novellhall Chapter 344 - 296: Immortal Celestial Saber, Blood Demon Armor
Chapter 344 - 296: Immortal Celestial Saber, Blood Demon Armor
The reason Zhou Di had been watching everything unfold like a mere bystander, observing the armies clash and the countless soldiers and lives fall, was simple.
It was because Zhou Di had already finished setting up the "Sacrificial Dao Array," which enveloped the entire Nine Provinces Land of the Great Zhou Martial Country, including the Central Province where the Imperial City was located.
Therefore, the casualties and deaths from the slaughter and warfare would all become the energy and resources to activate the Sacrificial Dao Array. In Zhou Di’s eyes, no matter how they fought or who started the war, the final outcome would be the same.
And that was...
The Sacrificial Dao Array would activate, blanketing the entire Nine Provinces Land and sacrificing all its living beings and existences to the Celestial Dao.
This way, Zhou Di could ascend amidst the Sacrifice. His Three Thousand Law Marks would undergo a transformation, gestating a "Rule," which would allow him to step into the Fifth Realm and achieve his goal.
However, an unexpected variable appeared in his plans.
That variable was the existence of Xu Qing.
Zhou Di had never imagined that someone as powerful and terrifying as Xu Qing would appear in the Nine Provinces Land, with strength that had reached such a Realm.
As a result, Hong Dingtian, Xiao Yin, Li Buan, the True Immortal Daoist, and the other most powerful experts of the Great Zhou Martial Country’s Imperial Court—the strongest of the Martial, Confucianism, and Immortal Dao paths—had all died at Xu Qing’s hands.
Moreover, what Xu Qing wanted was something Zhou Di could not give. Xu Qing wanted the Law Stone Ore Vein, and the Law Stone Ore Vein was, in fact, the Imperial Dragon Vein.
This was because only an Imperial Dragon Vein could produce Stones of Law.
Therefore, Zhou Di used the Dragon Vein as the foundation and, with the help of the Blood Demon Sect’s power, spread array bases across the Nine Provinces Land. A total of 129,600 array bases were dotted across every corner of the land.
Furthermore, each of these bases was itself a terrifyingly powerful grand array.
Zhou Di’s Sacrificial Dao Array required the Great Zhou Martial Country’s Dragon Vein. During the final Sacrifice, the entire Dragon Vein of the Great Zhou Martial Country would be sacrificed along with everything else.
Naturally, Zhou Di could not possibly hand the Dragon Vein over to Xu Qing.
Conversely, Xu Qing’s entire purpose in coming here was for the Dragon Vein.
Their interests were in direct conflict.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! You have mastered the Undying Immortal Dao and the Blood Demon Demon Technique! With your Immortal and Demon Cultivation, your Cultivation surpasses all in Great Zhou, making you unrivaled in the world."
"Congratulations, Your Majesty..."
"..."
All around, the civil and military ministers chimed in with their flattery.
HUFF...
Zhou Di took a deep breath, slowly raising his hands. He was immersed in this magnificent and immense power, a feeling so intoxicating it nearly overwhelmed him.
’This is true power. Power that belongs to Us, not the so-called Emperor Dragon Qi. In Our eyes, We were never the Venerable Emperor, merely a puppet of the Emperor Dragon Qi.’
Zhou Di murmured, ’Now, We finally feel true strength, true power. This is the power that belongs to Us.’
"I’ve been clear about one thing from the very beginning," Xu Qing said, his expression calm.
"If I want to seize the Law Stone Ore Vein from the Great Zhou Martial Country, it must ultimately be settled with force. Fortunately, my strength is decent enough. I should be able to achieve my goal."
"Immortal Celestial Saber!"
CRACK!
Zhou Di raised a hand, and from his palm, a pitch-black blade shot forth. Adorned with Three Thousand Law Marks, it transformed into a blade of extreme light that slashed toward Xu Qing.
RUMBLE!
A deafening roar.
CRACK! CRACK!!!
With a thought from Xu Qing, a Sixteen-layered Law Domain instantly materialized around him. Countless Law Chains shot out to block Zhou Di’s Immortal Celestial Saber.
BANG!
An explosion rang out.
The defensive power of Xu Qing’s Sixteen-layered Law Domain was incredibly terrifying. Neither Xiao Yin, nor Hong Dingtian, nor even the True Immortal Daoist had been able to break it.
That was why they were no match for Xu Qing. Unable to breach his Sixteen-layered Law Domain, they couldn’t even harm a hair on his head.
PFFT!
Blood spattered.
This time, countless Law Chains shattered. The Sixteen-layered Law Domain was cleaved open by Zhou Di’s Immortal Celestial Saber. The terrifying blade light broke through Xu Qing’s defense and left a gash on his body.
The wound was not serious. Only a little blood flowed before it quickly healed.
However, this was the first time Xu Qing had been injured since he began taking action in this matter. It showed just how powerful Zhou Di was, having completely surpassed the likes of the True Immortal Daoist.
"It seems the defense you’re so proud of isn’t all that impressive after all."
A mocking smile appeared on Zhou Di’s face.
SWISH!
The Immortal Celestial Saber flew back into Zhou Di’s hand, circling him in the void like a swimming fish.
"As expected of His Majesty, Emperor Yuanwu."
Xu Qing just smiled. He was surprised, but not panicked. "You’re certainly no common rabble, to be able to break through my defenses."
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Three sword hums rang out.
