The Liuxu Mountains

The external incarnation had yet to master the Tongbao Formula and the Ice Soul Divine Light. Although it could wield the Jinchen Sword, it could not deploy the Seven Po Killing Array at its peak power. With somewhat limited means, it would fail to produce an intimidating effect. In the future, the incarnation would be out in the open, and it would have to deal with these people for a long time to come. It was better to keep as much hidden as possible. Having been preempted, the external incarnation wore a look of reluctance on its face, visibly eager to fight. In truth, Qin Sang had deliberately staged this persona for the incarnation. That Qin Sang's true body had accepted the challenge caught everyone off guard. Chenghuanzi frowned slightly. Having proposed the spar himself, it was awkward to refuse now. "Fellow Daoist Qin intends to travel out to sea?" Chenghuanzi accurately seized upon the information revealed in Qin Sang's words and pressed for clarification. "For immortal cultivators, personal cultivation is naturally the foundation," Qin Sang's true body replied placidly. "This poor Daoist has wandered the world to broaden my horizons, but in the end, I must return to my sect to cultivate with a tranquil heart." In the future, his true body would remain in closed-door cultivation and seldom appear in public, which was scarcely any different from going out to sea. Nor did he wish to provoke the Liuxu Sect and Longju Grotto-Heaven excessively, which might spark unpredictable repercussions. He certainly had no desire to serve as Mount Bunian's enforcer. Peaceful coexistence was the ideal outcome. "Fellow Daoist's devotion to the Dao is truly firm. This poor Daoist is impressed." Chenghuanzi nodded thoughtfully, though it was impossible to tell whether he believed Qin Sang's nonsense. "You two Daoists possess peerless cultivation. I am afraid the restrictions on this arena cannot withstand the clash of your divine abilities. It would be best to conduct the spar in the skies," Lu Zhang interjected. He was delighted to see them spar. He was immensely curious about this fellow who claimed to hail from an overseas Daoist sect, wondering what divine abilities he possessed besides a formidable divine sense. Ideally, he and Chenghuanzi would fight until real fire flared between them. With that, Lu Zhang pushed off the ground with the tip of his foot, soaring into the air. Qin Sang and Chenghuanzi exchanged polite invitations and flew high into the sky as well. As the several Nascent Soul cultivators departed, only the cultivators of the three factions remained on Mount Pu. They stood rooted like wooden stakes, none daring to make a move without orders. The joys and sorrows of men were by no means shared. The Xie clan disciples were beaming, already regarding Qin Sang's incarnation as their own founding forebear, bathed in celebratory jubilation. The Liuxu Sect cultivators worried about the future balance of power around their sect. Still, they had three Nascent Soul patriarchs backing them, so at worst they would simply steer clear of Mount Pu. The Luoyan Sect, however, was in a wretched state. Sect Master Mo knelt on the ground, trembling, still uncertain of what fate awaited him. The disciples of the Luoyan Sect were pale. Having lived through the worst nightmare of their lives, they had long since lost all spirit. Even if the Luoyan Sect continued to exist, its heart was already broken. High in the sky. Qin Sang and Chenghuanzi stood suspended in the void, facing each other. Lu Zhang and the other three spread out, cordoning off the four quarters to prevent stray shockwaves from escaping and causing needless casualties. Qin Sang said, "Since this is a spar, why not set a small wager? Otherwise, wouldn't it be rather dull?" Chenghuanzi frowned. "What kind of wager does Fellow Daoist have in mind?" Qin Sang glanced toward his incarnation. "Today's dispute arose because of the Xie clan. Let the territory surrounding Mount Pu be the wager. If you lose, Fellow Daoist, all Liuxu Sect disciples must withdraw from Fudu Commandery and Hongping Commandery. If I lose, the Xie clan will never interfere in any affairs beyond Mount Pu!" Hongping Commandery bordered Fudu Commandery, and the land of two commanderies would be ample for the Xie clan's expansion. Chenghuanzi was well aware that regardless of who won or lost, the Liuxu Sect could no longer meddle in Fudu Commandery. However, Hongping Commandery could not be surrendered so easily. "Half of Hongping Commandery." The external incarnation responded, "Agreed." Qin Sang brushed a finger over the Qianjun Ring, and the Jinchen Sword leaped