Roar!
The onlookers in the distance were aghast as they saw the purple and green Thunder Dragon tumbling and howling.
Even dozens of miles away, they could sense the aura of ferocity and terror.
Heavenly Rank powerhouses could resist this aura, while some of the slightly weaker Third Order martial artists, intimidated by this terrifying aura, their entire body's hairs standing on end, sweating profusely, remaining speechless for a long time.
Boom!
The two terrifying forces collided, causing heaven and earth to tremble, nearly shattering the space itself. The undulating airwaves swept the sky with clouds and turmoil in all directions.
The next moment, Pei Xuanjing circulated his Shenxiao Origin Qi within his body, his body enveloped by the Innate Thunder Gang Qi, and the purple and green light shone brightly on his robust physique.
"This is the physical strength you rely on, huh?" Red Sun Martial Venerate shown curiosity in his eyes.
He naturally wouldn't underestimate this Pei Min, all information about him was clear in his mind, especially his profound cultivation in the Way of the Physical Body.
Initially, he was able to oppress his opponents with the power displayed by his robust physique alone in a two-to-one fight. This was not something that he could overlook.
Pei Xuanjing didn't speak, instead he raised his hands, the Primordial Qi circulated, his muscles, bones, skin, and membrane pulsated, his organs and marrow started vibrating on an unexplainable rhythm, followed by an eruption of terrifying strength, causing the air around him to fluctuate.
He advanced step by step, with each step a gust followed, his aura was like a mountain.
Next, he punched out without hesitation!
The scorching airwaves rolled and surged, as he punched, sound blast echoed continuously in the air, as if the air itself would explode.
"The Path of Pure Strength, truly horrifying."
Red Sun Martial Venerate's eyes flashed with bright light, however, he wasn't afraid, instead, there was some eagerness to test.
Boom!
The scorching airwaves erupted from him, his body temperature rose sharply as if he was turning into a blazing sun, scorching everything, even the sky was dyed red by this heat.
The Red Sun Divine Art, the fundamental way of the Red Sun Martial Venerate.
This was the true power of the Red Sun Divine Art, in comparison with his disciples Feng Yan who also practiced the Red Sun Divine Art, it was indeed incomparable.
If Feng Yan was likened to a burning fierce fire, then the Red Sun Martial Venerate at this moment was truly like the blazing sun hanging high in the sky.
Boom!
He swung his fists, the terrifying fist imprints blasted out carrying a hot air current.
Wherever the fist imprints passed, the intense heat melted everything. From a distance, it appeared like a red tide sweeping across the heavens, lingering for a long time.
"Is that all you've got!"
This terrifying attack, even if faced by any powerhouse, would be avoided just because of its scorching high temperature, fearing to be burned and melted.
But for Pei Xuanjing, it didn't mean anything.
His Innate Thunder Gang Qi was being operated to its extreme limit, not dodging at all, those red tides clashed against his fist.
Boom!
With a punch, the red tides were shattered by Pei Xuanjing.
That terrifying temperature didn't even break his Innate Thunder Gang Qi, merely causing the glow of his protective shield to fade slightly, but it recovered in a blink of an eye.
Humph!
Red Sun Martial Venerate grunted coldly, his momentum rising once more.
His Red Sun Primordial Qi was released recklessly, seeming endless, but if one could feel it, the surrounding space was boiling and hot, even more intense than before.
This was the true method of Heavenly Rank powerhouses. He used the heat of his own Red Sun Primordial Qi to infect Heaven and Earth, abruptly changing the environment of their confrontations, turning it into a scenario most advantageous to him.
Around Pei Xuanjing, endless flames rose, blinking in and out of existence. Endless fist shadows encompassed him, seeming to drain all Heaven and Earth Essence Qi around him, causing the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi that Pei Xuanjing could use to drop drastically.
"So this is it? This is what Ye Daoyuan referred to as what Heavenly Rank powerhouses can master at their peak?"
Pei Xuanjing recalled his conversation with Ye Daoyuan, who told him about the real power that Heavenly Rank powerhouses, or those, like them, who have stepped halfway into the Heavenly People domain, can command.
Ye Daoyuan called it the "Celestial Dharma Domain".
