Chapter 172 – At the Blazing Sun's Peak, I Alone Am Supreme! I'm Waiting for Dawn…

“H-How is this possible?!”

Horse, not far away, watched as Lu Chen suppressed Ox with a single sword strike, seemingly unable to comprehend the situation.

For a moment, he even forgot about Diting and the Ink Dragon Sword beside him.

After all, Ox’s strength surpassed his own.

If even Ox was no match for Lu Chen, then he stood no chance.

Although Ox was unable to utilize many of his techniques due to the Sword Domain,

with the second-grade Ancient Fiend Treasure, the Mourning Staff, and his Twelve Earthly Branches Dharma Body,

he should not have been suppressed so easily, even if he couldn’t defeat Lu Chen.

After all, Lu Chen was only at the second layer of the Foundation Establishment Stage!

But facts spoke louder than words.

Horse could sense that Ox’s aura had weakened to the point of near extinction.

If he didn’t retrieve Ox’s Golden Core quickly, Ox would surely die!

Driven by urgency, Horse forcefully pushed back Diting and the Ink Dragon Sword.

In his desperation to save Ox, he even endured Diting’s imitation of the Blazing Sunfire and the Ink Dragon’s attacks with his own body,

all to reach Ox’s side as quickly as possible.

As his Protective Qi wavered, Horse charged toward Lu Chen at an astonishing speed.

Seeing this, Lu Chen was somewhat surprised.

Given the Black Lotus Sect’s selfish and self-serving nature,

he had expected Horse to flee at the first sign of trouble.

Instead, Horse was risking danger to save Ox.

This was exceedingly rare within the Black Lotus Sect.

However, some things were not so easily changed, especially when it came to rescuing someone from Lu Chen’s grasp.

As Horse closed in on Lu Chen, an ethereal figure silently materialized beside him.

Innate Divine Ability… Heretical Avatar!

The Heretical Avatar placed a hand on the Spirit Sword it held and stared impassively at the rapidly approaching Horse.

That single glance instantly overwhelmed Horse with an immense pressure,

as if something terrifying was watching him.

Wh-What is that?!

Horse stared at the Heretical Avatar beside Lu Chen, which bore an identical appearance to Lu Chen,

his mind going blank.

From this Heretical Avatar, he sensed a unique pressure that he had only ever felt from the Sect Leader.

After all, the Black Lotus Sect Leader was, in a sense, an incarnation of the Black Lotus Buddha Mother in the mortal realm,

far surpassing those like them, who had merely received a portion of the Buddha Mother’s blessings.

To put it simply, the Black Lotus Sect Leader was like the Buddha Mother’s true son,

while Altar Lords and Protectors like them were nothing more than her adopted children.

At this thought, Horse suddenly recalled the Sect Leader’s earlier offhand remark:

“This Holy Son, Lu Chen, is extraordinary. Besides the Buddha Mother, there seems to be another Ancient Fiend, comparable to her, watching over him.”

The Sect Leader had not revealed the identity of that Ancient Fiend,

but anyone who could be mentioned in the same breath as the Buddha Mother was undoubtedly no ordinary existence.

Danger, danger, danger!Horse watched the Heretical Avatar appearing beside Lu Chen, his survival instinct screaming at him to flee immediately.

Yet his concern for Ox suppressed this primal urge.

Gritting his teeth, Horse raised his Decapitation Blade, ready to fight with all his might.

He held no illusion that this strike could harm Lu Chen.

His only hope was to delay Lu Chen with this blow.

Then seize the opportunity to retrieve Ox’s Golden Core from the ruins.

If he could recover Ox’s Golden Core, the Black Lotus Sect’s methods offered considerable hope of resurrecting him in the future!

But Horse had overestimated his own strength and underestimated the power of Lu Chen’s Heretical Sword.

Slash!

As Lu Chen’s Heretical Avatar swung its sword.

An invisible Sword Qi transcended the constraints of time and space, colliding directly with Horse’s Decapitation Blade.

Crack!