forth, carving an arc of sword light that circled smoothly around his body. After that, Qin Sang made no further moves, merely fixing his gaze upon Chenghuanzi. Chenghuanzi held a horsetail whisk in one hand while his other hand formed a series of hand seals with blinding speed. Pressing the seal lightly toward the whisk, he brandished it, sweeping it six times in rapid succession. The six sweeps were directed toward six directions around Chenghuanzi. With every wave, a faint trail of white light lingered in the air. Looking closely, one would find that the white light was actually white luminous dust, exceedingly ethereal, as though a mere mountain breeze could scatter it into nothingness. The luminous dust drifted, gradually fading. Then, a miraculous sight unfolded. As the dust dissolved, six mountain shadows materialized in the very same spots. Had Qin Sang ever visited the Liuxu Sect, he would have recognized at a glance that the contours and ridgelines of these six mountain shadows matched the six peaks surrounding the sect perfectly. The only difference was that these six mountain shadows were merely the height of a person. At first, the silhouettes were hazy and ephemeral, appearing almost like illusions, yet in the blink of an eye, they solidified completely into tangible substance. Six miniature mountains, nearly indistinguishable from real peaks, stood vividly around Chenghuanzi, every detail sharply defined. Upon the little mountains, one could even discern wild grass, verdant trees, and jagged boulders—veritable mountain peaks shrunk countless times over. After his battle with Venerable Chengyuan, Qin Sang had confirmed that even in Zhongzhou, not everyone possessed pseudo-spirit treasures. Below the rank of Great Cultivator, few could truly threaten him. In truth, he had felt little enthusiasm when agreeing to spar with Chenghuanzi. Yet seeing Chenghuanzi summon this treasure now, an intriguing glint flashed in Qin Sang's eyes. Through the Heavenly Eye Butterfly, he could confirm that the six little mountains were genuine physical entities, not phantoms. Where had Chenghuanzi stored them before? Had they been summoned straight out of thin air? Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly, and he tapped a finger toward the Jinchen Sword. With a clear hum, the Jinchen Sword hovered above Qin Sang's head, its blade quivering gently. In an instant, it divided into countless rays of sword light, like a sky full of stars. *Swish!* The sword light flared brightly, then vanished abruptly. The light around Qin Sang turned dim and obscure, his aura growing unfathomable as the Seven Po Killing Array took form. The gazes of Lu Zhang and the others were instantly drawn to Qin Sang's sword array. Puzzled, surprised expressions quickly washed over their faces. Across the Nineteen States of Mist and Rain, there was no shortage of sects specializing in the sword. They had all heard of the most prominent ones to varying degrees, yet this sword array was entirely unheard of. It seemed this man's claim of hailing from overseas was no lie. While his true body manifested the Seven Po Killing Array, the incarnation discreetly observed the onlookers. Seeing their reactions, he knew that the Seven Po Killing Array had likely never appeared in Zhongzhou before. Once the Seven Po Killing Array was unveiled to the world, it could never remain obscure. Chenghuanzi's attention was drawn to Qin Sang as well. The longer he looked, the graver his expression became. Gripping his horsetail whisk, he jerked it upward. The six miniature mountains rose into the air, spinning rapidly above his head. "These are the Liuxu Mountains that established this poor Daoist's renown. Let us test the might of Fellow Daoist's sword array!" "Go!" Chenghuanzi uttered a low cry and snapped his whisk vigorously. The Liuxu Mountains broke through the air, shooting toward Qin Sang. The instant the Liuxu Mountains moved, they whipped up a colossal gale. The sky and earth turned murky, and a deafening roar echoed through the heavens, carrying the veritable momentum of uprooting mountains. The six mountains rotated at extreme speeds, reducing what the naked eye could see to a single dark green-black halo. Eventually, even the halo vanished, leaving only a dimming sky. Amidst the void, the six peaks aligned upon Qin Sang, plunging down in unison! *Whoosh!