Chapter 320: Invincible
Ning Qi looked toward Chi Xiazi, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
Previously, he had allowed Chi Xiazi to attack freely, even deliberately creating an illusion for Chi Xiazi and the Mountain Sea Realm Will, making them both think he could no longer hold on.
In this way, Ning Qi had sheared enough wool from the Mountain Sea Realm Will to step into Integration Realm Perfection.
Now, the tool who had helped him shear the Mountain Sea Realm Will’s wool had finally been fully utilized, and it was time for him to take action.
Chi Xiazi, who was attacking desperately, suddenly froze all over, his entire body stiff in the void, unable to even twitch.
He looked toward Ning Qi, only feeling that the aura on Ning Qi’s body was completely different from before.
Before, Ning Qi had only occasionally revealed the abilities of a Domain Lord, but without the domineering air of one, more like a once-in-a-lifetime prodigy who could compete with him.
But now, Ning Qi’s body revealed domineering air, with unmatched sharpness.
His divine composure and condensed aura stood independently in the void, starlight sprinkling from the sky to cloak him, as spiritual energy rules from all directions gathered on his body.
What terrified Chi Xiazi even more was that this place originally had one-third of the Haoran Realm’s energy, which now seemed to have been drawn by Ning Qi.
Even as the Domain Lord of the Haoran Realm, he could not compete with Ning Qi!
Ning Qi was like the center of this world; whether Mountain Sea Realm energy, Boundary Sea Energy, or Haoran Realm energy, all converged toward him.
Crack!
A cracking sound rang out, and the magic shield around Ning Qi suddenly shattered, not broken by Chi Xiazi’s attack, but voluntarily abandoned by Ning Qi.
Standing at the center of spiritual energy rules, like the lord of Myriad Daos, what need did he have for defense?
Just the energy gathered around him now was probably something Chi Xiazi could not break through.
Chi Xiazi was extremely terrified, unable to understand why Ning Qi’s transformation was so drastic.
Was it just breaking through to Dao Integration Perfection and achieving Venerable status?
Was it just obtaining world power from the Mountain Sea Realm Will?
He, Chi Xiazi, had both of these from the start; Ning Qi had only just caught up to him, but why… did his body’s reaction feel so chilling?
Flames suddenly rose from Chi Xiazi’s body, condensing into shape to reveal the Vermilion Bird Dharma Body.
Unlike others from the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect, their versions were mere forms, capturing at most a few traces of true meaning.
But Chi Xiazi’s spell was a secret transmission of the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect, learnable only by the Sect Leader, Grand Elders, and him as Domain Lord, named Vermilion Bird Divine Body.
To cultivate this technique, one needed an extremely precious Vermilion Bird divine blood baptism of body and primordial spirit to succeed.
The Vermilion Bird Divine Body was not only condensed from rules; it also contained the life aura of the divine beast Vermilion Bird, as well as all of Chi Xiazi’s life force.
Unless absolutely necessary, Chi Xiazi would never use this technique; it had Dao Integration effects and was too dangerous in the War Domain, which could only accommodate Integration Realm cultivators.
But facing the current Ning Qi, he could no longer afford to hold back!
As soon as he activated the Vermilion Bird Divine Body, Chi Xiazi broke free from Ning Qi’s intangible clamping force.
A long, shrill cry echoed through the sky, and the Vermilion Bird that Chi Xiazi had transformed into rapidly circled Ning Qi.
Divine fire burned the heavens around him, shattering the void wherever he passed, as if the entire space could not contain him.
And all the energy gathering toward Ning Qi stopped at this moment, instead converging toward Chi Xiazi.
Not only that, upon seeing Chi Xiazi use this move, the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect cultivators who were still battling the Fuyao Domain Army and Xuanzhen Domain Army all had flames surging from their bodies.
The firelight illuminated the void, echoing Chi Xiazi from afar.
Seeing this, Qi Ke Qing and the Sword Ancestor both secretly thought it bad.
The armies they led intensified their offensive, vowing to sever the connection between them and Chi Xiazi!
Countless attacks piled onto these people, yet they did not even defend.
All of them showed devout expressions, looking at the two armies’ cultivators with eerie smiles.
