Chapter 684

The Han River sword flashes forth, its blade aura like a dragon, spreading over a hundred li.

Translation: "Cold River Sword emerges, sword aura like a dragon, enveloping a hundred li."

We must keep numbers unchanged: "hundred li". Should we keep "li" as is? The rule says numbers, dates, quantities, and measurements must be reproduced exactly as written. "hundred li" is a measurement; we should translate it? The rule says reproduce all numbers, dates, quantities, and measurements exactly as written. It does not say to keep Chinese units; we should convey the meaning. Usually we translate "hundred li" as "a hundred li". But "li" is a Chinese unit; we could keep "li" as is? The instruction: "Reproduce ALL numbers, dates, quantities, and measurements exactly as written." That suggests we should keep the Chinese characters? But we are translating to English; we need to convey the measurement. Usually we translate "hundred li" as "a hundred li". The number is hundred and li. So we could render "a hundred li". That preserves the number and unit. We'll do that.

Thus: "Cold River Sword emerges, sword aura like a dragon, enveloping a hundred li."

Just as before, Wu Tie unleashed only a single sword strike, yet within its sword light rose sun and moon, stars arrayed, mountains and rivers, the turning of spring and autumn, even blade mountains and sword forests, seas of fire and oil cauldrons…

Translation: "Just like that previous punch, Wu Tie only drew one sword, yet within the sword aura there were sunrise and moonrise, stars arrayed, mountains and rivers, the cycles of spring and autumn, and moreover mountains of blades and forests of swords, seas of fire and oil cauldrons……"

We need to keep the ellipsis? The Chinese ends with "……". We'll keep as "……". Use three dots? We'll keep as "……". Probably okay.

In the world, all that mortals can conceive or know appears and disappears within this sword aura.

Translation: "Between heaven and earth, whatever mortals can think or know appears faintly within this sword aura."

Having fully integrated with his dharma body, Wu Tie is as distinct as a physical object; what remains unintegrated is hazy and dreamlike.

Translation: "Wu Tie has completely merged with his dharma body, thus becoming as clear as a tangible object; those not yet merged are vague and illusory, like a dream."

One sword strike falls like a miniature world that encompasses everything.

Translation: "With one sword drawn, it is like a small world that embraces all phenomena descending."

One sword strike drains all of Wu Tie's magical power in an instant.

Translation: "With one sword drawn, in an instant all of Wu Tie's internal magical power is exhausted."

One sword strike dims the radiance of the ten‑thousand‑foot divine fetus, extinguishing its divine light.

Translation: "With one sword drawn, the ten‑zhang divine fetus also dims, its divine light gone."

This is a sword strike that puts forth his full power.

Translation: "This is a sword drawn with all one's might."

With a crack, just as Wu Tie's arm had before, the Han River sword—a magnificent innate spiritual weapon of exceptional grade—could not bear the Grand Dao principles he infused into it, and split cleanly from tip to hilt.

Translation: "With a 'crack', just like Wu Tie's arm before, the Cold River Sword—a magnificent innate spiritual weapon—could not withstand the Dao profundity Wu Tie poured into it, and it split straight from tip to hilt."

Note: "a magnificent innate spiritual weapon" we translated as "a magnificent innate spiritual weapon". Could also be "a splendid innate spiritual weapon of extraordinary grade". We'll keep concise.

Within a hundred li, the Divine Realm elders of the Great Martial God Kingdom went rigid, terror on their faces as they looked upward.

Translation: "Within a hundred li, the God Realm Old Ancestors of the Great Martial God Country stiffened, their faces filled with fear as they looked toward the sky."

The God‑Striking Whip loomed in the void, purple aura and golden light spreading over a hundred li, binding space and time; their movements became agonizingly slow and stiff, like rusted iron puppets, with a ridiculous, comic quality.

Translation: "The God‑Beating Whip hung high in the void, purple and golden light enveloping a hundred li, sealing space and time, making their movements extremely slow and stiff, like rusted iron puppets, their motions carrying an air of absurd comedy."

The Han River sword whirled up a heaven‑covering sword aura and slammed it down; its shrill ring shook the nearby peaks, stripping away the veils of blood light over mountains and land, while great clouds of blood mist and qi rose, filling the air with a heavy bloody odor.

