Empress Wu's gaze fell upon Ye Daoyuan and Yin Daoist: "You are the superintendent of the imperial court and the master of the royal Zong Sheng Temple, yet you have teamed up with others to break into the palace city. What is your intention?"
Faced with Empress Wu's questioning, the two men halted, unsure how to respond.
After all, there were things they could do, but they could not speak outright.
Meanwhile, Pei Xuanjing suddenly smiled, took a big step forward, and said aloud: "Congratulations to the Empress Dowager for ascending to the Realm of Heavenly People. Today, we invite the Empress Dowager to ascend!"
Silence.
Deathly silence filled the entire Palace City. No one dared to utter a word. Even those who were injured at the Heavenly Rank seemed to forget their pain and looked blankly at Pei Xuanjing.
"Invite the Empress Dowager to ascend" sounded good, but in reality, it meant forcing the Empress Dowager to die.
Surprise flashed across Empress Wu's eyes, as she looked at the swordsman standing before her, a killing intent arose in her heart, making the temperature of the entire Palace City seem to drop instantly, and turn chilly.
Ye Daoyuan and Yin Daoist, both being decisive people, saw Pei Xuanjing speaking out and didn't hesitate to step forward, saying in unison: "We invite the Empress Dowager to ascend!"
"You, are you planning to rebel?" Empress Wu surveyed them with her cold eyes, she said coldly.
Woosh woosh…
The celestial phenomenon altered, the sky darkened, responding to Empress Wu's anger, thousands of stars disappeared, and the moonlight dimmed.
Faced with such a terrible aura, even Ye Daoyuan and Yin Daoist were shocked.
They understood, at this moment, the reality was perhaps something they least wanted to see – Empress Wu had stepped into the Celestial Human Realm.
Pei Xuanjing understood even better the current state of Empress Wu in front of him. His heart sank involuntarily. Indeed, it was the worst scenario. The other party had already broken through the mystery of the Celestial Human Realm. After a period of consolidation, she might ascend to the Heavenly Being.
However, Pei Xuanjing knew that at this moment they actually had only one option left, and that was to go all out and stake it all, betting that Empress Wu had not yet perfected her abilities, and that he still had a chance of a fight.
If they waited until she truly entered the Celestial Human Realm, they might never have another chance.
Pei Xuanjing communicated his speculation to the two of them, without reservation he expressed the current situation, then waited for them to make their choice.
"No matter what, I will take action today. If you two are unwilling, I can buy time for you to escape," Pei Xuanjing solemnly said to them.
His Dao of Qi Refining had also been refined to the extreme. He just needed an opportunity to break through the mystery of the Celestial Human realm and ascend. He considered the current encounter with Empress Wu as perhaps his greatest chance.
Additionally, he did not have any reservations. In this world, he already achieved a lot, so even if he failed, it didn't matter.
But Ye Daoyuan and Yin Daoist had been here because of his plans. While he didn't care about his life or death in this world, he couldn't drag them down with him, which wasn't something Pei Xuanjing should do. Hence, he gave them a choice.
With his power, if the two of them were willing to leave, he could give them enough time to escape.
Ye Daoyuan chuckled bitterly, "I received many favors from the previous emperor. How can I leave now? Today, I will accompany you, my Taoist friend, in going all out. Whereas Yin Daoist brother… He carries the responsibility of the Zong Sheng Temple, should he decide…"
He had received numerous favors from the previous emperor and held a high-ranking position for many years. How could he leave now?
Never mind, after all, he was alone and didn't have any concern. However, Yin Daoist was different from him.
Yin Daoist interrupted Ye Daoyuan, saying coldly, "I came here today with the intention of dying. It is just a matter of death. I could not flee before the battle. If word got out, I'm afraid I would become the laughingstock,"
The connection between Zong Sheng Temple and the royal family was not shallow. They had been receiving support for many years. If he fled from the battle at this moment, he would be ridiculed by countless people, especially his fellow brother at Louguan Tao.
As for the heritage issue that Ye Daoyuan was worried about, he was least concerned about it. After all, Louguan Tao and Zong Sheng Temple originated from the same source. Even though they had disputes, if he died, would his brother from Louguan Tao really watch while the Zong Sheng Temple was destroyed?
Therefore, facing Pei Xuanjing's proposition, both rejected it. No one had the intention to leave.
