The Stars Beyond

Chapter 523: Who Will Be The Victor?

Jiang Qingyao was a whirlwind of activity, dropping items while swiftly picking others up. Her movements were quick and elegant, and masterfully covert. Qi Tian, despite his immense power, was fully engaged in a fierce battle with Wang Xuan and initially paid no heed to her antics. But his keen senses soon picked up on something amiss. A casual glance revealed his carefully laid trap being dismantled. The Sword Immortal was expertly "cleaning house," quickly gathering the array materials he had scattered, including array flags and divine gold platforms. Qi Tian felt like a fool, having thrown out treasures only to have them eagerly collected.

"This is outrageous!" he exclaimed, slashing his Ascension Banner towards Jiang Qingyao.

At the same time, he erupted in menacing dark light, unleashing wave after wave of phoenixes that, bolstered by his artifact, swooped in all directions to disrupt Wang Xuan's formation and spread chaos.

"Attack!" In this critical moment, Wang Xuan, bloodied from battle, had to admit the Celestial Immortal's strength was formidable, akin to shaking a mountain.

He invoked the Human Clan’s True Form Scripture, materializing it into his own likeness. Initially, six true forms appeared, then nine, and finally fourteen, each mirroring his unprecedented step into the fourteenth realm. Each form, while mostly vivid and lifelike, varied from supremely indifferent to fiercely wrathful, divine and majestic, or fierce like a wrathful deity.

Despite the unwieldiness of the Life Essence Furnace, it still lent him the power of rules to augment his true forms, though the fourteenth was notably less distinct.

Fourteen Wang Xuans moved in unison, their expressions ranging from cold indifference to roaring fury, spreading out to capture the dark phoenixes and assault the divine birds.

The two were locked in close combat, blending physical strikes with spells.

Some of the dark phoenixes fell to Wang Xuan's blows, their feathers withering and fire exploding, while others attacked his true forms, causing them to dim.

Now, Wang Xuan and Qi Tian were locked in desperate combat, their treasures tangled together, each trying to bind the other within the deadly reach of their formations. Clearly, both had immense confidence in their arrays, casting each other curious glances during the fray.

Wang Xuan pondered if the Evil Dragon had also acquired the schematic for the first murder array. A quick survey suggested their formations were distinct. Qi Tian, too, was struck by a thought: how could his opponent remain so composed, matching his intent to confine him here? Did he truly believe he could surpass the terrifying array laid out by him?

To Qi Tian’s chagrin, all his painstakingly collected exotic treasures were being spirited away by the Sword Immortal, who not only stole a portion but also seamlessly integrated it into Wang Xuan’s array to compensate for any shortcomings.

This masterstroke exasperated the scheming dragon, his killing intent surging as he swung his Ascension Banner repeatedly towards the Sword Immortal. The unleashed power of the treasure was terrifying, causing the uninhabited cosmos to tremble. The void itself was cleaved by the long fan, cutting a chilling black rift through space.

The Sword Immortal, as if walking a tightrope over the gates of hell, didn't stop. She countered with her Purple Celestial Dao Sword, her blade sending out endless streams of sword light while she continued her "treasure hunting."

“Qingyao, stop taking risks!” Wang Xuan yelled, as he pushed himself to the limit. His body glowed despite the blood gushing from his wounds, some bone-deep, yet he still erupted in power, manipulating his treasure to unleash a variety of spells.

With a thunderous crash, he wielded the Life Essence Furnace repeatedly against Qi Tian’s Ascension Banner, hindering his ability to effectively target the Sword Immortal.

Wang Xuan was acutely aware of Qi Tian’s lethal prowess, particularly as his intent to kill soared, indicating his resolve to eliminate Jiang Qingyao first.

At this point, the central combatants no longer bothered to conceal their actions; each swung their treasures, quickly and efficiently refining their respective killing arrays like casting beans to summon an army.

Sword Immortal clashed fiercely with her opponent using the Purple Celestial Dao Sword, snatching up rare materials and rapidly setting up her array. She understood the First Murder Array, aiding Wang Xuan in its construction to hasten its completion. Now, parts of the array glowed brilliantly as they became active.

Qi Tian’s advantage lay in his superior strength. Radiating with the divine luminescence of a Celestial Immortal, he wielded the boundless power of cosmic laws. In the distance, a grand curtain seemed to unfurl over a transcendent planet, bolstering his formidable presence.

Wang Xuan coughed blood profusely under Qi Tian's assault and saw Sword Immortal wounded as Qi Tian rapidly arranged his own deadly array. "Command the Swords of the World!" Wang Xuan bellowed, activating the First Murder Array.

