Chapter 157: I Have a Sword That Can Slay Demons, Immortals, and Buddhas

Although he did not understand what use Yan Taibai had for the materials broken off from the Inner Palace puppets, he still collected them.

After the wolf-headed puppet was dealt with, the puppets that appeared on the next level were snake-beast puppets comparable to Golden Core Stage cultivators.

These puppets were naturally handled by the two Nascent Soul elders of the Miaoyin Sect; as for the other Golden Core Stage cultivators, they had all been dealt with back on the Molten Rock Road.

Just as Yan Taibai's group was dealing with the puppets, the four Nascent Soul cultivators—Wan Tianming, Tianwuzi, the Old Farmer, and Qingyi Jushi—had already appeared beside the Cold Li High Platform where the Void Heaven Cauldron was located.

Inside the Inner Palace of the Void Heaven Palace, the Cold Li High Platform where the Void Heaven Cauldron sat was a full one or two hundred zhang in both length and width, and thirty or forty zhang high; climbing to the top of the Cold Li High Platform was a stone staircase of several hundred steps leading directly to the summit.

The entire Cold Li High Platform was constructed entirely from a type of seemingly ordinary gray rock, and the exterior was enclosed along with the steps by a white light barrier.

What was surprising was that the blue light within this barrier was incomparably dense, and the further one looked toward the center, the more intense the light became, until finally it was impossible to look directly at it, and one had no idea what was inside.

Besides this, thick frost was congealed along the edges of this stone platform, and these icy surfaces were crystalline and transparent under the reflection of light, making the high platform look exceptionally beautiful.

Before long, Wan Tianming, Tianwuzi, the Old Farmer, and Qingyi Jushi all opened their eyes.

"Everyone has recovered, right! We must hurry; this time, with Fellow Daoist Qingyi's Fire Python and the Golden Silk Silkworm I meticulously cultivated, I believe the chances of obtaining the Void Heaven Cauldron have greatly increased. The only trouble is, I don't know how long it will take for that person surnamed Yan from the Miaoyin Sect to arrive here; I fear those puppets won't be able to hold them back for long."

Wan Tianming said with a rather unsightly expression.

"Things have come to this, we can only gamble. As long as we succeed and obtain this Void Heaven Cauldron, then when we hand it over to Fellow Daoist Wan and Fellow Daoist Wen to refine and use, it is not impossible that we might have the means to contend with a Spirit Severing Stage senior. In that way, we won't have to fear the Star Palace and that Spirit Severing Stage senior."

Qingyi Jushi said in a deep voice. Although he also wanted to obtain the Void Heaven Cauldron, matters had reached a point where dealing with Yan Taibai and the Spirit Severing Stage cultivator behind him was the most urgent priority.

Although he was a rogue cultivator, he practiced Demonic Path arts and was considered part of the Demonic Path, and he was also a member of the Anti-Star Alliance; in this situation, he still had to prioritize the big picture.

Most importantly, he could not obtain the Void Heaven Cauldron himself.

This was the most important matter.

"Fellow Daoist Qingyi is right. Although we borrowed the Creation Instrument of the Heavenly Secret Sect to avoid those puppet guards ahead of time, our time will not be abundant."

Wan Tianming agreed. Afterward, he led the way, bringing the three of them toward the light barrier.

Then, a thick purple Qi was seen shooting out from his sleeve, directly splitting the white light barrier with a "Zila" sound, creating a gap a zhang high. The few of them took this opportunity to file inside.

Not long after, the figures of these few people disappeared into the blue light on the high platform.

At the same time, Yan Taibai also obtained a rough map of the Inner Palace of the Void Heaven Palace from a hidden compartment.

"This is? A map of the Inner Palace?"

Seeing the map in Yan Taibai's hand, Yan Ruyan said with pleasant surprise.

"Correct. Alright, let us hurry and continue on! I expect the two elders have already dealt with the puppets on the levels above. This way, the road ahead of us will be easier to traverse." Yan Taibai said with a smile.

