Chapter 205 – Techniques Are Techniques, Dao Is Dao—Techniques Have Limits, Dao Does Not

Boom!

As the Sword Intent Black Dragon exerted force once more, the already precarious Celestial Ark Deck could no longer withstand the successive impacts, directly shattering into a gaping hole.

Xing Li’s body plummeted through the deck’s breach, crashing into a cabin below.

After accomplishing this, Lu Chen’s Sword Intent Black Dragon retracted its claws.

He gazed expressionlessly at the pierced deck opening.

Witnessing how easily Lu Chen had suppressed Xing Li, the surrounding disciples from various sects were struck speechless with astonishment.

Among them, Wei Qifeng and the others from Martial God Mountain were the most profoundly shaken.

After all, they had initially believed that after defeating Yi Hanqing, Xing Li had essentially conquered the younger generation of disciples from the Azure Cloud Sect.

Yet it turned out that both Meow King and Yi Hanqing were merely supporting players.

The strongest among the three was unmistakably Lu Chen from Danyang Peak.

At this realization, Wei Qifeng’s expression toward Lu Chen darkened considerably.

As Xing Li’s Senior Brother, Wei Qifeng was well aware of Xing Li’s trump card.

Theoretically, as long as Xing Li understood an opponent thoroughly, he could remain undefeated by relying on his Double Pupil Art: Heaven Sealing Stele.

However, this all hinged on Xing Li having some knowledge of his adversary.

Currently, Xing Li not only lacked understanding of Lu Chen—he hadn’t even heard of Lu Chen’s name before.

Although Lu Chen had only made a slight move, everyone could still sense his terrifying strength.

This was undoubtedly a formidable rival far surpassing Yi Hanqing.

Troublesome. This was genuinely troublesome.

Their original plan had been to use the Azure Cloud Sect to establish their authority, aiming to boost their reputation while compelling disciples from other sects to acknowledge Martial God Mountain’s status.

This would allow them to assume leadership roles when forming alliances with other sect disciples during the upcoming True Immortal Trial.

But all of this was now shattered by Lu Chen’s intervention.

The Azure Cloud Sect had once again demonstrated its position as the top sect in the Immortal Cultivation World through its strength.

If Lu Chen’s power had merely surprised Wei Qifeng, then Lu Chen’s earlier statement had outright terrified him, sending chills down his spine.

Within the entire Martial God Mountain, very few knew that Xing Li’s Ancient Desolate Body was actually acquired later in life.

Yet Lu Chen had pinpointed this during their first encounter.

This meant either Lu Chen had learned about Xing Li’s early circumstances through some channel, or he possessed some special method to see directly through Xing Li’s essence.

The former scenario would be manageable, but the latter would be utterly horrifying.

What Wei Qifeng didn’t know was that the person whose flesh had been carved and bones taken by Xing Li years ago was also present on the Celestial Ark.

However, he hadn’t entered as a sect disciple but as a Rogue Cultivator.

In the Rogue Cultivator section, Ye Hao watched expressionlessly as Xing Li fell through the deck opening, his fists clenched tightly.

Although he had anticipated that Xing Li would be vastly different after obtaining his Desolate Bone, he never imagined Xing Li’s current strength would reach such a fearsome level.

Even Yi Hanqing from the Azure Cloud Sect, who possessed a Harmony Realm Sword Domain, was no match for him.As a cripple stripped of his Desolate Bone, if he wanted to avenge the bone excavation from years ago…

Wouldn’t it be even more difficult?

Thinking about how his parents had entrusted him to Xing Li’s Family before their departure.

Only for them to dig out his Desolate Bone and transplant it into Xing Li after discovering he possessed the Ancient Desolate Body.

Ye Hao couldn’t suppress his hatred toward the Xing Family.

If not for his Masters nurturing him, he’d probably be dead somewhere by now.

Beyond this, Ye Hao was equally astonished by Lu Chen.

After all, Lu Chen’s opponent was a peerless genius possessing both the ‘Ancient Desolate Body’ and ‘Double Pupils’.

Yet such a genius had been effortlessly suppressed by Lu Chen.

No wonder his Master warned him never to provoke the Azure Cloud Sect.

Just from these three disciples the Azure Cloud Sect had sent, one could partially gauge the Sect’s strength.

