Boom!
A terrifying aura surged upwards. Scary momentum burst out from Zuo Qiuhanyan's body, his purple Primordial Qi circulating around him, stirring up the endlessly surging Heaven and Earth Essence Qi.
Although his injuries hadn't fully healed yet, the treasures he had continually plundered from the Forbidden Place had allowed his injuries to recover rapidly and restore most of his strength.
He suddenly swung a fist, and a boiling Primordial Qi up surged towards the sky, generating an enormous torrent of fist energy, as heavy as Mount Tai, submerging Pang Hong beneath it.
Seeing Zuo Qiuhanyan's ferocious attack, Pang Hong was shocked by the strength his opponent exhibited, contrary to the previous information he had obtained.
However, Pang Hong showed no fear. The Shenxiao Sword in his hand hummed softly, drawn in an instant.
Sword Drawing Skill!
This swordsmanship, once relied upon by Pei Xuanjing to dominate the world and killing countless experts, once again resurfaced. As Pei Xuanjing's direct disciple, Pang Hong's display of the Sword Drawing Skill was already 60 to 70 percent as powerful as Pei's was at the same Realm.
But don't assume that Pang Hong's Sword Drawing Skill is weak as it only has 60 to 70 percent of the power of Pei Xuanjing's swordsmanship in the same realm. That's not the case.
Pei Xuanjing was known for cultivating Essence, Qi and Spirit all together. His profound cultivation foundation was far out of reach for many. That very fact that Pang Hong could use this move with such power would shock the world when word got out, proclaiming that Pei Xuanjing indeed had a worthy successor.
Clang!
The Shenxiao Sword was unsheathed.
Grasp the sword, draw the sword, unsheathe the sword, swing the sword, all actions are as smooth as flowing water, without the slightest pause!
An dazzling ray of sword light flashed. Almost at the instant of unsheathing, an extremely violent sword intent permeated outward.
The might of this sword, seems like it can split the sky and sever the earth.
The chilly sword light, coupled with this explosive sword intent, sliced through space itself, cutting off that wild torrent of fist energy.
Pang Hong's sword intent differed from Pei Xuanjing's imposing aura. It was rather filled with his own style, as violent as a thunder god in the sky.
When the Sword Drawing Skill was in Pang Hong's hands, it did not follow the same path of extreme speed that Pei Xuanjing used, but was instead filled with a sense of violence and destruction.
Boom!
The resulting fluctuations from their clash caused the earth to shake for miles around. If the cultivators in the area hadn't been evacuated earlier, just this aftermath alone would have caused numerous casualties.
A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Zuo Qiuhanyan's eyes. Initially, he only intended to suppress and defeat Pang Hong while still wary of Pei Xuanjing. But after their exchange, he knew that he must kill Pang Hong today, leaving no chance for him to survive.
The Pang Hong before him only had the Cultivation at the Spirit Realm Second Layer, but his combat power was already so strong. If his strength were to break through, Zuo Qiuhanyan was worried that he might not be able to defeat him even if he had fully restored his strength.
"I absolutely can't afford to leave such a powerful opponent alive. I must obliterate him, otherwise, he will become a major threat in the future." Zuo Qiuhanyan made up his mind.
Having lived hundreds of years, and having grown up in the Sky Wasteland, Zuo Qiuhanyan had seen countless prodigies like Pang Hong. He knew full well that such prodigies would never easily accept defeat.
If today he simply defeated Pang Hong, that defeat would forever remain in Pang Hong's memory. Zuo Qiuhanyan would himself become the force pushing Pang Hong forward, a stepping stone in Pang Hong's path that he would incessantly seek to overcome.
If Pang Hong were an ordinary person, so be it. But unfortunately, Pang Hong was no ordinary person. He had an invincible master, and under his master's tutelage, Pang Hong was bound to become Zuo Qiuhanyan's deadly enemy.
Zuo Qiuhanyan's face darkened, his murderous intent deepening. He no longer held back and unleashed his full power.
A rolling Demonic Energy gushed out, carrying with it an aura that could extinguish everything. The surrounding flowers and trees instantly turned yellow upon being engulfed by this Demonic Energy, with life rapidly draining away.
Boom!
