Chapter 513: Eliminated

In but an instant, a hundred water curtains surged upward like inverted waterfalls, shaking the air with a deafening roar, as if one stood beneath a vast ocean’s crushing tide, terrifying and awe-inspiring!

One of the Seven Divine Waters—Xuanyin True Water!

At this moment, Xian Yin harbored no trace of condescension toward Chen Hang despite his longer cultivation years; upon their first encounter, he immediately unleashed his most practiced skills.

As Xuanyin True Water spun into a sky-shrouding frost mist, pressing down upon the earth and freezing the ground, Xian Yin also chanted a rapid succession of incantations, not daring to slacken.

First, he spurred the lotus leaf beneath his feet, causing it to bloom with layers of soft, verdant radiance that tightly shielded his body; then he shook his shoulders, and two brilliant lights—one yellow, one white—rose successively from behind him.

If one stared closely, one could see within those two lights: a fearsome demon of solemn majesty, its face flat, crowned and robed in imperial regalia, clad in red robes and black lower garments, like an ancient emperor; and a strange figure entirely veiled in murky mist, its form indiscernible.

Da Xumí Son of Heaven Demon, Youwang Demon!

The most refined methods of subduing demons are often preserved within the great demonic sects—methods such as stripping form and refining shadow, seizing life and binding talismans, the Three Platforms’ Transformation, and more.

As a disciple of Hu Zhao, Xian Yin naturally learned such incantations, and was among the best of his peers.

The two demons before him—Da Xumí Son of Heaven Demon and Youwang Demon, both of the Tianwang lineage—are clear proof of this.

Yet subduing demons is not as simple as merely controlling their minds.

Demons thus obtained would have their potential drastically diminished, no different from lifeless puppets.

But if one merely binds them with a magical contract, the subdued demons inevitably grow lazy, and given their inherently fierce and unruly nature, they may even betray and turn on their master at critical moments.

There is, indeed, great depth to this art.

With his current cultivation, Xian Yin had subdued two Tianwang demons whose strength equaled Foundation Establishment’s third tier—a feat many would find extraordinary.

Though Xian Yin still had several other demons unleased, he knew that against Chen Hang, an opponent of such strength, ordinary demons would be cut down in two strikes—useless for distraction, and a waste of his hard-won efforts.

Just as Xian Yin had released the two Tianwang demons and had not yet moved again, a thunderous roar erupted, shaking the entire land!

Xian Yin turned sharply to see the Xuanyin True Water suddenly shatter, violently torn apart by an overwhelming force.

Amid the scattering frost clouds and yin miasma, a colossal hand—covered in ice spikes and shrouded in cold aura—lunged forward with unstoppable momentum!

“Such immense magic power!”

Xian Yin was slightly startled, but his reaction was instantaneous; he surged forth the layers of protective green radiance to meet the hand.

In but a moment, the hand dissolved into smoke and vanished.

Yet Xian Yin was simultaneously thrown back dozens of zhang, his face slightly flushed, as if his qi had momentarily stagnated.

“Go!”

Having personally tested Chen Hang’s abilities, Xian Yin knew his opponent’s cultivation was no lesser than his own—both had perfected their Inner Scenery and refined their Golden Core to its utmost.

Since direct confrontation was unwise, continuing to fight head-on would be foolish; he must change tactics.

At Xian Yin’s command, Da Xumí Son of Heaven Demon surged forth its divine power, arms outstretched, striking Chen Hang with the force to shake mountains.

Simultaneously, Youwang Demon twisted its body and vanished from its original spot.

Chen Hang’s response was simple: he merely summoned his flying sword, and the two demons were driven back step by step.

Even though Da Xumí Son of Heaven Demon possessed the might to move mountains and shift continents, and Youwang Demon could vanish into the abyss and devour souls and spirits, they were powerless.

Soon, Da Xumí Son of Heaven Demon was nearly cleaved in half by a single sword stroke, and Youwang Demon was driven deep into the earth, too terrified to surface—Xian Yin, still locked in combat with Chen Hang, finally found his opening.

