Chapter 124: What You Trampled On / The Path You Have Tread (12)/trantingnovice
Thanks to the Mysterious me Jade liquor, my initial encounter with a dharma treasure felt intuitively simple, as if mastery came effortlessly.
Woo-woong!
The battle began.
The Colorless ss Swords began to move.
Kwang, kwang, kwang!
The Colorless ss Swords plunge straight into the earth, furiously excavating the terrain around them.
Since its a fragile dharma treasure made of ss, its strength is extremely poor.
However, once oveid with the Formless Sword, it boasts the same strength and tenacity as the Formless Sword.
[Argh...!]
Yuan Li dodges the Colorless ss Swords, ring at me, and also nces at Manli Minp, who is gathering energy for the main cannon of the Nether Crossing Ship in the distance.
He also takes a long look at Byeok Cheon-gi, who is gathering energy in the talisman and preparing for an attack.
"...?"
Im momentarily puzzled, but focus my mind and move the Colorless ss Swords.
Chllak!
Three thousand Colorless ss Swords move at my will.
A storm of ss began to rage.
Yuan Li counters with his seventeen bone daggers, the crystal skull staff, the blood-leaf fan, and the blood-red spear dharma treasure from within his body.
A ghost king leaps out of the blood-red spear, grabs the spear, and swings it around.
The seventeen dagger dharma treasures also seem to have their own will, dispersing attacks in his vicinity. Each time Yuan Li unleashes a blood wind with the leaf fan, the surroundings shake violently.
However.
Kwagwagwagwa!
The storm of three thousand ss swords devours everything, approaching Yuan Li.
Despite their seemingly erratic flight, not a single ss sword strikes another, their movement being orderly.
The dharma treasure of Colorless ss Sword is three thousand swords as one set.
Unified as one, oveying them with the Formless Sword endows them with theplete implementation of the Formless Sword''s freedom of trajectory and orbits.
And thats not the end.
"Colorless ss Sword, first form."
There are three forms to the Colorless ss Sword, and their abilities change depending on the form.
"Color."
The first form, Color, of the Colorless ss Swords is to interconnect the spiritual energy circuits engraved on each of the three thousand ss swords.
Chlk!
Three thousand ss swords disperse.
The spiritual energy circuits engraved on the ss swords begin to interconnect.
Interestingly, each Colorless ss Sword has a single spiritual energy circuit, but the design of these circuits are subtly different ording to the rules set by Buk Hyang-hwa.
Therefore, each ss sword emits different colors when interconnected due to these subtle differences.
Paah!
The Colorless ss Swords, drifting in every direction, start to radiate a spectrum of colors.
The whole world seems to be covered in a kaleidoscope of brilliance.
Its not just a change in color, but the temperament of each ss sword itself changes
All three thousand swords project distinct temperaments.
And the range of changes that these temperaments undergo within the storm of three thousand ss swords is,
Infinite!
They echo the limitless freedom of the Formless Sword!
One temperament, when in a different position, bes apletely different tool.
A single ss sword continuously changes its position ording to my maniption and strikes relentlessly.
This continuously changing ss sword is three thousand in number.
[Argh, this bastard...!]
Yuan Li unleashes a blood wind with his blood-colored leaf fan, blocking the ss swords.
But I manipte the ss swords even more precisely.
Infinite change is in my hands.
The Formless Sword only gains freedom of trajectory, not of temperament.
However, by obtaining the Colorless ss Swords, the Formless Sword reaches a moreplete realm of freedom.
Chlk!
Sharp temperament, soft temperament, a moderate temperament between the two, hard temperament, flowing temperament...
The energy of those innumerable temperaments all move ording to my will, dying the surroundings in a brilliance of colors.
Those changes devour Yuan lis blood storm, gradually swallowing him up.
[Hmph, don''t make meugh!]
Yuan Li scoffs, infusing energy into his dagger dharma treasures.
The seventeen bone daggers rotate crazily around him, scattering bright red streaks.
The bright red streaks seem topletely engulf him.
But I just smile.
Itsughable.
Shoong!
Among the numerous changes, my vision urately finds a gap.
No matter how tightly the streaks surround him, there is always enough room to prate.
