Chapter 386 – White Emperor Sword

“The wind today… is quite turbulent.”

Lu Chen opened his eyes, revealing a meaningful expression on his face.

In his perception, there were many people in the Arena who shouldn’t have been there.

Some of these people were high-Rank Cultivators brought by the Immortal Alliance.

Another portion were Immortal Fiends from the Great Thousand Mountains.

Because he had previously used the Soul-Suppressing Bell to mark many Immortal Fiends with Lotus Marks.

No matter what appearance these people adopted, or what disguises they used.

As long as their Souls remained unchanged.

They stood out to Lu Chen like fireflies in the night, extremely conspicuous.

And with so many fireflies gathered together.

The resulting flame was naturally exceptionally dazzling.

At this point, Lu Chen clearly understood that today was the day the Immortal Fiends planned to make their move.

This aligned with the judgments of both Lu Chen and others in the Immortal Alliance.

The final day of the Dao Academy competition – the most tense yet relaxed day across the entire Alliance.

If they didn’t strike today, it would be much more difficult for them to act next time.

After all, the next Dao Academy competition wouldn’t take place in the Great Wilderness Pagoda.

But in other Dao Academies within the Immortal Alliance.

As for when it would be Barren Wilderness Academy’s turn again, no one could say for sure.

After all, it wasn’t only the Four Great Academies that were qualified to host the Dao Academy competition.

In fact, to balance resources within the Immortal Alliance.

The Four Great Academies actually hosted the competition relatively infrequently.

During the Dao Academy competition period, to ensure smooth proceedings.

The Immortal Alliance typically provided high-level protection for the competition venue.

However, by concentrating too much power in one place.

The protection in other areas would inevitably be reduced.

The Great Thousand Mountains exploited this very point.

In their view, due to the situation with the Underground Prison beneath the Great Wilderness Pagoda.

The Great Wilderness Pagoda would certainly worry about potential disruptions to the Dao Academy competition.

Therefore, they would definitely enhance protection for the Arena during the competition.

But this would mean relatively reduced protection in other areas of the Great Wilderness Pagoda.

If they could find a way to contain the people in the Arena.

The remaining forces could more easily access other parts of the Great Wilderness Pagoda.

And search for their imprisoned Great Thousand Mountains Sect Leader.

The plan wasn’t complicated, but it was quite effective.

Often, complex plans were more prone to flaws.

The simpler the plan, the more likely it was to succeed.

The Great Thousand Mountains members had already infiltrated the Arena.

They would wait for the right moment to strike suddenly.

Then use the chaotic venue to search for traces of their Sect Leader.

This timing would be when the match between Clear River Dao Academy and Barren Wilderness Academy reached its most intense and captivating moment.

Inside the Dao Academy competition Arena.

Regarding the events about to unfold in the Arena.

The students of Clear River Dao Academy naturally had no knowledge.

They didn’t even know that their competition passes had been secretly replaced by the Great Wilderness Pagoda with teleportation markers.

That could instantly transport them out of the Arena.

As the Clear River Dao Academy students entered the venue, Lu Chen – who had been observing the surrounding Immortal Fiends from the rest area – finally withdrew his gaze.

He moved to face the Clear River Dao Academy students and immediately noticed the substantial Sword Intent emanating from Jiang Dongliu.This took Lu Chen by considerable surprise.

Because he vaguely remembered that during their last meeting, Jiang Dongliu’s Sword Intent hadn’t been refined to this level yet.

In Lu Chen’s perception, Jiang Dongliu’s Sword Intent had already reached the stage of complete mastery over Dao Integration Realm Sword Intent.

With just a bit more time and some Opportunity, Jiang Dongliu might potentially achieve the Transformation Dao Realm while still at the Nascent Soul Stage.

That’s right – even with such Sword Intent, Lu Chen didn’t think Jiang Dongliu could easily cross that threshold.

After all, Lu Chen understood all too well the gap between the Harmony Realm and Transformation Dao Realm.

This gap involved both cultivation restrictions and breakthrough difficulties.

If not for Jiang Dongliu’s consistently outstanding talent in the Sword Path, Lu Chen might even think this current level of swordsmanship represented Jiang Dongliu’s limit.

Nevertheless, being able to fully master Dao Integration Realm Sword Intent at such a young age truly demonstrated Jiang Dongliu’s extraordinary talent.

