Chapter 43

Under this blow, the pure qi 'Hongjun' didn't even have time to resist before being ripped apart by the sword qi, reverting to pure qi and scattering!

Translation: Under this strike, the clear Qi 'Hongjun' didn't even have time to resist before being torn apart by sword Qi, turning back into clear Qi and dissipating.

We need to keep the quotes around 'Hongjun'? The source has "Hongjun". We should keep quotes? Probably we can keep as 'Hongjun' with single quotes. The source uses Chinese book title marks. We'll translate as 'Hongjun' in single quotes.

Thus: Under this strike, the clear Qi 'Hongjun' didn't even have time to resist before being torn apart by sword Qi, turning back into clear Qi and dissipating.

Check: we kept all info.

Afterwards, the sword qi's residual force did not diminish, fiercely striking the Pangu Banner! "Pfft!"

Translation: Then the sword Qi's momentum did not wane, fiercely striking the Pangu Banner! "Pfft!"

We need to keep the sound effect "Pfft!" as "Pfft!" or "Puh!" Usually "pfft" is "pfft". We'll use "Pfft!"

Hongjun's primordial spirit imprint left in the Pangu Banner was shaken apart by this sword qi, and his aura momentarily waned a bit.

Translation: The primordial spirit imprint Hongjun left in the Pangu Banner was shaken apart by this sword Qi, and his aura instantly waned a bit.

We need to keep the translations: "primordial spirit imprint", "aura", "waned a bit".

However, he had no time to recover, instantly transforming into a streak of light heading toward the Pangu Banner.

Translation: However, he had no time to recover, instantly transforming into a rainbow light rushing toward the Pangu Banner.

"Don't even think about it!"

Translation: "Don't even think about it!"

At this moment, Hongjun's face was full of anger, he pushed his speed to the limit, but no matter how fast he was, he still couldn't match Zhi Qingyun's speed! "Yin-Yang Creation Universe Grand Formation!"

Translation: At this moment, Hongjun's face was full of anger, he pushed his speed to the limit, but no matter how fast he was, he still couldn't match Zhu Qingyun's speed! "Yin-Yang Creation Heaven-Earth Grand Formation!"

We need to keep the exclamation marks and quotes.

A great formation blocked Hongjun's face; with a wave of his hand, he shattered the formation, yet he was momentarily obstructed! "No!"

Translation: A formation blocked Hongjun's face; with a wave of his hand, he shattered the formation, yet he was obstructed for an instant! "No!"

Hongjun's eyes were about to burst; he only saw a streak of worldly power sweep past.

Translation: Hongjun's eyes nearly burst as he saw a wave of worldly power sweep past.

In the sky, there was no trace of the Pangu Banner anymore; it was directly taken by Zhi Qingyun into the Literary Dao Grand World! "Pfft!"

Translation: In the sky, the Pangu Banner's figure was no longer visible, directly taken by Zhu Qingyun into the Literary Dao Great World! "Pfft!"

Hongjun, furious and agitated, saw his aura suddenly drop, as if his cultivation had been damaged.

Translation: Hongjun, furious and agitated, saw his aura suddenly drop, as if his cultivation had been damaged.

Zhi Qingyun's eyes lit up, believing he had seized the opportunity, as the Hongmeng Measuring Ruler smashed toward Hongjun.

Translation: Zhu Qingyun's eyes lit up, thinking he had seized the opportunity, as the Primordial Chaos Heaven-Measuring Ruler smashed toward Hongjun!

Yet he saw a flash of triumph in Hongjun's eyes; he opened his right hand, gathering boundless magical power upon it.

Translation: Yet he saw a flash of triumph in Hongjun's eyes, his right hand opening as boundless mana condensed upon it.

Zhi Qingyun silently thought to himself, "Oh no," realizing he had become overconfident.

Translation: Zhu Qingyun silently thought, "Not good," realizing he had become overconfident.

How could a mighty being like Hongjun possibly have his cultivation damaged just because his treasure was taken?

Translation: How could a mighty being like Hongjun possibly have his cultivation damaged just from losing a spiritual treasure?

