Tang Shedu

His expression remained serene, as though he were admiring the scenery amidst the clouds. Decades of torturous cultivation, unchanging day after day, had long severed all connection between his heart and his countenance. Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, he gazed at the small mountain peak slowly coming into view before him. Turning to look at Tang Shedu with a smile, he said softly, "Senior Brother, why don't we touch down and take a look?" Two figures were locked in confrontation atop the peak. One held copper alms bowls, discharging crackling arcs of lightning that flickered with purple light; his expression was ferocious, and his robes were unfamiliar. The other man wielded twin sabers. Smoke and flame-like fury of dark crimson rose from his body as he snarled coldly, "Miao Ye, you truly make trouble for me wherever I go!" Miao Ye clutched the two large copper bowls, his demeanor vicious. As the two stood facing each other, right between them on the peak rested a deep-golden halberd. Its crescent blade was curved like the crescent moon, standing much taller than an ordinary man, resting quietly upon the mountain peak. "There is no one else here, and not much time remains before the grotto-heaven closes... Why don't you and I have a proper fight!" Yu Muxian stood in the clouds, gazing down from above. Beside him, Tang Shedu cradled his halberd in his arms, projecting an air of haughty disdain, yet his gaze toward the golden halberd held unmistakable interest. Yu Muxian murmured softly, "That is Situ Chen... the current young master of the Situ clan. The Tangjin Sect has been embroiled in turmoil for so many years, and so many young masters have perished, but at last they have one who has made something of himself." White light surfaced in Yu Muxian's eyes as he activated an ocular technique to examine the magical artifact upon the peak. The immortal foundation within him stirred. He was now at the late Foundation Establishment stage, and his immortal foundation was far more wondrous than in the past, instantly revealing much to his sight. "It is indeed an ancient Foundation Establishment artifact, likely once wielded by some general of the ancient State of Wei. It carries an aura of Bright Yang and martial command. Wei revered martial prowess and loved forging halberds and spears most of all. "Back then, Emperor Zhaowu of Zhao confiscated the weapons of Wei and melted them down entirely to construct the Tianwu Hall, causing weapons of this sort to vanish without a trace. Thinking about it, only in this grotto-heaven would any survive. "Though it does not align particularly well with your cultivation method, Senior Brother, it is an ancient artifact after all. Using it for study and reference will offer many benefits. Is Senior Brother tempted?" Tang Shedu paused, then chuckled. Yu Muxian said with a smile, "I wonder what Senior Brother's cultivation is like nowadays. Why not go down and test it?" Tang Shedu laughed heartily. Grasping his halberd, he rode the wind toward that mountain peak! Tang Shedu gave his belt a firm pat, and brilliant golden rays immediately surfaced, coalescing across his body into an imposing suit of spiritual armor and helmet. Miao Ye and Situ Chen were in the thick of their clash when Tang Shedu descended upon the wind. Both hesitated slightly, showing signs of breaking off the fight. Yet Tang Shedu wore a frigid expression. With a flick and hook of his halberd, a strike charged with power burst forth straight toward Miao Ye! Miao Ye never expected Tang Shedu to cut in halfway and strike at him head-on. Cursing inwardly, he flung up his copper bowls to spin in midair for defense. With his other hand clenched into a fist, he pressed his thumb against a vital aperture on his neck while flicking his other four fingers wide open. This maneuver immediately showcased the depth of a disciple from a Violet Palace immortal clan. Drawing upon his inner magical power through the nearest aperture in his body, he unleashed four bolts of lightning in an instant, barely parrying the halberd's curved points before retreating as he formed hand seals. Within a single breath, white light surged along Tang Shedu's halberd. Six razor-sharp crescent blades coalesced in the void, stabbing in unison toward Miao Ye's neck, their flowing white radiance sweeping away all the swirling lightning around him. The qi-edge of a halberd was only slightly shorter than that of a spear, yet far broader and heavier. In a split second, it was upon him, colliding with that blood-lightning. Miao Ye had spat a mouthful of blood onto his copper bowls, casting a seal to unleash two bolts of blood-lightning. Yet the blood-lightning endured for only a moment before shattering into fading light. The two copper bowls spun back to defend together, barely halting the halberd in time. An invisible shockwave rippled through the air, lightning and magical luminescence surging outward to push the surrounding clouds far into the distance. Rumble! The copper bowls let out a muffled clang and rebounded in disarray, hurtling back even faster than they had arrived, their gathered lightning blasted apart into scattered purple sparks. The momentum of Tang Shedu's halberd did not slacken in the slightest. With a twist of his forearm, the arcane patterns upon his domineering vambrace flared so brightly that Miao Ye's eyes stung with pain. The halberd tore through the void, thrusting directly toward the space between his brows. 'Disaster!' Miao Ye thought, terror gripping him. 'What formidable halberd arts—and he has actually closed the distance!' Having exchanged only a single bout, he understood that he was no match for this man. Even if he exhausted every trick at his disposal, he could at best stall for a breath or two and would inevitably perish here. In despair, he could only plead bitterly for his life. Situ Chen had recognized the newcomer at once. Panic had flared in his heart as well, only to be swiftly suppressed by his sheer resolve. He thought to himself, 'If not for this man's cultivation technique having reached its limit, he would probably be breaking through to the Violet Palace stage by now... Damn it! How did I end up crossing paths with a monster like him!' He knew full well who stood before him. When Tang Shedu had roamed the realm, Situ Chen had been merely a minor Qi Refinement cultivator, yet he had heard of the man's terrifying notoriety. Back then, only a handful like Yang Tianya and Yu Yuxie could match him. The figure before him was a merciless killer and a veteran senior of long-established fame. Situ Chen clapped his palms together, instantly transforming into a streak of crimson meteor that shot into the distance, dragging a long tail behind it before vanishing into the sea of clouds. Standing with his halberd in hand, Tang Shedu murmured coldly, "Decisive enough." He glanced at Miao Ye with utter disdain. "I have slain countless men, yet back when celestial lightning arts were scarce, not a single one among them possessed a thunder-attribute immortal foundation. Killing you today will make up for that omission." Tang Shedu's opening strike had sent Situ Chen fleeing in panic and reduced Miao Ye to desperate pleading. Watching from the clouds, Yu Muxian nodded inwardly: 'As for those two, kill the Miao clan member! As for the Situ clan member... Situ Tang shares an old acquaintance with Master, so we must still show him some courtesy. 'Though neither of those two is weak, Senior Brother's strength is undeniable. Striking with full force by surprise naturally terrified them. Had they clashed in an open fight to the death, it would likely have taken a hundred and eighty rounds to slay him.' As he silently wondered whether Tang Shedu could finish the man within a hundred rounds, a sudden piercing pain stabbed into Yu Muxian's ears. A loud buzzing rang through his head, and an ominous premonition surged within him— "Huh?" Yu Muxian shook the feather robe draped over his shoulders. He was not skilled in artifact craft and cultivated spells instead, so a feather robe suited him far better. He smiled coldly and said, "It seems someone has come seeking death!"