Translation: "The Cold River Sword swept up heavenly sword aura and dropped it; the piercing sword roar shook the surrounding mountains violently, stripping away the layers of Blood Light cloaking the peaks and earth, as vast clouds of blood mist and blood qi rose, filling the air with a strong stench of blood."

Immediately, two beams of light shot skyward, and two Great Martial elders were decapitated by one sword.

Translation: "In the next instant, two pillars of light shot up, and two Great Martial Old Ancestors were beheaded by a single sword."

Dozens of half‑step Divine Realm Great Martial commanders were blown apart in the sword aura, without even a chance to cry out.

Translation: "Dozens of Half‑Step God Realm Great Martial Commanders were reduced to dust in the sword aura, not even having time to let out a cry."

Only the most powerful Great Martial elder raged, his body wreathed in blood‑red flames as he burned his soul and blood, unleashing a massive backlash from within.

Translation: "Only the Great Martial Old Ancestor with the highest cultivation went hysterical, his whole body ablaze with blood‑colored flames, burning his soul and essence blood, erupting a tremendous backlash force from within."

A wisp of Wu Tie's sword aura descended, and the blood‑red flames instantly turned into a bunch of blood‑red lotus that supported the sword aura.

Translation: "A wisp of Wu Tie's sword aura fell, and the blood‑colored flames forcibly transformed into a blood‑colored lotus that supported the sword aura."

The sword aura rotated, shedding three blood‑red lotus petals; the Great Martial elder's face instantly turned ashen, his pores exuding thick blood plasma, and in an instant he became a corpse of blood.

Translation: "The sword aura rotated, three petals of the blood‑colored lotus drifted down, and this Great Martial Old Ancestor's complexion suddenly became deathly pale, sticky blood plasma seeping from every pore, turning him into a blood‑covered corpse in the snap of a finger."

It was only this momentary block of the sword aura that made the Great Martial elder raise his head, look to the sky, utter a low howl, and chant a single spell.

Translation: "It was only because this moment blocked the sword aura that the Great Martial Old Ancestor raised his head, gazed at the sky, let out a low howl toward the heavens, and chanted a spell."

A column of light rose from his head as he sacrificed half of his soul outright.

Translation: "A stream of light shot up from his head, and he directly sacrificed half of his divine soul."

Amidst his horrific howl, a bolt of light as swift as lightning flashed down from the highest heavens and struck him with a boom; waves of divine light and energy burst outward, shattering Wu Tie's sword aura strand by strand, and the God‑Striking Whip was shaken, wobbling high into the air as its purple aura and golden light were blown away.

Translation: "Amidst the miserable howl, a stream of light as fast as lightning screamed down from the highest heavens, booming upon him. Rings of divine light and air waves exploded outward, Wu Tie's sword aura shattered thread by thread, and the God‑Beating Whip was shaken aloft, wobbling high, the purple‑gold light swept away."

The huge blast ripped the two severely wounded Wu clan elders to shreds, while two more massive light pillars shot upward.

Translation: "The massive explosion tore the two heavily wounded Wu Clan Old Ancestors to shreds, and two more huge pillars of light shot up."

Wu Tie, Li Guang, Zhao Xiang and the others took the full force, hurled by the divine light and shockwaves like leaves in a gust, flying backward uncontrollably, tumbling and soaring back over a hundred li.

Translation: "Wu Tie, Li Guang, Zhao Xiang and others bore the brunt, blown by divine light and air waves like leaves in the wind, involuntarily soaring backward, tumbling and flying over a hundred li away."

The Great Martial elder who had sacrificed half his soul shrieked hysterically, letting out a painful howl like a dying beast; he trembled, and a splendid suit of black‑lined blood‑pattern armor appeared on him, its ferocious, evil form brimming with twisted, exotic barbarian flair.

Translation: "The Great Martial Old Ancestor who had sacrificed half his divine soul screamed hysterically, emitting a dying beast's agonized howl. He trembled, and a splendid black‑bottom blood‑pattern battle armor appeared on him, its shape ferocious and evil, full of twisted, exotic barbarian flair."

He let out a strange "ge‑ge‑ge" laugh, the Great Martial elder glanced warily at the direction Wu Tie and the others had fled, then strode boldly toward the few Wei elders who had just been pursued.

