Chapter 390:
Chapter 390:
Our Discord Server: .gg/PazjBDkTmW
Within Heyang City, flames shot up from the Daoist temple, lighting up the night sky.
Everything in the Taoist temple was burning, wood, cloth, paper, incense candles, all became fuel for the flames. The fire spread wildly in the temple, causing Immortal Statues to collapse and crumble.
The arsonist Qiao Mu sat casually at the entrance of the temple, chatting with Xue Changhe about martial arts, seemingly unconcerned about the raging fire behind him.
Xue Changhe talked about the "Blood Origin Skill".
He discussed the method of transforming internal strength into quality, the "Divine Transformation Technique".
It’s like a favor returned for a favor.
"If you can master the ‘Divine Transformation Technique’, with the strength accumulated by your Xue family for thousands of years, you can unleash great power in no time."
"After all, with over a thousand years of internal strength, it can transform into True strength in an instant.."
When Qiao Mu mastered the Divine Transformation Technique, he was still in the Southeast Province. At that time, after his rebirth, he wielded his sword to defeat Immortal Yu Hua of the Yunxiao Sect.Transitioning from internal strength to True strength is the path to becoming a superb-ranked martial artist. If Xue Changhe can achieve True strength with his deep inner power, he would surpass Li Changshi and others in Peach Blossom Villa.
The two of them were chatting happily, but then Qiao Mu suddenly raised an eyebrow.
"Next time, let’s borrow ‘Blood River Topping Skill’ from our friend Xue Changhe, even if we can’t master it ourselves, it will broaden our horizons," said Qiao Mu.
Xue Changhe was slightly stunned and gave Qiao Mu a thoughtful look.
At that moment, he couldn’t help but remember the time when he had asked Qiao Pianxin to help him deal with the Immortal Gate Master in the Southeast Province Sword Tomb.
"There’s no need to feel ashamed," Qiao Mu noticed Xue Changhe’s subtle change in mood and said:
"If you can win, then fight."
"If you can’t win, it’s foolish to risk your life in the hands of inhuman beings," added Qiao Mu.
Xue Changhe nodded in agreement and walked away.
"So, that’s true strength…" Xue Changhe muttered softly to himself.
Normal martial artists in the world usually do not interact with cultivators, let alone defeat immortals using martial arts.
As the head of the Xue family, Xue Changhe bears the heavy responsibility of opposing the Long Life Gate, so naturally he has the courage to confront the Immortal Gate.
All he thought about was that the next time he went to battle, he didn’t want to be just a spectator who had to leave early.
Xue Changhe had just left the Taoist temple.
Suddenly, a strong wind swept through the entire mansion city, thick dark clouds loomed over the city like an emperor, roaring like waves.
Amidst the dark clouds.
Several Nascent Soul Immortals in Taoist robes stood on the clouds, barely visible through the mist, looking down with emotionless faces.
Leading them were two Nascent Soul Elders.
Elder Jiuyang, and the second elder in charge of punishments, Tianxing.
Qiao Mu looked up and met Elder Tianxing’s gaze through the clouds.
In an instant, a fierce storm arose, blowing apart the collapsed temple buildings and extinguishing the raging fire in the sky.
All that remained were broken walls and shattered statues scattered on the ground.
Elder Tianxing squinted his eyes.
Among the rubble, he saw an image of Immortal Tianxing, identical to himself, now charred and broken.
He furrowed his brows.
Howling winds swept across the land, and at that moment, the heavy dark clouds in the sky almost seemed to collapse, as if black water was pouring down upside down.
"Martial artist of the mortal realm, you have made a grave mistake."
Just as the voice echoed across the sky.
The roaring dark clouds rolled again, forming a giant face that covered the entire temple, looking down at Qiao Mu.
Tianxing, ranked second among the elders of Xuantian Sect, got his nickname from his role as the judge of heaven.
In Heyang City at this moment, members of the Southern Army including Wang Songhe have not left. They look up and see the overwhelming giant face in the sky.
A feeling of powerlessness and fear suddenly rose in his heart.
The vast giant face in the sky, like a god, possessed a mysterious power that mortals couldn’t comprehend.
Today, people say cultivators are inhuman and different from humans. But these immortals, who have lived longer than several dynasties combined, possess such powerful abilities that appear truly divine to mortals.
In an instant.
A dazzling thunderbolt struck from the sky, engulfing Qiao Mu’s figure in an instant.
……………………………………
Meanwhile, outside the capital city, at Mount Dong Peach Blossom Villa.
