Chapter 1402: The Shadow of Winter!
"Fifteenth formation!"
When those two words came out of Su Ming's mouth, the Feng Shui compass under him began rotating with loud bangs. Light from the runic symbols shone so brilliantly that it spread one hundred thousand feet right when the sun rose on the horizon. The light was so strong that it instantly reached an astonishing degree, causing Su Ming to become the center of attention in Seven Moons Sect.
His two shadow figures appeared around him. When they became clear, they turned into his two selves standing beside his true self!
At first glance, Su Ming's real self stood at the center, and by his sides were his shadow figures, which had power that did not lose to his real self. One looked at the sky, and the feeling as if it was looking down on the world was very strong. The other looked at the ground, and the spark of arrogance in its eyes was astonishing.
The buzz of all the disciples from the first to the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky in Seven Moons Sect disappeared at that moment. A dead silence fell upon them.
Yet soon, a commotion that was even stronger than before rose up like a loud bang.
"Fourteenth formation! His second shadow figure has already split from him! This Wang Tao… as expected of the person known as the most prodigious in the past. No wonder he was taken in as a disciple of a great sect elder. No wonder he could become a sect elder!"
"That's right. So that's how it is. This person's potential is so great that it's a rare sight in Ancient Zang. He should indeed be a sect elder!"
"Even if eldest senior brother Fei Feng and Chen Tao have already cleared more than seventeen formations, they have practiced cultivation for years, while this Wang Tao have only joined the sect recently. They just can't compare to him!"
"Just watch. In the future, Wang Tao will definitely single-handedly lead Seven Moons Sect to power!"
"Wang Tao? You should be calling him Sect Elder Wang!"
The discussions rose and fell. Quite a number of inner sect disciples in the fourth layer were already talking about the future, and the Seven Moons Sect disciples in the third line were even more ecstatic. Their initial grumbles had long ago turned into excitement. After all… Su Ming was an Uncle-Master of theirs, and he had showed off just how astonishing his potential was.
Yue Yan was silent, but when she looked at Su Ming, there was a challenging look in her eyes. She was not the only one who felt that way. Chen Tao had already walked out of his cave abode and stood at the cliff while staring at Su Ming. The threat Su Ming posed to him was incredibly strong, but it did not mean that Su Ming was his enemy, just a competitor in the sect.
"The path of cultivation… is one in which we have to fight for power!" he murmured, and the fighting spirit in his eyes grew stronger.
As for Ye Long, he had already become numb. When he looked at Su Ming and listened to the rise and fall of the discussions in Seven Moons Sect as well as witnessed the changes of everyone's expressions, he no longer felt any anguish. He felt as if his blood had already become bitter.
Su Ming did not bother about the various changes exhibited by the people around him. At that moment, he stood on the rapidly rotating Feng Shui compass, and he could sense the benefits it provided. If he worked together with his two shadow figures, his power would increase exponentially, and even though he still could not truly fight against those in Dao Spirit Realm, he would be able to protect himself.
If he had enough time to refine his two shadow figures, he had a vague feeling that just by relying on them, he could perhaps reach Dao Spirit Realm.
'If I have three shadow figures, then the chances of me reaching Dao Spirit Realm will be even higher!'
A glint appeared in Su Ming's eyes. As the Feng Shui compass under his body let out loud, booming sounds, snow floated down. It was different from the previous one. It did not land on all of Ancient Zang, but only appeared above the Feng Shui compass. When it fell, the chill coming from it was incredibly aggressive. In the blink of an eye, it covered the entire area.
"Starting from the fifteenth formation, the shadows of the four Great Lines of Nature—winter, autumn, summer, and spring—will appear. The difficulty of these four formations are incredibly high, or else Yue Yan would not have stopped at the seventeenth formation, and I… would not have stopped at the eighteenth formation!
"Since ancient times, regardless of whether they were disciples who had disappeared in the passage of time, among those of the same generation in Seven Moons Sect, only eldest senior brother Fei Feng has ever succeeded in clearing the eighteenth formation and even cleared the nineteenth formation," said Chen Tao faintly as he stared at the snow falling from the Feng Shui compass under Su Ming while he stood on the mountain belonging to the second line.
"This Wang Tao might have great potential, but if I'm not wrong, he shows signs of coming to a premature end. I wonder… how many of the shadows of the four Great Lines of Nature will he come to understand. What do you say, Yue Yan?"
Chen Tao smiled faintly. When he spoke, Yue Yan slowly walked out from behind him to stand by his side and looked at Su Ming.
"The four seasons have shadows, and they are known as the shadows of nature. The real self in Seven Lives Art is the first life, and that is Human Life, the second and third are Earthen Lives. Once they split from you, they can receive Earthen Aura from the Human Life and fade away.
"The fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh lives are Heavenly Lives. They must be understood from the four seasons. Once the seven lives are formed, they can they fuse together to become the first Dao Shadow. Only then… can we be considered to have completed the first stage of the strongest Art in Seven Moons Sect—Seven Shadow Dao," Yue Yan said calmly.
"Seven Shadow Dao… even if just one Dao Shadow appears, we can already be considered to have entered the first level of Dao Divinity Realm, and if the real self is already in the first level of Dao Divinity Realm, we can be considered to have reached the second level!" Chen Tao smiled faintly. His words were calm, but when he spoke, he shook his head.
"I have my reasons for giving him this reminder. What about you?"
Yue Yan did not speak.
While on the Feng Shui compass, Su Ming lifted his head and looked at the second mountain. Over there, he saw two figures that had spoken words at a volume that could reach him.
"Seven Shadows Dao."
A contemplative look appeared in Su Ming's eyes. He slowly sat down on the Feng Shui compass, and the other two shadow figures beside him did the same. The three of them began to meditate.
Time trickled by, and more snow floated down. The cold grew stronger while the darkness completely faded away, overtaken by morning light. The sun had began to rise.
"Four Great Lines of Nature. Legends have it that there were four great divine abilities during ancient times. We have gained several styles, so I wonder whether this Wang Tao will be able to gain an epiphany of them." Chen Tao smiled, but when he looked at Su Ming, a grim look appeared in his eyes.
Yue Yan continued remaining silent.
Time passed, and gradually, the sun lifted its head. A new day arrived.
Su Ming had intended to end his challenge when dawn came, but right then, he changed his mind. The Rune provided quite a great help to him, and since he had already begun challenging it, he might as well challenge it to the limit of his abilities.
When noon arrived, more snow appeared on the Feng Shui compass, and it had already covered half of Su Ming's body. He still did not open his eyes, however. Hidden under his eyelids, his eyes sparkled with the light of deduction. They seemed to be reflecting an epiphany only he understood.
'Snow has its own shadow. It is faint under the sun, but if anyone looks carefully, they can see it.
'If I want to clear the fifteenth formation, it is not difficult. As long as I can find the shadow of the snow and gain an epiphany of it as well as gain an understanding of all manner of beings having shadows, I will be able to control the shadow in the snow. It would be the same as me gaining an epiphany of the clue hidden in the fifteenth formation.
'But… I don't like daylight.'
Dusk gradually came, and at the instant the setting sun was about to disappear, Su Ming opened his eyes. The sun set, and the world fell into darkness at that moment.
Su Ming, with his eyes open, slowly brought his right hand up.
'My Life Matrix had always been one of moving from midwinter to spring that brings about life, one of moving from death to life. The snow of winter symbolizes death as well as the midwinter of my Life Matrix.
'Using winter as the fifteenth formation? It's something I can easily clear, but I don't want the shadow formed when snow envelops the ground while it is day. What I want… is the shadow when night envelops winter!
'This shadow is not the shadow of snow… but the shadow of winter!
'Judging by the looks of it, this Seven Lives Art doesn't really suit me that well. The light from this Art is too strong, and it is at its strongest when it is used during day. At night, shadows are hidden, and it is at its weakest. What I need… what would really suit me… will be the Seven Abyss Art that I will create after I modify this Art!
'Once I perfect it, the shadow of the land during night will become my shadow!'
A strong, dark light shone in Su Ming's eyes. At the instant he lifted his right hand, he did not go on to grab the snow floating down. Instead, he swung his arm, and his sleeve seemed to manifest above him… to cover the sky!
As booming sounds reverberated through the air, the snow floating down instantly turned black. It was not that its color had changed, but that it was dyed black by the night, and that included all the snow around Su Ming. Once it was dyed black, Su Ming slowly stood up.
"Shadow of winter."
At the instant he spoke, the snow in the area let out a loud bang and spread out from the Feng Shui compass. It fell from the fourth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky. At the same time, the black snow that existed in the fourth layer also appeared in the third, second, and first layers of Sky Beyond the Sky!
