Chapter 893: Battle of Martial Destiny

Deep within the Ten Thousand Dao Mountains, wind and snow howl furiously.

Ye Zhi Long stands on empty air, a black‑gold spear in his hand humming with vibration, its tip a flash of cold light as if to pierce the endless snow. His whole body surges with Martial Dao True Origin like a sea, and each step he takes leaves a burning imprint in the void.

"Da Mo Wuji!" Ye Zhi Long's voice thunders, shaking snow‑capped peaks within ten li, "Junior Ye Zhi Long, I come to seek instruction!"

Between the mountains, an illusory figure slowly coalesces.

Da Mo Wuji stands with his arms crossed, white hair like snow, stars seemingly fading in his eyes. Just by standing there he causes subtle fissures in the surrounding space, a sign that his Martial Dao Will is strong enough to interfere with reality.

"Junior." Wuji's voice is soft, yet it seems to echo directly within Ye Zhi Long's spirit, "Do you know that back then the thirty‑six Celestial Caverns of the Mysterious Sect joined forces to lay the 'Heavenly Net Earthly Net' formation, barely suppressing me?"

Ye Zhi Long angles his spear, its intent soaring skyward: "The path of Martial Dao has always been to defy Heaven!"

"What a defiance of Heaven!" Wuji suddenly bursts into laughter, his mirth shaking the clouds apart, "Then let me see what qualification you, junior, have to inherit the Martial Dao Will!"

Da Mo Wuji's eyes brim with appreciation, at least he's far better than that one who fled the moment they met!

Ye Zhi Long says no more, his form vanishes in an instant. In the next heartbeat, the black‑gold spear thrusts to within three chi of Wuji's face, its tip flaring with dazzling golden light!

"Heaven‑Shattering Nine Forms" First Form, the mountains and rivers split!

Wuji neither dodges nor evades, merely lifts his right index finger lightly and taps the spear tip.

"Clang!"

The clash of gold and iron rings through the heavens, a circular shockwave spreading outward, cleaving the waists of a dozen surrounding snow peaks.

Ye Zhi Long feels an indescribable massive force surge through the spear, shattering his palm, blood streaming down his wrist, only to be absorbed by the spear the instant it leaves his body.

"The force is decent, but too straightforward," Wuji comments, "The subtlety of Martial Dao lies in the interplay of void and solid."

Ye Zhi Long's eyes blaze with heightened battle intent; his spear trembles, and seven spear shadows launch simultaneously, each as real as the next!

Third Form "Seven‑Star Chain"!

Wuji's form drifts, strolling leisurely among the spear shadows, sometimes flicking a finger lightly, other times sidestepping.

After the seven spears, beads of sweat form on Ye Zhi Long's forehead, yet he hasn't even brushed the opponent's hem.

"Your spear technique bears the shadow of Fu Hai Gate," Wuji suddenly halts midair, "It seems you have studied Fu Hai Gate's 'Heavenly Gang Step'."

A chill runs through Ye Zhi Long's heart. He indeed learned that footwork, and hadn't expected Wuji to see through it at a glance.

"However..." Wuji shifts tone, "To blend the Mysterious Sect's footwork into Martial Dao shows some talent. Now, it's my turn."

Wuji forms an empty grip with his right hand, and a long sword wholly condensed from Martial Dao Will materializes out of thin air.

The blade is transparent as water, yet exudes a pressure that makes heaven and earth change hue.

"First Sword, watch closely."

The sword flash is like lightning, a supremely simple straight thrust.

Ye Zhi Long feels the surrounding space sealed off by that sword; any direction he tries to dodge would be struck at a vital point. In a hair‑trigger moment, he blocks horizontally with his spear, the shaft bending like a bow, using the force to retreat a hundred zhang, a strand of blood spilling from his mouth.

"This is the foundational form of 'One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Methods'," Wuji does not follow up, "Martial Dao is utmost simple; sometimes the simplest technique is the hardest to counter."

Ye Zhi Long wipes the blood from his mouth, then laughs suddenly: "Thank you for the senior's guidance."

He inhales deeply, his internal True Essence flowing along an entirely new pathway. The black‑gold spear suddenly emits a dragon‑like hum, fine scale patterns appearing on its shaft. This is his Seven‑turn Immortal Accumulation's "Dragon Blood Spear", a specially forged Martial Dao Immortal Accumulation that awakens only when confronting a truly formidable foe.

