Chapter 267 - 138: Top 100 Divine Techniques List
Chapter 267: Chapter 138: Top 100 Divine Techniques List
"In the past."
"This place was just a weak, mortal kingdom. Among thousands of nations, it was utterly unremarkable, less than insignificant..."
"But then, he arrived."
"And so, three years ago, a Nine-Life Celestial Pride emerged from this very place."
"Two years ago, the Daqi Celestial Dynasty was forged here!"
"One year ago, a Golden Core fell!"
"And now."
"I am here."
He had a full head of white hair, wore a white robe, and possessed the face of a youth. His appearance was unchanged from years ago; only his bearing was different. After the death of the Confucian Sword Immortal, he had endured immense hardship, becoming all the more steady and composed.
His name was Jiang Baiyi.
Foundation Establishment Perfection.
After three years of tempering, he had reached the pinnacle of his cultivation in the Foundation Establishment Realm. The next step was the great realm of Core Formation.
When that time came, it would be a transformation akin to a carp leaping the Dragon Gate. Void Core, True Core, and Golden Core were like three distinct sub-realms, each representing a completely different landscape of power.
He had come this time to fulfill his promise: the three-year pact he had made with the Nine-Life Celestial Pride, right here in the Daqi Imperial Palace.
He stepped into the Imperial City, and no one stopped him.
Outside the Imperial City’s walls,
Immortal Dao Powerhouses from the Three Great Dynasties and the Five Great Sects were gathered there.
They were waiting. Waiting for the Nine-Life Celestial Pride, the one whose cultivation was beyond even Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, who had made a single, stunning appearance years ago only to vanish without a trace.
’Will he actually show up?’
An Extreme Cultivation Demon Child, holding a high position, was poised and waiting quietly.
The Divinity Transformation Remains!
The Divinity Transformation Remains of their Daoist Venerable!
’We have to get them back!’
Daqi had only two figures of stunning talent. One was the heir to the Great Xuan Celestial Dynasty, Emperor Tianqi. The other was the Nine-Life Celestial Pride, who had made one brief, brilliant appearance, and whose origins remained a complete mystery.
The only one capable of consuming the Divinity Transformation Remains would be a reincarnated Divinity Transformation Great Cultivator. In all likelihood, that was the Nine-Life Celestial Pride.
’Will you come?!’
Jiang Baiyi wondered.
It was a question countless powers throughout the Eastern Domain were also asking.
He waited.
And waited, and waited.
He waited until the heavy snow ceased.
He waited for the sun to set, and then for it to rise again.
He waited like this for three days and three nights.
On the road before the Palace Gate, there was no sign of the Nine-Life Celestial Pride in his Muddy World Profound Robe, no divine, immortal-like shadow of the youth. There was only a nonchalant, black-robed young man, drinking wine as he rode past on a Cyan Ox.
"Get out of here!"
"This is no place for a common mortal like you to be loitering!"
A powerhouse, acting from the shadows, tried to drive him away.
In response,
Su Chen took a drink of wine and shook his head with a laugh. ’What sense does it make to drive away the main character?’
However, he wasn’t fond of the spotlight, so he complied and left.
The three-year pact.
He didn’t actually remember it.
’Did I even agree to it back then? I can’t recall.’
As for Jiang Baiyi, it was only by listening to the talk of others that Su Chen even recalled the Xuantian Daoist who had fled so pathetically from his sword during the storming of the execution grounds.
He was too strong! Too much of a Demon.
Long, long ago, he had stopped paying attention to the prodigies of his generation, no longer giving any thought to cultivators in the same realm.
These days, the ones he cut down with his sword were all in the great realm of Core Formation!
Soon, the last night of the Fourth Year of Tianqi arrived.
"So, he’s not coming after all."
"He’s scared!"
"With all this commotion, if the Nine-Life Celestial Pride is anywhere in the Eastern Domain, he’d know about this. His not showing up can only mean one thing: he’s not good enough, and he’s scared!"
Cold laughter rang out.
"The Nine-Life Celestial Pride is nothing special after all. He’s so terrified of our Profound Celestial Sect’s White-clothed Daoist that he doesn’t even dare to show his face! That ’beyond Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment’ title of his is probably all hype."
"Hahaha!"
Wild laughter erupted from the Profound Celestial Sect powerhouses, thick with mockery for Su Chen.
The laughter seemed contagious.
In an instant, it seemed as if all the Immortal Dao Powerhouses, both inside and outside the Imperial City, throughout the entire Eastern Domain, were mocking the Nine-Life Celestial Pride for his cowardice and his refusal to fight.
’So you didn’t dare to come after all.’
A look of arrogance appeared in Jiang Baiyi’s eyes.
In just three short years, he had cultivated painstakingly and forged a great name for himself. He was not just the best among the Five Great Sects; he was long since considered unrivaled in the Eastern Domain, the acknowledged number one prodigy of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Now, with his sword alone, he could suppress all the Foundation Establishment prodigies of the Five Great Sects, and indeed, the entire Eastern Domain.
The Lifebound Dao Skill he comprehended, the Life Sword Skill, had even slain a Void Core Great Cultivator! It had dethroned the Great Li Sword Technique from its seat as the number one Sword Control Skill.
For three years, he had been eagerly awaiting this battle.
A pity.
His wish would not be granted.
"Since it has come to this,"
"I’ll consider this battle your loss."
Jiang Baiyi sighed, rising to leave.
"Why insist?"
Su Chen took another drink of wine. His eyes were hazy with drink as he leaned against the Cyan Ox’s back, swaying precariously. He had been wandering idly through the Daqi Imperial City, but he seemed to have heard Jiang Baiyi’s words. With a sigh, he stretched out a hand.
’How is someone at Foundation Establishment even qualified to fight me?’
’Fine.’
’If you want a battle so badly, and you’re not afraid of your Dao Heart shattering, then so be it.’
BOOM!
In that instant, the entire Daqi Imperial City seemed to tremble.
At that moment, the wind and snow, which had ceased, returned with a vengeance. The winds howled and clouds roiled as a boundless wave of ice and snow advanced like a raging sea.
Amidst it all, a colossal sword of ice and snow slowly began to form.
"Who?!"
"Who dares make a move?!"
"How dare you act against our Xuantian Daoist—"
One of the Profound Celestial Sect’s Protectors began to roar.
But Jiang Baiyi’s eyes lit up. He knew that the Nine-Life Celestial Pride had arrived.
"You’re here!"
"Hahaha!"
"This is the Nine-Life Celestial Pride I have been pursuing!"
"Am I not worthy of you drawing your sword?"
"Then I will force you to draw your sword!"
Jiang Baiyi was laughing.
A profound aura began to circulate around him.
He held no physical sword, for his sword resided in his heart. He had comprehended this sword art from the Fate Peeping Skill! With it, he had once slain a Void Core cultivator, a feat that shook the Eastern Domain. He intended to use this very sword to cut down the Nine-Life Celestial Pride.
A profound sword-intent erupted from his heart, soaring thousands of feet into the sky like a peerless blade, churning the very winds and clouds across the lands of Daqi.
"What a sword!"
"Terrifying! Is this the legendary Heart Sword Skill?"