For the first time ever… black snow floated down in the first four layers of Sky Beyond the Sky in Seven Moons Sect.
Su Ming lifted his head. Right when he looked at the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky, booming sounds shook the sky and earth… and his black snow floated down in the fifth layer too!
All of Seven Moons Sect was silent at that moment. Chen Tao stared at the black snow floating down before him in a daze. He instinctively brought his hand up, and when the snow landed on his palm, he felt a stab of pain. He lowered his head, and found that he was not looking at snow. It was… the shadow of a small portion of the night sky reflected on the snow!
Yue Yan's face was pale. When she lifted her head, Chen Tao too looked up at the night sky.
It seemed to have shattered to pieces and turned an innumerable amount of black snowflakes. They fell on the land of the living, but they were not snow. Instead, they were the shadows of the sky.
Fei Feng, the head disciple of the first line in Seven Moons Sect who meditated all year long, opened his eyes at that moment and walked out of his cave. He lifted his head calmly and looked at the sky.
At that moment, the sect elders in the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky were also staring at the sky. Their expressions were solemn, and a hint of shock appeared in the eyes of some of them.
Dao Han, the red-robed man who owned the whole sixth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky, stood at the top of the mountain belonging to the thirteenth line at that moment. When he looked at the sky… his pupils shrank at the sight of snow falling in the sixth layer.
"With his level of cultivation, he managed to gain an epiphany of a divine ability belonging to Dao Spirit Realm… This person is indeed extraordinary," the red-robed man said softly, and a solemn look appeared on his face.
Chapter 1403: Darkness of Spring!
'It's a pity that this Art is just in Dao Spirit Realm. If it can reach the state at which could affect Dao Paragons in the seventh layer of Sky Beyond the Sky… this person would reach an incredibly terrifying level.'
The red-robed man shook his head.
At that moment, there was a small region the size of a fingernail no one could see in the sky above the seventh layer of Sky Beyond the Sky, right on top of the Rune formed by the twelve great sect elders. It seemed… like it was about to start snowing…
While standing on the Feng Shui compass, Su Ming slowly lowered his head. When he swung his right arm, the snow in the sixth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky disappeared without a trace. Even the Feng Shui compass on which Su Ming stood lost all traces of cold.
But for some unknown reason, while Su Ming stood there with a straight back, he gave off a feeling as if he had fused with the night. It seemed like… he was the night.
'The power of this Art… is somewhat alright.'
Su Ming closed his eyes. After some time, when he opened them, he used his right hand and pushed down on the Feng Shui compass beneath him.
"Sixteenth formation!"
He had been challenging the Rune for a day and a night. The gazes of the disciples of Seven Moons Sect had been on him for all that time. He had started from the first formation and made his way straight to the fifteenth formation. This left all of the Seven Moons Sect disciples shocked. He had completely crushed the contemptuous gazes directed at him, and the only things remaining was… shock.
His act of clearing the formations had even caught the attention of the sect elders in the fifth layer of Beyond the Sky. Even Lan Lan had already walked out of the palace where she meditated to look at him.
The matter of clearing fifteen formations in one go seemed to be something they had not seen for many years. Something similar had happened at some point in time, but those who had seen it had long ago disappeared in the passage of time, and the ones who remained were the people in the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky.
"Shadow of autumn!"
A glint appeared in Su Ming's eyes. At the instant the Rune rotated with loud rumbles, he lifted his right hand and swung it against the sky. As the Feng Shui compass rotated, the dark sky instantly turned red!
The red replaced the darkness of night, dyeing the sky the color of fire, but it was not fire. It was the color of autumn, the color of blood. A faint feeling of life withering appeared as well. It was a desolate feeling.
At the same time, the Feng Shui compass seemed to have turned into a huge tree. Its leaves were falling one by one. There was no wind, but each leaf symbolized life force. As they fell, they seemed to show how all manner of being had to walk towards death and nothing could be done to change it.
Su Ming was silent. At that moment, he seemed to have turned into the big tree. The falling leaves did not just bring with them his life force, but also his memories and all that encompassed his life.
"What an Art, this Art of Autumn's Shadow…" Su Ming said softly. "But the autumn I like is not the shadow under the setting sun… but the quiet withering in the night. This is… the shadow of autumn that I seek."
At the instant Su Ming's eyes sparkled and understanding appeared in his eyes, the red sky was dyed black and turned purple. It grew more prominent until the sky turned black again!
The autumn tree Su Ming had manifested was also instantly enveloped by black, as if it was hidden in the dark. No one could see the tree leaves falling, but soon, all the plants and trees in all mountains from the first to sixth layers in Seven Moons Sect's Sky Beyond the Sky started withering.
It happened in an instant, so no one was aware of it even a breath before it happened, unlike how they would notice the autumn leaves under the setting sun slowly floating down to the ground.
Autumn at night came in an instant…
Night was eternal, and the illusory tree disappeared. Su Ming stood in its place with his purple hair drifting in the wind. At some point in time, he opened his eyes to reveal a darkness in his eyes that the night could not dye black.
"Seventeenth formation!"
At the instant Su Ming said those words, Seven Moons Sect, which had already been sucked into the situation for a long time, immediately burst into an astonishing uproar.
"Sect Elder Wang has cleared the sixteenth formation! He's already reached the same height as Eldest Senior Sister Yue Yan!"
"That's not the main point. Sect Elder Wang's epiphany is clearly different from other people's. The snow from before and the black light now gives off a feeling as if we're swathed in darkness… It's a ghastly feeling, and even if it's not cold, you can still feel chills down your spine."
"If he can clear the seventeenth formation… it will mean that he has surpassed Eldest Senior Sister Yue Yan and reached senior brother Chen Tao's number! And only Eldest Senior Brother Fei Feng would remain in front of him!"
The sounds of discussion rose everywhere, but among the expectations of the many people were also some that held envy and jealousy. Those voices were rather different from those of the rest of the crowd.
"He has clearly reached his limit. The seventeenth formation might be the highest number he can go."
"Hmph, even if the seventeenth formation isn't his limit, it's impossible for him to surpass Eldest Senior Brother Fei Feng. The eldest senior brother stopped at the twentieth formation, and he is an existence we all look up to. It's… impossible for this person to do so!"
Most of those voices came from the disciples from the first line. They did not want to see Su Ming surpass Fei Feng, even if Su Ming had the status of a sect elder.
As their voices echoed, the Feng Shui compass under Su Ming activated the seventeenth formation. The rumbles as it rotated drowned out all sounds of discussion in the area for the time being, causing the people to gradually stop speaking. Instead, with differing expressions, they looked at Su Ming.
"This should be… the shadow of summer."
When Su Ming said those words faintly, the seventeenth formation's rotation made it seem as if a sea of fire had stirred up in the night sky. It formed a huge sun. That sun did not hang high in the sky… but instead, enveloped Su Ming and the Feng Shui compass within it.
While the night sky remained dark, a sun hung high over Seven Moons Sect!
It was Summer's Line of Nature, and also the summer of the seventeenth formation that the disciples were required to understand!
Two hours later, the fire turned black. The piercing sun also turned black. The black fire brought with it a powerful presence that could burn everything. It seemed to be burning light and exuding darkness, so the black fire fused with darkness, and the black light penetrated through the six layers of Sky Beyond the Sky.
When the sun disappeared and Su Ming's figure appeared on the Feng Shui compass, his voice echoed in Seven Moons Sect, and it was as calm as before.
"The eighteenth formation."
At that moment, Su Ming had already surpassed Yue Yan and reached the same number as Chen Tao, but it was clearly not his limit. He wanted to surpass the seventeenth formation and head to the eighteenth formation!
"Winter, autumn, summer, spring… Spring… I have never come to an understanding of it when I was in Harmonious Morus Alba. Right now… I have already reached a state where I can gain an epiphany. My Life Matrix… will also be completed at this moment.
"My four Shadows of Nature will also appear!"
A sparkle that had not appeared for a long time showed up in Su Ming's eyes. He sucked in a deep breath, and when the Feng Shui compass rotated and all manner of being was about to be resurrected, he sat down cross-legged on the Feng Shui compass.
"The shadow of spring."
At the instant Su Ming said those words calmly, the Feng Shui compass on which he stood filled with thick life force. The abundance of it caused Su Ming to instantly appear a little younger.
Spring was the resurrection of all manner of being. The abundant life force was also spring. It was the first season among the four seasons, and also the final grid in Su Ming's Life Matrix!
