Chapter 470: A Battle Between Truly Powerful Experts!

Chapter 470: Battle Among True Powerhouses!

“My lord, these are the rare treasures collected over the past year, totaling two thousand seven hundred pieces, costing altogether…”

Shi Pan bowed his head, respectfully handing the storage pouch containing the treasures to Qi Yuan.

Over these years, he had always served Qi Yuan diligently.

And as his cultivation grew, he was no longer the ignorant youth of before, having become a Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator!

Yet the stronger he grew, the more he understood how profound and terrifying the man before him was, one whom he would need a lifetime to look up to.

“Not bad, I hope this time there will be some new gains.”

Qi Yuan took the treasures and examined them carefully.

In recent years, besides inspecting the flaws of the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner, he had also been learning various forging techniques.

Unfortunately, due to a lack of materials, even though the Armory had been built, the treasures Qi Yuan had forged inside were few—indeed, only one.

That one was extracted and forged from several broken, nearly dust-like treasure materials.

As for the other treasures, Qi Yuan did not destroy them to turn them into raw materials.

Perhaps they were proof of some civilization, some race, still existing.

He glanced at the treasures casually, searching for any new forging techniques.

Shi Pan, at this moment, silently withdrew.

Suddenly, Qi Yuan’s expression tightened.

He looked into the void ahead and suddenly spoke, “Since you’re here, show yourself.”

As his words fell, a hearty voice rang out.

“Fellow Daoist visits my Tiankun Wonderland as a guest, and I failed to welcome you from afar; I hope you’ll forgive me.”

With that, a man with a body like a double-door refrigerator appeared, his head oddly small, as if he had a small-head special effect.

Behind him followed a hunched old man, none other than the Heavenly Crippled Venerable.

“I am Dao Bu’er, Sect Master of the Holy Light Sect,” Dao Bu’er said, a bright smile on his face.

The old servant, Heavenly Crippled Venerable, looked at Qi Yuan with curiosity, astonishment in his heart.

Meeting the Holy Light race and not fleeing—truly, boldness born of skill.

“What do you want with me? A fight?” Qi Yuan said casually.

The other was merely an Ultimate Principle; he didn’t care at all.

Though, for a Holy Light race at the Ultimate Principle realm, the Words of Holy Light could affect even Great Ultimate Principle powerhouses.

But Qi Yuan had a certain nose—he wasn’t afraid.

Dao Bu’er’s expression shifted slightly: “Fellow Daoist jokes. A guest from afar, how could I harbor killing intent toward a guest?”

Swoosh… the nose grew longer.

“You’re lying. You had a flicker of killing intent,” Qi Yuan said flatly.

The previously calm Dao Bu’er felt a storm surge within him.

The Words of Holy Light… how had the other seen through them?

Could it be that the other also had an ancestor, a bloodline source of terrifying power?

Only that could explain it!

It seemed the other was not a cultivator of the Six Heavens, but like him, an outsider from beyond the realm.

He looked at Qi Yuan, even more wary: “Fellow Daoist jokes. That was merely an unintentional, natural release of killing intent.

Fellow Daoist is no different—covered in souls of the slain, killing intent overwhelming.”

“We’re different. I only kill those who deserve to die,” Qi Yuan replied.

“I also kill only those who deserve to die,” Dao Bu’er said without hesitation.

Qi Yuan paused, glancing at Dao Bu’er: “Your face is thick.

Tell me, why have you come to see me?”

The Heavenly Crippled Venerable stood silently beside them, listening to their exchange, utterly shocked.

Shouldn’t this black-robed man have knelt in submission? Why was he questioning instead?

“Fellow Daoist’s method of controlling this army of yin spirits intrigues me greatly. I wish to learn and seek guidance,” Dao Bu’er said slowly.

His arrival at Tiankun Wonderland was part of a grand scheme.

The most crucial step was to fully control the yin spirit army.

But these yin spirits were especially peculiar; even his Words of Holy Light were useless.

Forcing control with a bell, eroding and polluting, had only weak effects, slow progress, and perhaps no future path.

Yet now, this mysterious black-robed man had the yin spirit army perfectly disciplined.

Those building houses built houses; those doing calisthenics did calisthenics.

From a distance, one might even mistake them for living people.

“Because… sincerity. I treat them with sincerity, and they treat me with sincerity,” Qi Yuan said earnestly.

Dao Bu’er paused, then said, “Fellow Daoist jokes.”

Clearly, he didn’t believe Qi Yuan’s words.

