Chapter 397: Human Calamity

In Gu Yi's field of vision, only two beams of light, one red and one black, were seen chasing each other back and forth, fighting with extreme intensity.

Red flames roared upward, while deadly aura flashed—

At times, thirty-six sword lights shone like cold stars covering the ground, their chill invading the skin and killing intent rising from all directions.

Even from a great distance, it made one's neck feel cold!

At other times, countless shadowy demon heads rushed out, smashing the divine thunder and red water blocking their path into fragments with a loud boom.

Their density filled the azure sky beyond counting, as if intending to transform the entire wilderness into a land beyond civilization, a demon kingdom!

Meanwhile, various magical treasures collided together, their colorful lights interweaving like a rainbow.

The sound of splitting the air was like thunder startling the dry land, shaking the soul, echoing endlessly above the mountain peaks for a long time, truly a shocking and terrifying sight!

"Chen Heng... and that person, it is actually Chen Chen Yushu; is this a divine descent or an incarnation?"

Gu Yi's eyes narrowed slightly, muttering inwardly, unable to help but frown.

And during the spell battle between these two, wind, thunder, fire, and lightning followed them.

With every gesture and movement, they possessed immense power.

Not to mention those at the Dongxuan level, even ordinary Jin Dan True Persons facing this scene could not help but feel as if walking on thin ice, chilled to the bone, absolutely unable to stand as opponents.

Wherever they passed, forests fell prostrate and mountain peaks were completely shattered, as if the extreme heavenly gale were howling and sweeping through the realm, with nothing able to block these two!

Whether it was Jin Shi or flesh and blood bodies.

If one did not evade in time, within the blink of an eye, one would be torn into fragments!

Such a magnificent commotion naturally attracted not only Gu Yi to observe the situation.

Around the cloud tops, several other beams of escape light were also hovering and wandering, flying back and forth.

Nearly everyone bore a trace of terror on their faces, their eyes flashing with differing thoughts...

And after sparing no expense of true qi and fighting with full strength for a full day and night.

At this moment, whether it was Chen Heng or Chen Chen Yushu, who had descended divinely through Zhou Zhou Shiyuan's shell, both showed a trace of weariness on their faces, feeling slightly fatigued.

After raising his sleeve high and releasing a dazzling Lei Ting from his palm to force back the Cold Soul True Light attacking from Chen Chen Yushu.

Chen Heng also escaped via sword flight, for the first time actively jumping out of the battle circle.

He retrieved a Qing Sheng Pill from a porcelain bottle and swallowed it, seizing this hard-won brief moment to quickly refine it and restore his original true essence.

This item was gifted by Cui Cui Jingzhong back when they were in the East Sea; it was a spiritual pill of his own creation, requiring no deliberate mental effort to refine, capable of restoring true qi within merely ten breaths, proving extremely useful.

In battles within the present world, no one had ever forced Chen Heng to such an extent, so he had only tested this pill within the Yi Zhen Fa Zhi Jie.

As for now.

It was truly the first time...

Seeing Chen Heng act this way, Chen Chen Yushu did not press the attack relentlessly, but instead paused slightly, retrieving a silver-patterned talisman from his sleeve.

Similarly taking this opportunity to begin absorbing spiritual mechanisms and regulating his original true essence.

At this moment, the expression on his face no longer held the previous ease and relaxation, becoming slightly Heavy and solemn.

For a time, neither of them made another move.

The situation instantly fell into a stalemate, the atmosphere becoming quite subtle.

"Ming Xian Wei Wulong Guan Tan Yi... what an evil art, to have such utility."

Chen Heng's eyes flashed slightly, thinking silently.

Through repeated trials within the Yi Zhen Fa Zhi Jie, he had finally thoroughly investigated Chen Chen Yushu's trump card methods, and also understood why Zhou Zhou Shiyuan's body appeared withered, with depleted life span and not long to live.

Ming Xian Wei Wulong Guan Tan Yi—

This was an evil method that sacrificed life span and potential in exchange for cultivation aptitude.

As long as one was willing to pay the price, it allowed for rapid mastery of Daoist arts.

And counting carefully, in order to prepare for today's battle, Chen Chen Yushu.

He seemed to have prepared all at once five types of Mi Fa: Left Ying Bo Water, Small Yuan Ci Divine Light, Luo Chong True Pupil, Fa Kong Great Jade Spiritual Light, and the Zhongtian Dou Shu Sect's "Hong Yan Zhi Zhen."