Pei Xuanjing nodded, "In that case, let us experience the divinity of a Heavenly Being together today."
He said loudly again, "Today, we invite the Empress Dowager to ascend!"
"We invite the Empress Dowager to ascend!" Ye Daoyuan and Yin Daoist echoed.
Empress Wu was furious, her face as cold as frost, she said in a chilling tone, "You're courting death!"
Boom!
Empress Wu released her primordial Qi around herself. The terrifying aura surged, with nine halos shining on top of her head, and a vision emerging behind her. It looked like an Empress sitting high above, gazing at Pei Xuanjing, her eyes filled with majesty.
Her slender, fair hand slapped down, and in an instant, countless light feathers descended towards Pei Xuanjing, seemingly wanting to annihilate Pei Xuanjing in these light feathers.
Even though her main target was Pei Xuanjing, both Ye Daoyuan and Yin Daoist were staggered when they felt this terrifying power.
Looking at the light feathers falling from the sky, Pei Xuanjing sensed a dangerous aura. He could feel that these lights were filled with terrifying power, and if hit by them, it would either be death or serious injury.
The next moment, Pei Xuanjing moved, he reached out and grabbed the hilt of the Longevity Sword.
The instant the Longevity Sword was in his hand, his aura changed, a soaring sharpness rose from him out of nowhere, the sharp aura seemed to pierce both heaven and earth. Clang!
His movements were swift and decisive – gripping the sword, unsheathing, swinging, all in one seamless motion without any pause!
Sword Drawing Skill!
Once again this killing move was executed at the hands of Pei Xuanjing.
The Divine Sword was unsheathed.
Brilliant sword light flashed, the terrifying sword intent burst out in an instant as the sword was unsheathed, seemingly set to cut through everything.
Moreover, this sword was incredibly swift, so swift that it reached its limit. As if piercing through time and space, silent and without a trace, it had arrived by the time you saw it.
It struck later but arrived first!
The chilling sword light illuminated the sky, the domineering sword light cut through everything, seemingly even the space was cut off, the sky full of light feathers paused, then were sliced by the sword light.
Boom!
A terrifying collision caused violent tremors. Even the four Half-Step Heavenly Beings near them had to retreat quickly to avoid the terrifying fluctuations.
The four retreated tens of meters away, their eyes still filled with unrepressed shock. It was not surprising that Empress Wu, who had almost reached the status of the Heavenly Being, could unleash such power.
But Pei Xuanjing, considered a Half-Step Heavenly Being like them, had such strength, which was simply incredible.
The confrontation between Pei Xuanjing and Empress Wu just made them realize that they could not intervene in this battle, or in other words, they didn't qualify to intervene.
Their gazes clashed, each shifting their focus onto their recent adversaries, and so the fight resumed.
The smoke cleared, and Pei Xuanjing and Empress Wu stood facing each other.
The terrifying aftermath of their earlier clash had almost eradicated everything. It could be said that within a circumference of several miles around the palace, where the two of them were standing, only the Palace of Myriad Images behind Empress Wu were left undamaged, while the rest of the palaces and buildings had all been destroyed, reducing the area to ruins.
Pei Xuanjing stood on a collapsed pillar, holding the Longevity Sword upside down, his gaze calmly resting on Empress Wu in the distance.
The terrifying confrontation just before posed no threat to Empress Wu. She remained uninjured, with not a speck of dust on her clothes, still emanating an air of elegance.
Emperor Wu stood in the air, eyes filled with a subtle surprise, looking down from above like a sovereign, "You've given me a big surprise. I had thought that the biggest obstacle would be Ye Daoyuan, but I never thought it would be you."
To Empress Wu, the person most likely to stop her from carrying out this plan was always thought to be Ye Daoyuan. After all, this man renowned as the best in the world had held sway over the world for decades, his reputation well established in people's hearts.
Even though Pei Xuanjing had been rising and accomplishing things that left many dumbstruck, Empress Wu never really took him seriously or considered him as an opponent.
The same was true even after Pei Xuanjing defeated the Red Sun Martial Venerate ten years ago.
However, the power that Pei Xuanjing exhibited at this moment far exceeded her expectations. This undoubtedly surprised her.
"In that case, it's my honor," came the voice of Pei Xuanjing.
