Chapter 91: Chapter 63: Other-Transformation Julu Form (Part 2)
After repelling the thirty-two streams of sword light, Yue Junlan gave Zhong Shenxiu no time to rally. His Sword Technique shifted, and his sword pellet suddenly elongated, transforming into a beam of sword light as fine as a strand of hair. It tore through the air with a SWOOSH, seemingly teleporting to appear several dozen yards in front of Zhong Shenxiu. A closer look, however, revealed a long tail of light trailing through the air—it hadn’t teleported, but was simply moving too fast for the naked eye to see.
Yue Junlan’s attack was astonishingly fast. Although Zhong Shenxiu reacted in time, his own sword light couldn’t be recalled to defend. Only two streams of sword light in front of him had time to merge, forming a Yin-Yang Disc to meet the attack head-on.
Unexpectedly, Yue Junlan’s silk-like sword light was not only incredibly fast but also shockingly powerful. It shattered the Yin-Yang Disc on contact and continued straight for its target with power to spare.
Zhong Shenxiu shook his head slightly. He formed a Magic Formula with his hand and pointed forward. A cluster of clear light descended, moving to envelop Yue Junlan’s thread of sword light.
The sword thread plunged into the luminescence, plowing a furrow dozens of feet long through the clear light before it finally began to show signs of weakening. Yue Junlan’s brow furrowed. The sword thread spun and exploded into thousands of streams of Sword Qi, shattering the clear light, but in doing so, it lost the momentum to continue its attack on Zhong Shenxiu.
Zhong Shenxiu smiled and said, "As expected, I’m no match for your Unparalleled Swordsmanship, Brother. You’ve forced me to resort to Daoist arts."
Only then did Yue Junlan speak, his voice cold, but his words were a compliment. "Your Swordsmanship is already quite extraordinary, friend. There is no need for such modesty."
Zhong Shenxiu knew he wasn’t being disingenuous, nor was it sarcasm, so he took no offense. He replied leisurely, "It was only after witnessing your Swordsmanship, Brother, that I came to appreciate the wonders of the Sword Dao and was inspired to practice it. Dueling with you today serves to validate what I have learned."
Yue Junlan said coolly, "To have mastered such Swordsmanship in a mere ten years... it truly leaves me in awe."
"What?!" At these words, Si Xuan, who was hidden in the distance, felt his fingertips tremble as a storm raged in his heart. ’This! Could that be true? Zhong Shenxiu’s Swordsmanship is even greater than Jiri Lie’s!’
’No! This man’s Swordsmanship might not be inferior to even Xuzhuang’s! Is such a level of Swordsmanship even attainable in just ten years?’
’Is it false? But Yue Junlan isn’t the type to lie and flatter someone, even if that person is Zhong Shenxiu!’
’Favored by creation, a Zhong Shenxiu! Born as a true Dao Zhen! This man... this man is a true vessel for attaining the Dao! His perfection surpasses even Xuzhuang’s!’ Si Xuan was deeply shaken, an endless desire flickering in his eyes, which instantly turned into a look of conflict. ’No, I’m no match for him. I can’t let greed cloud my judgment.’
After struggling for a few moments, Si Xuan forcibly suppressed his desire and focused on observing the duel.
The two spoke for only a moment before clashing once more. Yue Junlan relied on nothing but his sword. As his sword pellet flew and slashed, Sword Qi burst forth like the brilliant rays of the sun, flashing into existence one after another to rain down on his opponent.
Zhong Shenxiu didn’t use many other Daoist arts either, simply keeping the thirty-two streams of sword light in front of him for protection. Though he was not Yue Junlan’s match, his Sword Qi was inexhaustible, regenerating as soon as it was cut down and firmly shielding his body. He then summoned the clear light again. With a single point of his finger, it dispersed into a sky full of starlike motes that drifted down as gently as a soft breeze and fine rain, seemingly devoid of any power.
Yue Junlan, however, dared not underestimate it. His body flashed, transforming into a streak of sword light that instantly shot out from the area covered by the motes. Zhong Shenxiu made no other move, yet the clear light floated up again, pursuing Yue Junlan to surround him.
Yue Junlan weaved through the air, never allowing the clear light to catch him. Suddenly, a single shimmering mote brushed against a pavilion in the forest below. The pavilion’s restrictive spiritual light had just begun to flare up when it shattered like glass. The mote scraped past a pillar, instantly snapping the large column of refined stone, and the entire pavilion tilted and collapsed.
Si Xuan’s eyelid twitched. He glanced at Zhong Shenxiu, who cast his spells with casual indifference, and then at Yue Junlan’s sword light, which moved like a soaring dragon. The thought of retreating immediately arose in his mind. He sent a voice transmission to Tantai Jing: "Friend, in my opinion, there’s no point in watching from here. It’s actually dangerous. Why don’t we retreat?"
Unexpectedly, Tantai Jing shot him a sidelong glance and retorted, "What danger?"
