Chapter 362: Illusory Form (Bonus Chapter—Seeking Moon Tickets)

"Hmph... Master Yixing is all reputation and no substance."

High in the sky, a strange flying bird scattered a hazy, illusory light, obscuring a stretch of empty space.

Upon the cloud bed, Yu Xue the Great Daoist sneered: "If they all charge at once, the White Tiger Immortal will just flee immediately. Sword cultivators may be arrogant, but they're not fools. This White Tiger Seven Kill Sword Array is his challenge arena—if we follow his rules, he gets his chance to trap us; if we break them, he'll vanish without a trace—even before he can set up the 'Mountain-River Map'."

As he spoke, he glanced at Xu Yun the Great Daoist.

In Xu Yun the Great Daoist's hands was a scroll depicting mountains, rivers, and the myriad forms of mortal life.

As Xu Yun the Great Daoist murmured incantations, streams of light spilled forth from the 'Mountain-River Map' and sank into the four directions of empty space.

The Mountain-River Map seals off the Void—once my spell is complete, no teleportation will be possible here: not through teleportation arrays, not through Void-Transcendence Talismans, not even Nascent Soul instantaneous movement...

Xu Yun the Great Daoist smiled faintly: "But it doesn't matter... the White Tiger Seven Kill Sword Array already possesses the power to seal the Void. It's not aiding the enemy, is it?"

"If we delay too long, the White Tiger Immortal might grow satisfied with his slaughter and leave on his own."

Yu Xue the Great Daoist said calmly: "Therefore, the best course now is to send nine Mid-Nascent Soul combatants to test the waters."

Mid-Nascent Soul cultivators are rare, but Mid-Nascent Soul combatants are far more common.

For instance, Fang Xing's cultivation avatar certainly qualifies as a Mid-Nascent Soul combatant now.

Yu Xue the Great Daoist continued transmitting thoughts via spiritual sense.

Moments later, below, led by Wan Shou the Great Daoist, Qingzhu Sword Lord, and Yunyu Twin Lords, with Yixing the Immortal and other Nascent Soul cultivators assisting, nine Mid-Nascent Soul combatants surged into the White Tiger Seven Kill Sword Array.

"Ha ha... they've done exactly as I hoped."

Inside the sword array, the White Tiger Immortal watched this scene with great satisfaction: "Within this array, a self-contained space has formed—I can finally test my sword on them one by one!"

His eyes flashed like lightning as he fixed them on Qingzhu Sword Lord: "Your sword technique is interesting. You'll be the first."

A flash of light—and when the White Tiger Immortal reappeared, he stood directly opposite Qingzhu Sword Lord.

His expression solemn, he performed an ancient ritual bow: "My sword is named 'Taibai,' forged from Taibai Golden Essence, one foot three inches long. I humbly request your guidance."

This was the ritual of sword cultivators in duels: before striking, one must introduce one's flying sword.

In the cultivation world, other treasures might have no rankings.

But flying swords, alongside their wielders' reputations, spread far and wide. The ancient Nascent Soul Sword Sect once compiled the 'Sword Rankings,' dividing them into Heaven, Earth, and Human Lists, evaluating fifth-, fourth-, and third-grade flying swords...

Below third-grade, they weren't even considered true Spirit Blades—according to the Nascent Soul Sword Sect, they were merely sword-shaped artifacts or spirit tools at best.

Each new edition of the 'Sword Rankings' was a major event in the cultivation world.

Unfortunately, since the Nascent Soul Sword Sect's destruction, the 'Sword Rankings' have vanished into silence.

As the White Tiger Immortal bowed, his dantian roared—a white-gold shadow of a flying sword emerged, emitting a clear, ringing sword cry.

"What a true Spirit Blade—its blade light is the purest I've ever seen."

Qingzhu Sword Lord sighed: "Had the Nascent Soul Sword Sect still existed, your 'Taibai' would surely rank among the top ten on the Earth List."

He formed a sword seal, and a flying sword brimming with green wood qi appeared: "My sword is named 'Qingli,' forged primarily from a ten-thousand-year-old 'Qinglong Wood,' two feet three inches long, weighing ninety-nine catties. I humbly request your guidance!"

