added, "Peacock Prince, Yun Xiao didn't kill Moon Fairy. So, I implore you to view this as a friendly match. After all, the bond between humans and demons has been longstanding..."
His plea was met with a chorus of disdainful hisses from the demons. Did the Peacock Prince place such a substantial bet merely for a friendly sparring session? Anyone with half a brain knew that he sought bloodshed. To not kill would be insufficient to quell the demons' raging thirst for vengeance!
The very moment Zhao Xuanjian's words landed, the Peacock Prince lunged forward, ready to deal the killing blow.
The clock began its countdown of thirty breaths.
With an ear-piercing screech, the Peacock Prince transformed into a razor-sharp phantom sword, rocketing towards Yun Xiao. The shriek was so overpowering that at least eighty percent of those in the Spirit Treasure Palace clutched their ears in agony. One could only imagine the brutality Yun Xiao's ears were enduring at the heart of that storm.
In mere moments, blood trickled from Yun Xiao's ears, rendering him completely deaf.
The world fell silent.
"Impressive!" Yun Xiao's eyes ignited with a battle-hardened glare, the kind only seen in seasoned warriors.
In a flash, the Peacock Prince's feet morphed into sharp talons, tearing through the air and aiming for Yun Xiao's throat and eyes. A move so simple, yet brutally effective. And he managed to look effortlessly graceful while at it. White robes billowing, silver hair dancing in the wind.
"He's so fast! So fierce!" Many humans witnessing the Peacock Prince's prowess for the first time gasped in awe. His style, vastly different from their own, left them utterly spellbound.
"Yun Xiao is doomed!" they murmured, faces pale.
"Kill him!" The demons roared with glee.
For a heartbeat, the world seemed to hold its breath.
Amidst the rapid play of lights, Yun Xiao stood his ground, unfazed. Without unsheathing his Sword Soul, his fingers danced, and as he lifted his hand, mist gathered before his eyes, transforming into three enraged sea dragons.
The dragons roiled, engulfing half of the sealing formation in its misty embrace. With a fearsome form, they surged, forming a formidable barrier and colliding with the oncoming Peacock Prince.
"Elemental Scripture, Water Mist Shield!"
Gasps echoed around.
As graceful as the Peacock Prince appeared, Yun Xiao outdid him. With his pristine white robes billowing, and a calm gaze, he controlled the dragons as they soared skyward.
With a thunderous crash, the trio of dragons sent the swift figure of the Peacock Prince hurtling back, crashing against the interior of the sealing formation.
"What?!" The expressions of the spectating demons shifted.
It was as though Yun Xiao had slapped them across their faces in their moment of fury. The prowess of his Galaxy grade daoist spell, a testament to the faith of the Grand Temple, was on full display.
And Yun Xiao wasn’t done yet.
As mist enveloped Yun Xiao, he raised his other hand, murmuring an incantation. Between his flying strands of hair, thousands of fiery sparks burst forth. In the union of fire and water, a blazing orb, as fierce as the morning sun, hung in the air and descended upon the Peacock Prince, engulfing him instantly.
The ground trembled with another explosive sound.
"Elemental Scripture, Fire God's Wrath!!"
The cultivators present were stupefied. "Using the Elemental Scripture to this extent and he calls himself a Sword Cultivator?"
The demons and cultivators from the Immortal Empire watched, their eyes wide in shock. It felt like they’d been slapped again, and they were visibly rattled.
"I hope Brother Kong Ming is okay," the Sixth Princess murmured in a daze.
Within a mere span of three breaths, not only had the Peacock Prince failed to overpower his opponent, he found himself on the losing end.
HUM! Her words had scarcely left her lips when the blazing fireball burst forth, and a massive white silhouette suddenly soared into the air. Amidst the shockwaves, a pair of wings, ablaze with white fire, unfurled grandly. In mere moments, its intense luminescence lit up half of the sealing formation.
It was a peacock, radiant in its snowy hue and possessing an aura both chilling and incandescent.
With eyes as narrow as slits, a beak sharp as any sword, wings that seemed to wield the might of great blades, and talons of deadly precision, it was covered in feathers that looked like blades of pure white.
"Somewhat impressive." The Peacock Prince, now in his peacock form, squinted his eyes and uttered these words before giving his majestic body a sharp shake.
WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH! Hundreds of the blade-like white feathers shot toward Yun Xiao like a torrential rain of flying swords, causing gasps and exclamations of astonishment.
This peacock was genuinely a force to be reckoned with! Yet Yun Xiao's gaze remained icy. In this battle, he dropped any pretense, revealing an aura colder and more foreboding than even the white peacock.
Sure, the Peacock Prince was quite the looker in both human and peacock forms, but compared to Yun Xiao's divine countenance at that moment, he was outshone. The crowd of onlookers suddenly realized that this young man seemed different, more terrifying than ever before.