Another terrifying punch was launched, the Demonic Energy raging, causing the Ghost God to weep as darkness enveloped everything.
Pang Hong, feeling the other party's killing intent, also focused his attention, his Shenxiao Sword slowly moving.
The previous exchange had already made him realize the terror of this Demonic Way expert he was facing. The other party's strength far exceeded Pang Hong's initial estimation. The other party was definitely not an ordinary Fifth Order expert, but at least at the Spirit Realm's Fifth Level, maybe even the Sixth Level.
First move·Nine Luminaries.
Even if demonic energy permeated several miles around, it could not obstruct the starlight. Countless starlights could be clearly seen piercing the encirclement of Demonic Energy and scattering over Pang Hong.
"Slash!"
Pang Hong's eyes are filled with warfare, the Shenxiao Sword swung out, numerous thunderous blasts followed by starlight shining, a sword swung out, seemed like a starry river bursting out.
"Kill!"
Zuo Qiuhanyan, also raging, launched a massive punch.
Boom!
The sword light collided with the giant fist mark, like a volcano erupting, the earth and heavens went silent for an instant, the ground shook, and sand and stones flew around with the two of them at the center of the collision.
…
"Cough, cough…"
Pang Hong was sent flying backward, coughing up blood, which sprayed across the sky. His clothes were ragged and soaked with blood, his hair was messy and scattered, he was indeed in a sorry state.
His eyes held a touch of sorrow. The opponent was indeed much stronger than him. Even if he had the divine Shenxiao Sword in hand and executed his master's supreme sword technique, he was still not the opponent's match.
With the smoke dispersing, Zuo Qiuhanyan also emerged, still looking the same as before, evidently the intense aftermath of the battle hadn't affected him at all.
"What a pity. You were supposed to be a rising star. But you insisted on seeking death. Don't blame me, you should blame your master!" Zuo Qiuhanyan's icy cold face, his eyes filled with murderous intent, he coldly said.
Being a practitioner in the Demonic Way, he certainly had nothing in killing decisively. Having decided to kill, he wouldn't hesitate, even if his opponent had a seventh-level powerhouse in the spiritual realm as his backer.
If he had had some hesitation at the beginning, it had now completely disappeared. From the moment Pang Hong appeared before him, there was no room for compromise between him, Pang Hong, and Pei Xuanjing who stood behind Pang Hong.
He convinced himself that killing one as a warning to others and being one of the first to break the opponents' rules, if the opponent wanted to enforce these rules, was the only reason he was still alive, otherwise, how could Pei Xuanjing enforce his rules and implement his will.
Therefore, the only path he had in front of him was to kill Pang Hong, flee away, and hide himself.
Until either he reached the Seventh Level of the Spirit Realm to be capable of self-preservation, or the other forces in Sky Wasteland returned to divert Pei Xuanjing's attention, could he reveal himself to the world again.
Once he had made up his mind, Zuo Qiuhanyan didn't give Pang Hong a chance to speak. He stepped forward, surrounded by rolling demonic energy, and launched a punch aimed to kill Pang Hong on the spot.
Boom!
A hint of surprise flashed through Zuo Qiuhanyan's eyes, his punch had been blocked.
The one who blocked it was not Pang Hong, but something at Pang Hong's chest.
Hums…
A jade talisman flew out from Pang Hong's chest, emitting a warm and colourful light. After blocking Zuo Qiuhanyan's punch, the light began to spread, gradually transforming into the figure of a young Taoist in a dark brown robe.
"Pei Xuanjing!"
Although he had never met Pei Xuanjing, when Zuo Qiuhanyan saw the figure of this Taoist, he instantly recognized his identity.
"A cultivator of the Demonic Way at the Sixth Level of the Spirit Realm, no wonder it activated this contingency I left behind," Pei Xuanjing said self-absorbedly, not responding directly.
His gaze swept over Zuo Qiuhanyan, instantly assessing his strength.
With the Shenxiao sword in hand, Pang Hong might have a chance of winning even against cultivators at the Fourth Level of the Spirit Realm, but facing a cultivator at the Sixth Level, even if they were injured, was more than Pang Hong could handle.
"Master, I'm useless," Pang Hong saw Pei Xuanjing's figure appear and promptly bowed in apology.
