Yu Ci, a man whose body seemed perpetually on the brink of collapse, crashed violently into the protruding part of the cliff wall below. He bounced back like a massive rubber ball, falling with a thunderous crash, only to rebound with a velocity even faster than his descent, charging towards the rapidly descending Sun Soul Banner. His audacious momentum was as if he was stunned.
This was the visual image, but in Tu Du's Yin Spirit Sensing, it was a different scene altogether.
The boiling Qi and Blood of the young man, due to his intense movement, suddenly converged into a solid mass at this moment, pulling every inch of his muscles and bones, forming a perfect sphere without any flaw. Precisely because of this, the downward force could be transmitted through the rebound, transforming into a more superior impulse, shooting upwards.
The instantaneous transformation had exhausted the potential of the human body's muscles, tendons, and bones. Even theoretically, in the Long Breath Realm, after the flesh body has been strengthened, such actions could be performed. But who could, at this critical moment, so perfectly control every muscle and bone in their body, aligning them with the theoretical construct of the Talisman, turning disadvantage into advantage, and finally counterattacking?
Tu Du had never seen such a case among Golden Elixir cultivators or below!
Just this one rebound had caused the tremendous impact force that had been accumulating for nearly thirty miles to shoot upwards in a jaw-dropping manner, without wasting a single bit!
Was it madness? No, it was a buildup of power!
Suddenly becoming the target of Sword Energy, Tu Du couldn't help but think: Could this be another premeditated plan?
He couldn't help but think so!
The prolonged, insane descent, the creeping shadow of the Demons below, the sudden counterattack, all these irrational factors converged at this time and place. What could it be other than a premeditated plan?
What was this young man really up to?
Tu Du suddenly felt that all his previous judgments had to be overturned. From beginning to end, he had not seen through Yu Ci.
Such a thought made Tu Du, the Grand Elder, feel irritated and hard to restrain. However, having lived for over three hundred years, how shrewd was he! Although the scene below was shaking his mind, although Yu Ci's reaction was unexpected, although his own emotions were also a problem, the gradually forming Curse technique was not affected at all.
At this moment, the "Ghost Realm Flame Prison" was activated. The invisible Curse Power, carrying the Supreme Solar Flame on the Sun Soul Banner, was sprayed out and reached Yu Ci in the blink of an eye. As soon as it sensed the abundant Qi and Blood in Yu Ci, the Curse Power burst out, pulling the blazing flame, dividing and forking like suddenly opened claws, instantly spreading to a radius of several feet, enclosing Yu Ci within, and suddenly contracting!
The Curse Power circled around, the flames converged, aiming to burn Yu Ci beyond recognition. To an old man who had been self-imprisoned underground for decades, this young, handsome, and vibrant fellow, Yu Ci, was truly an eyesore.
However, from the already converged flames, a red glow pierced through!
Surrounded by surging flames, Yu Ci was as calm as still water. His sword-holding hand was as firm as iron, not trembling in the slightest.
As soon as his sword was drawn, he knew its weight and urgency. The tip of Yu Ci's sword pointed not at anything else, but at Tu Du's Yin Spirit... and beyond that, the Sun Soul Banner!
The information on Monk Zheng Yan was as clear as crystal: The Sun Soul Banner, a magical instrument, possessed a dual-layered firepower. The outer layer was an Extreme Yang Fire, wild and invasive, used for slaying enemies; the inner layer was a Pure Yang Energy, gentle and nourishing, most suitable for cultivating the Yin Spirit. Tu Du's curse technique was formidable. On regular days, he seldom used the Extreme Yang Fire, instead, he used the Pure Yang Energy more often to protect his Yin Spirit. This was precisely where the Sun Soul Banner held its greatest value for him.
With the Pure Yang Energy as a cover, the aura of the Yin Spirit was hard to reveal. As such, it could avoid cosmic tribulations like thunderbolts even when not returning to its orifice, thus safeguarding the Yin Spirit. Now it seemed that this layer of Pure Yang Energy could deceive both the celestial senses and the senses of the demons. Hence, even as the distance closed in, the demons remained largely unresponsive.