"Mm! Brother Taibai is absolutely right."

Yan Ruyan nodded her head slightly, agreeing.

As for Zhou Yuan and the others, they had all gone to help deal with the puppets; only the couple Yan Taibai and Yan Ruyan were idle, which was how they found this Inner Palace map.

Afterward, Yan Taibai and Yan Ruyan smiled and headed toward the next level.

Before long, the couple appeared on the transmission array beside the Cold Li High Platform.

At this moment, Zhou Yuan, Zhuo Ruting, Fan Jingmei, Ling Yuling, Ziling Xianzi, and the two Nascent Soul cultivators of the Miaoyin Sect—who were actually elders of the Star Palace—were all waiting for them.

However, their gazes were not on the couple, but were looking toward the Cold Li High Platform.

At this moment, the blue glow on the Cold Li High Platform was shining brightly and flickering incessantly; if one looked closely, one would find a few strands of golden light and red mist entangled within it, but because they were separated by a great distance, although everyone's expressions were unsightly, they did not do anything further.

The main reason was that Yan Taibai was not there; even if they joined forces, it would be very difficult to contend with four Nascent Soul cultivators, especially since Wan Tianming was a Nascent Soul Mid-Stage Peak cultivator who could defeat the two Miaoyin Sect Nascent Soul cultivators by himself.

Not to mention, there were also the three Nascent Soul cultivators: Qingyi Jushi, Tianwuzi, and the Old Farmer.

Although they were only at the Nascent Soul Early Stage, it would still be effortless for them to deal with Zhou Yuan, Zhuo Ruting, Fan Jingmei, Ziling Xianzi, and Ling Yuling.

Even though the women all had Ancient Treasures gifted by Yan Taibai, the gap between Golden Core Stage cultivators and Nascent Soul cultivators was too great.

Therefore, they were all waiting for Yan Taibai.

"What are you all standing there for? Didn't you want to see the Void Heaven Cauldron, the number one treasure of the Chaotic Star Sea? Let's just go in and take a look."

Yan Taibai laughed loudly, wrapped his arm around Yan Ruyan's slender waist, and was the first to ascend the Cold Li High Platform.

Then, using his finger as a sword, he directly tore open a large gap and brought Yan Ruyan inside.

He did not show the slightest bit of concern or worry.

Seeing this, the two Nascent Soul cultivators of the Miaoyin Sect and Zhou Yuan exchanged a glance before heading directly toward the stairs.

At this moment, Yan Taibai and Yan Ruyan, who had already entered, looked simultaneously toward the small altar in the center of the Cold Li High Platform.

On the altar, seven or eight clusters of golden light and two clusters of red firelight were flickering uncertainly, and between the golden light and red light was a large hole emitting blinding blue light.

This golden light was precisely Wan Tianming's Golden Silk Silkworm and Qingyi Jushi's Fire Python; both were creatures that did not fear the Dry Blue Ice Flame, but they were far inferior to Yan Taibai's Blood Jade Spider.

"Golden Silk Silkworm, Fire Python—you seniors, Sect Master Wan, have made truly thorough preparations. However, it seems you are a step too late. I have already arrived."

"So, you now have two paths: one is to give up the Void Heaven Cauldron and leave alive."

"The second is to not give up the Void Heaven Cauldron, and then fight me and die here."

Seeing this scene, Yan Taibai said with a smile that did not fade but was filled with coldness.

"Fellow Daoist Yan, do you really think that just by being a Golden Core Stage cultivator, you have the certainty to kill the four of us in one go? You may have killed Man Huzi, but he was only one person, and you only have one sword Qi; as long as any one of us seizes the opportunity to strike at you, you will not escape death. Do not think that you can be this arrogant just by relying on a single sword Qi bestowed by a Spirit Severing Stage senior. Otherwise, you might not even know how you died."

Wan Tianming sneered, rebuking him with a fierce expression but a cowardly heart.

