Chapter 137 – One Sword Stains All Fiend Blood, One More Step to Golden Core!

Upon hearing that Lu Chen could still unleash a full twelve strikes of the ‘Immortal Severing Sword’, Rong Gongming fell into utter despair.

He knew all too well that in his current state, he couldn’t withstand even five or six more strikes, let alone twelve!

Did they truly believe activating the Immortal Slaughter Sword Finger Diagram was so simple?

Despite the dire situation, Rong Gongming clung to a sliver of hope.

He hoped for the arrival of Xiao Baoyin, the Protector from the Black Lotus Sect’s main altar in the Imperial City.

With his cultivation at the fifth revolution of the Golden Core Stage, Xiao Baoyin could directly suppress Lu Chen.

Though Rong Gongming knew that if Xiao Baoyin were coming, he would have arrived long ago.

His absence at this critical juncture likely meant he was detained by some matter and wouldn’t make it.

But such is human nature—until the very last moment, one never gives up easily!

Boom!

In mid-air, Rong Gongming’s ‘Immortal Slaughter Sword Finger’, barely manifested through the ‘Immortal Slaughter Sword Finger Diagram’, was ultimately shattered by Lu Chen’s Heretical Sword.

By now, Rong Gongming had broken two of his fingers.

Though it seemed like mere physical injury, the damage ran deeper—it wounded his Divine Soul!

Just these two broken fingers had significantly weakened his aura, causing his Spiritual Power cultivation to plummet to ’18 million points’.

A few more such injuries, and his Spiritual Power might completely fall below ’10 million points’.

While that level of cultivation was still considerable,

trapped within Lu Chen’s Sword Domain, every technique he used consumed nearly ten times the usual Spiritual Power to achieve the same effect.

The suppression was overwhelming—the Dao Integration Realm Sword Domain exerted far too obvious a pressure on cultivators who hadn’t entered the Harmony Realm.

Rong Gongming could feel that each time, he was just a hair’s breadth away from breaking through Lu Chen’s Sword Domain and slaying him outright.

Yet, that tiny gap became an insurmountable chasm.

‘If only I had reached the fourth revolution of the Golden Core Stage, or stepped into the Harmony Realm…’

Rong Gongming watched as Lu Chen, after drinking a vial of Longevity Physique Blood Essence, summoned his Heretical Avatar once more.

His heart swelled with bitterness.

He was a Golden Core Stage cultivator, one who even possessed a Magic Treasure like the Immortal Slaughter Sword Finger Diagram.

Yet, he was being suppressed by Lu Chen, who was only at the first revolution of the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Even if Lu Chen was a True Immortal’s Clone, even if his status far surpassed his own,

to be defeated across so many Realms felt like an immense humiliation to Rong Gongming!

‘Foundation Establishment defeating Golden Core? Don’t mock me! I, Rong Gongming, am not trash like Tuoba Yu and his ilk!’

“Die!!!”

In a frenzy, Rong Gongming broke his third finger, once again coalescing that massive blood finger.

The blood finger rose into the air, stirring up a tempest of Qi and blood.

But a familiar scene repeated itself.

“Sever.”

Boom!

As the blood finger shattered mid-air, the light in Rong Gongming’s eyes completely faded.

Helplessness—a profound sense of powerlessness.

He was the Golden Core Stage cultivator, while his opponent was merely at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Yet, it was he who felt utterly helpless.

Unbeknownst to Rong Gongming, during this third clash between the Heretical Sword and the Immortal Slaughter Sword Finger,

several figures stealthily infiltrated the Black Lotus Sect’s Eastern Altar.Because these figures were very low-key, and Rong Gongming had all his attention focused on Lu Chen at the moment,

he completely failed to notice the presence of these black figures.

And these figures were none other than several of Lu Chen’s Ink Clones.

What Rong Gongming didn’t know was that although everything Lu Chen had just said was true,

he had deliberately concealed part of the information.

For example, when Lu Chen said he could still perform the Heretical Sword twelve more times—was this true or false?

It was true, because purely in terms of spiritual power, he could indeed perform it twelve times at that time.