He once strived to gain enlightenment of it for a long time, and at that moment, on that Rune, Su Ming finally found a hint of spring, but the price he paid for that enlightenment was too great. He had experienced too much anguish and sadness before he understood what was spring.
'My Dark Mountain has become an illusion…
'My ninth summit is buried in the long river of my memories…
'My Berserkers have turned into a mark in the passage of time…
'My homeland, my True World, the Arid Triad Expanse Cosmos to which I belong have now all turned into nothingness, destroyed…
'I was born in an Expanse Cosmos formed on a wing of Harmonious Morus Alba, but now, Harmonious Morus Alba has died, and everything has turned into the past… I lost my family, my senior brothers, my elder, and my loved ones…
'I lost everything. I lost the bald crane and the most precious and valuable things in my life. I feel as if I had lost my soul…
'While I was in the summer of my Life Matrix, I never managed to gain an epiphany of spring, and instead, I regressed to midwinter. It is the chill of death, what can send my soul to eternal sleep. It is… a mourning hidden when I sink into the darkness.
'I like darkness and am willing to be immersed in it because only when I am in darkness can I let my sadness melt. Only in darkness can I not see my surroundings, but can be in a daze and remember all the faces in my memories…
'And I… at this moment, have finally come to understand why spring is so far from my grasp, why my Life Matrix could never be completed in Harmonious Morus Alba's universe… because the true meaning of spring is a cruelty that can only bloom after I die. Spring is the so-called resurrection of all manner of being. I thought that my Life Matrix is of walking from death to life, but in truth, it encompasses everything.
'If I don't die, then how can I be resurrected? If I don't have the aura of death, how can I have life force? That is spring… and my spring will be the life force in the dark. It will be… the shadow of spring that blooms from my Life Matrix!'
At the instant Su Ming's eyes flew open, he lifted his right hand and swung his arm. With it, the world roared. The darkness of night descended and enveloped the Feng Shui compass, hiding the abundance of life from spring in the darkness, and no one… could see it anymore!
'My spring is hidden in darkness. Be it life force or resurrection, it will all be in darkness. They will either wake up or fall asleep… based on my will… because regardless of whether it is spring, summer, the red of autumn, or the snow of winter… all of you have to be in my dark night!'
Su Ming stood up swiftly, and at the instant he did so, besides the two shadow figures by his side, four other indistinct figures appeared around him!
They were… his spring, summer, autumn, and winter, the four Great Shadows of Nature!
"I… will not clear the nineteenth formation!"
When Su Ming got up, his words traveled through Seven Moons Sect. He then flew up from the Feng Shui compass and charged toward the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky.
Behind him, the night sky disappeared. Dawn broke through darkness, and a new day… arrived!
Chapter 1404: One Dao Sect!
Su Ming's departure left all of Seven Moons Sect in silence. His figure seemed to have turned into an astonishing wave that crashed into them before the sun broke through the darkness. He disappeared from the crowd's gazes and stepped into the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky.
Clearing the first formation straight up to the eighteenth formation in one go was something rare in the history of Seven Moons Sect. At the very least, most of the Seven Moons Sect disciples had never heard about such a thing before.
It could be said that the one day and two nights was a shock to the Seven Moons Sect disciples, and it etched Wang Tao's name deeply into their minds.
As for Ye Long… When Su Ming started clearing the formations, he was a green leaf, and Ye Long was a flower, but once Su Ming cleared more than ten formations, Ye Long became a background for Su Ming. By the end, however, he did not even deserve to be his background.
In the fourth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky, Chen Tao and Yue Yan stood at the edge of the cliff. When Su Ming left into the distance, they gradually turned their heads away.
"He could have continued," Chen Tao said slowly after a long while. There was a very grim look on his face when he looked at Yue Yan beside him.
"Fei Feng also had the power to continue once he cleared the nineteenth formation all those years ago, but he did not," Yue Yan said softly. When she turned around, she walked into the distance with light footsteps.
While on the cliff, Chen Tao narrowed his eyes. After a long while, he swung his arm, then turned around and walked back to his cave abode.
Fei Feng had walked out of his cave abode and stood outside his door at the top of the mountain belonging to the first line. He moved his gaze away from the disappearing Feng Shui compass with a thought-provoking smile on his lips.
'Looks like you've also noticed… I wonder if I will be the one who will be moving into the distance, or you will be the first to gain the epiphany, Sect Elder Wang.' As Fei Feng continued smiling, a fierce glare appeared in his eyes.
When daylight returned and the sun shone on the ground, Seven Moons Sect welcomed a new day. Su Ming sat outside his house in the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky with his eyes closed.
Eighteen formations were not his limit. If he wanted to… he could have cleared the nineteenth formation, the twentieth formation, and even more. Based on his level of cultivation, he could probably clear up to the twenty-second or twenty-third formation.
But Su Ming did not.
'After the eighteenth formation, you must clear the subsequent formations with a Dao Shadow. Even if you manage to clear them, you won't be able to get any sort of serendipity. It'll just be an empty name. Only after I form my own Dao Shadow will I be able to gain an epiphany from the Rune.'
A dark light shone in Su Ming's eyes.
'That person called Fei Feng must have also noticed this, which is why he did not continue once he cleared the nineteenth formation. Clearly… he still hasn't formed his Dao Shadow.
'And Seven Moons Sect's Dao Shadow can only be formed with the fusion of Seven Lives Art!'
While he thought about it silently, Su Ming remained with his eyes closed. What he needed to do next was to go through a long period of isolated training. It as necessary to fuse his Human Life, Earthen Lives, Heavenly Lives, and seven shadows together and attempt to turn them into a Dao Shadow. Then, once the Dao Shadow was formed, he would see whether it could be used to help him reach a breakthrough in his level of cultivation and reach… Dao Spirit Realm!
Time passed, and another ten years went by. During them, Su Ming remained meditating and did not open his eyes. He was immersed in the fusion of his Human Life, Earthen Lives, Heavenly Lives, and seven shadows. He did not pay any attention to things around him. During the process of gaining his epiphany, he only searched for the key to the fusion.
In that time, some not incredibly great events happened in Seven Moons Sect, such as some disciples disappearing without reason and the signs of the sky shattering occasionally appearing above Seven Moons Sect. The cracks might close up quickly, but gradually, they caught the disciples' attention.
When ten more years passed, the frequency at which the sky above Seven Moons Sect shattered increased. Cracks gradually formed high above. There was also a faint rumbling noise that rose and fell, echoing in the air. In fact, the strange events reached the point where they affected the training of the Seven Moons Sect disciples.
At that moment, Sect Elder Mu brought many disciples of the sect to venture out of Sky Beyond the Sky to investigate the matter. No one knew what he discovered, but when he returned, he went to the sixth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky, and then, he never went out of the sect again.
When another ten years passed, the cracks above the Seven Moons Sect filled the entire area. Even the ground was covered in them, which meant that mountains in Seven Moons Sect had also cracked. Once it happened, the disciples of Seven Moons Sect began to pay a lot of attention to it.
Eventually, when another ten years passed, the cracks in the world beyond Seven Moons Sect grew so great that all those who saw them were shocked. In fact, the Seven Moons Sect itself and the mountains around it were also covered in cracks, and it looked like they were about to collapse at any moment.
The first layer was not the only place that looked like that. Even the second layer of Sky Beyond the Sky had cracks, and once it happened, the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky held… a Seven Moons Sect's Council of Elders!
It was a major event in which all sect elders were required to participate, and as a sect elder, Su Ming would naturally have to attend it as well.
Su Ming had been in isolated training for forty years, and during them, he had not opened his eyes once.
It was the first Seven Moons Sect Council of Elders in over forty years, and a jade slip was sent to all sect elders in the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky. Once it levitated in front of him, Su Ming still remained with his eyes closed. However, an overlapping shadow seemed to have appeared on his body, and immediately after, a figure moved out of his seated body.
That figure was one of Su Ming's shadow figures. It had the exact same appearance as him, and once it stood up, it picked up the jade slip levitating in front of him. Then, as composed as ever, it headed to the mountain belonging to the thirteenth line.
Since Dao Han was in charge of the thirteenth line, the thirteenth line was the head of the sect while he was in charge.
Su Ming was the last to arrive. At the instant he stepped into the thirteenth line, he saw several divine senses sweeping towards him from the mountain. They all had the intent to observe. With a calm expression, Su Ming walked to the top of the mountain and stepped into the meeting spot for the council of elders in the thirteenth line.
It was a field at the summit of the thirteenth mountain. Above the clouds surrounding the mountain were fifteen huge chairs that formed a ring.
