I Pick up a Lost Godhood

Chapter 222 - 220: Taking Chestnuts from the Fire

Everyone looked at Yang Ying. Now that her relationship with Wang Meng was public, she was naturally considered one of their own.

Yang Ying’s face also showed a hint of confusion. ’The Nine Heavens Separation Fire Sword is just the Nine Heavens Separation Fire Sword. How can it be divided into different layers?’

Li Tianyi immediately composed himself. The Nine Heavens Separation Fire Sword was the Li Family’s strongest Sword Technique. His so-called mastery only referred to the First Layer, and during his previous battle with Wang Meng, he had been one move short of completing it.

This was a top secret, known only to the Ancestral Masters and a few Sword Sect Elders. The profound mysteries within were completely beyond the disciples’ comprehension.

"Such arrogance! Let’s see if you can handle my First Layer first!"

Li Tianyi’s Elemental Power swelled and fluctuated, reaching the peak of the Nineteenth Layer but never breaking through to the Twentieth. Nevertheless, the Lihuo Sword in his hand turned a fiery red.

While others couldn’t see the intricacies, the three Ancestral Masters nodded frequently. Li Tianyi’s talent was a rarity in the world. To think he could grasp the true essence of the Nine Heavens Separation Fire Sword with less than Twenty Layers of Elemental Power. This didn’t mean he could unleash the Sword Technique’s full power—he was still far from it. Only Li Xiuwen could use the strongest of its Ninefold Heaven. However, at his current age and cultivation level, Li Tianyi could already glimpse the Sword Technique’s true meaning, and that was the most terrifying part.

The power born from this insight was extraordinary.

An expression of utter fascination for the sword appeared on Li Tianyi’s face. "Nine Heavens Separation Fire Sword, First Layer—Sword Dominator of Heaven and Earth!"

The moment the complete First Layer was unleashed, everything changed. Zhang Xiaopang had seen it before, but this was on a completely different level. After all, Li Tianyi had only used the Fifth Layer of Elemental Power last time. Using only the Fifth Layer for the Nine Heavens Separation Fire Sword was just a performance, a mere shadow of its true power.

As this Sword Power erupted, a suffocating, intense heat washed over the area around the Dueling Platform. The Sword Qi was like a blazing fire.

Just then, a scene unfolded that nearly made everyone stumble in shock. Wang Meng was executing the exact same Sword Momentum. The Sword Technique was identical!

Li Tianyi froze. ’Is this a joke?’

The Nine Heavens Separation Fire Sword was in a different league from Sword Techniques like Phoenix Dance in the Nine Heavens or the one named Yellow Springs. To put it simply, while those might seem like Advanced Sword Skills to ordinary disciples, they were actually quite common. Anyone could practice them once they reached the right level. The Nine Heavens Separation Fire Sword, however, was the Li Family’s true secret art.

There was no way its Life Mark Combination could have been leaked to an outsider.

But the Sword Power and scorching heat emanating from the Broken Heaven Edge were identical.

—Sword Dominator of Heaven and Earth!

Any hesitation lasted only an instant. Wang Meng’s Sword Technique was so fast that it seemed to strike first despite being launched second. Surging Sword Qi poured forth like a mighty river, and the two attacks violently collided.

To Zhang Xiaopang and the others, it was like they were facing an ocean of Sword Qi. They were instantly submerged, all thoughts of dodging gone. Forget dodging—in the face of such a Sword Technique, the sheer Sword Power was enough to paralyze them where they stood.

’Those two on the stage... they’re complete monsters.’

Liangyuan had been wise to disappear. Watching these two fight was truly demoralizing.

Qiao Qian and Jia Shidao were taking it better, as they knew their own limits. But those with higher aspirations, like Song Zhong and Tang Wei, were hit hard. What was most infuriating was that such a ferocious and powerful Sword Technique had been unleashed without even needing Twenty Layers of Elemental Power.

It was a blatant display of their masterful control over Elemental Power—utterly overbearing.

A strange, indescribable feeling blossomed in Yang Ying’s heart. It was sweet, yet odd. She felt no sense of loss. ’Once, cultivation and the sword were my only focus,’ she thought, ’but now... something else has surpassed them.’

BOOM...

The Sword Qi exploded.

Lingyin Hall’s Dueling Platform looked as if it had been ravaged by Sword Qi. A closer look, however, revealed that the marks left behind formed distinct, orderly patterns.

Even in the heat of Sword Fighting, both of them maintained superb control. They weren’t just carelessly blasting Sword Qi everywhere. This was something only those who had truly mastered a Sword Technique could achieve.