“If I treat you with sincerity, would you treat me with sincerity like these yin spirits?” Qi Yuan looked at Dao Bu’er, a faint smile on his face.

Dao Bu’er’s smile froze: “Fellow Daoist, we’ll meet again tomorrow. I have a furnace of elixirs about to finish.”

With that, Dao Bu’er hurried away.

About a dozen breaths later.

Dao Bu’er stood atop the sky canopy, looking down at the yin spirit army, his expression shifting.

“He can resist the Words of Holy Light!”

“It seems his bloodline is also noble!”

“He came here… for the same purpose…”

He muttered to himself, his expression complex.

“Still, his strength should be slightly inferior to mine; otherwise… he wouldn’t have tested me, but struck directly!”

“His bloodline talent should be similar to the Words of Holy Light. Communicating with him gives me a… strange feeling.”

It was because of this anomaly that he dared not stay and chose to leave.

“Hmph, the Words of Holy Light may not lose to him. I’ll meet him again tomorrow. I don’t believe I can’t gain another servant!”

As for taking servants, Dao Bu’er didn’t really care.

What mattered most to him was using Qi Yuan to control the yin spirit army and achieve his goal.

On the other side, reclining on a lounge chair, Qi Yuan’s eyes gleamed with curiosity.

“Absolute Adaptation… has it actually become stable?”

The supreme principles Qi Yuan had comprehended were Absolute Adaptation and Unrestrained Action.

But his cultivation was too low; the stabilization and elevation of these supreme principles were painfully slow.

Thus, when contending with great principles, his supreme principles were nearly useless.

Yet in his exchanges with Dao Buer, his Absolute Adaptation seemed to be adapting to the Word of Holy Light, steadily improving.

“According to the old man, the comprehension of principles is divided into four levels: scattered, gathered, solid, and patterned. Right now, I’m still at scattered.”

Veteran great principles like Ziyuan Ancestor had reached the solid level in their comprehension.

For non-supreme principles, the highest form was only solid.

Only the supreme principles comprehended by the Sovereign could reach the patterned level.

“It seems I can’t kill Dao Buer just yet,” Qi Yuan mused.

He needed Dao Buer to grind experience.

To elevate his comprehension of Absolute Adaptation to a higher level.

If so, it would be a tremendous boost for him as well.

The next day, just as dawn broke.

The figures of Dao Buer and the Heavenly Crippled Venerable appeared once more.

“Fellow Daoist, do not harbor ill intent toward me. My coming here… I have no intention of harming you,” Dao Buer said calmly.

The Word of Holy Light was also subtly activated.

He decided to visit this mysterious black-robed man every day, to clash and see who would prevail.

“You may have no ill intent toward me, but that old man by your side might not be so innocent.” Qi Yuan’s eyes held a smile.

Hearing this, the Heavenly Crippled Venerable’s gaze shifted sharply, a sense of foreboding washing over him.

“Fellow Daoist jests—how would he dare!” Dao Buer’s eyes flickered with surprise.

“How would he not dare? After all… I killed his son,” Qi Yuan said flatly.

Back in the Canglan Realm, Qi Yuan had once encountered the Great Venerable Jasmine.

That Great Venerable Jasmine possessed an Ancient Mirror of Heaven and Earth, within which lay a wisp of remnant soul.

That remnant soul was a being from the Sixth Heaven, the offspring of a Yang God.

Arrogant and overbearing, it had verbally provoked the Moon Goddess, who then slew it across two heavens.

Fortunately, the Heavenly Crippled Venerable had such a rare treasure as the Ancient Mirror of Heaven and Earth, into which he placed his son’s departed soul to nurture, then randomly sent it to the lower realm.

In the end, that remnant soul, still insolent, tried to join forces with the Great Venerable Jasmine to possess Qi Yuan, and was slain by him.

Now, seeing the father of that remnant soul, he naturally recognized him.

“You… you killed Ji’er!” The Heavenly Crippled Venerable’s eyes suddenly blazed with light, his body trembling as he suppressed something.

“See? He’s taken a murderous intent toward me,” Qi Yuan said lightly.

Dao Buer looked at Qi Yuan, surprise flashing in his eyes. “Fellow Daoist has been to the Sixth Heaven?”

He had almost complete mastery of all information about the Heavenly Crippled Venerable.

Thus, he knew that the Heavenly Crippled Venerable’s offspring still remained in the Sixth Heaven.

Since this mysterious black-robed man had slain that offspring, he must have visited the Sixth Heaven.

This greatly astonished Dao Buer.

It led to more speculation about Qi Yuan’s identity.

