Chapter 1217: Breaking the Chrysanthemum

Wasn't this guy dead long ago?

How is he here again?

"Dead? Do you think I, Qingtian Emperor, could be killed so easily and still rule the Qingtian lineage as a generation of emperor?"

Qingtian Emperor sneered, his killing intent surging: "What you killed was merely a clone of mine!"

"Clone?"

Zhang Xuan frowned.

Tian Qing was a reincarnated thought, considered a clone, and the bronze-masked figure he had encountered before was also just a clone... This Qingtian Emperor was far too formidable!

"That clone was nurtured by splitting my soul, costing me a full five hundred years... You killed it. Today, I'll grant you the death you deserve!"

His eyes narrowed, Qingtian Emperor revealing intense hatred.

As an emperor of the Alien Spirit Tribe, even if he concealed himself well, entering human territory and dealing with master teachers required caution. Thus, the bronze mask was merely a clone he had凝聚 at great cost.

His true body had hidden here for safety.

Despite his ability as a Soul Spiritist to凝聚 clones, it had cost him immense effort and five hundred years of nurturing. And this guy had killed both clones, even the Ten Kings...

In fact, this one had nearly wiped out the entire Qingtian lineage...

The hatred in his heart was unimaginable; he wished to grind Zhang Xuan's bones to dust and kill him on the spot!

"I want to die of old age..." Zhang Xuan said.

"That's not for you to decide!"

With a cold snort, Qingtian Emperor's killing intent boiled.

Boom!

In an instant, Zhang Xuan felt his soul being drawn by a tremendous force, on the verge of leaving his body.

Knowing the other was using a soul-capturing technique, Zhang Xuan frowned.

Although his soul was large, lacking a suitable cultivation technique, it was not strong in combat. His strongest assets were his physical body and true qi.

Once his soul left his body, he would be in danger.

Activating the Heavenly Path true qi to stabilize his soul, Zhang Xuan stomped the ground and lunged forward.

Since they were already mortal enemies, there was no need to hold back.

Whoosh!

His vigorous true qi surged through his meridians, Zhang Xuan transformed into a galloping lion on the grassland. The longsword in his hand swept through the air, and his entire being seemed to become a sword, thrusting forward.

Unity of Man and Sword!

Having thoroughly studied the sword techniques in the War Master Hall's Weapon Hall, his Heavenly Path Sword Art had reached the Saint realm. Now, executing the ultimate move of Unity of Man and Sword, the sword aura stretched straight like a rainbow, hanging in the underground palace.

"Not bad!"

Unexpected that the soul-capturing technique had no effect and instead provoked an attack, Qingtian Emperor narrowed his eyes, abandoning the soul capture and reaching out with his hand.

Hum!

The air before him seemed to solidify, and the sword aura's advance slowed.

"Soul Departure realm... late stage?"

Zhang Xuan's heart tightened.

From the opponent's move, he immediately knew his cultivation level.

Far stronger than the bronze mask, he had actually reached the late stage of Soul Departure!

At the Soul Departure realm, each minor level required enduring a lightning tribulation. Reaching the late stage meant enduring three tribulations, far beyond his own peak Embryonic Infant realm.

"Break!"

The longsword slashed downward, the sharp sword aura cutting through the restraint like silk.

Just as he felt relieved, he saw Qingtian Emperor flip his hand and send a palm strike.

His expression grim, Zhang Xuan raised his sword to meet it.

Too hasty, he couldn't unleash his full power and was struck.

Bang!

The Ice Rain Sword flew backward, embedding itself in a nearby wall, quivering. Zhang Xuan also crashed to the ground, creating a large pit.

Though he could fight above his level, he could at most match the mid Soul Departure stage. Against the late stage, he was still far inferior.

"If that's all you've got, you won't escape death today!"

Having sent Zhang Xuan flying, Qingtian Emperor sneered coldly, his killing aura filling the room. He reached out again, pressing down.

"If you want to kill me, let's see if you have the skill!"

Zhang Xuan curled his body, leaped up from the ground, and flipped his hand, stamping down like a seal.

Great Compassion Demon Palm!

Boom!

Colliding with the opponent's fingers, his face flushed again, and he retreated seven or eight steps.

The opponent was an emperor of the Qingtian clan, having lived for countless years, with profound combat understanding and high cultivation. Zhang Xuan could gain no advantage in the fight.

"Lie down!"

With a cold laugh, Qingtian Emperor's five fingers hooked like iron claws.

Unleashing his full late Soul Departure strength, he sealed the surroundings, making it impossible for Zhang Xuan to dodge.

"This move isn't just physical; it carries soul attack. Those with weak mental fortitude would have their psychological defenses shattered..."

Zhang Xuan clenched his fist.

The move seemed ordinary, just a casual grab, but Zhang Xuan, with his deep understanding of martial arts, saw its terror at a glance.

