Chapter 33: The Five Sword Intentions of Brightmoon

"Kill." The other two volcano giants also growled and charged forward with heavy steps, equally fierce and fearless. Their steps were as heavy as mountains, yet swift beyond the limits of the Dao. Each time they swung their palms, though somewhat slow and sluggish compared to Ji Ning, their momentum indeed suppressed him.

"I refuse to believe that I can't handle mere three children like them." Ji Ning constantly shifted his form, vanishing without a trace using the Shadowless Escape Art, or moving in close to bind his enemies with a Dharma-treasure rope, relying on his agility.

Use one's strengths to attack the enemy's weaknesses.

That is the way of battle.

……

Before the distant temple, the burly man leaning on his great sword watched coldly. At that moment, two more figures descended beside him—a white-robed man and a figure in azure armor.

"Big brother." The white-robed man and the azure-armored figure both spoke.

"Mm." The burly man replied indifferently.

"This little fellow can still hold his own under the siege of three volcano giants. Not bad." The azure-armored figure looked at Ji Ning in the distance and said with a smile, "Big brother, is this kid worth training?"

The burly man said coldly, "He's far from it. He's only holding on by relying on some defensive measures. Once my children launch their final assault, he will surely die."

"Are we just going to watch him die?" The white-robed man quickly added.

"So what if he has comprehended two supreme attack paths and two supreme defense paths?" The burly man said coldly, "He hasn't truly and perfectly integrated them... He doesn't even qualify for my guidance."

The azure-armored figure and the white-robed man exchanged glances and shook their heads helplessly.

"Big brother, your standards are too high. Back then, that one who perfectly integrated attack and defense paths—didn't you kill him with your own hands?" The azure-armored figure muttered.

"Hmph, because his comprehension was too poor. I personally guided him... and he made no progress at all. Naturally, he deserved to die." The burly man said, "Even if one can perfectly integrate the so-called attack and defense paths, what of it? You must know that those who walk this supreme path find it extremely difficult to cultivate. Every step is hard. Especially achieving eternity through Dao-union—it is incomparably arduous."

"Over endless ages, it's common to see peerless prodigies who, as four-step Dao Lords, can slay some weaker Lords."

"But those prodigies who succeed in Dao-union and attain the strength of a Sovereign are far too few." The burly man said, "Our master is dead. Now there can only be one personal disciple and two nominal disciples. The slots are very scarce, and I must be extremely cautious. Even 'nominal disciples' must be sufficiently perfect and quite similar to our master's Dao. As for personal disciples? Only those who can make our master's Eternal treasure willingly acknowledge them as master are qualified."

"The requirements are really high."

"Too high."

The white-robed man and the azure-armored figure beside him shook their heads.

Since their master's death, they had only encountered one who truly perfectly integrated attack and defense paths—and he was killed by the burly man himself, without even being granted a nominal disciple.

"Our master's nominal disciples have only two slots. I'm afraid even the personal disciple of the Lord of the Destruction God Palace would not receive benefits as great as our master's nominal disciples." The burly man said coldly.

Discipleship is merely a title.

The benefits received are the most substantial!

A living Sovereign... will never bestow his most important treasures.

Only a dead Sovereign will be truly selfless and bestow all his treasures!

……

Three volcano giants stood in three directions, besieging Ji Ning.

Ji Ning no longer dared to clash head-on. These volcano giants were too brutal, and their volcanic bodies were impossible to harm. Even his 'Blooddrop Style' could not injure them! For now, he could only rely on the 'Mind-Heart Sword Intent' to buy time. He also manipulated his Dharma-treasure rope, trying to bind one of the volcano giants.

This was the only way Ji Ning could think of to capture the volcano giant.

"Kill."

"Kill."

One after another, they swung their huge rocky hands.

Or raised their rocky fists high and smashed down with a thunderous crash.

Or brought their hands together before their chests and then suddenly pushed forward.

All were seemingly simple and plain moves, yet each was immensely powerful, keeping Ji Ning completely on the defensive.

"Hmm, though they use similar moves, there seem to be some differences." Ji Ning also noticed the distinctions among the three volcano giants. One was more explosive and faster. Another always attacked with both hands together. The third was the slowest, always gathering momentum for a long time before each attack, but the power of its strikes was also ferocious.