Perhaps he was a fugitive who had strayed into the Sixth Heaven of the Immortal Realm and could no longer leave.

Entering the Immortal Realm meant a life of stasis, with no future.

A sense of superiority and smugness inexplicably arose within him.

He had a bright future ahead, still possessed a tomorrow—but this mysterious black-robed man did not.

Happiness came from comparison.

“I have been there,” Qi Yuan admitted without concealment.

Dao Buer’s smile widened, joy filling his heart. “Since this useless old servant dares to harbor murderous intent toward you, Fellow Daoist, it’s better he dies.”

In good spirits, killing someone would add to the amusement.

The Heavenly Crippled Venerable’s face twisted in humiliation.

You’re in a good mood, so you kill me?

“Master, this old servant has been utterly loyal to you—I beg you!” The Heavenly Crippled Venerable could muster no thought of resistance.

“End yourself now. You will be resurrected in three days and step into the Great Principle,” Dao Buer said indifferently, still in good cheer.

The terror on the Heavenly Crippled Venerable’s face transformed into fervor. Without hesitation, he struck himself.

His original soul, in that instant, was utterly extinguished.

A Yang God Venerable, a fearsome powerhouse capable of devouring an entire realm, perished as easily as an insect.

“Fellow Daoist, do you see how loyal I am?” Dao Buer said, a hint of boastfulness in his tone.

He was flaunting the terror and might of the Word of Holy Light.

Qi Yuan looked at Dao Buer and suddenly said seriously, “Actually, I’m your father.”

A sudden sense of crisis surged in Dao Buer’s heart, his consciousness clouding for a moment.

“Fellow Daoist… you are my grandson!” Dao Buer activated the Word of Holy Light to counter the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra, or rather, to infect Qi Yuan.

The Word of Holy Light and the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra clashed, like two edgy teenagers trading insults.

“Who’s the grandson?” Qi Yuan shot back without thinking.

“The grandson is you!” As Dao Buer finished, his expression shifted slightly.

“Good grandson, I know,” Qi Yuan said casually.

Though a tired joke, it sometimes proved useful.

After all, the content of the words didn’t matter—Dao Buer was competing in… bloodline talent.

“Fellow Daoist stoops to such petty gains—it seems you’re nothing special,” Dao Buer said flatly.

“No respect for elders—what ‘Fellow Daoist’? Grandson, I am your father!” Qi Yuan said earnestly.

The Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra was also in motion.

“Fellow Daoist… we shall battle again tomorrow!” After a moment’s hesitation, Dao Buer chose to leave.

He dared not linger, fearing that Qi Yuan’s innate divine ability would subtly influence him.

With that, he departed directly. Not far away, Stone Disk watched this scene, his face full of astonishment.

This mysterious, burly man came to pay respects to you, but the servant killed himself, and after exchanging a few harsh words with you, he just left?

There is something strange about this affair.

"Shi Pan, what brings you to see me today?" Qi Yuan asked.

His Absolute Adaptation had improved considerably once more, and he was in good spirits.

"Master, recently, while out acquiring rare treasures, I befriended many formidable cultivators. They secretly warned me that the Holy Light Sect has deep backing.

Now that the Holy Light Sect seems to be stirring, should we be cautious?" Shi Pan reminded him.

Qi Yuan glanced at the corpse of the Heavenly Remnant Venerable, a smile in his eyes: "A mere Holy Light Sect is beneath notice."

Seeing this, Shi Pan said no more.

Over the years, he had vaguely discerned his master's character.

When the master said something was settled, one simply followed his words.

Just then, Qi Yuan thought of something and said casually, "A few days ago, you mentioned wanting me to teach you the dueling methods of higher-level cultivators. Today, I dueled with Dao Bu'er, and you listened in. How much did you grasp?"

Hearing this, Shi Pan was momentarily stunned.

Exchanging insults?

This was the dueling of higher-level cultivators?

That was too absurd.

Was the master joking?

Too frivolous!

"I... I didn't learn anything," Shi Pan replied earnestly.

"It seems you're a bit slow. Very well, for the next while, this Dao Bu'er will come every day, and I should duel with him daily. You stay close and learn well, listen well," Qi Yuan said casually.

He acted as he pleased, following his whims.

This also aligned with his Great Principle: Do as one wills.

"Thank you, Master," Shi Pan said, somewhat uneasy, but he answered truthfully.

After taking his leave, Shi Pan departed from that place.

His eyes were still clouded with doubt.

"This... is a shouting match?"

"No, isn't the master Dao Bu'er's father?"

