When the Nine Stars Sword Formation was activated, it was like the movement of stars, endless and continuous, like opening a subtle stellar vortex that absorbed the vast Star Power from the entire Star Domain, transforming it into the energy source for the sword Formation.
As Star Power continuously poured in, the power of the Nine Stars Sword Formation became even more terrifying; the flashing sword light carried the might to tear through the Void Realm, not only resisting Di Tianxing's attacks but also defeating the Dragon Corpse groups that were harassing the two Nine Nether Kun Whales, preventing them from approaching.
Di Tianxing's face was stern, and a playful smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Interesting, to be able to control such a sword Formation with Puppets is quite surprising to this Emperor. Since you have such ability, this Emperor will play with you.”
As Di Tianxing murmured, a murderous intent flashed in his eyes, and his pupils emitted a faint light as a black Spiritual Artifact flew out from his body.
As soon as the black Spiritual Artifact appeared, the entire Star Domain changed color; a majestic force surged out, emitting a terrifying Dragon might. Engraved on the body of the cauldron were lifelike Dragon patterns, each seeming to contain the ancient Dragon Clan's majesty and power. The Spiritual Artifact rotated on its own, and the Dragon patterns came alive, emitting bursts of Dragon roars that directly impacted Li Mu's Divine Soul, causing it to momentarily freeze.
“Heavenly Dragon Cauldron, turn!” Di Tianxing swiftly formed hand seals, his low murmur containing undeniable authority.
In an instant, the pitch-black Spiritual Artifact seemed to be driven by an invisible force; its rotation speed sharply increased, and its volume expanded a hundredfold in the blink of an eye, like a towering giant Peak standing in the Void Realm.
The intricate Dragon patterns on the cauldron's body seemed to come alive, radiating dazzling light, then transforming into eighteen lifelike giant Dragon phantoms. They coiled and weaved around the Heavenly Dragon Cauldron, forming a breathtaking image of Dragons soaring through the Nine Heavens, creating a distinct and fierce confrontation with the Star Power interwoven by the Nine Stars Sword Formation in the distance.
Feeling the vast pressure from the ancient Dragon Clan, the Nine Stars Sword Formation's sword light became even sharper, and the rotation of the stellar vortex almost reached the limit of what the naked eye could perceive, as if it wanted to devour or repel all forces invading its Domain into the highest heavens.
However, the Heavenly Dragon Cauldron stood as firm as a rock; not only was it unshaken by the sword Formation's sharpness, but it erupted like a volcano, releasing an even thicker Dragon breath that intertwined and collided with the Star Power in the air, creating deafening, star-shaking roars, as if the heavens and earth changed color.
At the same time, those Dragon Corpses that had been dormant for ten thousand Years miraculously revived under the stimulation of this power. The dead light in their eyes gradually returned, flickering with sparks of wisdom and power, as if they had been re-endowed with life by an ancient and mysterious force.
The eighteen giant Dragon Corpses were no longer unconscious husks but transformed into True Dragon Soul warriors, emitting low and majestic roars that echoed the giant Dragon phantoms released by the Heavenly Dragon Cauldron, together weaving a breathtaking Dragon dance spectacle that made the entire starry sky tremble.
“Boy, let this Emperor show you his True Dragon Law Domain!” Di Tianxing's lips curled into a cold and confident smile as he coldly stared at Li Mu, testing him.
The next moment, the giant Dragon phantoms surging from the Heavenly Dragon Cauldron poured into the Dragon Corpses like a torrent, instantly igniting the Dragon Soul fire within them.
“Roar—!” A Dragon roar that pierced the clouds and shook the Star Domain suddenly erupted—it was a call from ancient times, the Awakening of Dragon Souls. The eighteen giant Dragon Corpses completely revived with the injection of the giant Dragon phantoms; the Death Qi on their bodies was replaced by vibrant vitality, their scales shone with dazzling light, and their eyes were filled with sharp murderous intent and an indomitable majesty.
The eighteen Corpse Dragons were like a well-trained Dragon cavalry legion, their Dragon heads held high, spewing scorching Dragon breath from their mouths, protecting Li Mu and the two Nine Nether Kun Whales' Nine Stars Sword Formation as they surged forward.
Facing this sudden change, Li Mu, though surprised, did not panic. He quickly adjusted his mind, focused his attention on forming sword seals, and controlled the nine seventh-tier Puppets, shifting the Nine Stars Sword Formation from offense to defense.
“Nine Stars Sword Formation, Star Condensation!”
As Li Mu whispered, his sword seals changed, and the range of the sword light released by the Nine Stars Sword Formation, controlled by the nine Puppets, rapidly shrunk from one hundred thousand feet, ten thousand feet, to finally only a thousand feet.
Within the mere thousand-foot range of the Nine Stars Sword Formation, the internal starlight was brilliant, the sword light condensed, and the Star Power became even more refined, forming an indestructible Star Power barrier. Sword light flickered, and Star Power intertwined into a net, blocking the surging Dragon breath and building an invisible Great Wall in the starry sky.