With a flick of his sword seal, the shadow of his flying sword instantly split into two, then four, then eight... countless green sword lights danced through the air, forming a sword array resembling a verdant bamboo forest.

"All show, no substance..."

The White Tiger Immortal stroked his 'Taibai Sword' and barked: "Wait, Great Daoist—I'll make 'Taibai' one of the top three on the Earth List!"

He moved his sword seal—and all light in the heavens dimmed; in the entire world, only one sword remained.

The 'Sword of Killing' scripture embodies ultimate emotion and ultimate self—this single thrust brings death to heaven and earth; the wood-element sword array instantly darkened and withered...

A white-hot blade pierced through the bleak autumn sword array—and moments later, the array shattered completely.

Only a green Nascent Soul remained, clutching a small blue sword, its face filled with terror, desperate to break into Grand Void instantaneous movement.

"Seal!"

Seeing this, the White Tiger Immortal sneered—his flying sword glowed with a sealing rune, commanding the White Tiger Seven Kill Sword Array.

Dozens of silver-white pillars descended like cages, forcing Qingzhu Sword Lord's Nascent Soul out of the Void.

Then, the White Tiger Sword became a streak of white light—like a white rainbow piercing the sun—and pierced the green Nascent Soul.

A shriek of agony!

The White Tiger Immortal retracted his sword, waved his hand to disperse the sword light, and a hint of satisfaction appeared on his face.

In his dantian, his Spirit Blade Nascent Soul grinned, pulled its right hand—and withdrew a tiny 'Taibai Sword' from within its body.

Now, upon the blade of the Taibai Sword, a faint bloodstain had appeared!

"First one!"

The White Tiger Immortal murmured to himself, eyes brimming with murderous intent and bloodthirsty madness, charging toward the next array gate...

"Excellent!"

At the center of the White Tiger Seven Kill Sword Array, Huolong the True Immortal, watching through the Qiankun Mirror, could not suppress a smile.

"After all, this is only the first. If he lacked such combat power and still lured so many Nascent Soul Lords here to attempt the 'Nine Child Mother Spirit Soul Sword Refining Technique,' he'd already be insane..."

Fang Xing shook his head, not at all confident in the White Tiger Immortal.

"The White Tiger got lucky this time—he met me. Otherwise, he'd have been tricked to death..."

He took a step forward—and appeared outside the White Tiger Seven Kill Sword Array.

Outside, the Nascent Soul Lords' spiritual senses detected a figure shrouded in crimson mist stepping out of the array, holding a crimson flying sword.

"Who are you?"

"Remnant of the Nascent Soul Sword Sect?"

"Aren't the Sword of Killing lineage supposed to be single-lineage?"

"Heaven creates all things to nourish man; man kills only to repay heaven. Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Fang Xing roared—and the shadow of his rotten iron sword shot out instantly.

Shhh!

A streak of crimson sword light struck instantly, slaying a Nascent Soul Early-stage Lord!

Even as his head fell, the shock on his face had not yet formed!

"Great Freedom Mysterious Golden Sword Qi—Instant Kill, Number One!"

"It's the Golden Sword lineage!"

"Attack!"

The other Nascent Soul Lords wore expressions of wariness—this Crimson Sword Lord was Mid-Nascent Soul, and his sword technique was devastatingly sharp.

Fang Xing struck once—and immediately fled with his sword.

He merged with his sword, pushing his sword-dashing speed to its limit, weaving effortlessly among the Nascent Soul Lords.

Even when others unleashed devastating spells, they hesitated, fearing they'd strike their comrades.

Maneuvering while fighting—that was the essence of one against ten, one against a hundred.

Sword cultivators fight by striking once, fleeing a hundred li, then striking again!

"Golden Sword lineage?"

Yu Xue the Great Daoist rose, eyes gleaming: "Unexpected... I can finally claim another Black Iron Sword Token. Rumor says if all five tokens are united, they can unlock the secret realm deep within the Nascent Soul Sword Sect—the final reserve of a holy site..."