His most important treasure has always been the Chaos-level Spirit Treasure, the Jade Disc of Creation, not something like the Pangu Banner!

Translation: His most important spiritual treasure has always been the Chaos-level Creation Jade Disc, not some Pangu Banner!

The Jade Disc of Creation spun round and round, seeking to erase the connection between the Hongmeng Measuring Ruler and Zhi Qingyun! "Three Dao Appear!"

Translation: The Creation Jade Disc spun rapidly, seeking to erase the connection between the Primordial Chaos Heaven-Measuring Ruler and Zhu Qingyun! "Three Dao appear!"

In a hurry, Zhi Qingyun unleashed the Myriad Ways of Literary Evolution, Martial Sovereignty, and Imperial Fusion; the powerful rule power gathered on the Hongmeng Measuring Ruler, blocking the Jade Disc of Creation's refining force! "Light of Creation!"

Translation: In a hurry, Zhu Qingyun unleashed Literary Evolution Myriad Dao, Martial Sovereign Myriad Dao, and Imperial Fusion Myriad Dao; the powerful law power gathered on the Primordial Chaos Heaven-Measuring Ruler, blocking the Creation Jade Disc's refining power! "Light of Creation!"

The Jade Disc of Creation spun even faster, the illusions of the three thousand great Dao appeared, a piercing white light flashed and instantly pierced the defenses of the three Dao.

Translation: The Creation Jade Disc spun even faster, the phantom of the Three Thousand Great Daos appearing, a blinding white light flashing and instantly piercing the Three Dao's defenses.

Zhi Qingyun, having barely blocked the three Dao for a moment, had already reacted.

Translation: After barely blocking the Three Dao for a moment, Zhu Qingyun had already reacted.

You have a Chaos Spirit Treasure? My true form, the Auspicious Clouds, is also a Chaos Spirit Treasure! "The qi of all heavens surges, my dao prospers day by day!"

Translation: You have a Chaos spiritual treasure? My true body Qingyun is now also a Chaos spiritual treasure! "The heavens' qi surges, my Dao prospers day by day!"

Zhi Qingyun's Auspicious Clouds true form blazed with light, shifting and moving to block the Light of Creation!

Translation: Zhu Qingyun's Qingyun true body blazed with light, shifting and moving to block the Light of Creation!

Just now, the Light of Creation, which had torn through like bamboo and pierced the nascent 'Three Dao Curtain' of Zhi Qingyun, encountered the Auspicious Clouds' trait of invulnerability to all laws and repelling all evil, and instantly lost its effect.

Translation: Just moments ago, the Light of Creation, unstoppable as a bamboo-splitting force, upon encountering Qingyun's invulnerability to all laws and ease of avoiding evil, instantly lost its effect on the still-immature Three Dao Curtain.

All of its power was completely worn away under the Auspicious Clouds' invulnerability to all laws! Hongjun was somewhat astonished; he never expected that Zhi Qingyun's true form, the Auspicious Clouds, had reached such a high grade!

Translation: All its power was completely worn down by this invulnerability to all laws! Hongjun was somewhat astonished; he never expected Zhu Qingyun's Qingyun true body to have reached such a high grade!

"The Slaying Immortals... Sword Formation!"

Translation: "Slay Immortal... Sword Formation!"

Taking advantage of Hongjun not having reacted yet, Zhi Qingyun ruthlessly decided to strike hard; he saw strands of merit power being forcibly drawn out from the Auspicious Clouds!

Translation: While Hongjun hadn't reacted yet, Zhu Qingyun ruthlessly resolved to strike him hard! He saw within Qingyun, thread after thread of merit power being forcibly extracted by him!

This feeling was almost like having one's own spinal cord sucked out! The immense pain left Zhi Qingyun's late-stage Primordial Golden Immortal primordial spirit on the verge of fainting!

Translation: This feeling was almost like pulling out one's own spinal cord! The immense pain made Zhu Qingyun's late-stage Primordial Golden Immortal primordial spirit nearly faint.

But enduring such immense pain ultimately proved effective! Countless merit forces coalesced into four golden giant swords, laying out a grand formation! "Open Heaven!"