During his frantic run between life and death, Yu Ci had already thought through this issue. At this moment, as he turned to wield his sword, his thoughts were already solidified on the blade, unshaken.
Regardless of the situation, a head-on collision with a Golden Elixir cultivator was always the least desirable choice. However, when all other preparations one after another failed, and it ultimately came down to this, Yu Ci was already at peace.
I have tried my best, success or failure is in the hands of fate. Now, all I need is to steel my heart and fight once more.
Compared to those who plot and agonize, deciding life and death with a single sword is exhilarating!
At this moment, the seemingly insurmountable "enemy" disintegrated. The mountains, rocks, trees, birds of prey, and ferocious beasts lost all their significance, only the Sun Soul Banner in the sky remained, becoming the sole target under his sword aura.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
The decomposition, transformation, and concentration of this target happened so naturally, without him expending any energy. The change in target also shifted the immense pressure, the Sword Energy accumulated within him to the peak was no longer suppressed, and roared like a starving beast that had just broken free from its cage.
Yu Ci seized this ferocious impact, naturally triggering the second talisman sealed in the Divine Bronze Mirror — the Godspeed Talisman.
His foot stepped on the almost vertical cliff wall, using the momentum to generate a huge upward force. With the buoyancy provided by the Godspeed Talisman in a short period, Yu Ci even felt as if the world was tilting, as if he was standing on flat ground, striding forward.
In the first two steps, the violent beating of his heart was still clear. But from the third step onwards, all distractions faded away. Only the Sword Technique in his hand, like an extension of his heart, mind, and hand, pierced into the firewall ahead. At this moment, the vibration of the Sword Technique was the vibration of his heart, and the vibration of his heart was the vibration of his Original Soul!
When these three elements harmonized, they affected his physical body, causing the Primordial Qi, Original Soul, and Sinew Channels to oscillate! Clear vibrations spread from a certain point of his body. At this moment, Yu Ci felt as if every part of his body was perfectly round, transforming his entire body into a dense, internally cohesive sphere, flawless.
Then, the obscure and gloomy external forces revealed themselves, trying in every possible way to infiltrate and disrupt Yu Ci's perfect harmony of heart, technique, and body. But they were hindered halfway by the Talisman to Ward off Poison and Evil and the Heart-Tugging Horn. By the time they broke through the invisible barrier, Yu Ci's sword-gripping hand remained as solid as a rock, the internal oscillation became even more delicate. Without the need to deliberately mobilize Primordial Qi and the like, this oscillation alone shattered the curse technique within the flames, and bravely charged ahead.
The Red Glow, akin to a dragon, burst forth through the wall, and in the moment of tearing through the firewall, the sword aura hummed and abruptly became ethereal, like a layer of dark red mist. As time passed, even the color had faded away, leaving only a layer of illusory mist that merged into the rolling sea of clouds.
Within the mist, Yu Ci's figure disappeared, but the chilling sword aura was as radiant as the moon rising beneath the sea surface, illuminating the sea of clouds and dazzling the eyes.
Above, the Sun Soul Banner, as if encountering a venomous snake, abruptly shifted to the side.
Tu Du's reaction was swift. Without minding his dignity, he gave way when necessary. As soon as the Long Flag moved away, the surrounding Curse Power Barrier was silently scraped away layer by layer. Within the mist from all sides, there seemed to be the sound of clashing swords. In response, the Grand Sun Golden Patterns on the banner shone brightly, a tangible ring of golden light spreading out, resisting the sharp and unrivaled Sword Energy.
By this time, the one who released the sword had already cleared a path, heading straight into the mist-filled void.
