The battlefield above the ruined Ancient Holy City was silent for a brief heartbeat before the sky itself seemed to split apart. Twelve figures of Dou Sheng cultivators hovered in the air each one occupying a precise position that matched the eyes of an ancient formation carved into the veins of heaven and earth. As their bodies steadied in those positions power surged and twelve colossal avatars began to take form behind them. These were the Dou Sheng True Bodies each towering high into the clouds each exuding waves of destructive might.
Soul Miesheng narrowed his eyes as he looked upon them. His expression was calm but within his gaze burned a sharp glint. The True Bodies before him belonged to Dou Shengs of only two or three stars. In his heart he mocked such a display. "Low level Dou Sheng True Bodies even if gathered together are still ants." His voice rang coldly across the air. His black robes swayed in the violent winds stirred up by the gathering power and his bearing remained unshaken.
At his level of cultivation ordinary numbers no longer carried much meaning. The difference between life and death between dominance and submission was measured by quality not quantity. He wanted to see how these twelve weak Dou Shengs could possibly resist the might of one who had already touched the peak of eight star Dou Sheng.
The withered elder Dao Xuan who carried the title of Ancient Clan Supreme Elder raised his cloudy eyes and let out a strange laugh. His voice was like dry leaves scratching over stone yet it carried supreme confidence. "Soul Miesheng this time you are mistaken. All of you heed my command merge with the Sacred Idols."
At his command the twelve low star Dou Shengs simultaneously drew out tokens carved of ancient white jade. These jade tokens looked simple and plain yet each was crafted into the likeness of a human figure its surface inscribed with ancient lines of power. From each fingertip of the holders a drop of fresh blood dripped onto the cold jade. The tokens glowed faintly as though awoken from a slumber.
From within each token a phantom figure floated forth. These phantoms were indistinct yet each one radiated the aura of a being that had once shaken the heavens. They slipped silently into the Dou Sheng True Bodies that the twelve cultivators had summoned.
In that moment the aura of each avatar began to climb with shocking speed. Soul Miesheng's eyes flashed with genuine surprise. The golden formation that had risen from the ground of the Ancient Holy City rotated slowly as torrents of heaven and earth energy were drawn into it. The gathered qi poured without restraint into the twelve avatars. The spectral bodies grew denser and denser their forms stabilizing into terrifying beings of war.
The aura of a three star Dou Sheng rose to that of four stars. Four stars rose again to five. Five climbed to six. Within a mere breath or two the twelve avatars had surged upward until every single one had reached the strength of an eight star Dou Sheng.
Even more astonishing one among them flared brighter than the others its power surging until it nearly touched the edge of nine star Dou Sheng.
Soul Miesheng's lips curved in a faint frown. 'How could this be possible. What secret art could so easily raise a dozen weak Dou Shengs to such a level.' If such a method existed without restriction then the Ancient Clan would never need to fear the Soul Clan.
Yet what unsettled him further was that the auras of these avatars did not carry the instability of forced breakthroughs from pills or crude methods. Instead they felt solid and calm as though they had indeed stepped naturally into that realm.
His gaze fell on the jade tokens and realization stirred in his heart. "So it is those white jade tokens."
Dao Xuan laughed again his voice echoing within the golden formation. "This formation seals the space in all directions gathering the essence of heaven and earth. By calling upon the remnant souls of twelve elders of my Ancient Clan we may condense twelve avatars of eight star Dou Sheng strength. Soul Miesheng today I shall see what other tricks you can call upon."
Soul Miesheng's eyes gleamed coldly. "Remnant souls. So that is the truth." Now he understood. The avatars were merely vessels and the true strength came from the lingering wills of dead elders. By merging with the summoned avatars and drawing in the endless qi through the formation those remnant souls could fight once more.
In reality this meant that what stood before him were not twelve True Bodies but twenty four. For each vessel contained both the living Dou Sheng and the shadow of an elder.
With the immense passage of time the Ancient Clan had accumulated countless powerful forebears. In ten thousand years it was no great task to preserve twelve eight star Dou Sheng remnants. Perhaps even nine star remnants slumbered still within their vaults. Such heritage was indeed terrifying.
'Such resources. Truly worthy of being called an Ancient Clan.' Soul Miesheng laughed darkly to himself. Though compared to the Soul Clan's ability to resurrect the dead and forge hundreds of saints this method was crude still it was far above the abilities of the Spirit Clan or Stone Clan.
Dao Xuan's eyes gleamed with icy intent. "Originally I prepared the Twelve Sacred Idol Array only as a final precaution. Never did I expect that I would need to employ it today. Since it has been activated there will be no retreat. Soul Miesheng you must die here. Move eradicate him."
At his order the twelve avatars opened their eyes. Those eyes were dark voids lacking light as though stripped of all humanity. Controlled by the remnant souls they moved in perfect unison.
