Chapter 128: Void Force Erosion, Six Void Tribulation Forces
Flower Stream Sword Sect!
‘Flying Rainbow Swordsman’ Nan Guyun!
Qing Lingzi muttered to himself in his heart, meeting the other’s scrutinizing gaze. He only felt that Nan Guyun’s eyes were sharp, like a divine sword drawn from its sheath, the cold edge piercing his face painfully.
Qing Lingzi was inwardly alarmed, but his expression remained unchanged. He cupped his hands, and immediately a vague, ethereal, elusive qi energy flowed around him.
“Brother Nan, greetings. My alliance leader’s whereabouts are not for me to speculate. I came here only because I heard of the gathering of heroes and winds of change in this place, specially to join in the excitement.”
‘Microscopic Level force?’
A slight ripple appeared in Nan Guyun’s eyes.
At first glance, he could tell that Qing Lingzi had an extraordinary demeanor and profound martial arts. Now, with the other displaying his force, it confirmed his guess.
He just hadn’t expected that the Town Sea Alliance, established only a few months ago, besides having that Divine Prison Spear Master to hold up the facade, also hid a Microscopic Level Grandmaster.
This foundation, though not matching the three great sects, was enough to warrant attention.
Nan Guyun chuckled lightly, his tone carrying a hint of playfulness: “Your alliance’s Alliance Leader Hong is a heaven-blessed talent. Before reaching adulthood, he was already a hero renowned throughout the world, truly astonishing. I have long admired him in spirit, yet we have never met face to face—truly regrettable.”
Nan Guyun sighed wistfully, as if disappointed at not seeing Hong Yuan, then his gaze shifted to the closed gate of Vajra Temple and he shook his head again: “What a pity!”
Qing Lingzi said calmly: “What is Brother Nan pitying?”
“Pity that Alliance Leader Hong didn’t come. Otherwise, the two most renowned masters in Mingzhou these days—Divine Prison Spear Master and Daoist Ten Thousand Calamities—meeting would truly be a sight to behold, shining together.”
Qing Lingzi fell silent upon hearing this.
Others might not know the inside story, but how could he not?
A real ‘meeting’ wouldn’t just surprise people—it would terrify them.
Seeing Qing Lingzi silent, Nan Guyun said no more. His innate spirituality was strong, allowing him to sense fortune and misfortune. Though this man was also a Microscopic Level Grandmaster, he brought him no sense of dread.
Thus, during their conversation, Nan Guyun appeared polite but in truth didn’t even ask for the other’s name.
His figure flickered, and like a wild goose threading through the air, Nan Guyun suddenly appeared high up, facing Vajra Temple’s mountain gate, his voice echoing distantly: “Flower Stream Sword Sect’s Nan Guyun has come to pay respects!”
His voice was clear and resonant, penetrating the temple walls like surging waves rolling outward.
Soon, Vajra Temple’s thick gate rumbled open.
Several monks came out in two rows to greet him. A monk around thirty, with a steady face and tall stature, pressed his palms together and bowed to Nan Guyun: “This little monk Liao Ru has come to welcome the honored guest. Senior Brother Nan, please!”
Nan Guyun chuckled and returned the courtesy: “Greetings, Senior Brother.”
Among the three sects of Mingzhou, no matter the overt and covert struggles or hidden motives beneath the surface, they still maintained an appearance of harmony. After all, once their status rose, they had to put on an air of cultivation.
Seeing Vajra Temple’s gate finally open, the atmosphere grew even more heated, voices boiling over. The numerous martial artists and noble clan disciples gathered outside surged forward like a school of fish.
Someone shouted loudly from the boiling crowd: “Master Liao Ru, we came from afar, yet your Vajra Temple won’t even let us in—what kind of hospitality is that?”
“Exactly! Your Vajra Temple announced to the world a public execution of Red Lotus Sect demons, yet you won’t let us in—what kind of ‘public’ is that?”
“Monks, are you afraid of Red Lotus Sect’s demons and ghosts, regretting it now?”
One person’s question immediately incited many to jeer, voices buzzing chaotically, impossible to distinguish.
“Monks, is that Daoist Ten Thousand Calamities still in the temple? Is the rumor true or false?”
“I wish to take Daoist Ten Thousand Calamities as my master—please introduce me, Master. My family will reward you heavily.”
Of course, most people were still focused on that Daoist Ten Thousand Calamities who had become world-famous overnight.
Several temple monks held refined iron staffs, coldly blocking the noisy crowd. Though these people were rowdy, no one dared to force their way in.
Liao Ru’s face was calm as water as he led Nan Guyun inside. Then several monks coldly swept their gazes over the crowd and closed the gate again.
As soon as the gate closed, cursing voices rose one after another.
They proceeded in silence, with Liao Ru leading Nan Guyun toward the inner courtyard.
Nan Guyun glanced around and saw that the monks encountered in both outer and inner courtyards were all very silent, the atmosphere oppressive. He couldn’t help frowning, unable to gloat over his old rival’s misfortune—instead, he grew alert.
