Chapter 496

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Protagonist:

Yu Zhangsheng

Ice crystals fell, carrying waves of cold Qi from the sky. Within a hundred li radius, light was also refracted and twisted, while below, the ground's sand grains were stained with fire.

Thus, the sand sea turned into a fire sea, each grain of sand rolling with flames; the astonishing high temperature twisted the Void, the sky darkened, and amid this purgatory-like scene, flames and ice crystals confronted each other — one moment freezing a hundred li, the next flames soaring to the heavens.

The two were evenly matched, confronting each other head-on; cold Qi and heat waves rose simultaneously, spreading across a hundred li.

The Chi Lian Purgatory Dragon roared, its Dragon Might vast and continuous, majestic across a hundred li; it opened its mouth and spat out clusters of flames that surged forth once more, shattering the ice crystals, rolling the fire sea toward Meng Xiangrui.

Meng Xiangrui raised an eyebrow slightly; waving his sleeve, vast Golden Light enveloped him, forming a Protective Barrier. The sky-full of flames and sand gravel collided with it, merely stirring faint ripples, unable to harm him in the slightest.

"Roar!"

The Chi Lian Purgatory Dragon roared; its massive Dragon Tail suddenly swept horizontally, striking fiercely — a heavy lash landing on the Golden Light Protective Barrier. The barrier trembled lightly but did not shatter; it was merely knocked back.

"Red Heaven Rending Claw!"

Grand Claw Light, carrying ultimate sharpness and flames, slashed rolling toward Meng Xiangrui, landing atop the Golden Light Protective Barrier.

"Sizzle sizzle sizzle……"

The Golden Light shook; as claw edges fell one after another, a faint crack instantly appeared on the Protective Barrier, showing signs of instability.

"Golden Light Mantra Protection!"

Meng Xiangrui laughed coldly; as his hand seals changed, strange Dao Wen imprinted onto the Protective Barrier one by one. The barrier's Golden Light flourished greatly; instantly all cracks healed, the barrier becoming even sturdier, steadily blocking the Claw Light.

"Your Cultivation Speed truly surprises me; in such a short time you've reached the Sub-Talisman Peak Mid Stage. If allowed to continue, you might really become a major Confidant trouble for me."

Meng Xiangrui spoke calmly, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Yu Zhangsheng, his tone slightly leisurely.

"However, the current you still lacks some fire after all. This divine ability of mine, even a Spirit Transformation cultivator could block one or two strikes, let alone you. Don't engage in futile Struggle."

Yu Zhangsheng frowned; the Purple Spirit Imperial Sword in his hand slashed, streaks of startling Sword Light cutting out, landing on the Golden Light barrier — yet they were completely annihilated by the undulating Golden Light, failing to inflict the slightest harm on Meng Xiangrui within.

"Chirp chirp!"

Once more two streams of light emerged from Yu Zhangsheng's Inner Landscape, transforming into a Golden-Winged Great Peng and a Cai Xing Deer, standing left and right around Yu Zhangsheng.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng shrieked, its clear cry piercing gold and cracking stone, resounding through Yun Xiao; it suddenly soared amid the desert's flying sand, waving its great wings — instantly wild winds became blades, rolling the sky-full of sand gravel into a sandstorm that swept toward Meng Xiangrui to destroy him.

The Cai Xing Deer stepped lightly; its winding, coiling Deer Antlers erupted with Seven-colored Light. Beneath the woven radiance, a giant seven-colored Lotus manifested; petals rotated dreamily, a strange fluctuation sweeping across, carrying Shenjue might, toward Meng Xiangrui.

Meng Xiangrui's Complexion unchanged, he merely pursed his lips slightly, lightly bit his tongue tip; a Red Eyes sensation filled his mouth. Several drops of blood sprayed onto the Golden Light barrier; instantly the barrier shook, blood color emerging within the Golden Light, gaining further reinforcement. The Golden-Winged Great Peng's storm rolled onto the barrier — it did not move an inch.