His eyes sharpened; he first shattered several incoming sword qi with a burst of force, then swept his sleeve, and a staff of over ten feet in length, carved from a single piece of emerald jade, appeared, shedding cascading streams of radiant clouds that enveloped the mountains.

Instantly, Chen Hang felt a tremendous pulling force from the ground, as if a giant mouth were trying to drag him down.

The cloud sea beneath his feet shattered and vanished in an instant!

Seeing this, Xian Yin smiled inwardly—he had endured heavy losses to his two powerful demons and been driven into disarray by sword light, all for this moment.

This staff was no ordinary artifact; it was a formidable treasure he had obtained from an ancient ruin, called the Luoxuan Staff, forged from magnetic earth stone, specifically designed to suppress all flight and evasion techniques.

Once activated, unless permitted by Xian Yin, the magnetic earth essence would bind everything within a radius of dozens of li, multiplying weight a hundredfold.

When he first acquired this treasure, Xian Yin had used its power to crush a group of stone demons known for their hardened bodies, reducing them to dust.

Even Yuan Fayan, who had cultivated the Primordial True Water, had suffered a setback from this artifact when his realm was still insufficient.

At present, Xian Yin did not expect the Luoxuan Staff alone to defeat Chen Hang.

He only needed to pin Chen Hang down for a moment—then he could unleash his heaviest blows and turn the tide entirely!

Yet unexpectedly, Chen Hang merely shifted his shoulders, rooted his feet firmly, and withstood the crushing weight without sinking a single inch from the air.

“Rise!”

Xian Yin did not dare delay; he roared loudly, channeling nearly all his magic power into the Luoxuan Staff.

As the artifact unleashed its full power, peaks began to shatter, rocks and soil plummeting heavily downward.

The earth cracked into deep, chaotic fissures, a sight both horrifying and awe-inspiring!

Yet in less than half a breath, in Xian Yin’s stunned gaze, Chen Hang roared aloud and spat out a wisp of smoke.

The smoke moved faster than lightning; with a single boom, the sky seemed to tear open, winds and clouds swirling violently, the Luoxuan Staff violently flipped over several times, its aura dimming.

Under such circumstances, its power could no longer be sustained.

At that moment, a sharp sword qi shot forth; Xian Yin barely managed to summon a cloud of demonic energy to shield himself, narrowly avoiding a severed arm.

The next instant, before he could even exhale, the already shattered sword qi reformed, flashing with cold light once more!

It struck again, from within arm’s reach, continuing its assault on Xian Yin!

Clangs rang incessantly; within mere breaths, the sword qi struck no fewer than a hundred times, too swift to follow.

As Xian Yin was driven to the point of veins bulging on his temples and his qi flow momentarily stalling, a blade of radiant sword light flashed once—brilliant and lethal!

As that sword light passed, Xian Yin’s expression froze; the incantation he had been forming halted mid-gesture.

His entire body stood motionless, as if turned to clay or wood.

Amid the surrounding cries of shock, a crimson bloodline slowly welled from Xian Yin’s third eye.

Then his body split cleanly in two, his eyes dimming, as he toppled backward.

“Is he dead? A man destined for the Pure Yang Dao Fruit was slain by a single sword stroke from Brother Chen?”

Among the many guests observing at Ying Jichuan, Yu Tan had just witnessed Xian Yin’s corpse tumbling from the clouds.

His pupils contracted sharply; he cried out to the middle-aged man beside him:

“Uncle, you said there were several True Person-level cultivators here who could match Brother Chen… but now you’ve seen this—your words must be false!”

The man Yu Tan called uncle was a stout, fair-skinned middle-aged man dressed like a wealthy noble.

He glanced at Yu Tan and shook his head:

“Dead? He’s very much alive. I told you to focus on talisman crafting, yet you insist on learning dual-cultivation!

Fortunately, you’re still at the Dongxuan stage—if you reach Golden Core and still have this poor perception, unable to detect even the slightest clue, then the Great Observation-Stillness Talisman, most suited to your nature, will have been wasted entirely. As for what I said, it’s no lie—you’ll see clearly within the next three months.”

“He’s still alive?”