The second-tier Ancient Fiend Treasure, the Decapitation Blade, shattered like a cheap roadside toy upon contact with Lu Chen’s Heretical Sword.

Horse, spiritually connected to the treasure, suffered severe backlash in that instant.

Not only did his face turn pale, but his Qi also weakened significantly.

Before Horse could recover his footing.

A massive Lotus Spirit Sword materialized above his head.

The sword loomed like a mountain range weighing millions of tons.

Even from a distance, its terrifying power was palpable.

Let alone the Constellation Power gripping the colossal spirit sword with both hands.

Lu Chen’s unique Divine Ability combined with his Sword Domain made this attack rival the Law of Heaven and Earth—a technique typically only achievable at the Nascent Soul Stage!

Facing the enormous Sword Domain spirit sword above him, Horse’s fear vanished, replaced by an indescribable calm.

He clenched his fists, his gaze turning resolute.

“Even with just a one-in-ten-thousand chance, I will take my brother away from here!”

With that, Horse threw a punch toward Lu Chen’s Lotus Spirit Sword.

Boom!

As Lu Chen’s gigantic Lotus Spirit Sword descended, the valley once again echoed with cataclysmic force.

The strike not only completely engulfed Horse but also split the small mountain behind him in two.

A hundred-meter-long, dozens-of-meters-deep sword scar now lay before Lu Chen.

It was hard to believe this was the work of someone at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Witnessing this, Lu Chen dispersed his Constellation Power.

For the battle… had ended.

As the dust settled, Horse’s body hovered motionless before the massive sword scar crater.

He appeared completely unscathed.

Lu Chen first collected Ox’s scattered Golden Core, then turned his gaze to Horse suspended motionless in the distant sky.

After a moment of silence, Lu Chen spoke unusually.

“You… are not bad.”

For a fleeting moment, Horse had seemingly transcended the Dao and nearly stepped into the Harmony Realm.

But that single step became an insurmountable chasm he could never cross in this lifetime.

Given enough time, he might have truly reached the Harmony Realm.

Unfortunately, he would never have that opportunity.

This was why Lu Chen acknowledged him as “not bad.”

After all, Horse was only the second being Lu Chen had encountered—besides himself—who had come so close to entering the Harmony Realm.

Hearing Lu Chen’s words, Horse seemed to receive some profound validation.He immediately revealed a bright smile.

The next second, a crimson line began spreading from between his eyebrows, extending all the way down his entire body.

Immediately after, Horse’s body split into two halves and fell into the massive sword crater below.

Simultaneously, a flesh-and-blood Golden Core flew out from Horse’s body and landed in Lu Chen’s hand.

Lu Chen stared at the two blood-red Golden Cores in his palm, falling deep into thought.

【Ancient Fiend Dao Fruit · Ox】

【Type: Special Item】

【Effect: After consumption, has a certain probability of obtaining the Bloodline of the Twelve Earthly Branches · Ox, while significantly increasing cultivation base】

【Side Effect: Contains Ancient Fiend Power. User will attract the gaze of Ancient Fiend · Greatly Merciful and Compassionate Black Lotus Buddha Mother】

【Note: This Dao Fruit possesses uniqueness and timeliness. If not used within one week, its power will return to the ‘Black Lotus Buddha Land’】

【Ancient Fiend Dao Fruit · Horse】

【Type: Special Item】

【Effect: After consumption, has a certain probability of obtaining the Bloodline of the Twelve Earthly Branches · Horse, while significantly increasing cultivation base】

【Side Effect: Contains Ancient Fiend Power. User will attract the gaze of Ancient Fiend · Greatly Merciful and Compassionate Black Lotus Buddha Mother】

【Note: …】

Ancient Fiend Dao Fruits – this was the second time Lu Chen had obtained such items since his initial Transmigration.

However, unlike the previous Ancient Fiend Dao Fruit he had consumed, these two in his hands were practically hot potatoes.

While consuming them could grant substantial cultivation advancement, it would inevitably draw the attention of Black Lotus Buddha Mother.