Qi Ke Qing and the Sword Ancestor immediately saw that their attacks landed on the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect cultivators without extinguishing the flames; instead, they passed right through, unable to harm anyone.
Only after a round of attacks fully concluded did the Sword Ancestor and others discover that the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect cultivators’ bodies had turned to flying ash, leaving illusory soul shadows in place.
It turned out the previous firelight was not spell flames, but the crowd instantly self-immolating their dharma bodies, fully converting their life force into life flames.
These soul shadows no longer looked at the two armies’ cultivators, but all turned toward the distant soaring Chi Xiazi.
Suddenly, all the firelight, like sparks, flew entirely toward Chi Xiazi.
The Sword Ancestor and others used primordial spirit power to block them, but could not stop them!
Those streams of firelight instantly crossed space, landing on the Vermilion Bird that Chi Xiazi had become.
In an instant, Chi Xiazi’s aura surged once more!
The Sword Ancestor, Qi Ke Qing, and the others were momentarily at a loss, having failed to exterminate the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect cultivators, only for them to use a strange spell to make Chi Xiazi even stronger.
Looking at Chi Xiazi’s current aura, which had seized the energy gathering toward Ning Qi, the surrounding void was already shattering without even attacking.
As more and more energy gathered around him, that territory showed signs of heaven collapsing and earth splitting!
That terrifying power, even from afar, made them feel their bodies burning hot, as if their bodies and primordial spirits were about to melt.
If Chi Xiazi truly launched an attack, what then?
The Sword Ancestor and Qi Ke Qing exchanged a glance, then instantly flew toward Ning Qi.
And the armies under them paused slightly before following.
But the closer the two armies flew, the more they felt like mortals trapped in a quagmire, even sweating profusely, yet unable to advance further.
They were like ants desperately trying to squeeze into a large rock.
Ahead, Ning Qi sent a message, only three words.
“Leave it to me!”
As the three words sounded, it was like a clear breeze soothing everyone.
The congregation stopped, looking toward Ning Qi at the center.
“Sect Leader!”
“Alliance Leader!”
The Boundless Sword Sect people and Xuanzhen Domain sects called out in unison, their voices unceasing.
The Fuyao Domain crowd remained silent, but their gazes could not leave Ning Qi’s figure.
Among them were many True Martial Realm reincarnated cultivators who knew Ning Qi’s background, yet they could not help worrying for him.
After all, Ning Qi’s main body was not here; only his reincarnated body was.
Dragon Mountain Daoist and Ye Qinghe’s gazes flickered.
They trusted Ning Qi the most; it had been a long time since they saw him act, and they never expected to face such an enemy upon reunion.
That Chi Xiazi was the Haoran Realm Domain Lord, countless times stronger than the enemies the former True Martial Realm had faced!
But recalling past events, they still believed Ning Qi would achieve final victory!
The Vermilion Bird that Chi Xiazi had become continued circling Ning Qi.
The surrounding space shattered with his flight, like crumbling walls and ruins peeling away piece by piece.
Only the ten-zhang area where Ning Qi stood remained intact.
Soft white light emanated from Ning Qi’s body.
The white light, amid the firelight, though not as dazzling, was like sunlight, impervious to all evils.
“If you don’t act soon, I won’t wait any longer!”
Ning Qi raised his head, looking at the circling Chi Xiazi with a calm, unruffled expression.
As if all the commotion caused by Chi Xiazi was merely a ripple on a puddle in his eyes.
He felt no fear, instead waiting for the opponent to gather power and launch that world-shattering strike.
Chi Xiazi cried out again from his beak, and the shattered void in all directions dimmed, with only the firelight enduring.
His Vermilion Bird eyes stared at the tiny Ning Qi below, finally striking!
The massive Vermilion Bird Divine Body suddenly halted its circling, proudly standing above Ning Qi.
Its spread wings blotted out the entire sky, firelight the only existence in that territory, divine might awe-inspiring; heaven, earth, and void beneath it had to burn and perish.
“Die!”
Chi Xiazi roared.
The Vermilion Bird Divine Body, like heavenly fire, like a falling star, like god or demon, turned into a blade of arc light, slashing toward Ning Qi.
Where the arc light passed, the void was utterly severed into nothingness.
Ning Qi’s tiny figure below released ten-zhang soft white light.