Yu Tan was clearly startled, his face filled with suspicion.

The stout man paid him no further heed; instead, he turned to a slender, clear-eyed golden-robed boy nearby and chuckled:

“Old Man Qian, your disciple Xian Yin is something else—why pick a fight with anyone but Chen Hang?

He’s no fool, but he’s still inferior to Chen Hang. Such behavior hardly fits your disciple, eh?

I still remember that Golden Core assembly of ours back then—you slipped like an eel, burrowed everywhere, impossible to track—yet you took a disciple so blunt and straightforward. How odd!”

Upon hearing this, several of his peers shook their heads and smiled.

Only the golden-robed boy remained expressionless, silent.

“This unruly disciple… how did his brain grow?”

After a long pause, the golden-robed boy sighed helplessly and shook his head.

Yet within the Emperor’s Imperial Map, though Xian Yin’s corpse lay on the ground, Chen Hang did not leave; instead, he gazed toward a small hill in the northwest and said calmly:

“Master Xian, your trick won’t fool me. Cease your illusions.”

After these words, the arena fell silent.

Dozens of breaths later, Xian Yin’s remains dissolved into a wisp of gray smoke.

Then, atop the nearly destroyed Da Xumí Son of Heaven Demon’s shoulder, a new figure appeared.

“I owe you thanks, Master Chen, for not striking immediately—you gave me time to recover.”

Xian Yin brushed his sleeves and joked:

“That was an incredible sword technique—just a hair’s breadth from losing my head. I’d have missed out on all the delicacies of land and sea! How close!”

“If Master Xian wishes to rest, I’ll grant you the moment.”

Chen Hang replied indifferently:

“I’m genuinely puzzled—why didn’t you flee when you saw me?”

The question was blunt, almost mocking.

Yet Chen Hang’s expression remained calm, devoid of any sarcasm.

Xian Yin thought for a moment, then answered seriously:

“I don’t mean to diminish myself, but with you and several others competing, I’ve already lost any chance at the Golden Core championship—no matter how hard I try, it’s futile.

To be honest, I have an enemy beyond the heavens—he, too, achieved a Grade-One Golden Core, excels in sword art and thunder magic, and is unmatched in combat. I’ve heard he recently emerged from seclusion and has made a tremendous name for himself…

My reason for entering this contest isn’t to win the championship or gain fortune—it’s to observe the talents of the Nine Provinces’ heroes, to prepare myself mentally for the day I face him.”

Chen Hang asked: “Who is he?”

“Fa Sheng Tian, Lin Shulong.”

Xian Yin sighed with genuine emotion:

“I’d hoped to face the others again, but fighting you has shown me… truly…”

His voice trailed off; after a pause, his expression turned solemn:

“Proceed!”

Chen Hang gave a slight nod.

Only after Xuan Yin took the first move did he raise a finger and point; the flying sword flashed once, pushing the Falling Pillar far away.

Having already experienced the flying sword’s power in prior combat, Xuan Yin dared not slacken his guard.

Before he could summon his defensive divine art, a blazing firelight suddenly surged before his eyes, descending like the sky collapsing—fierce, terrifying, overwhelming!

Xuan Yin flung forth the Dark Yin True Water to contend with the Southern Bright Dispersing Fire.

As the opposing cold and heat energies continuously eroded each other, thick mist formed, and Xuan Yin’s heart tightened; instinctively, he formed a teleportation seal and vanished.

The next instant, the very spot where Xuan Yin had stood was instantly covered in ice, pure white.

“I wonder how many more exchanges I can endure…”

Seeing Chen Hang hold the Moon Wheel Mirror—this was the first time since the duel began that he had summoned a magic treasure other than his flying sword—Xuan Yin sighed inwardly, then his gaze sharpened.

Under his watchful gaze, Chen Hang did not press an immediate assault; instead, he glanced inexplicably northward, then recalled the flying sword entangled with the Falling Pillar.

And at this very moment, as Chen Hang and Xuan Yin battled fiercely—

Dozens of miles away, Sima Xiu, who had long concealed his form with divine art, was genuinely startled.