Being noticed by an Ancient Fiend was certainly not favorable for Lu Chen.

Yet if left unused, the power contained within these Dao Fruits would return to Black Lotus Buddha Mother’s Buddha Land.

This essentially meant that unless Lu Chen found a solution, the Black Lotus Sect could quickly cultivate two new members of the Twelve Earthly Branches.

Such an outcome was undoubtedly unacceptable to Lu Chen.

Though Lu Chen appeared to handle Ox and Horse with ease, this was primarily because his abilities perfectly countered theirs.

His Sword Domain naturally suppressed ordinary Entering Dao Conceptions, while both Ox and Horse were merely Body Cultivators who had mastered the Entering Dao Realm.

Within Lu Chen’s Righteous Azure Lotus Sword Domain, they were essentially fighting with one hand tied behind their backs.

As for their Twelve Earthly Branches Dharma Bodies, these merely enhanced their Physiques further – Ox gained Divine Power augmentation, while Horse obtained astonishing endurance.

Neither of these special abilities posed direct threats to Lu Chen.

Beyond his ability to teleport freely within the Sword Domain, his Divine Soul petals could withstand multiple fatal strikes.

Moreover, his second-level Innate Divine Ability · Three-Inch Time allowed him to foresee Ox and Horse’s movements five seconds in advance.

Thus, for mere Body Cultivators like Ox and Horse to defeat Lu Chen was as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Unless they reached the Harmony Realm or achieved such overwhelming cultivation that Lu Chen couldn’t respond even with five seconds of foresight, they stood no chance.

In combat against them, Lu Chen had immense room for error – he could afford countless mistakes, while they could afford none.In truth, if Ox’s strength had been just a bit greater—great enough that even if Lu Chen were to frantically consume pills in the game, he still couldn’t keep up with the rate of injury—then perhaps he would have had a genuine chance of defeating him.

The same applied to Horse.

If only Horse’s speed had been a little faster, fast enough to close in on Lu Chen before his Heretical Avatar could unleash the Heretical Sword, then perhaps he too might have had a sliver of a chance at final victory.

But there were no “ifs” in this world.

Moreover, all these hypotheticals were built on the assumption that Lu Chen had no other hidden cards up his sleeve.

If such a situation truly arose, Lu Chen’s battles with them would not have unfolded as they did.

Just as Lu Chen had concluded his fight, he sensed that outside, Mu Xiaoye seemed to be nearing the end of hers as well.

Outside the Land of Taotie Seal.

“Y-you’ve got to be kidding me?”

Goat stared at Mu Xiaoye and the Three-Legged Golden Crow, both bathed in sunlight.

The confidence he had initially worn was long gone.

Because just moments ago, he had witnessed the most unbelievable scene since the beginning of his career.

He had watched, helpless, as Mu Xiaoye and the Three-Legged Golden Crow’s strength increased with every passing second.

In the short span of half an hour, Mu Xiaoye’s power had surged by a full thirty percent.

And this enhancement was comprehensive.

Her cultivation, her Physique, and even her Divine Soul had undergone tremendous changes in that brief half-hour.

Such a scene, defying all logic, left Goat questioning his very existence.

He had never seen anything like it—truly, he had never encountered such a thing!

How could anyone defy common sense and gain such a terrifying boost in strength without paying any price?

A secret technique? A Divine Ability? Or perhaps a special Bloodline?!

Goat couldn’t guess, not at all.

If it were merely a thirty percent increase in strength, Goat might still have been able to handle it.

After all, the gap in cultivation between him and Mu Xiaoye, as well as the Three-Legged Golden Crow, still existed.

But when Mu Xiaoye’s enhanced power was combined with the terrifying vitality inherent to her Crimson Phoenix Calamity, a fearsome and nearly unsolvable combination emerged.

The destiny of Blazing Sunfire and the Dao’s blessing of the Nine Phoenix Flame Remains allowed Mu Xiaoye to continuously narrow the gap in pure Physique between herself and Goat.