Translation: "With a weird 'hehehe' laugh, the Great Martial Old Ancestor warily glanced at the direction Wu Tie and the others had flown, then strode forward to charge at the few Great Wei Old Ancestors who had just been pursued."

He raised his hand and brought his fist down; the sharp spikes on his knuckles hammered into several Wei elders.

Translation: "He raised his fist and brought it down, the sharp protrusions on his knuckles slamming hard into the bodies of several Great Wei Old Ancestors."

Once more, several light pillars shot upward.

Translation: "Again, several pillars of light shot up."

In the small valley, light pillars rose like dragons straight into the sky. Beneath the lofty heavens, faint cries of ecstatic joy echoed—the so‑called spirits were gathering the souls of these fallen Divine Realm elders.

Translation: "In a small valley, countless pillars of light rose like dragons into the high heavens. Beneath the lofty dome, faint cheers of ecstatic joy could be heard—it was the so‑called spirits harvesting the souls of the fallen God Realm Old Ancestors."

"Prince An... Huo Xiong... I'll remember you, old man." The Great Martial elder's body jerked violently, his pupils dilating and constricting, as he staggered away, legs pumping in a frantic sprint to escape.

Translation: "\"An Wang… Huo Xiong… old man remembers you. \" The Great Martial Old Ancestor's body convulsed violently, his pupils dilating and constricting, as he staggered and sprinted away in panic."

To save himself, he instantly sacrificed half his soul, gaining the full power of the Barbarian God clan's supreme artifact, the Ten‑Direction Slaughter Armor.

Translation: "To save himself, he instantly sacrificed half his divine soul in exchange for the Barbarian God Tribe's supreme artifact, the Ten Directions Slaughter Armor, lending its full aid."

The supreme artifact's projection appeared instantly, indeed driving back Wu Tie and his companions and saving his life… yet the loss of half his soul has pushed this Great Martial elder to the edge of collapse.

Translation: "The projection of the supreme artifact descended in an instant, indeed repelling Wu Tie and company and preserving his life… but the loss of half his divine soul has pushed this Great Martial Old Ancestor to the brink of collapse."

While fleeing, he downed bottle after bottle of Grand Dao treasure pills like candy, a flash of blood light flickering at his brow; his violent, chaotic soul surged outward, shouting: "Prince An, Huo Xiong, watch… I will never die with you… once I gather my kin, I will cut you to a thousand pieces and execute you by slow slicing."

Translation: "While fleeing, he tossed bottle after bottle of Great Dao Precious Pills into his mouth like beans; a point of Blood Light flashed on the Great Martial Old Ancestor's brow, and his violent, chaotic soul fluctuations roared wildly in all directions: \"An Wang Huo Xiong, just wait… old man, I will never die until you do… once I gather my people, I will surely cut you to death by a thousand slices, executing you by lingchi. \"

Empowered by the Ten‑Direction Slaughter Armor, the Great Martial elder's soul surged with tremendous force, easily breaking through the battlefield's blood‑mist and reaching over a thousand li.

Translation: "With the Ten Directions Slaughter Armor's blessing, this Great Martial Old Ancestor's soul fluctuations became extremely domineering, easily piercing the blood mist blanketing the battlefield and transmitting over a thousand li."

The impact of the Ten‑Direction Slaughter Armor's arrival blasted Wu Tie and his companions a hundred li away; after barely regaining their footing, they suddenly heard this Great Martial elder's declaration brimming with resentment and hatred.

Translation: "When the Ten Directions Slaughter Armor descended, its impact blasted Wu Tie and the others a hundred li away; after they barely steadied themselves, they suddenly heard this Great Martial Old Ancestor's declaration full of resentment and hatred."

Wu Tie glanced at his right hand, where the Han River sword was already cracked, and gave a cold smile.

Translation: "Wu Tie glanced at his right hand, where the Cold River Sword was split, and gave a cold smile."

"Is that so? I thought the same." Wu Tie shouted sternly: "But I have no need to gather kin."

Translation: "\"Is that so? I thought the same. \" Wu Tie shouted sternly: \"But I don't need to rally my kin. \"

He drew a deep breath, and the light around him instantly dimmed. The heavenly and earthly spiritual energy on the battlefield had thinned to the extreme; even an ordinary Qi‑pool cultivator would, in a single move, drain all the free spiritual energy within a radius of a hundred li.

