Chapter 293: Sword Annihilates Ascension
Feng Fei Yu and the other four fixed their gazes on Ning Qi, everyone staring as if into an abyss, never imagining they would fall into the hands of the weakest mid Integration Realm cultivator on this trip.
Whether it was the long-famous Niu Ding Tian, Hu Xiao Tian, or Jian Jingjue, even if they could contend against them for a moment or two, the five could accept that.
But it was this youngest Ning Qi who single-handedly turned the tide!
Feng Fei Yu and the others opened their mouths, yet found they could say nothing.
The Five Elements Divine Chain carried sealing power, sealing their ability to speak, use telepathic communication, or even send messages; they couldn’t even transmit a message back to their sect.
What made the five even more despairing was that even if they wanted to self-detonate and perish together, they couldn’t do that either.
Among the five, Feng Fei Yu and the other four were manipulated by Ning Qi to continuously rise, positioned at the four directions.
The next second, the four were instantly tightened by the divine chains just like Ye Wuxin back then.
The rules within their bodies were devoured by the Five Elements Divine Chain, and the Five Elements Divine Chain emitted brilliant light.
Boom!
Four earth-shaking sounds roared like thunderclaps, the divine chains exploding, annihilating the four, their forms and spirits completely scattered.
The congregation below watched the four gorgeous fireworks, each one stunned.
Especially the Ox Demon Upper Sect demons; Hu Xiao Tian shuddered, nearly shaking the people behind him off.
Only the last Bai Cai Zhen Jun was spared by Ning Qi.
At this moment, his incomparably handsome face was filled with terror.
Like an ordinary butterfly trapped in a spider web in the mortal world, his life was no longer his own.
If he had known Ning Qi was so powerful, he absolutely wouldn’t have betrayed Ox Demon Upper Sect; he would have stayed there peacefully as an old ancestor.
But there were no ifs; as a traitor, Ning Qi naturally preferred to hand him over to the Ox Demon Upper Sect people to deal with.
After dealing with the congregation, Jian Jingjue beside him said bitterly:
“Kid, next time can you warn us in advance? I was all prepared to sacrifice myself, but you turned the tide. If you keep doing this, I’m afraid I won’t have the heart to sacrifice myself anymore.”
Ning Qi turned back to support the somewhat weak Sword Ancestor, laughing:
“Sword Ancestor, don’t say that. It was your pioneering spirit of sacrifice that inspired my potential, allowing me to take them down in one go.”
Jian Jingjue was helpless; why did these words seem to encourage him to sacrifice himself more in the future?
Whatever, now he couldn’t beat Ning Qi or outtalk him, so he could only choose silence.
Below, Hu Xiao Tian hadn’t been idle; he helped Niu Ding Tian up from the deep ravine.
The disciples from the two sects behind him had already detached and were searching the fog-shrouded deep ravine below, wondering if enemies still lurked within.
Hu Xiao Tian and Niu Ding Tian came before Ning Qi.
Niu Ding Tian’s originally pitch-black bull face was now pale as paper, clearly from excessive blood loss.
And at his waist, a terrifying wound slanted through his entire upper body, nearly severing him in two, with only a last bit of flesh and bone connecting.
Their demon race’s bodies were inherently strong, yet he was wounded like this by Bai Cai Zhen Jun.
Though it was a sneak attack, regardless, Bai Cai Zhen Jun’s attack was extremely fearsome, almost comparable to Sword Ancestor’s single sword.
Fortunately, Ning Qi was even more of a prodigy and completely subdued Bai Cai Zhen Jun.
“Brother Niu, are you alright?”
Niu Ding Tian said weakly:
“I’m fine. In a bit, I’ll use the spiritual blood Brother Ning gave us back in the Profound True Secret Realm, and I’ll recover. It’s just that this old ox was careless and got sneak attacked by a traitor in the sect, making Brother Ning laugh!”
He looked at Ning Qi; only now did Niu Ding Tian realize how strong Ning Qi’s strength truly was.
Before, in his battle with Ning Qi, he knew Ning Qi could battle across levels and could defeat him.
But Niu Ding Tian swore he never imagined Ning Qi could single-handedly contend against seven Integration Realm experts and slay them!
Ning Qi nodded and took out a bottle of pills from his storage space, handing it to Niu Ding Tian:
“Spiritual blood isn’t great for healing; use this bottle of pills from me. I obtained it from the Profound True Secret Realm too, and it works even for Dao Integration Realm.”
Niu Ding Tian was stunned for a moment but didn’t refuse.
If not for Ning Qi’s presence now, everyone would be dead. Since he already owed a favor, he might as well owe a bit more.
