novelraw Chapter 496 - 258, The one who raises his hand to cover the sky and clouds, the number one person beneath the Primordial Spirit realm.
Chapter 496 - 258, The one who raises his hand to cover the sky and clouds, the number one person beneath the Primordial Spirit realm.
Furthermore, while Xu Xing had an impressive battle record, having recently killed three Demon Cultivator Dao Lords of the same realm in the North Wilderness, he was now an outcast from the Flying Feather Immortal Palace—nothing more than a stray dog. With the full might of the Heavenly Saint Sect, Cui Tong had no fear of Xu Xing. Harnessing the legacy of the Heavenly Saint Sect from its time as one of the Higher Teachings, killing a Nascent Soul Saint Monarch might prove difficult, but a mere Nascent Soul Daoist Lord? That would be effortlessly achieved...
"Sect Master Cui, please calm your anger," Xu Xing said, his expression utterly unruffled. He remained serene, offering a faint smile before continuing, "I have come to your esteemed sect to help resolve the Heavenly Saint Sect’s current crisis, not to create enmity. To allow the Heavenly Saint Sect, a great teaching preserved since ancient times, to be reduced to helpless prey for the other sects to carve up due to personal resentment... surely this isn’t something Sect Master Cui wishes to see?"
As he spoke, he reached into his sleeve, retrieved a Record-Keeping Talisman, and placed it on the low table before him.
"Lord Xu, your meaning?" Cui Tong’s eyebrows twitched upon hearing this, his expression softening slightly.
Although he didn’t know what game Xu Xing was playing at this moment, as a Sect Leader, Cui Tong possessed a degree of shrewdness. He was prepared to go along with it for now and use his Magic Power to retrieve the Record-Keeping Talisman for examination.
Since Xu Xing claimed this visit was to resolve the Heavenly Saint Sect’s crisis... then this Record-Keeping Talisman on the table, judging by his words, must surely be related to the impending danger facing the Heavenly Saint Sect. A blessing or a curse? An alliance or animosity? He, as the Heavenly Saint Sect Leader, should first examine the Record-Keeping Talisman before deciding anything.
However, just as Cui Tong began to channel his Magic Power to retrieve the talisman, Xu Xing intervened. With an equivalent exertion of Magic Power, he easily countered Cui Tong’s attempt.
"I have always heard that Sect Master Cui’s realm is profound and that he is on the verge of becoming a Nascent Soul Grand Cultivator, ranking among the top three experts within the Heavenly Saint Sect," Xu Xing stated. "This humble junior is untalented but wishes to seek your guidance."
As his voice faded, Xu Xing lightly tapped the low table with two joined fingers. A stream of dual-colored, cyan and red, Magic Power shot from his fingertips. In an instant, it overwhelmed Cui Tong’s incoming Magic Power, pushing it into disarray.
Cui Tong’s Magic Power was water-aspected, its mystical glow a deep, dark blue.
The cultivators present in the hall could clearly see that even though both displays of Magic Power were comparable in magnitude, and despite Cui Tong’s cultivation realm being a minor stage higher than Xu Xing’s, his dark blue Magic Power was being steadily beaten back by the cyan and red Magic Power, collapsing in utter disarray.
The assembled cultivators’ expressions instantly tensed.
What constituted true provocation? Standing before the Heavenly Saint Sect’s mountain gate and cursing its ancestors wasn’t provocation; that was merely madness. The Heavenly Saint Sect could easily laugh off such an incident and let it pass. However, to compete in Magic Power against someone of the same realm—especially against a Sect Leader who embodied the sect’s lineage and heritage—this... this was an extremely grave provocation! If the Heavenly Saint Sect were to ignore this, its prestige among the other sects would undoubtedly plummet within days. Moreover, not all the observing cultivators were from the Heavenly Saint Sect; many distinguished figures from various other sects were present as guests. This type of challenge was a fundamental repudiation of the Heavenly Saint Sect, striking at its very Cultivation Methods!
"Lord Xu’s foundation is indeed profound. External rumors suggest he possesses an Immortal Body... I am outmatched," Cui Tong conceded, his expression flickering briefly. Though he swiftly regained his composure, his momentary gloom had been witnessed by all cultivators present.
Helpless, he had to choose his words carefully to alleviate the Heavenly Saint Sect’s current embarrassment. The foundation of an Immortal Body would certainly far surpass that of his mortal physique; defeat in such a contest would then be excusable.
"However," Cui Tong continued, his eyes narrowing, "Our Sect possesses other Divine Powers and profound techniques that I believe are sufficient to bridge this gap."
He rolled up the sleeve of his left robe, his palm making a grasping motion towards Xu Xing.
Instantly, a solidified, massive hand of Magic Power materialized in the air, reaching the side of Xu Xing’s low table in the blink of an eye. This colossal Magic Power hand was a two-toned Xuanhuang color, and in its palm, a Yin-Yang Fish symbol flowed ceaselessly, exuding an air of profound mystery.
"That’s the Heavenly Saint Sect’s Xuanhuang One Qi Controlling Crane Hand! It ranks among the top twenty of their hundred-plus Divine Powers."
"It seems Sect Master Cui is getting serious, intending to reclaim the Heavenly Saint Sect’s honor."
Among the onlooking cultivators, a white-haired elderly Daoist observed the Xuanhuang Giant Hand, shook his head, and began to comment, explaining to some of the less experienced junior cultivators, "The Heavenly Saint Sect’s decline has only been in the last ten thousand years or so. In our era, although the sect’s prominence wasn’t what it once was, its disciples still carried the air of a Higher Teaching and didn’t stoop to mingling with lesser groups."
"Sect Master Cui is at the Middle Nascent Realm, a stage higher than Lord Xu. However, as we all just witnessed, Sect Master Cui’s Magic Power is inferior to Lord Xu’s..."
"Lord Xu earned such a formidable reputation in the North Wilderness; his Divine Powers are certainly not weak. For Sect Master Cui to hope for victory in a single exchange... I fear that will be quite difficult."
Just as the white-haired elderly Daoist finished speaking, a female cultivator in palace attire, possessing a lovely countenance, suddenly spoke. Her voice, crisp and clear like silver bells, resonated through the hall, reaching everyone’s ears.
"Is that Wu Ziting from the Cloud Sword Sect?"
"Rumor has it she cultivated a Sword Heart and has profound attainments in the Way of the Sword. Those who possess a Sword Heart are known for their keen perception. If she doesn’t favor Sect Master Cui’s chances, then..."
A murmur of discussion spread through the crowd.
The Sword Heart is a unique Divine Power within swordsmanship, akin to an additional Dao Pill for a Dao Pill Realm cultivator, possessing various wondrous applications. Cultivators capable of forging a Sword Heart are considered to have peerless talent within the Dao Pill Realm.
"But why would someone from the Cloud Sword Sect be here at the Heavenly Saint Sect?" someone wondered aloud, puzzled.
Although the cultivators present included many distinguished figures, they were mostly from sects friendly with the Heavenly Saint Sect, often residing there for extended periods.