Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

Chapter 429: Chapter 273: Strength_1

Although he had already entertained a guess in his heart, when that guess was confirmed, Shi Jinglong felt not a shred of joy, only utter terror.

Terror, born from the unknown!

He would rather face Heaven Trace Peak than this legendary figure of the Heaven Martial Emperor.

After all, both being from the Divine Martial Heritage, he knew the ins and outs of Heaven Trace Peak, and thus had the confidence to deal with its strength.

But what about this Heaven Martial Emperor?

Apart from controlling thunder and lightning, everything else about him was shrouded in mystery.

The unknown, that is the root of fear!

Despite feeling terrified within, being a Divine Martial Venerable himself, Shi Jinglong managed to keep his composure and greeted the newcomer with a cupped-fist salute, speaking in a deep voice, “Unexpectedly, Shi has the honor of encountering the Divine Martial Ancestor so soon. Such thunderous authority, I fear even Heaven Trace Peak’s Tianshu Thunder Rage can hardly compare. It seems the Martial Ancestor must have gained much in the Temple of War God!”

His words were a tactical ploy, a delay, a probing, as well as a manifestation of his reluctance to act recklessly.

Indeed, he dared not act rashly.

If it were anyone else, even a Divine Martial from the Sacred Place’s Demon Sect, Shi Jinglong would not be so wary.

But this was not anyone else. It was a legend from ten thousand years ago.

Even putting aside the legendary status of the “Divine Martial Ancestor,” his recent deeds and current demeanor were enough to warrant wariness and even dread.

Without the War God’s Atlas, yet breaking the True Martial God of War, in just a few decades, he had stirred up chaos, throwing the world into disarray.

Initially, he was merely a Golden Core cultivator, unable to defeat even Chen Pojun, ranked thirty-fifth on the earthly rankings. But within just a few months, his progress soared. He even overpowered Divine Bridge Masters, and now he comes with overwhelming momentum. Without reliance on the War God’s Treasure, he forcefully shattered the Dragon and Tiger Great Array and even sought to kill him, the Divine Martial Venerable.

This…

Was beyond all reason, and horrifying to hear!

How could one be too cautious in the face of such a person?

Therefore, while verbal manipulation served for delay and testing, he fully activated the War God’s Atlas, to restore the might of the Dragon and Tiger Array.

However…

The newcomer remained silent, raising his hand to make a move, instantly launching an offensive.

“Boom!”

His first move was a seal, strands of Earth Aura heavy and dense, weighing as much as Mount Tai and striking towards his opponent with a thundering crash.

The Jitu Qilin Seal!

The Thunder Fire Rebellion technique!

“!!!”

Shi Jinglong’s pupils contracted as he quickly urged his true element, dragon and tiger intersecting and coiling around each other to protect himself and resist the forceful strike from his opponent.

Although the Dragon and Tiger True Yuan Builders acquired through Subduing Dragon and Tiger might be called the most ferocious in the world, faced with the ferocious momentum of the Jitu Qilin Seal, Shi Jinglong did not dare to be careless and remained primarily on the defensive.

“Boom!!!”

As the two forces met, Qilin clashed with dragon and tiger, Magical Treasure shook Divine Skill, triggering a heaven-shaking loud boom, shaking the very foundation of the Dragon and Tiger Platform.

Amidst the booming sound, the Earth Aura scattered, the Jitu Qilin Seal flipped back, and Shi Jinglong’s body reeled back, his footsteps sank, and though he almost retreated, he ultimately pressed down forcefully, and the coiling protectorate shadow of the dragon and the tiger remained stable.

Jitu Qilin, with Magical Treasure’s full power, failed to shatter the Divine Martial Yuan Skill.

This was to be expected. The Magical Treasure was merely third tier, while Divine Martial was fifth tier. The gap between the realms was more than just vast; even with Heavenly Crafts Natural Creation and Mecha aid, the shortfall could not be bridged, let alone break the Yuan Skill.

“Is this a Yuan Spirit Magical Treasure?”

“Indeed, there is some skill to it!”

Although he had blocked the opponent’s powerful move, Shi Jinglong did not relax, instead he secretly admired it.

Over the years, Taoist scriptures and laws were spread throughout the world. Apart from the fundamental cultivation practices, some skills and inheritances based on pills, talismans, arrays, and tools prevailed. Not only did Martial Artists benefit from these, but the major Divine Martial forces also gained a lot.

As a Divine Martial Venerable, Shi Jinglong had also studied the Taoist Scriptures and, though not entirely familiar with magical treasures, he at least had some understanding and could see the ingenuity of the Jitu Qilin seal.

“Unfortunately, a magical treasure is just a magical treasure. Even when combined with the Co-Dao Divine Skills, it’s hard to compare with the Divine Martial Yuan Skill. How could it break my Dragon Coiled and Tiger Crouching stance?”

