Chapter 267: Heaven and Earth Formless

Chapter 267: Heaven and Earth Formless

Blood Qi filled the heavens as thousands of Qilin surged forth, their earth-shaking roars echoing across the skies.

For a single person’s Blood Qi to reach such an overwhelming level, only a Martial Artist of profound cultivation could achieve such a feat.

"Roar—"

Ning Xiaochuan clasped his hands together, his blood churning violently within his body. His form dissolved into a mist of blood, coalescing into thousands of Divine Tigers that dyed the earth crimson.

The Divine Tigers raised their heads and howled at the heavens, standing toe-to-toe against the Qilin.

A single drop of blood transformed into three Divine Tigers—outnumbering the Qilin by threefold.

The techniques displayed by both Tianchenzi and Ning Xiaochuan could be called Martial Arts Divine Abilities, or simply the collision of a Martial Artist’s Blood Qi.

Every Martial Artist in the South Mountain Gathering could see the dense, blood-red clouds shrouding the mountains.

Within those clouds surged a ferocious, murderous aura—so terrifying that no one dared approach.

A massive Qilin burst forth from the crimson mist, its head enormous, its hooves unyielding, its back adorned with Dual Wings. From its maw came a human voice: "Ning Xiaochuan, for someone of your cultivation to possess such dense Blood Qi… truly, you live up to your reputation as a prodigy. This must be the work of the 'Northern Abyss Divine Art,' devouring the Blood Qi of others for your own use!"

On the ground below, a Divine Tiger as tall as a small mountain roared at the sky, "Are you afraid?"

"Afraid? Hah! Even with your Blood Qi’s density, your Martial Arts realm is far beneath mine. Let me devour your Blood Qi and break through to the Earthly Venerable Realm!"

The colossal Qilin swooped down, trailing a vast red mist of Qilin Blood Qi, its thousands of claws slashing through the air.

The clash between Qilin and Divine Tigers resembled the collision of two vast armies.

At the heart of the crimson Divine Tigers hovered a massive Demonic Sword.

A wisp of Blood Qi condensed into Ning Xiaochuan’s form as he stood atop the sword, riding it like a streak of blood-red light that pierced straight through the Qilin’s body.

"Boom!"

The Qilin’s form shattered.

Yet more Qilin emerged, unleashing thousands of claw strikes aimed squarely at Ning Xiaochuan.

Ning Xiaochuan activated the divine ability of the "Annihilation Sword Soul." Surging Sword Qi coalesced into a Blood-Red Sword River, shredding the Qilin apart and tearing a massive fissure through the battlefield.

"Hahaha! Ning Xiaochuan, even if your Blood Qi is denser than mine, your Martial Arts realm is still far inferior. What hope do you have of defeating me?" Tianchenzi’s mad laughter echoed through the Blood Mist.

This was a battle of Blood Qi between Tianchenzi and Ning Xiaochuan—their energies so intertwined that they fought and slaughtered within the same storm of power.

Murong Hua stood at the edge of the battlefield, unable to intervene. His aged face was etched with worry. "Xiaochuan is still too young. He shouldn’t have let his pride push him into a contest of Blood Qi with Tianchenzi. If Tianchenzi devours Xiaochuan’s Blood Qi, he might very well break through to the Earthly Venerable Realm in one go. If that happens… disaster will be upon us."

Murong Hua’s body had suffered damage in the past, and his Blood Qi had never reached the level of Tianchenzi or Ning Xiaochuan. There was nothing he could do to help.

"Tianchenzi, you’re celebrating too soon. Have you forgotten? I still possess the 'Northern Abyss Divine Art.'"

Standing within the dense Blood Qi, Ning Xiaochuan held the Demonic Sword with both hands. Seven strands of Annihilation Qi swirled around him, repelling the Blood Qi Tianchenzi hurled his way.

Tianchenzi also condensed his body from the Blood Qi and laughed, "I’ve long known a battle with you was inevitable, so I’ve cultivated a divine ability powerful enough to counter your 'Northern Abyss Divine Art.'"

