Chapter 264: Shadow Drift

Nine-colored Deity Light.

One of the Azure Abyss's signature skills.

With Nan Gong Ya's strength, she summoned two beams of Deity Light at once, nearly exhausting her Qi.

The flowing light flickered, flashing over Tianqiu Palace's Ye Chen and Jing Shan Ting's Jing Ying.

The two bodies stiffened, as if something had sealed their mobility, unable to move, they fell straight toward the base of the cliff.

Below the mountain, a raging black tide surged.

At the same time, Nan Gong Ya's delicate body collapsed helplessly on the ground, looking up at the sky, awaiting the outcome.

After the span of one breath.

The spirit vessel's report sounded; the small world's remaining count dropped from three to one.

"We won!"

Nan Gong Ya's trembling heart, upon seeing the number change, finally found a sliver of comfort; from the corner of her eye she could see the black tide already surging onto the mountain peak.

It surged forward like a frenzy, as if it would swallow her whole, leaving not even a bone.

"Teleport."

The next instant.

Spatial power enveloped Nan Gong Ya's delicate body, the law surged, and at that moment, a fine invisible needle shot out from the Black Mist.

The needle pierced the Spatial Law, thrust into Nan Gong Ya's body, which had no resistance.

…

Yun Tai.

"Senior sister has returned."

A group of female cultivators gathered, supporting the faintly collapsing Nan Gong Ya, "Senior sister, we won! We took first place."

"What a relief."

Nan Gong Ya's complexion was weak, "Fortunately the sect's name was not disgraced."

"In the second round, who wins the fastest, and who are the victors?"

This was what Nan Gong Ya cared about most.

"The fastest winner is still that Lin Chuan, ridiculously strong."

When Lin Chuan was mentioned, the women of the Azure Abyss couldn't help but show reverence in their eyes; it was a genuine crushing situation.

"So powerful?"

Nan Gong Ya was displeased, feeling inexplicably irritated, increasingly sensing unfairness, "Did Lin Chuan not encounter any formidable opponent?"

"No."

A junior sister from the Azure Abyss shook her head, "Fozhi San Zang of Golden Spirit Mountain is in the same group as him."

"None of the San Zang Fozhi have ever beaten him?"

Nan Gong Ya was astonished.

She considered the San Zang Fozhi's strength to be among the top few of the super seeds, perhaps not weaker than Bai Li Ming.

Facing the San Zang Fozhi, her chance of victory was less than half.

The junior sister explained, "Lin Chuan and the San Zang Fozhi did not clash directly; they decided the outcome by hunting Shadow Creatures."

"I see."

Nan Gong Ya gained a sliver of comfort.

Shadow Life.

For some reason, mentioning the term made fear surface in her heart.

The more she thought about it, the larger the fear grew.

It forced her to suppress the fluctuating emotions, not to think about them.

"Bai Li Ming? How did he perform?" Nan Gong Ya asked again.

"Also very strong," the junior sister said, "Bai Li Ming directly defeated Hou Zuo; the two appear not to be on the same level."

"Not on the same level?"

Nan Gong Ya was shocked.

Indeed! Bai Li Ming is the strongest.

"But I can definitely defeat him."

From the start, she aimed to claim the top, past performances mattered little; the final performance was the decisive factor.

Being in the same realm, she had the possibility to defeat anyone.

Whether Bai Li Ming! or Lin Chuan! none are exceptions!

…

On another Yun Tai.

"Finally the outcome is decided."

Lin Chuan stretched lazily.

After a while, the spirit vessel sent a prompt: the prelude rules of the Heavenly Realm Contention War had been activated.

The remaining hundred geniuses would begin one-on-one arena battles, grouped by lottery.

From the second round, geniuses ranked sixth to tenth in each small world were placed in one lottery pool, while those ranked first to fifth were in another.

The two lottery pools faced each other.

It could be described as a weak-versus-strong format.

But the second round's battle royale rankings still do not represent absolute strength; many

"I don't even know which unlucky bastard will draw me."

Lin Chuan felt relaxed and content.

