“Hmph, mere parlor tricks,” Gongyang snorted coldly.
The Nine Netherworld Roc spread its wings, unleashing two black blades, one from each side, which collided with the incoming blade light.
Bang—
Trees snapped, and a fierce wind howled.
Everyone's robes and hair fluttered in the wind, their eyes fixed intently on Fang Yuan and Gongyang.
Just a month ago, when Fang Yuan first entered the Hehuan Sect, his cultivation was only at the early Foundation Establishment Stage, but now he was at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment.
What surprised everyone even more was that Fang Yuan was in no way inferior to Gongyang in terms of Dao techniques.
“A genius, Fang Yuan is an out-and-out genius,” an Elder murmured softly.
The others remained silent, clearly agreeing with the Elder's words.
It was precisely because Fang Yuan was too monstrous that they hadn't pressured him too much, hoping he would return to the Hehuan Sect and become its public face.
It was just a pity that Fang Yuan seemed to have lost his mind, inexplicably kidnapping Liu Meiqing, and his reason was even more absurd: to take Liu Meiqing back to be his elder brother's bandit chieftain's wife.
If he succeeded, the Hehuan Sect would truly become the laughingstock of the entire cultivation world.
The esteemed Saintess of the Hehuan Sect reduced to a prisoner; if this got out, Liu Meiqing, as Saintess, would be ruined.
Regardless of the outcome of this battle, the Elders would not allow Fang Yuan to leave this place.
Fang Yuan apparently realized this, which was why he hadn't made such a request from the start.
He had intended to use Gongyang to stall for time, but the other party simply wouldn't cooperate, immediately resorting to Martial Soul Fusion, as if to show off his power.
Fang Yuan cursed under his breath, merging the two sword hilts together, which began to spin slowly, then faster and faster.
He stared intently at the Nine Netherworld Roc in the void, muttering, “Blades turn like rings, locking the nine netherworlds of the spirit platform. The body transforms into a dragon's shadow, dual blades dance in the clear autumn. Cold light guards the golden palace, all methods cannot imprison.”
Cold light surrounded Fang Yuan, and sword qi transformed into a dragon, ready to strike.
“Dual Blade Style Second Form: Returning Heaven Embracing Moon!”
A bright moon suddenly appeared behind him.
Bang—
The ground shattered, and Fang Yuan transformed into an afterimage, instantly vanishing from his original spot.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on his figure.
The blade light shattered the void, striking towards the Nine Netherworld Roc against the flow.
Crack, crack—
Cracking sounds echoed.
The shield in front of the Nine Netherworld Roc shattered inch by inch, instantly crumbling.
Gongyang's expression changed, and he violently flapped his wings, sending down a dense rain of black blades, all of which struck Fang Yuan.
The dragon's shadow looked up, soaring against the black blades, finally exploding in front of Gongyang.
Bang—
The explosion resounded through the sky, and black mist filled the air, making it impossible to see what was happening inside.
Zhao Mubai and the others were now in immense agony; if Fang Yuan fell, all of them would die here.
Just as everyone was looking on with anticipation, a muffled voice sounded from within the black mist: “Thirty-six stacked blades, the Qi Sea churns with a raging tide.
Before the previous blade falls, a new edge arrives; the old momentum is broken by the new blade.
Slaying all three thousand threads of vexation, breaking through illusion to see the true Golden Core.”
“Dual Blade Style Third Form: Thousand Calamity Overlapping Waves!”
Countless blade lights pierced through the black mist, revealing the scene inside.
Fang Yuan was covered in blade aura, like a blazing sun, stinging everyone's eyes.
The surrounding spiritual energy was boiling, and a scorching aura permeated the air, with waves of energy layering and sweeping away everything around.
Gongyang's expression darkened, and he once again unleashed his full cultivation.
Two clusters of nether flames appeared behind the Nine Netherworld Roc, emanating a chilling yin aura, and in its mouth, a black pellet was forming, growing larger and larger.
“Fang Yuan, die!”
“You're not worthy!”
Fang Yuan merged his dual blades and slashed towards the sky.
“Break!”
The blade light gleamed, and energy waves surged like a tide, as if to shatter this entire world.
Bang, bang—
Consecutive explosions rang out, and everyone was pushed back by the powerful aftershocks.
All the nearby trees turned into dust and vanished into the air, and the ground, with flying sand and stones, was all reduced to powder.
Qin Hao stood in front of Fan Xiaomei and the others, blocking wave after wave of energy.
As the aftershocks dissipated, everyone immediately looked up at the sky.
Fang Yuan was seen hunched over, holding two broken blades in his hands, his clothes tattered, and streaks of blood covered his entire body.
Pfft—
Suddenly, he spat out a large mouthful of blood.
