Chapter 1278: Ji Lingzhen

This sword light, like a meteor, descended from the sky, and as soon as it appeared, it froze space, making it difficult to resist.

Early Domain Realm?

His pupils contracted to the size of a wheat awn, and Zhang Xuan's body stiffened.

He hadn't expected that the old man hidden in the stream was a genuine Domain Realm expert, even stronger than Hall Master Yue!

More importantly...

His understanding of the sword was already comparable to Ma Minghai's, reaching the level of half a true interpretation!

With strong personal strength and an even greater understanding of the sword...

This person's strength would be hard for even an ordinary early Domain Realm expert to contend with!

Ssshh!

In his shock, the sword light had already arrived before him, colliding with his one-meter domain.

Crack!

The domain, like cut dough, was torn open, and the sword light continued forward without any hindrance or pause.

Stop!

Controlling his domain, Zhang Xuan simultaneously struck out with a palm.

Bang!

Under the sweeping sword energy, his face turned pale, and he flew backward, his back crashing into a large tree.

The other had made a casual move, yet he had used all his strength and his domain, but still couldn't block it!

No wonder even Ji Lingfeng was no match; he had already comprehended the embryonic form of a domain... At the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm, to achieve this, he was indeed a super genius!

Seeing that the sword had not killed him but only wounded him, the old man in the stream sneered, his eyes growing colder: 'But that means I must kill you!'

Such a genius must have a formidable inheritance. Since he had made a move, he had to kill him, leaving no room for retreat.

Otherwise, the disaster would be even greater!

Who are you?

Struggling to stand up, Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth.

Since you're doomed to die anyway, it doesn't hurt to tell you. I am Light Whisper Sword Ji Lingzhen, and this black market's owner is my younger brother, Light Spirit Sword Ji Lingfeng!

The old man Ji Lingzhen said.

Ji Lingzhen?

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He had been in Qianchong Empire for barely a day, and he had never heard of these two names.

Alright, time to die!

After introducing himself, Ji Lingzhen chuckled, too lazy to waste more words. Once again, a gleam of light flickered at his fingertip, as if holding a long sword, and he thrust it swiftly.

This move was even more terrifying than before.

Before it even arrived, it caused the entire formation to tremble incessantly, as if even this eighth-grade formation could barely withstand it.

“Without using a sword, he already has this kind of power. Once he wields a weapon, how strong will he be...”

His face ashen, Zhang Xuan dared not meet it head-on. With a flick of his wrist, a formation plate appeared in the air.

It was the very one Ji Lingfeng had thrown out earlier and he had refined.

Boom!

This time, instead of trapping the opponent, he enveloped himself. Zhang Xuan's figure flickered and vanished without a trace.

A formation plate that can trap others can naturally also protect its user, making them undetectable and untraceable for a short time.

However, this was the most passive of passive measures.

First, it was easier for the enemy to break the formation from outside; second, hiding inside was like being locked in a cage—escape was impossible!

“Let's see how long you can hide!”

With a light laugh, Ji Lingzhen took a step forward in the air, and his sword qi immediately fell upon the mist emitted by the formation plate, like a sharp knife cutting through sticky cake. In the blink of an eye, the mist formed by the plate was split in two, unable to close again.

With a glance, he knew this formation plate was completely ruined.

Whether formation plate or formation, there are two ways to break it: first, understand the principles and find the loophole or the gate of life; second, brute force.

Ji Lingfeng's formation plate was only quasi-eight-star, capable of trapping peak Soul Separation and half-step Domain Realm cultivators, but against a true Domain Realm expert who had comprehended half-step True Solution, it was insufficient!

One sword breaks all techniques!

As long as one's strength is sufficient, no matter the demons and monsters, a single sword will break them!

That was exactly the case with Ji Lingzhen now.

No matter how many tricks Zhang Xuan had, he couldn't use them against him.

Having split the mist in two, Ji Lingzhen swept his sword again.

With a “crack!”, the mist dissipated, and a formation plate cut in two fell to the ground, like a discarded pot lid.

Without the concealment of the formation, Zhang Xuan's figure reappeared before the two.

In just a few breaths, this fellow had changed his clothes, and more importantly, his entire aura had become colder and prouder, his eyes filled with a contempt that looked down on everything, as if he were the greatest in heaven and earth.

If not for the fact that his appearance and soul had not changed, one would suspect he had been replaced.

“In the face of true strength, changing clothes or temperament is useless. As long as your strength is insufficient, everything is in vain...”

Seeing this fellow making such a fuss, Ji Lingzhen sneered, raised his brows, and thrust his sword again.

Ssshh!

The air split once more, and a cold gleam shot forward at incredible speed.

“Can't even beat such trash? You're really regressing...”

“Zhang Xuan” snorted, shook his head, and instead of dodging, his body suddenly flickered.

Whoosh!

In the blink of an eye, he vanished from his spot, and the next moment, he appeared in the air.

Swish!

He raised his fist and threw a straight punch.

“Still want to resist?”

Not expecting that this fellow, who had been no match for him moments ago, would still try to resist, Ji Lingzhen's eyes turned cold, and his sword qi slashed horizontally again.