The third round of the Sky Domain Contender War will commence among the Nine Major Star Regions, and all cultivators will go to the Nine Major Star Regions on their own.

The rest period lasts three months.

After receiving the spirit‑tool's notice, Lin Chuan led his wives out of the Yun Tai Space.

Xiao Qingmei Yun Zhi Yi suggested, "Since we still have three months, why don't we first visit the Blind Sword Immortal?"

"Sure."

Lin Chuan expressed his agreement.

Sangyu, Ye Xue, Jiao Jiao, and Lü Ya also had no objections.

They also wanted to learn sooner about Black Mist's current state.

The Blind Sword Immortal resides on a towering mountain in Dao Tian Zhou, repeatedly teaching Dao publicly, drawing countless Sword Cultivators who revere it as a Shengdi.

Many Sword Cultivators even claim to be disciples of the Blind Sword Immortal, wielding swords across the world to punish evil.

Lin Chuan remembered that in the "Prince Jianghu" dream reincarnation, the Blind one was a person who stood up for righteousness.

Though weak himself, he feared not the powerful; whenever he saw injustice, he would draw his sword to help.

"There are many eyes watching us."

After leaving Yun Tai and boarding a flying boat to glide among the clouds, Ye Xue suddenly said in a deep voice.

Tu Shan Jiao Jiao smiled, "Husband, your performance in the Genius Battle was too dazzling; it's normal to be targeted."

"Ignore them."

Lin Chuan did not mind.

Aside from the demonic path, who would dare unleash assassins during the Genius Battle? The whole faction would likely suffer.

That thought just occurred.

In the space ahead, several beams of golden light fell, and the space was instantly sealed.

"There really are those who aren't afraid."

Lin Chuan smelled a familiar scent, "The bald donkeys of Fo Men Golden Spirit Mountain have arrived; it seems they sensed something."

"Could something be wrong?" Ye Xue asked worriedly.

"It's nothing."

Since Lin Chuan employed the Burial Spirit Domain Divine Power Secret Art, he was not afraid of Fo Men coming after him.

Not to mention that Fo Men might not dare to take him...

If they really act?

He wouldn't mind annihilating the entire Golden Spirit Mountain.

"Amitabha!"

"I, a humble monk, the Heart-Observing Arhat of Golden Spirit Mountain, have a destined Dharma to discuss with Benefactor Lin Chuan; please allow us to board the flying boat for a talk..."

In the sky, a massive Arhat Dharma Image illusion manifested, its fierce eyes radiating authority.

"No discussion."

Inside the flying boat, Lin Chuan's indifferent voice sounded.

The massive Arhat showed no intention to yield, "Benefactor Lin Chuan, the fate cannot be cut; this matter concerns all living under heaven, please think it over carefully."

"You, Golden Spirit Mountain, are so brazen, openly blocking me; aren't you afraid of the Path‑Guardians' retribution?" Lin Chuan sneered.

"Path‑Guardians?"

The Heart-Observing Arhat laughed, "This matter is for the benefit of all living; how could they stop it? It seems Benefactor Lin Chuan has misunderstood."

"We have come only to discuss a destined Dharma, with no intention to harm you."

"Please, Benefactor Lin Chuan, grant us a little courtesy."

"I refuse," Lin Chuan said, still indifferent.

Rumble!

The Arhat glared angrily, emitting a deep sound like rolling thunder clouds.

"Since Benefactor Lin Chuan refuses to cooperate, for the sake of all living, this humble monk must offend you."

The Heart-Observing Arhat materialized, its Dharma Image behind it swelling again, reaching out to grab the flying boat that Lin Chuan was aboard.

But the hand, only halfway extended, suddenly fell with a boom, crashing to the ground.

"Get out!"

A cold, rolling voice came, the Arhat Dharma Image shattered instantly, and a massive palm slammed down, slamming the Heart-Observing Arhat into the earth.

The sudden turn of events left Lin Chuan stunned.

"The Path‑Guardians are this ruthless?"

"Even those from super factions just strike when they say so?"