Pei Xuanjing waved his hand nonchalantly, "You've done well enough. The opponent is indeed beyond your level. Losing this time is nothing. You just need to focus on training in the future."
A cultivator of the Demonic Way at the Sixth Level of the Spirit Realm has undoubtedly cultivated for hundreds of years. The opponent's battle experience and cultivated skills are not something Pang Hong can match.
"Yes, Master, I understand. I will train hard in the future," Pang Hong said solemnly.
After all, he was less than sixty years old. Losing to this opponent was expected. If he had won, it would have been a real surprise.
Therefore, although he had lost to this powerful practitioner of the Demonic Way this time, it didn't affect Pang Hong's state of mind too much.
After advising his disciple, Pei Xuanjing finally turned his gaze upon Zuo Qiuhanyan, "Do you have anything to say?"
"Do you think you can suppress me by just projecting an avatar?" There was a hint of anger in Zuo Qiuhanyan's eyes.
Admittedly, he was genuinely fearful when Pei Xuanjing's avatar first appeared, and the thought of retreating did cross his mind. But hearing Pei Xuanjing's grandiose claims, he felt belittled.
A cultivator at the Sixth Level of the Spirit Realm, although not among the top in Sky Wasteland, was still a formidable presence. Faced with such a cultivator who is just a step away from the sixth rank, even major powers would hesitate to provoke. After all, if they failed to suppress or kill the opponent, a breakthrough to the Seventh Level of the Spirit Realm would inevitably bring great troubles.
Now that Pei Xuanjing was taking him lightly, how could Zuo Qiuhanyan not feel a surge of anger?
If the opponent had come in person, he would have fled without a second thought. But this mere avatar projected by the opponent, dismissing him so lightly, was utterly infuriating.
"Hehe, it seems that you are an independent practitioner, not from a major power," Pei Xuanjing said placidly, not at all bothered by Zuo Qiuhanyan's words.
Zuo Qiuhanyan felt a dig of anxiety when Pei Xuanjing revealed his background so nonchalantly. He asked tersely, "What do you mean?"
"Hehe," Pei Xuanjing just chuckled, not intending to explain.
It's quite simple, really. As the restoration of Heaven and Earth lengthened, more and more individuals from the Sky Wasteland arrived in the Daming World, and the Sky Mechanism Pavilion had long planted their hidden hands in the Daming World.
While the people of the Sky Mechanism Pavilion had not yet made a move, they still had a clear understanding of all the details about powerful figures like Pei Xuanjing, without any inaccuracies.
Nowadays, although Pei Xuanjing had not yet had too much interaction with the various forces of Sky Wasteland, there was no doubt that information about his background was already known to these forces.
If the person in front of him came from one of these forces, he would naturally be aware of Pei Xuanjing's external incarnation divine abilities displayed when he killed the Howling Moon Gray Wolf from the Demon Race outside the border, and would also know that even though Pei Xuanjing was just an avatar, he still possessed extraordinary strength.
But the fact that the person did not know, meant without a doubt that he lacked backing.
"…" Zuo Qiuhanyan fell silent, becoming even more bewildered by what the other was implying.
He wasn't sure how the other party was able to tell that he was alone, but he did understand that under these circumstances, the other party wouldn't have any reservations in dealing with him.
However, before Zuo Qiuhanyan could think any further, he could see Pei Xuanjing had already made a move.
Boom!
Infinite Heaven and Earth Essence Qi exploded, with Pei Xuanjing's avatar as the center, it seemed like a vortex absorbing boundless Heaven and Earth Essence Qi. As the Essence Qi converged, Pei Xuanjing's avatar gradually became more solid.
Pei Xuanjing stood proudly in mid-air, his aura growing stronger and stronger, causing the skies within dozens of miles around him to change color. The sea of clouds churned, air currents rolled, and muffled thunder rumbled in the distance.
His overwhelming aura was as vast as the boundless sky, becoming the only existence between Heaven and Earth.
At this moment, Pei Xuanjing's dominance was fully displayed. The previously evident Taoist demeanor had faded, replaced by the aura of a sovereign, full of majesty. Heaven and Earth Essence Qi swirled around him like huge waves, circling his body and causing air currents to roll wherever he moved.