Colliding with the fist attack, the air trembled violently, and the formation shook incessantly from the impact.

The shattered sword qi shot out in all directions, piercing deep pits into the ground.

"Hmm?"

Ji Lingzhen involuntarily stepped back a few paces, stunned.

Just now, this guy had unleashed that domain-like thing and still couldn't block his technique. How could he, after changing clothes, seem like a different person, using his fist to directly catch his sword qi?

Moreover, looking at the hardness of that fist... could it be even more formidable than his sword qi?

"I don't believe it. A person's cultivation can't increase this fast. He must be using some method..."

With a flick of his finger, the sword qi before him instantly multiplied into countless strands, hovering in the air, emitting a trembling hum like an ocean.

Thousand-Edge Sword Sea!

One of the Sword Pool's ultimate techniques, not exclusive to Ma Minghai.

Sizzle!

The sword sea flew straight forward, leaving black lines in the air wherever it passed, as if tearing space itself.

"A petty trick, not worth mentioning!"

Raising an eyebrow, "Zhang Xuan" stepped forward, turned his wrist, and struck downward from the air.

The same palm strike, now far more powerful than before. When the sword sea met it, it was like a swatted fly, utterly defenseless.

Having blocked the opponent's sword sea, "Zhang Xuan" flickered again, appearing before Ji Lingzhen, and threw another punch.

Bang!

Before he could defend, Ji Lingzhen felt a surging, overwhelming force crash into him. His chest tightened, his face paled, and he flew backward with a "whoosh!"

He crashed into the ground, creating a huge crater!

"How can he be this strong..."

Ji Lingfeng, severely wounded on the side, stared wide-eyed.

This guy was just being beaten passively moments ago; how did he suddenly become so vigorous and fierce?

Ji Lingzhen had not only comprehended the half-step true meaning of the sword but also reached the early stage of the Domain Realm, surpassing the scope of Qianchong Empire... And yet, such a powerhouse couldn't even withstand a single punch...

Was this guy really only at the peak of the Primordial Spirit Realm?

"Damn it!"

Flying out of the pit again, Ji Lingzhen had lost all his earlier elegance, now roaring in exasperation.

He had thought he could easily kill him, never dreaming that after changing clothes, the man would become this powerful.

"Damn it? You're nothing but a chicken or a dog. Watch me slay you!"

Ignoring his fury, "Zhang Xuan" smiled lightly and stepped forward again.

This time, it was neither a fist nor a palm, but a sole descending from the air, kicking straight at him.

"You..."

In an instant, Ji Lingzhen felt as if the heavens and earth were collapsing, ready to cave in at any moment.

Although this kick used no martial technique and had little skill, the force was simply too immense—so great that resistance was futile.

"Damn it!"

All his acupoints opened, and countless streams of sword qi burst forth, forming a circle of sword qi around him in an instant.

Martial technique: Xiaoxiang Sword Rain!

This move was absolute defense. Once executed, the sword qi would immediately form a sphere, like a domain, protecting the user from harm.

Crack!

The foot landed, colliding with the sphere, producing a creaking sound as if it would shatter at any moment.

His face ashen, Ji Lingzhen gritted his teeth and held on.

"Hmph!"

"Zhang Xuan" raised his eyebrows, increasing the force in his foot.

Rumble!

Unable to bear it any longer, the sphere exploded on the spot.

Pfft!

Ji Lingzhen spat out a mouthful of blood, flew backward again, and crashed to the ground, his face bloodless.

"With this level of skill, you want to kill me?"

Having kicked him away, "Zhang Xuan" walked through the air again, his expression cold and stern, hands clasped behind his back like an undefeated war god.

"I..."

Clenching his fists, Ji Lingzhen retreated several steps.

This guy was simply too strong.

Though he had no domain and used no formidable martial techniques, his strength was overwhelming, and his body seemed impervious to damage. Continuing to fight would mean certain death!

"What kind of existence has this guy provoked?"

Gritting his teeth, he secretly regretted.

He should never have agreed to Ji Lingfeng and taken on this troublesome affair.

He had thought it was just a small fry, easy to crush, but never dreamed it was a giant dragon, impossible to contend with.

"With my strength, I'll be beaten to death sooner or later... Since that's the case, I have no choice but to try..."

Stopping his movement, Ji Lingzhen's expression turned grave. Suddenly, he pointed a finger, and blood gushed out wildly.

Arriving above the stream, the latter split open with a crack.

Zzzz!

The more blood he spat, the paler Ji Lingzhen became. His hair, once jet-black, turned gray, then white in an instant, and he aged considerably, as if his vitality was waning with the flow of blood.

"I've given you Qingyu Sword and Qingming Sword, and over the years, I've gathered countless swords to offer you... I've let you devour my blood freely... Still won't emerge? Do you really intend to remain trapped here forever?"

He roared.

Rumble!

The ground shook violently, the stream water seemed to boil, churning incessantly. The chaotic maze formation guarding the surroundings seemed on the verge of collapse under the immense force!

"What is this?"

"Zhang Xuan" pupils contracted.