Meanwhile, Jiang Dongliu’s thoughts mirrored Lu Chen’s quite closely.

His release of Sword Intent now wasn’t primarily for showing off, but rather served as both a declaration and a probe.

As fellow Sword Cultivators, they didn’t need actual combat – just a clash of Sword Intent would allow Jiang Dongliu to gauge their strength difference.

Yet what surprised Jiang Dongliu was how his Harmony Realm Sword Intent inexplicably dissipated upon reaching a certain distance around Lu Chen.

Not neutralized, but dissipated – a phenomenon Jiang Dongliu had never encountered since embarking on the Sword Path.

Given the inherently domineering nature of the Sword Path, being able to silently disperse his Harmony Realm Sword Intent spoke volumes about Lu Chen’s comprehension of the Sword Path and control over his own Sword Intent, reaching levels unimaginable to ordinary people.

Before coming, Jiang Dongliu had vaguely understood Lu Chen would be a powerful opponent, estimating their chances at forty-sixty odds.

Throughout his cultivation journey, Jiang Dongliu had always maintained supreme confidence, believing no one in the world could match him. But this time, he unusually tempered his assessment – this forty-sixty estimation marked the first time he implicitly acknowledged someone might surpass him, demonstrating his respect for Lu Chen.

Still, this didn’t mean Jiang Dongliu conceded defeat in his heart. Having disadvantages didn’t equate to inevitable loss – regardless of reality, this remained his firm belief.

“Students, are you all prepared?” The judge teacher inquired as both sides arrived at the arena.

Lu Chen nodded in response, as did the Clear River Dao Academy members on the other side.

Seeing this, the judge teacher immediately vacated the center area, leaving only Lu Chen and Jiang Dongliu behind.

Just like the previous Barren Wilderness Academy team, Clear River Dao Academy had placed all their bets on Jiang Dongliu – his victory would mean their victory, his defeat their defeat. Simple and straightforward.

As for the others, while it might sound somewhat harsh to say…However, in this final match, the others from Clear River Dao Academy truly couldn’t play much of a role.

Meanwhile, Lu Chen and Jiang Dongliu in the arena were in no hurry to make a move.

Jiang Dongliu looked at Lu Chen and said with a smile, “I never expected that in less than a year, you, my junior, would undergo such tremendous changes.”

To this, Lu Chen also smiled and replied, “Senior, your changes are no less significant, aren’t they?”

Hearing this, the smile on Jiang Dongliu’s face grew even brighter.

Indeed, from their last encounter until now, his changes had been immense.

Not only had he stepped into the Golden Core Stage, but he had also cultivated his Sword Intent to the Harmony Realm.

Unlike the last time when he relied on the Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast, Bai Ze, to fight Lu Chen to a draw, this time Jiang Dongliu had no intention of holding back.

“Junior Lu Chen, let me show you the fruits of my cultivation during this period.”

As he spoke, a massive phantom slowly emerged behind Jiang Dongliu.

It was a white mythical beast with a tiger’s head, crimson hair, horns, and the body of a dragon.

Accompanying this beast were vast white mists and a soft white glow.

Witnessing the appearance of the Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast behind Jiang Dongliu, the onlookers all showed expressions of astonishment.

This included the three hidden Revered Ones of the Great Thousand Mountains.

However, after their initial surprise, a strange glint appeared in their eyes—a glint filled with greed and desire.

“To think Bai Ze would appear here… what an unexpected delight,” one of the Great Thousand Mountains Revered Ones remarked, his tone brimming with excitement.

Though the Revered One beside him remained silent, his expression clearly revealed his intense agitation.

Upon reflection, this was understandable. The cultivation path of the Great Thousand Mountains essentially involved transforming the human body into a powerful Innate Spirit Body.

And the so-called Innate Spirit Body had no fixed form.

In a sense, the current manifestations of the Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts were a form of Innate Spirit Body.

If ordinary Immortal Fiends were to devour Bai Ze, they would gain considerable benefits from it, but that would be the extent of it.

However, for the Cultivators of the Great Thousand Mountains, it was entirely different.

They could completely transform into a new Bai Ze, roaming the mortal world.

For them, this was an immense temptation.

If not for their awareness of their core mission this time and the several powerful auras they sensed around the arena, they might not have been able to resist taking action immediately.