* Qin Sang's shoulders sank as he felt a crushing weight, as if six real mountains were bearing down from above, seeking to pin him underneath. Naturally, this was an illusion born of pressure, but it was enough to make Qin Sang treat it with gravity. "A fine treasure!" Qin Sang praised loudly. With a thought, the surrounding sword hums crested into a deafening chorus, and the sword array unfolded completely. Amidst the gloom, countless sword threads flickered incessantly. The dense threads occupied almost every inch of space around Qin Sang, boundless and unending. The sword threads surged frenziedly upward, weaving into a vast sword net above Qin Sang's head in the blink of an eye. The net appeared gossamer and dim, yet under the impact of the Liuxu Mountains, it merely vibrated without the slightest sign of snapping. "Go!" Qin Sang shouted. The sword threads abandoned their defensive stance, taking the initiative to counterattack and surging upward. With a booming crash, the Liuxu Mountains and the sword array collided violently. Two terrifying forces clashed, generating chaotic shockwaves that swept outward with wild fury. Fortunately, Lu Zhang and the others intervened in time, checking the shockwaves, or the living beings below would have suffered disaster. The fierce engagement had only just begun. The Liuxu Mountains had clearly formed a formation of their own, their spiritual qi interconnected and ever-renewing. *Hum! Hum!* The Liuxu Mountains continued their descent, but their momentum steadily slowed. In the end, they could not pierce the sword array to crush Qin Sang's true body. The sword array and the mountain formation intertwined inextricably. The sword threads crashed against the six miniature mountains like an ocean tide. The Liuxu Mountains shook repeatedly, radiating a dark green-black glow that rose and fell like breathing as they tried to swallow the sword threads in turn. On the surface, the two sides seemed evenly matched. However, this balance did not last long. Qin Sang remained composed from start to finish. Glancing upward, he formed a sword seal. From within the sword array came the resonant cries of dragons and phoenixes, ringing out so clearly they could be heard across a hundred li. This was in fact the sword cry of the Jinchen Sword. Upon hearing this cry, Chenghuanzi's expression changed abruptly. In that moment, not only Chenghuanzi, but everyone present felt the momentum of the Liuxu Mountains instantly suppressed, as though they had become prey trapped in a net. "What kind of swordsmanship is this?!" A look of shock flashed through Lu Zhang's eyes. Ever since the Jinchen Sword was upgraded to a supreme-grade magic treasure, Qin Sang had rarely had an opportunity to unleash the Seven Po Killing Array at full power. The opponents he had encountered in the Sacred Ground were either overpowering like Yin Changsheng, or too numerous to count, forcing him to rely entirely on the Sun God Tree to carve out a bloody path. Later, he had handed the Jinchen Sword to his incarnation, while his true body typically used demonic fire. Now, he could finally test his sword to his heart's content! Countless sword threads converged tightly. The dark green-black glow of the Liuxu Mountains was compressed by the threads into an ever-smaller boundary, until it was reduced to a paper-thin layer clinging to their surfaces, struggling to hold off the sword threads and threatening to extinguish at any moment. Ravines had already begun scoring the surfaces of the mountains; even their physical bodies were sustaining damage. Worse still, the sword intent from the array sliced between the Liuxu Mountains. The six peaks were isolated, their formation disrupted. *Thud! Thud!* The Liuxu Mountains began to vibrate erratically, their frequencies disjointed and chaotic. Battered by the sword array, the peaks tilted askew. This was the unmistakable sign of a crumbling formation. If the qi connection between the Liuxu Mountains were severed completely, even if their bodies were sturdy enough to survive destruction, they would never be able to launch an effective counterattack, leaving them unable to reverse their decline. Seeing this, the external incarnation deliberately cast a gloating glance toward Daoist Luorong and Jingning. The two were naturally in no mood for cheer, nor did they care to respond to the provocation, staring fixatedly at the sword array. Defeat was already in sight. Though Chenghuanzi's expression was grave, he still found the leisure to commend his opponent: "Fellow Daoist's swordsmanship is extraordinary. Among all the peers this poor Daoist has encountered in my life, you easily rank among the top five. Truly admirable! Admirable indeed!" As he spoke, Chenghuanzi's hands were by no means slow. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the horsetail whisk into the air. With a bang, the whisk shattered into countless motes of luminous dust. *It's just a spar. Is there any need to destroy a treasure?