novelraw Chapter 194 : A Breath Not Belonging to This Continent
Chapter 194 : A Breath Not Belonging to This Continent
"Seeing as you're so confident, let's make it three months then."
"You might as well just kill me."
⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱
Seeing them chatting leisurely without panic, the Demon King became even more enraged. How dare these cursed humans smile and joke in front of him? Where did they think they were putting a Demon King like him?!
Demonic power surged in his palm, his attacks becoming more violent.
The overwhelmingly powerful lightning attracted storm clouds, darkening the sky to night-like conditions. Lightning rolled and danced within the black clouds, crackling down. The entire water area and nearby regions were basically enveloped in lightning. Ordinary Golden Armor Talismans could hardly resist such powerful and numerous lightning strikes.
"Boom—"
Chu Sang had just thrown out a Golden Armor Talisman, but it shattered after deflecting only a few lightning bolts.
She quickly overlaid a Lightning Storage Talisman on top of the Golden Armor Talisman. This time it could block several more lightning strikes, but once the lightning power accumulated to a certain degree, the talisman would still be destroyed.
She recalled another advanced talisman she had seen in ancient texts—the Reverse Armor Talisman.
As her mind recalled the talisman patterns, her fingertips were already rapidly drawing with spiritual power.
Golden Armor Talisman, Lightning Storage Talisman, Reverse Armor Talisman.
Three talismans merged into one.
Lightning Reversal Talisman!
The talisman shot from her fingertips, absorbing all the incoming lightning attacks. When the talisman's lightning storage reached its limit, the blinding lightning power was so great that she was pushed back two meters by the recoil. That attack actually rebounded along its original path!
Not only were the others shocked, but even the Demon King was dumbfounded. He never imagined these human cultivators would have such a tricky move up their sleeves. Before he could react, he was struck by his own attack, piercing his arm. The pain contorted his face as he stumbled back repeatedly.
"This... what kind of talisman is this? It's incredibly powerful!"
Cui Xiu was the first to discern its principles. He had never seen such a talisman in any talisman book, but upon careful observation, he could see that this talisman simultaneously incorporated the patterns of several other talismans.
A new talisman created by overlapping three advanced talismans!
Clearly, it was Chu Sang's own creation.
Cui Xiu was utterly amazed, filled with shock and admiration from within. It was already difficult enough for ordinary talisman masters to learn advanced talismans, let alone create new ones. Moreover, this involved merging three existing talismans into one, recombining the talisman characters to achieve an effect greater than 1+1+1=3. Such talent was truly awe-inspiring...
"I wonder what this talisman is called, that it can counter the lightning power of a Divine Transformation stage demon beast."
Chu Sang glanced at the furious Demon King in the distance and said with a slightly raised voice, "Lightning Reversal Talisman. Of course, you could also call it by this more colloquial name: the Invincible Demon Mind-Breaker Talisman."
"... Ahem, indeed a colloquially understandable good name."
He withdrew his gaze, his long eyes slightly lowered, seriously observing her every move.
It must be said that Cui Xiu's attainments in talisman techniques were absolutely top-tier among this generation of talisman masters. After carefully observing Chu Sang's entire talisman-drawing process, spiritual power gathered at his fingertips as well.
With a precedent set, he didn't need to create it himself; imitation would suffice.
However, even imitation greatly tested one's talent and attainment in talismans.
He had only watched once, yet he had basically grasped the principles. Divine Transformation stage talisman masters could draw talismans directly with spiritual energy, without needing paper and ink... Although Chu Sang could achieve spiritual energy talisman drawing at the Golden Core stage, she had always been different from normal people. Such a cheat character should be kicked out of the comparison.
Cui Xiu had tried spiritual energy talisman drawing at the Nascent Soul stage. Excluding Chu Sang, he was definitely considered a true genius disciple in talisman techniques of this generation. He could successfully draw talismans with spiritual energy at the Nascent Soul stage, but the success rate was not high, and the drawing speed was limited, making it difficult to apply practically in the ever-changing battlefield.
But after breaking through to Divine Transformation, his attempts at spiritual energy talisman drawing became much more fluid, with a success rate approaching 100%. In less than half an incense stick's time, he successfully drew a Lightning Reversal Talisman.
The Eight Trigrams Sect disciples all cast astonished glances. Previously, before meeting Chu Sang, Cui Xiu would have been equally amazed at his own progress. But he had seen the young woman draw an advanced overlapping talisman with just a few strokes of spiritual power in an instant, and he couldn't help but feel competitive.
He took a deep breath, lowered his eyes, and continued to draw talismans. One talisman after another was drawn, his speed increasing. He drew more than a dozen in succession without a single failure, truly deserving to be called a genius!
But Cui Xiu was still not satisfied. Gritting his teeth and exerting all his effort, he could at best successfully draw an advanced overlapping talisman in half a cup of tea's time, while in the same time, Chu Sang could draw five talisman patterns...