The Colorful ss Swords rush towards him.
Kuwa Kwang Kwang!
The streaks repel the ss swords.
However.
[Argh!]
Paang!
Suddenly, the barrier of steaks is broken, and Yuan Li is exposed from within.
His body is already embedded with dozens of ss swords.
The Color form of the Colorless ss Sword initially gleams with numerous colors when activated, but thereafter, it can revert to colorless at the user''s will. Yet, the qualities created when the swords bore color do not disappear.
This means it is possible to confuse the enemy''s vision with transparent Colorless ss Swords and then strike.
I channel the Formless Sword housed in the Colorless ss Sword into Yuan Li''s body.
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, Layered Mountains, Qi Mountain Heart Sky!
Swoosh!
The Formless Sword, flowing into his body, expands massively with thorns.
[Aaargh!]
Yuan Li briefly screams, trying to regenerate his body.
However, the curse spells I sent with the Colorless ss Sword mingle inside him, preventing proper regeneration and causing decay.
"Die."
Swish!
Three thousand Colorless ss Swords again rush towards him, now defenseless.
[Kughaaaah!]
And then.
Kugugugugu!
The two blood cloud ghost kings who had fled earlier from the heavenly lightning and the bizarre ghost beastbined from seven demon souls.
Thebined power of these three entities, now reduced in cultivation due to the Serving Command Pces restraint, but still at the Core Formation level, defends against the storm of ss.
Swish!
Yuan Li regenerates his body in the given time.
[Good, quite impressive.]
He sneers.
[To push me this far, I give my respects. I too will properly fight now.]
He then reaches into his storage artifact, pulls something out, and throws it into the air.
Squirm.
My brows twitch upon seeing it.
Crack
I grind my teeth, veins bulging on my forehead.
I recognize that familiar aura.
Its Kim Young-hoon''s Inner Core.
His remains, not found in Kim Young-hoon''s body, were unsurprisingly taken by Yuan Li.
[This Demon Cores owner was truly impressive. I dont understand why the Heavenly Being seniors didnt take such a monster with such growth potential... In the midst of that battle he was growing in real-time, and at the brink of death even my heart skipped a beat.]
Whirr!
Strange incantations, possibly engraved by Yuan Li, are etched onto Kim Young-hoon''s Inner Core.
The incantations glow red, emitting a strange attraction.
[To understand the source of his talent, I dissected his body but couldnt find anything. No unique spiritual roots, no unique physique Eventually wondering if it was an issue of personality, I tried to extract and refine his soul, but couldnt find the soul either.
Out of frustration, I extracted and refined his Demon Core instead and discovered something interesting.]
Squirm, squirm.
The bizarre ghost beast.
The two blood cloud ghost kings.
The three ghosts are drawn to the Inner Cores attraction, beginning to merge around it.
[Harmonizing Power! This Demon Core can mix and circtepletely different forces in its vicinity. It possesses overwhelming harmonizing power, able to assimte any energy. So...]
Around Kim Young-hoon''s Inner Core, the bizarre ghost beast and the ghost kings merge, transforming into a three-headed Asura.
Yuan Li forms a seal, and his spear, leaf fan, and crystal skull staff fly into the six arms of the Asura.
Rumble!
The ghost kings and the bizarre ghost beast initially showed the cultivation that was dropped from early Nascent Soul to early Core Formation. But now, their cultivation increases from mid tote Core Formation as they merge.
And then.
Pop, pop, pop!
Seventeen bone dagger dharma treasures..
Yuan Li embeds sixteen of these daggers into various parts of the Asura.
As for thest remaining dagger,
Yuan Li cut off three of his fingers, feeding them one by one into the Asura''s mouth.
Yuan Li''s self-amputated fingers do not regenerate, and the Asura''s cultivation surges even more after consuming them.
Kugugugu!
Core Formation Grand Perfection!
The Asura''s power reaches just short of Nascent Soul.
[With his Demon Core, Ive created this excellent result. You, his friend, have learned a simr strange method despite appearing different. You must have a simr Demon Core, right? Ill extract it and make good use of yours too!]
Yuan Li maniptes the Asura from behind, shouting.
[Bring it on!]