"How could the master be Dao Bu'er's grandson?"

His mind was in a tangle, muddled and confused, unable to sort it out, a knot that could not be cut.

With these doubts, he returned to his dwelling.

Just then, a tall, imposing cultivator approached: "Young friend Shi Pan, have you delivered my message to that lord?"

This tall cultivator was a Great Venerable from the Heavenly Kun Strange Land.

Having learned of Qi Yuan's existence, he had come to curry favor.

After all, one who could control yin souls must be a Supreme Principle Yang God.

"I have delivered your words to the master," Shi Pan said.

"And what did that lord say?" The tall cultivator's face lit up with joy.

"The master said... the Holy Light Sect is beneath notice!" Shi Pan repeated Qi Yuan's words.

Hearing this, the tall cultivator's expression grew complicated: "That lord... is a bit overconfident."

Thinking this, he felt his efforts to ingratiate himself had been wasted.

This Supreme Principle Yang God was clearly too arrogant, considering that the Holy Light Sect harbored a Holy Light Clan member.

He felt Qi Yuan was not far from death.

He had also heard that Liu Xi had once refused to handle a matter for this Venerable, and at the time, many cultivators in the small circle of the Heavenly Kun Strange Land thought Liu Xi was too cowardly and spineless to have missed such an opportunity.

Now, it seemed Liu Xi's choice had been the right one.

Currently, Liu Xi had entered a secret realm in the Heavenly Kun Strange Land, reaping great rewards, and seemed poised to ascend to the next level.

As for this Supreme Principle Yang God here, he was arrogant and bore the face of death.

If that Holy Light Clan member appeared, this Supreme Principle Yang God would surely die.

He had already decided to retreat.

It was better not to curry favor with such a dead man, lest he bring trouble upon himself.

"Senior, I have a doubt," Shi Pan said softly.

"Oh, what doubt?" the tall cultivator asked casually, though his tone had lost its former warmth.

"What is the dueling between higher-level cultivators like?

Today, a cultivator named Dao Bu'er came to pay respects to the master, and they..."

He recounted the day's events to this cultivator.

This cultivator was a senior, with far sharper insight than his own.

Hearing this, the tall cultivator's eyes gleamed with mockery: "Even in battles between Great Principle experts, it would never be like this. That lord of yours is just playing with you!"

Having said this, the tall cultivator shook his head and chose to leave.

Only Shi Pan remained, his face full of hesitation.

"The master would not deceive me. It must be that this senior's level is too low!"

Shi Pan said with firm conviction.

In the days that followed, Shi Pan maintained a steady mindset, going daily to Qi Yuan's side to observe the battles between experts.

He furrowed his brow, listening intently to their exchange of insults, pondering deeply.

"I am your father!"

"I am your grandfather!"

"You've lost your composure!"

"Stone hits dog barks!"

The more he listened, the more absurd it seemed.

This went on for three years.

Shi Pan's efficiency in going out to exchange for rare treasures grew lower and lower.

Rumors spread outside that the Holy Light Sect's sect master had emerged from seclusion.

Thus, the cultivators all kept far away from Qi Yuan's domain, no longer daring to trade with him, for fear of incurring the Holy Light Sect's displeasure.

One day, the shouting match ended.

Qi Yuan felt standard and fully refreshed.

"Finally, minor attainment in the Gathering Stage!"

His Absolute Adaptation, forged within these hidden currents and treacherous perils where a single misstep meant falling into an abyss of eternal damnation, had survived and evolved, reaching the minor attainment of the Gathering Stage.

"As I am now, without even relying on my cultivation as the Martial God of Myriad Paths, but solely upon this supreme absolute logic, I should be able to contend with cultivators who have just stepped into the Grand Logic Realm."

Of course, it was merely contending.

To actually harm an ordinary Grand Logic cultivator, his Absolute Adaptation would need to reach the grand attainment of the Substantial Stage.

To slay a Grand Logic powerhouse like Ancestor Zi Yuan, it would have to reach the Inscription Stage.

This Dao Bu'er was truly a qualified little charging battery.

"Stone Disc, how many tenths did you comprehend this time?" Qi Yuan asked once more.

Stone Disc wore a face of utter bitterness: "Your disciple is dull-witted; I have not comprehended even a single tenth."

For the past three years, he had been constantly observing the mystical battle, yet he could not understand it at all.

"My Lord's battle is far too returned to simplicity, following the natural law of the Dao. It is difficult for Stone Disc to comprehend."