But this was only from the perspective of spiritual power…

The reality was that Lu Chen could perform it at most four to six times.

Because after the Clone performed the Heretical Sword, the painful memories of the backlash from the technique would also be transmitted to Lu Chen.

Performing the Heretical Sword twice in quick succession, as Lu Chen had just done,

would cause him to suffer multiplied mental agony in a short period.

It was only because Lu Chen had experienced countless deaths in the instance

that his tolerance for pain far exceeded that of ordinary people.

This allowed him to speak with Rong Gongming without changing his expression, creating the illusion that he was completely unharmed after using the Heretical Sword.

If it were someone else, they might have contorted in agony after the second strike, revealing the flaw to Rong Gongming.

So while it seemed like they were competing in cultivation and techniques,

what they were truly competing in… was acting!

Would you see through my bluff first,

or would I break your Black Lotus Altar first?

This was the real key to victory!

You thought I was going to decide the outcome in a team fight on high ground?

Sorry, but I was actually just intimidating you while having someone backdoor your base!

And currently, Lu Chen’s acting… was superior!

Because his Ink Clones had already approached the Black Lotus Sect’s Eastern Altar.

Since Lu Chen had previously thoroughly investigated the East Altar’s layout, the Ink Clones were very familiar with its arrangements.

They even knew exactly where the formations were located.

Ink Clone Ye Chenglin arrived at the main gate of the Black Lotus Sect’s Eastern Altar. After gesturing in the air, he directly drew several Formation Breaking Talismans.

These talismans accurately landed on the formation eyes around them, instantly disrupting the original formation patterns.

Causing these formations to collapse without any attack.

Then the three Ink Clones pushed open the gate and entered the Black Lotus Sect Altar.

Inside was a bizarre space.

The room was surrounded by various statues of different forms.

These statues depicted men and women, old and young.

Without exception, they were all posed in kneeling positions, facing the wooden Buddha Mother Statue placed at the center of the room.

Looking at the eerie Buddha Mother Statue, Ink Clone Ye Chenglin, Ink Clone Fang Heng, and Ink Clone Pang Xiao walked forward with practiced ease.

The moment the three stepped into the room, the Buddha Mother at the center suddenly opened her eyes.

Simultaneously, Rong Gongming outside immediately sensed what was happening inside the altar.

“Something’s wrong! You’ve been deceiving me!”

Rong Gongming stared at Lu Chen in shock, finally realizing the truth.

Yes, how could such a terrifying swordsmanship as the Immortal Severing Sword simply allow a Dao Lord to avoid the backlash of cross-realm usage just by employing it through the Clone Divine Ability?!

Besides spiritual power, this sword must have some unknown side effects.Otherwise, why would the Daojun not unleash two sword strikes simultaneously, but instead alternate them one after another?

He should have realized these things much earlier.

But he had just been intimidated by Lu Chen’s series of actions.

Causing him to have no time to ponder these matters in the short term.

And Lu Chen at the time seemed to give him no opportunity to think, attacking wave after wave.

Clearly intending to prevent him from calmly assessing the situation.

Thereby creating time and opportunity for those strange puppets of his to destroy the Black Lotus Sect altar.

Thinking of this, Rong Gongming gritted his teeth in fury.

Despicable, utterly despicable!

Shangqing Daojun, when did you learn such underhanded tricks?!

Aren’t these the kinds of methods only our Black Lotus Sect, this Demonic Heresy, would use?!

Where is your Immortal’s pride?!

Recalling how he had nearly surrendered on the spot out of fear from Lu Chen’s intimidation.

Rong Gongming felt he had lost all face and dignity.

But now that he had come to his senses, it was already too late.

Inside the Black Lotus Sect altar, several Ink Spirits faced the awakened Buddha Mother.

Like seasoned criminals, they immediately scattered in all directions.

Ink Spirit·Ye Chenglin employed Talismanship, providing buffs to the other two Ink Spirits.

Ink Spirit·Fang Heng used Swordsmanship to divert and block the Buddha Mother’s attacks.

Ink Spirit·Pang Xiao hid behind Fang Heng, ready at any moment to throw the Longevity Physique Blood Essence in his hand.