Shi Jinglong’s mind steadied, but he still maintained a defensive stance, with no intention of switching from defense to offense.

Although the opponent only had a magical treasure, the whip-like thunderbolt from before and the imposing power of the dragon and tiger array were still vivid in his mind; Shi Jinglong dared not let his guard down.

Seeing this, Xu Yang decided to be direct, propelling his body forward and pressing towards his adversary.

“Huh!?”

Shi Jinglong’s eyes sharpened with surprise in his heart.

This man actually wants to close in for combat?

According to the traditions inherited from the Taoist Scriptures, though Taoist Divine Skills are formidable, their main strength lies in controlling the Heavenly Earth Prime Spirit to demonstrate the majesty of the Dao. However, if it comes to close-range combat and physical confrontation, those Cultivators who mainly focus on Prime Spirit Golden Core and Taoist Yang God are no match for those Martial Artists who channel Qi Blood through their bodies, specializing in physical combat.

So he dares to fight at close quarters?

Shi Jinglong was astonished and suspicious, but at such a critical juncture, he had no time for further thought. He immediately urged the Dragon and Tiger True Yuan to unleash a palm strike, with a mighty roar of the dragon and tiger vibrating through the air.

No matter what his opponent relied on, in a Martial Artist’s battle, there is no reason to indulge the adversary.

You want to fight up close? I simply won’t allow it!

With a forceful push of his palm, dragons and tigers roared together, shaking the void.

True to his reputation as the most fiercely vigorous in the world, he was indeed unrivaled in strength and extremely domineering!

However…

As the Cultivator flew forward, raising his hand to strike, he operated the Yin Yang.

With the movement of Yin Yang, black and white appeared, and the twin fishes chased each other’s tails, exuding a profound Taoist Rhyme.

Tai Chi Fist Skill!

Whether it’s the Dao or Martial Path, it’s difficult to distinguish.

Only when Tai Chi is in effect, with the twin fishes chasing each other and the transformation of Yin and Yang, does the dragon and tiger’s energy instantly dissipate.

The twin fishes swallow the dragon and tiger; Tai Chi Yuan Transformation Skill!

The Dao converges in three thousand ways, all roads leading to the same destination. Xu Yang, not knowing the True Martial God of War, was versed in Yin Yang and the Five Elements, and the mysteries of the Dao. His comprehension and mastery of the “Dao” far surpassed that of Shi Jinglong, the newly risen Divine Martial.

Thus, he was Tai Chi Chaos Yuan, Qi Three Thousand!

Capturing the energy of the dragon and tiger and neutralizing the opponent’s offensive at the same time, Xu Yang closed in on his enemy, assuming a dangerous position at close quarters.

Seeing a formidable enemy fiercely approaching, Shi Jinglong’s heart skipped a beat, but being a Divine Martial Venerable, he was startled but not disordered, clapping his palms together to send out his True Yuan in a tyrannical burst, demonstrating the fierce power of the dragon and tiger.

Close combat? So what?

His Dragon and Tiger Platform’s Subduing Dragon and Tiger physique was extremely vigorous and powerful, matchless in strength. In the whole world, only the Iron Heart Fortress’s Heaven’s Calamity Slaying the Wolf, the Overlord Gate’s Overlord Non-urgent Body, and the Purity Zen Sect’s Broken Vajra Skill could compare.

Although this man could not be regarded as an ordinary opponent, Shi Jinglong was not afraid to fight him at close quarters.

“Roar!”

Dragons and tigers roared together, launching an attack with unrivaled vigor that rattled the void, intending to crush the flesh and blood of the adversary.

However…

“Roar!!!”

Xu Yang threw a punch, and his Qi burst forth like a sword, roaring in the air and transforming into the shadow of a White Tiger, startling the lightning that flashed and thundered forth.

“Roar!”

With another punch, azure light shimmered brilliantly, and amidst the vast expanse, the shadow of an Azure Dragon materialized, equally amidst the interweaving thunder, entangled with electric light.

“Screech!”

Yet another punch, and the Vermilion Bird also appeared, with thunder and fire moving together, while the Black Tortoise and Jitu Qilin also galloped forth.

In the blink of an eye, Xu Yang unleashed five punches, representing the Five Elements and Five Spirits, in five colors — all embodying the force of thunder.

Subsequently, the Five Spirits roamed, the Five Elements revolved, and turned into beams of azure, yellow, red, white, and black thunder, gradually merging into one.

If there was a cultivator present, they would surely have cried out in shock.

Thunder of Xinjin Metal!

Yimu Thunder!

Thunder of Ding Fire!

Thunder of Kui Water!

Thunder of Ji Earth!

Post-Heaven Five Elements Divine Thunder!