"Their attacks, though not exactly the same, have some similarities." Ji Ning gradually became captivated.

From them, he glimpsed something he had been pursuing but had never fully understood.

Gradually...

As the battle progressed, Ji Ning began to gain some insight into the combat moves of the three volcano giants. After all, the three giants' techniques were quite crude.

"Heaven Collapse Style..."

The only thing that still puzzled Ji Ning was the Heaven Collapse Style!

Among the Five Styles of Brightmoon, he had comprehended the supreme path for the other four, except for the Heaven Collapse Style.

The Heaven Collapse Style was the most ferocious move, truly wild and overwhelming, absolutely dominating all enemies. It was the style with the greatest power. When facing enemies with impenetrable defenses, direct frontal crushing was an excellent approach.

For example, the Shadowless Style pursued elusiveness and unpredictability, naturally sacrificing some power.

The Blooddrop Style destroyed all obstacles on the Dao, piercing through everything.

Each reached an extreme in some aspect.

But they all sacrificed overall power! After all, only by being sufficiently extreme could one reach the pinnacle.

The 'Heaven Collapse Style' had no terrifying penetrative power, nor was it elusive and unpredictable. It was vast and mighty, everything done openly, yet its power was the strongest.

"Hmm?"

"Ah, like this?"

Ji Ning fought more and more wildly against the three volcano giants, constantly stealing and learning their techniques.

This fierce battle lasted about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

"They're forming the final offensive." The azure-armored figure and the white-robed man in the distance sighed softly. They had long been used to it. The three volcano giants actually excelled at three different parts of the same killing move. Once they formed the final offensive, the three giants would unite, revealing the full power of the ultimate killing move.

That power was truly formidable and terrifying! Those who had not truly attained the perfect Dao were almost certain to die.

Even if one attained the perfect Dao... their big brother would personally act and kill them!

……

The fierce battle lasted for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Suddenly, the aura of the three volcano giants changed.

"Hmm?" Ji Ning's expression shifted slightly.

"Whoosh." One volcano giant raised its rocky hand high and then swung it down at Ji Ning. Another giant was slightly slower, bringing its hands together before its chest, poised to push. The last giant was just beginning to move its arm...

The rhythm changed slightly.

The attacks of the three volcano giants subtly merged into one, their power even beginning to resonate.

Ji Ning understood that just as he perfectly combined the six Eternal divine swords in his 'Mind-Heart Sword Intent', at this moment, the three volcano giants also perfectly united. Their attack power was definitely increased tenfold. He had already been at a complete disadvantage before. With a tenfold increase, he would surely be crushed.

"Ah." Ji Ning's eyes suddenly lit up.

"This, this is the Heaven Collapse Style!" Looking at the three volcano giants, Ji Ning's eyes suddenly showed ecstasy.

The three volcano giants were executing one of the moves of the deceased Sovereign.

This move was at least seventy to eighty percent similar to Ji Ning's Heaven Collapse Style.

Ji Ning had already gained many insights from observing the volcano giants for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Moreover, his own Heaven Collapse Style had reached a bottleneck, only lacking the final push. At this moment, when the three giants joined forces... everything became clear to Ji Ning.

A warhorse needs enough space to charge in order to reach sufficient speed.

A bowstring needs to be drawn to have enough power.

Mortal life contains traces of all Daos.

The Heaven Collapse Style... to unleash the strongest and most terrifying power, one must gather momentum! Like drawing a bowstring to gather momentum. After gathering momentum, it erupts like a volcano that has been积蓄 for a long time! The longer the accumulation, the more violent the eruption! And at the moment of impact, it must be sufficiently brief, fast, and fierce.

That is what 'Heaven Collapse' means.

"Heaven Collapse." Ji Ning moved. His six hands all raised high, and divine power surged into the divine sword Ziguang Qiong in his hands, causing its weight to skyrocket instantly.

Ten times, ten thousand times, a billion times...

The six divine swords Ziguang Qiong each increased in weight to rival a Chaotic star. This was roughly the limit of Ji Ning's perfect control. The Heaven Collapse Style was best suited for extremely heavy weapons. For example, the deceased Sovereign's deep blue greatsword was an exceptionally heavy and special weapon, most suitable for executing the Heaven Collapse Style.

……