The storm rampaged, yet Meng Xiangrui stood like a boulder, allowing the wind and sand to dance, his expression composed; all destructive might was entirely blocked by the Golden Light barrier.

The seven-colored Lotus flickered, illusory fluctuations spreading silently, a Shenjue-level attack — yet as the Golden Light barrier vibrated, ripples rose, completely neutralizing it, silently annihilating it.

"Useless. The Golden Light Mantra Protection is my Holy Land's unique divine ability; not only are Spells hard to break, even Soul Attacks can be perfectly blocked."

Meng Xiangrui spoke calmly, his expression unconsciously carrying a trace of arrogance. The storm rampaged beside him, the fire sea slowly burning him; amid wind, mountain, and fire sea, his body stood tall like a Mountain, utterly unaffected.

The sky-full of might was entirely isolated and neutralized by his Golden Light barrier.

For a time, Yu Zhangsheng surprisingly could do nothing to him.

Yu Zhangsheng frowned; seeing this, he narrowed his eyes at Meng Xiangrui, his Heart sinking slightly.

"This old thing fundamentally won't fight me; he's been passively defending the whole time — clearly stalling, waiting for his True Body to arrive……"

"Once his True Body arrives, with his Spirit Transformation Cultivation Base, I have zero chance of survival. No, I can't keep dragging this out with him; I must end it quickly!!!"

Yu Zhangsheng thought, then deeply Exhaled a Breath, pursed his lips, and gazed deeply at Meng Xiangrui; he patted his Storage Bag, and a crack-ridden ancient Copper Mirror emerged in his hand.

Precisely the Spoils of War Yu Zhangsheng had claimed during his past battle with Huangpu Yuanji — a Divine Soldier Remnant Treasure, the Sacrifice Body Mirror! Its mirror surface was covered in cracks, not a single intact spot remaining; clearly it wouldn't last much longer.

The moment Yu Zhangsheng summoned it, Meng Xiangrui's gaze extended, his Pupils contracting slightly, revealing a hint of wariness. He immediately laughed coldly: "Good, good, good. This Divine Soldier Remnant Treasure was originally something I gave Huangpu Yuanji; now fallen into this brat's hands — truly fate plays tricks."

Yu Zhangsheng responded with Coldness, not a word spoken; Qi surged within his body, pouring into the Sacrifice Body Mirror. In an instant, the mirror's radiance flourished greatly; a Divine Soldier's might descended hazily.

"Erase!"

Yu Zhangsheng roared low; the mirror surface flipped, reflecting Meng Xiangrui's figure within. His finger fiercely wiped once across the Golden Light barrier enveloping Meng Xiangrui's figure on the mirror surface — intending to Erase it.

In Nothingness, the Void beside Meng Xiangrui instantly twisted; hazy rule power descended, forming a giant pair of scissors that fiercely snipped at the Golden Light barrier enveloping Meng Xiangrui! Yu Zhangsheng knew clearly in his Heart: even a Divine Soldier Remnant Treasure could not directly Erase Meng Xiangrui — what he wanted was to Erase Meng Xiangrui's bizarre divine ability! Thus the Golden Light barrier shook; with the descent of the Erasing Scissors, violent ripples appeared, showing instability. Meng Xiangrui's Complexion rapidly darkened and exploded; Gritting Teeth, he slammed a fist hard against his chest — in a moment a mouthful of Heart's Blood sprayed from his Mouth, landing on the Golden Light barrier.

"Hum hum hum!!"

The Heart's Blood was greedily absorbed by the Golden Light barrier; its Golden Light swiftly Covered with a layer of blood color; dense Dao Wen rearranged and recombined, forming an even sturdier Golden Light barrier guarding Meng Xiangrui within.

In an instant, the originally somewhat unstable Golden Light barrier rapidly stabilized, and fiercely shook once — an invisible fluctuation sweeping across, landing on the Erasing Scissors.