Immediately, Niu Ding Tian took out a pill and swallowed it; the terrifying wound on his body recovered at a visible speed.
In no time, he was fully restored, and not only that, Niu Ding Tian even felt his cultivation had grown slightly.
Thus, the gratitude in his bull eyes toward Ning Qi deepened.
Though the two sects were on good terms, handing over Dao Integration Realm pills without a hint of hesitation made Niu Ding Tian feel Ning Qi was incredibly generous.
Such an ally was worth entrusting one’s life to!
Ning Qi slightly beckoned.
Bai Cai Zhen Jun, detained in the sky, was immediately pulled to the group.
“Brother Niu, since Bai Cai Zhen Jun is from your Ox Demon Upper Sect, I’ll leave him to you to handle. Rest assured, I’ve completely sealed the rules and divine power in his body; he’s no different from a mortal now.”
Niu Ding Tian nodded, thanked him again, then looked at Bai Cai Zhen Jun.
His gaze held both pain and hatred.
Bai Cai Zhen Jun couldn’t say a word, only staring at them with a mournful expression, his face full of pleas for mercy.
In the end, Niu Ding Tian sighed helplessly and said, “Brother Xiao Tian, he’s yours to dispose of.”
Hu Xiao Tian first clasped his fists toward Ning Qi, then walked to Bai Cai Zhen Jun’s side, transformed into his main body, and swallowed him in one bite.
The matter was settled.
The great powers and true disciples found no traces of other enemies in the fog-shrouded deep ravine below.
Clearly, Feng Fei Yu and the others thought seven Integration Realm experts were enough.
Thus, the congregation set off again.
Along the way, everyone felt both lingering fear and a trace of excitement.
Now that Feathered Ascension Upper Sect’s two Integration Realm were dead, Feathered Ascension Upper Sect had no more power to oppose them, so taking it down was a done deal.
All of this was thanks to the invincible figure ahead; the congregation gazed at his back like a god.
The Boundless Sword Sect people were somewhat better off; they were already used to Sect Leader Senior Brother’s divine might.
The Ox Demon Upper Sect demons were seeing Ning Qi’s terror for the first time; they were both shocked and awed, and immensely grateful that their old ancestor had befriended such a prodigy who appeared out of nowhere.
……
Within Feathered Ascension Upper Sect.
Sect Leader Fang Xiandao paced back and forth in the Sect Leader Hall.
The hatred for his youngest son being killed by Ox Demon Upper Sect tormented his heart day and night.
He used his life’s savings to persuade the two old ancestors in the sect to invite people from the neighboring Fuyao Region’s Qingxuan Immortal Sect to join hands and vow to exterminate Ox Demon Upper Sect and wipe out Boundless Sword Sect to vent this hatred.
At this moment, the people from Ox Demon Upper Sect and Boundless Sword Sect should all have gone to the underworld.
However, as the great power guarding the soul lamps rushed panicked into the Sect Leader Hall, Fang Xiandao’s heart sank instantly.
Last time he sent Feathered Ascension Upper Sect people to the Northern Xuan Region to battle Boundless Sword Sect, the other side was also this panicked; could it be…
Sure enough, that great power stammered as if his tongue was tied:
“Sect… Sect Leader, b-bad news! The two old ancestors’ soul lamps… went out!”
Upon hearing this, Fang Xiandao felt as if struck by lightning tribulation; his body swayed, nearly unable to stand.
“What?”
He only said one word before rushing toward the sect’s soul hall.
Only after personally seeing the two old ancestors’ soul lamp life fires extinguished did Fang Xiandao’s face turn deathly pale, as if he had lost his soul.
“It’s over, Feathered Ascension Upper Sect is finished!”
The great power beside him also showed fear, but he still stepped forward to support Fang Xiandao, saying:
“Sect Leader, you must pull yourself together. The old ancestors have fallen, but our lives remain. If we don’t prepare for battle, the remaining people in the sect will also…”
Fang Xiandao gritted his teeth and recovered from his daze.
He ordered: “Immediately activate the sect protecting grand formation, open the treasury, distribute all supplies to the sect members, and pour them into the sect protecting grand formation. Whether Feathered Ascension Upper Sect can survive this depends on the gamble!”
That great power immediately left to carry out the orders.
Fang Xiandao glanced at the soul lamps again, endless regret surging in his eyes.
If only, back then, he hadn’t had the idea to expand Feathered Ascension Upper Sect’s power into the Northern Xuan Region, then none of what followed would have happened.
But his original idea wasn’t wrong; the Spirit Realm War was coming, and without ample preparation for the Spirit Realm War, it would be extremely dangerous once it began.
