Translator: CinderTL
Outside the dark horned prison, the tense atmosphere eased slightly after Li Chunjun, the Heavenly Palace, and the Wu Ji Sect's dharma manifestations all entered the prison.
Although the Wu Ji Sect, Heavenly Palace, and Profound Yellow Sect maintained their guard, everyone knew that a battle was unlikely to erupt until the dark horned prison began releasing matter.
The Supreme Sages and dharma manifestations from both sides retreated to their warships and palaces, remotely managing sect affairs through the False God Realm.
After all, the active dharma manifestations and Supreme Sages served as the sect's decision-making core, their daily responsibilities countless.
Unless they shirked their duties, most dharma manifestations and Supreme Sages could be utilized every minute.
If not for the dark horned prison battle's critical impact on their sects' core interests in the Profound Yellow Great World, these dharma manifestations and Supreme Sages would never have spared the time to personally guard the prison's perimeter.
This held true not only for the cultivators of the three major powers but also for the spectators gathered further afield.
The dark horned prison was a ruin formed after the destruction of a Great World. Its matter-devouring power persisted for six months, divided into three distinct phases.
By the end of the first phase, the devouring power could tear apart Dharma Aspects. By the end of the second phase, it could tear apart Supreme Sages. By the third phase, even Quasi-Tenth-Tier cultivators couldn't withstand it.
Currently, they were nearing the end of the first phase, transitioning into the second.
The Dharma Aspects had entered in groups, preventing the devouring power from tearing them apart for now. But in another day or two, every Dharma Aspect caught within the devouring power's range—except for the Supreme Dharma Aspects—would be torn to shreds.
Therefore, for the next ten months, there would likely be no further major developments.
They simply needed to wait ten months for the final outcome when the dark horned prison released the absorbed matter.
Just as everyone was settling down, a Dharma Aspect quietly approached Dragon-Elephant Imperial Lord.
"Imperial Lord, one of the Dharma Aspects we summoned has had its soul lamp extinguished. It was Tai Long and his group."
"Tai Long!?"
Dragon-Elephant Imperial Lord frowned.
He remembered this Dharma Aspect.
Years ago, when Tai Long was forging his Dharma Aspect, he had borrowed fifty billion Spirit Crystals from him.
The Imperial Lord had generously provided the funds, but in exchange, they had signed an agreement: after achieving Dharma Aspect status, Tai Long would perform three tasks for him.
Entering the dark horned prison was only the second task!
And now he was dead!?
"It's not just Tai Long," the Dharma Aspect said cautiously. "Other Heavenly Palace Dharma Manifestations have also fallen... the losses likely exceed double digits already."
"Hmph!"
The Dragon-Elephant Imperial Lord remained impassive, showing little concern for the sacrificed dharma aspects. He merely remarked, "It seems Li Chunjun was indeed concealing some trump card. The question is, what exactly is it? At the Dharma Aspect stage, the strongest weapon is one's own dharma aspect. At most, he might possess some special innate talent or a top-tier Dao Artifact!"
A glint flashed in his eyes. "Innate talent can boost a Dharma Aspect's combat power by as much as thirty to forty percent, or at least ten to twenty percent. Add to that a top-tier Dao Artifact... his combat power could increase by forty to fifty percent beyond his base level..."
Forty to fifty percent!
Given Li Chunjun's confirmed Void Storm Dharma Aspect, his base combat power should be around 120,000!
Applying the maximum fifty percent boost...
That would bring him to 170,000 or 180,000!
"No wonder he dared to challenge all the Dharma Aspects of the Heavenly Palace and Wu Ji Sect to a battle in the dark horned prison. With such power, he could easily overwhelm most Supreme Sages! Naturally, he wouldn't take the Dharma Aspects seriously. But even knowing he was hiding something, we still deployed so many Dharma Aspects because we're confident we can handle him!"
The Dragon-Elephant Imperial Lord's eyes gleamed with confidence. "Whether his combat power is 170,000, 180,000, or even exceeds 200,000! Our Heavenly Palace's trump card will crush him in an instant!"
Dark Horned Prison!
Without hesitation, the Wu Ji Sect activated their Battle Formation, directly confronting Li Chunjun.