The Erasing Scissors trembled; for the first time signs of Collapse appeared. A residual might simultaneously rippled to Yu Zhangsheng; Yu Zhangsheng's mouth corner turned sweet, a trace of fresh blood slowly overflowing. He raised his eyes to Meng Xiangrui; his gaze revealed a trace of fierce intent and decisiveness.

Then with a thought, he actively sliced his finger, revealing drop after drop of essence blood containing pure, rich Life Force, dripping onto the Sacrifice Body Mirror! "Sacrifice Body!"

The Sacrifice Body Mirror shook; its surface swiftly Covered with a layer of blood color, greedily absorbing the essence blood. In an instant, radiance flourished greatly; the Divine Soldier's might fully manifested at this moment, terrifying pressure causing the Void to Boom.

Hazy within, the Erasure rule surged forth, forming a giant illusory pair of scissors, as if the sky were collapsing, stirring wind and clouds.

The Sacrifice Body Mirror, naturally named Sacrifice Body — naturally requires sacrifice to unleash its maximum power.

Sacrifice Body — what is sacrificed is not only the enemy's body, but also one's own body!

Thus, as Yu Zhangsheng paid the price of consuming his own Life Force to awaken the Sacrifice Body Mirror, at this moment Erasure power far stronger than before descended once more, fiercely snipping at the Golden Light barrier enveloping Meng Xiangrui! The Void blurred, Golden Light shook; violent radiance surged like sea waves across skin; countless Dao Wen flew dancing, blocking this snip — yet all collapsed one after another.

"Damn it!"

Meng Xiangrui cursed; his hand seals changed rapidly; his Sub-Talisman Peak Cultivation Base operated, frantically reinforcing the Golden Light barrier.

Boom!

The Erasing Scissors fell; with one snip, in an instant one-third of the Golden Light was annihilated. On Yu Zhangsheng's side, his Complexion instantly turned Pale; he spat a mouthful of fresh blood, his Qi slightly Weak — yet the madness in his eyes grew even denser. Once more Gritting Teeth, his finger dripped drop after drop of essence blood rich with Life Force onto the Sacrifice Body Mirror.

Thus the Erasing Scissors stirred again; the Golden Light was annihilated once more, as if erased from its Origin; the Golden Light barrier also dimmed considerably.

Boom!

The Chi Lian Purgatory Dragon and Golden-Winged Great Peng's attacks instantly slashed down; in a moment, dense wind blades like knives fell like raindrops onto the Golden Light barrier.

Boundless flames carried terrifying heat, pulsing as they transformed into one fire dragon after another, slamming heavily into the golden light barrier.

As a result, the golden light barrier shook violently; although it did not collapse, it had clearly dimmed considerably once again.

"Still not enough!"

Yu Zhangsheng let out a low call, looking at the Sacrifice Body Mirror in his hand, clenching his hand into a fist, and striking his chest hard with it, spraying out a mouthful of heart's blood that contained pure, dense life force, which fell upon the mirror surface and was devoured and absorbed by it.

In an instant, the illusory great shears condensed into solidity once more, carrying the power of erasure laws, closing one final time, shearing down toward the golden light barrier! Crack!! In the void, something seemed to shatter; the shears fell, the golden light was torn apart, and this time the golden light barrier could finally persist no longer, collapsing to reveal Meng Xiangrui within, his complexion deathly pale!

At the very moment the golden light barrier shattered, on the other side, the Sacrifice Body Mirror in Yu Zhangsheng's hand likewise rang with a boom, and as the final pervasive crack spread across the mirror surface, it suddenly collapsed, turning into countless fragments.

This Divine Soldier Remnant Treasure had ultimately exerted its last light and heat, unable to escape the fate of thorough collapse.

Toward this, Yu Zhangsheng was not surprised, nor did he feel regret; rather, his gaze abruptly condensed, and the trump cards he had long since prepared all erupted in this moment! Boom!

In a split second, the four Sub-Talisman Dameng gates within Yu Zhangsheng's body instantly swung open, and as they guided Heaven and Earth Power, a terrifying Qi Blood Hongliu surged forth in turn, empowering Yu Zhangsheng.

