Chapter 591: Nine Moves of the Heavenly Blade
"Could it be that Sect Master Qin intends to use the scheme of killing with a borrowed blade?"
Yang Xingjun looked at Qin Mu, displeased, saying, "Sect Master Qin may be young, but he has no shortage of schemes. Young Master Qi, do not fall for his trick. If we kill the demons, I fear we will find ourselves in a passive position."
Qi Jiuyi was unconcerned: "Star Lord, rest assured. The demons are merely dogs raised by the Heavenly Court. If a few dogs die, there is no great harm. Brother Qin wants to use this opportunity to see my abilities, and I also want to use this opportunity to see his."
Qin Mu laughed: "Brother Qi's breadth of mind is far greater than Yang Xingjun's. Yang Xingjun is subservient to Brother Qi, anxious and uncertain in his heart, probably because your status is far higher than his. Brother Qi must come from the so-called Heavenly Court. The purpose of your visit here is for me?"
Qi Jiuyi smiled slightly: "Brother Qin is clever. You should be called Qin Jiuyi instead."
Qin Mu said: "Guessing your purpose is not difficult, hardly counts as clever, and does not merit the name Jiuyi. Your invitation for me to duel in Yankang earlier was likely also with other intentions in mind."
Qi Jiuyi felt a chill in his heart, but smiled without speaking.
Qin Mu looked up at Yang Xingjun, saying: "Star Lord, your mind is not focused on the battle with Grandpa Tu. When the fight comes, you will be split in two by a single blade stroke. Wait a moment, and you can see whether my words ring true."
Yang Xingjun snorted coldly: "Is Sect Master Qin trying to shake my Dao heart?"
Qin Mu paid him no heed, looking toward the opposite side. He saw numerous demon experts arriving one after another, including quite a few experts at the Divine Bridge realm, as well as many cultivators at the Five Radiance realm and Heavenly Man realm. Presumably, they had been provoked by his taunts and could not resist charging over.
The demons revered martial might above all. Cultivators of every realm had their own martial rankings. Qin Mu had defeated some Seven Stars realm experts in Li City, and was among the top ten strongest demon god disciples, with Zhe Huali ranked first in the Seven Stars realm.
The other realms likewise had their own rankings.
Among the cultivators who had come here, only those of the Seven Stars realm and Six Harmonies realm were absent, because the experts of these two realms had basically all been killed by Qin Mu already.
The crowd came with murderous intent. A demon expert at the Divine Bridge realm at the lead raised his hand, and the crowd halted their steps.
That Divine Bridge realm expert's cultivation and strength were already close to that of a deity, extremely powerful. Even Granny Si and the others felt a chill in their hearts, sensing a threat to themselves.
Although they had made up for the deficiencies in their cultivation methods, they had only been cultivating for a short time. In the same realm, they were still somewhat inferior to these demon experts who had cultivated true deity techniques since childhood.
However, given time, they could also temper every aspect of their physical bodies to the level of true deities at the same realm. Moreover, the yuan qi human body form network that Qin Mu had taught them was the threshold for entering the Dao through cultivation methods. Entering the Dao through cultivation methods encompassed every aspect of a young true deity—not only cultivating the physical body, but also cultivating the primordial spirit, tempering yuan qi, and honing Dao techniques and divine powers.
Only cultivating the physical body to the level of a young true deity was far from being comparable to a genuine young true deity.
"Sect Master Qin of Yankang!"
That demon Divine Bridge realm expert's gaze fell upon Qin Mu, and he said in a deep voice: "You have no opponent in the Seven Stars realm, but that does not mean you have no opponent in other realms. I, Shu Ye, disciple of Fu Ri Luo, have come to test your skills!"
Qin Mu asked curiously: "Senior Brother Shu Ye, what rank do you hold in the Divine Bridge realm?"
"Second!"
Shu Ye said calmly: "The one ranked first is Tu Jun, but he is currently charging the Demon God Palace, about to become a demon god, and did not participate in the battle. Once he becomes a demon god, I will be first!"
Qin Mu shook his head: "Go and ask him to come out of seclusion. You are not enough. I once killed a Heavenly Man realm disciple of Fu Ri Luo named Fu Yu Xiao. His strength was considerable, but in the same realm, he was far inferior to me."