* Qin Sang muttered inwardly, knowing Chenghuanzi must have a reason for this. There had to be some connection between the whisk and the Liuxu Mountains, and what came next would be Chenghuanzi's true technique! *Whoosh!* The luminous dust blanketed the sky. Immediately after, the Liuxu Mountains fused into one, then underwent an inverse transformation, shifting from physical to ethereal. Before everyone's eyes, they reverted into illusory mountains and vanished into thin air. The next instant, the luminous dust flashed continuously, suddenly conjuring the towering silhouettes of six immense mountains around the battlefield. Far below on Mount Pu, the cultivators of the three factions could clearly see the six mountains suspended in the sky, their faces filled with awe. The Liuxu Sect disciples, in particular, thought their patriarch had bodily transported the six wondrous peaks from outside their sect. The mountain shadows pierced into the clouds. The sight was like a grand mirage. Thick clouds and mist arose from who knew where, rendering the surroundings even more ethereal and hazy, as though they were in an immortal realm. In a flash, the battlefield was enveloped in winding clouds and misty peaks, a sea of vast white. At the same time, Chenghuanzi vanished from Qin Sang's view. Qin Sang had not anticipated Chenghuanzi using such a method. For the Liuxu Mountains to transition from corporeal to incorporeal in an instant was a tremendous transformation. Yet his gaze turned somewhat strange. It was an illusion technique! He had known the Liuxu Mountains could not be that simple, but he had never imagined that a treasure appearing so ponderous and overbearing would have an illusion technique as its true divine ability. Chenghuanzi knew he was no match for Qin Sang in brute force, so he used an illusion technique against the sword array. Using softness to conquer hardness. It was indeed an excellent strategy, capable of stalling for time at the very least. By concealing himself in the illusion and secretly preparing another divine ability, waiting for an opportunity to launch a surprise attack on Qin Sang, he might not be unable to turn defeat into victory. Unfortunately for him... Qin Sang detached a wisp of his mind, directing it back into his dantian to awaken the Heavenly Eye Butterfly. The moment the Heavenly Eye divine ability opened, the illusion was instantly riddled with flaws. *Boom!* The clouds and mist churned. Mountain shadows materialized from nowhere, hurtling toward him in succession. The illusion was not solely meant to bewilder the enemy. Though the mountains were illusory, their physical force was real. If an ordinary cultivator were struck square by one, they would likely cough up blood on the spot. Qin Sang used his spirit sword to blaze a trail, shattering mountain shadow after mountain shadow. Wherever the sword threads passed, tracts of the illusion crumbled, yet Chenghuanzi remained nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, the Heavenly Eye Butterfly had already seen through the artifice, pinpointing Chenghuanzi hidden deep within the illusion. Chenghuanzi was blissfully unaware that he had been exposed. Producing a bronze spearhead, he maintained the illusion with one hand while channeling his true essence into the spearhead with the other. The spearhead was only the size of a palm, its surface mottled with rust, resembling an ancient artifact buried underground for countless years. As the true essence poured in, the rust melted away, leaving the surface smooth as a mirror. The spear's tip gleamed with chilling, formidable radiance, clearly marking it as a razor-sharp treasure. Feeling the sharpness gradually radiating from the spearhead, Chenghuanzi showed a satisfied look. Unexpectedly, a sudden change occurred! Alarm bells rang loudly in Chenghuanzi's mind. To his horror, he found that the illusion before him was disintegrating at terrifying speed, and the murky domain blanketed by the sword array was sweeping toward him with astonishing velocity. *I'm exposed!* Alarmed, Chenghuanzi hastily flashed aside to flee. Yet no matter how he shifted, his opponent effortlessly tracked his movements. Though Chenghuanzi could not fathom what technique Qin Sang had used to break his illusion, he realized that he had run into his natural bane today. Within a few breaths, the illusion was torn to shreds. In a thoroughly disheveled state, having had no chance from beginning to end to unleash the spearhead, Chenghuanzi finally let out a long sigh and called out, "Fellow Daoist Qin possesses superior skill. I admit defeat!"