“Fang Yuan!”
“Brother Fang Yuan!”
“Junior Brother Fang!”
Three voices sounded simultaneously, coming from different places.
Fang Yuan glanced at Meng Ke'er behind Min Hong and threw her a flirtatious wink.
“He's practically dying, and he's still flirting with girls,” Qin Hao muttered.
On the other side, Gongyang stood tall and straight in mid-air, his eyes fixed on Fang Yuan.
“Gongyang won!” the Hehuan Sect disciples cheered collectively.
“Did Fang Yuan lose?” Zhao Mubai and the others' faces instantly turned pale, and they slumped to the ground, showing unwilling expressions.
Just then, the old woman's voice suddenly rang out, saying with a complex tone, “Fang Yuan won.”
As soon as her words fell, Gongyang's body suddenly split into countless pieces, falling to the ground with a pattering sound.
Fang Yuan's lips curved upward, and he absorbed Gongyang's remnant soul into the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.
“Fang Yuan, you truly surprise Five Elder again and again,” the old woman sighed. “No matter what, we must take you back today. We'll release you when you stop causing trouble.”
Saying that, the old woman took a step forward, accompanied by two Nascent Soul Stage Elders.
“Gongyang is dead, the Hehuan Sect has lost a talented disciple. Fang Yuan, if you remain stubborn, don't blame us for being ruthless and crippling your cultivation!” an Elder said with a murderous tone, scolding him.
“You can try. I never wanted to fall out with the Hehuan Sect, but if you dare to mess around, I, Fang Yuan, swear to the heavens that one day I will flatten the entire Hehuan Sect!”
Fang Yuan became extremely serious at this moment, his sharp eyes sweeping over everyone from the Hehuan Sect.
“Impudent!” the old woman's killing intent was chilling. “Don't think that just because you have some talent, you can be arrogant and conceited. The Hehuan Sect has existed for tens of thousands of years, with countless geniuses. Without you, Fang Yuan, the Hehuan Sect will cultivate another Fang Yuan.”
“I have seen countless geniuses, and there are many who are more monstrous than you, but how many have made it to the end?”
“Fang Yuan, a dead genius is not a genius; only a living one is. I ask you again, will you turn back?!”
The old woman was clearly truly enraged, not bothering to hide the killing intent in her heart, her eyes fixed on Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan did not give an answer but silently raised his arm and gave the old woman the middle finger.
“Kill him, he's beyond saving,” the old woman shook her head in disappointment, then slightly raised her palm and pressed it down.
An invisible force appeared above everyone's heads, pressing down so hard that they couldn't breathe.
Thump, thump—
Everyone on the field except Fang Yuan and Qin Hao knelt on the ground, showing expressions of pain.
“Qin Hao, quickly take Liu Meiqing away!” Fang Yuan roared, his face ferocious.
Qin Hao grabbed the sack with one hand and Fan Xiaomei with the other, struggling to resist the pressure.
“Stop him!” the old woman flew up, trying to capture Qin Hao.
“Demon Flame Seven Absolute Blades!”
“First Blade, Unyielding Blade Intent, no demon can break it!”
“Second Blade, Unending Blade Intent, no heaven can defy it!”
“Third Blade, Unenraged Blade Intent, no god can capture it!”
“Fourth Blade, Unconquerable Blade Intent, no saint can seal it!”
Fang Yuan faced death as if it were home, burning his lifespan to unleash four consecutive slashes.
Everyone, including the old woman, was pushed back by the powerful blade intent.
“Everyone, go!” Fang Yuan's white hair flew, and he exchanged a spirit-grade long blade from the shop, raising it again.
“Fifth Blade…”
“Fang Yuan, it hasn't come to that yet, don't be impulsive!” Min Hong shrieked, wanting to rush forward to stop him.
“Junior Brother Fang, no!” Meng Ke'er's face instantly turned pale, and she rushed to Fang Yuan's side, disregarding her own safety.
At this moment, the old woman and another Nascent Soul Stage Elder had already decided to kill him, and two spirit swords, carrying an aura of annihilation, simultaneously struck towards Fang Yuan.
“Fifth Blade, Undying Blade Intent, nothing I cannot do!”
Fang Yuan's vital essence reversed, gathering onto the blade.
The sky instantly turned blood-red, and a tall soul shadow suddenly appeared behind Fang Yuan, holding Fang Yuan's hands, raising the long blade high, and slashing down fiercely.
A blood-red great blade spanning the entire sky descended like a divine punishment.
The old woman and the others' expressions changed, and they immediately activated their own domains, trying their best to resist this powerful force.
At the same time, a piercing sound rang out.
Two spirit swords pierced through Meng Ke'er and Fang Yuan's bodies, and both fell into the ruins together.