From afar, it looked like a tuft of cotton swaying in the wind.
Just as the arc light blade was about to cleave the cotton, suddenly, in the entire dark nothingness space, a drumbeat sound spread in all directions.
“Dong dong! Dong dong!”
From Ning Qi’s figure in white robes, an illusory shadow seemed to leap out.
Expanding and contracting, expanding and contracting, pulsing with the drumbeat!
The sound carried no mana fluctuations, the shadow no solid form.
But the arc light blade slashing down from above could not pierce the soft white cotton glow outside!
“Impossible!”
In the dark void, Chi Xiazi’s incredulous voice faintly echoed.
He had seized the energy gathering toward Ning Qi, gathered the life force of the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect crowd, even fusing his own life force into the Vermilion Bird Divine Body.
Chi Xiazi was unprecedentedly powerful; even in the War Domain, he believed his strength could reach the full might of a Domain Lord in the Haoran Realm.
But why could he still not cleave Ning Qi?
Exerting his all, the firelight on the arc light blade flickered more condensed, more profound!
Like the arc of a red sun just peeking over the eastern horizon at dawn, though only a point, it could cleave all darkness!
“Dong dong!”
“Dong dong!”
In the dark void, the drum sound thundered like lightning; outside Ning Qi’s body, an illusory shadow leaped out, no longer contracting.
That illusory shadow continuously solidified and enlarged, completely identical to Ning Qi.
The illusory shadow broke through the ten-zhang soft white cotton glow, instantly enlarging countless times, its upper body touching the heavenly star War Domain realm wall, its feet stepping on the ground.
A towering white giant shadow with its back to the crowd, upon appearing, instantly restored the space around it that Chi Xiazi had cleaved into nothingness.
That area was no longer firelight alone; the white back became the sole existence.
“Ah!”
A miserable scream startled everyone’s hearts.
Looking again, they saw the giant shadow extend a giant hand, pinching a gasping, fiery red little bird between thumb and forefinger.
The congregation’s eyes widened, all dumbstruck.
Was that fiery red little bird the Chi Xiazi who could destroy the War Domain before?
The white back pinched with two fingers, and the fiery red little bird fell utterly silent.
In an instant, firelight filled the entire void, countless energies scattering into cloud-like glows.
The giant shadow lightly inhaled, and all the firelight and cloud glows turned into two wandering dragons, drilling into the giant shadow’s nostrils.
“Domain Lord!”
“Domain Lord is invincible!”
No one knew who started it, but in a moment, all Xuanzhen Domain cultivators shouted one after another.
The crowd was exhilarated, eyes full of adoration.
The nearby Fuyao Domain Army did not join in, but each heart seemed seeded with an indelible divine shadow.
“Alright, enough flattery.” The giant shadow said indifferently.
The Xuanzhen Domain crowd immediately fell silent, though their faces still brimmed with irrepressible smiles.
Qi Ke Qing and the Fuyao Domain cultivators were pulled back to reality by that one sentence; the divine shadow in their hearts seemed no longer unattainably high, instead gaining a touch of realism and humanity.
The giant shadow suddenly extended its palm, pressing toward the ground.
On the ground, an altar instantly rose.
At the altar’s peak, Crystal Spirit Jade resonated with the heavenly stars.
Star beams injected into the Crystal Spirit Jade, instantly completing occupation of this place.
This territory was thoroughly controlled by the Mountain Sea Realm.
Then, the giant shadow dissipated, leaving only a white-robed figure standing calmly in the void.
The congregation suddenly felt a grand will descend, the Mountain Sea Realm Will reappearing.
It first said to Ning Qi: “Very good, you have not disgraced the world power I just granted you!”
Seeing Ning Qi so quickly help it master this place and slay the Haoran Realm’s Domain Lord, the Mountain Sea Realm Will was extremely satisfied with him.
“I reward you all with thirty large Rule Fragments and three hundred micro Rule Fragments!”
The void churned, and three hundred thirty Rule Fragments flew out, hovering before Ning Qi.
This was the first large node they, the Xuanzhen Domain Army, had taken after entering the War Domain.
And because they exterminated the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect cultivators here, even slaying the opponent’s Domain Lord, the Mountain Sea Realm Will’s rewards were even more generous.
