Chapter 126: Ripple
Chapter 126: Ripple
Xu Disheng had no time to ponder deeply. The array diagram had already enveloped the area and his vision blurred. When everything returned to normal, he found that his surroundings had transformed into a boundless ocean. Beneath his feet, the Yin Yang Diagram was resting on the surface of the calm waters.
Back in the arena, Xu Disheng had vanished from his position without a trace. All that remained was the Demon Punishing Array Diagram, which enveloped the entire arena, and Kou Zun standing by its side.
“Where did he go?”
“What are we even here to look at?”
“I can’t see anything!”
Many disciples started to complain loudly. After so many people placed bets on this match, the mood and the atmosphere had reached a peak. By this point, the surging group mentality bolstered them, making them dare to loudly voice their discontent in the presence of the Spirit Masters.
But there were so many people protesting, and their complaints were well founded, so the Spirit Masters couldn’t punish their behavior.
Tao Yuanbai looked down at the disciples below. Some of their eyes were bloodshot, greatly agitated since they bet a large amount of spirit stones on this match.
He turned around to face Tranquil Cypress Spirit Master, who was on the lowest chariot, and cupped his hands in salute, quietly reporting several lines to her.
(TL: Tranquil White Spirit Master → Tranquil Cypress Spirit Master. She is a relatively recently ascended Divine Core stage Spirit Master, last mentioned in Chapter 91.)
A cloth shawl appeared in Tranquil Cypress Spirit Master’s hands. When she waved it, a screen of light appeared above the giant arena, showing Xu Disheng’s figure atop the boundless ocean.
“This is the inside of the Demon Punishing Array!”
“The space inside is actually comparable to a Psychic Magic Treasure!”
“It was originally supposed to be a Psychic Magic Treasure, but there was a mistake at the end of the refining process.”
“So even a great Primordial Lord can make mistakes,” a disciple muttered quietly. He noticed people looking over at him, so he quickly turned away and shut himself up.
… …
As Xu Disheng stood there atop the ocean, he noticed several dangerous intents lock onto him from the void.
Kou Zun pointed at him and one of the sword lights in the array diagram shot towards Xu Disheng with a brilliant streak of red.
But at this moment, Xu Disheng wasn’t in a hurry.
.
In the horizon above Xu Disheng’s head, the blazing red sword light whistled through the air and slashed against Xu Disheng’s body.
Clang!
The Smoky Cloud Screen appeared around his body and blocked the sword light. The barrier shook from the powerful impact.
“Zhao Yueban’s Smoky Cloud Screen?” Kou Zun commented dryly. He willed power into the array, and the four longsword Magic Treasures started to simultaneously shoot out sword lights, streaking towards Xu Disheng in a variety of four different colored lights.
Brilliant red sword light, imbued with killing intent.
Blazing white sword light, clad with destruction intent.
Pale sword light, pressing down with an oppressive intent.
The final color was a dark green sword light, filled with corrosive intent.
The four colored sword lights whizzed towards him from afar, hacking upon the Smoky Cloud Screen at the same time.
Bang!
Deafening booms echoed out, causing countless pillars of water to shoot up from the water. The sonic waves from the impact blasted outwards in all directions, causing the surface of the ocean to churn and roil.
Xu Disheng swallowed a Qi Boosting Pill and continued to pour everything into the Smoky Cloud Screen.
The Smoky Cloud Screen consumed profound qi at a rapid pace. He was only at the early Sea of Qi stage and he had to endure the barrage of multiple sword lights, so he needed to replenish his profound qi immediately.
However… Kou Zun also began to pour profound qi into his Demon Punishing Array Diagram, and several times more sword lights than before started to hammer down on Xu Disheng, leaving him no time to breathe.
“By the looks of it, Xu Disheng will have no problem fending off Senior Martial Brother Kou’s sword lights,” an early Sea of Qi stage disciple who was rather inexperienced commented dubiously.
“What do you know? Senior Martial Brother Kou is hardly even using 10 or 20% of the might of the Demon Punishing Array Diagram. Like you said, those are just sword lights. The actual longsword Magic Treasures haven’t even moved once, you know?” a more experienced and knowledgeable Sea of Qi stage disciple sneered.
Sure enough, in the arena, the four longswords were still floating at four different corners of the Demon Punishing Array Diagram. They hadn’t moved yet and were just repeatedly firing off sword lights, and even then Xu Disheng looked like he was just barely managing to fend them off.
The sword lights faded away. All that remained of the barrier from the Smoky Cloud Screen was just a thin veil. From somewhere above the surface of the ocean, Kou Zun’s voice rang out. “Do you still think you can kill me now, Junior Martial Brother Xu? I only revealed a bit of my power so far, and you’re already having trouble keeping up?”