The standoff between the True Dragon Law Domain and the Nine Stars Sword Formation was like two poles of heaven and earth, each releasing world-destroying power, yet locked in a stalemate within a delicate balance.
Di Tianxing's True Dragon Law Domain, with the Heavenly Dragon Cauldron as its core, and the giant Dragon phantoms and Dragon Corpse group complementing each other, caused Dragon breath to surge like a black storm, attempting to devour everything;
While Li Mu's Nine Stars Sword Formation was like a stellar guardian, its sword light condensed, and its stellar barrier was indestructible, fending off the Dragon breath and guarding a world of its own.
Beneath this starry sky, the clash of the two forces was like the collision of two planets, erupting violently, shaking the stars, twisting the Void Realm. The confrontation between the True Dragon Law Domain and the Nine Stars Sword Formation had transcended a simple competition of Cultivation Technique and swordsmanship, evolving into a contest of Law and will.
Di Tianxing's face was cold, his lips slightly upturned, and his eyes gleamed with smugness. He had already seen Li Mu's 'depth'; it was merely by relying on the advantage of Puppets, Dao swords, and the sword Formation that he could withstand the impact of the True Dragon Law Domain. Once the energy of those nine Puppets was exhausted, victory would only be a matter of time.
Li Mu silently maintained the defensive posture of the Nine Stars Sword Formation, while also noticing that although the eighteen giant Dragon Corpses gained powerful vitality with the injection of the giant Dragon phantoms, their movements were still subject to some invisible restraint, seemingly not entirely free. Moreover, because they were resurrected from death, although their internal power was strong, there were also unstable factors.
Li Mu frowned, pondering a solution, and secretly calculated in his heart that while the defensive stance of the Nine Stars Sword Formation could temporarily stabilize the situation, in the long run, the energy of the nine Puppets would eventually run out, at which point the Nine Stars Sword Formation would be difficult to maintain… and he also didn't know what other trump cards the opponent had. He needed to remain vigilant at all times, constantly deducing various possible countermeasures.
Their minds raced, yet the collision of the two forces did not cease for a moment; instead, it grew more intense, and the entire Star Domain was violently shaken by this sudden, world-shaking confrontation.
Qingyang Zi's remnant Divine Soul, residing in the soul world pearl, 'watched' the two engage in the fierce, drawn-out battle, his shocked emotions unable to calm down for a long time.
Qingyang Zi hadn't expected Li Mu to effortlessly resist Night Emperor - Di Tianxing's attack, let alone make him summon the 'Heavenly Dragon Cauldron,' fighting back and forth, with Di Tianxing unable to defeat Li Mu for a long time.
Night Emperor - Di Tianxing was a proud Genius who had made a name for himself in his era. Regardless of how he had squandered these 'ten thousand Years' without breaking through to the Dao Lord Realm, he was still a Peak Combined Body Realm Cultivator, which was enough to prove the profoundness of his foundation, far beyond what ordinary Cultivators could compare to.
However, Li Mu, as a junior, being a major Realm lower, fought this Peak Combined Body Realm expert to a standstill, even showing signs of holding his own. How could this not shock and move Qingyang Zi?
Qingyang Zi's assessment of Li Mu couldn't help but rise a few more points, and he secretly worried for him.
Although the current standoff seemed evenly matched, Li Mu was actually in an extremely disadvantageous position. While Puppets were strong, they had limits; while sword Formations were ingenious, they required massive amounts of spiritual energy. As for Di Tianxing, as a Peak Combined Body Realm expert, his True Dragon Law Domain was not only astonishingly powerful but also contained his profound understanding and application of Law, which was beyond Li Mu's reach.
“Young friend, this Night Emperor - Di Tianxing is extraordinary; do not confront him head-on. If there's an opportunity, you must find a way to escape. He's definitely after your two Nine Nether Kun Whales. Don't be reluctant; save your life first.” Qingyang Zi urgently reminded Li Mu via mental transmission.
“Understood, Senior!” Li Mu acknowledged, then curiously asked, “What is the background of this Night Emperor - Di Tianxing? What Cultivation Technique does he Cultivate?”
Given the current situation, Li Mu was still confident in maintaining the stalemate. Asking him to abandon the two Nine Nether Kun Whales was something he couldn't bring himself to do. If he could know this person's background and information, perhaps he could find a way to counter him.
Qingyang Zi sighed, seemingly recalling the past, and explained in detail: “Night Emperor - Di Tianxing was a prominent figure in my era, the Saint of the Ask Heaven Sect. He achieved Body Integration in three thousand Years and was hailed as a Genius rarely seen in a thousand Years. The Cultivation Technique he primarily Cultivated is called: 'Dragon Emperor Art,' the supreme secret transmission of the Ask Heaven Sect. This Cultivation Technique can connect with the Dragon Vein Qi between heaven and earth, drawing forth the power of True Dragons, making the Cultivator like a Dragon entering the sea in battle, with infinite power. Di Tianxing, relying on this Cultivation Technique, was invincible among the younger generation, and even older generation experts were wary of him.”