"Is that so?" Ning Xiaochuan replied.

"Feel free to test it," Tianchenzi sneered triumphantly.

Ning Xiaochuan channeled the power of the Demonic Sword, forming a massive vortex around it that began devouring Tianchenzi’s Blood Qi.

Tianchenzi narrowed his eyes and grinned. "So your 'Northern Abyss Divine Art' requires the Demonic Sword to unleash its full power? Excellent! This sword shall be mine. Heaven and Earth as One, Blood Qi Formless!"

Tianchenzi activated the "Heaven and Earth Formless" divine ability, ranked second on the Heavenly Cauldron Divine Ability Ranking—a Martial Arts Divine Ability capable of altering the very heavens and earth. Once unleashed, the surrounding world became formless, rendering any attack against him ineffective.

The devouring force emitted by the Demonic Sword was deflected, dissolving into nothingness—formless, traceless, and invisible.

Tianchenzi laughed heartily, advancing step by step toward Ning Xiaochuan. "Ning Xiaochuan, you brat, now you realize how inexperienced you truly are, don’t you?"

His arm transformed into a Blood Qi seal, striking at Ning Xiaochuan’s head, attempting to envelop and refine his Blood Qi into his own.

Ning Xiaochuan swung the Demonic Sword, tearing the seal apart before landing on the ground.

"Tai Sui!"

He summoned the Tai Sui Beast, mounted its back, and plunged into the underground world.

From a distance, one could see a torrent of surging Blood Qi continuously drilling into the earth before vanishing from the surface.

"Where do you think you’re escaping?"

A massive Qilin opened its maw, swallowing a portion of Ning Xiaochuan’s Blood Qi. After devouring it, the Qilin transformed back into Tianchenzi’s body.

Having absorbed Ning Xiaochuan’s Blood Qi, Tianchenzi’s cultivation visibly improved. He let out a sinister laugh. "The Blood Qi of a genius truly is potent nourishment. I can already sense the threshold of the Earthly Venerable Realm—I’m on the verge of breaking through!"

"Roar!"

Murong Hua unleashed a colossal dragon aura, blasting toward Tianchenzi.

Tianchenzi countered with "Heaven and Earth Formless," reflecting the dragon aura and repelling Murong Hua. He sneered, "Murong Hua, don’t be impatient. Once I deal with Ning Xiaochuan, I’ll come for your life."

His body dissolved into strands of Blood Qi once more, surging underground, seeping through the soil in pursuit of Ning Xiaochuan.

"Tianchenzi truly lives up to his title as the Chief of the Four Ministers of Dark Emperor City. To have mastered 'Heaven and Earth Formless'—such a formidable Martial Arts Divine Ability—means few in the Transcendent Realm can hope to defeat him now."

Murong Hua released streams of Profound Qi, enveloping himself before diving underground in pursuit.

Tianchenzi’s mastery of a divine ability capable of countering the Demonic Sword had caught Ning Xiaochuan off guard, leaving him severely wounded. Nearly a third of his Blood Qi had been drained by Tianchenzi.

"A century-old monster like Tianchenzi undoubtedly has countless life-saving trump cards. I should’ve been more cautious."

Ning Xiaochuan sat cross-legged on the Tai Sui Beast’s back, stabilizing his cultivation to prevent his realm from regressing.

Behind him, the roar of the Qilin grew increasingly urgent. Tianchenzi was catching up.

"Tai Sui, go faster!" Ning Xiaochuan urged.

The Tai Sui Beast was royalty among the creatures of the underground world, unmatched in speed beneath the earth. However, because it had not yet reached maturity, Tianchenzi had managed to close the distance.

"Kid, I see you have the talent to shake heaven and earth. You’re destined to become a martial arts overlord who can traverse the skies and the depths. Become my blade slave, and I’ll lend you my power to slay your enemies."

Every time Ning Xiaochuan was in peril, the Heavenly Emperor's Blade would emerge to tempt him, urging him to become its blade slave.

"I’m curious about one thing—why did the Heavenly Emperor abandon you back then?" Ning Xiaochuan didn’t outright refuse.