Wang Meng was using the real Nine Heavens Separation Fire Sword!

Li Tianyi stared at Wang Meng. "Where did you learn the Nine Heavens Separation Fire Sword!"

Wang Meng smiled faintly. "Have you already forgotten our encounter at the Thunder Pool, Brother Tianyi?"

’Back then, the power of my Godhood was at its peak,’ Wang Meng recalled. ’Forget the Nine Heavens Separation Fire Sword; I could see through any Sword Technique with a single glance.’

Li Tianyi was slightly stunned. Just then, Yang Tian couldn’t help but let out a long cry, "Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!"

Wang Meng understood the delight Li Tianyi must be feeling.

"Senior, what’s wrong with Junior Brother Tianyi?" Anx Dao asked, not understanding. His hands had gone cold. ’This Wang Meng is incredible... he can even use the Nine Heavens Separation Fire Sword.’

Mingren’s expression was solemn. "Junior Brother Tianyi is called an exceptionally gifted, once-in-a-century Sword Cultivator genius because he possesses the ability of the Peeping Sword. After seeing any Sword Technique just once, he can find its flaws and devise a way to counter it."

"I know, it’s a terrifyingly powerful ability, but..."

Mingren sighed deeply. "But Wang Meng is even more terrifying. He possesses an ability stronger than the Peeping Sword: the Sword-Stealing Ability. After seeing any Sword Technique just once, he can not only find a way to counter it, but he can also reverse-engineer its Life Mark Combination and use the technique himself."

Anx Dao was stunned. As a powerful Sword Cultivator himself, he knew exactly how devastating the existence of such a person was.

The disciples were shocked that Wang Meng could use the Nine Heavens Separation Fire Sword, having no idea how he’d learned it. The Ancestral Masters, however, knew exactly what was happening.

Wu Fatian and Thunderbolt exchanged wry smiles. "Looks like there’s no point in us competing for him anymore."

Thunderbolt nodded. No matter how much talent Wang Meng showed in forging or Alchemy, it was all insignificant compared to his Sword-Stealing Ability. He feared even the Sect Leader himself would be tempted to take him as a disciple.

Across the entire Small Thousand World, across all Four Continents, how many people could possibly possess such an astonishing, heaven-defying talent?

Watching the disciples murmuring amongst themselves below, the Ancestral Masters could only think that ignorance was sometimes bliss. The disciples were merely speculating about Wang Meng’s connection to the Li Family, completely oblivious to the terrifying power of the Sword-Stealing Ability.

With the "Sword-Stealing" ability, it was no wonder he could so easily imitate the Magic of Technique Cultivators and Body Cultivators. Ultimately, all techniques, no matter how varied, were just different applications of Life Mark Combinations and Elemental Power.

"This is a great blessing for our Holy Hall!"

Zhou Luodan said with excitement. For the Ancestral Master of the Zhou Family, whose only devotion was to the Holy Hall, nothing could make him happier. A single disciple like this could guarantee a century of glory for the Holy Hall. And with Li Tianyi as well, the Holy Hall’s prosperity would be everlasting!

In the face of such a gifted disciple, all petty, personal interests could be set aside.

Li Tianyi pointed his Lihuo Sword at Wang Meng. "Then let me show you a Sword Technique you haven’t seen before!"

He thrust the Lihuo Sword violently into the ground. As he recited the Sword Formulas, a tremendous amount of Elemental Power surged forth.

A brilliant light also shone in Wang Meng’s eyes. ’The Five Elements Dao... Fire generates Earth.’

At that moment, Li Tianyi’s roar echoed, "Nine Heavens Separation Fire Sword, Second Layer—Taking Chestnuts from the Fire!"

CRACK...

A Sword Array materialized and locked directly onto Wang Meng. Instantly, the ground erupted in blinding light as a veritable hell of blades surged toward him.

Wang Meng had no choice but to leap into the air, combining Flying Shadow with a Sword Shield. This was undoubtedly one of the most badass defensive maneuvers possible.

At that moment, an expression of pride unique to the Li Family appeared on Li Tianyi’s face. ’Even with your Sword-Stealing Ability, there will always be a "Sword" you cannot steal!’

A giant arm materialized from the clouds and smashed down, swatting the airborne Wang Meng directly toward the ground.

BOOM...

This was Taking Chestnuts from the Fire!

A massive, vertical crater was blasted into the ground, so deep it seemed bottomless.

This was the Second Layer of the Nine Heavens Separation Fire Sword.

There was absolutely no way to dodge it!