"Go!"

Xu Yun the Great Daoist rubbed his hands together, then stretched them toward the heavens.

The 'Mountain-River Map' transformed into a vision of the realm, merging completely with this world: "The Void seal is complete. Now, we're catching fish in a barrel."

Boom!

No sooner had he spoken than the strange flying bird scattering illusory light let out a shriek—its body exploded violently, turning into a cloud of crimson mist.

Fang Xing's true body stepped forward from the Void, a look of delight on his face: "Two Great Daoists... my second Nascent Soul is lucky—this time, we might really strike it rich, and I could even ascend to Nascent Soul Late-stage!"

"My 'Huan Yun Bird'..."

Xu Yun the Great Daoist's face twisted in anguish, then he turned to Fang Xing: "Body cultivator? How did you detect the Huan Yun Bird's disguise?"

"Heh. I never explain to the dead."

Fang Xing sneered—and slammed his palm forward.

He wouldn't tell them that although the Huan Yun Bird's concealment was powerful, under the surveillance of the 'Mingkun,' it was as visible as if it had no disguise at all.

After all, cultivation world techniques were designed to counter cultivators—not against cosmic high-tech like this detection device, capable of scanning millions of li in an instant.

Boom!

Beneath the Sky-Covering Palm, both Yu Xue the Great Daoist and Xu Yun the Great Daoist felt as if the Void around them had solidified into rock, crushing them from all sides.

Fang Xing's self-created Star Martial Nine Extremes naturally grew stronger with his cultivation level.

At his current realm and skill, the Sky-Covering Palm's power now approached that of the Great Sun Buddha Palm he once wielded as a Martial Saint—though without consuming Great Sun Divinity.

"Body cultivator Great Daoist?"

Yu Xue the Great Daoist roared—his hand materialized a crimson longblade.

The blade was long and slender, its surface seemingly formed from countless streams of blood, coalescing into a crimson river.

Within the crimson river, countless blood-red runes drifted and swam.

After activating his demonic cultivation technique, a True Demon Manifestation appeared behind Yu Xue the Great Daoist.

It stood nine zhang tall, clad in dark red armor inscribed with ancient runes, wearing an ox-horned helmet, its eyes blazing crimson, its face utterly black.

The True Demon Manifestation roared—and swung its crimson longblade spirit treasure in a thunderous slash!

Boom!

The palm imprint and crimson blade slash clashed violently, their energies draining each other—each shockwave striking the True Demon Manifestation left it riddled with holes!

"My Demon Blood Transformation Technique? It couldn't even prevail?"

Yu Hua Dian's Grand True Lord frowned in surprise: "Master Xu Yun, be cautious—this one is no ordinary Grand True Lord!"

After just one strike, he had already suffered a minor setback; naturally, the Grand Master of Yu Hua Dian dared not slacken his guard.

Just as Yu Xue Grand True Lord spoke, a flicker of color suddenly appeared behind Fang Xing in the void.

A sharp claw emerged.

It seemed to have materialized abruptly from the void, its body cloaked in chameleon-like camouflage, its aura suppressed to near nothingness.

Even a Nascent Soul Grand True Lord, caught off guard by this spirit beast's ambush, would suffer a severe blow!

CRACK!

The beast's claw slammed down with the force of ten thousand tons, yet was blocked by a resilient aura.

Fang Xing's body didn't budge an inch.

"A fourth-rank middle-grade spirit pet? And such an invisibility and stealth technique? Quite impressive…"

He twisted his body, seized the beast's claw, and a cruel smile surfaced on his face.

"Come out!"

Fang Xing pulled with both hands, dragging out the invisible attacker—a beast resembling both tiger and leopard, its entire body sheathed in chameleon-like scales.

"Release my 'Illusion Form Beast'!"

Master Xu Yun roared, and a Three Treasures Ruyi spiritual treasure crashed down, striking Fang Xing.