Translation: "After a deep breath, the light around Wu Tie suddenly dimmed. The spiritual energy of the battlefield had thinned to the extreme; even an ordinary Life Pond Realm cultivator would, in a single breath, suck dry the free spiritual energy within a hundred‑li radius."

Wu Tie drew deep breaths, and a faint whirl of thin mist appeared above his head, as the sparse heavenly and earthly energy was continually drawn in by him.

Translation: "Wu Tie breathed with all his might, and a faint vortex appeared above his head, visible as thin strands of the world's spiritual energy continually being swallowed by him."

In the next instant, the ground beneath Wu Tie's feet disappeared—a huge block tens of li wide and about one li thick.

Translation: "In the next instant, the ground beneath Wu Tie's feet vanished outright—a massive chunk dozens of li wide and thick as a li."

The earth, rock, and the post‑natal earth attribute—formed from condensed later‑earth power—Wu Tie's rear blazed with black‑white spiritual light, the innate yin and yang qi forming a huge millstone that ground this chunk of earth to dust.

Translation: "Earth, rock, the attribute of accumulated earth—formed from the gathered power of acquired earth…… Wu Tie's back blazed with black‑and‑white spiritual light, the innate yin and yang qi forming a huge millstone that ground that chunk of earth to powder."

Turning the acquired into the innate, the manifest into the unmanifest, matter into energy…

Translation: "Transforming the acquired into the innate, the tangible into the intangible, matter into energy……"

Reversing innate and acquired, he forcibly applied the Grand Dao of the five‑element cycle of generation and restriction, turning this massive rock stratum into a mass of pure, vast heavenly and earthly energy.

Translation: "Reversing innate and acquired, by force using the great Dao of the five elements' mutual generation and restriction, this massive stratum was turned into a mass of pure, mighty worldly spiritual energy."

The dim divine fetus suddenly blazed; this great mass of heavenly and earthly energy was gulped down by Wu Tie's divine fetus, then a torrent of pure magical power surged from the fetus, instantly filling his body. Behind him, black‑white and five‑colored lights—seven colors in all—flared up, and strands of divine light raced down his arms, frenziedly pouring into the Han River sword.

Translation: "The dim divine fetus suddenly blazed; this great mass of worldly spiritual energy was gulped down by Wu Tie's divine fetus, then a torrent of pure magical power surged from the fetus, instantly filling his body. Behind Wu Tie, black‑white and five‑colored light—seven colors in all—shone forth, and thread after thread of divine light frenziedly poured into his arm and into the Cold River Sword."

"Sword!" Wu Tie let out a long shout.

Translation: "\"Sword! \" Wu Tie let out a long cry."

These days, the sword way he has comprehended has been fully etched into the Han River sword.

Translation: "These days, his comprehended sword Dao has been fully inscribed upon the Cold River Sword."

These days, with the aid of Wu gold, silver, copper, and the strength of 120,000 clansmen, the heavenly and earthly Grand Dao he has fathomed has been poured entirely into the Han River sword.

Translation: "These days, with the aid of Wu Jin, Wu Yin, Wu Tong and the strength of twelve thousand kin brothers, the heavenly Dao he has comprehended has been poured entirely into the Cold River Sword."

Everything in heaven and earth can be made into a sword.

Translation: "All things in heaven and earth can become swords."

After the divine fetus, a faint sword shadow flickers on the jade disc projection; the rim of the jade disc bears lotus leaves that stir without wind, bursting with boundless divine light, each leaf bearing a sword shadow that rings and booms.

Translation: "After the divine fetus, a sword shadow flickers on the jade disc's projection; lotus leaves at the disc's edge flutter without wind, bursting with boundless divine light, each leaf bearing a sword shadow that rings and resounds."

"Heaven and earth, for the sword." Wu Tie narrowed his eyes and smiled: "This sword's name… Slaughter, Carnage, Entrapment, Annihilation… four swords as one."

Translation: "\"Heaven and earth, for the sword. \" Wu Tie narrowed his eyes and smiled: \"This sword's name…… Slaughter, Carnage, Entrapment, Annihilation…… four swords as one. \"

It springs from deep within the bloodline, a memory once held.

