Chapter 173: Battling the Eighth Rank Celestial Phenomenon

The moment the Helmsman realized Jiang Yan’s true terror, he abandoned the idea of capturing him alive. He knew that allowing such an existence to survive even a second longer would be irresponsible to his own future.

No potential threat deserved to live in this world.

With this thought, his figure arrived in an instant, descending directly above Jiang Yan.

In that moment, a domain of crimson blood cloth expanded, countless malevolent ghosts clawing and snarling as they lunged at Jiang Yan.

The Helmsman followed up with a palm strike, stirring a surging sea of blood. Jiang Yan, caught within it, was like a fragile boat tossed in a violent ocean storm, at risk of being destroyed with the slightest misstep.

But now, he was in his strongest form, possessing over a hundred War Ruins Engravings and having absorbed tens of thousands of Shadow Hunt Doppelgangers.

Jiang Yan raised his hand slightly, and the War Ruins Engravings aligned, targeting the palm strike the Helmsman had unleashed.

Blood Qi clashed, vengeful spirits howled in rage, and countless ghosts were obliterated in the bombardment of the engravings.

Jiang Yan clenched his hand in the void, and a pitch-black long saber materialized.

“Yan Thunder… Destruction Slash!”

…

Surrounding him were countless Heaven Demon Sect disciples.

Jiang Yan showed no fear of their numbers. Had the Helmsman come alone, he might have been somewhat wary.

Immediately after, a massive wave of Saber Qi swept out.

“Ah! Ah!”

“Ah…”

Some were unaffected upon contact, while others died instantly upon touching it. This bizarre scene left the surrounding disciples in a state of panic.

Their Battle Intent weakened further.

Jiang Yan frowned—this was not a good sign.

But then, the Helmsman shouted loudly, “Everyone, stay steady! If we don’t kill Jiang Yan today, we’ll all die!”

This shout reignited the crowd’s Aura, steadying their minds as they looked at Jiang Yan with savage, brutal eyes, filled with a determination to fight to the death.

Jiang Yan glanced gratefully at the Helmsman. Truly, this gentleman was a paragon of righteousness!

The War Ruins Engravings grew increasingly solid, forming an impenetrable defense that left the other disciples unable to act.

The Helmsman and several Source Domain experts took the lead, swiftly launching attacks toward Jiang Yan.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

One after another, the War Ruins Engravings were shattered, only to quickly reform, leaving the attackers utterly astonished.

“What the hell is this technique?!”

Bang!

A red light shot out, instantly slicing a Source Domain expert in half.

“Third Brother!”

Li Yuansheng glared furiously, his gaze toward Jiang Yan filled with hatred.

“Damn it!”

“Ten Thousand Poisons Domain!”

With a wave of his hand, the air was instantly covered in countless poisonous mists.

[System Log Updated]

“You are being eroded by severe poison. Your poison resistance has slightly increased.”

…

“Yan Thunder Destruction Slash”

Once again, countless saber flashes slashed out.

The other Source Domain experts and even the Helmsman, a Celestial Phenomenon powerhouse, dodged swiftly, but the remaining disciples were not as agile. From time to time, someone was struck by the saber, either dying or sustaining injuries.

“Chaotic Void Domain.”

The Chaotic Void Ancestral Spirit flew out, carrying Supreme might that pressed down upon heaven and earth. The domains of the besiegers instantly dimmed.

“He’s actually reached the Source Domain!”

“This brat must not be allowed to live! Everyone, attack with me!”

The strongest among them, the Heaven Demon Sect Helmsman of District [1026], roared.

Under the domain’s effect, Jiang Yan teleported to a distant location.

High in the sky, Jiang Yan swung his saber equally at every living being below.

Boom!

An overwhelmingly powerful attack struck from behind.

“You triggered [Rootless and Driftless], entering an untargetable state.”

Untargetable—though unable to attack, it was absolutely invincible for evading damage in critical moments.

Soon, those below were all more or less wounded.

The trigger probability of [Pandora’s Box] was one hundred percent.

Thus, those beneath were all suffering immensely.