If Lu Chen, Yi Hanqing, and Meow King were allowed to mature.

They would undoubtedly become top-tier experts among their peers.

And such cases were definitely not rare within the Azure Cloud Sect.

Weren’t the current Azure Cloud Sect elders precisely former prodigies like Lu Chen and his companions?

The mere thought of offending the Azure Cloud Sect and being hunted by multiple Great Cultivators like Lu Chen after they matured.

Made Ye Hao tremble uncontrollably.

Heed advice, and you’ll never go hungry.

No wonder his Master said he’d righteously cut ties and disown him if he ever offended the Azure Cloud Sect.

With the Azure Cloud Sect’s profound foundations, provoking them was truly no different from seeking death!

Just as everyone assumed Xing Li had been defeated.

He suddenly leaped out from the deck’s crater once more.

This time, the arrogance had vanished from his face.

Replaced by unprecedented solemnity.

Staring at Lu Chen, he said in a heavy voice: “I never expected the Azure Cloud Sect to harbor another monster who can grasp Harmony Realm insights at the Foundation Establishment Stage, besides Yi Hanqing.”

“The world’s top Sect truly lives up to its reputation.”

“But unfortunately, you’ve encountered me…”

As he spoke, an illusory mysterious stele materialized behind him.

The stele already bore some peculiar patterns.

Those patterns contained partial Dao charm from Lu Chen’s True Dragon Sword Intent.

“Three times. You still have three chances.”

“If you can’t kill me after three attempts, then you’ll be the one waiting to be killed.”

Hearing this, Lu Chen smiled.

And as he smiled, the black dragon above his head unleashed terrifying draconic pressure.

The pressure swept across the arena, making many feel suffocated.

Simultaneously, everyone felt the sky darken overhead.

A massive dark cloud had somehow appeared above them.

Lu Chen looked at Xing Li indifferently: “Merely temporarily absorbing others’ Dao charm and preserving it within your pupil technique.”

“Similar methods aren’t exclusive to you.”

“Moreover… do you truly believe your Heaven Sealing Stele can seal all techniques under heaven?”

As he spoke, the black dragon above Lu Chen’s head swiped its claw toward Xing Li once more.

This time, Xing Li still chose to meet it head-on.

Boom!

Xing Li’s body was smashed into the ground again.

The tremendous force and terrifying Sword Intent contained in the dragon’s claw were difficult to withstand even with his Ancient Desolate Body.

And this was after being weakened by the Ancient Desolate Body.

Nevertheless, he still endured this attack.”First time.”

Perhaps to prove his point, Xing Li said with a ‘ferocious’ glare.

In response, Lu Chen simply stood calmly beneath the Sword Intent Black Dragon and commanded it to attack once more.

Bang!

With another strike of the dragon’s claw, Xing Li—who had managed to remain standing before—was now forced to his knees.

He braced himself against the Black Dragon’s claw, gritting his teeth and holding on.

The extreme exertion immediately twisted his expression into a grimace.

But once again, he withstood the blow.

“Sec… second time.”

Xing Li clenched his jaw, the Qi-blood armor covering his body now riddled with cracks.

At this moment, he resembled a tiger pinned down by a true Dragon, crushed to the ground and unable to move.

However, after blocking two consecutive attacks from the Sword Intent Black Dragon,

the phantom of the Heaven Sealing Stele behind him gained several more Dao Patterns.

Lu Chen seemed to take no notice, ordering the Sword Intent Black Dragon to attack again.

Boom!

With this third strike, Xing Li’s body was slammed down through the deck once more.

This time, however, he didn’t stop at the second layer of the Celestial Ark but crashed all the way to the third.

The sheer force of the Sword Intent Black Dragon’s third strike was terrifying to behold.

Xing Li was left in a wretched state.

Not only was his Qi-blood armor completely shattered, but several bones in his body were broken.

Some of the fractured bones had even pierced his organs.

For an ordinary Body Cultivator, such injuries would be fatal or at least severely debilitating.

But Xing Li acted as if he were unaware of his physical condition.

After lying on the ground for a brief rest, he stood up again.

Moreover, once upright, his wounds began to heal at a visible rate.

“Third time…”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Xing Li looked up toward the deck.