Shu Ye flew into a rage. Suddenly, Fu Ri Luo descended from the sky, landing before the many demon experts. Shu Ye and the other demon experts hastily paid their respects: "Venerable King!"
Fu Ri Luo raised his hand, signaling everyone not to stand on ceremony: "No need for formalities. In the same realm, you are no match for Young Friend Qin. Unless you are ranked first in your realm, there is no need to offer yourself up for him to kill!"
Yaba, Tu Fu, and the others felt a chill in their hearts. This was a true demon god descending. Even if they all attacked together, they would be no match!
Fu Ri Luo's gaze moved away from Tu Fu's face, fell upon Yaba, then upon Yang Xingjun, and finally settled on Qin Mu.
Qin Mu was startled, and hastily grabbed at his chest. Only then did he remember that the jade pendant was not hanging on his chest, but had been struck into the vertical eye on his forehead by Tu Bo.
Fu Ri Luo saw his hand reaching for the jade pendant on his chest, and his heart skipped a beat. He remembered the scene of being severely wounded by the out-of-control Qin Mu, and his chest ached faintly. He laughed heartily: "Young Friend Qin need not be alarmed. I bear no ill intentions. The reason I have come this time is merely to bear witness. I will not make a move against you."
Qin Mu let out a breath, lowered his hand from his chest, and bowed: "Senior Fu Ri Luo is a man of high standing, fair and just in his dealings. I have always admired that."
Qi Jiuyi's gaze also fell upon his chest, his heart stirring slightly, and a smile appeared on his face: "So that jade pendant really is hung on his chest. Now that I know where this thing is, it becomes much easier."
Suddenly, another stunning beauty walked over, radiant with light, appearing beside Fu Ri Luo. Her gaze swept over Tu Fu, Yaba, Yang Xingjun, and the others, then fell upon Granny Si. The light on her face immediately dimmed considerably.
She too was a stunning beauty, but compared to Granny Si, she was instantly eclipsed.
One was stunning; the other was peerless. They could not be mentioned in the same breath.
Seeing this woman, Qin Mu tested: "Lu Li of the Netherworld?"
"It is this humble one."
Lu Li withdrew her gaze, a trace of jealousy rising in her heart. She gave him a sweet smile, extremely alluring, but her voice was a man's coarse and heavy tone: "A peerless beauty, pitiable and lovable. It even stirs a bit of jealousy in me. How should this little sister be addressed?"
Granny Si was about to answer, but Qin Mu shook his head and said in a low voice: "Grandmother, the arts of the Netherworld are many, and many target the soul. If they know your true name, they will have a way to deal with you."
Granny Si hastily abandoned the thought of revealing her true name.
Lu Li giggled: "Qin Fengqing, this humble one truly did not expect that you would end up like this. You have truly disappointed me. I was even thinking of taking this peerless beauty's body for a plaything! And this noble one here—could your surname be Qi?"
Qi Jiuyi smiled slightly: "Qi Jiuyi of the Qi clan. Greetings to Commissioner Lu Li."
Lu Li's voice remained thick and heavy, but her tone was plaintive: "It seems the Heavenly Court does not trust this humble one, actually sending Young Master Qi. It truly chills my heart."
Qi Jiuyi said leisurely: "If the Commissioner did not harbor ulterior motives, why would she care about my presence?"
Lu Li sneered: "Since I have come here, then you will not be taking the one surnamed Qin away!"
Qi Jiuyi smiled: "I never thought of taking him away. After I have made use of Brother Qin, I can hand him over to you."
Lu Li's eyes lit up: "It is settled then!"
Qi Jiuyi smiled without speaking.
Qin Mu frowned. Fu Ri Luo's personal arrival had disrupted his plans. He had originally wanted to let Qi Jiuyi duel with the demon experts, to see what abilities this youth from the Heavenly Court possessed, and incidentally sow enmity between Qi Jiuyi and the demons.
However, Fu Ri Luo had descended directly, forbidding the demon experts from issuing challenges.
Now, Lu Li, who had been hiding in Xing Han's Life and Death Divine Treasury, had popped out. Lu Li had once controlled Xing Han to capture Qin Mu, but Xing Han had turned against her and driven her out of the Life and Death Divine Treasury.
She and Qi Jiuyi were competitors, both wanting to capture Qin Mu. But with just a few words, Qi Jiuyi had dispelled Lu Li's hostility. Now that they shared a common enemy, Qin Mu had become their unified target.