A hint of curiosity flashed in his eyes as he asked, "In truth, there's one thing I don't understand. With the Empress in such a realm, having grasped the mysteries of Heavenly People, why not break through the void, transform into a Celestial Human, ascend and leave? Why insist on lingering here?"
Becoming a Celestial Human is everyone's pursuit. Compared to the realm of Heavenly Human, power is truly trivial.
Moreover, as soon as Pei Xuanjing entered the half-step Heavenly Being, he could feel that the realm of Heavenly Human was already the strongest power this world could accommodate. Anyone entering the Heavenly Human Realm would be suppressed by Heaven and Earth, just like how Pei Xuanjing's current strength could far surpass a half-step Heavenly Human, but he couldn't show his superior power, as that would lead to the expulsion and suppression of Heaven and Earth.
The situation faced by Empress Wu in front of him was no different. She had already kicked down the mysteries of Heavenly Human. Even without active cultivation, as time went on, her realm would continue to grow, until she eventually transformed into Heavenly Human and ascended.
Meanwhile, during this period, Empress Wu would be under the scrutiny of Heaven and Earth as well. She couldn't display her Heavenly Human power for a long time, otherwise, the Door of Celestial would inevitably descend and force her to ascend and become a Celestial Human. If she refused, she would be rejected by Heaven and Earth, which would bring about calamities from Heaven and Earth.
Therefore, even if she ascended to the throne, she probably wouldn't be Emperor for long. In the end, her fate would inevitably be to ascend and leave this world.
Upon hearing Pei Xuanjing's words, a hint of cunning flashed in Empress Wu's eyes and she smiled, "So, you've also sensed this realm. No wonder."
Only someone like this Sword Saint who has experienced the attention of Heaven and Earth would know so much.
As for the doubts raised by Pei Xuanjing, she didn't feel like answering. She simply shook her head lightly and spat out a few cold words: "You don't understand."
You don't understand!
Since she was unwilling to explain, Pei Xuanjing, who wasn't the kind to pry too deeply out of curiosity, flipped his wrist and said coldly, "It doesn't matter if I don't understand. I'm already very pleased to have the opportunity to duel with the Empress, who is a Heavenly Human."
The Shenxiao Origin Qi within his body surged out recklessly. His clothes fluttered without wind, the qi was unstable, and in just a moment, six colors—green, red, yellow, white, black, and purple—covered the Longevity Sword.
At this moment, this Ten Thousand-Forged Divine Weapon in his hand, which was originally incomparably sharp, had been tempered by him for ten years, and had developed some semblance of spirituality, emitting a humming sound of sword resonance.
Under the corrosion of this Qi, it emitted a dreadful aura, its sharpness was so intense that it could tear through space just by the sword qi it emitted.
Pei Xuanjing announced loudly: "I request that the Empress enlighten me!"
As soon as the words fell, he slowly raised his sword. His movements were slow and his sword moves unremarkable, yet the aura emanated from his body continually ascended. The Shenxiao Origin Qi pervaded all directions—green, red, yellow, white, black, and purple—imbuing the sky and covering several miles around with these six colors. The sky above the palace city seemed to be enveloped by these six hues.
The sky, originally manipulated by Empress Wu, underwent another transformation. The Nine Luminaries radiated dazzling light, and almost everyone could see dense stardust falling from these nine stars towards Pei Xuanjing.
The First Sword: Nine Luminaries.
Pei Xuanjing's eyes were filled with battle spirit. The Longevity Sword in his hand roared violently. As he slashed the sword, countless starlights illuminated, and thunder roared.
The slash of the sword was like the downfall of the Nine Heavens Milky Way, overwhelming and surging, causing a tumultuous surge of Heaven and Earth Essence Qi spurred by the boundless Shenxiao Origin Qi.
The stunning sword light seemed like a dragon's roar and a tiger's howl echoing throughout the palace city, leaving numerous people astounded.
"This strike isn't bad, but it's still far from enough to deal with me."
Faced with such a terrifying sword strike, Empress Wu showed no fear. A smile emerged on the corner of her mouth and she spoke indifferently.
Boom!
A fierce momentum burst out from her, followed by purple-golden Primordial Qi swirling out, instantly permeating all around her.