Then, with a powerful push from his legs, he leaped back up.

Witnessing Xing Li’s reappearance, the onlookers fell into a stunned silence.

Li Xueke of Jade Void Mountain remarked with a grave expression, “This Quasi-Celestial from Martial God Mountain is truly fearsome, to withstand such attacks three times.”

“If it were me, I’d likely be critically wounded after the first strike.”

Hearing this, Shangguan Yunmeng beside her looked at Li Xueke in confusion.

Her cheeks were stuffed full of Spirit Fruit, making her resemble a little squirrel.

It was only because Li Xueke had earlier told her to be quiet and stop talking

that she didn’t voice her thoughts: “So what if he blocked three attacks from Fellow Daoist Lu? What’s the big deal?”

As for those three strikes, she could have withstood not just three, but thirty without any issue.

Shangguan Yunmeng glanced at the now confident Xing Li in the distance, then down at the Spirit Fruit she had painstakingly protected.

After a moment’s thought, she gathered the fruit in her arms and moved further away.

Noticing her actions, Li Xueke asked, puzzled, “Junior Sister, what are you doing?”

Remembering Li Xueke’s instruction to stay silent, Shangguan Yunmeng couldn’t reply and could only blink repeatedly.

This left Li Xueke even more bewildered.

Not speaking, just blinking—what was going on?

Seeing that Li Xueke still didn’t understand, Shangguan Yunmeng ultimately turned and hurried to the outer area of the banquet.

With no other choice, as Shangguan Yunmeng’s dedicated ‘guide dog,’ Li Xueke had no choice but to quickly follow after her.While chasing after her, he asked in confusion, “Junior Sister, what exactly is wrong with you? Say something!”

Hearing this, Shangguan Yunmeng finally spoke.

“If we don’t leave now, these fruits will be blown away again. We can’t waste food.”

“…”

That’s it? That’s all?

At first, Li Xueke thought Shangguan Yunmeng was making a fuss over nothing, but soon she sensed the terrifying fluctuations coming from behind.

That power felt incredibly heavy, as if it contained the vicissitudes of countless ancient eras.

Under Li Xueke’s astonished gaze, an ancient and massive stone stele appeared between Xing Li and Lu Chen.

That ancient aura was emanating from this stele.

Double Pupils Technique… Heaven Sealing Stele.

Xing Li looked at his Heaven Sealing Stele. Because he had forcibly activated this forbidden pupil technique while his eyes were injured, blood tears began to flow from the corners of his eyes.

But Xing Li seemed completely unaware of this.

He stared intently at Lu Chen and said in a deep voice, “Three times. I said you only had three chances.”

To this, Lu Chen merely replied nonchalantly, “You seem to place too much faith in your pupil technique…”

As he spoke, the Sword Intent Black Dragon above Lu Chen’s head launched another attack.

But unlike before, this time the reverse scale of the Sword Intent Black Dragon emitted a mysterious divine light.

Along with this, the scales of the entire black dragon began to transform continuously.

Starting from between its eyebrows, the originally ink-black Sword Intent Black Dragon.

Soon transformed into a massive Sword Intent Golden Dragon.

[True Dragon Sword Intent: Harmony Realm (Cannot be upgraded)]

[Effect: Sword Intent transforms into a dragon, summoning clouds and mist, attacks carry the essence of a true dragon]

[Special Effect·Hidden Dragon in the Abyss: When activated, forms a special Dragon Abyss around the user. While within the Dragon Abyss, cultivation, physique, divine soul, and the power of techniques and divine abilities are multiplied]

The black Sword Intent Dragon was merely an ordinary sword dragon evolved by Lu Chen using his sword intent to activate the Ink Dragon Sword.

But the golden Sword Intent Dragon was different.

Because this meant Lu Chen had also infused the power of the Harmony Realm into this Sword Intent Dragon.

Unlike other sword domains that tend to influence the heavens and earth.

The essence of True Dragon Sword Intent is to gather the mighty power of heaven and earth into oneself.

While it doesn’t grant Lu Chen any special attack effects.

Its sword domain effect is the one Lu Chen prefers to use the most among his four sword domains.

Because it allows Lu Chen to multiply all his basic attributes without paying any price.