The Five Elements revolved, forming a system and merging into one, the five colors of azure, yellow, red, white, and black became concentrated, emitting an extremely terrifying aura.

Lightning Thunderbolt Fist?

No, it was the Post-Heaven Five Elements Lightning Thunderbolt Fist!

Subduing Dragon and Tiger with the utmost ferocity.

Lightning Thunderbolt Fist, where the Five Elements merge as one.

Such two ultimate moves collided head-on.

“Boom!!!”

With a loud noise, amidst the thunderous roars, the might of the dragon and tiger shattered to pieces.

“Puh!!!”

Shi Jinglong was sent flying, blood bursting out of him, his stance of Dragon Coiled and Tiger Crouching broken. Additionally, a chaos-colored lightning bolt struck his chest, instantly turning flesh to ash, bones to charcoal, and severely injuring his internal organs.

For an ordinary person, such wounds would mean death beyond doubt.

But he was not an ordinary person; he was the Divine Martial Venerable, a cultivator specialized in the physical body, holding War God’s Treasure in his possession.

“Roar!!!”

A dragon’s roar soared, as the Dragon and Tiger Qi once again surged within him. A stele emerged from within Shi Jinglong’s body, radiating brilliant light and glittering script, enveloping his body and breaking out as a shadow of the dragon and tiger, seeking to escape.

Escape!

The Thunder of Five Elements, commanded by Tianshu, was terrifying indeed!

Strong as he was in Divine Martial, how could human strength shake the might of heaven?

So—he fled!!!

The shadow of the dragon and tiger, fleeing in terror.

But little did he expect…

“Splash!”

A sound rang out, and suddenly the cultivator’s body collapsed.

Shi Jinglong: “…!?”

Amidst his astonished gaze and horrified expression, Xu Yang’s body broke apart, dissolving into currents heading in five directions.

Then…

A Yimu precious tree rose to the sky, lush with branches and leaves, shining brilliantly, manifesting the shadow of the Azure Dragon, majestically suspended in the east.

A Xinjin Divine Sword soared across the sky, with sword Qi like threads, radiating a chilling sharpness, intertwining to form the figure of the White Tiger, fiercely entrenched in the west.

A Ding Fire Spirit Pearl floated in the void, flames raging, gathering like an ocean, creating the body of the Vermilion Bird, displaying its divine splendor in the south.

A large Kui Water cauldron firmly stood in all directions, with mysterious Black Water, upon which the turtle and snake trod, birthing the Black Tortoise Avatar, with its tremendous power unfurling in the north.

And in the center, at the top of the firmament, a Jitu seal descended mightily, with the Power of Mountains and Rivers, the Earth Aura pervading, in shades of earthy yellow, condensing into the form of the Qilin, merging above and below, pressuring heaven and earth.

Five Elements True Spirit Map!

Five Elements Sealing Demon Array!

The Five Elements True Spirits, each guarding a direction.

No path to heaven, no doorway into the earth.

The shadow of the dragon and tiger fled eastward only to encounter the Azure Dragon’s lofty roar.

Having no choice, it turned west, only to find the White Tiger ferociously poised.

Turning again, southward and northward, the Vermilion Bird unfurled its wings to scorch the sky, the Black Tortoise anchored its feet to quell the waves.

Every direction, thoroughly without exit.

Looking up and down, the Qilin’s shadow fell from above, and the earthy yellow energy rose from below, forming a combined pressure of heaven and earth, the force of a thousand mountains and ten thousand ridges, overwhelming the dragon and tiger together.

The Five Elements, the Five Spirits, the Five Directions, the Five Arrays, sealing heaven and earth.

Within such suppression…

“Roar!”

“Roar!”

A mournful cry, the dragon and tiger collapsed at once, a man’s body toppled over, leaving only a stone stele with a bas-relief suspended in the void.

The currents from the five directions, thousands of magical instruments, violently reassembled to reform the body of the cultivator.

Gazing at the War God’s Atlas within the void, Xu Yang did not speak further. His Five Elements Divine Light shot forth directly.

“Collect!”

The Five Elements Divine Light swept not to attack, but to combine with the Qiankun Sleeve Technique, becoming a force of collection.

Although it was a War God’s Treasure, without someone to wield it, its power could not be fully exerted. Facing the Five Elements Divine Light, it had even less chance to resist and was directly swept away.

Xu Yang glanced down at Shi Jinglong, who lay on the ground, his life or death uncertain, and similarly gathered him within the Five Elements Divine Light.

Afterward, he threw out the Beast Controlling Bag, the Corpse Refining Bag, the Hundred Ghosts Banner, and a series of other magical instruments.

To kill and set a blaze for a gold belt—having finally seized the opportunity to loot a home, he would surely scrape the ground three feet deep, returning fully laden.