One of them was slightly smaller than the other fourteen to show the difference in status. At that moment, besides the largest chair, thirteen people already occupied fourteen chairs. The one remaining was clearly for Su Ming.
When he walked forward, seven pairs of eyes in the silent meeting hall immediately looked at him. Su Ming had seen everyone before when he first stepped into Seven Moons Sect. One of the people was Mu Zhen, and another one was Lan Lan.
Su Ming's expression did not change. He treated the gazes as if they did not exist. He slowly sat down and closed his eyes as if he was resting.
Soon after, a huge, mighty pressure descended onto the meeting spot. The moment Su Ming opened his eyes slightly, he saw a fire-red figure appear on the largest chair. The fire-red light gradually turned into a long robe wrapped around a middle-aged man.
The man's face was cold, and he held a pearl in his right hand. His expression was awe-inspiring. Once he sat down, he swept his gaze past the fourteen people around him. When he saw his disciple—a young man in black robes whose face was as cold as his—he nodded slightly, and when his gaze landed on Su Ming, his eyes lingered on him for a moment.
"I gathered all of you here to attend the Seven Moons Sect Council of Elders because the preordained fate governing the world has become increasingly stronger. There are certain things that all of you will need to prepare beforehand.
"Sect Elder Mu, tell us what you found twenty years ago when you ventured outside," said the red-robed man while playing with the pearl in his hand.
"My fellow sect members, twenty years ago, by orders of the great sect elder, I went out to investigate this matter, and in the cracks of the world… Heh heh… I found signs of One Dao Sect!" Mu Zhen said darkly while he swept his gaze past the group.
At the instant One Dao Sect's name tumbled out of Mu Zhen's lips, the expressions of five changed swiftly. Dao Han and Mu Zhen were not among those.
"I knew it, it's One Dao Sect!"
"Only the unfathomable One Dao Sect who can exist in all cracks in the world can show themselves so publicly and arrogantly beyond Seven Moons Sect!"
When the cold voices appeared, Mu Zhen wrapped his fist in his palm towards the red-robed man and stopped speaking.
"Since you noticed the signs of One Dao Sect a long time ago, why did you wait for twenty years before you told us?" Lan Lan asked coldly in a faint voice. The moment she spoke, the council members immediately stopped speaking and turned their gazes towards the red-robed man.
"Because One Dao Sect has sent a notice while living in the cracks formed in the world outside, or rather… instead of saying that it's a notice, it would be apt to say that it's a threat," the red-robed man said calmly while toying with the pearl in his hand. Then, he glanced at Su Ming.
"In their notice, they very clearly told Seven Moons Sect to hand over all the disciples they took in the last two cycles of sixty years. If we don't, they will launch… a war against us!"
At the instant the red-robed man said those words, besides Su Ming, all the people's expressions changed drastically.
"One Dao Sect has gone overboard!"
"What a joke. How can we hand over our disciples? Those people are nothing, but Seven Moons Sect is one of the seven sects. If they want to use this to threaten us, how are we supposed to face the other sects in the future!"
" One Dao Sect might be the strongest sect among the seven sects, but they can't force us like this either!"
Cold chuckles from the sect elders in the area appeared at that moment, and the red-robed man spoke slowly.
"Of course, if we agree to their request, One Dao Sect will reimburse us, such as… providing us the experience of those who have stepped into Dao Spirit Realm from the second level of Dao Divinity Realm… and a chance to gain an epiphany to become a Great Dao Paragon."
Once that sentence was said, the expressions of all the sect elders changed due to the temptation. They did not say another and instead sank into silence.
The entire council of Seven Moons Sect became quiet.
Chapter 1405: Or… Fight!
"If that's the case, then it's not as if we can't agree to it…"
"After all, One Dao Sect is incredibly powerful, and it's said they have a Great Dao Paragon. In fact, I even heard that One Dao Sect's creator… is one of the three Great Dao Gods…"
"The three Great Dao Gods are just a legend. Besides the Emperor of Ancient Zang, no one has seen a second one, but even though it's just a legend, it's impossible for it to have sprung out of nowhere."
"Forget whether there is truly anyone in the ninth level of Dao Divinity Realm, since there is less than thirty people in the whole of Ancient Zang—the seven sects, the twelve clans, and the royal capital—who have reached the eighth level of Dao Divinity Realm!
"Compared to the near sixty seventh level Dao Paragons, Great Dao Paragons are an existence akin to heaven itself!"
"Great Dao Paragon… if the great sect elder of Seven Moons Sect's first line had not been injured in the past, he might have already become a Great Dao Paragon."
Su Ming did not speak, but as he listened to the sighs of the sect elders around him, he came to realize that there was no Great Dao Paragons in Seven Moons Sect!
And there were less than thirty Great Dao Paragons in Ancient Zang!
'Then the blue-robed cultivator in the seventh layer of Sky Beyond the Sky is clearly in the seventh level of Dao Paragon Realm.'
Su Ming was deep in thought, but he knew exactly why the leader of the seven sects would want the disciples of the last two cycles of sixty years.
'They might… be looking for me!' A barely noticeable glint shone in Su Ming's eyes.
"This matter has already exceeded the scope that we as the sect elders can discuss. Great Sect Elder Dao Han, I wonder if you have already made your decision," Lan Lan said after being silent for a long while.
She was not the only one who thought like that. In truth, all the sect elders were old monsters who had practiced cultivation for many years and were very calculative people. They had intentionally said the words before to affect others. They would not voice out their own true thoughts.
The red-robed man was silent for a moment before a fierce glare shone in his eyes. At the instant the sect elders noticed it, their expressions became stern.
"One Dao Sect has given us the terms for the exchange… No matter what their goal is, it's not like we can't do it… but there are two people involved who cause me a bit of trouble.
"One of them is my disciple, Ye Long. He has extraordinary potential. After coming under my tutelage, he will soon become someone outstanding. As for the second… it's Sect Elder Wang Tao."
When the red-robed man said those words , most of the elders in the area looked at Su Ming.
In truth, all of them had thought of this problem before, but the matter involved a sect elder, and since Su Ming did not seem like he was sometime kind-hearted, it was only natural that no one said anything about it.
Su Ming remained as composed as ever. His face was very calm, and he did not speak.
"If that is the case, then we cannot relent in this matter. Besides Sect Elder Wang, all other sect elders, I order you to leave the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky. Bring your disciples along and guard the thirteen corners of Seven Moons Sect!
"Only call for the members of the same line as you. They might not be sect elders, but they have extraordinary power as well. They can serve to defend our sect.
"Notify the disciples from the fourth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky that they are to patrol our sect. As for those in the first sect… the outer sect will be sealed off!
"I will personally act as garrison and activate the Seven Moons Snow Sect. This is not child's play. All of you, take care of yourselves! If you run into any danger you cannot fight against outside, immediately hide on the Rune.
"As for… Sect Elder Wang, since there is a possibility that you are the person One Dao Sect seeks… please continue to remain in the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky. Unless it is absolutely necessary, please do not go out."
Su Ming was stunned. He lifted his head and cast a deep glance at the red-robed man. In silence, he remembered the person dressed in the sky-blue Daoist robe. That person had decided to take him in as a disciple right after seeing him and given him the status of a sect elder. Then, even after being under One Dao Sect's pressure… the red-robed man had made the decision to fight.
No matter what their goals were, their actions still made Su Ming slowly get up in silence. He wrapped his fist in his palm and bowed to the red-robed man.
The red-robed man remained calm after seeing it. His expression did not change in the slightest. He only nodded before he shiftd his gaze to the pearl on his palm. He remembered his conversations with the thirteen great sect elders on his trip back to the seventh layer of Sky Beyond the Sky.
"All orders are to be executed immediately!"
The red-robed man stood up while saying that and swung his arm, which broke the seal covering the field they used for the meeting. When the group, including Su Ming, turned into long arcs and flew out, only the red-robed man and the cold, black-robed young man by his side remained.
"Master, I do not understand. It's highly unlikely that One Dao Sect came for junior brother Ye Long. Chances are high… that they came for Sect Elder Wang." The young man frowned and looked at the red-robed man.
"I know," the red-robed man said after staying silent for a while.
"Then why?" the young man asked, feeling rather worried, while looking at his Master. He still remembered that Sect Elder Lan Lan had mentioned that his Master and Wang Tao's Life Matrices clashed against each other, and the formed showed signs of death.
"This is a decision all the thirteen great sect elders, including me, made together. This person… is the most valuable person in Seven Moons Sect!"
The red-robed man was calm as ever. When he spoke, no one could tell how he felt from his expression.