Yu Zhangsheng's face was ferocious, the blood throughout his body seeming to boil, blue veins bulging one after another, his body suddenly swelling, the Qi Blood Hongliu surging like thunder, his heart beating violently like a furnace.

Even more, a Peng Bo Shenjue power welled up, enveloping a hundred li of land; in a moment heaven and earth changed color, grains of sand reversed upward, floating uncontrollably.

Mid Stage Sub-Talisman cultivation base fully erupted in this moment; as Yu Zhangsheng gently exhaled a mouthful of white, his right hand gripped, and the Purple Spirit Imperial Sword instantly trembled lightly, the sword spirit Purple Little Child's figure emerging, connected in mind with Yu Zhangsheng, its small hand likewise grasping the sword hilt, gaze determined, intense purple light dyeing half the sky, a sharp Sword Intent surging, ready to burst.

"Tai Chu……"

Yu Zhangsheng gently closed his eyes, his mouth corners moving as he uttered two words; Purple Little Child and Yu Zhangsheng's arms coordinated in synchronization to lightly trace one stroke, and in that instant a sword light sliced through the void, manifesting a rift.

Within the rift, light emerged.

This light was gentle, containing the intent to embrace all things and nurture all life; spreading out from the rift, the moment it appeared the wind sounds stagnated, the sky-full of sand grains in the desert likewise ceased trembling, spacetime seemed frozen, only the brilliant radiance quietly, soundlessly, naturally continued to spread, gradually enveloping this stretch of heaven and earth.

Everything had light; this light was strange, hope, tyrannical, origin…… it is called Tai Chu! "Open Heaven!"

Yu Zhangsheng's mind and spirit completely immersed in this sword; within his body, every part, four limbs and hundred bones, all welled up with specks of light, falling into the Tai Chu Light; the surging Shenjue power, the rushing Qi Blood Hongliu, the Peng Bo cultivation mana……

Everything, as Yu Zhangsheng and Purple Little Child grasped the Purple Spirit Imperial Sword and lightly slashed once! Boom!

Tai Chu Light converged, forming a brilliant, grand sword beam, suddenly slashing down, shooting toward Meng Xiangrui! This sword was hard to describe in words; the sword emerged, spiritual qi frantically attaching to it, Heaven and Earth Power frantically mobilized; thus the sword beam was like a rainbow, heaven and earth all shocked! The sword beam slashed down, and in an instant a violent Life and Death Crisis exploded in Meng Xiangrui's heart; fearful panic spread through Meng Xiangrui's entire mind and spirit in this moment; he desperately resisted, deploying every divine ability, yet under this sword they were all like a mayfly shaking a tree, instantly collapsing, unable to stop it in the slightest.

The sword beam swept past; amid a stretch of brilliant Tai Chu Light, Meng Xiangrui's body suddenly stiffened, the terror on his face frozen, he laboriously turned his head to look at Yu Zhangsheng, his eyes full of shock and disbelief.

"Saint Level technique…… how could it be……"

Along with a final unwilling bitter smile drifting away, the light in Meng Xiangrui's eyes thoroughly dimmed, his body collapsed, turning into countless motes of light, slowly dissipating.

Only a single sigh, faintly echoing.

Meng Xiangrui could not understand no matter what, that Yu Zhangsheng actually still retained this move; that day, the battle between Yu Zhangsheng and Huangpu Yuanji, he had witnessed it all, and had once thought he understood all of Yu Zhangsheng's trump cards.

Yet never in ten thousand years did he expect there would actually be this sword, a Saint Level technique, which in his view, even with Yu Zhangsheng's such outstanding talent, born in the Barbarian Land, should have been impossible to encounter.

The sword beam dissipated, Meng Xiangrui likewise perished, heaven and earth once again returned to calm; this sword was incomparably tyrannical, its power peerless, what it severed was not merely this one avatar of Meng Xiangrui, but even the karma between avatar and true body, severed together. (Chapter End)