But now, Fang Xiandao never imagined that their Feathered Ascension Upper Sect wouldn’t be destroyed in that seemingly dangerous but not-yet-arrived Spirit Realm War, but might instead be annihilated before it even started.
Fang Xiandao took out a communication jade slip, first sending a plea for aid to Heavenly Star Upper Sect, listing all the harms that Ox Demon Upper Sect and Boundless Sword Sect growing too large would bring to Heavenly Star Upper Sect.
Then, he sent a telepathic message to Qingxuan Immortal Sect in Fuyao Region.
Since the two old ancestors fell instantly, the four they sent must have perished too.
After sending the messages, Fang Xiandao rushed out of the soul hall and hurriedly directed the remaining sect members to continuously strengthen the sect protecting grand formation’s power.
He had to make it impregnable in the shortest time!
Time passed; under the sect members’ haste, the sect protecting grand formation before him became increasingly perfect, and Fang Xiandao’s heart eased slightly.
However, when he took out the sound transmission jade slip and saw no replies to the two messages he sent, his briefly relaxed mood sank again.
Heavenly Star Upper Sect’s inaction was expected; they liked playing the fisherman while the snipe and clam fought, nothing surprising.
But why was Qingxuan Immortal Sect in Fuyao Region also silent?
They too lost four Integration Realm magnates; with an immortal sect’s foundation, shouldn’t they seek revenge?
Just as Fang Xiandao’s mind was uneasy, figures flew in outside Feathered Ascension Upper Sect’s grand formation.
He immediately looked out; sure enough, it was the Ox Demon Upper Sect demons and Boundless Sword Sect people.
Fang Xiandao scanned everyone, gauging the experts among them; to his astonishment, not a single one had died!
Only their planted Bai Cai Zhen Jun was missing.
But how was this possible?
Could it be six Integration Realm—no, plus Bai Cai Zhen Jun, seven Integration Realm magnates—failed to kill even one from the two sects and were all wiped out?
Fang Xiandao couldn’t believe this possibility!
Even facing a Dao Integration Realm old ancestor, the seven together, even if not matching, could hold out for a moment or even escape with high chance.
Could the seven not have attacked the two sects at all, and not been killed by Ox Demon Upper Sect and Boundless Sword Sect people?
If so, that would explain it, but what it hid behind was even more terrifying!
Fang Xiandao spoke first, “Niu Ding Tian, Ning Qi, what business do your two sects have coming to my Feathered Ascension Upper Sect?”
Niu Ding Tian glanced at Ning Qi.
Before, both sects had issued orders not to reveal Ning Qi slaying six Integration Realm, making everyone swear heavenly dao oaths.
After all, it was too astonishing!
Anyway, no one else was there at the time; Feng Fei Yu and the others didn’t even have time to send messages.
So whether Feathered Ascension Upper Sect or Qingxuan Immortal Sect, none knew what exactly happened.
Let them guess; it was clearly better.
First, it bought more time for the two sects; others aside, but time was extremely important for Ning Qi.
The longer the delay, the more advantageous for Ning Qi, since his growth speed was too fast.
Second, it deterred Qingxuan Immortal Sect, making them hesitant to send more people.
Thus, Niu Ding Tian responded:
“Fang Xiandao, why pretend to be dumb between us? We’re here, yet you don’t call out your old ancestors. Can you alone block our two sects?”
Hearing this, not just Fang Xiandao, but everyone in Feathered Ascension Upper Sect was stunned.
What did Niu Ding Tian mean? Could they really not have encountered their old ancestors?
Many couldn’t help but wonder in their hearts: where did the old ancestors die?
No wonder they thought that; seeing everyone from Ox Demon Upper Sect and Boundless Sword Sect alive now, anyone would think the same.
Fang Xiandao frowned tightly; he even wondered if something happened on Qingxuan Immortal Sect’s side in Fuyao Region.
Perhaps Qingxuan Immortal Sect’s enemy forces struck, taking out their old ancestors in one go.
Fang Xiandao wanted to ask more, but Ning Qi and the others didn’t give him the chance to speak.
Sword Ancestor held his sword forward, saying to Ning Qi: “Let me try breaking the formation first; can’t let you kid hog all the spotlight!”
Ning Qi smiled helplessly and could only make a gesture of invitation.
Niu Ding Tian and Hu Xiao Tian looked at Jian Jingjue without speaking.
They weren’t skilled at breaking formations, and though Ning Qi and Jian Jingjue were both mid Integration Realm, the two demons had seen their earlier moves; both could battle across levels. Niu Ding Tian and Hu Xiao Tian knew they weren’t their opponents.