The two forces collided mid-air within the balanced zone, unleashing a blinding storm of sword light.
Some of the shattered sword light swept outward, while the rest entered the devouring zone, only to be instantly torn apart by the overwhelming devouring power that enveloped the area.
After the initial clash, it appeared that someone among the Wu Ji Sect's fifty-nine great dharma aspects had been injured.
Yet Li Chunjun's Void Storm Dharma Aspect also showed signs of imminent collapse.
For a moment, the Heavenly Palace forces seemed to have glimpsed the limits of Li Chunjun's power.
"The Wu Ji Sect is pressing forward, Brother. Should we..." The second of the Blood Eagle Three Brothers spoke, his eyes burning with anticipation.
"Not yet!" The eldest brother waved his hand, glancing at the devouring zone's power, which had yet to reach its peak. "We wait. Another day or two. Once the devouring power is strong enough to tear apart even a Supreme Sage, we'll have completely sealed off Li Chunjun's retreat! Even if he reveals his trump cards then, it'll be too late!"
"What if Li Chunjun can't hold out that long?" the third brother asked grimly.
"He will!"
The eldest brother watched Li Chunjun, who was single-handedly battling the Wu Ji Sect's fifty-nine-man Battle Formation with his Dharma Aspect. "He's only revealed the essence of his Supreme Dharma Aspect's power, but he hasn't yet unleashed his Top-Tier Dao Artifact... The Profound Yellow Sect may be poor, but they can't possibly lack even a single Top-Tier Dao Artifact, especially with the support of Liu Yu, the profound yellow spirit."
"A Top-Tier Dao Artifact!"
The other two brothers' eyes burned with both solemnity and barely suppressed greed.
A Top-Tier Dao Artifact could easily fetch over a trillion Spirit Crystals!
What did that mean?
It could be exchanged for dozens of Superior Dao Artifacts!
It could be used to reforged a Supreme Dharma Aspect three to five times!
If they could seize this Top-Tier Dao Artifact, all three brothers would have the resources to upgrade their Dharma Aspects to Supreme Dharma Aspects.
"Let the Wu Ji Sect wear themselves out first. We'll wait and see. The power of a Top-Tier Dao Artifact will inevitably boost his combat power even further, potentially reaching 180,000 or even 190,000. Once the Wu Ji Sect has exhausted themselves, we'll join forces with the Six Wind Catchers to deploy the Heaven-Severing Soul-Refining Grand Formation and deliver the final, fatal blow to Li Chunjun!" the Blood Eagle Brother said, his eyes gleaming with dark resolve.
The others nodded in deep agreement.
Their array formation was fueled by residual souls...
The more dharma aspects fell, the greater the array's power grew!
At that moment, the third brother suddenly shouted, "Brother, something's wrong! Li Chunjun knows he can't defeat the Wu Ji Sect head-on. He's using his speed advantage to attack us directly!"
"Damn it! We just need to hold out for another day or two! His dharma aspect is incredibly strong—both offensively and defensively! If he realizes he can't win, he'll escape the dark horned prison before the devouring power reaches its peak. Once he's out, he'll summon that Quasi-Tenth-Tier profound yellow spirit for backup. Who among the Supreme Sages outside could stop him then?"
Blood Eagle Brother waved his hand sharply. "Retreat! Fight as we fall back! Preserve yourselves while buying as much time as possible to exhaust his strength!"
Following his command, the numerous dharma aspects surrounding him swiftly shifted their strategy.
Though they remained clustered together for mutual support, their focus now lay primarily on defense.
In this somewhat passive confrontation, casualties were inevitable.
If not for the Wu Ji Sect's relentless pursuit in their Battle Formation, forcing Li Chunjun to constantly change battlefields, the Heavenly Palace's losses would likely have been far greater.
"Something's not right!"
On the other side!
Long Xingyu, within the Wu Ji Sect's formation, stared intently at Li Chunjun, who was constantly evading their pursuit while maneuvering his Void Storm Dharma Aspect to hunt around the Heavenly Palace Dharma Manifestation's perimeter. He muttered repeatedly, "This is very strange!"