"Alas, with your brains, it is indeed difficult to comprehend such profound combat. I have troubled you," Qi Yuan lamented. "As the saying goes, having crossed the vast ocean, all other waters seem insignificant; except for those atop Mount Wu, no other clouds compare. In the future, when you see other profound battles, you will only find them utterly dull."

Stone Disc lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Although he had looked on very seriously as the Lord and Dao Bu'er hurled curses at each other, still... to tell the truth, this shouting match was not even as exciting and intense as two wild dogs barking at one another by the roadside.

...

In an unknown land, cold sweat broke out on Dao Bu'er's forehead.

"This black-robed man is truly formidable. Over the past few years, he has actually influenced me without making a sound, while my Words of Holy Light are... almost useless against him."

A chilling gleam flashed through Dao Bu'er's eyes.

"We shall fight for another half-year. If there is still no effect... it seems I can only get serious."

Dao Bu'er was no ordinary member of the Holy Light Clan.

His combat strength was exceptionally powerful.

Within the Six Heavens, no matter which cultivator entered the Tiankun Strange Land, he was confident he could toy with them until they died.

Therefore, he did not fear Qi Yuan.

Killing Qi Yuan would be very simple, but what he wanted was absolute control; only in this way could he obtain the true method to command the Army of Yin Souls.

Yet if control proved impossible, he could only steel his heart to strike a fatal blow, and then search for another way to control the spectral horde.

Half a month passed by.

Qi Yuan wore a joyful expression.

"The loophole of the Myriad Ghost Soul Banner... is finally settled!"

Over these years, he had stared at the Myriad Ghost Soul Banner every single day, and he had finally found the flaw within it.

As he was now, if he wished to enter the Ghost Pass, that Myriad Ghost Soul Banner would be completely ornamental.

In fact, if he so desired, he could even steal the Myriad Ghost Soul Banner away.

"However... I cannot stroll in grandly right now. Otherwise, that banner master might have some other tricks up his sleeve. I must pretend that I spent a tremendous amount of effort and barely managed to enter.

But with a cultivator of such grand power, I reckon that after three forced entries he would notice something amiss, yet... that is enough."

Qi Yuan was very pleased with himself.

His harvest during this period had been completely full.

The only regret was.

"This Dao Bu'er seems unable to beat me in a cursing match and doesn't want to shout at me anymore. This won't do; it looks like I must show weakness." Qi Yuan thought seriously.

The electricity on Dao Bu'er had not been fully drained yet, and he did not want to give up on this charging battery.

Although the speed at which Absolute Adaptation grew was getting slower and slower now.

But Dao Bu'er was still enough to let Qi Yuan step into the grand attainment of the Gathering Stage.

"For Dao Bu'er's sake, I am willing to stay in the Tiankun Strange Land for a few more years. Is this the greatness of paternal love? It's simply too moving!"

Qi Yuan murmured.

In the days that followed.

Stone Disc's expression grew increasingly bitter.

Even though he had stepped into the Golden Core Realm, he could not feel happy at all.

In the area where the Lord resided, those other cultivators all kept far away.

In the past, several close friends with whom he shared deep bonds had also left him one after another.

His path of cultivating immortality had transformed from a bustling scene crowded with guests and splendid glory into a deserted courtyard where visitors were few and far between.

Yet, even so, he still chose to remain by Qi Yuan's side.

However, he was somewhat anxious, because recently, the Lord's shouting match with that Dao Bu'er had faintly fallen into a disadvantage.

This filled him with immense worry.

By now, he had vaguely come to believe that this was indeed the profound battle between the Lord and Dao Bu'er.

"My Lord... should we leave the Tiankun Strange Land? The rare treasures have mostly been gathered by me." Stone Disc finally could not help but speak.

A smile appeared in Qi Yuan's eyes: "The rare treasures are gathered enough, but the charging battery... hasn't been completely drained yet!"

Or rather, it was almost drained.

"You need not worry for me." Remembering something, Qi Yuan murmured, "In another half-month, I should be leaving the Tiankun Strange Land. You stay here and continue to help me collect rare treasures."

"The Lord is leaving?" Hearing this, Stone Disc felt a burst of joy, though a hint of loss mixed with his happiness.

The Lord had listened to advice, which was a good thing, but...

"Yes." Qi Yuan nodded.

Once the battery's electricity was completely drained and finished, he would put an end to this boring battle.

After all, he had social anxiety; he couldn't even win a cursing match against the brothers and sisters back on Earth.

Fortunately, Dao Bu'er was not very good at shouting matches either.

(End of Chapter)