Translation: "It springs from deep within the bloodline, a memory once had."

It originates from the *Yuan Shi Jing*, the all‑encompassing Primordial Classic.

Translation: "It comes from the Primordial Scripture, the Primordial Scripture that embraces all phenomena."

A supreme sword art that once appeared in the primordial mythic age now, at this moment, spans the endless river of time, aided by Wu Tie's hand and body, descending upon the ringing Han River sword.

Translation: "A supreme sword art that once appeared in the primordial mythic age, at this moment crossing the endless river of time, aided by Wu Tie's hand and through his body, descends upon the ringing Cold River Sword."

Poor Han River sword—it is merely a decent innate spiritual weapon; how could it withstand this terrifying sword intent capable of destroying all things?

Translation: "Poor Cold River Sword, it is merely a decent innate spiritual weapon—how could it bear this terrifying sword intent capable of annihilating all things?"

Heaven and earth's myriad things condense into this sword.

Translation: "Heaven and earth's myriad things condense into this sword."

Heaven and earth's myriad things will also be destroyed by this sword.

Translation: "Heaven and earth's myriad things will also be destroyed by this sword."

This is a sword technique that pushes the destructive and lethal power of the sword way to its extreme, seeking the utmost killing power.

Translation: "This is a sword technique that pushes the destructive and lethal power of sword Dao to the extreme, seeking ultimate killing power."

Wu Tie… has merely glimpsed the threshold.

Translation: "Wu Tie…… has only just glimpsed the threshold."

In his bloodline memory, fragmented recollections of this sword technique are awakening; a miraculous creative force continually refines and restores them, greatly strengthening the sword intent condensed in Wu Tie's hand.

Translation: "In his bloodline memory, the fragmentary recollections of this sword art are awakening; a wondrous creative force is continually refining and restoring those fragments, thereby greatly strengthening the sword intent condensed in Wu Tie's hand."

The Han River sword finally shattered, breaking from a tangible innate spiritual weapon into the finest particles.

Translation: "The Cold River Sword finally shattered, breaking from a tangible innate spiritual weapon into the finest particles."

Countless tiny particles filled with terrifying power burst forth with blinding divine light, yet that light remains bound by the sword intent released by Wu Tie, preserving the form of the Han River sword.

Translation: "Countless tiny particles, filled with terrifying power, burst forth with blinding divine light, yet that light, bound by Wu Tie's released sword intent, still maintains the form of the Cold River Sword."

The mana that had just recovered inside his body was exhausted again; Wu Tie gripped the hilt formed of light, and terrifying sword intent burst from the hilt, grinding away the flesh of his palm, the sword intent crushing the bones of his palm and emitting a piercing tearing sound, with large sparks continually bursting out.

Li Guang, Zhao Xiang, and the others looked at Wu Tie as if they had seen a ghost.

Such a situation was not unfamiliar to them—among the great commander houses and great clans, when a prodigy of astonishing talent excavates his own bloodline to the utmost and refines his inherited bloodline to the limit, someone can always obtain from the bloodline memory some heaven-defying divine abilities and terrifying secret arts once possessed by the primordial ancestors.

But what exactly did Wu Tie obtain from his bloodline memory?

Even before this sword was swung, Li Guang, Zhao Xiang, and the others already felt the threat of death. This sword, the sword intent within it, seemed to be the incarnation of the very embodiment of Destruction; they were confronting the true form of the Dao of Destruction.

"Go!" Wu Tie had mutated who knows how many times; the finger bones that even innate spiritual weapons could not harm finally cracked, intense pain surged, and his vision suddenly went dark.

If this sword is not swung out soon, Wu Tie fears he will no longer have the strength to swing it.

When the sword intent erupts, Wu Tie might still survive, but Li Guang and the others beside him will be killed by the erupting sword intent.

However, Wu Tie's hand wanted to move, but he lacked the strength to swing it even slightly.

"Lend me your strength…… I cannot wield the sword." Wu Tie suddenly realized he had fallen into an inexplicably awkward predicament—he had never imagined that merging the entirety of the heaven-and-earth Dao he had comprehended into his own sword Dao would provoke such an awkward and terrifying scene.

Li Xuan Gui and Yuan Qi Lin rushed to Wu Tie's rear in an instant, both placing their hands on his shoulders and, exerting all their strength, instantly poured all of their mana into Wu Tie's body.