The young man fell silent. He sighed in his heart, then wrapped his fist in his palm, bowed to the red-robed man, and left respectfully.
Once he was gone, the red-robed man stood alone on the mountain and quietly stared into the distance.
'Seven Moons Sect can fall, but nothing must happen to him—these are the words of the great sect elder of the first line… He is the key for him and the other great sect elders to become Great Dao Paragons!
'He is also the key for me to become a Dao Paragon…' The red-robed man had expectation in his eyes. When he turned around, he disappeared into the hall.
Once the sect elder flew out of the mountain belonging to the thirteenth line, they turned into long arcs and returned to their own mountains in the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky to carry out the orders from Great Sect Elder Dao Han.
As for Su Ming, he traveled with Lan Lan and returned to the mountain in the third line. They never spoke to each other. However, when they were about to return to their cave abodes, Lan Lan came to a stop.
"Do you want me to tell a fortune in regards to your survival?"
"I don't believe in destiny."
Su Ming turned around and walked to his house on the cliff. When he returned to his real body sitting in the house, he overlapped with his real self.
Lan Lan fell silent. When she turned around, she went back to the palace on the mountain.
Soon after, as all of Seven Moons Sect roared, snow fell down and covered Seven Moons Sect. Then, a sun made of ice appeared above!
Within the icy sun, a figure could be seen. It was the red-robed man. Once he rose with the sun, snow filled with a grim air enveloped Seven Moons Sect.
At the same time, a loud bang shot up from within the first layer of Sky Beyond the Sky. The entire outer sect was instantly encased by ice and snow, sealing the mountain. The Seven Moons Sect in the basin was covered in a layer of snow, without a single hint of what was within being able to be seen.
Soon after, thirteen long arcs flew out from the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky. They left the mountains and walked out of the Sky Beyond the Sky, spreading into thirteen directions within Seven Moons Sect. Those thirteen directions were the areas where there were the most cracks in the world.
Similarly, a large number of inner sect disciples ventured out of the fourth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky and started to patrol Seven Moons Sect as if they were preparing for something.
Only Su Ming remained sitting in his house, immersed in fusing with his seven shadows. He could already sense the signs of fusion. With just a little more time, he would be able to fuse his seven shadows together and turn them into his Dao Shadow!
Time passed, but even after bringing out a tight defense for three years, more cracks appeared beyond Seven Moons Sect. On one rainy day in summer, while snow fell in Seven Moons Sect…
A sound that was even louder than the average volume of a thunderclap rang out. As it echoed in the air, countless cracks appeared in the sky beyond Seven Moons Sect, and it looked as if the sky was about to collapse. The cracks immediately formed a huge picture in the sky. It was the outline of a statue!
Needless to say, it was one of the three statues belonging to One Dao Sect. Once its outline appeared, loud bangs came from the ground. As huge ravines rose and fell, it seemed like Seven Moons Sect was surrounded by all the cracks in the world.
At that moment, an ancient voice echoed in the world.
"One…"
The voice only uttered a single word, but astonishing howls came from the ravines. As the howls rose and fell, multiple figures shot out of the cracks.
At first glance, they seemed to have flown out of the ground, but in truth… they had come from the cracks. Those figures had cold expressions on their faces, which gave them a grim and murderous appearance. The moment they showed up, they charged at Seven Moons Sect.
"Dao…"
When the second word came, the sky tumbled about. A dozen figures instantly descended from the crack that formed the outline of the statue. Each of those figures exuded an ancient presence. After they appeared, they charged at Seven Moons Sect!
At the same time, the thirteen sect elders who defended Seven Moons Sect opened their eyes. Their bodies vanished, and when they reappeared, they were in front of the dozen something figures. Booming sounds echoed in the air, and they kept those people back.
Immediately after, the Seven Moons Snow Rune was activated. If anyone looked at all of Seven Moons Sect at that moment, they would find that it looked as if it no longer existed. It was enveloped by a huge layer of ice, snow, and whirlwinds that shot into the clouds. From a distance, it looked like an ice dragon was roaring at the world.
"Sect!"
The voice echoed in the world again. When it said the third word, booming sounds from the air in front of Seven Moons Sect being torn apart rang out, and a huge ravine which was millions of feet long appeared in the air. That ravine looked to have been torn apart by invisible hands. At the instant it was torn, a black wind dragon filled with cracks charged at the ice, snow, and whirlwinds.
"Hand over all the inner sect disciples from the last one hundred years! Or we will fight!"
"If you want to fight, then… we will fight!"
In the whirlwind, a face showed up at that moment, and it belonged… to the red-robed man!
Chapter 1406: Great Dao Paragon Sen Mu!
The war between the two great sects erupted at that instant. To many people, the event was rather sudden, but usually, wars, especially those between cultivators, happened in a blink of an eye!
The black wind dragon roared and rammed straight into the ice, snow, and whirlwind. It let out a shocking roar while it crumbled. The endless black wind tumbled back, then gathered together in the ice, snow, and whirlwind to turn into a black-robed old man.
He had a staff in his hand, and his cultivation base surged into the air, revealing that he was a powerful warrior in Dao Spirit Realm!
"Dao Han, why must your Seven Moons Sect do this for the inner sect disciples who joined the sect within the last one hundred years? I am with the first batch of people who will come forth. There will be more after me. If you don't hand over your people, you will only be destroyed!"
"How ludicrous, sect destructions have been incredibly rare since the ancient times. If you dare to set an example, then forget whether the other sects will attack you, even the Ancient Zang Royal Family will absolutely not allow it to happen!" the red-robed man said in a flat voice while his face protruded from the whirlwind.
"Dao Han, you have practiced cultivation for the shortest amount of time among the thirteen Great Sect Elders of Seven Moons Sect, and you are known as a Chosen, the hope for the future of Seven Moons Sect. Could you have forgotten… that this is the final three thousand years before the imperial power is handed to another person? During them, the royal family won't participate in any fights between sects!"
The black-robed old man laughed loudly. At the instant the red-robed man's expression changed slightly, the black-robed old man rushed at the whirlwind again.
At the same time, multiple figures flew out from the huge ravines in the air within Seven Moons Sect. There were also many ferocious-looking war chariots that shot out after them.
The cultivators from One Dao Sect had completely surrounded Seven Moons Sect, and the thirteen sect elders engaged their enemies in a battle to the death amid loud banging sounds. Nothing mattered in the battle, but their sects!
When more cultivators appeared beyond Seven Moons Sect, the red-robed man in the ice, snow, and whirlwind chuckled coldly. With the Rune around, he was not worried that the black-robed old man would be able to break through their defenses within a short period of time.
A loud bang shot up when the black-robed old man was pushed back, and Dao Han's voice came from within the whirlwind.
"The chill of Seven Moons is the snow that goes against the heavens. This is the season of heat. There is a shadow in the burning sun, and now… we will have the shadow of Seven Moons descend!"
As he said those words, a loud bang came from the ice, snow, and whirlwind. They quickly spread outwards to instantly cover an area that surpassed Seven Moons Sect, enveloping the entire region.
In the blink of an eye, they covered an area of nearly one million feet beyond Seven Moons Sect and all the cultivators from One Dao Sect. The wind was fierce, and the snow was like sharp blades. As it spun in the area, shrill screams of pain traveled outwards, and Seven Moons Sect began to distort. The disciples from the second, third, and fourth layers of Seven Moons Sect instantly rushed out, clearly having prepared themselves for that moment.
They were completely unharmed in the wind and snow. In fact, their speed was much faster than that of the people from One Dao Sect. Their divine abilities were also somewhat stronger than normally. This snow and wind was their protection. While helping them, it also brought great harm to those from One Dao Sect.
The protection provided for the thirteen sect elders was especially great. Snowflakes covered them completely, and their cultivation bases instantly increased exponentially. They erupted with power that shook the sky and earth.
At the instant the black-robed old man's expression changed, a red-robed figure walked out of the ice and snow. Needless to say, that person was the red-robed man, but it was not his real self. His real body served as a garrison for the Rune and ensured that it remained in operation. What appeared at that moment… was his Dao Shadow!
"Dao Shadow!"
A glint appeared in the black-robed old man's eyes. He took a few steps back in the wind and snow that seemed to be able to blind people. At the instant killing intent appeared in his eyes, Dao Han's Dao Shadow moved towards him expressionlessly.
Perhaps when it came to the levels of cultivation, they were near each other's level, but in the Rune, the black-robed old man was at a complete disadvantage! But in truth, even if the Rune was not around, when Dao Han had the sixth layer of Sky Beyond of Sky in his hand—their supreme treasure—the black-robed old man could not win against him.