Translation: Yet enduring such great pain proved effective! Countless merit power coalesced into four golden giant swords, laying down a formation! "Opening Heaven!"

This is the Merit Sword; Hongjun cannot avoid it, the Jade Disc of Creation spins round and round, hoping to block this strike.

Translation: This is the Merit Sword; Hongjun cannot avoid it, the Creation Jade Disc spinning rapidly, hoping to block this strike.

"Whoo~ woo~" Hongjun seemed to hear the wind, and hastily dodged his body.

Translation: "Whoo~whoo~" Hongjun seemed to hear the wind, hastily dodging his body.

Afterwards, his left arm went numb, and he involuntarily lowered his head to look.

Translation: Then his left arm went numb, and he involuntarily lowered his head to look.

Yet he saw his left arm severed at the root, the cut surface smooth and radiant, drops of black blood falling! The blood dripped onto the Dead Sea, a breath of extinction arose, and the faint life that had barely emerged in the Dead Sea instantly vanished.

Translation: Yet he saw his left arm severed at the root, the cut surface smooth and radiant, drops of black blood falling! The blood fell upon the Dead Sea, a feeling of extinction arising, the faint life that had barely been born in the Dead Sea instantly vanishing.

"How is that possible?"

Translation: "How is this possible?"

Hongjun's eyes filled with astonishment; he never imagined this sword could sever his divine body! But how could it be impossible? This strike's power came from Zhi Qingyun drawing forth merit equivalent to fifty percent of the power to open heaven! Moreover, this strike contained the insight Zhi Qingyun gained from seeing the ancient scene of Pangu opening heaven.

Translation: Hongjun's eyes filled with astonishment; he never imagined this sword could cut his divine body! How could this be impossible? This strike's power came from Zhu Qingyun extracting merit equivalent to fifty percent of Opening Heaven! Moreover, this strike contained the insight Zhu Qingyun gained from seeing Pangu's Opening Heaven in ancient visions!

The power of this strike naturally surpassed Hongjun's imagination! Fifty percent of merit power was drawn, leaving Zhi Qingyun feeling his body weakened, unable to muster much strength, yet his combat strength actually remained largely intact.

Translation: The power of this strike naturally exceeded Hongjun's imagination! Fifty percent of merit power was extracted, leaving Zhu Qingyun feeling his body weak and unable to muster strength, yet his actual combat strength was hardly diminished.

Hongjun's heart was filled with terror; he never expected that in this era of the wilderness, such a monster as Zhi Qingyun would appear, capable of injuring him to this extent!

Translation: Hongjun's heart was full of dread; he never expected that in this era of the Primordial Wasteland, a freak like Zhu Qingyun would appear, capable of wounding him to this extent!

Hongjun picked up his severed arm, attaching it at the break; the Jade Disc of Creation spun wildly, countless creative forces surging toward the joint, trying to reattach the arm! But strands of great Dao merit power clung to it, and no matter what he tried, he couldn't dispel them! He immediately realized: either he must obtain boundless merit to counteract this merit force, or he must prove the Dao as a Primordial Luo Golden Immortal, using magical power to forcibly expel it! Otherwise, he could only maintain the image of a severed arm! And not to mention, such vast merit could only be obtained if he became the Patriarch of the Wilderness; even if he truly had that much merit, he would choose to use it as a medium to invade the Wilderness Heavenly Dao!

Translation: Hongjun picked up his severed arm, reattaching it at the break, the Creation Jade Disc spinning wildly as countless creation power surged to the joint, trying to rejoin the arm! Yet strands of Great Dao merit power clung to it, and no matter what he tried, he couldn't dispel them! He instantly realized he either needed to gain boundless merit to counteract this merit power, or attain the Primordial Luo Golden Immortal to forcibly remove it with mana! Otherwise he could only maintain this severed-arm appearance! And not to mention, such vast merit could only be obtained if he became the Dao Ancestor of the Primordial Wasteland; even if he truly had that much merit, he would choose to use it as a medium to invade the Primordial Wasteland's Heavenly Dao!