Initially, when Ox Demon Upper Sect proposed eradicating Feathered Ascension Upper Sect, they sent three, thinking they were the main force.
Now they realized Boundless Sword Sect’s two were!
“One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Laws!” Jian Jingjue shouted lightly.
The sword in his hand slid out like water, slashing toward Feathered Ascension Upper Sect’s sect protecting grand formation.
A massive sword shadow emerged from the void, like the giant axe when Pangu split the heavens, or like a meteorite shower crashing down, with terrifying momentum.
The sword light clashed with the sect protecting grand formation, instantly erupting in fearsome fluctuations.
One side was incomparably sharp sword dao and exposed sharp sword intent; the other was a grand formation operated and repaired for hundreds of thousands of years.
Countless sparks flashed under the sword light, from the formation operating at its limit to resist the attack, producing spiritual energy and rules fire.
The entire grand formation shook like a transparent balloon.
Inside Feathered Ascension Upper Sect, the several maintaining the formation had blood trickle from their mouths; many spirit stones at array nodes instantly shattered.
In the end, the grand formation arduously withstood this sword strike, making Feathered Ascension Upper Sect’s congregation wipe sweat in relief.
Boundless Sword Sect’s Jian Jingjue was so fearsome!
Feathered Ascension Upper Sect’s people didn’t stop, continuing to pour resources into the grand formation.
Outside the grand formation, Jian Jingjue sighed.
“My dao excels at offense, but against this sect power-maintained Integration Realm formation, it’s still insufficient.”
He had no intention of striking again.
Feathered Ascension Upper Sect’s people saw Jian Jingjue stop and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
That stunning sword just now, they really didn’t want to face it a second time; a few more, and they couldn’t guarantee keeping the grand formation running.
Ning Qi coughed, “Then I’ll take over.”
He casually took out a high-grade spirit sword; with sword in hand, though without any aura, it gave a strange feeling of merging into heaven and earth.
Feathered Ascension Upper Sect’s people looked at him, their expressions easing slightly.
As long as it wasn’t Jian Jingjue attacking, they should have no problem resisting others.
Ning Qi lightly swung a sword.
Sword light condensed before the sword tip, stabbing toward the grand formation like lightning.
Feathered Ascension Upper Sect’s people immediately tensed, some urging spirit stones, some urging their mana and primordial spirit power, pouring into the sword light’s impact point on the grand formation.
Ning Qi’s sword seemed to use the method of breaking surface with a point, which formations feared most.
However, as everyone poured power there, Ning Qi’s sword light suddenly split into several strands, each a different color, turning into several rules divine dragons flying across the grand formation’s surface.
In an instant, nine sword light wandering dragons occupied nine positions of the grand formation, dragon roars resounding, countless dragon scales scattering into the formation.
At the same time, those giant dragons’ bodies bared fangs and claws, smashing fiercely toward the grand formation.
Boundless Sword Sect’s people were all shocked; it was too late to redirect power to nine places.
Boom rumble!
Terrifying impact sounds echoed through the entire Feathered Ascension Upper Sect; inside, it was like the sky collapsing.
Everyone maintaining the formation was instantly struck by immense force, their bodies flung out violently.
The entire grand formation shook violently, spirit stones inside shattering nonstop, all array nodes inside broken.
The nine wandering dragons lit up together, erupting their final power, instantly tearing the grand formation completely apart.
Crack crack!
The sound of glass shattering was especially piercing amid the rumbling.
Everyone in Feathered Ascension Upper Sect felt their hearts shatter like glass.
The sect protecting grand formation was broken just like that!
By Boundless Sword Sect’s Sect Leader Ning Qi; his single sword was even more terrifying than Jian Jingjue’s!
It had endless changes: first luring everyone to concentrate power at one spot on the grand formation, then fully erupting to instantly destroy the array nodes.
With just this one sword, several among those maintaining the formation were gravely injured.
After the grand formation broke, Niu Ding Tian and Hu Xiao Tian led Ox Demon Upper Sect disciples; Boundless Sword Sect’s Zi Yang Jiang Ruhai also led his group, all charging toward Feathered Ascension Upper Sect’s congregation.
In an instant, the sky was streaked with meteors, colorful lights shining across the heavens, illuminating Feathered Ascension Upper Sect in a beautiful spectacle.
But beneath this beauty lurked a thick, un dispersible red.
Sect wars were brutally ruthless; no one dared feel sympathy—it was either you die or I perish.
Feathered Ascension Upper Sect had lost its Integration Realm old ancestors and suffered heavy damage from Ning Qi; how could it resist the two sects’ assault.