Even though the amount of time the black-robed old man had spent practicing cultivation was much longer, his potential and affinity could not compare to those of Dao Han, who was an existence akin to a prodigy and a Chosen.
In the sky above Seven Moons Sect that was ravaged by ice and snow, there was the outline of the statue formed by the cracks. Another world was in its right eye.
A lake was in that world. There were ripples on its surface, and they continued without end while it rained.
Beside that lake was a pavilion. Three people were standing in it at that moment while watching the ripples created by the rain falling in the lake. They reflected… the battle in Seven Moons Sect!
The three people were dressed as scholars. One of them had a rather solemn expression when he said calmly, "This battle is something the eldest prince personally ordered. We cannot underestimate Seven Moons Sect."
"I didn't expect that Seven Moons Sect would fight back regardless of the cost…" One of the two others might also be dressed as a scholar, but he had dashing eyebrows, and it caused him to exude a fearsome air.
"That's how they should be acting. This is a fight for imperial power. If Seven Moons Sect did not know how to seize the chance in their hands and just handed over what we demanded, I would be surprised."
The final scholar looked incredibly thin. He held a feather fan in his hand, an chuckled lightly after speaking. His eyes looked as if they contained stars and wisdom.
"But Seven Moons Sect has indeed activated the Seven Moons Snow Rune, as senior brother Feng expected, and the third prince… was indeed asked to not appear. Instead, he is still inside the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky."
The scholar with the rather solemn expression smiled at that moment.
"It's not difficult. Based on senior Dao Han's personality, it's not difficult to predict that he would choose to use the Seven Moons Snow Sect among the seven Great Sect Runes of Seven Moons Sect after being oppressed for forty years.
"And the third prince… as long as Seven Moons Sect does not hand him over, he will definitely not show his face," the scholar said with the ghost of a smile on his lips and the sparkle of wisdom in his eyes.
"Then, perhaps before the eldest prince arrives, we will have a chance to capture… the third prince."
The scholar with the angled eyebrows had an expectant look in his eyes. Clearly, the status of the third prince they spoke of created a stimulation that made him want to release his cultivation base.
It was… the power of those who were in the second level of Dao Divinity Realm!
"Oh well, based on the eldest prince's predictions, the third prince's level of cultivation should be around the first level of Dao Divinity Realm. You should be fine if you go to capture him.
"I will help you suppress the powerful warriors in the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky. As for the great sect elders in Seven Moons Sect… our powerhouses are limiting their movements from a distance. They'll pose no problem for you.
"The only thing you will need to pay attention to is that you must tread down the path I laid out for you once you enter the Seven Moons Snow Rune, for only then will you be able to get into Seven Moons Sect and fool everyone. After all, your actions are the key to our operation. The people at the periphery are just decorations we laid out to help divert Seven Moons Sect's attention!
"And you will only have the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. In that period of time, you must capture him alive!"
"I don't need the time for an incense stick. I'll be done when half of an incense stick finishes burning!"
The man with the angled eyebrows laughed loudly. At the instant a brilliant sparkle appeared in his eyes, he walked to the lake beyond the pavilion. His body turned into a long arc, and he instantly disappeared into a drop of rain, then seeped into Seven Moons Sect through the ripple formed when it landed on the lake.
Once the scholar with the angled eyebrows disappeared, the person with the solemn expression frowned.
"Junior Brother Sun is rather conceited and arrogant. I only hope… that no accidents occur."
"This Rune can at most withstand the presence of cultivators in the second level of Dao Divinity Realm, and this is its weakness. If not for it, I wouldn't have chosen Junior Brother Sun. He is only the strongest among all those in the second level of Dao Divinity Realm in our sect.
"Don't worry. Based on my calculations, no problems will occur. I've already considered all possible variables and encompassed everything into my plan to make sure my calculations are accurate," the scholar with the sagely eyes said.
…..
Wind and snow howled in Seven Moons Sect, the sound resounded through the entire world while the filled up the entire region. At that moment, another layer of snowflakes swiftly appeared in the snow and wind. If anyone took a closer look at them, they would be able to see that they had come from the right eye of the statue's outline in the sky. At that moment, when they floated out, they fused with the snow in the area and could not be differentiated anymore.
The snowflakes moved with the wind and drifted about. While battles raged in the wind and snow, the snowflakes entered… Seven Moons Sect!
Neither the Rune nor other barriers could stop the snowflakes' movements. They might have seemed to be moving in a seemingly unsystematic method, but they drifted about in a certain trajectory. Without being noticed, they seeped through the Rune until they reached the second layer of Sky Beyond the Sky, then the third layer, the fourth, and in the end… the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky.
As they floated down, the snowflakes melted into a young man with dashing eyebrows and who wore a scholar's robe, but he did not immediately act. Instead, he closed his eyes and levitated in the air as if waiting for something.
The fifth layer let out a bang, and an invisible hand appeared in the sky. No one knew how it appeared, but it went to swiftly push at the ground. The entire fifth layer roared loudly, and a huge pressure enveloped the area, shaking the hearts of all cultivators in the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky. Their bodies instantly tensed up, and they could not move a single inch.
Cracks also instantly appeared in the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky. They filled the entire area and sealed up the whole area. The cracks seemed to have found the edge of the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky. Once they sealed it up, the red-robed man and the other sect elders immediately noticed it, but it was impossible for them to go back in time to prevent it.
Even if they rushed back, it was impossible for them to break the seal over the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn!
The person who placed the seal over the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky and suppressed the cultivators inside was someone they could not fight in terms of their power. That person… slowly lifted his hand after he sealed the fifth layer from the seventh layer of Sky Beyond the Sky, then, with a smile, he looked at the twelve aloof looking Great Sect Elders of Seven Moons Sect before him.
"My fellow Daoists, it's been many years since we last met. How are you?"
Su Ming's Master in Seven Moons Sect, the middle-aged man dressed in the sky-blue Daoist Robe, looked at a person who had the appearance of a handsome teenager dressed in a white robe.
"Great Dao Paragon Sen Mu!"
Chapter 1407: The Person Who Will Kill You… is Tian He!
The white-robed teenager was a Great Dao Paragon! He was Great Dao Paragon Sen Mu, an existence which stood among the strongest, which was one of the thirty most powerful warriors in all of Ancient Zang!
He might have seemed young, but in truth, he had walked the path of cultivation for much longer than the Great Sect Elders of Seven Moons Sect… except for the Great Sect Elder of the first line of Seven Moons Sect. The other great sect elders could not hope to compare to him in terms of their age.
"Xu Zhong Fan… Fellow Daoist Xu, it's been many years since we last met. I didn't expect you to be able to gather together the Ring of Great Dao."
The white-robed teenager smiled faintly. His smile was very sincere, and not a single hint of falsehood could be detected in it. He even gave off a feeling that he was bathing in the light of spring.
The white-robed teenager cast a scrutinizing glance at Su Ming's Master in Seven Moons Sect, then said with a smile, "I haven't congratulated you for taking in such a good disciple that your own Life Matrix will gain a noble status so you would have hope of completing your Dao."
Su Ming's Master in Seven Moons Sect, the middle-aged man in the sky-blue Daoist robe had a sullen expression on his face. The other great sect elders beside him also had grim and murderous looks. They stared at the white-robed teenager coldly.
Only one person did not do so. He was an old man with a head full of white hair and his eyes closed. He might have been standing among the great sect elders, but there was a faint feeling that made it seem like he was different from the others.
"Great Dao Paragon Sen Mu has come to visit us, and your presence is like that of a friend. However, you have not come to us with grace and you did not wait for us to welcome you. Instead, you stepped into Sky Beyond the Sky on your own, without our permission. Does… One Dao Sect underestimate us so much?" Su Ming's Master in Seven Moons Sect said while looking at Sen Mu.
"I am already here."
The white-robed teenager's expression remained the same. He continued smiling while looking at the Great Sect Elders of Seven Moons Sect. When his eyes landed on the old man who still had his eyes closed, he narrowed his eyes slightly.
He was silent for a moment before he wrapped his fist in his palm and bowed to the old man, who still had his eyes shut. "I have been discourteous. Greetings, Senior Gu Tai."
"You broke into our Sky Beyond the Sky without authorization, then sealed our sect's fifth layer. You also sent pressure against our disciples. Don't you think that you degraded your status, Great Dao Paragon? You're just going to say that you were discourteous? Where would Seven Moons Sect's dignity be then?!"
Su Ming's Master in Seven Moons Sect took a step forward at that moment. There was a dark look in his eyes when he spoke.