Purple-golden Primordial Qi spread within a radius of several miles, seemingly dyeing Heaven and Earth purple-gold. The purple-golden Primordial Qi condensed into countless purple-gold lotus flowers, covering the sky.
Empress Wu then quietly stood on the largest lotus platform amid the sea of lotus flowers, and what was most surprising was that a shadow of Buddha, who bore a remarkable resemblance to Empress Wu, flickered in and out of view.
The sword light from Pei Xuanjing's slash descended, and its terrifying power made those lotus flowers vibrate and flutter, with countless lotus flowers turning into powder. Unfortunately, this sword strike didn't last long. Before it could approach the lotus platform where Empress Wu was, it had exhausted all its power and disappeared into nothingness.
"Celestial Dharma Domain!" Pei Xuanjing felt the power contained in this magical domain, and couldn't help but say in a deep voice.
Through ten years of cultivation, Pei Xuanjing's strength had improved. The power of his swordplay naturally had increased immeasurably. If he were to face off against the Red Sun Martial Venerate again, he could easily shatter the latter's Magic Domain.
It could be said that under his sword, almost no one's Magic Domain could survive.
However, Pei Xuanjing's current strike with his sword was unable to shatter Empress Wu's Magical Domain at all, but instead was greatly reduced in its radiance. Even though there might be flaws in the fully consolidated Celestial Dharma Domain by the opponent, undeniably, their own Magical Domains were highly inferior in comparison.
At this very moment, Empress Wu's eyes were cold as ice. She struck with one palm, releasing rolling blasts of energy.
Simultaneously, as she struck, the illusory figure of a Buddha behind her appeared to smile, lifting its palm to form a gigantic purple-gold handprint, slamming down towards Pei Xuanjing.
Countless amount of Heaven and Earth Essence Qi converged, solidifying the gigantic purple-gold handprint, making it even more corporeal.
In the eyes of Pei Xuanjing, this handprint was so immense that it blotted out the sun, obscuring all of the heavenly expanses – the only sight that remained was this handprint.
Pei Xuanjing swung his sword, consecutively slashing eight times. Instantly, the sword qi crisscrossed in all eight directions, yet didn't dissipate for a long while.
These eight currents of sword qi soared up to the sky, filling the Eight Extremes, aligning with the Eight Trigrams' principles.
In the blink of an eye, in the sky above formed an Eight Trigrams' image composed of sword qi. The eight sword qi currents complemented and restrained each other, simultaneously enhancing one another. They were ceaselessly alive, never-ending in their momentum.
Second Sword · Eight Extremes!
This was the second sword that Pei Xuanjing had truly created during his hand-to-hand combat with Red Sun Martial Venerate. It could be considered as his Magical Domain, an Eight Trigrams Sword Diagram. As long as the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi did not cease and the sword qi did not extinguish, this Eight Trigrams Sword Diagram could exist perpetually, and acted as an eternally existing Sword Domain.
The Eight Trigrams Sword Diagram was ceaselessly absorbing endless Heaven and Earth Essence Qi.
The influx of the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi ignited the eight symbols in the diagram, boosting the power of the sword plot.
Seeing Pei Xuanjing's move, Empress Wu, who was still attacking, showed a trace of admiration in her eyes. "Using a sword's will to traverse the sky, suppressing the Eight Extremes, in this Magical Domain, your sword dao's power is bolstered, its power is extraordinarily remarkable. Good, very good."
"Good, is it?" Pei Xuanjing spoke to himself, "I fear it is more than just good!"
Boom! His aura, which was already fierce, once again became stronger, Shenxiao Origin Qi recklessly stirred around him.
He quickly touched his fingers, forming an unidentifiable hand sign. A green, red, yellow, white, and black light twinkled before him, interweaving constantly, quickly merging together, forming an abstruse stream. It seemed to signify spring, summer, autumn, and winter, embracing both the Five Directions and Five Elements and the Four Seasons and Five Orders.
"Come forth, thunder!" Pei Xuanjing's five fingers clench in the air, a purple-blue lightning appeared.
With a gentle slap, the purple-blue streak of light flashed into it. The purple-blue light seemed to transform into a lightning serpent. The serpent circled within the painting, thus creating a sense of vitality and destruction to the painting, making it appear full of life.
"Empress, evaluate this move!" Pei Xuanjing said.