The next moment, Pei Xuanjing slowly lifted his hands, turning his fingers into palms. Countless strands of electricity gathered in the center of his palms, emitting a terrifying aura. The lightning in his palms transformed into two purple-green thunder dragons, their roaring echoing throughout the skies, accompanied by wind and thunder, their momentum was majestic.
Roar!
In an instant, he slapped out with both his palms, and countless strands of lightning turned into two purple-green thunder dragons, charging forward. Their roaring echoed through the heavens, accompanied by wind and thunder, displaying a grandeur that could not be ignored.
As these purple-green thunder dragons roared across the sky, causing continuous bursts of thunder. They struck upwards, towards the clouds, and wherever they passed, a wave of energy swept across, carrying an annihilating aura that seemed to want to destroy everything.
Wherever the two purple-green thunder dragons passed, space quaked, and countless explosive sounds echoed continuously, leaving only countless afterimages and distorted space.
This was the Shenxiao Thunder Palm. Pei Xuanjing had once again analyzed and improved this technique, now it could be called the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Palm.
"This!"
Zuo Qiuhanyan felt a chill down to his marrow the moment Pei Xuanjing made his move.
As a powerful practitioner who had been immersed in the Demonic Way for hundreds of years, he had survived through countless life and death situations and possesses an instinctual reaction when facing a massive threat.
At this moment, facing Pei Xuanjing's palm strike, he felt the threat of death.
Zuo Qiuhanyan couldn't afford to hold back any longer, nor think about his injuries that had not yet fully healed. He violently stimulated all his strength, not daring to hold anything back.
Because he was clear, if he couldn't withstand this strike, he might not have a future anymore.
Zuo Qiuhanyan once had countless thoughts, pondering over how Pei Xuanjing dared to confront him like that through an avatar, it must be due to absolute confidence. He had made various predictions.
But what he never expected was Pei Xuanjing striking with the force of thunder, putting him on the brink of life and death in an instant, forcing him to fight desperately for his survival.
Boom!
Zuo Qiuhanyan's body erupted violently, putting forth all his strength. His demonic energy surged wildly, releasing a terrifying momentum to confront the approaching Thunder Dragon, hoping to resist this attack.
Regrettably, all resistance is meaningless in the face of absolute power.
Even though Zuo Qiuhanyan had exerted all his strength, displaying unprecedented power and, disregarding the risk to his foundation, even using the burst spell of the Demonic Way, it was all in vain.
Boom!
Endless lightning swallowed Zuo Qiuhanyan whole. His entire figure disappeared in the midst of the lightning, unable to even let out a scream before turning into flying ash.
…
The gap between the Seventh Level of the Spiritual Realm and the Spirit Realm Sixth Level is unimaginable. If a Sixth-Level Spirit Realm expert does not have top-tier Divine weapon treasures, facing Seventh Level experts would be difficult to resist.
Moreover, because Pei Xuanjing was cultivating the method of External Incarnation stemming from his flesh and blood, even though his current form is merely an Avatar, the combat power this Avatar held far exceeded Zuo Qiuhanyan's imagination.
To put it simply, even though Pei Xuanjing only appeared as an Avatar, his strength could suppress even ordinary experts of the Seventh Level of the Spirit Realm, let alone Zuo Qiuhanyan, who was unarmed and hadn't yet recovered his strength?
"Master's divine might!" Pang Hong joyously exclaimed to Pei Xuanjing.
For Pei Xuanjing to effortlessly kill Zuo Qiuhanyan, a Sixth-Level Spirit Realm practitioner, did not surprise Pang Hong at all. In his heart, his master was an invincible existence, capable of easily suppressing any enemy, so it was only natural for his master to suppress even an enemy he himself found challenging.
"When did you learn to flatter?" Pei Xuanjing laughed as he asked him.
Pang Hong shook his head: "I am merely expressing sincere praise without any exaggeration."
A Sixth-Level Cultivator in the Sky Wasteland is considered a powerful existence. Even if the ancient forces of the future Sky Wasteland return, these Sixth-Level great cultivators are still pillars of all sides. Yet, one was effortlessly suppressed by his master's avatar, showing that his master's realm has reached an unimaginably profound level.
"Hehe…" Pei Xuanjing chuckled, refraining from further comment. He turned to Pang Hong and said, "Now that is settled, you should first go back and heal!"