"I apologize for this matter. I have been practicing cultivation for a long time, and all these codes of conduct in the world outside are rather unclear to me. I have indeed come to this place without careful consideration, and I should not have sealed your fifth layer. Such an act is indeed below my status, and the matter of using pressure to bind those of the younger generation… If I have offended you today, how about you hit me, you ingrate?"
The white-robed teenager looked at Xu Zhong Fan with a smile. Aside from his last sentence, all his words were incredibly sincere. If it was the first time they came into contact with him, the sect elders would be unable to help themselves and relax slightly in his presence.
But once he said the last sentence, the entire tone of his speech changed completely, causing the gazes of the eleven Great Sect Elders of Seven Moons Sect to turn even colder and darker, but they did not show any hint of surprise. Clearly, they knew of Great Dao Paragon Sen Mu's personality.
"Enough!"
The old man who had his eyes shut opened them slowly at that moment. He had no pupils, just whites, which made him a bizarre sight.
"Sen Mu, we will not hand him over. If you want to fight… then Seven Moons Sect will fight! If you can come here for the eldest prince, then we, Seven Moons Sect, can also… face the risk of our sect's destruction for the third prince!
"But I heard that Asura Clan, where the second prince is, has also showed signs of gaining power."
The old man's words were calm, and not a hint of happiness or anger could be felt, but when he spoke, the other great sect elders immediately took a step back, allowing the old man to be at the center. Clearly, he was the leader.
Even the white-robed teenager no longer had a smile on his face. His expression became solemn.
"Senior Gu Tai, you are still the same as before, I—"
"When I gained enlightenment and completed my Dao, you were still happily prancing about on your Master's knees. Will you fight or will you not fight? I only need one word for your answer. Cut all your pleasantries, they're just noise," the old man said flatly, and a strong, domineering air spread out from him with a bang.
Sen Mu was silent while casting a few scrutinizing glances at Gu Tai. His eyes sparkled slightly before he sighed.
"I heard from my Master that there were three Dao Gods in the ninth level in Ancient Zang, and after them, it was said that all those who become Great Dao Paragons will definitely become Dao Gods in the ninth level of Dao Divinity Realm, but only one succeeded, and that is you, Senior Gu Tai.
"After all… you are the only one who once fought against the Imperishable Cultivators with the three Dao Gods in the ninth level of Dao Divinity Realm!
"But a pity, you had a burden in your heart, and that caused you to suffer an injury in your heart, and it also resulted in you… being unable to become a Great Dao Paragon… but I will admit that you are still my senior. If you truly want to fight, I do not have the confidence to win against you," Sen Mu said slowly. While looking at Gu Tai, he wrapped his fist in his palm and bowed to him again.
"I have come here today to make a bet with Seven Moons Sect. The bet will last for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Regardless of whether I win or lose, I will apologize and leave."
"And if you lose?" the old man asked flatly.
"I will give you one hundred thousand Dao scrolls as well as three hundred slips containing different epiphanies to enter Dao Spirit Realm," Sen Mu answered without any hesitation.
"Not necessary. If you win, we will no longer need to talk about anything else, but if you lose… then all the invaders from One Dao Sect within an area of one million feet must remain in this place!" Once Gu Tai said, and Sen Mu's pupils shrank.
"Very well!"
Resolution appeared on his face. After all, while the old man was just a Dao Paragon, forget Sen Mu himself, even his Master was slightly wary of him, and they would not easily provoke him. The old man's reputation was so great in the past that his name had traveled through all of Ancient Zang, and he surely still had some secrets up his sleeves. Legends had it that he could copy one of the divine abilities belonging to the three Dao Gods in the ninth level of Dao Divinity Realm!
"Including those in the sky," the old man said flatly.
This time, Sen Mu went silent, but soon, he nodded and sat down. He swung his right arm, and an incense stick appeared in front of them. It swayed and was instantly lit.
"Sect Master… This matter…" Next to the old man, Xu Zhong Fan had a hint of worry on his face. But just when he was about to continue speaking, Gu Tai cast him a glance.
"I can't help him in this matter either. If he fails, then it is his destiny, and it also means that he is not a person who can fight to be the heir. If he wins… then why is it wrong for Seven Moons Sect to face the risk of destruction for him?!"
There was a firm tone in the old man's words, causing the other great sect elders to choose not to speak.
When all of them cast their gazes on the lit incense stick and a wisp of smoke floated up, the young man with the angled eyebrows in the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky opened his eyes. He remained still, but a hint of killing intent and excitement appeared in his eyes.
"The game has started. The time it takes for an incense stick to burn, huh? I will only need half of that time."
At the instant the young man opened his eyes, cracking sounds came from his body. While he seemed to have appeared in the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky, right then, as the cracking sounds appeared, he seemed to have descended in the fifth layer once more. He took a step forward and… his body turned into a long arc that charged towards the mountain belonging to the third line, where Su Ming was.
"Capturing the third prince alive? I won't do that. I will kill him! Haha! I will become the first cultivator to ever kill a member of the royal family!
"Once I kill him, then perhaps I will have the chance to snatch his Life Matrix. And my level of cultivation will definitely increase! Besides, even if I kill him, I will not have violated the rules of Ancient Zang, because it'll be done during the three thousand years!
"As for three thousand years later… If I can't reach the ninth level of Dao Divinity Realm, it's pointless for me to continue living. And if I can reach the ninth level of Dao Divinity Realm… then no one will be able to do anything to me!"
The young man's laughter echoed in the air.
He instantly appeared on the mountain belonging to the third line. He did not step on the cliff where Su Ming was, but instead, once he showed up at the foot of the mountain, his laughter echoed in the air, and he started walking up the mountain.
With each step he took, the mountain trembled, and powerful, mighty pressure descended every single time his foot landed. It grew stronger and filled the young man's voice with confidence and excitement.
"Third prince, the person who will kill you… is Tian He!"
Su Ming sat in the mountain in the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky. Be it the seal in the world or the intimidating suppression, they seemed to not be very effective on him. They seemed to avoid the region where he stayed.
It was also because of it that Seven Moons Sect had agreed to gamble with Sen Mu, or else it would have been a different story. Clearly, everything had been planned to the very last detail by One Dao Sect.
At that moment, while meditating with his eyes closed, Su Ming sensed the seal outside. He sensed a terrifying wave of mighty pressure enveloping the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky, which turned it into a prison. The aura of other people caught inside had become chaotic, and they were all fighting against it arduously.
Su Ming had also sensed an unfamiliar presence in the prison-like fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky. That presence was strong, and it was full of killing intent as well as madness so great that it caused the mountain to tremble. Then, the voice of that person reached his ears.
Su Ming sighed in his heart. He knew that it was a battle he could not avoid. He could only sigh regrettably, however, because he had already found a sign serving as a guide for him to fuse his shadow figures together, but in the end, he was forced to stop due to an invisible bottleneck. It felt as if he lacked some sort of key to reach a breakthrough.
At the moment he was about to open his eyes, Su Ming suddenly froze, as if he was listening to something. After a long while, his face became calm again, and he gave up on the thought to open his eyes.
The mountain trembled even more violently. The sounds of footsteps gradually grew louder, coming closer. Low chuckles reached his ears, and a presence filled with killing intent as well as excitement covered the entire mountain belonging to the third line.
A dozen something breaths later, Tian He appeared hundreds of feet away from Su Ming. His aura instantly reached its peak.
"Honorable third prince… you have already missed the best chance to counterattack."
The young man with the dashing eyebrows saw Su Ming meditating outside his house at first glance, and a smile appeared on his face.
Needless to say, there were no fools among people who had reached his level of cultivation. He might be arrogant, but he was also conniving. He had walked over instead of flying to give pressure to Su Ming, but also… because after moving through the Rune of Seven Moons Sect, he needed some time for his power to return to its peak!
And it was the pinnacle of the second level of Dao Divinity Realm!
Chapter 1408: Without Destruction, You Cannot Create Anything New!
"It's still early, so allow me to introduce myself. You should know the person who killed you, Your Highness." The young man with the angled eyebrows walked up the stairs towards Su Ming.
"I am Tian He, the seventh disciple under Diao Men, who is in the Second Dao in One Dao Sect. I am the Envoy of Battle in One Dao Sect, and I am in the second level of Dao Divinity Realm. As for my hometown… it's also in Ancient Zang. It's not too far away from the royal capital." As the young man spoke, he walked closer to Su Ming.
"Now, I've finished making my introductions. Your Highness… you… can now die!"
A moment ago, the young man was still smiling, but in the next breath, his expression turned ferocious. The killing intent in his eyes burned along with excitement. As he spoke, he lifted his right hand and swiftly pointed at Su Ming.