He truly deserved to be called having expended great Ku Gong, with deep intention.

And adding to this, Zhou Zhou Shiyuan originally cultivated survival arts such as "Qi Jin Bai Ren" and "Ming Ling Fa Mu."

It could be said that Chen Chen Yushu, currently descending divinely through Zhou Zhou Shiyuan's shell, had nearly stood atop the highest Shanfeng of the Dongxuan realm.

Supplemented by his rich experience in life-and-death combat, apart from a mere handful of people.

Among the Dongxuan generation of the current age, no one could stand as his opponent; he would simply push through everyone all the way!

And the ten breaths of time passed in an instant, fast as lightning and sparks from flint.

At this moment, Chen Chen Yushu wasted no words, pushing his hand forward, causing ripples of brilliant light to spread out, magnificent as a bright sun hanging in the sky, descending directly upon Chen Heng's head!

Chen Heng had already experienced this within the Yi Zhen Fa Zhi Jie; this Fa Kong Great Jade Spiritual Light specialized in weakening the physical shell and exhausting blood and qi.

Although the original intent of this method was to deal with those Innate Divine Monsters and martial artists with extremely strong bodies, it could similarly restrain his Tai Su Yu Shen.

Facing such a fierce offensive, he naturally would not take it head-on, activating his Dun Fa in time to dodge this strike.

Immediately afterward, he joined his fingers and pointed forward; as a fierce "Clang!" rang out, a sharp and unyielding intent instantly slashed through the atmosphere, shooting straight toward Chen Chen Yushu like lightning!

Chen Chen Yushu unleashed a strand of Small Yuan Ci Divine Light to intercept the sword qi, forcibly pinning it in the vast sky and halting its momentum.

But in the next instant, the sword's brilliance surged violently!

Suddenly, it split again into more than ten strands, the red light fierce and threatening, dazzling and radiant, continuing its wild and fierce assault!

Chen Chen Yushu let out a deep shout, mobilizing his true qi to continuously strike out with Small Yuan Ci Divine Light, continuing to block.

For a moment, only thirty-six strands of sword qi and Yuan Ci Divine Light could be seen shining upon each other, flying wildly and shooting out recklessly.

Illuminating the entire sky until it seemed colored only red and yellow, the resonant sounds swelling until they made one's eardrums bulge.

This Small Yuan Ci Divine Light was derived from splitting and simplifying a great divine power of the Xiantian Mo Zong called "Supreme Yuan Ci Immortal Light," making it perfectly suited for Dongxuan cultivation and extremely effective at countering sword cultivators.

And after battling for half the day, Chen Chen Yushu suddenly felt something amiss.

A chill struck his heart; disregarding any loss of true qi, he chanted a spell formula, a crack split his brow, and he suddenly opened the Luo Huang True Eye.

The heavenly eye at his brow was dull in color, emitting a faint, cold glow, profound and unfathomable, like a bottomless great abyss.

After the Luo Huang True Eye opened, a formless pillar of light shot forth, as if capable of measuring the stars above and observing the netherworld below.

Wherever its brilliance passed, nothing could hide or escape detection before it!

"A false body? This is a minor trick; it seems you have exhausted your skills!"

Chen Chen Yushu saw that Chen Heng in the distance was merely a false form, used to deceive the eyes and ears and confuse perception.

As for his true body, no one knew when it had quietly slipped away; it must be lying in ambush in the shadows, convenient for launching a thunderous strike to break the situation.

A faint sneer arose in his heart; he continued to maintain the Luo Huang True Eye, not allowing it to close, and immediately scanned in all directions.

And in merely an instant.

Chen Chen Yushu detected a slight anomaly.

But before he could rashly act, Chen Heng, hidden in the shadows, struck first, raising his hand and launching several bolts of Zi Qing Shen Lei!

Boom—a tremendous roar erupted; purple qi ran wild in the cloudy sky, Lei Jin Guang and violent sounds surged endlessly, churning wind and clouds until they changed color, with the momentum to usurp the light of the heavens above!

Just as Chen Chen Yushu had barely dispelled this fierce thunder technique, his breath not yet settled.

Not far away, Chen Heng suddenly manifested again, one foot shattering the dense mist barrier before him.