Flower Stream Sword Sect had grown increasingly prosperous in recent years, with many arrogant disciples under its banner, not knowing how many troubles they had stirred up.
Vajra Temple’s reputation surpassed Flower Stream’s, and its foundation was even thicker. Even so, when facing the strong, they had to bow low.
Soon they arrived outside a simple meditation hall, its door open. In the center, two monks sat cross-legged, chanting scriptures.
It was precisely Huiming and Huizhi, the two monks.
Nan Guyun glanced over, his brows twitching again.
Because there was a small wooden Buddha statue in the hall, and the two monks Huiming were sitting with their backs to the Buddha.
Even if Nan Guyun didn’t understand Buddhist principles, he knew this was improper for Buddhist disciples.
For monks, the Buddha statue in the hall was not merely a clay or wooden carving—it represented the enlightenment they sought to achieve.
Turning one’s back to the Buddha statue went against the awakening, achievement, and fruition in one’s heart.
Nan Guyun’s gaze flickered, his thoughts changing in an instant, then he subtly glanced at Huiming’s right hand.
His right palm had an unnatural twist, and his aura was somewhat unstable.
‘His injury hasn’t healed yet?’
Nan Guyun made a sound with his feet and stepped forward, bowing respectfully to the two Huiming monks: “Flower Stream’s Nan Guyun pays respects to the two masters.”
Huiming’s gaze fell on Nan Guyun and he nodded: “Young Hero Nan has a brilliant bearing and innate sword bones. Flower Stream Sword Sect has successors—rejoice and congratulate.”
Nan Guyun smiled: “Master overpraises.”
Huizhi also opened his eyes and nodded to Nan Guyun in greeting: “Is Sect Leader Feng of your honorable sect well?”
Flower Stream Sword Sect had risen decades ago, starting as an unremarkable small sect, and to date had only passed down five generations.
The current sword master was named Feng Nanyan. His sword technique was exquisite to the peak, his true skill profound, qualifying him to vie for the title of the world’s foremost sword technique master.
It was precisely because of Feng Nanyan that Flower Stream Sword Sect could stand shoulder to shoulder with Profound Ice Sect and Vajra Temple.
“My master has always been in good health. Thank you for your concern, Master Huizhi,” Nan Guyun said.
“That’s good.” Huizhi closed his eyes again.
Huiming glanced at Liao Ru: “Take Young Hero Nan over.”
Nan Guyun’s expression shifted: “What does Master mean by that?”
Huiming did not answer, but Liao Ru spoke first: “The one who wants to see Senior Brother Nan is that person. Please follow this little monk.”
Liao Ru’s tone was complex. With those words, he led the way ahead.
That person?
Nan Guyun’s face changed slightly. In Vajra Temple, who else could make monks like Huiming, Huizhi, and Liao Ru speak so evasively?
Huiming watched as Liao Ru, Nan Guyun, and the others walked away. His intact left hand extended, immediately flowing with a shimmering glow, as if coated in a layer of golden radiance.
Huiming’s facial skin also took on a divine sheen, echoing the wooden Buddha behind him. But immediately after, he let out a muffled grunt, and his force ‘puffed’ and dispersed.
Huiming’s face twitched, and he shook his head: “Still not working. What about you, Junior Brother?”
Huizhi kept his eyes closed, not responding as if he hadn’t heard, his face growing even more bitter.
Huiming sighed and murmured: “Void Force Erosion, Void Force Erosion… This ability of Void Force Erosion is like a maggot in the bone, truly hard to dispel!”
His eyelids trembled, filled with deep helplessness.
Three days ago, that Daoist Ten Thousand Calamities had suddenly summoned him and Junior Brother Huizhi, saying he had cultivated a special martial art and wanted them to appraise it.
Being at the mercy of others, the two Huiming monks could not refuse.
Anyway, ever since the news of publicly executing Red Lotus demons spread, Vajra Temple had already fallen into a pit—what worse could happen?
Who would have thought that in this exchange, both he and Huizhi were struck by Daoist Ten Thousand Calamities with a force entering their bodies.
Once force leaves the body, it absolutely cannot persist long—no master could change that fact.
But Daoist Ten Thousand Calamities had done it!
After the other’s force entered their bodies, it showed no rejection and quickly merged with their own qi and blood.
Once the two used their true skill, that force even provided assistance, enhancing the power of their true skill’s strange force somewhat.
If that were all, it could be considered a good thing.
Huiming and Huizhi would not believe Daoist Ten Thousand Calamities had any ‘remaining conscience’ and suddenly became ‘benevolent’.
And indeed, that was the case.
When that force…
In Daoist Ten Thousand Calamities’ words, it was called ‘Six Void Force’. After Six Void Force merged with their qi and blood, once the two entered within three zhang of him, they immediately felt their qi and blood in chaos, their normally effortless true skill extremely hard to deploy.
And within one or two zhang, their qi and blood surged like raging waves, let alone deploying true skill—they could hardly stand steady.
It was simply worse than an ordinary person ignorant of martial arts.