Gravely injured, he pondered if he might perish in battle, his external old spirit potentially obliterated. He would prefer not to be driven to such an extremity by an enemy; his path was his to tread, fraught with immense danger.

The First Murder Array began to take shape, swords of light soaring into the sky. Particularly from where Jiang Qingyao stood on a special node of the array platform, the Purple Celestial Dao Sword unleashed thick beams of purple light, cascading like rivers of stars across the sky.

Powerful as the Evil Dragon was, he suffered heavily in this onslaught, a vast swathe of purple light hammering him, tearing through the protective aura of his Ascension Banner. Bloodied, he nearly had his shoulder cleaved off.

Seizing the opportunity, Wang Xuan distanced himself, positioning at a crucial point of the array with the Life Essence Furnace as his base, enhancing the array's potency.

The Command of the World's Swords wasn't just rhetoric; behind Wang Xuan, in the dark cosmos, appeared countless divine swords forming a vast wall, resplendent and towering, bristling with ancient blades that clanged in unison before slashing forth together.

Additionally, Wang Xuan fought desperately, invoking various supreme sword scriptures—from the Slashing Sword of light wheels to the Spirit Sword emerging from his core—all amplified by the treasure and the vast array.

This spectacle was terrifying; the heavens and earth dazzled with brilliance, countless beams like dense comets diving downward, striking the darkened earth of night with resounding force.

......

In the Cloud Sea Mountains of the new star, a black spacecraft landed gracefully on a flat expanse. From within, four robotic figures cautiously emerged, carrying a small altar. Atop it rested a feeble spirit, its light dim and close to extinguishing—the remnants of a once vibrant life force.

Jiang Siyuan!

Everyone felt a jolt at the sight. This was the genius who once illuminated the immortal realms, now reduced to a pitiful and bleak fate. Alongside the faint spirit on the altar lay fragments of bone, permeated with the stench of decay, yet still faint traces of life clung within their core.

Such a spectacle was even more frail than the true bones left by immortals in the mortal world. These remnants had nearly exhausted their essence, teetering on the edge of depletion.

Fang Yuzhu's figure was enveloped in a cascade of golden light. In her hands appeared a golden boat, sprouting tender golden branches and bamboo leaves teeming with vigorous life. This boat sprinkled celestial light continuously, infusing the desiccated bones and the flickering spirit of Jiang Siyuan with revitalizing energy.

Jiang Siyuan's condition was dire, teetering on the brink of oblivion—beyond the aid of mere mortals and even the supreme beings doubted their ability to preserve his life.

Fang Yuzhu exerted her utmost effort, temporarily stabilizing his fractured spirit. From her spatial treasure, a swath of genuine Feathered Bamboo forest emerged, its golden leaves rustling softly, shedding droplets of golden essence that nourished Jiang Siyuan.

"Si Yuan, Si Yuan..." Fang Yuzhu employed the forbidden techniques from the "Sutra of Invocation," recorded in ancient texts, repeatedly chanting his name to revive the crumbling spirit, determined to fully restore him.

"Qi Tian, your ploys are clever, using Jiang Siyuan to stall one of the mightiest beings, thinking this would suffice? I've said, no matter what, today I shall have your head for Wang Xuan, claim a debt of blood, and then hunt down your other incarnate!" The Shadow Couple’s voice was calm, yet laden with boundless intent to kill, swearing vengeance if Wang Xuan should fall, vowing an endless feud with the Evil Dragon and the Sword Lunatic.

Madman Shang Yi blocked their path, robust and domineering, brandishing the Mortal World Sword in anticipation. The Undying Umbrella whirled, its thunderous force colliding with the sword's light, causing a tremendous surge of energy that fragmented the nearby mountains.

Nearby, a spacecraft shattered into pieces, rapidly crushed into metallic debris. Fang Yuzhu's whole being radiated light, protecting the fragile bones and spirit on the altar. Despite the chaos, she launched into action, wielding the Celestial Bracelet to unleash unparalleled energy.

The bracelet locked onto the Mortal World Sword, clanging loudly, their fierce vibrations intertwining, emitting a terrifying glow that tore through the mountain ranges.

"Fang Yuzhu, focus on your rescue. There's no need to overextend yourself in these conditions; beware lest I take this chance to strike you down. Fail in your rescue, and you might find yourself in a dire situation as well," the Sword Lunatic stated coldly. Towering over two meters tall, his presence was demonic, his vitality erupting like a torrential flood, an ancient behemoth stepping out from the primordial chaos, intimidating to behold.