Soon, smoke filled the entire Feathered Ascension Upper Sect, even the wails completely ceasing.
Fang Xiandao was pinned to the ground by Qin Minghao’s sword, left with his last breath.
He looked at Qin Minghao, never expecting to die at the hands of a mid Void Dao cultivator in the end—he was at perfection of Void Dao Realm.
“Can you tell me in the end, did you encounter our old ancestors?”
Fang Xiandao’s eyes burst with his final light, asking tremulously.
Qin Minghao said coldly: “Why ask me? Go down and ask them yourself!”
His sword slashed across, separating Fang Xiandao’s head from his body; the last light in his eyes held a trace of shocked doubt.
He seemed to understand something…
But who could instantly kill their old ancestors and Qingxuan Immortal Sect’s four venerables?
Niu Ding Tian? Hu Xiao Tian? No! They didn’t have that strength.
Jian Jingjue? No! His sword was strong, but could kill at most one.
Ning Qi? Was it Ning Qi?
Finally, Ning Qi’s figure flashed in Fang Xiandao’s mind, recalling the might of Ning Qi’s final sword.
Though that sword was unmatched in ferocity, to slay an Integration Realm old ancestor, it seemed still a bit short.
Yet, for some reason, Fang Xiandao believed only Ning Qi could have slain the old ancestors…
His consciousness finally dissipated, taking away his last bit of realization and regret.
Feathered Ascension Upper Sect, with an inheritance of hundreds of thousands of years, was actually destroyed by someone who had cultivated for merely a century!
The congregation cleaned the battlefield, collecting all resources in Feathered Ascension Upper Sect.
Finally, the two sects’ disciples carried their gains to Ning Qi, who waited at Feathered Ascension Upper Sect’s mountain gate, placing them before him.
Niu Ding Tian and Hu Xiao Tian also brought out everything they got, adding to the resource pile.
Feathered Ascension Upper Sect was one of the top three upper sects in Southern True Domain; over so many years, its accumulated resources were plentiful, far exceeding Northern Profound Upper Sect, which Ning Qi had destroyed.
In this battle, though Feathered Ascension Upper Sect expended quite a bit, what remained still far surpassed a normal upper sect.
Gazing at the mountain-like pile of resources, Ning Qi nodded slightly.
The fastest way to acquire resources on the path of cultivation was indeed through plundering.
In any world, resources were often distributed by the strong plundering the weak to gain endless wealth.
Ning Qi didn’t want to take that path; he wouldn’t proactively bully the weak. Along the way, he had won with the weak against the strong, with righteousness against evil.
“Brother Niu, per our previous pact, our two sects split it half and half.”
Facing the mountain of cultivation supplies, Ning Qi said calmly.
He actually somewhat looked down on these things now, but as sect leader, he still had to care for the sect members; they still needed them.
Who knew Niu Ding Tian would say:
“Brother Ning, this time our Ox Demon Upper Sect contributed little. Without you, Ox Demon Upper Sect would have been destroyed; how could we take so many resources.”
Hu Xiao Tian beside him also said:
“Yes, Sect Master Ning, eradicating Feathered Ascension Upper Sect this threat is already enough for Ox Demon Upper Sect.”
The other Ox Demon Upper Sect demons, though desire in their eyes, all said they didn’t need resources.
Sword Ancestor remained silent.
He completely trusted Ning Qi on allocation matters and naturally wouldn’t interfere; whatever Ning Qi did, he supported.
Ning Qi thought briefly, then said:
“How about this: Feathered Ascension Upper Sect’s cultivation methods, supernatural powers, and classics—you and I each copy a set. Things beneficial for your demon race cultivation all go to you; those helpful for our human race naturally to us; the remaining resources we split half and half.”
“Southern True Domain isn’t solely dominated by Ox Demon Upper Sect; you still need to check Heavenly Star Upper Sect, so how about this allocation?”
Hearing this, Niu Ding Tian and the demons below were all grateful to tears.
Boundless Sword Sect’s people were naturally very satisfied with this allocation too.
The two sects divided on the spot; afterward, Niu Ding Tian invited them again to Ox Demon Upper Sect to celebrate and discuss next steps.
Ning Qi pondered a moment and agreed.
Anyway, he had set up a sect protecting grand formation at Boundless Sword Sect strong enough to resist several Dao Integration Realm attacks, plus a teleportation gate that could open anytime for instant return.
The battle was over; time to relax, and conveniently extract intelligence on Fuyao Region’s Qingxuan Immortal Sect from Ox Demon Upper Sect.