Meanwhile, the terrifying vitality of Crimson Phoenix Calamity meant she could almost disregard injuries entirely.

In battle, she could fight without restraint, trading wounds for wounds.

Normally, a Foundation Establishment Stage Body Cultivator trading injuries with a Golden Core Stage Body Cultivator would be nothing short of suicidal.

But Mu Xiaoye’s Crimson Phoenix Calamity was simply too terrifying.

So terrifying that without the protection of his Protective Qi and the enhancement of his Golden Core Dharma Body, Goat might have already been defeated.

Yet even this fragile balance was utterly shattered by the sunlight pouring down upon Mu Xiaoye and the Three-Legged Golden Crow.

Boom!

Just as Goat was contemplating whether to flee or devise some other plan, Mu Xiaoye and the Three-Legged Golden Crow launched another attack against him.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

With Goat’s horrified expression, Mu Xiaoye unleashed the full force of the Blazing Sunfire in her left hand, striking his Protective Qi with a powerful punch.

The violent, supreme yang flames caused his Protective Qi to tremble violently.

Although this punch didn’t shatter his Protective Qi outright, it still drained a significant amount of his Spiritual Power.

And let’s not forget—Mu Xiaoye wasn’t fighting alone!

Almost simultaneously with Mu Xiaoye’s attack…Not far away, the Three-Legged Golden Crow also launched his attack.

The small sun, which had previously been only about ten meters in diameter, had now expanded to fifteen meters.

Moreover, since Mu Xiaoye possessed terrifying resistance to flames,

the Three-Legged Golden Crow didn’t have to worry at all about his Blazing Sunfire harming her.

He could attack without restraint.

Thus, almost the instant Mu Xiaoye’s fist struck Goat’s Protective Qi, the Three-Legged Golden Crow’s golden sun descended from the sky.

It struck both Mu Xiaoye and Goat directly.

Boom!

As the terrifying explosion resounded once more,

two figures flew out of the golden flames generated by the blast, one after another.

The Protective Qi that had enveloped Goat had vanished.

Mu Xiaoye, gripping Goat’s neck with one hand, laughed.

“Finally caught you.”

Goat stared at Mu Xiaoye’s right hand clamped around his neck, a intense sense of mortal danger surging within him.

Without any hesitation, Goat threw a punch toward Mu Xiaoye’s abdomen, aiming to force her back.

Unfortunately, Mu Xiaoye launched her own attack almost simultaneously.

Innate Divine Ability… Crimson Phoenix Calamity!

As crimson flames ignited from Mu Xiaoye’s right hand,

the flames instantly spread over Goat’s body.

At the same time, Goat’s punch landed squarely on Mu Xiaoye’s abdomen.

Thud!

A full-force punch from a Golden Core Stage cultivator immediately caused Mu Xiaoye to spit blood.

Mixed within the blood were even fragments of organs,

showing just how much damage Goat’s punch had inflicted.

For an ordinary person, such a blow would have taken half their life, if not ended it entirely.

But Mu Xiaoye was clearly no ordinary person.

As the Phoenix Calamity Fire burned over Goat’s body, dealing him severe damage,

it continuously siphoned his life force, channeling it back to Mu Xiaoye.

The life force of a Golden Core Stage cultivator was undoubtedly rich—

so rich that Mu Xiaoye’s injuries healed completely within a short time.

After enduring Goat’s punch, Mu Xiaoye sneered coldly, “Did you not eat? Is that all the strength you have?”

As she spoke, she raised her free left hand and delivered a heavy blow to Goat’s face.

Thump!

The punch was fierce and powerful, instantly making Goat see stars.

But the strike also ignited Goat’s ferocity.

Staring at Mu Xiaoye at such close range, he threw punch after punch.

Each blow was unleashed without restraint, striking Mu Xiaoye’s face repeatedly, solely intent on forcing her away.

Yet Mu Xiaoye seemed to have gone mad. With one hand gripping Goat tightly, she used her other hand to pummel his head relentlessly.

Within just a few seconds, both were battered and bruised from each other’s attacks.