Looking at the thirty head-sized large Rule Fragments ahead, even Ning Qi showed a hint of delight.
These Rule Fragments, if sent back to the True Martial Realm, should be enough for his main body to advance another level!
Then, the Mountain Sea Realm Will did not linger, only leaving: “Keep it up!” before vanishing tracelessly.
In secret, it granted Ning Qi fifty strands of world power as reward.
This time, it left no Mountain Sea Imprint or the like, because Ning Qi no longer needed it.
It also did not reclaim the world power granted to Ning Qi.
Thus, Ning Qi could maintain the status quo, possessing a Domain Lord’s might within the War Domain.
The congregation immediately perceived the grand will over the entire heaven and earth receding.
The influence from this territory also fed back to them, fully restoring their strength.
Ning Qi waved his hand, collecting the thirty large Rule Fragments.
The other three hundred micro Rule Fragments shattered in unison, all surging toward the Xuanzhen Domain Army.
Instantly, all Xuanzhen Domain Army cultivators’ cultivations surged, many breaking through on the spot.
Nearby, the Fuyao Domain Army showed utmost envy.
With a Domain Lord like Ning Qi, in the Dao Integration Realm-absent War Domain, as long as they did not encounter multiple Haoran Realm Domain Lords, they were probably invincible!
These participants in the Spirit Realm War had been making various preparations before it even began.
Most had not even thought of gaining anything in the War Domain; preserving their lives was already good enough!
And now, the Xuanzhen Domain cultivators’ safety was almost guaranteed by Ning Qi—this was the greatest gain.
But Ning Qi, as Domain Lord, even helped everyone following him elevate their cultivation; it made them drool with envy.
Seeing the overflowing envy from the Fuyao Domain Army, the Xuanzhen Domain crowd puffed out their chests, their hearts immensely satisfied.
The Boundless Sword Sect crowd was somewhat better off, but people from other sects were all beaming with joy; they now understood the feeling of the Boundless Sword Sect cultivators.
After all, before encountering the Fuyao Domain Army, their sects probably looked just like the current Fuyao Domain Army in the eyes of the Boundless Sword Sect crowd.
“Is this the power of a Domain Lord?”
Qi Ke Qing murmured softly.
Their Fuyao Domain had no Domain Lord; they had heard the title before, but did not know Domain Lords possessed such terrifying power.
Shaking her head, she snapped out of her shock, stepped forward, and said: “Congratulations to Domain Lord Ning for slaying the enemy Domain Lord, taking this place, and saving our Fuyao Domain crowd.”
At these words, the Fuyao Domain Army awoke.
They had been so focused on envying the Xuanzhen Domain Army that they completely forgot the prior events.
They had come pursuing the Xuanzhen Domain Army, yet unexpectedly, the Xuanzhen Domain Army went undiscovered by the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect, while they, following behind, exposed themselves first.
The Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect cultivators’ strength clearly exceeded theirs by more than double; without Ning Qi leading the Xuanzhen Domain Army to act, they probably would not have returned.
Thinking of this, everyone stepped forward in unison, cupping hands to Ning Qi:
“Thank you, Domain Lord Ning, for saving our lives.”
In the crowd, Elder Li, who had previously argued with Qi Ke Qing, now had a face alternating red and white, also thanking loudly.
Red for shame, white for lingering fear.
He had wanted to expose the Xuanzhen Domain Army to drag them down, but fortunately Qi Ke Qing had rejected it; otherwise, they would be in danger now.
Ning Qi glanced at the Xuanzhen Domain Army.
After jointly attacking the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect, they seemed to quite approve of each other.
Ning Qi glanced at Qi Ke Qing, his gaze slightly lowered, and said: “No need for thanks; our armies cooperated to take this node. Naturally, I could not watch you meet disaster.”
Hearing this, Elder Li hung his head even lower, utterly ashamed.
Ning Qi produced fifty small Rule Fragments, instantly sending them before Qi Ke Qing, continuing: “This node was taken by both our sides’ efforts; I cannot let you suffer losses. Just take these Rule Fragments.”
Seeing this, the Fuyao Domain crowd was stunned.
Ning Qi was so generous?
Their goodwill toward Ning Qi soared extremely.
Qi Ke Qing was also stunned, never expecting Ning Qi to do this.