As soon as he finished speaking, one of the four swords, the blazing white Demon Punishing Sword, moved!
The top-grade Magic Treasure known as the Demon Punishing Sword was shrouded in an aura of destruction. It was also receiving a strengthening effect from the Demon Punishing Array Diagram. It shot out in an electrifying flash of white, arcing towards Xu Disheng in an instant!
Pfff!
The blazing white sword light streaked down from the heavens, ruthlessly penetrating into the depths of the ocean. A massive wave 300 meters tall rose up from the impact, reaching towards the skies!
The Smoky Cloud Screen around Xu Disheng was shattered in one go, and there was a bloody, gaping hole in his left leg where the Demon Punishing Sword had pierced right through. An aura of destruction lingered around the edges of the wound, stopping his flesh from regenerating and even slowly widening the gaping hole in his leg.
“Senior Martial Brother Kou’s Demon Punishing Array Diagram is simply peerless in strength. It’s already comparable to a Psychic Magic Treasure.” Some of the disciples looked envious as they watched the mighty display of the Demon Punishing Swords.
“If he had a Psychic Magic Treasure, he wouldn’t have even been taken into the array diagram in the first place. If Senior Martial Brother Kou couldn’t take him into the array, the might of the Demon Punishing Array Diagram would be far less.” Some of the other disciples commented, giving a fair evaluation of the situation.
Kou Zun’s other three swords also shot out. His voice echoed from on high, resounding in Xu Disheng’s ears. “Xu Disheng, this is already me holding back. If you admit defeat now, you’ll only have lost a leg.”
Kou Zun didn’t insist on killing him. Even though he had Pure Ocean Spirit Master as his backer, Xu Disheng also had Celestial Tide Spirit Master behind him. Both Spirit Masters had authority in the Mountain Range, and were of similar ranking, so he had to at least give some face where it was due.
When Xu Disheng entered the arena, he already knew that if it came down to a fight comparing Magic Treasures, he definitely wouldn’t stand a chance.
But despite that, he still wasn’t admitting defeat. Just where was his confidence coming from?
Doubt began to rise in the hearts of the countless spectating disciples. Some of the disciples with more discerning eyes could see that if the four Demon Punishing Swords attacked all at once, Xu Disheng would undoubtedly perish. Even if the Smoky Cloud Screen was completely intact again, it still might not be able to block the full power of a simultaneous attack by the four Demon Punishing Swords.
So why was he still not admitting defeat?
Did he really want to die today?
Xu Disheng’s left leg was already useless, forcing him to one knee atop the Yin Yang Diagram. As he sensed the four peerless sword intents in the sky, great waves began to ripple in his heart.
He finally remembered the name of the array diagram from his memories.
He had once heard Little Sky speak to him of the beings known as Immortals.
And the name of that heaven-shaking, earth-shattering array diagram from his memories was none other than… the Immortal Punishing Sword Formation!
Xu Disheng channeled Soul Force into his left leg, temporarily numbing it so he could ignore the excruciating pain. His hands flashed through a series of hand seals and an Evil Spirit skull came out from his sea of consciousness and appeared above his head.
It was the fifth scripture of Soul Song, the Extinguishing Soul Mantra!
Originally, even if he used the Extinguishing Soul Mantra in this ocean domain, he wouldn’t have any way of precisely locating Kou Zun’s position.
But with the memories he recalled, he became aware of a small imperfection in the array diagram. This was his chance.
The Evil Spirit skull transformed into a single mote of black light and dropped into the surface of the ocean, submerging into the depths of the seemingly limitless ocean.
Back on the chariots atop the giant turtle, Killing Heart Spirit Master Yu Xingchao said, “This secret ghost Dao technique is incredibly powerful. Last time, Xu Disheng used this secret technique to kill Zhao Yueban. It can directly pass through the defenses of top-grade Magic Treasures. Perhaps only a Psychic Magic Treasure could block it somewhat.”
From a lower seat chariot, Tranquil Cypress Spirit Master responded, “But even if he uses this secret technique, how is he going to defend himself if Kou Zun sends down all four of his Demon Punishing Swords?”
Yu Xingchao shook his head, as if he was already seeing the image of Xu Disheng being sliced to bits in the next moment by the four sword lights.
Unless the disciples fighting were unrivaled geniuses with Rank 4 Spiritual Roots, the Spirit Masters would pretty much never interfere in a fight between disciples.
At most, if someone admitted defeat and the other party was still attacking, they would step in to save their life.
But at this moment, Xu Disheng still hadn’t admitted defeat. Even if Celestial Tide Spirit Master wanted to, he had no grounds to intervene whatsoever.
Tranquil Cypress Spirit Master cast a doubtful glance over at Celestial Tide Spirit Master, whose eyes were still closed as ever, deep in meditation.
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