But Goat possessed neither Mu Xiaoye’s ability to devour life force through the Phoenix Calamity Fire,

nor the terrifying regenerative power of the Great Dao’s Blessing·Nine Phoenix Flame Remains, which used “Phoenix Essence Blood” for continuous recovery.

All he could rely on was his own tempered body and the special Dharma Body symbolizing the Twelve Earthly Branches.

Yet both of these abilities proved utterly useless against Mu Xiaoye.

For as the sun slowly rose higher, Mu Xiaoye’s power… increased once again!

And the rate at which she absorbed life force from Goat far exceeded the damage he inflicted upon her.As the battle wore on, after exchanging over a hundred punches with Goat, it was actually Mu Xiaoye who gained the upper hand.

Surprisingly, it was Goat at the Golden Core Stage who couldn’t hold out any longer.

Boom!

As both of their bodies crashed to the ground, creating a massive crater, Mu Xiaoye planted her foot firmly on Goat’s chest, looking down at him from above.

At this point, both of Goat’s horns had been shattered by Mu Xiaoye’s blows. One of his eyeballs had been completely knocked out during her relentless barrage of heavy punches, lost to who knows where.

Staring at the barely breathing Goat and his terrified expression, Mu Xiaoye wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and sneered, “You call this the Golden Core Stage? Trash!”

With that, she raised her foot and stomped viciously onto Goat’s face.

Squelch!

Goat’s head exploded like a watermelon under Mu Xiaoye’s foot.

At the hour of the sun, I alone am supreme!

I await the dawn—what are you waiting for?

Trash!

“Hiss!”

The Three-Legged Golden Crow, along with Lu Chen and Diting who had just dispersed the Sword Domain and witnessed this scene, all gasped in shock.

This… this is brutal?!

Looking at Goat’s miserable end, Diting turned to Lu Chen with a face full of fear and said, trembling, “Brother Lu, has Sister Mu always been this violent? Thank goodness it was you who dealt with me back then. If it had been her, my dog head would’ve been smashed to bits, wouldn’t it?”

From “Little Lu” to “Protector Lu,” and now to “Brother Lu”—in just one day, Diting had come to deeply understand his place.

Lu Chen wholeheartedly agreed with Diting’s words. “When Little Yezi gets going… she does go a bit crazy.”

Perhaps noticing the strange looks from the three of them, Mu Xiaoye belatedly snapped back to reality.

She hurriedly jumped off Goat’s corpse, hastily straightened the bloodstains on her clothes, and said to Lu Chen in a relatively ‘gentle’ tone, “Little Lu, don’t get the wrong idea. I-I’m not usually like this.”

“I just, I just… I just got a little carried away.”

In response, Lu Chen first glanced at Mu Xiaoye, then at the headless corpse of Goat lying at her feet.

He immediately said with a straight face, “I get it. No need to explain. Understood.”

Hearing this, Mu Xiaoye’s shoulders slumped in dejection.

She felt that the ‘proper lady’ image she had worked so hard to maintain was about to completely crumble.

Oh no, this is really bad!

Will Little Lu think I’m some kind of ‘bad woman’ who only solves problems with violence from now on?

No, I have to find a way to fix this. I absolutely can’t let Little Lu misunderstand me.

Even if I have to pretend, I need to make Little Lu think I’m a delicate girl who needs protection!

Just as Mu Xiaoye was wrestling with these conflicting emotions, Diting, standing beside Lu Chen, twitched his ears slightly.

He glanced at Mu Xiaoye, then at Lu Chen beside him, hesitating about whether to share the thoughts he had just overheard with Lu Chen.

But the moment this thought crossed his mind, it vanished completely when he saw Goat’s headless corpse.

With Mu Xiaoye’s strength and methods, if he dared to reveal her inner thoughts, his dog life… would probably be forfeit!

I can’t say it. I’d rather die than say it!

Thinking this, Diting immediately covered his ears with his paws, pretending he hadn’t heard a thing.

(End of Chapter)