She was clear-headed; in this War Domain, cultivators from various domains were lucky not to scheme against each other—how could they spit out fat already swallowed?
They had indeed participated in the battle against the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect, but as said before, Ning Qi had also saved them.
Qi Ke Qing immediately said: “Domain Lord Ning, Qi Ke Qing cannot accept these. This is not just my thought; I believe the Fuyao Domain crowd will absolutely refuse.”
She looked toward her army, asking: “What do you say?”
The crowd looked at those Rule Fragments, reluctance in their eyes, but they still responded one after another:
“Senior Sister Qi is right; we have already been saved by Domain Lord Ning and absolutely cannot accept these.”
Ning Qi nodded slightly and said: “You really don’t want them?”
Qi Ke Qing suddenly said: “If Domain Lord Ning truly wishes to give us something, Qi Ke Qing boldly asks for one item from Domain Lord Ning; would you agree?”
Ning Qi’s gaze flashed, as if sensing something, and said: “Speak.”
Qi Ke Qing had not forgotten the original purpose of following Ning Qi here, continuing: “Does the Domain Lord have a compass that can detect node positions? If there are extras, could you give one to our Fuyao Domain?”
She thought clearly: better a compass to detect node positions than those Rule Fragments.
She, Qi Ke Qing, preferred taking nodes with her own hands to earn the Mountain Sea Realm Will’s rewards, rather than relying on others’ gifts.
Ning Qi paused slightly, then said: “Very well, if you want it, I can give it to you.”
Qi Ke Qing said joyfully: “Then thank you, Domain Lord Ning.”
Ning Qi immediately took out a Spirit Stone, divine power surging; in an instant, he crafted a Soul Seeking Node Disc and sent it before Qi Ke Qing.
After receiving it, Qi Ke Qing tinkered seriously for a moment, injecting mana, and immediately saw the pointer on it point to the southeast corner.
Joy deepened on her face, but thinking of something, she asked:
“After I have this Soul Seeking Node Disc, will it conflict with yours, Domain Lord Ning?”
Her meaning was clear to everyone.
Perhaps both would detect the same node—what then? Should she fight with the Xuanzhen Domain Army?
If she had not known the Xuanzhen Domain’s strength before, she might have considered it, but now, better not.
Ning Qi said: “What I make naturally won’t conflict.”
Qi Ke Qing nodded, but hesitated to speak.
Ning Qi saw through her thoughts at a glance and said: “Rest assured, I won’t set any restrictions in it to limit you to only small nodes.”
Qi Ke Qing smiled candidly and said: “Domain Lord Ning’s character is something Qi Ke Qing naturally trusts.”
Ning Qi was not deliberately acting generous; his goal in coming to the War Domain was not to help the Mountain Sea Realm occupy more territory to fight the Haoran Realm.
Previously occupying various nodes, he was still learning everything and approaching the two realms’ wills.
Now, having understood small, medium, and large nodes.
Afterward, he would not be so keen on occupying more or larger nodes.
So, why tamper with the compass for Qi Ke Qing?
However, there was one thing Ning Qi did not say.
The compass he gave Qi Ke Qing functioned completely normally, but it was his initial version, not the upgraded one—it could only sense directions.
Now, with enough data collected, Ning Qi could perfect the Soul Seeking Node Disc to detect three nodes at once, marking size, distance, and proximity.
As for the one given to Qi Ke Qing, it was a sub-compass; Ning Qi could fully perceive the node positions she detected.
However, he had added one function to Qi Ke Qing’s compass.
“The War Domain is full of crises; ordinary messaging methods fail beyond certain distances, but my compass can connect no matter how far.”
“If you have need, feel free to contact us through the compass. Xuanzhen Domain and Fuyao Domain are adjacent, with alliance in battle; we can aid each other in the War Domain.”
Hearing this, Qi Ke Qing looked deeply at Ning Qi.
Ning Qi called it mutual aid, but she knew they could hardly help Ning Qi now; he was just giving them an opportunity, willing to help.
In an instant, Qi Ke Qing had her previous thought again: why not simply merge armies with Ning Qi.
But as the figures of the Yaoguang Immortal Sect’s Dao Integration experts flashed in her mind, she let go of the idea.