Although the Buddha Mother could briefly descend into the world using this statue.

After all, this was only a subsidiary statue of the Buddha Mother, not the main statue.

Moreover, the primary function of this statue was to collect faith, not to combat enemies.

Thus, while the defense of this subsidiary Buddha Mother statue was comparable to a Golden Core Stage Body Cultivator.

Its offensive capabilities were only equivalent to the Foundation Establishment Stage, not particularly strong.

Yet faced with the Longevity Physique Blood Essence, an object specifically designed to counter it.

The Buddha Mother statue’s Golden Core Stage Body Cultivator-level defense was utterly ineffective.

“Stop right there!”

Seeing Ink Spirit·Pang Xiao approach the Buddha Mother statue and throw a medicine bottle at it, Rong Gongming screamed in terror.

Instinctively, he raised his hand to unleash a Divine Ability to suppress the Ink Spirits.

But almost as soon as he lifted his hand, a cold voice came from the sky.

“Have you forgotten your current predicament?”

Rong Gongming turned as if waking from a dream, only to see Lu Chen’s re-summoned Heretical Avatar… striking with its sword.

In that split second, Rong Gongming instinctively snapped his fingers.

But this time his reaction was slightly slow, causing the Immortal Slaughter Sword Finger to fail to fully materialize before Lu Chen’s Heretical Sword arrived first.

Boom!

The invisible Sword Qi of the Heretical Sword shattered the half-formed Immortal Slaughter Sword Finger, the remaining invisible Sword Qi slicing across Rong Gongming’s shoulder.

Even though Rong Gongming twisted his body at the last moment to evade the fatal strike.

He still paid a heavy price.

Drip, drip…

Clutching his severed left arm, Rong Gongming’s face turned ashen.

Because he knew he had missed his final opportunity.

If he hadn’t been intimidated by Lu Chen earlier and had chosen to launch continuous attacks directly.

If he had paid attention to the altar’s situation and not allowed those ‘puppets’ to approach the altar.

Then victory in this battle might have been his.

But in this world… there are no what-ifs.

“Ah!!!”With a sharp sound echoing from the depths of the altar.

Rong Gongming immediately experienced the same sensation Tuoba Yu and the others had felt earlier.

That feeling of watching power drain from one’s own body…

At this moment, Rong Gongming knew his time was running out.

Having reached this point, he surprisingly felt no urgency.

Looking up at Lu Chen who was continuously gathering Sword Qi through his Sword Domain in the sky, he suddenly asked: “Dao Lord, was all this part of your scheme?”

Recalling this battle.

Rong Gongming felt that every move he and Tuoba Yu made seemed to have been calculated by Lu Chen.

As if no matter what they did, Lu Chen could see through it in advance and prepare countermeasures.

Though eerie, this feeling of being completely seen through was undeniably real.

Making Rong Gongming feel thoroughly outmaneuvered.

Facing Rong Gongming’s question, Lu Chen had no intention of answering.

Because there was no need to say much to a dead man…

“Fall.”

The massive Righteous Azure Lotus Sword Energy descended.

Completely engulfing Rong Gongming, whose cultivation had fallen to the Pseudo-core Stage.

[You have killed Black Lotus East Altar Lord·Rong Gongming (Golden Core Stage Three Revolutions/Six-grade Earthly Path Golden Core). You obtained 600,000 EXP, Soul Crystal Shard (Purple)*5, External Path Magic Treasure·Ghost Infant Sword, External Path Magic Treasure·Immortal Slaughter Sword Finger Diagram…]

[Current EXP: 750,000]

Seeing the flashing information on his game interface, Lu Chen knew he had essentially completed his objectives.

Not only had he killed four Black Lotus Branch Altar Lords, but he had also destroyed the Buddha Mother Statues they protected.

Through numerous attempts, Lu Chen had long understood the function of these Buddha Mother Statues.

Besides absorbing the faith of the Great Yan Dynasty’s common people, they could also suppress the dynasty’s dragon veins.

This was evident from the towering golden light now radiating around the Imperial City.