Perhaps due to the large-scale mobilization of spiritual power, his breathing became somewhat unstable, and the surrounding aura became a bit chaotic. Just as he was about to enter Qi deviation, a stream of spiritual power transmitted through his back, smoothing out the slightly chaotic spiritual power in his body.
A clear and gentle female voice came from behind, "Don't be arrogant or impatient. Take it slow. The Eight Trigrams Sect's top disciple I know isn't so eager for quick success."
"...You're just at the Nascent Soul stage, while I'm already at Divine Transformation. I, I can't understand why I can't match up to you..." Cui Xiu's voice was somewhat hoarse. It was clear that this question had been weighing on his mind for a long time, even showing signs of becoming a mental knot. He hadn't dared to ask before, but at this moment, he couldn't help but voice it.
"Nascent Soul and Divine Transformation are just differences in realm, not necessarily real differences in strength. It's not like you could match me when I was at Golden Core and you were at Nascent Soul," Chu Sang gave him a strange look. "Look at it this way, you're not the only Divine Transformation stage here, and the others can't match me either."
"Mm... cough!" Cui Xiu had thought she was coming to comfort him, but it turned out she was here to strike him down.
Although her words were arrogantly speechless, they were indeed facts. Those better at swordsmanship than her weren't as good at drawing talismans, and those more powerful than her weren't as versatile. Was this person born to strike others down?
While others hadn't said anything, he, as the top disciple of the Eight Trigrams Sect, outwardly appearing dignified and elegant, couldn't help but secretly feel jealous of someone at the Nascent Soul stage. Cui Xiu was instantly filled with indescribable shame.
The young woman's voice continued from beside his ear, "If you really can't accept it, then catch up to me. Show me your strength."
"Mm! I will certainly strive to catch up to you!"
As the young man spoke, the aura around him changed. He looked up at her, his words no longer filled with doubt and lack of confidence in himself, but instead becoming increasingly firm. A flash of white light seemed to pass over his body. Had he achieved enlightenment at this moment??
Chu Sang, who had simply wanted to engage in some casual banter, "......"
"I've actually gained enlightenment. Thank you for your guidance, Friend Chu Sang. In the future, I will definitely not wallow in self-pity, but work hard to cultivate, not just to catch up to your pace, but to surpass you and become the true number one talisman master!" Cui Xiu's face lit up with joy, his eyes gentle.
Chu Sang, "...You're welcome. It was nothing. I wish you success."
"Ah ah ah ah Little Junior Sister, stop chatting! Quick, quick, quick, quick, talisman, now!"
Tantai Ming, wielding the Weeping Blood Sword, charged to within three feet of the Demon King. Terrifying lightning power gathered towards the young man's body. Chu Sang immediately composed herself, raising her hand to cast out a Lightning Reversal Talisman, placing it in front of the young man to resist the lightning.
Following this, the sword light in the young man's hand blazed brilliantly. A sword energy like a rainbow fiercely slashed across the Demon King's back!
The young man's sword energy was truly too fierce and intense. Even though his cultivation was only at the Nascent Soul stage, with the enhancement of the divine sword and sword techniques, the power unleashed by that single strike was not inferior to a Divine Transformation stage attack, successfully wounding the Demon King.
Other cultivators also found openings to attack.
The disciples from the several major sects present totaled two to three hundred.
Chu Sang didn't dare to be negligent. One Lightning Reversal Talisman after another flew from her hand, each reinforcing a disciple's body, ensuring they wouldn't be struck by lightning.
She drew several dozen talismans in one breath. Even for Chu Sang at the Nascent Soul stage, this many advanced overlapping talismans was no small number. With such a large consumption of spiritual energy, even after swallowing several bottles of spirit-replenishing pills, it was difficult to replenish the depleted spiritual power in her dantian.
Fortunately, there was now a Cui Xiu closely following her drawing speed.
The two people worked with all their might, with somewhat of a competitive momentum. Their speed became faster and faster, successfully adding a Lightning Reversal Talisman to each disciple.
With the protection of the Lightning Reversal Talismans, everyone could fight without restraint. The following battle was fierce and exhilarating. Taking advantage of their numerical superiority, they recklessly consumed the lightning power on the Demon King's body.
Lightning power was not infinite. Like spiritual power and demonic power, after large-scale expenditure, it also needed time to recover and replenish.
The Demon King had initially thought he could overwhelm them in one go. At the start of his attack, he hadn't held back at all. Soon, his lightning power became insufficient, the lightning became much weaker, and he had consumed a lot of energy from the rotating battles. The wounds on his body became more and more numerous, and his aura became unstable.
As his momentum weakened, his vulnerabilities became completely exposed.
His heart trembled with panic, and he immediately wanted to flee, but unfortunately, there was no chance.
Seeing the Demon King trying to dive into the water to escape, Mo Qingchen's face turned cold and stern. He swung his sword down, and a snow-white, biting ice sword intent instantly froze the entire lake surface. Thousands upon thousands of ice spikes broke through the ice surface. The Demon King's face changed drastically as he attempted to use his demonic power to shatter them.