"Sixth Form, Dragon Raises Head!"

The spear shoots like a dragon, a golden dragon silhouette roaring from its tip, warping space wherever it passes.

Wuji finally faces it head‑on, crossing his hands to block; the spear forces him back half a step, and a ring of black fissures erupts beneath his feet.

"Good!" appreciation flashes in Wuji's eyes, "This spear has touched the threshold of the Martial Dao True Meaning!"

"Is it only yours that qualifies as Martial Dao True Meaning?!" Ye Zhi Long furrows his brows, clearly unconvinced.

In the battlefield's center, Ye Zhi Long is drenched in blood yet fights harder. Da Mo Wuji's white robe is torn by the spear wind in several places, but only superficial skin tears.

"Seventh Form, Eighth Form, Ninth Form!" Ye Zhi Long consecutively unleashes three supreme techniques, his spear shadows covering the sky.

Wuji finally takes it seriously; he abandons the long sword, opting for close‑quarters combat, applying his fist and foot techniques in real battle—both simple and intricate, the great elephant unseen—nullifying each spear move one by one.

"Your limits are not there yet," Wuji closes in, a palm striking Ye Zhi Long's chest, "Let me see your Martial Dao Will!"

"Pfft!" Ye Zhi Long spits out a mouthful of blood, yet at this life‑or‑death moment his consciousness slips into a mysterious state.

He seems to see every cell within his body burning, and deep in his dantian a golden seed is sprouting.

"This is..." Wuji's face shows surprise, "No wonder the Mysterious Sect couldn't accommodate you..."

Ye Zhi Long's eyes blaze with golden light; his spear thrusts out at an irrational angle, a strike without any formal name, purely an instinctive burst between life and death!

"Hiss!"

The spear tip pierces Wuji's right shoulder, scattering a string of golden sparks!

This is the first injury Wuji has suffered since his resurrection!

"What a 'Reverse Scale' spear!" Wuji doesn't anger but laughs, his left hand grasping the spear shaft, "What a pity..."

His left hand swings, forming as if a chain, winding up the spear shaft and instantly stabbing into Ye Zhi Long's brow!

"Ah!!" Ye Zhi Long lets out a gut‑wrenching scream, feeling countless Martial Dao insights forcefully flood his spirit, nearly bursting his consciousness.

When Ye Zhi Long regains consciousness, he finds himself lying in an ice cavern, the black‑gold spear lodged beside him, its tip still bearing golden specks.

"Awake?" Da Mo Wuji's voice comes from behind.

Ye Zhi Long flips up violently, only to discover his whole body is weak, unable to even steady his spear.

"What have you done to me?"

Wuji, with his back to him, studies the ancient martial inscriptions on the icy wall: "I have planted a 'Martial Dao True Seed' within your spirit. When you breakthrough to the Refining Void Stage, it will help you comprehend the true Martial Dao True Meaning."

"Why didn't you kill me?" Ye Zhi Long grits his teeth and asks.

Wuji turns, a rare gentleness flickering in his eyes: "The path of Martial Dao has been lonely for too long; I need a counterpart who can understand it." He points to Ye Zhi Long's chest, "The seed within you is a legacy I left three thousand years ago. If you cannot even reach my state from three thousand years past, you will never surpass me thereafter."

Ye Zhi Long is so shocked he cannot utter a single word.

"Let's go." Wuji waves his hand, "Next time we meet, I hope you can force me to unleash my full power."

Ye Zhi Long grits his teeth, bows, and departs.

Da Mo Wuji smiled, sensed a thread of Qi luck flowing toward him, and said, "This kid isn't simple; a life‑and‑death duel will probably push out all his potential, and then it won't be easy to defeat him."

Ye Zhi Long and Da Mo Wuji are both pure martial artists; even though they harbor murderous intent, Ye Zhi Long's potential made Da Mo Wuji glance sideways.

The reason Da Mo Wuji did not strike down his foe, but instead gave Ye Zhi Long a "Martial Dao Seed," was merely to contend for the Qi luck.

"As long as Ye Zhi Long absorbs my inheritance, he can never surpass me; for such a junior, his Martial Dao Qi luck will, sooner or later, belong entirely to me."

Those who study me die; those who are like me live!