Facing the oncoming storm of blade-like feathers, Yun Xiao advanced. His eyes flashed, and with a thrust of his palm, the ground trembled!
BOOM! The floor of the battle arena exploded, bricks and stones shattering, sending a tide of dirt and rock surging forth. This wave of debris ensnared the sword-like feathers before crashing into the white peacock.
The crowd was gobsmacked!
This was the Mountain Upheaval daoist spell from the Elemental Scripture. To employ it to this extent meant Yun Xiao had mastered the entire Elemental Scripture! He really did have a lot of tricks up his sleeve!
Yet, due to a slight shortfall in his magic power, Yun Xiao's earth-shattering move managed to fend off the Peacock Prince's barrage of feathers, but couldn't completely suppress the assault.
BOOM! The Peacock Prince, whose physical prowess was nothing short of mind-boggling, wriggled out of the earthen tidal wave in a mere heartbeat. With a deafening screech and a blinding flash, he closed the distance to Yun Xiao in an instant.
Once transformed into a peacock, he not only became faster but more agile. His beak, claws, and wings were as deadly as Sword Souls, and his pristine white feathers were as protective as enchanted armor. This body was forged through countless challenges and tribulations.
WHOOSH! The white peacock spiraled in the air, its beak piercing towards Yun Xiao's eyes like a razor-sharp blade.
Yun Xiao swiftly drew his sword. The Sword Soul transformed into a three-foot-long azure Palm Sword. With the howling of 200 layers of Sword Aura, a Saint Sword Ring enveloped the white peacock in a bloody inferno.
KLANG KLANG KLANG! In that fleeting moment, Yun Xiao exchanged at least a dozen strikes with the peacock. Each blow was executed with ultimate speed and lethal force. Such was the versatility of Yun Xiao. The multi-talented Sword Immortal!
Any other cultivator, caught off guard by this demon at such close quarters, would've easily been torn to shreds.
"Man, he's tough!" Yun Xiao grumbled. The peacock's physique possessed mountain-like strength and was impervious to blades.
KLANG! Yun Xiao's 200 layers of Sword Aura, when slashing the peacock's wing, sparked and skidded off.
BOOM! With a forceful flap of its wings, exuding power reminiscent of a charging dragon or elephant, the peacock sent Yun Xiao crashing into the walls of the sealing formation, his energy churning tumultuously.
In the next instant, the Peacock Prince, with a cold glint in his eyes, lunged, wings outstretched like swords, aiming straight for Yun Xiao's heart.
The Peacock Prince fought with a raw, animalistic ferocity that was instinctual, sharp, and vicious. Its greatest strengths lay in the brute force and rigidness of its physique. But Yun Xiao could tell; this demon had a polished method of slaughter all its own.
When it truly unleashed its fury, combining its demon magic, it was on par with the most refined sword and daoist spells.
BOOM BOOM! Yun Xiao summoned his Water Mist Shield again, repelling the white peacock's lethal strike, and swiftly put distance between them. "What a thrilling fight!" he exclaimed, somewhat out of breath. Given the choice, he would've loved to spar a while longer.
However, from below, the two princesses from the Violet Sky Immortal Empire cried out in unison, "Brother Kong Ming, only ten breaths left! Hurry!"
The white peacock, hearing the call, soared into the sky. Its eyes, cold as glaciers, fixed on Yun Xiao. In a chilling voice, it remarked, "You're a commendable opponent. What a pity you got greedy today."
Its insinuation was clear. Had Yun Xiao not been lured by riches into this contest, he might've grown to be a formidable future threat to the creature.
"He's going for the kill!" Stray Dog's heart raced.
"Hang on for just ten more breaths, Yun Xiao!" Zhao Xuanjian's heart pounded in his chest.
With only ten breaths remaining, the demons grew frantic, their shrieks more fierce and desperate. "Spread your tail!" they chanted in eerie harmony.
A peacock displaying its tail feathers—a sight of suffering for the mortal realm. It was the most fearsome ability of the Eternal Joy Demon Emperor. And this white peacock, being its offspring, had clearly inherited such a sinister technique.
HUM! White flames, even more turbulent than before, engulfed the white peacock. It seemed reborn from the flames. A shudder ran through its body, and its tail feathers stood erect.
Another piercing screech erupted from its beak, compelling all to cover their ears. The scratchy friction sound emanating from its large tail feathers was almost ear-piercing, yet mesmerizing.
When the feathers finally fanned out, pale eyes appeared upon them—thirty-three in total. Each eye blazed with white flames, and the wails of tormented souls echoed from within.
At this moment, the cheers and screams of the demons reached an unprecedented crescendo.
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