Wan Tianming did not have much confidence in these words, but matters had reached this point, and it was naturally impossible for them to obediently give up the Void Heaven Cauldron.

Therefore, he could only threaten him like this; if the slightest change appeared on Yan Taibai's face, he would strike immediately, and if not, he would fight to the death.

The Void Heaven Cauldron was perhaps the only number one treasure of the Chaotic Star Sea capable of contending with the Spirit Severing Stage senior behind Yan Taibai; if they gave it up, then the Righteous and Demonic paths would truly have no hope left.

Therefore, he could only gamble.

Gamble that Yan Taibai only had that one trump card of sword Qi.

But Yan Taibai's reply made his face turn pale.

"Oh! So that's how it is; so Sect Master Wan thinks I only have one sword Qi! Since that is the case, I can only let Sect Master Wan witness my Life-Bound Magical Treasure, the Luxian Juetian Sword."

"Sword, come!"

"I have a sword that can slay demons, gods, immortals, and Buddhas!"

As the final words fell, a brilliant golden light erupted and shot out from the top of Yan Taibai's head. The moment it appeared, it transformed into ten thousand sword auras, instantly filling the high altitude above the entire Hanli Terrace with a murderous, sharp, and piercing sword intent that made one feel as if needles were pricking their back.

This sword intent penetrated deep into the marrow and the Nascent Soul, making one dare not face it directly. It was as if, in front of this sword intent, even though one was already a Nascent Soul cultivator, one was no more than an ant, completely devoid of any power to resist.

No, it was the gloom of having already lost all power to resist, with absolutely no ability to fight back, that shrouded their hearts, causing the four Nascent Soul cultivators—Wan Tianming, Tianwuzi, the old farmer, and Qingyi Jushi—to have their Nascent Souls tremble within them, to the point that they momentarily forgot their defensive measures.

"Kill!"

And Yan Taibai did not give Wan Tianming, Tianwuzi, the old farmer, or Qingyi Jushi any chance to resist or to speak any further words of begging for mercy.

As the word fell, the ten thousand sword auras had already descended upon them!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Four consecutive clouds of blood mist appeared amidst the rain of swords, looking exceptionally jarring and making one's spine turn cold and shiver with fear.

These four clouds of blood mist were naturally the four men: Wan Tianming, Tianwuzi, the old farmer, and Qingyi Jushi—four Nascent Soul cultivators who had stirred up the winds and clouds in the Chaotic Star Sea and shaken the Star Sea with their might; in particular, Wan Tianming was a Nascent Soul Mid-Stage Peak cultivator who could rank in the top ten of the entire Chaotic Star Sea.

Yet now, they had not even managed to withstand a single breath of time before turning into a puff of blood mist, not even having their Nascent Souls escape.

This scene made the two Nascent Soul cultivators from the Miaoyin Sect—or, to be precise, the Star Palace—turn pale, their hearts involuntarily feeling fortunate that they had never done anything to harm Yan Taibai, Yan Ruyan, or the Miaoyin Sect.

On the contrary, they had resolved quite a few troubles; otherwise, even the two Holy Lords would likely not have been able to protect them.

Moreover, they had a feeling that even the two Holy Lords might not be able to withstand this strike.

This feeling caused the gazes of the two of them toward Yan Taibai to change, and then, as Yan Taibai retracted his Life-Bound Magical Treasure, the Luxian Juetian Sword, they looked at each other.

They felt that Yan Taibai was not a Golden Core Stage cultivator, but a Spirit Severing Stage cultivator—the very Spirit Severing Stage cultivator he had mentioned behind his back.

Once this thought arose, it could no longer be cast aside.

Ling Yuling had the same feeling.

As for Yan Ruyan, Zhou Yuan, Ziling Xianzi, Zhuo Ruting, and Fan Jingmei, having already seen this scene once, they were much calmer, though still quite shocked.

"Two Elders, please collect their Storage Bags and hand them to Yan'er. I am going to take a look at the Void Heaven Cauldron."