Striding with the gait of a dragon and the step of a tiger, his aura was heroic and vast as he raised his fist and charged straight at Chen Chen Yushu to kill!

At this moment, his stature had already reached over forty zhang; behind his head hung a round halo, bright and pure without flaw, yet within it permeated a sense of chaotic gloom, as if it could contain all phenomena, while water leaves and heavenly flowers spiraled around his body, raising waves of pleasant, clear sounds, truly melodious.

Viewed from afar, he looked entirely like an ancient divine general of the heavenly realm.

Majestic and dignified, his qi upright and his spirit clear!

Now, after revealing his Tai Su Zhen Xing, Chen Heng felt that his every movement, even a casual lift of hand or shift of foot, could cause mountains to shake and dust to rise suddenly.

At this time, because this precious body was solid and difficult to destroy.

To save effort, he neither dodged nor avoided the various methods Chen Chen Yushu launched against him, but endured them head-on.

And after lifting his foot and stomping down, crushing a scaleless great serpent-like Netherworld Heavenly Demon to death, turning it into wisps of gray smoke that miserably scattered in all directions.

Chen Heng now exerted his strength and charged forward, suddenly piercing through the layers of water curtains formed by Zuo Ying Bo Shui before him!

He gathered all his strength into a single fist and, aiming at Chen Chen Yushu behind the broken water curtain, smashed out with one punch!

All the surrounding peaks trembled in unison; wild currents and hurricane-force winds rose from the ground.

Even before the fist arrived, that vast and boundless force gushed out, locking off all paths in the four directions, above and below.

The shockwaves rumbled boomingly, pressing until one's breath was stifled.

Facing this fist that nearly blocked out the heavenly light above, a cold glint flashed in Chen Chen Yushu's eyes, and he likewise raised his fist to meet it.

In an instant.

A terrifying shockwave suddenly erupted, blasting several nearby small hilltops apart in mid-air.

Clods of earth and crushed stones soared high into the clouds, then fell heavily like a sudden downpour!

Witnessing this scene, even Gu Yi included, all the onlookers wore a trace of alarm on their faces.

Several of them were even so terrified that their expressions shook, their feet unsteady, trembling faintly...

At this moment, within the battle circle, Chen Chen Yushu and Chen Heng had once again fiercely engaged in close combat.

The power of their fists and palms was enough to split mountains and crack the earth; the spectacle was terrifying in the extreme.

"Sword arts, Daoist methods, physical body, divine soul... does this person not have a single weakness?"

After blocking a punch, Chen Chen Yushu condensed Zuo Ying Bo Shui into a magnificent great axe, swung it fiercely, and only then forced Chen Heng back a step temporarily.

At this moment, his gaze finally sank, and he thought silently:

"Even if it is so, but at his age, how could he possess such rich combat experience? Could it be that he can predict my moves?"

Counting carefully.

He and Chen Heng had already fought for a full day and night.

Initially, Chen Heng would make slight errors, which Chen Chen Yushu would seize upon, using his rich experience in fighting opponents to suppress him and gain the upper hand.

But as time slowly passed, Chen Heng gradually leveled the situation, resulting in a stalemate of neither victory nor defeat.

However, by today, not only had Chen Heng's methods in combat become increasingly refined and polished, as if he had received Chen Chen Yushu's instruction.

He had also seized control of the battle's direction, subtly gaining the upper hand...

Even if Chen Heng had broken through during this dharma battle, gaining insight through a fortunate coincidence.

But with only this short amount of time.

How much could he possibly have comprehended?

Even from Chen Chen Yushu's perspective, this was indeed bizarre, holding some strangeness...

At this moment, just as Chen Chen Yushu was pondering.

A low, muffled sound suddenly issued from the distant battle circle, and immediately two small black-light arrows shot swiftly toward Chen Heng's rear brain, vanishing in an instant, intending to teach him a harsh lesson from the shadows.

But before Chen Heng could break free from Chen Chen Yushu and act to intercept them.

Suddenly a snow-white ribbon of light crossed the sky; with merely a scoop in mid-air, it churned those two small black-light arrows into scrap iron, eroding their form and substance.

"Gu Yi?"

Seeing this, Chen Heng was slightly surprised.

But Gu Yi did not look at him; she merely waved her bare hand, and a cluster of brilliant green light flew out, suddenly attacking the person who had just attempted the sneak assault, emitting a sharp, piercing brightness.