Heavenly Rank powerhouses, sensing Heaven and Earth, connecting with Heaven and Earth, then borrowing the Heavenly Earthly Force.
But if one reaches a limit, one can influence Heaven and Earth in return, forming a Magical Domain, within which they can severely limit their opponent. If the opponent is weaker in terms of Realm, they'll hardly have any chance to fight back.
According to Ye Daoyuan, the Magical Domain they currently command is just a rudiment, not complete. If one can truly step into the Realm of Heavenly People, one would be invincible within this Magical Domain.
Of course, even if it's just a rudiment now, most people still can't break it. This is the real reason why powerhouses like Ye Daoyuan stand firm.
"A Magical Domain can also be broken!" A cold light flashed in Pei Xuanjing's eyes.
Nothing is invincible, there are only invincible people.
According to Ye Daoyuan's explanation, although the Magical Domain is mysterious, it's not unbeatable. As long as one can break the Magical Domain, then one can solve the problem.
Perhaps this method would be difficult for others, but for Pei Xuanjing, it's quite simple.
Pei Xuanjing reached out into the void, and the Longevity Sword fell into his hand.
The moment he took hold of the Longevity Sword, Pei Xuanjing's momentum changed, and a skyward sharpness rose from his body, its sharp aura seemingly piercing heaven and earth. Clang!
The divine sword unsheathed.
Gripping, drawing, unsheathing, slashing – fluid as flowing water, without the slightest pause!
Sword Drawing Skill!
This killing move was used once again by Pei Xuanjing.
A brilliant sword light appeared. Almost at the moment of unsheathing, an overwhelming sword intent of scathing sunlight seeped out.
The power of a single sword seemed to cleave heaven and earth.
The chilling sword light, paired with this overwhelming sword intent, even cut space, and left a sword mark in the sky that lasted for quite a while.
It's hard to describe this sword.
If it really needs describing, then let's use one word: Fast!
As if piercing time and space, silent and traceless, the moment you see it, the sword has already arrived.
Even a powerhouse like Red Sun Martial Venerate shows a shocked look in the face of this sword.
Boom!
Within his Magical Domain, the originally hot and circulating Heaven and Earth Essence Qi suddenly turned violent, causing intense vibrations.
The sword swept past, with countless flames instantly extinguishing, leaving a deep crevice, the abundant Heaven and Earth Essence Qi rushed in like a tide.
Red Sun Martial Venerate's face sunk, he swiveled his arms, and the abundant Red Sun Primordial Qi once again rolled out, pouring into the sky.
An endless red flooded the sky above, slowly eliminating the previously widening crack.
Afterward, Pei Xuanjing felt the temperature around him rise again.
Despite his initial attack failing to land, Pei Xuanjing didn't feel the slightest disheartenment. His wrist pivoted and his Shenxiao Origin Qi fluctuated unpredictably, which in an instant covered his Longevity Sword in six colors: green, red, yellow, white, black, and purple.
Already a sharp Ten Thousand-Forged Divine Weapon, the sword, with the additional power of the Primordial Qi, emitted a terrifying aura, its sharpness nearly tore apart the sky.
Pei Xuanjing slowly lifted his sword. His movements were unhurried, his swordplay plain and unremarkable. However, his imposing momentum continuously escalated. The Shenxiao Origin Qi permeated around him in the six colors, coloring the entire sky and enveloping dozens of miles around him.
Above the daytime sky, faint stars appeared as if out of thin air. The barely visible stardust fallen on the Longevity Sword in his hands.
The First Style· Nine Luminaries.
"Slash!"
The battle intent in Pei Xuanjing's eyes escalated. In that moment of his sword slash, countless stars shone, and thunder roared as if a God-Devil was present.
With the swing of his sword, it was like the Nine Heavens Milky Way was pouring down.
The Longevity Sword in his hand roared fierily. Around Pei Xuanjing, thunder roared, and countless powerful winds swept through.
Surprise flashed in Red Sun Martial Venerate's eyes, taken aback by Pei Xuanjing's sword.
His hands slightly raised, countless Heaven and Earth Essence Qi converged into a red spear about twelve feet long.