"Shang Yi, you persist in attacking, even now. I am ready to match you, but let it be known, if we clash today, only one of us will stand at the end. You are welcome to try your luck!" Fang Yuzhu declared, her body glowing. She stood amidst a golden bamboo grove, shielding Jiang Siyuan with a shower of divine light, nourishing his bones and fragmented spirit, striving to sustain his life.

At this critical moment, her defiance against the Sword Lunatic touched everyone; a battle for supremacy in the realm of immortals. Who among the ancient powerhouses was the true sovereign could only be determined between these two.

The Shadow Couple stepped forward, positioning themselves before Fang Yuzhu, facing off against the Sword Lunatic. Not typically cold-hearted, they could not let Fang Yuzhu engage in a fatal duel under these conditions, where she might suffer greatly.

Aware of Jiang Siyuan's past sacrifices, saving Fang Yuzhu twice at the cost of his own life, they empathized deeply. If they were in her shoes, they would spare no expense to save their lifesaver, no matter the cost.

Wang Xuan, who was in the distance, was too far away to intervene in time. The Shadow Couple didn't want Fang Yuzhu to risk a deadly battle with the Sword Lunatic that might cost her own life.

"It's alright, saving Siyuan and defeating Shang Yi can go hand in hand. I am not troubled!" Fang Yuzhu insisted, motioning the couple to step back as she locked eyes with the Sword Lunatic.

"Is that so?" Shang Yi responded coldly, his demeanor as imperious as ever. His sword, known for its invincibility, had met few throughout the ages who dared to confront him directly.

Now, his urge to kill surged, eager to settle the score with this woman who stood as his equal.

Qi Tian intervened, "Let's not rush to combat. We should first see what has transpired in the depths of space. The battle there should be drawing to a close. I've said before, Wang Xuan will not die; we will ensure his survival. The immediate priority is to bring him back safely. If you engage in a bloody battle here and delay, with his origin damaged, he truly might face mortal peril."

"Give me precise coordinates, connect with the spaceship in deep space!" the Shadow Couple, pained and frustrated, held back their outburst, clinging to a thread of hope to see the outcome there.

"No need to contact the spaceship, it’s unnecessary trouble. The two divine treasures just now vibrated violently, and residual waves are still emanating through the veil. We have enough divine treasures here; if we work together, we should be able to project the scene from there," Qi Tian suggested, his understanding of divine treasures apparently far surpassing everyone present.

Qi Tian chuckled and added, "I learned from an ancient tome left by a vanished civilization. When six or more divine treasures are gathered and synchronized, they can capture the location and project the real scene of other resonating divine treasures."

Instantly, everyone sprang into action, even the Sword Lunatic, curious to see the unfolding events. Life Pool, Immortal Umbrella, Divine Palace, Sauntering Boat, Heaven-Screening Bracelet, and Mortal World Sword—these transcendent relics were activated by the gathered beings of supreme power. They vibrated in unison, tracing the afterwaves from the Ascension Banner and the Nurturing Furnace. Astonishingly, they formed a luminous screen like a mirror, revealing the ongoing epic battle.

"Those aren't mere afterwaves; the real tremor is still happening!" someone exclaimed, watching the cosmic duel unfold.

"Qi Tian, you haven't subdued your opponent yet!" sneered the founder of the Supreme Palace.

"And that is..." others gasped, fixated on the grand battle displayed in the mirror light.

There, Wang Xuan was wielding the 'Heaven-Suppressing Myriad Swords,' tearing through the light barrier created by the Ascension Banner. Qi Tian was bloodied and heavily wounded by countless sword slashes.

A massive wall of swords, as imposing as a mountain range and humming intensely, was embedded with innumerable divine blades radiating dazzling light. Not only did the dense array of ancient swords strike towards Qi Tian, but the entire mountainous sword wall itself surged forward in a mighty slam.

Amid the endless celestial swords, a particularly striking purple broken sword nearly cleaved Qi Tian in half, leaving gruesome wounds deep enough to expose bone on his forehead and chest, only to be parried in the nick of time by the Ascension Banner.

"That is... the Purple Dawn Harmonious Sword!" someone recognized the legendary blade, nearly a true divine treasure.

"Wang Xuan is not defeated; he's slaying the dragon!"

No one had anticipated witnessing such a scene; even Qi Tian himself was stunned, frozen in place, his gaze locked on the colossal conflict playing out in the depths of space.

"Rule the Heavens with a Thousand Blades!" In the battlefield, a blood-drenched Wang Xuan bellowed, channeling the supreme killing array in a bid to slay the dragon.