“Did he just sense me?”

Recalling Chen Hang’s inexplicable action, Sima Xiu frowned slightly, uncertain whether it was accidental or deliberate—her mind filled with confusion.

…

…

Dense forests, wild grasses everywhere.

On a small hill shaped like a human head, Sima Xiu cradled a pale white circular light, within which the duel between Chen Hang and Xuan Yin was clearly reflected.

When she saw Xuan Yin leap upward, countless You light beams rising like lanterns around him, dispersing even the heavenly winds as if preparing to fight to the death, Sima Xiu raised an eyebrow slightly, saying nothing.

Due to the Hua Chun Mist, all cultivators present were now blinded to spiritual perception; only when all ten copper fish had been found and refined would the white mist dissipate, allowing them to freely fight.

Otherwise, finding any opponent relied purely on luck.

Sima Xiu had come to this spot purely by accident.

To unexpectedly witness Chen Hang and Xuan Yin clashing was an unexpected boon for her!

Only ten copper fish exist; one must find one, defeat all others who come to seize it, and retain it on one’s person within three days to secure a top-ten position.

Whether a copper fish emerges or is refined and kept close, both events radiate unmistakable energy signatures.

By unseen forces, all cultivators present could sense their location clearly!

Thus, whether Chen Hang or Xuan Yin was eliminated, it meant one less rival for Sima Xiu to face later—truly a good thing.

Had it not been for the rules of this grand assembly, which forbade copper fish from attracting each other before the Hua Chun Mist dispersed—limiting each cultivator to possessing only one at a time—

Sima Xiu would not need to be so cautious; she would have pursued another method.

“Is the outcome about to be decided?”

Before Sima Xiu could ponder further, a vast scene suddenly appeared within the circular light.

Xuan Yin drew breath and let out a sharp cry; his pupils instantly turned pitch black. Chen Hang felt the entire world around him darken as if soaked in ink, then inverted and crushed down upon him!

The protective mist emitted by the Five Qi Cosmic Ring shattered instantly, offering no resistance whatsoever—luckily, Chen Hang swiftly recalled the magic treasure, sparing its true essence from damage.

This was one of the supreme divine arts of the Hu Zhao Sect: Filth-Soaked World!

Once fully formed, it would take root in the earth veins, link to the celestial web, and forge a self-contained prison of filth—no matter how desperately one struggled within, escape was impossible.

BOOM!

A streak of sword light flashed—but it did not strike Xuan Yin; instead, it slashed forward.

Beneath that peerlessly sharp intent, a faint crack of emptiness split open within the blackened world; then the sword light vanished.

“Too bad…”

Xuan Yin saw his supreme divine art intercepted by Chen Hang’s sword light, allowing him to slip away—clearly, no real damage had been done.

Xuan Yin, having wasted vast magic power, knew he was doomed to lose.

He had no time to marvel at Chen Hang’s vast combat experience—how he had seized that fleeting instant to execute the perfect countermeasure.

Soon after, a thunderclap shattered the Dark Yin True Water; Xuan Yin hastily recalled his two dying Heavenly Demons, leapt upward, and was immediately extracted from the diagram.

“…”

At this moment, Sima Xiu was about to move in for an easy advantage, testing how much magic power Chen Hang had expended.

But within the circular light, Chen Hang suddenly turned around, his gaze deep and fixed directly upon her location.

Locking eyes with Chen Hang for a moment, Sima Xiu felt as if a cold blade had been pressed against her throat; her back tensed slightly.

Without a word, she immediately dissolved the circular light and urgently activated a secret technique to flee, fearing Chen Hang might pursue with his sword.

“Cowardly and hidden.”

Chen Hang shook his head slightly, rose into the sky, and vanished.

In less than half a day, a veteran Golden Core cultivator had been eliminated—the first to fall in this contest!

Outside the Imperial Ancestral Map, the murmurs and debates were already raging.

Only after fleeing three hundred li away and seeing Chen Hang did not follow did Sima Xiu halt her movement, her heart now certain.

“He truly sensed me!”

She clenched her fingers tightly, frowning deeply.