Tu Du was truly astonished: "Divine Soul Sword Control, no, this Sword aura Intricate Mastery, it's clearly derived from the top-notch Great True Illusion Sword Divine... Is it the Heaven Escape Killing Sword? Half Mountain Mirage? Or the Upper True Nine Heavens?"
His knowledge was not lacking, but because it was too vast, he was unable to make an accurate judgment, or rather, he had already thought of the answer, but was unwilling to voice it.
At this moment, a hundred feet above, Yu Ci's figure flashed across the sky, showing a tendency to descend. Sensing the changes, Tu Du's intention finally shifted to that aspect. He recalled the middle-aged Taoist in the Sky Rift Valley years ago, who melded Sword Energy with the valley's mist into a mysterious unity:
"Or perhaps, it's the Transforming Departure Sword Mist... Lichen Sect's Secret Heart Sword?"
While Tu Du wavered between right and wrong, Yu Ci felt incredibly wonderful.
This was an absolutely wonderful process of sword control!
Yu Ci felt as if he was about to take flight. In fact, his feet had indeed left the cliff wall, and his body seemed to have become ethereal, like a wisp of smoke soaring into the sky, commanding the sword to ride the wind, ascending to the Nine Heavens.
"Nine Heavens" might be somewhat exaggerated, but when Yu Ci detached from the harmonious state of his Original Soul and flesh body, he opened his eyes to see nothing but the boundless void around him. Clouds swirled past him, and the piercing sound of tearing through the air still echoed in his ears.
Piercing through the clouds and fog, leaping thousands of feet, what is this?
"Sword Control Flight to the Heavens!"
Yu Ci stretched his limbs, completely breaking free from his state of self-forgetfulness. The upward momentum waned, and the weight of his body became increasingly distinct, transitioning from non-existence to existence. He greedily inhaled the slightly choking air of the canyon, replenishing his nearly depleted body.
He didn't know how he had executed this marvelous sword move, nor when he would be able to do it again, but that didn't stop him from firmly remembering this sensation. Then, he looked down, seeing the surging waves of fog in the profound darkness below.
And within the fog waves, the swaying Long flag. Everything seemed unchanged, yet Yu Ci was certain that during the initial stage of his Sword Control Flight to the Heavens, his Sword Energy had collided head-on with the Curse Power Barrier surrounding the Long flag. Had he not broken through it, he wouldn't have reached these heights.
Therefore, as he plummeted, lightning once again flashed between his fingers. Success or failure, this was the moment!
Tu Du, of course, sensed Yu Ci's movement. Seeing him no longer using that unfathomable Sword aura, he temporarily set aside his worries and even sneered at Yu Ci's choice, "Even if you use that Five Thunder Law ten more times, so what?"
Though he said this, he was somewhat flustered in his heart. Yu Ci's wave of fierce Sword Energy had greatly exceeded his expectations, not only breaking through the Ghost Realm Fire Prison and tearing apart his Curse Power blockade, but also piercing through the outer defenses and attacking the Sun Soul Banner within.
Even if it was just a tiny bit...
As he was thinking, the cloudy and misty void was illuminated by the glaring lightning.
In the "Shangqing Star Secret Talisman Book," the Thunder Talisman Summary states: Thunder is the command of heaven, and the Five-Thunder Talismans respond to the situation, using their own energy to connect with the Yin and Yang Force of Evil, echoing the Creation of Heaven and Earth, commanding Ghost Gods, summoning wind and rain, striking evil spirits, and refining Ethereal Soul!
The vast void seemed to be instantly filled with dark clouds, dyeing the fog a pitch black, and a layer of faint purple halo was added to the outside, corresponding to the Heavenly Mechanism. Firelight burst from all directions, transforming into sword-like lightning, tearing the sky apart.
In the pervasive lightning, Yu Ci grinned, "I forgot to mention, that Five-Thunder Talisman just now was something I picked up...
"This one now, is the — Five-Thunder Bombardment!"
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I have also posted the following more chapters [All free] on: https://www.readgates.com/article/74a39e