That golden light wasn’t just for show—it represented the Great Yan Dynasty’s remaining Dynastic Luck.

Though the main concentration of this Dynastic Luck was still suppressed by the primary Buddha Mother Statue in the Imperial Palace.

Lu Chen’s current actions had undoubtedly torn an opening in the black mist covering the Imperial City’s sky.

What happened next… was no longer his concern.

‘One sword stained with Immortal Fiends’ blood, one step closer to Golden Core.’

Seeing his body beginning to fade, Lu Chen knew his current instance journey had ended.

The path before him now was the challenging road to Golden Core.

Within the Great Yan Imperial Mausoleum.

“Your Majesty, can you feel it!”

Lan Yan excitedly entered the Great Hall of the Imperial Mausoleum, looking at Ji Ling’er who had risen from the Undying Longevity Coffin, her face filled with exhilaration.

Five thousand years—it had been five thousand years since she last experienced this feeling of being empowered by Dynastic Luck.

It must be understood that military commanders following the ‘Dynasty Path’ differed from ordinary cultivators.

If a cultivator’s foundation was Spiritual Power—

The stronger their Spiritual Power cultivation, the more powerful the cultivator—

Then the foundation of ‘Dynasty Generals’ was Luck.

The stronger the Dynastic Luck, the greater the Luck enhancement they could receive.

Therefore, in a sense, the Dynasty Path shared some similarities with Gu Xian’s cultivation method.

Both relied on plundering and developing their territories to strengthen themselves.

If one had to identify the difference between the Dynasty Path and Gu Xian’s approach…Perhaps the greatest surprise lies in their attitudes toward mortals.

Gu Xian could disregard the opinions of mortals, treating them like livestock.

But a dynasty could not.

Because the essence of Luck is the product of countless intertwined fates within the dynasty.

Once mortals lose faith in the dynasty, its Dynastic Luck will also decline.

Now, with the ‘Four Directions Dragon-Locking Array’ removed by Lu Chen,

Ji Ling’er could temporarily borrow a portion of the Great Yan Dynasty’s Luck.

Combined with the meager Luck she had painstakingly accumulated over the past five thousand years,

it was already a certainty that the Great Yan Dynasty would return to her hands.

Ji Ling’er looked at Lan Yan at the entrance of the Great Hall, pondered for a moment, and then spoke: “Beat the drums, advance the army.”

“Aye!”

As Lan Yan stepped out of the Imperial Mausoleum, the ghostly aura around her gradually dissipated.

In its place emerged a balanced and serene golden aura.

And her cultivation underwent a tremendous transformation during this process.

【Great Yan Dynasty · Appointed General · Lan Yan】

【Cultivation: Golden Core Stage, Sixth Revolution】

【Golden Core Quality: Fourth-Grade Earthly Path Golden Core】

【Current Spiritual Power: 60 Million】

With the support of the Dynastic Luck, Lan Yan’s cultivation not only advanced to the Sixth Revolution of the Golden Core Stage,

but her Golden Core quality also reached the Fourth Grade.

However, the Fourth-Grade Earthly Path Golden Core was not Lan Yan’s limit—it was the current limit of what the Dynastic Luck could enhance.

If the Great Yan Dynasty could continue to develop, she would soon return to her peak, becoming a Dynasty Divine General comparable to the Great Vehicle Stage.

But for Lan Yan to recover to this level,

not only would the Great Yan Dynasty need to reclaim nearly one-third of the Divine Land,

but she would also need to undergo the ‘Appointment and Enfeoffment’ ritual anew.

Both of these tasks were exceedingly difficult.

Because nearly half of the Divine Land was now occupied by Immortal Fiends.

If they wanted to restore the Great Yan Dynasty to its former glory, it would undoubtedly be countless times more difficult than it was five thousand years ago.

Yet no matter how difficult it was, they had already taken the hardest step:

stepping out of the Imperial Mausoleum.

Once this step was taken, there was hope for everything.

And all of this was made possible by Azure Lotus Daoist.

Once again, he had pulled the Great Yan Dynasty back from the brink of collapse, rescuing it from the abyss…

(End of Chapter)