"Colorless ss Sword, Second Form. Natural."
I release the second form of the Colorless ss Sword while looking at him.
The Colorless ss Sword, Second Form, Natural, has a simple effect.
The Colorless ss Swords be more strongly interconnected, creating a perfect link of energy.
The three thousand ss Swords, in their connected state, begin to circte energy among themselves.
This cirction seamlessly incorporates my Formless Sword, allowing it to flow in unison with them
Thus, they achieve a more profound interconnectedness, facilitating a unified energy cirction.
That is the second form of the Colorless ss Sword, Natural.
The greatest advantage of "Natural" is, of course, the ability to instantly circte the Formless Sword to the desired location in ordance with the circting energy, concentrating or dispersing the power of the Formless Sword.
The Colorless ss Swords line up in a row.
The Formless Sword housed within the ss swords focus its energy at the tip of the lined-up swords due to the cirction of "Natural."
ng!
Driven by sword control, the ss swords pierce directly into the Asura.
It''s uncertain whether the Asura feels pain or not, as it shows no expression while gripping and swinging its spear.
However, the ss swords quickly disperse and reposition themselves, and once again under my control, they begin flying around the Asura, inflicting wounds on its body.
Numerous changes ur.
The Asura swings the blood-colored leaf fan on one side, the blood-colored spear on another, and the crystal skull staff on yet another, scattering various spells.
Explosions resonate, distorting the area in all directions.
But I continue on, controlling the storm of ss to pressurize the Asura.
"Colorless ss Sword. First Form. Second Form. Combine."
And thus, the true strength of the Colorless ss Sword begins to emerge.
First Form, Color.
Second Form, Natural.
When both forms are activated simultaneously,
The terror of the Colorless ss Sword is fully revealed.
The interconnected ss Swords activate their spiritual energy circuits, shining in various colors.
Then, in that state, the energy of the ss Swords begin to circte.
sh!
The different temperaments within the ss Swords begin to circte, swapping ces between each sword.
A sword that once emitted ck turns white.
The Colorless ss Swords, each originally having their unique hue, begin to continuously share and change colors without pause.
A cascade of colors dance, forming a luminous tempest that envelopes the Asura.
The infinite trajectory of the Formless Sword merges with the endless shifts of temperaments of the Colorless ss Sword.
Together, they disy an array of transformations beyond words.
The blood-colored Asura is but a small moth trapped in a storm.
Flick, flick!
Gradually, more wounds appear on the surface of the Asura.
The storm of ss seems wildly chaotic, but each sword follows the group of swords.
Sizzle!
The wounds on the Asura''s body multiplies, soon covering it entirely.
Severing Mountain Swordsmanship.
Twenty-Second Move.
Ultimate Technique.
Three thousand Colorless ss Swords begin to enact a sword technique while revolving around the Asura.
"Severing Mountain!"
The ultimate technique of Severing Mountain Swordsmanship, channeled through the three thousand Colorless ss Swords, converges into a singr, devastating strike.
As the Colorless ss Swords unleash Severing Mountain, the Formless Sword housed within them amplifies the transformative power in Severing Mountain, grinding the Asura from all angles.
sh!
A burst of light erupts, and the Asura explodespletely.
I rush forward, snatching Kim Young-hoon''s Inner Core from the center of the Asura, then control the Colorless ss Swords.
"Disperse!"
Swish!
The ss Swords scatter in all directions, clearing a path, and at the end of the path stands Yuan Li.
"Fire!"
At that moment, the Nether Crossing Ship''s main cannon, which had been gathering energy, fires.
Yuan Li tries to dodge, but I form a seal.
Kududuk!
While distracted, I had stealthily ced a cluster of curses behind him.
The curses, like tentacles, envelop his body, preventing him from escaping.
It isn''t just me.
Countless Core Formation cultivators, now at Qi Building stage, under themand of Cheongmun Jung-jin, coordinate to bind Yuan Li with various spells.
Dozens, hundreds of spells, not just curses, tightly bound him.
Cheongmun Jung-jin shouts.
"Byeok n head, now! Use it now!"
Byeok Cheon-gi also throws the talisman infused with spiritual power towards Yuan Li.
