Chapter 56: Peak Clash

Bloodstorm Pill?

Lin Zehong, you've gone mad, haven't you!

The price of taking this Bloodstorm Pill is that you'll have to borrow against your future talent!

Seeing this scene, even Yang Yuanwu, who was not far away, couldn't help but be moved!

Just as he said.

The Bloodstorm Pill, though it can instantly raise a cultivator's realm, granting terrifying combat power far beyond the norm for a short time!

But to achieve all this, the price is to borrow against one's own future!

If a cultivator isn't truly driven to a life‑or‑death corner, and there is even a sliver of another way, they would never choose to take the Bloodstorm Pill!

Who could have thought that Lin Zehong would be forced by Li Mu into this step!

Hahaha…

Am I mad?

Lin Zehong threw his head back and laughed wildly, then abruptly stifled his laughter, his gaze icy as he stared at Li Mu before him.

Yang Yuanwu, if I cannot kill Li Mu today!

Then he will become a heart demon on my cultivation path in the future!

I won't kill him!

Then I, Lin Zehong, will have no future!

Boom!

As he spoke, Lin Zehong's terrifying aura, already at the pinnacle of the Second-tier Concentration Realm, surged upward, nearing the threshold of the Third-tier Concentration Realm.

And!

Moreover, Lin Zehong's power climb continued unabated, fueled by the lingering effects of the Bloodstorm Pill!

Alas…

Seeing this scene.

Yang Yuanwu said nothing, only letting out a long sigh.

From his perspective.

Considering the unparalleled talent Li Mu currently displays.

Given time, Li Mu will undoubtedly become a pillar of the Ziyang Sect and a great powerhouse of the Qian Kun Realm.

Opposing Li Mu would be an unwise move.

Seeing Lin Zehong's murderous intent set, he had little else to say.

The laughter faded!

Lin Zehong's eyes turned cold in an instant, and he thrust a sword at Li Mu—Slash!

Boom!

With the swing of that sword, the razor‑sharp terrifying sword qi carved a massive rainbow across the sky, sweeping down in a furious slash toward Li Mu!

Li Mu lifted his gaze.

Staring at the roaring massive azure sword qi.

He spun the Vengeance Blade in his hand, the violet‑black electric light contracting, replaced by streams of black‑red blood qi that spiraled upward, casting a ghostly aura over the entire long sword!

Seven Kill Grand Form!

Slash!

A deep roar emanated from Li Mu's mouth!

A brilliant blood light surged around him, and seven streams of black‑red blood qi, entwined with the Vengeance Blade, burst from the sword edge.

Boom!

In the next instant, a deafening blast rang through the air.

His slash suddenly unleashed seven sword qi!

But that was far from over!

After the Seven Absolute Blade Qi left the long sword, each blade transformed into a Seven Kill!

In an instant, forty‑nine kills erupted together, shooting through the void, raising a towering crimson light that collided head‑on with the azure sword qi.

Bang!

The raging wave burst forth in midair, the azure sword qi and crimson sword qi exploding together!

Finally, a dazzling curtain of light erupted, scattering outward like fireworks.

Seven-Absolute Sword Technique—Great Perfection?

No!

The Seven-Absolute Sword Technique can at most unleash a slash that exceeds twice its own strength.

And yours clearly exceeds double that!

Could it be…

You've already cultivated the Seven-Absolute Sword Technique to the Extreme Realm!

Lin Zehong stared at the Vengeance Blade in Li Mu's hand.

He saw.

The black‑red Seven Absolute Blade Qi merged at this moment, streams of scorching, powerful waves continuously radiating from the Vengeance Blade.

Meanwhile, Yang Yuanwu and the disciples of Mysterious Moon Peak watching from behind showed slight changes in expression, clearly not expecting Li Mu's prodigious talent in martial technique to be this demonic!

You should know!

The so‑called pinnacle of martial technique!

That means forging a brand‑new path from it, a path even the creator of this martial art has never traversed.

The difficulty of this, as you can imagine?

Anyone who can achieve it is none other than a star of the Qian Kun Realm!

Who would have thought Li Mu is exactly that kind of person!