"You do have the style of me in my younger days, heh!"

Chen Chen Yushu, while activating the Small Yuan Ci Divine Light to block the flying sword, sneered faintly and spoke mockingly.

"However..."

He formed a hand seal, suddenly shifted and dodged several li away, shook his head, and said:

"This was originally a contest between you and me; if I allowed others to intervene and saved your life, would not all my efforts have been in vain?"

As soon as these words were spoken, a small scale no larger than a palm suddenly floated out from his sleeve, and after a mere flash of radiant light, the figures of both men vanished, leaving behind only an empty, desolate expanse.

"The Scale of Equality?"

Gu Yi's eyes sharpened imperceptibly, her expression complex.

……

……

Misty waves stretched endlessly across a vast wilderness, unfolding before one's eyes like a grand painting, a scene difficult to describe.

After being drawn into this strange internal landscape.

Chen Heng's face tightened slightly, yet in his heart he secretly smiled, feeling a profound sense of relief.

"Given your current status, you must possess many trump cards bestowed by your sect's elders; if I were to bring out similar items to deal with you, I would inevitably invite criticism and give your master an excuse to intervene.

But if I do not use them, would I not be admitting inferiority to you for nothing?"

At this moment, Chen Chen Yushu stood with his hands behind his back and said with a smile:

"This item is named the Scale of Equality; under my command, it has now suppressed all magical artifacts and secret talismans, so as long as we remain within the Scale, these things cannot display their power.

Furthermore, one of us two must die before the internal landscape of this Scale breaks, allowing anyone to return to the present world.

Chen Heng, your ability to withstand me until now is truly extraordinary, but under the current circumstances, even if you wished to escape using the Dun Dun Jiesuo, you would be powerless... My proposal from earlier still stands; what is your decision?"

His only response was a sharp, piercing sword light that suddenly slashed through the air, carrying killing intent that surged to the heavens!

"What a pity..."

Chen Chen Yushu sighed lightly and flicked his finger to deflect the sword light.

Under the enhancement of the Zhongtian Dou Shu Sect's secret method "Hong Yan Zhi Zhen," his physical body was equally sturdy and difficult to destroy.

Compared to Chen Heng's current Tai Su Yu Shen, it was not inferior in the slightest, and perhaps even superior!

It is just that this secret method consumes considerable true qi; even with Zhou Zhou Shiyuan's current realm, it is difficult to sustain for long, so it must be used with care...

And within the internal landscape of the Scale.

Unknowingly, another two hours had passed.

At this moment, Chen Chen Yushu finally seized the opportunity, using the Great Void Great Jade Spiritual Light to suppress Chen Heng's physical body.

With a flash of fierce light, he ruthlessly severed Chen Heng's right arm clean off at the root!

Had Chen Heng not dodged in time, half his head would likely have vanished as well.

As the price, a hideous bloody gash also appeared across Chen Chen Yushu's waist and abdomen.

It nearly sliced him in half at the waist, a shocking and gruesome sight!

The two exchanged a glance and, without agreement, immediately resumed their deadly struggle, leaving each other no chance to catch their breath.

After a while, when both men had little true qi remaining.

And when their bodies were covered in dripping blood, with white bones clearly visible beneath.

At this time, Chen Chen Yushu looked inward and shook his head slightly, his eyes flashing.

He barely managed to emit several dozen drops of Zuoying Bo Water to strike, saying:

"Do you truly insist on being my enemy?"

Chen Heng forced out a wave of sword light to block these water droplets in mid-air, saying:

"Things have come to this; do you still think you can beg for mercy?"

"In that case... it is truly a pity."

Chen Chen Yushu sighed with regret.

At this moment, within his Purple Palace, Chen Heng's form had already condensed, lifelike and vivid.

Chen Chen Yushu waved his hand, and that form instantly collapsed with a boom, ceasing to exist in this world entirely.

Simultaneously, the Chen Heng opposite him suddenly stiffened, blood gushing from his seven orifices.

After a muffled groan, he collapsed to the ground, all signs of life extinguished!

"..."

Chen Chen Yushu bent down slightly, supporting his forehead with his hand, his vision blurred and indistinct.

The heavy backlash brought by this secret method was undoubtedly fatal for his current body.

He could feel his life force slipping away bit by bit; if he did not heal in time, he too would likely be close to death.