By comparison, it's still more worthwhile for him to break through to the Primordial Luo Golden Immortal realm! "The growth rate of the Heavenly Fortune Daoist is too fast; must he really resort to that final trump card?"

Translation: By comparison, breaking through to the Primordial Luo Golden Immortal realm would be more worthwhile for himself! "Tianyun Daoist's growth speed is too fast—do I really have to play that final trump card?"

Hongjun's heart was torn; Zhi Qingyun's growth speed exceeded his expectations!

Translation: Hongjun felt torn; Zhu Qingyun's growth speed exceeded his expectations!

He worried that if he didn't eliminate him while he was weak now, it would become even harder to deal with later!

Translation: He worried that if he didn't eliminate Zhu Qingyun while he was weak, it would only become harder to deal with later!

"Slaying Immortals Sword Formation!"

Translation: "Slay Immortal Sword Formation!"

Zhi Qingyun didn't give Hongjun any time to consider, letting out a mighty shout! Hongjun's heart startled, his entire form instantly turned into a streak of light, retreating rapidly backward.

Translation: Zhu Qingyun gave Hongjun no time to consider, shouting loudly with full vigor! Hongjun's heart startled, his entire form instantly turning into rainbow light, retreating rapidly backward.

But he never imagined that drawing fifty percent of merit power was already Zhi Qingyun's limit; he could no longer unleash that attack.

Translation: Yet he never imagined that extracting fifty percent of merit power was already Zhu Qingyun's limit; he could no longer unleash that attack.

Hongjun braced himself, yet saw only calm; Zhi Qingyun not only failed to unleash the Slaying Immortals Sword Formation, but on the Heaven-Opening Great Formation, the world formation power surged, further strengthening its defense.

Translation: Hongjun braced himself, yet saw calm seas; Zhu Qingyun not only did not unleash the Slay Immortal Sword Formation, but on the Heavens Avoid Easy Grand Formation, world formation Dao power surged, further strengthening its defenses.

Instantly, Hongjun realized he had been played, and immediately flared with anger! "Huh?"

Translation: Instantly, Hongjun realized he'd been played, immediately flaring with anger! "Huh?"

Just as Hongjun was about to launch an attack, a rift split in the void, and Yang Mei Daoist stepped out from the spatial crack, arriving at the Creation Secret Realm.

Translation: Just as Hongjun prepared to launch an offense, the void split open a crack, and Yangmei Daoist stepped out from the spatial rift onto the Creation Secret Realm.

"Daoist Hongjun, long time no see!"

Translation: "Dao Friend Hongjun, long time no see!"

Yang Mei stood before Zhi Qingyun, his eyes fixed tightly on Hongjun, spatial laws undulating around him, as if ready at any moment to respond to Hongjun's attack.

Translation: Yangmei stood before Zhu Qingyun, eyes locked on Hongjun, spatial laws fluctuating around him, seemingly ready at any moment to respond to Hongjun's attack.

"Thud!"

Translation: "Thud!"

This isn't over yet; a golden fist suddenly slammed into Hongjun's back of the head, the Jade Disc of Creation standing behind his head nearly blown away by that heavy punch! Hongjun hastily dodged, the Jade Disc of Creation atop his head also dodging.

Translation: And that wasn't all—a golden fist suddenly slammed into Hongjun's rear skull, the Creation Jade Disc standing behind his head nearly blown away by that heavy punch! Hongjun hastily sidestepped, the Creation Jade Disc atop his head dodging as well.

"Heavenly Fortune Daoist, I'm not late, am I?"

Translation: "Dao Friend Tianyun, I'm not late, am I?"

The Ancestral Dragon's domineering voice then sounded.

Translation: Ancestral Dragon's domineering voice then sounded.

"Old Hongjun, dare to bully my Heavenly Fortune Daoist in my territory? You don't even put me in your eyes!"

Translation: "Old Hongjun, dare to bully Dao Friend Tianyun in my territory—you don't even put me in your eyes!"

The Ancestral Dragon glanced scornfully at the dodging Hongjun, his eyes brimming with threat.

Translation: Ancestral Dragon glanced scornfully at the dodging Hongjun, his eyes brimming with threat.

(End of Chapter)