Xu Qing brought out the Level 50 Iron Sword, the Level 50 Wandering Dragon Sword, and the Level 50 Copper Coin Sword. The three swords rose into the air and merged into one, forming an exceptionally powerful blade.
"Strike!"
CLANG!
Xu Qing pointed a finger, and the three-in-one sword, infused with his own power and amplified by the mighty power of his Sixteen-layered Law Domain, shot forward. As if it pierced through time and space, it appeared before Zhou Di in an instant.
"Blood Demon Armor!"
CRACK!
BANG!
Zhou Di gave a light shout. His body trembled as demonic light surged, vast and boundless as a churning ocean, and rapidly coalesced around him.
The Three Thousand Law Marks fused into it.
Ultimately, it formed a suit of blood-black demonic armor that covered Zhou Di’s entire body. Engraved upon the armor were three thousand kinds of Law Marks, which intertwined and merged to form strange Demon Patterns.
Xu Qing’s sword strike was exceedingly powerful, enough to have killed Xiao Yin in a single blow, yet at this moment, it was blocked by Zhou Di’s Blood Demon Armor.
It was clear to see.
Xu Qing’s three-in-one sword struck Zhou Di, but the Blood Demon Armor defended against it. It struck the chest of the Blood Demon Armor, only to be sent flying back.
"This..."
A look of surprise couldn’t help but cross Xu Qing’s face.
Evidently, Zhou Di’s strength had indeed exceeded his expectations.
"Huo Yuanjia," Zhou Di continued. "Your techniques and Divine Techniques... We have come to understand them completely over the course of your many battles."
"Therefore,"
"We know you like the back of Our hand."
"And yet,"
"You know nothing of Us."
"Therefore,"
"You cannot win. You can only lose, which means death is your only path. This is the price you must pay for disturbing Our quiet little show."
"Is that so?"
Xu Qing was noncommittal.
"Blood Demon Spear!"
SWISH!
Zhou Di raised his hand. Within his palm, countless rays of blood-black light gathered, coalescing into a blood-black spear that emanated a formidable might.
"Die!"
SWISH!
Zhou Di charged at Xu Qing, thrusting the Blood Demon Spear in his hand. It pierced the void and, in the blink of an eye, was right in front of Xu Qing. Xu Qing dodged swiftly, evading Zhou Di’s strike.
"Divine Technique! Great Darkness Technique!"
HUMMM!
With a thought, Xu Qing quickly unleashed a Great Divine Technique. The power of the Dark Law spread, manifesting a world of darkness that pulled Zhou Di inside.
"A petty trick."
BOOM!
Zhou Di snorted coldly. Holding his spear, he swung it in a single strike and tore the world of darkness Xu Qing had manifested to shreds, utterly destroying it.
"Kill!"
BOOM!
Zhou Di locked onto Xu Qing’s position and charged once more.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!
All sorts of explosions rang out.
Xu Qing met him with his full strength, bringing out the Level 30 Black Dragon Tripod and the Level 30 Law Sword. The Level 30 Black Dragon Tripod seemed to summon a gathering of ten thousand dragons, while the Level 30 Law Sword condensed Three Thousand Law Marks into his Sword Dao, even manifesting a faint trace of a Rule’s power.
However, Zhou Di’s strength was even greater, his combat prowess more terrifying. After all, he was an existence at the Perfect Law Realm Perfection level, who had already condensed Three Thousand Law Marks of his own.
It could be said that as long as the Three Thousand Law Marks are fused into one, they will naturally manifest a trace of a Rule’s power. In exchange after exchange, Xu Qing was slowly being forced onto the back foot.
RUMMMBLE!!!
High in the sky.
BANG!
Xu Qing and Zhou Di had already battled their way out of the Imperial Palace and up above the clouds. The civil and military ministers had all rushed out as well. Most of them were at the Fourth Realm, and they all stood at a great distance, watching the battle.
"So... so strong..."
"Terrifying!"
"When did His Majesty attain such a Cultivation? How does he possess such terrifying strength?"
"He’s too strong."
"This old one has a question that I cannot resolve. Since His Majesty already possessed such immense strength, why didn’t he step forward to pacify the lands and rebuild the Imperial Court of the Great Zhou Martial Country? Even if His Majesty could not be the Venerable Emperor, he could have passed the throne to His Highness, the Crown Prince."
"Indeed!"
"Why has His Majesty been hiding his Cultivation and strength from the very beginning? He just let things escalate, leading to the outbreak of all these wars. So many, many people have died."
"Yes!"
"..."
The civil and military ministers were filled with emotion, their discussions fervent.
Clearly, they had no idea that Zhou Di had long since fallen to the Demonic path. His actions could no longer be considered human. He intended to perform a blood sacrifice of the entire Nine Provinces Land; he was a true Demon Fiend, through and through.
"COUGH, COUGH..."
High in the sky, Xu Qing blocked Zhou Di’s Immortal Celestial Saber, but was injured himself. On his chest was a gash that was not healing quickly.
HUFF...
Xu Qing took a deep breath. With each exchange against Zhou Di, his mastery over the Law Marks he had condensed was becoming more fluid and perfect.
’Sure enough.’
Xu Qing reflected, ’Battle is the fastest way to master one’s own strength. If I had relied solely on closed-door Cultivation, it would have taken a very long time to overcome the side effects of the Devouring Demon Technique. But these repeated, intense battles, and the flexible use of the Power of Laws and Law Marks within them, have shortened that time considerably.’
’But still! It’s too slow...’