With it, the world roared. A large number of cracks appeared in the mountain belonging to the third line, and sword shadows manifested in the air before the young man. They immediately reached over one million in number and charged at Su Ming while covering the sky and earth.
Each sword shadow held a terrifying power that could tear through the world. When they charged at Su Ming, his eyes remained closed, but he lifted his hands and formed a seal. Immediately, his hair danced about, and his robes fluttered. A gentle light enveloped his body and turned into a layer of protection.
Loud booming sounds echoed through the world at a volume that shook the sky and earth. The one million sword shadows instantly submerged Su Ming, and the booming sounds grew even louder. The sword shadows crumbled and turned into glittering light that spread through the area.
Su Ming remained seated on the cliff with his eyes closed. The protective screen of light around him had become much darker and fainter, but it did not crack.
"Quite interesting. As expected of the third prince. Do you still have some other Enchanted Treasures to protect yourself?"
The young man smiled, but the killing intent in his eyes became stronger. When he took a step forward, he instantly closed in on Su Ming and lifted his right hand with two fingers pressed together to resemble the tip of a sword. He sliced it through the air, and a white flame lit up. It surrounded his fingers, and he tapped the screen of light around Su Ming.
At the instant his fingers touched the screen, it shuddered. Cracking sounds could be heard, and cracks spread through the screen!
"Shatter!"
When the young man spoke with a cold sneer, a loud bang shot up, and the screen of light around Su Ming shattered as a response. It crumbled to pieces.
A string of conceited laughter came from Tian He, who did not stop moving his right hand. Once he crushed the screen of light, he reached for the center of Su Ming's brow.
"Third prince, I won't be sending you off!" the young man said while his laughter still echoing in the air.
At that moment, Xu Zhong Fan was the one who appeared to be the most nervous and worried in the seventh layer of Sky Beyond the Sky. He was Su Ming's Master. Even though he was only Master in name and had forced Su Ming to be his disciple, his worry at that moment was sincere. It did not matter whether his worries were related to things concerning himself, but without a doubt… at that moment, he was worried about Su Ming.
"Sect Master!"
He could clearly see Su Ming and Tian He's figures in the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky. In fact, all the people in the seventh layer could see the two of them in the fifth layer.
"He is in the second level of Dao Divinity Realm. This is… unfair!" Xu Zhong Fan looked at Great Sect Elder Gu Tai of the first line.
"Continue watching!" Gu Tai's expression was calm, but a bright sparkle had appeared in his eyes.
The screen of light around Su Ming in the fifth layer shattered. When Tian He's finger was about to tap the center of his brow, Su Ming still remained with his eyes closed. He did not dodge, but overlapping shadows appeared around his body. A figure shot out and turned into a long arc that touched Tian He's approaching finger.
As booming sounds echoed in the air, Tian He's finger paused for a moment, and he took a few steps back. When he lifted his head, the figure which blocked his finger tumbled backwards while taking on Su Ming's form, but his face was pale. His body was faint and resembled an illusion, as if he was about to dissipate at any moment. Clearly, Su Ming's shadow figure had a hard time withstanding the attack.
"A shadow figure? Not bad."
Tian He grinned. Suddenly, his body vanished, and when he reappeared, he was right in front of Su Ming. However, Su Ming's shadow figure also disappeared and reappeared between the young man and his real self.
Booming sounds shook the sky and earth while fog filled the area. Tian He lifted his right hand and seized the air in the direction of the sky.
"Sky Sword!"
When he said those words, a huge crack appeared in the sealed fifth layer. It immediately turned into an asymmetrical sword that looked like a crack and which instantly charged towards the ground, straight for Su Ming.
Loud booming spread in every direction. Su Ming's shadow figure was instantly pierced through by the sword and reduced to black fragments in front of his real self. When they tumbled backwards, they were absorbed back into Su Ming's meditating body.
Overlapping shadows appeared around Su Ming's body again. This time, he did not just send out one shadow figure, but two, and one of them was the shadow of winter. It was formed when Su Ming had gained an epiphany of winter from the four seasons!
Once the two shadow figures appeared, they charged at Tian He. An arrogant look appeared in his eyes when they drew close. He lifted his right foot and stomped on the ground. A loud bang shot up, and numerous cracks appeared under his feet. The moment they showed up, they turned into contorted swords that charged at Su Ming's two shadow figures.
"A mere child's play. You overestimate yourself, third prince. You… can't run from this disaster!"
As he spoke, Tian He lifted his hands and pushed his palms together before pushing forward. With it, his hair immediately danced in the air, as if a gust of violent wind had crashed into his face. The mountain under his feet trembled, and the world behind him distorted.
Loud booms shot out from the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky, and from every direction, contorted swords appeared around him. If anyone looked over, they would find that swords were endless. The air had been replaced by sword glints.
"One Slash, Sever Dao!"
The moment the young man attacked, Su Ming's two shadow figures shot out. One of them instantly turned into a layer of black fog. When it tumbled out, a huge black palm manifested and charged at Tian He.
At the same time, Su Ming's other shadow figure, the shadow of winter, opened its eyes, and snow began to fall. The entire sky seemed to have become dark. A blizzard rose up, and a pair of eyes that seemed to be on the verge of opening appeared in the sky, causing the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky to seem to be enveloped by shadow.
"Not a bad Art, but a pity… it's too weak!"
The young man laughed arrogantly and pulled his hands apart. The world roared. Countless sword glints instantly charged forward and crashed against Su Ming's palm of black fog, tore at the blizzard around him, and caused loud bangs.
The eyes in the sky were torn, the snow in the area fell apart, and Su Ming's shadow of winter shattered. The palm of black fog also disintegrated and turned into wisps of black smoke. When they tumbled backwards, they charged at Su Ming's seated real self and were absorbed back into his body.
"Now then… What other tricks do you have? Third prince, Seven Moons Sect has their Seven Lives Art. Excluding your real self, you should still have three more shadow figures. Only three-tenths of the time it takes for an incense stick to burn have passed. Come, I'll play with you!"
An excited look appeared on Tian He's face. He would definitely not do something like that if he attacked someone else, but right then, he liked the feeling of fighting Su Ming. He liked being able to toy with him.
The person before him was part of the royal family of Ancient Zang, the royal family whose status was so great that no one was allowed to show even a single hint of disrespect. Su Ming was the third prince, and the chance to kill and humiliate a member of the royal family excited Tian He, which was why he wanted it to last. He wanted to make the third prince afraid. He wanted to see his fear!
With ruthless ferociousness and excitement, Tian He took a step forward. He lifted his right hand and cut down swiftly!
"Third prince, send out your remaining three shadow figures so I can kill them!"
When he spoke, overlapping shadows appeared around Su Ming's body once more. The final three figures appeared and turned into his shadows of autumn, summer, and spring. Together, they charged out.
Tian He's conceited laughter echoed in the air of the seventh layer of Sky Beyond the Sky.
At that moment, powerful killing intent appeared in Xu Zhong Fang's eyes. He glared at Tian He. Across from the Great Sect Elders of Seven Moons Sect, the white-robed teenager continued smiling, but there was anger in his heart. He was not angry about Tian He wanting to kill instead of capturing the third prince, but about how slow he was in regards to it. If he continued toying with him and some accident happened…
"This is his disaster. Continue watching!" Gu Tai said faintly again.
Tian He's laughter echoed in the fifth layer of Sky Beyond the Sky again, and he cast a scornful look at the three shadow figures that had overlapped with Su Ming's body and appeared while sparkling. Once he saw the three shadow figures take Su Ming's form, he once again felt the excitement of killing a prince.
"We should end the game now. The time it takes for half an incense stick to burn is almost up."
As Tian He smiled, a contemptuous look appeared on his face. He lifted his right hand and pushed his palm against the ground. With a bang, the ground shuddered, and even the mountain belonging to the third line seemed to want to collapse. In truth, all of the thirteen mountains in the area started trembling.
Once cracks appeared, they instantly turned into swords. They immediately surrounded Tian He, and the moment he lifted his right hand from the ground, they gathered together to turn into… a big sword of one thousand feet in length. While sweeping sideways, it charged at Su Ming.
Booming sounds echoed in the air. With supreme strength and Tian He's power in the second level of Dao Divinity Realm, the big sword cut through the shadow of autumn, the body of summer, and the mark of spring. At the instant Su Ming's three shadow figures shattered and tumbled back into his real self, the sword drew close to Su Ming's head, about to cut into his body!
"The game should indeed end now."
At that moment, the meditating Su Ming opened his eyes!