"Xiang Yi Kong Zhou, it has truly been a long time since I last used this method... Master Master Kongkong's techniques are as unorthodox as ever."

Chen Chen Yushu thought to himself.

Earlier, while he was speaking to persuade, he had also secretly activated this secret method to prepare for any contingency.

Like Gu Yi's Five Plague Warriors, this Xiang Yi Kong Zhou is also a type of curse-killing method.

However, since it originates from Master Master Kongkong, it is far superior to the Five Plague Warriors by an immeasurable margin.

The Five Plague Warriors require essence blood or qi fluctuations to activate, yet both of these are difficult to obtain, and the process of capturing them is hard to conceal; to an observant person, such actions would be blatantly obvious.

As long as one remains cautiously on guard, they can be avoided.

But this Xiang Yi Kong Zhou is different.

This method requires only a single direct glance to secretly capture the qi fluctuations of the intended victim into the Purple Palace without god or ghost noticing, disturbing nothing in the slightest.

Once the qi fluctuations have secretly matured.

A mere thought activates the curse, and even immortals cannot be saved!

Moreover, during this process, no matter what means the opponent possesses to conceal their qi fluctuations, they will ultimately prove useless.

They will be captured in their true form, making it impossible to deceive the caster.

Actually speaking, this Xiang Yi Kong Zhou is merely a backup move that Chen Chen Yushu habitually keeps in reserve.

At first, he had not intended to employ this method, after all, the backlash was severe and could not be ignored.

But he did not expect Chen Heng to be able to fight him to such an extent.

This was truly unexpected...

At this moment, Chen Chen Yushu forcibly suppressed the discomfort surging through his body and struggled to rise.

Unexpectedly, just after taking a single step, his expression suddenly froze, his face shifting between gloom and light.

After a moment of silence, he did not turn around, merely letting out a long sigh:

"How did you accomplish this?"

"What an extraordinary curse-killing technique."

Behind him, Chen Heng spoke with emotion.

"This was created by Master Master Kongkong; naturally, it is extraordinary."

"Master Master Kongkong?"

Chen Heng nodded slightly, then understood.

Although Master Master Kongkong's curse-killing technique was formidable, the Scattered Scenery Form-Concealing Art was, after all, created by Fuchan Fuchan Laozu.

When a master faces a disciple, the result goes without saying...

And all along, Chen Heng had been waiting for Chen Chen Yushu to use this curse technique, waiting for him to be harmed by the backlash.

At this time, Chen Chen Yushu barely turned around to look at Chen Heng, his gaze faint:

"It is merely a useless shell; discarding it is nothing. You have only temporarily won one battle; do you truly believe you have won?"

"There is still one-tenth of true qi remaining within me, whereas you are already at the end of your rope..."

"Chen Chen Yushu, you previously did not allow Zhou Zhou Shiyuan to study 'Tai Shi Yuan Zhen'; looking at it now, that was truly a mistaken move."

Chen Heng did not answer, merely glancing at him once before laughing softly.

Upon hearing this, Chen Chen Yushu remained expressionless, his demeanor calm.

"As for what comes next? You may continue using the Shen Jiang Fa to seek death; if a Cave Profound comes, I will kill the Cave Profound; if a Jin Dan comes, I will kill the Jin Dan! Primordial Spirit, Return to Void, up to Pure Yang..."

Chen Heng's sleeve fluttered, and his remaining left arm slowly raised his sword.

His gaze was cold and sharp, his expression equally calm, like an ancient well without ripples:

"I will eventually fight your true self at the same realm, break through that Fan Fan Dongtian of Rongcheng Rongcheng Duming in the water, and slay you beneath my killing sword.

And since you fear me as a Human Calamity and will try every possible means to eliminate me, then so be it..."

At this moment, a clear and resonant sword whistle suddenly erupted between heaven and earth, like a dragon's roar and a phoenix's cry; a flash of sword light appeared and vanished in an instant!

Where the sword light passed, Chen Chen Yushu's body suddenly stiffened.

He let out a muffled groan; countless scarlet blood lines slowly emerged on his body, shocking to behold, then he merely fell backward toward the sky, his entire body exploding with a boom into a mournful, brilliant mist of blood, leaving no corpse or bone behind!

"Then I shall punish you on behalf of the Heavenly Duke!"

Chen Heng sheathed his sword and stood, speaking.

Unity

(End of Chapter)