Si Xuan frowned. "The Divine Techniques of these two are far beyond those of ordinary Golden Core Cultivators..."
But the corner of Tantai Jing’s mouth curled into a smirk. "That’s precisely why we can’t miss this opportunity," he transmitted back. "Just watch me use a little trick and eliminate a great threat."
A flicker appeared in Si Xuan’s eyes. "In that case, I will be watching your Divine Techniques, friend," he replied. While maintaining his Concealing Technique, however, he slowly took two steps back.
Tantai Jing naturally noticed his movement but remained unfazed. With a cold laugh, he sat down cross-legged and took a stick of sandalwood incense from his sleeve. He casually stuck it into the ground, lit it with a quick rub of his fingers, and watched as wisps of smoke began to rise.
Tantai Jing formed a seal in front of his chest and took a deep breath, instantly inhaling all of the smoke. He then closed his eyes and began to refine the energy.
’I thought he was just being foolish, but it’s a soul-damaging technique,’ Si Xuan realized. He mused, ’He doesn’t need to seriously injure Zhong Shenxiu’s soul. As long as he can disrupt him for a single instant at a critical moment, the man will naturally fall to Yue Junlan’s sword... But will it really be that easy?’
He looked back toward the battle to see Yue Junlan and Zhong Shenxiu at the height of their duel. Yue Junlan’s sword pellet was locked in a quivering struggle against Zhong Shenxiu’s defenses, with nothing seeming out of the ordinary. But then, Yue Junlan twitched his shoulder, and a faint sword shadow—the Void Sword—rose from behind him. It seemed to have been brewing for a long time. The moment it broke free, it erupted in a brilliant flash, arriving before Zhong Shenxiu in an instant.
At almost the exact same moment, Tantai Jing’s eyes flew open. He pointed at Zhong Shenxiu from afar and shouted, "Hah!" A gray shadow shot out, crossed the vast empty space, and appeared behind Zhong Shenxiu, slamming violently into his body.
Zhong Shenxiu’s body froze for an instant. Yue Junlan’s expression, however, darkened slightly. He wanted to pull back his attack, but once the Magical Sword was unleashed, its momentum was irreversible.
Just as it seemed Zhong Shenxiu was about to be cut down, a faint smile appeared on his face. Then, without any warning, his entire body vanished. When he reappeared, he was hundreds of yards away. The Magical Sword locked onto his aura and gave chase. Unflustered, Zhong Shenxiu even had the leisure to turn his head and glance back in their direction.
Si Xuan’s heart leaped. He saw Zhong Shenxiu’s eyes focus, and for some reason, Si Xuan had the distinct illusion of invisible lightning crackling through the air. The next moment, Tantai Jing screamed and fell backward, blood pouring from his seven orifices. He coughed up another mouthful of blood with a gurgle and cried out, "Quick... quick, get me out of here!"
Si Xuan, who had already retreated a couple of steps, saw that Zhong Shenxiu had turned back to deal with the Magical Sword and seemed to have no intention of pursuing them. Only then did he turn, grab Tantai Jing, and flee.
Yue Junlan’s cold voice drifted from behind him. "I thought you petty cowards would only dare to hide and watch. I never thought you’d actually dare..."
The rest of his words were lost to the wind. Si Xuan flew for several miles with Tantai Jing in his grasp, listening to the man continuously spit blood and cry out, "Quick, take me to Senior Brother Wei..." The sounds grated on Si Xuan’s nerves. Suddenly, a cruel glint flashed in his eyes, and he ruthlessly threw Tantai Jing to the ground.
Tantai Jing tumbled to the ground, his body curling into a ball. He struggled to raise his head and cursed, "Si Xuan, are you crazy... Urk!"
He looked up to see Si Xuan’s fingers formed into a claw, viciously gripping his head so tightly they nearly dug into his skull. A terrifying coldness appeared on Si Xuan’s otherwise expressionless face. "Tantai Jing, you swine," he said flatly. "I have put up with you for far too long."
Tantai Jing’s curses died in his throat. "Si Xuan! What are you doing?" he choked out. "You can’t kill me... You still have the restriction Senior Brother Wei placed on you! I..."
"Don’t worry," Si Xuan said with a slight smile. "You will die, but ’Tantai Jing’ will not. As my new vessel, I will help you assist Senior Brother Wei in seizing this Grotto Heaven. I will achieve great merit for the Yinji Sect’s re-emergence in this world and fulfill your wish, Tantai Jing, of surpassing your peers and making a name for yourself..."
The more Si Xuan spoke, the more elated he became, a strange, intoxicated look appearing on his face. "Not just you, but also Xuzhuang... and Zhong Shenxiu... All the vessels in this world fit for attaining the Dao... they will all belong to me..."
"What?" A look of terror spread across Tantai Jing’s face. "Si Xuan! You..."
"Wrong," Si Xuan said coolly. "Remember, I am Julu Form!"
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