Wu Tie's body swelled up; two immense streams of mana caused his physique to suddenly expand to about ten zhang in height, and the vast mana that Li Xuan Gui and Yuan Qi Lin had accumulated over more than a hundred thousand years of arduous cultivation filled Wu Tie's withered, empty body, restoring his strength.

"Go!" Wu Tie let out a hoarse, prolonged roar, exerting all his strength to swing his right arm, hurling it toward the direction from which the great Wu ancestor's soul fluctuations were transmitted.

A dim sword light shot up into the sky, then, as if it had grown eyes, it traced a splendid arc, accompanied by a terrifying rending-space roar as it soared into the heights, after which it came crashing down heavily upon the great Wu ancestor, who was stumbling in his flight and loudly cursing.

At the instant the sword light fell, the void seemed to gain an extra sun.

The fleeing great Wu ancestor shrieked hoarsely, incredulously gazing at the sliver of sword light descending above his head.

With a puchi sound, the faint sword light pierced the strangely shaped, vicious and evil heavy armor of the Ten Directions Slaughter Armor on the great Wu ancestor's head, leaving a fine sword mark at the center of the helmet.

With a crisp pu sound, the great Wu ancestor's divine form instantly vanished.

A projection clone of a set of Ten Directions Slaughter Armor stood empty and foolishly planted on the ground; after about three to five breaths, a piercing crack sounded, and this projection clone began to disintegrate strand by strand, ultimately turning into countless points of light that scattered between heaven and earth.

In the pitch-black, boundless void, a hysterical roar of Chichi came forth.

The supreme divine artifact of the Barbarian God clan, the Ten Directions Slaughter Armor, had actually been damaged in a trace of its origin… Although, compared to the boundless power of the Ten Directions Slaughter Armor, this loss of a trace of origin is negligible, requiring only a little time to recover, yet someone dared to offend the Barbarian God clan's supreme divine artifact!

Chichi placed Wu Tie on the must-kill list, hysterically swearing an oath to crush his bones and scatter his ashes.

On the dueling battlefield, Wu Tie watched Li Guang, Zhao Xiang, Xiang Feiyu, and others issuing warning signals in large batches, one after another of fiery signals flying out in all directions.

Gradually, members of the Li, Zhao, and Xiang clans, together with the clansmen of the other Qingqiu commander houses, began to rush here to gather.

Wu Tie selected a place easy to defend but hard to attack; the Mo family's patriarch, Mo Yun, personally took action, together with the many Mo clansmen, linking the hundreds of sets of portable military cities they had forged into one magnificent fortress, enveloping several large mountains within it.

The majestic military city stretched for dozens of li, its interior filled with countless mechanisms and prohibitions, densely packed with traps and formations, and moreover a great number of battle puppets hidden within. Inside and outside the city, seat after seat of the Mo family's secret heavy armaments lay concealed within the thick metal walls; these heavy armaments were all forged by Mo family masters, and some even possessed the power to threaten mighty beings of the first two heavenly tiers of the Divine Sovereign realm.

Such heavy armaments number in the thousands; if over a thousand were unleashed simultaneously, even an old ancestor of the third or fourth heavenly tier of the Divine Sovereign realm would not dare to confront them head-on.

Among the seven great sects represented by the seven great wandering cultivators, the Li clan excels in the art of drawing water veins, and together with the Yuan clan, which is versed in astronomy above and geography below, the two joined forces, drawing all the surrounding water veins one by one, laying down nearby the military city a magnificent myriad-dragon water-control great formation; the formation and the city merged as one, vast vapors rose, faintly showing the lovely aspect of fish and dragons.

Scattered remnants of Qingqiu and Dai Wei, battered by the Divine Wu God State, came over in dribs and drabs to take refuge in this military city.

After several days, the military city already hosted dozens of foreign Divine Sovereign realm elders, while the disciples of the various families at the half-step Divine Sovereign realm numbered eight or nine hundred.

Moreover, everyone kept calling friends and issuing summons, and even more people continued to gather here.

That day, a clap of thunder rang out, and a troop of the Divine Wu God State appeared a hundred li outside the military city; they brazenly stood atop a great mountain, gazing in the direction of the city.