With the masters dead, neither the Golden Silk Silkworm nor the Blood Jade Spider had any life left in them, and the Void Heaven Cauldron in the cave of Hanli Terrace naturally sank back to the bottom of the cave.

"Very well, Great Elder!"

This time, the tone and demeanor of the two Nascent Soul cultivators were filled with awe.

Yan Taibai did not care about this in the slightest; obtaining the Void Heaven Cauldron was the most important thing.

The large hole in the center of Hanli Terrace was actually not deep, only twenty or thirty zhang. Therefore, Yan Taibai easily saw it: at the bottom of the hole, a blinding blue light in the shape of flames was burning fiercely, and within the blue flames, some black object was flickering.

It was precisely his greatest goal for this trip: the Void Heaven Cauldron.

The Mending Heaven Pill and Consort Linglong Yinyue within it would be helpful for many things later on.

Therefore, he naturally could not let it go.

After confirming that there were no issues with the Void Heaven Cauldron, Yan Taibai, under the nervous gazes of Zhou Yuan, Yan Ruyan, Fan Jingmei, Zhuo Ruting, Ziling Xianzi, Ling Yuling, and the two—no, it should be four—Nascent Soul cultivators from the Star Palace, patted the Spirit Beast Bag at his waist.

Immediately, three Blood Jade Spiders transformed into balls of blood and rushed out, landing at Yan Taibai's feet.

"Blood Jade Spiders! They are actually seventh-level Blood Jade Spiders. No wonder the Great Elder said he was confident in taking the Void Heaven Cauldron. With these three Blood Jade Spiders here, how could this Void Heaven Cauldron not be retrieved? To think that the number one treasure of this Chaotic Star Sea is actually going to be obtained by the Great Elder; it is truly enviable."

The Star Palace Nascent Soul cultivator who recognized the Blood Jade Spiders at a glance spoke with eyes full of envy.

"Indeed! It is truly enviable."

The other Nascent Soul cultivator also nodded in agreement.

"What should we do? Should we stop him?"

The kind-faced one of the two Nascent Soul Elders of the Star Palace hiding in the shadows said with an exceptionally ugly expression.

"Stop him? With what will you stop him? Your face? Just now, that Life-Bound Magical Treasure of his killed Wan Tianming, Tianwuzi, and the others with a single strike. Any one of those four is no worse than you or me. If you make a move, do you believe the next one will be the two of us? Such a terrifying Life-Bound Magical Treasure—let alone the two of us, even the two Holy Lords might not be able to take it. This is truly the number one treasure of the Star Sea!"

"It is truly terrifying. But doesn't that mean he is the number one person in the Star Sea based solely on this Life-Bound Magical Treasure? How can this be? No, we must find a way to deal with him."

"Perhaps only if the two Holy Lords cultivate the Yuan Magnetic Divine Light and use its ability to restrain the power of the Five Elements can we deal with this person. As long as this person loses this Life-Bound Magical Treasure, he is merely a Golden Core Stage cultivator. Even if he can condense a Nascent Soul and advance to the Nascent Soul Stage, he is nothing to fear."

"Indeed, once the two Holy Lords successfully cultivate the Yuan Magnetic Divine Light, we will have a way to deal with him. For now, we can only do our best to befriend him."

"It is fortunate that the two Holy Lords had the foresight to befriend him. Now that he has killed Wan Tianming, Wan Sangu will inevitably be at odds with him until death. Once he kills Wan Sangu and Liudao Jisheng, this great scourge of the righteous and demonic paths will be resolved. At that time, we can find a way to deal with him. Even if we cannot deal with him, we cannot let him stay in the Star Sea for long; otherwise, the Miaoyin Sect will sooner or later threaten the status of the Star Palace."

"Correct, we must also help him find a way to leave."

Just as the other two Nascent Soul Elders of the Star Palace were preparing to do a good deed, Yan Taibai had already let the Blood Jade Spiders begin to retrieve the Void Heaven Cauldron.

(End of this chapter)