Sword Opens Heaven's Gate

A few days earlier, after being released from prison and parting ways with Yun Zhi, Daoist Buyu had continued his travels across the continent, promoting the *Legend of the Dao Seeking Sect*—and, incidentally, promoting his own glorious, magnificent image. When he arrived at Dingxin City in Jizhou, he discovered that it had already been shrouded by [Rules]. One could only enter, not leave. To the outside world, Dingxin City appeared to be functioning as usual, with people coming and going in an endless stream. In truth, this was all the power of the [Rules]. Entering was real, but leaving was impossible. The people outsiders saw leaving Dingxin City were actually illusory duplicates created by the Rules. These duplicates were indistinguishable from real people, possessing identical memories, habits, and behaviors. Only when the Rules dissipated would these duplicates outside disappear. At first, Daoist Buyu had considered piercing the Rules with a single sword strike, but just as he was about to make his move, the battle-honed sixth sense he had developed over years prompted him to stay his hand in the nick of time. He quickly realized that these were not Body Integration-level [Rules], but Tribulation Transcendence-level [Rules]. Once he struck, he would alert the person who laid down the Rules, which would make things difficult to handle. "What rotten luck," Daoist Buyu muttered, spitting on the ground before focusing on devising a plan. First, he disguised himself as a down-and-out daoist, telling stories in a teahouse while observing the Rules. The Rules had not formed overnight, yet everything in the city carried on as usual, meaning the person who set them had no intention of causing destruction. After several days of observation—during which business at the teahouse boomed more and more—Daoist Buyu finally figured out the Rules of this place. Different identities required adherence to different rules: gate guards had rules for gate guards, officials had rules for officials, and teahouses and restaurants had rules of their own. There were many rules here, but only two core ones: [Rule 1: The Great Xia Dynasty does not exist; here, there is only the Great Yu Dynasty.] [Rule 2: Everyone in Dingxin City is a subject of the Great Yu Dynasty.] This indicated that the one who established the Rules was a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator of Great Yu. But what was the goal? Enclosing a piece of land within Great Xia's territory to establish Great Yu—what purpose could that possibly serve? For the past few days, Daoist Buyu had been pondering this question without making any headway. It wasn't until his dear disciple's paper crane flew in that he finally grasped Great Yu's objective. Great Yu wanted to seize a portion of the power of national destiny in Hanshui City and attempt to use it in Dingxin City. The plans for Hanshui City and Dingxin City were interconnected. Their purpose was to study the power of national destiny. As for why Great Yu had still not abandoned Dingxin City despite the failure in Hanshui City and the capture of Wu Youdao and his two companions, it was because the Great Yu cultivators had no idea Wu Youdao had been captured. At the time, the Immortal Fairy had ostensibly let Wu Youdao and his two companions escape, only to capture them in secret. In the eyes of the world, everyone only knew that Wu Youdao and the other two had successfully fled. The Great Yu cultivators were only privy to whatever information the outside world had; they were hardly omniscient enough to perceive everything. "So that's how it is. These Great Yu cultivators have grand ambitions." Daoist Buyu's lips curled into a cold sneer as he looked up at the sky pierced through by the paper crane. The sky was formed of Rules; the fact that the breach had not healed meant a loophole had appeared in the Rules. It also meant the Tribulation Transcendence cultivator of Great Yu had noticed the presence of the paper crane. "Daoist master, what is the matter? Who sent that letter?" the teahouse owner asked cautiously, feeling that the down-and-out daoist's smile seemed rather eerie. "It's from my eldest disciple and my youngest disciple." "Are they storytellers too?" "Something like that. By the way, boss, I'm afraid I have to break my word. I won't be able to continue telling stories here tomorrow. Could you please apologize to the patrons on my behalf?" "Ah? Why?" The teahouse owner was taken aback. Everything had been fine just a moment ago; why quit all of a sudden? Besides, where could he go even if he quit? Could he possibly leave Dingxin City? Suddenly, an overwhelming pressure that seemed capable of eclipsing the world descended. The entire Dingxin City was plunged into panic. People scattered in terror, unaware of why this pressure had appeared or where they could even flee. Daoist Buyu sighed softly. "Because I am about to make my move." With