He insisted, "If Li Chunjun had no way to turn the tide, he could have escaped the dark horned prison while the devouring power was still weak. With Liu Yu's support, he wouldn't have died! Yet now, he neither confronts us directly nor leaves the dark horned prison..."
"He's stalling for time!" Yuan Shaoyang, the Wu Ji Sect's Top-Tier Dharma Manifestation, declared gravely.
He was the commander of all the Wu Ji Sect's Dharma Manifestations—a formidable being who had lived for 110,000 years, cultivated 39,000 years of Millennial Magic Power, and possessed nearly 120,000 combat power.
Of course, Yuan Taiji's orders to them were to fully cooperate with Long Xingyu to ensure a fatal blow against Li Chunjun.
Now, as the Dharma Manifestation watched Li Chunjun evade their pursuit without engaging, he stated with certainty, "He's waiting for the devouring power at the periphery to intensify, ensuring none of us can escape the dark horned prison, so he can wipe us all out in one fell swoop!"
His expression grew increasingly grave. "He actually... has such confidence!"
Long Xingyu fell silent.
Li Chunjun's current display of power was already terrifying.
Without the Top-Tier Dao Artifact Yuan Taiji had given him, they would have been evenly matched.
Yet now, he still seemed to be holding back, waiting for the devouring power to completely transform the dark horned prison into a desolate wasteland before revealing his trump card and launching a counterattack...
Just how formidable was his true combat power?!
200,000?!
Or even higher?!
After all...
This was a dao integration opportunity!
No exaggeration could be considered excessive!
"Chase him! We have to chase him! Force him into a decisive battle!" Long Xingyu roared.
"We can't catch him!" Yuan Shaoyang replied. "With fifty-nine of us moving together while maintaining the Battle Formation to prevent his Void Storm from scattering us, we'll never catch up! Unless someone is willing to help us restrain them!"
His gaze fell on Long Xingyu.
Long Xingyu quickly shifted his gaze toward the Heavenly Palace. "What about them?"
"Li Chunjun is waiting, and the Heavenly Palace seems to be waiting too!" Yuan Shaoyang continued. "Look closely—though the Heavenly Palace forces are divided into two factions, most of them are like scattered sand. However, the Blood Eagle Three Brothers, the Six Wind Catchers, and the Cloud Mountain Three Venerables—these twelve great dharma aspects—maintain a hidden connection... They're concealing something, waiting for something!"
What were they waiting for?
Long Xingyu didn't need to guess.
They were waiting for the devouring power in the periphery to intensify!
"So, all three sides have trump cards, yet none of us are willing to reveal them now to deliver the fatal blow to Li Chunjun?"
For a moment, Long Xingyu felt a sense of absurdity.
In this life-or-death struggle, each faction was playing its own game?
But...
What good did knowing this do?
What good did understanding the grave consequences do?
Was he willing to be the first to jump out and reveal his trump card?
This wasn't his fight!
He was just a mercenary!
Why should he, a mercenary, be the first to risk his life when the Wu Ji Sect and Heavenly Palace forces were holding back?
Just because he was clever?
Because he sensed the hidden danger?
Didn't the others sense it too?!
Yet they...
Were waiting!
Waiting with unwavering confidence!
Long Xingyu's heart was filled with anguish.
He even regretted being lured into the dark horned prison by Yuan Taiji with the promise of a Top-Tier Dao Artifact and an uncertain future reward, which had led him to this desperate situation.
Caught between a rock and a hard place!
Escape?
If he dared flee the dark horned prison now, Yuan Taiji would undoubtedly strike him down without hesitation. Not even the Chiyang Sword Sect could protect him!
Staying here offered at least a sliver of hope.
What if Li Chunjun's strength was merely a facade?
Wait!
Then they would all wait!
Let's see whose trump card is stronger!
Let's see who has the last laugh!
In this state of perfect, unspoken understanding, the battle in the arena took on an eerie quality.
The Heavenly Palace defended, the Wu Ji Sect pursued, Li Chunjun fled, occasionally ambushing isolated Heavenly Palace Dharma Manifestations...
Under these chaotic circumstances, the clash had dragged on for two days.
(End of the Chapter)
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