The spear, enshrouded in red flame, continuously scorched everything around it, emitting a terrifying aura.
Red Sun Martial Venerate grasped the red spear with both hands, hurling it towards Pei Xuanjing as if it weighed thousands of pounds.
With the sweep of the red spear, gusty wind howled and flames filled the sky, as if intent on removing everything in its path.
Boom!
The sword's light collided with the red spear.
A terrifying blast and clash resounded, inducing flashing thunder and flying flames, and forming a chaotic whirlpool around the two.
Such a fierce collision caused Red Sun Martial Venerate's Magical Domain to shatter instantly. Innumerable fire qi scattered all over, changing the color of the sky within dozens of miles and filling the sky with a multitude of fire clouds.
The red spear in Red Sun Martial Venerate's hand also instantly dispersed, and at the same time, he let out a muffled grunt, his face slightly flushed.
Obviously, this attack was extremely unfavorable for him; the breaking of his Magical Domain disrupted his marvelous state of unity with Heaven and Earth.
Pei Xuanjing was also pushed back by the terrible collision. He retreated for several miles before he was finally able to stop.
The glowing Innate Thunder Gang Qi on his body had also shattered and disappeared. If it weren't for his sturdy body, he might have been severely injured.
Huff huff huff…
Pei Xuanjing breathed heavily, a trace of persistent solemnity in his eyes.
Indeed, Red Sun Martial Venerate was the most powerful opponent he had ever faced; his strength was truly extraordinary.
After all, during his past friendly spar with Ye Daoyuan, they hadn't truly intended to fight to the death, so they both held back considerably.
At this moment, Pei Xuanjing truly experienced the terror of the Peak of Heaven Rank, a formidable opponent who had merely half-stepped into the Heavenly Ascender's realm.
Not to mention anything else, even his Magical Domain posed a tremendous threat. If it were not for Pei Xuanjing's unparalleled combat power, he might not even be able to break through his Magical Domain.
The red spear he had just made using Condensing Qi into Weapons may seem simple, but protected by his surrounding Magical Domain, its power was even stronger, bursting with unparalleled power.
Huff huff huff…
The mountains roared, with the two standing opposite each other in silence.
However, what could be noticed was that at this moment both of them were brimming with combat intent, their overwhelming intent almost materializing.
In an instant, Pei Xuanjing swung his sword again.
Surrounded by a turbulent sea of clouds, the brilliant sword light shone, shattering the void, and countless sword Qi permeated the sky.
Purple-blue thunder lights twinkled, transforming into countless dancing and boiling electric snakes, the airflow collapsed, thunder roared and lightning flashed.
Red Sun Martial Venerate snorted coldly, stepping forward, his body enveloped by Primordial Qi. Since the other party had already demonstrated the ability to break his Magical Domain, he would not use it again, merely surrounding himself with it, attracting the limitless Heaven and Earth Essence Qi.
Although he could not utilize his Magical Domain, that did not mean he had no other means. Grabbing at the void with his hands, the red spear, three meters long, appeared in his hands again.
With a long cry, gripping the red spear, he seemed like a red sun suspended high in the sky, bringing along vast golden-red light, violently stabbing towards Pei Xuanjing.
Clang!
The red spear and the Longevity Sword collided, causing layers of wave-like Qi to continue rolling in all directions.
The loud impact resounded in all directions, and people dozens of miles away watching the fight seemed to hear the sound of bronze bells in their ears, with some less powerful martial artists being stunned by the sound.
Neither of them held back when clashing.
Explosions of thunder continually sounded in the sky, the noise of their weapons clashing was unending.
The rampaging turbulent air currents were agitated, people without enough power could only see purplish-blue and red light figures circulating and merging in the distance.
The sky changed color, and everything trembled.
The aftermath of their confrontation was enough to shock the heavens and the earth.
"Is this the strength that a peak Heavenly Rank powerhouse can show?"
"Is this even human?"
Many Heavenly Rank powerhouses watching the fight, their spirits agitated, their eyes blurred, couldn't help but murmur in their hearts.