Seeing an opportunity, the Heavenly Emperor's Blade perked up and laughed loudly. "Because I was drenched in too much blood, turning into a demonic weapon. The Heavenly Emperor thought I no longer suited his status, so he discarded me on the Burial Weapon Continent. Heh, but I’m too powerful—I escaped from that damned place! I’ve decided to return, split open the Heavenly Emperor’s tomb, seize the single drop of Heavenly Emperor’s Blood he left behind, refine myself into a Quasi-God weapon, and then take my revenge on him. Hah! Don’t you think I’m impressive?"

Ning Xiaochuan frowned. "What kind of place is the Burial Weapon Continent?"

"You really are ignorant. People from small places like you have no vision. Become my blade slave, and I’ll take you to see the world!"

The Heavenly Emperor's Blade continued, "The Yulan Empire is just a Fifth-Grade Civilization. On the Tianxu Continent, there are at least a hundred such Fifth-Grade Civilizations. But the Burial Weapon Continent lies millions of kilometers beyond the Tianxu Continent, separated by an endless ocean. I made it back from millions of kilometers away—doesn’t that prove how powerful I am?"

"Well… I just want to know—did the Heavenly Emperor really die?" Ning Xiaochuan asked.

"Are you going to become my blade slave or not?" the Heavenly Emperor's Blade snapped.

Ning Xiaochuan replied, "That’s impossible."

"You’ve been wasting my time all this while, and now you refuse? Believe me, I can cripple you right now!" The Heavenly Emperor's Blade grew furious, feeling tricked by Ning Xiaochuan.

"We can discuss the blade slave matter later. Right now, the priority is dealing with the enemy chasing us. If we don’t kill him, you’ll be trapped inside the Mystic Beast Manual forever," Ning Xiaochuan said.

"You’re really willing to negotiate?" The Heavenly Emperor's Blade was skeptical.

"A blade as mighty as you probably hasn’t killed anyone in over a century. How else can you prove your strength if not by shedding blood?" Ning Xiaochuan challenged.

"Pah! I once slaughtered an 8,000-year-old martial sect founder and turned an entire land into Blood Soil. Do I need some insignificant weakling to prove myself?" The Heavenly Emperor's Blade scoffed.

Ning Xiaochuan retorted, "That was only because you were wielded by the Heavenly Emperor. It was his power, not yours. Without him, you’re just a broken blade. You haven’t tasted blood in centuries, yet you still dare call yourself a demonic weapon? How shameless."

"Fine, today I'll lend you my power. Let's see if this old man truly has what it takes. Of course, let me be clear—though my abilities are vast, how much power you can wield depends entirely on your own cultivation." The Heavenly Emperor's Blade, deeply concerned with its pride after being looked down upon by Ning Xiaochuan, was eager to prove itself.

Ning Xiaochuan's heart swelled with joy. "Then I thank you, Senior," he said.

The Heavenly Emperor's Blade immediately regretted its decision, feeling as though it had been tricked by Ning Xiaochuan. Yet, it couldn't bring itself to admit regret, vowing only to be more cautious next time. Otherwise, instead of gaining a blade slave, it might end up becoming one itself.

Tianchenzi caught up from the underground world, his Blood Qi condensing into a shadowy humanoid figure. His aged eyes gleamed with mockery. "Why have you stopped running?"

Standing atop the Tai Sui Beast's back, Ning Xiaochuan met Tianchenzi's gaze. His face was pale from excessive blood loss, exhaustion evident in his sigh. "Senior Tianchenzi's cultivation is peerless—how could I possibly escape? However... I've never been one to admit defeat. I intend to change weapons and face you once more."

Tianchenzi burst into laughter. "Ning Xiaochuan, do you think this is a child's brawl? Even if you switch weapons a hundred times, the outcome will remain the same. Hand over all your Blood Qi to aid me in breaking through to the Earthly Venerable Realm. After your death, I promise to select a blessed burial site for you and give you a grand funeral. How does that sound?"