It seems…

Back then, his instant enlightenment before the Dao‑realizing Monument and immediate success were not his ceiling, merely his floor!

"Hmph!"

"But you think that relying on a Yellow Rank Martial Art that breaks through the Extreme Realm lets you contend with my Half‑step Third‑grade Concentration Realm, don't you?"

"Ridiculous!"

"I will make you understand!"

"Before an absolute power gap, everything you do is nothing but a dying struggle!"

"Besides…"

Saying that, Lin Zehong's mouth curved into a mocking smile: "After a blade as forceful as just now, how many more can you swing?"

"Let me tell you a harsh reality!"

"Even if I do nothing from now on."

"Pure depletion!"

"I can still wear you out to death!"

A cold glint flashed in Lin Zehong's eyes; after swallowing a Violent Blood Pill, his power surged to the Half‑step Third‑grade Concentration Realm, granting him absolute hard strength that crushes Li Mu in every sense!

Whether in true Qi, physical strength, or any other aspect!

It is all like that!

Even if Li Mu uses the Reverse Opening Eight Gates Scripture and the Seven Absolute Blade Method to boost his combat power, his starting point is only the Ten Grade Lian Qi Realm!

With that base, no matter how strong he gets, how far can he go?

Not to mention, both the Seven-Absolute Sword Technique and the Reverse Opening Eight Gates Scripture are mind‑methods and martial arts with massive side effects—wounding a thousand enemies while harming eight hundred of one's own.

If Li Mu cannot decide victory or defeat quickly, his death and the collapse of his Dao are merely a matter of time.

"Hehe…"

"Are you sure?"

"You intend to wear me out to death!"

Hearing that, Li Mu chuckled as if he'd heard the world's biggest joke, shaking his head.

Immediately, a flash of icy cold crossed his face.

"Heaven and earth receive this single Qi, and myriad changes arise."

"Man regards all things as spirit; with this Qi, one can sense heaven and earth, move ghosts and gods, breathe wind, clouds, thunder and rain—nothing is beyond reach."

As Li Mu slowly uttered the true words of the formula, his hands suddenly formed a mysterious seal.

Finally, his palm slammed onto the ground.

"Boom!"

"Boom, boom!!"

"Boom, boom, boom!!!"

With Li Mu's formulaic chant, his palm on the ground instantly sent a most peculiar vibration spreading outward from the earth!

Then, everyone saw.

Within the earth, strands of tawny spiritual energy rose along fissures and gullies, converging toward the sky above the crowd.

Just as no one could figure out what Li Mu intended…

In the sky.

A sudden deep rolling thunder roared!

"This is…"

Lin Zehong stared at the scene, his pupils snapping shut as he shouted silently, "Landmine Dao Technique!"

Meeting Lin Zehong's shocked gaze, Li Mu lifted his hand, pointing upward and shouting, "Swift!"

With Li Mu's command!

In an instant, the heavens and earth abruptly changed color!

The sky emitted a humming 'buzz!' and darkened, countless black clouds surging swiftly from the horizon.

In the blink of an eye, the rolling black clouds pressed down like a collapsing canopy, so dense that one could barely see a hand.

"Boom—boom—boom!"

Within the thick, darkened cloud layer, muffled thunder rolled repeatedly!

That sound signifies the strongest power in heaven and earth!

It represents supreme judgment and authority!

"Is this the Landmine Dao Technique?"

"It really is the Landmine Dao Technique!"

"Wasn't it rumored that the Five‑Thunder Jade Book documenting the Landmine Dao Technique was lost centuries ago?"

"No one knows its whereabouts!"

"This Li Mu—where did he acquire it from!"

The sudden changes in the surrounding heavens and earth immediately triggered a series of startling crackling sounds across the realm!

Everyone looked up at the heavy, dark cloud above them, feeling occasional flashes of silver electric pythons stirring within the gloom!

Even if heaven and earth are separated, they can still feel the terrifying energy surging through the clouds like a raging torrent.

"Roar..."

"Never expected!"

"Truly never expected!"

"Li Mu, he actually mastered the long‑lost Landmine Dao Technique!"