After all, a Cultivator at the Second Layer of the Spirit Realm competing against a Sixth-Level strongman, even if the latter was injured and could only wield the strength of the Fifth Level, Pang Hong, with the aid of the Shenxiao Sword, was still severely injured, almost devoid of fighting strength. If it were not for the appearance of Pei Xuanjing's Avatar, he would have died for sure.
However, this time the injury did not cause harm to Pang Hong's foundation, so Pei Xuanjing did not contemplate on helping him heal since there is an opportunity for him to have some realization in the process of healing himself.
"Yes!"
Pang Hong responded.
"Alright, I still have some matters to handle at the Taoist Academy, I won't chat further. Once you get back to Tiandu, you can come to the academy to see me…"
Having completed his words, Pei Xuanjing's avatar dissipated, turning back into a warm jade charm in Pang Hong's hand.
But it was clear to see, the previously flawless jade charm now had an irreparable crack in it.
"Sigh, I squandered my once chance at survival." Said Pang Hong, looking at the location where Zuo Qiuhanyan had perished.
The jade charm avatar safeguard was a lifesaving item that Pei Xuanjing had specifically crafted for him, it can summon the Avatar of Pei Xuanjing. It was also an experimental product by Pei Xuanjing when studying the method of Divine Kingdom Descent.
But this jade charm was Pei Xuanjing's early attempt at crafting, with limited number of uses. Approximately three times, now one had already been uselessly wasted which made it inevitable that this made Pang Hong ache.
...
"It seems the Headmaster has taken care of everything?" Qingyang Zi, looking at the smiling Pei Xuanjing, asked tentatively.
However, as he spoke, he himself felt that it was unlikely. After all, it had not even been the time span of a single stick of incense from when Pei Xuanjing had started to become angry, how could things have been managed so quickly?
Though evidently, Pei Xuanjing's response shocked him.
"While dealing with the violators, Pang Hong encountered a troublesome adversary, a sixth-level cultivator of the Demonic Way, and almost lost his life. Fortunately, he was able to activate the item I left for him, summoning my Avatar which killed the adversary and saved his life." Pei Xuanjing said indifferently.
His tone was quite calm, as if killing a sixth-level cultivator of the Spirit Realm was as normal as suppressing an average sixth-grade martial artist, without any special significance.
However, such an indifferent tone came as a great shock to Qingyang Zi, it was so shocking that waves surged in his heart.
A sixth-level powerhouse was so easily killed.
This made it almost impossible for Qingyang Zi to imagine how strong Pei Xuanjing was now.
One should know that he himself was only at the third level of the Spirit Realm, and only with the guidance and promotion of Pei Xuanjing in the Taoist Academy in recent years did he have this level of cultivation.
But even so, the sixth level of the Spirit Realm was still an almost unimaginable powerhouse for Qingyang Zi, and he did not know how many more years it would take for him to reach the sixth level of the Spirit Realm.
And yet, such a powerful person was easily crushed by Pei Xuanjing's avatar in no more than the time it took for a stick of incense to burn, so shocking Qingyang Zi that he was at a loss for words.
This was a matter of profound fear, although he doesn't know how far Pang Hong's location was from the Taoist Academy, but it definitely wasn't close. After all, with Pei Xuanjing holding fort at Tiandu, only a fool would dare to approach Tiandu easily.
Yet, in an instant, Pei Xuanjing was able to descend through an avatar and still possess the power to suppress a sixth-level cultivator of the Spirit Realm, which was quite terrifying.
In other words, if conditions allowed, Pei Xuanjing could, through this avatar method, descend anywhere at any time and suppress the enemy if he so wished.
One must know that the former Pei Xuanjing, though terrifying, was after all a single person and even if he walked around the world through his avatar, there were traces to be found. But now, if he could really descend anywhere with an avatar at any time, it would probably make many people restless.
Seeing the expression on Qingyang Zi's face, Pei Xuanjing quickly figured out the other's thoughts. However, he did not explain that descending now required his personally crafted jade charm as a guide.
Moreover, according to his plan of operation, once countless Taoist Academy branches are established in the future, then by using the statues erected at those branch academies and drawing upon the Power of Incense and Faith, it might not be impossible to achieve this.