a flick of his whisk, the horsetail whisk transformed into ten thousand swords, densely blanketing the sky and unleashing tens of millions of glittering golden beams of sword qi, actually matching the descending pressure stride for stride! The people in the city were no longer affected by the pressure! "A moment of inattention, and a bug actually managed to slip in!" The figure releasing the pressure from the sky glared fixedly at Daoist Buyu. When the paper crane flew toward Daoist Buyu, he had taken notice of Daoist Buyu's presence. He could see that although Daoist Buyu was remarkably strong, he remained merely at the Body Integration stage and was nothing to fear. Daoist Buyu showed no hint of fear. Soaring into the sky, he confronted the person exerting the pressure. He raised a hand to the sky. The ten thousand swords merged into a peerless blade bathed in lightning, appearing firmly within his grasp. "Return of Ten Thousand Swords to the Origin?!" The figure releasing the pressure let slip a hint of astonishment, having never expected to witness the sword technique most revered by sword cultivators here. "This seat is the Sect Master of the Dao Seeking Sect, Daoist Buyu. Who are you?" "You may address this venerable one as Venerable Poxiao." Daoist Buyu narrowed his eyes. Venerable Poxiao—according to historical records, Venerable Poxiao was a cultivator from early Great Yu, at the mid Tribulation Transcendence stage. *Not unwinnable, then.* As he held the supreme treasure sword aloft, countless iron implements and dharma treasures throughout the city chimed in unison, as if answering Daoist Buyu's call, or perhaps bowing in submission to this supreme master. The treasures across the city resonated, ringing through the heavens! The sharp edge of the blade shone brilliantly like a rainbow yet chilled like ice, pointing straight toward the sky, brimming with killing intent! He slowly uttered the name of this technique: "Sword Opens Heaven's Gate." The sword slashed downward like a cascading torrent of white silk. The celestial barrier shook as boundlessly murderous intent surged toward Venerable Poxiao! The sword was like a suspended river plummeting from the sky. Venerable Poxiao's hairs stood on end as he sidestepped to evade the strike. *Boom—* The sword qi slammed straight into the sky barrier. The barrier shattered, the heavens trembled, and the white clouds dispersed into nothingness. The sky above Dingxin City cleared completely, boundless and cloudless, while a brilliant sun hung high overhead, witnessing this spectacle alongside the million citizens in the city below! Seeing this, Venerable Poxiao was shaken to his core. This was simply not a technique that could be unleashed by someone at the Body Integration stage! "Still, it is nothing to fear! How many times can you possibly unleash such a move?" A trump-card technique like this would drain a Body Integration cultivator's spiritual energy after just once or twice. It posed no real threat to him! "I can unleash it endlessly!" Daoist Buyu burst into loud laughter and unleashed Sword Opens Heaven's Gate once more! Caught off guard, Venerable Poxiao reacted a beat too slowly, and an arm was severed clean off! Innumerable strands of sword qi erupted from the severed arm, reducing it to fine powder! "You court death!" Venerable Poxiao flew into a rage. To have an arm severed by a mere Body Integration cultivator—if word got out, how could he show his face in the cultivation world ever again?! "Asura Body!" Behind Venerable Poxiao materialized a three-headed, six-armed Asura phantom, holding drums, pagodas, rulers... Daoist Buyu and Venerable Poxiao clashed in ferocious battle, fighting until heaven and earth grew dim, the sun and moon seemed reversed, and space repeatedly shattered and mended. The longer Venerable Poxiao fought, the more alarmed he grew. This was the first time he had ever encountered a Body Integration cultivator capable of fighting him to a draw! *Pfft—* Regrettably, Daoist Buyu could not sustain this state for long. After a brief clash, Venerable Poxiao seized an opening at last. The Asura form pierced through Daoist Buyu's vital barrier, causing his aura to rapidly wane. "To force me this far is something you can take pride in! Now die!" The Asura phantom brought down all six arms at once like heavenly retribution, its power utterly irresistible! "How dare you harm a cultivator of Great Xia!" A furious roar thundered from nearby. With just that single roar, Venerable Poxiao's movement was forced to a dead halt! Spitting up blood, Daoist Buyu chuckled when he saw the newcomer. "You took too long! If you'd come any later, I'd have been forced to break through to Tribulation Transcendence!" "Who are you?!" Venerable Poxiao glared fixedly at the newcomer. The man had halted him with just a shout; his cultivation was clearly superior to his own! "Head of the Nine Palaces in the Luoshui Guards, Chen Tao."