Yu Xue Grand True Lord swung his crimson long blade, yet inwardly marveled: 'I never expected Xu Yun to be so patient—he secretly tamed not only the 'Illusion Cloud Bird' but also a fourth-rank middle-grade 'Illusion Form Beast'… hmm…'

The Illusion Form Beast, famed in the Hanhai Immortal Realm for its ability to evade Nascent Soul spiritual senses, was exceedingly rare in ancient times and now considered extinct.

A fourth-rank middle-grade Illusion Form Beast could conceal itself even from a Grand True Lord's spiritual sense—and strike unseen.

Even Yu Xue Grand True Lord, upon realizing Xu Yun possessed such a spirit beast, felt a chill run down his spine.

THUD! THUD!

The Three Treasures Ruyi and the crimson blade struck Fang Xing's back in succession, emitting dull impacts.

Fang Xing's physique had always been his greatest strength—he could catch fourth-rank upper-grade spiritual treasures bare-handed, and now, after being tempered by the 'Nine Sources Star Forge Body Secret Art,' he was nearly comparable to a fifth-rank body cultivator!

Despite being relentlessly assaulted by two Grand True Lords wielding spiritual treasures, he stood firm as an unshakable mountain.

"Die!"

Grasping both claws of the Illusion Form Beast, he roared and unleashed a violent surge of strength.

RIIIIIP!

The fourth-rank middle-grade Illusion Form Beast let out a mournful cry, its tough body torn apart as if by five horses pulling in different directions. From within burst a fist-sized Essence Core Pill, inside which floated a tiny, adorable spirit pup.

Yet, sealed by the Mountain-River Map, the Essence Core Pill could not flee into the void—it could only streak backward as a streak of light.

"Hmph!"

Fang Xing snorted, his mental force like a fine needle piercing the Essence Core Pill—immediately, the Illusion Form Beast's essence screamed and vanished.

The Essence Core Pill became ownerless, falling from midair.

Only then did he turn to face the two Grand True Lords: "Have you… finished?"

How swift was a Grand True Lord's spiritual sense?

While Fang Xing dealt with the Illusion Form Beast, the two Grand True Lords had been unleashing relentless attacks.

Yet, no talismans, secret treasures, or strange artifacts could pierce Fang Xing's defense.

When Fang Xing turned around, Yu Xue and Xu Yun Grand True Lords wore expressions of shattered Dao hearts.

"Impossible… how could such a Grand True Lord exist?"

Even among Nascent Soul late-stage cultivators, differences in strength should be slight—how could one exist who could crush two opponents single-handedly?

To effortlessly slay a Nascent Soul late-stage Grand True Lord was no longer Nascent Soul power—it was Transcendent power!

In time, he would surely ascend to Transcendent Heaven Lord, even reach Void Refinement and transcend!

"Die!"

Fang Xing grew tired of the struggle—his palm suddenly held a crimson sun.

With a flip of his hand, a great sun crashed down!

First Form of the Buddha's Sun Palm—Sun Illuminates All!

Light!

Boundless light, boundless life!

Fang Xing's eyes, deep and dark, saw from Xu Yun Grand True Lord's dantian emerge a doppelgänger identical to himself, standing before the solar radiance.

It was the great technique—'External Body Avatar'!

Yu Xue Grand True Lord, meanwhile, wore a pitch-black demonic armor; he slapped his corpse-storage pouch, releasing a disheveled corpse radiating foul stench, its power nearly reaching fourth-rank upper-grade, to take the blow—his own body's arm exploded into blood essence, wrapping his remaining form as he fled.

Those who reached Nascent Soul late-stage were all prodigies of the immortal realm, blessed with great fortune—ordinary Transcendent Lords couldn't even guarantee a single strike would defeat them!

Thus, Fang Xing's response was simple—he unleashed a second palm!

—Palm of Mountains and Rivers!

Countless golden mantras, like grains of sand, appeared; flowers rained from the sky, golden lotuses surged from the earth… as if a Buddha's realm had descended into his palm!

Each golden mantric symbol instantly sealed the External Body Avatar and the fourth-rank upper-grade corpse.

Then… they drowned the two Grand True Lords' true bodies!

(End of Chapter)