Not only did it carry true qi attack, making it hard to evade, but it also imposed a strong psychological暗示.

Like a collapsing mountain, it gave a sense of inescapability. If one allowed this illusion to grow, even if their strength matched, they would surely fail to escape.

Activating his mental state, the panic vanished instantly. Raising his brows, Zhang Xuan swayed, executing Traveler Without Borders, dodging the opponent's palm in an instant. Simultaneously, he sidestepped and pointed a finger.

Great Star Finger Force!

Whew!

The finger force shot like an arrow, aiming straight for Qingtian Emperor's eye.

"To quickly spot the flaw in my eyes... worthy of a seven-star pinnacle master teacher!"

With a light laugh, Qingtian Emperor was not flustered. Instead, he flipped his wrist and flicked a finger.

Bang!

A beam of light collided with the Great Star Finger Force, both dissipating in the air. Zhang Xuan retreated again.

Since the battle began, he had used the Heavenly Path Library to see the opponent's flaws and weaknesses. But this guy was too strong, especially in controlling the environment. Even knowing the vital points, his attacks couldn't get close, rendering them ineffective.

"The higher the level, the less effective knowing the vital points becomes..."

Zhang Xuan understood.

At low strength, knowing the vital points allowed跨级 killing, even against those several major levels higher. But as cultivation increased, cultivators gained more spatial understanding, making such easy kills nearly impossible.

However, if killing him was hard, killing Zhang Xuan was also difficult.

He flipped his hand again, changing palm to fist, lifting it in the air, and hammering down.

Crack! Crack!

The space before him seemed to crack, his fist carrying lightning as it descended upon Qingtian Emperor.

Martial technique: Thousand Fists Thunder Sea!

Created by a Soul Departure expert while observing thunder during his tribulation, it ranked high in Qingyuan Empire. Now executed by Zhang Xuan, its power was even greater.

Before it fully manifested, the underground palace seemed filled with thunder.

Thousand Fists Thunder Sea was less powerful than Great Compassion Demon Palm, but its thunder affected Soul Spiritists, making it more effective against Qingtian Emperor.

Martial techniques aren't about being stronger; they're about targeting weaknesses to maximize effect.

That's why countless experts strive to create newer, better techniques.

"Hmm?"

Unexpected that this Saint realm triple Embryonic Infant cultivator not only blocked his successive attacks but also counterattacked. Qingtian Emperor's face darkened, involuntarily retreating two steps, spreading his five fingers and grabbing again.

Whoosh!

The thunder before him seemed wrapped in a special force, squeezed, and exploded simultaneously.

"I am a late Soul Departure expert, having endured three lightning tribulations... Heavenly thunder cannot harm me. Do you think your thunder secret art can affect me?"

With a cold snort, Qingtian Emperor stepped forward again, his powerful aura making him seem like an immovable giant, impervious to all means.

"It doesn't affect you much... But where is my Ice Rain Sword?"

Zhang Xuan laughed.

"Ice Rain Sword?"

Qingtian Emperor frowned in confusion.

Earlier, the opponent's longsword had been knocked away by his move and embedded in the wall...

Thinking this, he couldn't help but look at where the sword had been. His pupils contracted.

"Where's the sword?"

The longsword was gone, somehow taken by the opponent.

"Behind you!"

Zhang Xuan hooked his finger.

Qingtian Emperor's face darkened, and he quickly turned, only to find nothing.

"Damn!"

Realizing he had been tricked, he swayed and leaped aside, but it was too late. A palm strike landed on his chest, forcing him back a few steps, his face pale.

Though the hasty attack was not strong, it infuriated him.

As the emperor of the Qingtian lineage, an ancient monster who had lived for eons, at the late Soul Departure realm, to be struck by a mere Embryonic Infant cultivator... Unbearable!

"I'll kill you..."

Roaring again, his true qi boiling, he was about to unleash his strongest attack when the youth's voice rang out again.

"Below..."

"Hmph, you think that trick will work again?"

Seeing the opponent repeat the tactic, Qingtian Emperor gritted his teeth and slammed his palm down, power surging, intending to crush him. But then a "whew" sound came from below. Looking down, he saw the sword that had been embedded in the wall now hidden underground, thrusting straight up.

"Without an attacker, relying on mere spirituality to kill me? You underestimate me..."

With a cold laugh, he turned his palm to strike the sword, intending to shatter it. But before his power fully manifested, a tremendous force surged from above.

Then he saw a huge cauldron sitting down on his head.

He raised his hands to block.

Boom!

The force was immense; his hands couldn't hold, and his knees buckled, sitting down.

Pfft!

The sword pierced through the chrysanthemum and entered.

Petals bloomed one after another.

"Ah..."

A scream rang out, Qingtian Emperor shrieking like a ghost.