Though this wasn’t Lu Chen’s first time seeing Bai Ze, he was equally amazed by its power.

Compared to the last time, Bai Ze had clearly undergone significant changes.

With this thought, Lu Chen immediately used his mini-game to check Bai Ze’s panel.

[Name: Bai Ze]

[Rank: Six Palaces]

[Fate: Purple Tenuity Emperor’s Radiance]

[Description: On Eastward Gazing Mountain, there is a beast named Bai Ze, capable of speech. It appears when a ruler possesses virtue and illuminates the distant and obscure.]

‘Its rank has already been elevated to Six Palaces?’

Looking at Bai Ze’s panel, Lu Chen quickly understood what had changed.

In less than a year, Jiang Dongliu had elevated Bai Ze’s Fate to this level.

It was important to note that while Fate didn’t equate directly to strength…But it is related to the destiny power that Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts can provide.

To make a specific comparison,

the destiny power provided by a six-palace Rank Bai Ze is roughly equivalent to the Nascent Soul Stage.

No wonder, no wonder he has been so confident from the beginning until now.

It turns out he has destiny as his foundation.

At the same time, after summoning Bai Ze, Jiang Dongliu’s aura underwent a significant change.

If before he was arrogant but not to the extent of keeping others at a distance,

now Jiang Dongliu’s arrogance is one that treats all things as insignificant.

It is an arrogance that proclaims supremacy between heaven and earth.

“Junior Lu, I know you’ve also contracted a Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast. Release it.”

Hearing this, Lu Chen thought for a moment and decided to take this opportunity to test Diting’s strength.

Thus, accompanied by a faint glow,

a creature resembling both a dog and a lion slowly emerged beside Lu Chen.

It stood facing Jiang Dongliu’s Bai Ze.

In terms of aura, Diting and Bai Ze were evenly matched,

indicating that Diting’s current destiny level was similar to Bai Ze’s,

both having reached the six-palace Rank.

Indeed, although Lu Chen hadn’t deliberately focused on improving Diting’s destiny Rank during this period,

after Lu Chen successively killed Transformation Soul Stage Immortal Fiends,

the Karma from these fiends was ultimately purified by Diting and transformed into destiny power for him,

rapidly increasing his destiny Rank.

It’s worth noting that in legends, Diting is the mount of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva,

a being capable of subduing all ghosts in the underworld.

For such a being, devouring and purifying Karma is hardly a difficult task.

Looking at Diting beside Lu Chen, Jiang Dongliu was quite surprised,

seemingly not expecting that Lu Chen’s contracted Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast would also possess such a high destiny level.

After all, Lu Chen’s own cultivation speed was already remarkably fast.

How did he find the time to enhance his mythical beast’s destiny while maintaining such rapid cultivation progress?

Jiang Dongliu couldn’t figure it out.

But he didn’t dwell on it too much,

as these questions weren’t particularly relevant to the current battle.

On the other side, Bai Ze looked at Lu Chen and Diting with complex emotions.

Bai Ze clearly remembered that when he first encountered Lu Chen, the young man carried a malevolent Sword.

That Sword, if mishandled, could potentially endanger the entire Immortal Alliance, even the whole world.

Now, although Bai Ze could still faintly sense the presence of that malevolent Sword,

it carried only ferocity without any Karma.

This undoubtedly indicated that Lu Chen had completely subdued that malevolent Sword.

This reminded him of what Lu Chen had said back then:

‘The quality of a weapon depends not only on itself but also on the one who wields it.’

At that time, Bai Ze didn’t agree with this statement,

believing that carrying a malevolent weapon for extended periods was like making a pact with the devil.

But now it appeared that Lu Chen had indeed proven this through his actions,

showing that Bai Ze’s initial judgment had been wrong.

However, these thoughts only lingered in Bai Ze’s mind for a moment before being dismissed,

as Jiang Dongliu had already begun to move.

“Junior Lu, since we’re both Sword Cultivators, let us see whose Sword proves superior.As he spoke, Jiang Dongliu and Bai Ze seemed to reach some kind of tacit understanding.Bai Ze’s body began to radiate a white light.

Then it transformed into countless points of light.

These luminous particles converged upon Jiang Dongliu, ultimately materializing into a brand new Immortal Sword in his hand.

This was… the White Emperor.

(End of Chapter)