"Pei Min, battling so many rounds with me has made me admire you. Such strength at this age, it's enough for you to be proud," Red Sun Martial Venerate held his flaming spear, launching fierce attacks against Pei Xuanjing while speaking praise.
Only seventeens years old with such formidable strength, it was practically unbelievable, it showed just how extraordinary the other party's talent was.
Even his treasured and painstakingly nurtured successor, Li Tiange, compared to Pei, was like a firefly trying to compete with the glaring moonlight, the two were simply incomparable.
In Red Sun Martial Venerate's view, even comparing Li Tiange to Pei was an insult to Pei.
Not to mention Li Tiange, even he, or even Ye Daoyuan who sat atop the Qintian Platform, couldn't compare to the person in front of him.
In the history of the World of Myriad Manifestations, only the Heavenly Ascenders who shattered the void and soared could be on par with Pei.
But it's a pity!
The Pei he currently faced was a Tang man, he was not a citizen of Da Li.
This was an aspect that greatly disappointed Red Sun Martial Venerate. If the other party was a Da Li citizen, how great would that be!
Regret glimmered in his eyes, regret that the other party was not one of his own.
Therefore, today, he had to personally kill a genius, a person who would undoubtedly shatter the void and ascend to heaven in the future.
"What a pity!" Red Sun Martial Venerate sighed, "What a pity you're destined to die here today."
Pei Xuanjing's expression remained light. He was utterly unconcerned about Red Sun Martial Venerate's demeanor. He loudly proclaimed, "You should worry about yourself first!"
As he spoke, Pei Xuanjing's swordsmanship suddenly changed.
He swung eight consecutive slashes, and in a flash, the sword energy reached out in all eight directions, lingering for quite a while.
These eight strands of sword energy shot up into the sky, occupying the eight positions of Heaven and Earth, merging with the imagery of the Eight Trigrams – Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen, and Dui.
Instantly, an Eight Trigrams pattern formed by sword energy appeared in the sky. The eight strands of sword energy complemented, restrained, and propelled each other. They continued without end in a ceaseless cycle.
Second Sword·Eight Extremes!
The Eight Trigrams sword pattern descended from the sky.
Observing the descending Eight Trigrams sword pattern, the usually composed Red Sun Martial Venerate instantly changed his expression, for he noticed something.
That was, although this sword pattern seemed to confront head-on, the truth was that its sword energy had already sealed all his escape routes, blocking every direction, omnipresent.
Moreover, what was originally just ordinary sword energy had, under the boost of this Eight Trigrams pattern, became immensely more powerful, each successive wave stronger than the last, reaching dreadful heights.
Unarguably, the most terrifying part was that this Eight Trigrams sword pattern was absorbing limitless Heaven and Earth Essence Qi, which ignited the eight Trigrams positions once infused, imbuing the sword chart with an additional layer of power.
"This is my created swordsmanship, Second Strike·Eight Extremes, please taste it," Pei Xuanjing announced loudly.
This sword technique was not only conceived based on his understanding of swordsmanship, but it was also inspired by some insights from his discourse with Ye Daoyuan.
If Ye Daoyuan could draw talismans in the void, absorb Heaven and Earth Essence Qi, and then use these talismans to form the Heavenly Luo Earth Network, why couldn't he transform his sword energy into an Eight Trigrams sword pattern?
Of course, the most important point was to thank the Magical Domain displayed by Red Sun Martial Venerate.
At the beginning, even though Pei Xuanjing had already initially created the rudiments of this sword technique, he always felt that this technique was not perfect, as if something was missing, and it never reached perfection.
However, it was during his recent fight with the Red Sun Martial Venerate that he gained a great understanding of the Magical Domain.
Magical Domain!
This move of Pei Xuanjing's could also be called the Sword Domain.
As long as Heaven and Earth Essence Qi didn't deplete, and sword energy didn't extinguish, this Eight Trigrams sword chart could persist indefinitely, functioning as a perpetual Sword Domain.
The slight pity was that the killing power of this technique wasn't strong. Its main purpose was to trap people.
As expected!
The countless sword energies cascaded down, and with Red Sun Martial Venerate's power, they could easily be blocked.
He also noticed the flaw in the Eight Trigrams sword pattern — it can only trap people, its killing power wasn't as great as he had expected.