His Longevity Sword emanated a chilling sword qi. Above the sky, the Big Dipper sparkled unusually, with seven shafts of starlight raining down, forming a star robe around him.
Third Sword · Seven Stars.
The Tian Shu and Tian Xuan stars form the hilt, the Tian Ji, Tian Quan, and Yu Heng stars form the body, the Kai Yang star forms the blade, and the Yao Guang forms the cutting edge. Drawing on the power of the Big Dipper and the power of the Dipper Constellation to face the enemy.
Of course, if an expert of the Daming World were to see Pei Xuanjing's move, they'd find some resemblance with the Seven Kills Sword Skill of the Seven Kills Sword Sect in this strike.
Pei Xuanjing combined the Seven Kills Sword Skill and borrowed the power of the Seven Stars to gather the three most combat-oriented constellations, Seven Kills, Po Jun, and Tan Lang. This move was an unsurpassed combat sword skill.
Originally, the flashing Big Dipper shone brightly, illuminating the sky. It seemed as if even the Seven Kills Star of the Southern Dipper was being attracted and produced some sort of attraction with the Tan Lang Star and Po Jun Star.
A sword sliced through!
The heavens shook, and all that was left in everyone's eyes was this resplendently radiant sword. It was as though it sliced through an entire galaxy, slashing at the tremendous purple handprint.
Boom!
The sharp sword light effortlessly shattered the massive purple handprint. The menacing remaining sword qi spiraled all around.
"Retreat!"
Currently engaged in battle, Ye Daoyuan and the others in unison, hastily retreated once more.
Waiting for the four of them to retreat several miles away, they finally managed to see the results of this encounter.
Although the sword light had disappeared, the remnant sword qi still left a trembling in people's hearts. The Palace of Myriad Images, which was originally protected by Empress Wu, was now slashed apart by this sword and was turned into a pile of broken rubble.
All of the purple-gold lotuses in the Magical Domain where Empress Wu stood were destroyed. As for the lotus platform under her feet, it was still there, but the platform was covered in sword marks, which remained even after all this time.
"Pei Min, you deserve to die!" Empress Wu was furious.
She reached into the void with her hand, a purple-gold treasure sword appeared in her hand. This sword appeared to be noble and supreme, as if all things in the world would kneel before it.
Empress Wu coldly lifted her purple-gold treasure sword, and then resolutely struck with her sword again.
She drew her sword in the void and several purple-gold divine dragons roared out, spiraling and rolling, slashing towards Pei Xuanjing.
Pei Xuanjing also resolutely dispatched his sword!
Sword light spread everywhere, the heavens and earth transformed.
The purple-gold Divine Dragon collided with the sword light, exploded with a loud noise, and a terrifying current of air caused space to rupture, but it also grinded the sword light to obliteration.
Boom!
Pei Xuanjing was forced to retreat several miles back due to such terrifying shockwaves.
If not for his innately powerful physical defense, this sword alone would be enough to destroy him.
"I never imagined that a soldier who has condensed gas into a weapon could create a divine weapon with such extraordinary power, and this sword seems to be the legendary Imperial Sword!" Pei Xuanjing looked at the purple-gold sword and thought.
"Being able to exchange blows with me for such a period, Pei Min, you are indeed worthy of the title Sword Saint. However, it ends here!"
Empress Wu swung her sword, and at this moment stood in the Magical Domain as if she were a commanding queen, with everything appearing to yield to her command.
The sword will was filled with a sense of imperial prestige, desiring to have all things yield.
However, Pei Xuanjing seemed to be unaffected by it, thrusting his sword outward, presenting an incredibly domineering display of sword will, which was in no way inferior to the opponent.
The two exchanged blows, their sword light intersecting and crisscrossing. The wild waves of sword qi swept all around, seeming to shatter the heavens and the earth. Then, those qi waves were like a dam burst, as endless as a pouring river of water, filling all of the palace city. Countless palaces and towers were destroyed, leaving behind a battered landscape and ruined walls.
Chanting of Buddhist scriptures and the howling sound of a demon echoed.
At this moment of a showdown, Empress Wu fought without holding anything back, and Pei Xuanjing truly got a glimpse of the foundation of her cultivation.
Brahma and Demon cultivation were merged and united into one.
This almost rarely taken path was surprisingly displayed by Empress Wu once again.