Wu Qizheng looked up and gazed at Heyang City obscured by dark clouds in the distance, and at the face of Elder Tianxing formed by the dark clouds in the sky.
"The second elder of Xuantian Sect, Elder Tianxing, is skilled in lightning magic."
Wu Qizheng silently watched.
He was very impressed by Elder Tianxing.
After all, it was two years ago that Wu Qizheng died under Elder Tianxing’s thunderbolt.
At that time, Emperor Yonghe prayed, Martial Saint faked his death, and Wu Qizheng willingly acted as Martial Saint’s scapegoat.
Though it was meant as a sacrifice, Wu Qizheng managed to escape Martial Saint’s control and survive, but the memory of Elder Tianxing’s thunderbolt remained vivid in his mind.
"What’s so special about an old face?"
A stone sword floated lazily in the air beside it, pointing towards Heyang City.
"Earth Sword Immortal…" Wu Qizheng saw Earth Sword Immortal and suddenly remembered Martial Saint.
"When Emperor Yonghe visited the temple in the Xuantian Sect at the Qingming Mountain in the west, it was considered at the foot of the Immortal Gate."
"Attacking the temple recklessly was like seeking death, it wasn’t much different from directly attacking the Xuantian Sect."
"At that time, Martial Saint didn’t go looking for trouble and didn’t fight with Elder Tianxing from the Xuantian Sect."
That day, Martial Saint didn’t go to the Qingyun Temple at the gate of Xuantian Sect and didn’t fight Elder Tianxing, he sacrificed himself instead.
If Martial Saint had gone that day, he might have been surrounded and killed by other cultivators.
"But now, Elder Tianxing has come to Heyang City to cause trouble."
Wu Qizheng was at Peach Blossom Villa and didn’t know what was happening in Heyang City, but it led to the intervention of the second elder from the Xuantian Sect.
After some thinking, only a member of the Qiao family dares to provoke the Xuantian Sect.
Suddenly.
A dazzling electric light turned into a thunderous pillar, striking in the direction of Heyang City, illuminating Wu Qizheng’s face for a moment.
Then came the deafening thunderclap, followed by a rolling echo.
Wu Qizheng stayed silent.
Time passed by, two years later, Wu Qizheng was assumed dead, Martial Saint faked his death, and today Qiao Mu came to confront Elder Tianxing, which led to a deadly situation.
Only time will tell who will die this time.
……………………….
Above Heyang City.
Several Nascent Soul Elders stood on the clouds, looking down at the chaotic Taoist temple below.
Inside the city, this Taoist temple on a small hill had been washed by lightning under the thunderous pillar just now.
Looking again, the fierce fire from earlier had disappeared, and the temple, which was once in ruins, was now collapsing inch by inch, turning into a complete ruin.
The city of Heyang fell silent, shrouded in silence.
Elder Sun from the clouds spoke first, "The Heavenly Thunder Punishment is powerful and imposing, not only to eliminate the evildoers but also to intimidate the rest of the mortals."
"Indeed," a black-robed elder agreed.
"Under the thunder spell, the entire Taoist temple was destroyed."
Elder Tianxing looked around, scanning the city below with his divine sense, sensing the fear and panic of the common people inside the city. Suddenly, he chuckled:
"That mortal is truly foolish and reckless."
"Just some statues and temples, destroy them and rebuild, it’s no big deal."
"As long as people still believe, as long as they fear and respect our Immortal Gate Xuantian Sect. If we destroy a temple today, another one will be built in the future, it’s just a matter of time and money."
But at that moment.
Suddenly, a loud voice echoed from below, reaching all around.
"You’re right."
"But how would Xuantian Sect react if I were to defeat you here today?"
Beneath the rubble, Qiao Mu stood up.
He lifted the massive cauldron burning the Immortal Statue from the rubble, gazing up at the sky.
A pale, swirling energy enveloped his body, forming a faint protective barrier around him.
His skin cracked, blood appeared, and some parts turned black.
Using True Strength took a little more effort… Qiao Mu counted the number of Nascent Soul Immortals above his head.
Altogether… five people?
"Weren’t they supposed to come one by one to be delivered? Oh well, this works too."
"Five people, even faster."
Qiao Mu crouched slightly, stomped his foot, and shot up into the sky like an arrow.
But as soon as he leaped, a sudden light shone above his head.
The entire sky turned into a sea of red flames, covering everything around.
His True Strength was decreasing rapidly in the raging fire, the intense flames almost making it hard for Qiao Mu to keep his eyes open.