Although [Pandora’s Box] was not particularly damaging, in terms of functionality, it was undoubtedly among the top tier.

Slow, Burn, Silence, Freeze, Bleed, Poison, Vulnerability…

“Yan Thunder Destruction Slash!”

“Slash!”

The powerful experts below charged toward the sky but were instantly struck down.

“You have triggered the Instant Kill Law.”

Behind him, an invisible giant hand came sweeping in. Jiang Yan’s figure faltered, knowing it was the only Celestial Phenomenon-level powerhouse present who had made a move.

Another dozen or so War Ruins Engravings shattered as Jiang Yan dove downward, taking advantage of the momentum to continuously swing his saber.

In a short time, the grand spectacle of ten thousand people upon arrival had dwindled to less than seven thousand.

The Helmsman, Yazi, was furious. Despite being a Celestial Phenomenon-level powerhouse, he actually couldn’t handle a mere youngster.

Just as he was about to engage Jiang Yan in battle, those Shadow Hunt Doppelgangers surrounded him again.

He roared, slapping away a group of doppelgangers with one hand, and charged straight toward Jiang Yan.

“Yan Thunder Destruction Slash.”

His figure flashed rapidly, not a single saber strike able to land on him.

The Chaotic Void Ancestral Spirit radiated divine light, making the desolate darkness even more chaotic.

“What’s happening to my body!”

Outside the field, the number of doppelgangers had already surpassed that of the sect members.

Jiang Yan was thus able to focus on battling this Celestial Phenomenon-level sect leader.

“Now, the time belongs to us.”

Jiang Yan grinned, showing no fear in the face of such a powerful opponent. Behind him, the Crimson Gold Battle Shadow grew increasingly solid, clearly nourished by the battle.

The massive broad saber shook heaven and earth, following Jiang Yan’s movements as it cleaved toward the Helmsman.

Although the Helmsman’s movements had become sluggish, he still possessed Celestial Phenomenon-level Divine Abilities and quickly broke free from the mire.

He struck out with his bare hands, enduring the barrage of War Ruins Engravings, intent on tearing Jiang Yan apart on the spot.

Hum!

The Battle Shadow’s immensely heavy broad saber landed on him, and the Helmsman immediately suffered heavy damage, his body trembling as cracks began to form across his skin.

But soon, the injuries healed, and the Helmsman, still refusing to accept defeat, continued his assault on Jiang Yan.

“Indeed, the higher the Realm, the harder it is to overcome level differences.”

Jiang Yan thought to himself. Currently, he was maximizing the characteristics of his Talent and Physique, yet against this Celestial Phenomenon-level powerhouse, he could only manage a marginal suppression.

This was a difference in life hierarchy; Jiang Yan could only helplessly rely on exaggerated numerical superiority to overwhelm his opponent.

And even more shocked than Jiang Yan was the Helmsman himself.

During the battle, he observed that Jiang Yan carried no Aura of a Source Domain—meaning this guy was, at most, a True Intent Martial Artist!

I am a Celestial Phenomenon!

Do you know what a Celestial Phenomenon is?

It’s incredibly powerful!

“How can I not defeat him!”

Driven by such unwillingness, the Helmsman’s Divine Might descended once more, as an even more profound and pure Aura emanated from around him.

And faintly, his body became enveloped in a layer of sinister Aura, his pupils turning into lifeless gray-black.

The gray-black enveloped, eroded, polluted, and shattered the mysteries of the Celestial Phenomenon…

“Demon Seed…”

Jiang Yan retreated a distance, narrowing his eyes slightly as he cautiously observed the Helmsman, whose Aura was turning strange.

“This is…”

He recalled the Heaven Demon Sect member he had encountered that day at Wounded Wind Cliff.

“Oh~ so it really is someone from the Heaven Demon Sect.”

Jiang Yan had only been half-convinced before, but now he was completely certain.

However, [Still Yan Thunder Destruction Slash]

At this moment, the Helmsman had become neither human nor ghost. After activating the Demon Seed, he had already taken on some of the characteristics of a demon.