Yang Yuanwu stared gravely at the boy pointing a single finger toward the sky, a figure standing beneath the rolling thunderclouds.

The voice was filled with an unmistakable shock!

Even though he is the top of the Storm Ranking, he pales in comparison before this boy!

Lin Zehong furrowed his thick brows, his face slightly shadowed as he fixed his gaze on the boy pointing at the sky!

He could clearly feel massive, vigorous energy surging from the dark clouds, ultimately pouring entirely into Li Mu's body!

If we talk about killing power and destructive force!

The Landmine Dao Technique is far inferior to the Heavenly Thunder Dao Technique and the Earth Thunder Dao Technique!

But Landmine governs earth Qi, nourishes all things, allowing cultivators to borrow earth Qi and briefly transform it into their own power!

"I really underestimated you!"

Lin Zehong slowly clenched both hands, his deep voice spreading a chilling cold that echoed throughout the heavens and earth.

"However!"

"This Landmine Dao Technique may let you absorb earth Qi to strengthen yourself, but its side effects on a cultivator are enormous."

"You activate the odd gate and still forcefully trigger the Landmine Dao Technique—aren't you afraid you'll crush yourself to death!"

The Five Thunder Jade Scroll's reputation in the Qian Kun Realm is truly resounding!

One phrase: under the Five Thunders!

Even the Great Luo Golden Immortal will be reduced to ash!

Dao Law of Heavenly Might—none is stronger than this method!

Thus concludes the terror of the Five Thunder Jade Scroll!

The techniques on this Five Thunder Jade Scroll are indeed domineering, but they demand extremely high standards from the cultivator!

First, merely catching a glimpse of the gateway already risks drawing thunder into the body at the brink of death.

If one wishes to reach great attainment, the cultivator must gather the heavenly thunders recorded on the 'Heavenly Thunder List' across this land and reclaim them for personal use!

The myriad dangers within are easy to imagine!

As for the Landmine Dao Technique Li Mu is currently employing, it is only at the initial glimpse stage.

Yet, with his Ten Grade Lian Qi Realm cultivation, forcibly absorbing such massive earth Qi into his body is undoubtedly a path to death!

"Is that so?"

A light laugh naturally slipped from Li Mu's mouth.

"Then let's give it a try!"

"Let's see whether I collapse under this massive earth Qi and die first, or you, Lin Zehong, perish beneath my blade!"

"Clang!"

Li Mu slowly drew another long sword from his waist, one he had never used before!

Superior Spirit Artifact: Earth Dragon Mountain‑Cutting Blade!

"Another sword?"

Though unknown, Li Mu's mind was currently weighing some calculation.

Seeing the opponent pull out a Superior Spirit Artifact after using the Landmine Dao Technique, Lin Zehong naturally would not sit idle to die!

He stepped forward forcefully, his form instantly splitting into a dozen after‑images, charging at Li Mu again!

The Azure Cloud Sword in his hand unleashed sharp, green sword qi that surged wildly with the wind!

Containing a fierce wind capable of Slash a First-tier Concentration Realm master into a blood mist, it lightning‑fast Slash toward Li Mu's neck!

"Boom—"

A thunderclap sounded abruptly!

With the Earth Dragon Mountain‑Cutting Blade empowered by massive earth Qi, its earth‑colored blade instantly burst into golden sunrise light!

Several electric serpents, many times thicker than before, coiled around it, eventually forming a massive purple thunder python that roared toward the heavens!

"Thunder, ten thousand tons!"

The gigantic, ferocious purple thunder python thrashed wildly, its violent waves surpassing previous fury, tearing the air as it charged head‑first to slash at Lin Zehong!

"Clack—"

The raging purple thunder python descended like a storm, Lin Zehong's eyes icy as his Azure Cloud Sword struck down with sudden force!

A sword vortex nearly a hundred zhang tall whistled out, like a swarm of stars streaking across the sky!

With a single Slash, it cleanly severed the snake head of the purple thunder python.

At this moment, Lin Zehong's overwhelming Third-tier Concentration Realm power was fully revealed!

The true peak duel has only just begun!