The talisman emits light as it flies towards Yuan Li.
Yuan Li, reduced to a mere early Core Formation stage, is hit squarely by the main cannon of the Nether Crossing Ship.
sh!!!
Light erupts in all directions.
We all stare at the center of the explosion.
Manli Minp, too, focuses on the center without making any remarks like We''ve killed him this time.
And then.
Shhhh...
The light subsides.
Silently, we look at the spot where Yuan Li had been.
The dust settles.
At the spot where the light and dust clears, Yuan Li still stands.
But on the faces of all the cultivators present, there is a glimmer of hope.
No more spiritual pressure can be felt from Yuan Li.
Not a single trace of spiritual energy.
"Finally."
Its when Cheongmun Jung-jin sighs in relief.
Creeaak
The gates of the Serving Command Pce begin to open.
"Eh? Who is it? Didn''t I say not to open the gates of Serving Command Pce until the operation ispletely finished?!"
Cheongmun Jung-jin frowns, looking towards the entrance of the Serving Command Pce.
The ones opening the gate are Five Eastern Lords.
I notice something strange.
The color of their intent is odd.
Just then.
[Excellent.]
Yuan Li raises both arms.
[Excellent, excellent, so very excellent. You all fought so magnificently, I am moved by your resolve. I pay my respects to this First War. I, Bloodwood Practitioner Yuan Li, recognize your valor.]
As the gates of Serving Command Pce open, the Core Formation cultivators inadvertently look up at the sky outside the gate.
The dark clouds have disappeared, and the celestial energy is still ominous.
"Close it! Close the gates of Serving Command Pce!"
Cheongmun Jung-jin urgently shouts, but the five lords who opened the gates just cross their arms.
And then.
Rumble!
The tribal chiefs of the Northern Grasnds gather, and suddenly, the Blue Sky Heavenly Net begins to copse.
The four tribal chiefs who have been the mainstay of the formation suddenly break off their spiritual connection and cross their arms.
I quickly read their intent.
Until now, I had no time to read detailed intent due to the battle with Yuan Li.
Right now, the intent of those cultivators begin to change, different from the others.
Its a golden hue, the intent of joy.
"What is this! Are you betraying us!?"
Cheongmun Jung-jin, enraged, summons a blue glow from his body.
"Cultivators of the Northern Grasnds and Eastern States, please suppress these traitors! The three Western Countries, along with the western cultivators will handle the old monster."
And then.
Swish!
Green ghost-like figures block our path.
ck chains of light wrap around me, Cheongmun Jung-jin, and the cultivators from Shengzi, Yanguo, and Byeokra.
Jinlu Yeon-cheon approaches the chained Cheongmun Jung-jin, caressing his neck with a seductive voice.
"Ah, Orabeoni. Everything went ording to n. Sir Bloodwood has won."
Makli Hwang-cheon, manipting the jiangshi, approaches the chained n head of the Jin n, kicks him down, and tramples on him.
And Byeok Cheon-gi stands beside Yuan Li with a triumphant expression.
"B-Bye-Byeok n head...!!!?"
Cheongmun Jung-jins eyes, seeing one of the three most important people in the war against Yuan Li, Byeok Cheon-gi, standing beside Yuan Li, bulge with rage.
Byeok Cheon-gi chuckles and speaks.
"How is it, Lord Bloodwood? The effects of the Heaven-Sealing Talisman are quite useful, aren''t they?"
[Good. This is truly the defensive power of the Heavenly Being stage. Not a single strand of spiritual energy is leaking from the whole body, quite an amusing feeling.]
Indeed.
What Byeok Cheon-gi threw to Bloodwood Practitioner at thest moment was not a Heaven-Striking Talisman that delivers a blow of Heavenly Being level,, but a Heaven-Sealing Talisman that provides Heavenly Being level defense.
And then.
Swish!
Outside the Serving Command Pce.
From Yuan Li''s ck castle, the same crimson river that hade earlier enters through the gates of Serving Command Pce.
Swish!
As Yuan Li absorbs the crimson river, his spiritual power begins to rise again. Seemingly displeased, he moves his hand.