"What a pity, your move hasn't yet reached maturity," said the Red Sun Martial Venerate, grinning as he stood within his Magical Domain.
When the Red Sun Martial Venerate's Magical Domain permeated him, the sword energies were unable to immediately break through his Magical Domain. To do so, the power of the Eight Trigrams sword pattern was insufficient for the time being and would require multiple attacks.
However, for someone as powerful as he was, the blink of an eye was enough time for him to maintain his Magical Domain.
"Yes, indeed!" Pei Xuanjing was not discouraged.
This move was at its earliest stages of creation and still required time for refinement. Being able to perform this effectively was already satisfactory for him.
After all, the fact that he was able to complete this sword technique during his visit here was already a pleasant surprise.
His real trump card in a duel with the enemy was not this.
"I have another move. Please have another taste," Pei Xuanjing said with a smile.
Shenxiao Heavenly Will Sword!
This was Pei Xuanjing's real trump card, and also his ultimate killing move.
Originally, he had another move called Immortal Ascending the Heavens, but he clearly understood that this move was only slightly more powerful than his Nine Luminaries and there was no need to use it again.
Therefore, he decided to play his real killing move.
This sword was truly his crowning achievement in swordsmanship.
Upon arriving in this world, Pei Xuanjing had not yet fully revealed this sword. Although he had used it when he broke through to the Heavenly Rank, he had never truly given his all.
Moreover, over this past year, his strength improved rapidly. Having studied numerous swordsmanship sutras from this world and incorporating them, the power of this strike had also evolved.
Therefore, the extent of the power of this sword, executed with his current strength, was honestly unknown even to Pei Xuanjing.
He slowly raised his sword. Above his head were the flashing lights of cyan, red, yellow, white, and black, interweaving and quickly merging together to form an extremely complex painting scroll.
It seemed to symbolize spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and included the Five Directions and Five Elements and the Four Seasons and Five Orders.
A purple-cyan light on Pei Xuanjing's body flashed and disappeared into it. The purple-cyan light seemed to transform into a thunderbolt serpent roaming and coiling in the scroll.
This was the projection of the foundation of the Great Tao that Pei Xuanjing had condensed upon breaking through to the Heavenly Rank – the projection that reflects the essence of his Tao, the foundation of his Great Tao.
Although he had not yet released his move, the moment when the projection of his Great Tao foundation appeared, the face of Red Sun Martial Venerate changed significantly, and his eyes shone brightly, finally muttering, "My Tao is indeed not wrong."
He never imagined that he would discover what he had been longing for on this seventeen-year-old young man.
This was what he longed for in his dreams, the Tao he strived for for decades, but ultimately never achieved.
Why did Ye Daoyuan say that Red Sun Martial Venerate took the wrong path? Because Red Sun Martial Venerate had taken this very path.
The path he chose to achieve the level of Heaven-human was to use his Red Sun Divine Skill as a foundation, creating a true Red Sun, hence achieving the realm of Heaven-man. By that time, he would naturally break through to the Heaven-human level, and probably become the most powerful Heaven-human in history.
But after decades of training, decades of meditation, he had never succeeded, or rather, he had not even really taken the first step.
That's why Ye Daoyuan said he was on the wrong path, and even after decades of getting nothing, Red Sun Martial Venerate himself was losing confidence, thinking he was on the wrong path.
But at this moment, when the projection of Pei Xuanjing's Great Tao's foundation appeared, Red Sun Martial Venerate understood that the path he sought was not wrong.
"My Tao is not wrong! My path is right!" Red Sun Martial Venerate roared in his heart, his face filled with excitement.
It was a kind of exhilaration suppressed for decades, a joy from finally seeing the light after groping in the dark.
At this moment, he was full of confidence in his future. He would undoubtedly become a Heaven-human, and not just that, he would become the most powerful Heaven-human in history.
But what he didn't know was, although his Tao wasn't wrong, he would never reach this realm in his lifetime.
It had nothing to do with his talent and perception, nor with his efforts, it was his inherent deficiency. No matter how hard he tried, he could never achieve it.
Unless, one day, he could make a resolution.