The sky trembled as twelve colossal figures of gods and buddhas raised their hands together. Their palms linked and pressed downward like a world collapsing.
The combined might of twelve eight star Dou Sheng True Bodies one even nearly nine star surged forth. The pressure blanketed heaven and earth. It was a scene that could only be described with eight words. Gods and Buddhas of the Heavens destruction of all beneath the sky.
Even Soul Miesheng felt the weight pressing upon his chest making his breathing hitch. His expression darkened. Yet the gleam in his eyes was not fear but excitement.
He flung out his hands and seven flames burst from his body. Each flame roared as it took the form of a spirit beast a wolf with eyes like lanterns a panther sleek and silent a lion with golden mane a tiger with stripes that burned a flood dragon coiling through the air a python hissing with forked tongue and a phoenix blazing with divine feathers. These fire spirits soared into the sky gathering together into seven towering pillars of flame. The burning pillars stretched a thousand feet high piercing into the heavens.
The colossal palms of the twelve avatars pressed downward. The seven flames roared upward. The collision shook the heavens. Each of the seven spirits howled with fury struggling to resist the weight of twelve. The sky burned crimson the ground split apart.
Dao Xuan sneered from afar. "Child you cannot block this strike." Around him the followers of the Ancient Clan let out cries of triumph. Among them Gu Yao's eyes glowed with hatred. To him Xun Er could only belong to him. For that Soul Miesheng must perish.
But Soul Miesheng's eyes burned with wild fervor. "Interesting very interesting." With a low growl he summoned forth the black water that had long slumbered within him. A single droplet hovered above his palm gleaming with a deep blue radiance. The drop trembled releasing waves of pressure that rippled through space.
He whispered low yet his words echoed across heaven and earth. "Rely on you now help me overturn this wretched sky and earth."
For a heartbeat the world fell into silence. The droplet rose slowly then fell as though a raindrop had touched the still surface of a lake. Ripples spread outward folding the very fabric of space.
Then it erupted. A thunderous boom split the void. From that tiny droplet a black dragon soared into the sky. Its scales glistened like obsidian its body vast enough to crush mountains. The dragon coiled through the heavens entwining itself with the seven pillars of flame.
Water and fire opposites by nature united here in harmony. The dragon and the flames together surged upward smashing into the colossal palms pressing down from above.
The sound was like glass shattering as the massive linked palms of the twelve idols cracked and burst apart. Pieces of the formation collapsed and scattered like falling stars.
The world was split into two realms. One burned red with fire. The other glistened blue with water. Water and Fire Dual Polar Domain.
This was the true power of the One Yuan Heavy Water having advanced to the ninth grade peak and now fused with seven Heavenly Flames. Its might far surpassed what Soul Miesheng had displayed before.
The twelve avatars staggered each retreating hundreds of feet. Shock filled the eyes of the Ancient Clan witnesses. Dao Xuan himself trembled his ancient face filled with disbelief.
The voices of the clansmen rose in horror. "How could this be."
Amid them Jian Ya the sword elder who once fought Soul Miesheng dropped his heavy blade in a clatter his body shaking. His voice cracked. "You are the Nihility Devouring Flame." The revelation left the crowd dumbstruck.
Why was Xun Er together with this man. Why did he carry the origin fire of the Nihility Flame. Why had the Nihility Flame appeared the moment they fled from Soul Miesheng. All the contradictions lined up at last.
Indeed it was no wonder he dared to stride into the Ancient Realm at this time.
Soul Miesheng smirked. "Nihility Flame. Forgive me but that creature has long since perished." His words were sharp and cold and he no longer cared to conceal the truth. Anyone with a sharp mind could trace the pieces together now.
Murderous intent surged in his gaze. He drew back his fist and slammed it toward one of the twelve avatars. The colossal knuckles ripped through the void with devastating force.
Dao Xuan's voice rang out urgently. "Defend."
The golden formation pulsed and streams of radiant energy surged into the targeted avatar. A golden shield emerged and managed to withstand the blow. The twelve avatars gathered again their formation intact.
Soul Miesheng was about to unleash further techniques when suddenly his sea of spirit quivered violently. His pupils shrank as he looked far across the horizon.
From the distance waves of black clouds surged forth like a tide rolling across the world. Within them was a presence heavy and unyielding a pressure that even he felt with a stab of unease.
Gu Yuan was returning.
Soul Miesheng clenched his fists. He knew the truth. He could not tarry here any longer. He must finish this with a single decisive strike.
With that thought he opened his mouth and spat forth a sphere of light. A golden thunder orb floated into the sky crackling with runes of destruction.
Voices cried out in shock. "That is the Nine Profound Golden Thunder."
The heavens shook as thunder rolled. The battle was about to reach its next peak.
(End of Chapter)
Support me if you like this Fanfiction
Please support me leave your review.
Leave a 5 Star Review & a Power Stone.