[To make me use so much of my precious Long Source True Power. The Long Source True Power I''ve gathered for hundreds of years. Well, it doesn''t matter. There won''t be many chances to extract so much life force from Core Formation cultivators like today.]
"Haha, Sir Bloodwood. There''s only about a moment left until Serving Command Pces restraint releases."
Byeok Cheon-gi looks around us with a ttering expression and continues.
"Please show us the defensive and offensive power of the Heavenly Being stage."
[I will do so.]
Crack, crack!
I break the ck chains with my Formless Sword and unleash my Formless Sword and Colorless ss Sword at him.
Boom!
But.
Ping, ping!
The ss swords and Formless Sword are all repelled by the strange energy surrounding Yuan Li, which prevents even a single strand of spiritual energy from leaking.
Yuan Liughs.
[I''ll remember you especially. Such an unyielding fellow. But it''s useless. As long as the Heaven-Sealing Talisman is activated, I can use the defensive power of a Heavenly Being until my Nascent Soul power returns. And.]
He speaks to Byeok Cheon-gi.
[Hand over the Heaven-Striking Talisman. Today, right here, let''s demonstrate the power of Heavenly Being.]
"Yes, Lord Bloodwood."
I clench my teeth.
Crunch!
So hard that I feel like my gums will bleed.
<em>-Three cultivator ns in the west of the Treading-Heaven Desert have sworn allegiance to me. Four tribes of the Northern Grasnds have prostrated before me.The five lords of the Eastern States have dered they will follow me.</em>
In my past life, Yuan Li said so.
I thought Yuan Li only subdued them by imnting the Five Elements Blood Curse Banner after the first battle.
But it wasn''t so.
Yuan Li, even before the battle.
Over 200 years ago, the three cultivator ns in the West of the Treading-Heaven Desert.
The four tribes of the Northern Grasnds.
The five lords of the Eastern States.
He had them under his control all along.
Jinlu Yeon-cheon strokes Cheongmun Jung-jins body, who is tightly bound by the secret dharma treasure of the Jinlu n due to the sudden betrayal.
"Ah, Orabeoni. Finally, this day hase. The day I take you as mine. I''ve been waiting for so long. We can obtain the lineage of the great Cheongmun Sunwoo, Azure Tiger Saints lineage. Finally, the two ns can truly be one. Byeokra will be handed over to the Byeok n and the Cheungmun n will move to Shengzi. The remnants of the other six ns will be taken by Lord Bloodwood, so I''ll give all theirnds to you, Orabeoni.
For how long the Jinlu n was forced to shamefully share with these scums in an alliance, you know, don''t you? Orabeoni, now, Shengzi is ours. Together, we''ll monopolize its resources and reach the Nascent Soul stage together."
Cheongmun Jung-jin spits on Jinlu Yeon-cheon''s face with a twisted expression akin to a malevolent ghost.
"You''ve crawled under the enemy who killed my family, Jinlu Yeon-cheon!"
"Mhm, mhm"
Jinlu Yeon-cheon wipes the spit from her face, licks it, and embraces Cheongmun Jung-jin.
"Don''t worry. I''ll make you think of nothing else but me. Just live in our n''s underground for a few months, and you''ll think of no one but me."
"This"
Jinlu Yeon-cheon embraces Cheongmun Jung-jin, while Makli Hwang-cheon is stepping on Jin Yeo-woon''s head.
"Finally... Finally, I have triumphed in the longpetition against the Jin n in my generation."
Makli Hwang-cheon tramples on Jin Yeo-woon''s head with a joyous expression.
"Ancestors, this Makli Hwang-cheon has toppled the Jin n in my generation. I will recapture Yanguo and lead the golden age of the Makli n...!"
"You, bastard...! Ke, keuk...!"
Jin Yeo-woon grits his teeth and looks up at Makli Hwang-cheon, who mockingly shoves a shoe into his mouth.
"You should get used to calling me master now."
"Ugh, ugh...!"
Additionally, Byeok Cheon-gi is ttering the Bloodwood Practitioner, promising to help him rule Byeokra.
Traitors of the East.
Traitors of the North are also seen stomping on their otherpetitors restrained by the Jinlu n''s chains.
"You bastard..!"