It’s important to note that Lu Chen’s Foundation Establishment is a First-Grade Great Dao Immortal Foundation, so his basic attributes far surpass those of cultivators at the same level.

Coupled with the amplification from True Dragon Sword Intent, although he is only at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

His spiritual power cultivation, divine soul strength, and physical constitution.

All have reached the genuine Golden Core Stage level.

And the Sword Intent Dragon above his head is itself an evolution of his own strength.

Therefore, after activating the True Dragon Sword Domain.

The strength of that Sword Intent Dragon naturally multiplied as well.

Looking at the terrifying golden giant dragon, Xing Li’s expression froze.

Lu Chen couldn’t be bothered to explain further. The golden giant dragon above his head instantly swung its tail toward Xing Li’s Heaven Sealing Stele.

Although it had recorded many Dao Patterns of the True Dragon Sword Domain.

The power of the True Dragon Sword Domain can be understood as pure spiritual power and physical attacks.

It doesn’t carry many special enhancements from the ‘Dao’.Thus, even if the Heaven Sealing Stele could partially neutralize this attack, the degree of mitigation was extremely limited.

Bang!

After a deafening roar, Xing Li’s Heaven Sealing Stele immediately began to tremble violently.

The entire deck shook intensely from the impact, swaying as if struck by a terrifying hurricane.

To steady themselves, many cultivators were forced to levitate into the air.

Fortunately, all those present were at least at the Foundation Establishment Stage, so no one was thrown into a humiliating sprawl.

Meanwhile, on the other side, as soon as the Heaven Sealing Stele was severely damaged, Xing Li clutched his eyes, collapsed to the ground, and let out continuous, agonizing screams.

The next moment, the stele hovering in the air rapidly crumbled and vanished from everyone’s sight.

“Technique is technique, Dao is Dao. Techniques have limits, but the Dao does not.”

“You are too obsessed with your own technique.”

With that, Lu Chen paid no further attention to the so-called ‘Quasi-Celestial’ and walked alone to where Yi Hanqing had already regained consciousness.

Seeing Yi Hanqing’s pale face, Lu Chen abandoned his earlier coldness toward Xing Li and teased, “Senior Brother, how does it feel to be defeated?”

Upon hearing this, Yi Hanqing smiled and replied, “Not bad. It’s not as unpleasant as I imagined.”

Lu Chen didn’t seem surprised by this response.

“Actually, if you had been a bit more cautious, it wouldn’t have been so easy for him to defeat you.”

To this, Yi Hanqing responded with equanimity, “It’s nothing. A loss is a loss. After all, strategy is part of one’s strength. If he managed to outmaneuver me, that’s his skill.”

“But he won’t get another chance.”

Lu Chen was taken aback, not expecting Yi Hanqing to be so composed about the matter.

Seeing Lu Chen fall silent, Yi Hanqing seemed to recall something and smiled. “Rather than that, Junior Brother Lu, your methods surprise me even more. When did you comprehend the Sword Domain?”

After a moment’s thought, Lu Chen gave an ambiguous answer: “Not long ago.”

Yi Hanqing shot him a helpless look, knowing full well that his shrewd junior brother wasn’t being entirely truthful.

What did “not long ago” mean? A day ago was “not long,” but so were a year or even ten years ago.

What was the point of such a vague answer?

Yi Hanqing glanced at Lu Chen once more, then turned to Diting beside them and expressed his gratitude: “Thank you for your assistance, Your Excellency. If there is ever anything I, Yi Hanqing, can do for you in the future, please do not hesitate to ask. I will do my utmost to fulfill your request.”

At these words, Diting’s eyes lit up, and he tentatively asked, “Then can this esteemed one get an official position in the Azure Cloud Sect?”

“…”

Yi Hanqing was momentarily speechless, at a loss for how to respond.

Because, truth be told, he wasn’t in a position to grant such a request!

He was only the Sword Burial Peak Leader, not the Peak Lord of Hidden Sword Peak, let alone the Sect Leader of the Azure Cloud Sect.

To appoint Diting to an official position within the sect… Yi Hanqing simply didn’t have that kind of authority.

But having just promised to repay Diting’s aid, he couldn’t immediately admit his inability without contradicting himself.

After a moment’s consideration, Yi Hanqing could only reply earnestly, “I… will do my best.”

(End of Chapter)