Shang Ziling and Mo Qingchen, Wu Wo and Gu Chang'an.
Four powerful Divine Transformation stage sword cultivators attacked simultaneously, blocking his escape routes, leaving him with nowhere to retreat.
Chu Sang, wielding the Primordial Soul-Chaser, charged fiercely, stabbing into the Demon King's heart. Her palm twisted, viciously crushing his heart.
The Demon King's face was ferocious as he died, his eyes wide open. Chu Sang kicked him away, sending him sliding tens of meters across the ground, stirring up large patches of broken ice. She quickly summoned spirit fire in her hand, burning his corpse to ashes.
A golden demon core flew out from the flames. After taking it, she gave it to Hong Niang.
The Demon King's entire body was a treasure. The Demon King had been slain by the joint efforts of several major sects. After Chu Sang took the demon core, she didn't take anything else. The other sects discussed and divided the rest. The Demon King's bones were excellent material for tool refining, so the Alchemy Sect disciples took them. The flesh and blood of such a great Demon King could also be used for pill refining and medicine, so the Pill Condensation Sect disciples naturally took those. There were also some other odds and ends that the other sects divided among themselves. They would use what they could use, and sell what they couldn't use, which would still fetch a considerable amount of spirit stones.
A bountiful harvest.
The demon beasts in the lake and the Demon King should have been specially stationed here to guard the passage.
After dealing with them, there were no more obstacles.
According to the original plan, Tang Yanling and several disciples with water spirit roots dove into the lake to search for the array entrance between the two realms.
Time passed... for a long time... Chu Sang was beginning to wonder if there were still demon beasts underwater holding back Second Senior Sister and the other disciples when the lake surface finally showed movement. It was Second Senior Sister!
"We've found the entrance between the two realms. Get ready, and follow us quickly."
⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱
The lake surface didn't look deep, but upon reaching underwater, they discovered it was extremely deep, like two different worlds.
Using acceleration talismans, they finally reached the deepest part of the lake bottom, where a huge vortex floated before their eyes.
Below the vortex was a pre-arranged teleportation array.
This teleportation array was different from their ordinary teleportation arrays, clearly more advanced. It could accurately teleport enormous objects to another location. Chu Sang felt that the aura of this array was somewhat familiar, but she couldn't quite place it.
"What do we do after finding the entrance? How do we reopen it?" asked Lü Yue.
"Let me try," Chu Sang stepped forward, then looked at Cui Xiu. "Want to lend a hand?"
He nodded and looked at the other Eight Trigrams Sect disciples. "Don't just stand there watching idly. All of you come up and help."
"Yes, Senior Brother!"
Chu Sang placed her hand on the array, carefully sensing the flow of spiritual energy patterns within. Her expression gradually became somewhat strange.
This was very different from the array patterns she had learned before.
There was a feeling... of not belonging to this continent.
The talisman and array patterns of the various sects and families on the Spirit Abyss Continent, though varied, all stemmed from the same root, basically inherited and transformed from the same founding ancestor of the talisman way. So no matter how they changed, Chu Sang could quickly grasp them through the techniques of the same lineage's talisman patterns.
However, the array before her eyes was like opening up a completely unrelated language system within an existing language system.
She could no longer infer based on the talisman patterns she had learned before. She needed to start learning another set of talisman patterns from the ground up.
Cui Xiu also quickly realized this issue. Surprise appeared in his eyes as he turned his head to meet Chu Sang's gaze. Everything was understood without words.
"Senior Brother, these talisman characters..." Lin Jing opened his mouth, too shocked to speak.
"Patiently feel the flow of the talisman patterns. Start from the basics, and deconstruct in reverse."
The Eight Trigrams Sect disciples brought along were the most talented talisman masters of this generation. Ordinary talisman masters could only learn how to draw talismans and solve arrays from known talisman characters, but for veterans, they could already reverse-deduce talisman characters from an array's pattern, step by step reasoning, reverse-solving the array. This was truly entering the core of arrays, becoming a true talisman master.
Hearing this, the disciples said no more and patiently reverse-deduced the talisman patterns within the array.
With twenty to thirty talisman master disciples joining in, the pressure on Chu Sang's side was greatly reduced.
It took a long time for talisman masters to solve an array and couldn't be easily interrupted.
The barrier containing the dragon was about to give way. Mo Qingchen immediately stood up and said, "Tianyan Sect disciples, follow me."
Shang Ziling also returned to the shore. "Ten Thousand Swords Sect disciples, follow me as well. We'll keep the kiao dragon contained in the mountains to prevent it from attacking other areas."
The two major sects set out together; controlling it for a while wouldn't be difficult.
Gu Chang'an and Big Senior Sister were more worried about potential unexpected situations here, so they stayed behind to protect Little Junior Sister and the other talisman masters' safety. Time ticked away bit by bit. Finally, the vortex actually began to rotate in reverse!