Under the flames, the ruins of the Taoist temple, along with the mountains, rocks, and trees, quickly turned into ashes.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Jiuyang, for helping out," Elder Tianxing said, nodding towards Elder Jiuyang on the other side.
Elder Tianxing ranked second and had a lot of experience in combat.
Judging from Qiao Pianxin’s leap just now, it was clear that this martial artist was extraordinary. If he got close, it would be difficult to defeat him.
However, Elder Tianxing was not alone, nor was he the strongest among these five Nascent Soul Elders.
"Senior Brother Jiuyang’s Nanming Li Fire can burn anything, destroying both the body and the soul. Truly remarkable," praised Elder Sun nearby.
The cultivators of the Xuantian Sect used the "Etching Bone Li Fire Talisman" to deal with ordinary martial artists. It was a special symbol that countered martial artists, using their blood, and even internal strength as fuel.
The creator of the Etching Bone Li Fire Talisman was the Grand Elder of the Xuantian Sect, Jiuyang.
"Let’s not waste more time talking. Let’s get rid of this person quickly and return to the mountain. I have a robe that needs refining," said Elder Jiuyang coldly.
As an elder, he did not show any respect to Elder Sun at all.
Five powerful elders came together to deal with a mortal martial artist, which made him quite impatient.
"Why bother with the Immortal Gate masters for dealing with such unruly people? Let’s attack together and eliminate this troublemaker!"
Elder Jiuyang gave the order, and the other elders followed suit.
At that moment, thunder roared down from the sky, and massive waves of fire surrounded them from all directions.
In the sky above the city, it seemed like a bright red sun rising, almost turning the day into brightness.
Xue Changhe, who had just left the city, looked up at the sky but was dazzled by the blinding light.
"Such powerful magic…" Xue Changhe struggled to keep his eyes open and caught a glimpse of the mountain where Qiao Mu was, burning fiercely in the fire, turning into ashes bit by bit.
Xue Changhe’s face turned pale with anger.
This kind of technique is truly beyond the reach of ordinary people’s martial arts.
Amidst the intense flames, Qiao Mu closed his eyes and felt like he was in a furnace.
His protective True strength was rapidly depleting, while the surging heat waves and flames caused his skin to continuously crack and char.
"Having five Nascent Soul Immortals is indeed a bit too many, especially the one who set fire to the mountain."
This thought crossed Qiao Mu’s mind.
If it were the first or second-ranked Nascent Soul Immortal, a celestial cultivator would not pay much attention to an ordinary person. Therefore, Qiao Mu could use the Heavenly Dragon Eight Steps to accelerate eight times, swiftly killing the Nascent Soul cultivator with a speed advantage before they reacted.
However, if five people teamed up, especially with Elder Jiuyang, a cultivator who was on the brink of the Soul Changing Stage, it would indeed become tricky.
Just at this moment.
Qiao Mu’s abundant True strength was depleting rapidly, like snowflakes under the scorching sun.
"True strength is invincible, cannot be stopped."
"In that case… stop resisting."
*Sigh*……
Qiao Mu let out a breath, his protective energy suddenly dispersed, wrapping around the King Qin Sword in his hands and between his meridians.
In that moment.
His whole body was surrounded by raging flames, his skin peeled back, blood at his wounds evaporating before it could flow out, leaving the wounds charred to the bone.
He gritted his teeth and pressed on.
Heavenly Dragon Eight Steps!
*Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom!*
In the raging sea of fire, a fierce fire person suddenly burst out.
Like a blazing meteor, shooting from the ground towards the sky, facing the giant face in the sky amidst the raging fire and dark clouds.
With a loud bang, the divine and immortal giant sky face split in half in the burning firelight, causing a massive crevice to appear in the thick cloudy sky.
In a corner of the city, Wang Songhe and his followers, including Zhang Kui, looked up in astonishment.
Some locals from Heyang City couldn’t help but recall the stories of the Qiao family member that the storyteller often mentioned…
"Qiao Pifu…" someone whispered softly.
The giant sky face in the sky vanished, and the blazing meteor fell from the sky.
Qiao Mu was covered in flames as he fell from the sky, throwing the mutilated body of Elder Tianxing into the giant cauldron he was holding, producing a muffled sound.
In the cauldron, there was now the body of another immortal from Xuantian Sect.
Qiao Mu held the King Qin Sword and looked up at the sky, his body slowly turning to ashes in the flames.
"More people than expected? Don’t run away, the second phase is coming," he grinned with a mouth now filled with bone, emitting a silent mockery.
Qiao Pianxin, deceased, at the age of 1635.