Manli Minp, who fought alongside them, had his main cannon of the Nether Crossing Ship taken by one of the other Eastern lords.
Unlike Manli Minp, the traitor brought the main cannon of the Nether Crossing Ship to Yuan Li.
[We''ll do the reward distributionter. Bring the Heaven-Striking Talisman quickly. We need to wipe these fools out and copse the entire Serving Command Pce to obtain the Serving Command Seal.]
When Yuan Li urges Byeok Cheon-gi, he nods and shouts to the other Byeok n Core Formation cultivators.
"Bring the Heaven-Striking Talisman!"
The Heaven-Striking Talisman is among a Byeok n Core Formation cultivator who recently entered the stage.
Its Byeok Mun-seong.
Just as Im about to attack with the Formless Sword to prevent him from bringing the Heaven-Striking Talisman, I sense something off.
Byeok Mun-seong takes out the Heaven-Striking Talisman from a storage artifact.
Woong!
And he activates the talisman.
"Hm?"
[What are you doing? No need to activate it. How much can you do with your Qi Building cultivation.]
And then.
Byeok Mun-seong shouts.
"I''m sick of it! n head!"
With those words.
The young Core Formation cultivators of the Byeok n, centered on Byeok Mun-seong, form a formation.
"1000 years ago, we were a subordinate n to the Jo n. 200 years ago, a subordinate force to the Righteous Path Alliance. Now, we are joining under the Nascent Soul old monster? Why can''t the Byeok n stand alone, rather than sharing Byeokra with the Cheongmun and Gongmyo ns?"
"Wh-what?"
[Hmm.]
Byeok Mun-seong yells.
"Look, n head! If only you hadn''t betrayed us, that old monster would have fallen just now. We could have led our n to victory in the war, not needing to be under anyone, standing proudly as a single force, leading honor and victory!"
"Have you lost your mind?"
"No, I have not. It''s not just me, but the other descendants as well. We all believe the same. Where is the guarantee that after this war is over, that old monster won''t boil the hunting dogs? Why, n leader, are you supporting the victory of the old monster!"
Byeok Cheon-gi''s face contorts.
Byeok Mun-seong shouts.
"We''ve made a different choice for the future of our n. The operation was in progress until just before the old monster''s death. Without that damned Heaven-Sealing Talisman, we could have hunted the old monster! It''s you, n leader, who needs toe to your senses!"
"You, you''re out of your mind! Come to your senses! If you do so now, it can be passed off as a mere deviation! The power Lord Bloodwood is hiding isn''t all youve seen!"
Byeok Cheong-gi continues.
"Ri-right. Haven''t you been getting along well with the descendants of the Jin and Gongmyo ns recently? Now that both ns are the losers, you can do as you please with them. Calm down and"
"The one I favored."
Byeok Mun-seong speaks with a voice as if hes spitting each word out, activating the Heaven-Striking Talisman.
"Is not them."
sh!
Heaven-Striking Talisman.
A strike that releases the power of a Heavenly Being, shoots towards Yuan Li wrapped in the Heaven-Sealing Talisman.
Kuguguguguang!
One side of Serving Command Pce is torn away.
A whirlwind rages, and it looks as if the light between heaven and earth is converging towards Yuan Li.
Within the radiance between heaven and earth, I see the Heaven-Sealing Talisman wrapped around Yuan Li being stripped away.
Ta-datt!
The Colorless ss Swordse together.
I exchange nces with Byeok Mun-seong as I pass by him.
In this strike, I pour everything.
"Colorless ss Sword, final form."
Thest form of the Colorless ss Sword.
Beyond Color and Natural
Finally reaching the ultimate.
Three thousand Colorless ss Swords merge into one.
The spiritual energy circuits etched into each sword converge within a single de, forming myriad spiritual energy circuits within the Colorless ss Sword.
The more circuits, the greater the power, even if the quality of materials is poor.
Colorless ss Sword.
Third Form.
"All Heavens."
The Colorless ss Sword, shining in All of Heavens Natural Colors, stabs into Yuan Li''s dantian.
Trantor Notes: Donated chapter by Mohammed Khalid and zzpiy. Thanks for the support!
***
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