“However, his ambition was not limited to the Ask Heaven Sect. For this, he spared no cost to improve his strength, even dabbling in forbidden arts, attempting to peek into the Heavenly Dao to break through the Body Integration Realm and step into the legendary Dao Lord Realm. Ten thousand Years without becoming a Dao Lord means no longevity. If there were no accidents, his current situation should be that he disbanded his body and re-Cultivated a more extreme Cultivation Technique, having gone astray. Although his Cultivation is unfathomable, he has never been able to cross that final threshold.”
After a pause, Qingyang Zi told Li Mu his guess: “As for why he is interested in the Nine Nether Kun Whales in your possession, it is because the Nine Nether Kun Whales are ancient exotic beasts, containing rich Nine Nether Qi within their bodies. For Cultivators with unusual attributes like him, they are extremely rare treasures, which is why he is relentlessly pursuing you.”
“So that’s it. Thank you for informing me, Senior.”
Li Mu suddenly understood. While communicating with Qingyang Zi, his hands were not idle. He multitasked, controlling the nine seventh-tier Puppets to continue wielding the Nine Stars Sword Formation. He had already regarded this battle as a test of strength, preparing to examine what he had gained from decades of closed-door Cultivation.
For decades in the Lost Void Realm, Li Mu had never been idle. With the upgrade of the Star Cloud Contemplation Method and his research into Divine Runes, his skills in various aspects of cultivation arts had improved and transformed, and his combat style had undergone rich changes.
In previous combat, Li Mu relied more on his own Cultivation, controlling the Spiritual Artifacts he refined, setting up sword Formations, or controlling a few spirit beasts to form arrays against enemies.
Li Mu's current methods were far more extensive. With the Perfection of the Star Cloud Contemplation Method, his perception of the Heaven and Earth Origin Qi reached an unprecedented level of detail; the entire battlefield was perfectly clear under his Divine Soul. And his research into Divine Runes had enhanced the power of the Spiritual Artifacts, Puppets, spiritual talismans, and even Formations he refined by several times, endowing them with unique spirituality and variations.
It could be said that with the trump cards Li Mu currently controlled, even against a Peak Combined Body Realm Cultivator a major Realm higher than himself, he felt no fear. Even if he couldn't win, his means of escape were unparalleled.
At this moment, the Dragon breath within the True Dragon Law Domain surged, tearing through the air like a tangible force. Each impact carried world-destroying power, attempting to break through the Nine Stars Sword Formation in one fell swoop. However, the Nine Stars Sword Formation seemed to possess life; the nine seventh-tier Puppets performed their respective duties, and as sword light intertwined, they formed an impenetrable defensive net, weakening the immense power layer by layer, dissolving attacks one by one, making it impervious to water and magic.
As time passed, the nine Puppets showed no signs of energy depletion; instead, under Li Mu's skillful deployment, their coordination with the sword Formation became increasingly seamless, forming a nearly perfect defensive System.
Di Tianxing's calculations did not materialize. The Nine Stars Sword Formation displayed unimaginable defensive power and resilience. As sword light flowed, Star Power continuously gathered, and the nine Puppets controlling the Spiritual Artifacts seemed to unconsciously replenish their spiritual energy consumption from it.
The overall consumption of this Nine Stars Sword Formation was far lower than he had anticipated. It was not a static defensive System but more like a self-sufficient ecosystem, constantly cycling and regenerating in battle. When the Puppets' spiritual energy seemed close to depletion, the Star Power within the sword Formation would automatically flow into their bodies, replenishing their energy, allowing them to continuously engage in high-intensity combat.
Noticing this, Di Tianxing's expression flashed with disbelief and solemnity. He realized that he was not just facing an ordinary sword Formation but a Heaven and Earth Formation that contained the mysteries of the universe and could self-repair and enhance itself.
In this situation, he could only break the Law with force, or find the weaknesses of the Formation's core and break it in one go.
However, the layout of this sword Formation was extremely vast and grand, and its evolution was incredibly complex. Di Tianxing had considerable research into Formations, but searching for its core was like searching for a speck of dust in a vast starry sea, both difficult and full of unknowns. Therefore, all he could do was break the Formation with force.
Di Tianxing frowned deeply, having already made up his mind. His spiritual energy surged around him like boiling lava, and his eyes flickered with determination and coldness. He continuously accumulated power, preparing to break through this sword Formation with a single strike.
“Boy, die!”
A murderous intent flashed in Di Tianxing's eyes, and his Aura instantly surged. He slammed his palms together, pouring all his profound True Essence into the Heavenly Dragon Cauldron. (End of this chapter)