“I’ve only ever heard of true skill strange force suppressing force, or force overwhelming strange force. In ancient and modern times, these past few hundred years, I’ve never heard of this…”
Not long ago, Huiming still held hope. Temporary submission was nothing; once Daoist Ten Thousand Calamities left, Vajra Temple would still stand.
Now Huiming could only smile bitterly.
Not just him and Huizhi, but the other Hu-generation monks, as well as the next generation’s standouts like Ledhen and Liao Ru, had also been implanted with ‘Six Void Force’.
Thinking of this, Huiming looked toward the direction Nan Guyun had gone, his gaze deep.
‘Burning Art!’
‘I think I’ve found the Burning Art!’
In a secluded meditation courtyard, Hong Yuan’s fingertip force surged, freely transforming into various changes: sometimes heavy as a mountain, sometimes elusive like drifting clouds, sometimes fine and prolonged like threads…
A smile appeared on his face.
‘Burning Art’ was naturally a joke.
It was the quickest way to build power.
Just like the ‘Life-Death Talisman’ to Tianshan Child Elder, all of Spiritual Vulture Palace’s power was built upon the ‘Life-Death Talisman’.
Hong Yuan didn’t really want to conquer the world.
He just wanted the highest power.
As for how to obtain this highest power, he didn’t care about the process—whatever was most convenient.
‘Void Force Erosion’!
The Six Void Force created by Hong Yuan had its first layer as ‘Net of Other Forces’.
As the name implied, when clashing with an enemy, it could spread an invisible force field enveloping the foe, rapidly analyzing the mysteries of their force method upon contact.
Second layer ‘Force Concealment’, absorbing others’ force for one’s own use in battle.
Third layer ‘Eight Forces Merged’.
Fourth layer was ‘Void Force Erosion’.
During this time at Vajra Temple, Hong Yuan hadn’t idled. While cultivating several true skills, he also integrated the many force methods he had recently obtained.
‘Eight Forces Merged’ was still some steps from completion; currently, he could only mix two or three forces in a single strike.
But it was on the right track, and subsequent progress would only accelerate.
Rather, he had deduced the fourth layer change of Six Void Force, naming it ‘Void Force Erosion’.
The reason it was so quick was that this change drew from the idea of 《Seed Jade Skill》, implanting Six Void Force into others’ bodies to lurk within their flesh and blood, merging with their qi and blood.
Due to Six Void Force’s compatibility, it wouldn’t be rejected and could even absorb the opponent’s qi and blood, preventing dissipation.
Even during the opponent’s battle, a trace of Six Void Force’s wonder could unconsciously manifest.
But once the opponent faced Hong Yuan himself, their life and death would no longer be their own to control.
‘However, Void Force Erosion alone might still be cracked; it needs perfection.’
Hong Yuan’s eyes showed contemplation.
‘Until one day, Six Void Force can fuse into flesh and blood, into marrow and bones, into meridians and blood vessels, endless and unbreakable—that would be completion.’
‘Hm? It seems a bit like calamity force. Those not controlled by me, their next generation couldn’t escape either, right?’
Hong Yuan thought about it and felt it possible.
If it truly reached that level, Six Void Force might no longer be called force, nor strange force, but calamity force.
Footsteps echoed distantly. Hong Yuan turned with a warm smile, his attitude very amiable.
He had heard Nan Guyun’s announcement outside the temple.
He truly hadn’t planned to probe Flower Stream Sword Sect’s depths so soon, but this leek had delivered itself to the door—not harvesting it would be a waste.
As they approached the meditation courtyard, Liao Ru suddenly stopped, pressed his palms together in salute. Nan Guyun understood, took a deep breath, and entered the courtyard alone.
He wasn’t naturally timid, with a resolute temperament, but Daoist Ten Thousand Calamities’ battle record was too terrifying—Nan Guyun couldn’t stay calm.
What he saw was a man of tall, slender build, hands behind his back, his cyan robe swaying in the cold wind, smiling at him.
His appearance was extraordinarily young, his expression mild, like a spring breeze on the face.
Nan Guyun’s brows twitched wildly. His powerful spirituality allowed him to perceive what ordinary people could not. In his ‘vision’, the other was no longer describable as a primordial beast, but a thousand-zhang giant peak rising from flat ground, rumbling and filling heaven and earth.
Vast and majestic aura, boundless, pressing down like the heavenly river pouring in reverse.
A trace of horror appeared in Nan Guyun’s eyes. His feet involuntarily ‘stumbled’ backward several steps. Suddenly, he gripped the long sword on his back, feeling its icy touch, and only then steadied himself.
“Is it Daoist Ten Thousand Calamities in person…” Nan Guyun suppressed his turbulent emotions and spoke in a low voice.
“I’ve heard Flower Stream Sword Sect’s sword technique is exceptionally pure, rare in the world, a pinnacle work among sword techniques.” Hong Yuan didn’t answer, smiled, and looked at the long sword on Nan Guyun’s back.
“Draw your sword—let me see it!”