"Plans cannot keep up with changes. I cannot possibly control every variable..." He felt a faint trace of worry in his heart.
Behind him, Que Zi muttered quietly: "You little brat, you've botched this one..."
Yang Xingjun glanced at Qin Mu, a smile appearing on his face. He suddenly relaxed: "Sect Master Qin's mind seems somewhat disturbed. Your arrangements have been completely thrown into disarray. Now you are anxious and unsettled. This state of mind will make it easy for Young Master Qi to finish you off. Does Sect Master Qin need some time to adjust?"
"Fine!"
Qin Mu immediately said: "I do indeed need some time to adjust my state of mind. Grandpa Tu, Yang Xingjun, why don't the two of you settle your grudge first?"
Yang Xingjun's smile stiffened on his face. He had never imagined that this brat would actually agree.
Tu Fu laughed heartily, throwing open his robes and baring his chest, looking up at the sky: "Damned heavens, I have cursed you for so long, and finally I can make you bleed! Yang Xingjun, please—"
A blade intent shot up into the sky, splitting the heavens apart. A gray cloud was instantly sliced cleanly into two halves!
Tu Fu's battle intent surged like a tide, his gaze sharp as a blade, landing on Yang Xingjun.
Yang Xingjun was struck by those two gazes as if pierced by blade light. His heart jolted, and he soared into the air. Golden light blazed in midair as his figure rose higher and higher. Behind him, wings spread with a rustle, and layer upon layer of golden feathers burst outward in all directions.
Feathers continuously surged from Yang Xingjun's body as he transformed from human form into a three-legged divine bird, resplendent with golden light, merging with the blazing sun in the sky, like the Golden Crow within the great sun!
The Golden Crow let out a piercing shriek, harsh to the ears: "Heavenly Blade, last time you were severed by me, and all your blade techniques were broken by me. What can you do today?"
"Do you think I have been eating vegetarian in the Crippled Elder Village all these years?"
Tu Fu roared with laughter, drawing his blade and leaping into the void, striding upon the blue clouds. His body shook and became incomparably tall. The blade light in the sky suddenly became blindingly bright, even overshadowing the radiance of Yang Xingjun's blazing sun, slashing toward that sun!
"Blade Opens the Bright Moon Ring!"
Qin Mu became excited: "The ninth move of the Butcher Blade Technique!"
Ba Shan Jijiu's eyes were vacant, looking up at the sky. The Butcher Blade Technique that Qin Mu spoke of was the Eight Moves of the Heavenly Blade, but Tu Fu's Eight Moves of the Heavenly Blade only had eight moves. Yet now, the blade technique Tu Fu was displaying included a move he had never seen before.
The Heavenly Blade now had a ninth move.
Nine Moves of the Heavenly Blade!
Blade Opens the Bright Moon Ring!
In the sky, dazzling blade light converged. Tu Fu's figure could no longer be seen. Only the incomparably bright blade light gathered together like a bright moon, meeting the golden great sun opposite!
Within the great sun, countless golden feathers converged into swords, carrying fierce solar true fire, charging toward the bright moon ring across from it.
Hum—
The golden sword true fire charged into the bright moon. Suddenly, the moon's light blazed brilliantly, as if the moon were absorbing sunlight and reflecting it back as moonlight. The blade's radiance instantly intensified severalfold!
The bright moon dispersed, transforming into a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering blade light!
Qin Mu was stirred with excitement, and recited in a loud voice: "Setting forth from the Jade Gate road, pursuing the foe at Gold Micro Mountain. Flute plays the Plum Blossom tune, blade opens the Bright Moon Ring!"
He was reciting the blade verse of this move, Blade Opens the Bright Moon Ring!
In midair, blood rained down like a storm.
Tu Fu's mighty figure stood firm between heaven and earth, bathed in divine blood and blazing flames. The heavenly blade flowed with light, cleaving through the sun, and he laughed heartily: "War drums sound over the sea, soldier aura surges among the clouds. Willing to sever the heavenly god's head, driving far through the Gate of No Calamity!"
At this moment, a human youth walked out from the demon camp, carrying a demonic blade on his back, hurrying toward this place. He looked up and saw this scene, and his heart shook violently. Involuntarily, he fell into a state of enlightenment.
In midair, Yang Xingjun's head plummeted down, crashing in front of the demon camp with a thunderous boom.