Silence filled the air.
Chen Xia let out a breath, feeling not much better himself. The fierce battle with Qin Jia had ultimately taken a major toll, almost exhausting his full arsenal of techniques from the past, present and future.
The burning blood consumption on top of that caused some damage to his energy and blood, resulting in inadequate spiritual energy supply.
In simple terms, he was worn out.
Qin Jia laid half-dead nearby, clearly in an even worse state, barely breathing as he bled from his mouth, his aged face filled with bewilderment towards life itself.
He probably felt that throughout his thousands of years of cultivation, he had never suffered such humiliation before.
The thought of his own defeat and death was unbelievable, much less being defeated by a Heaven Mending Realm junior.
If there existed a Hall of Fame for practitioners defeated by those of lower cultivation levels, he would probably top that list.
Chen Xia waved his hand to summon his flying sword and safely retrieve the dangling Zhen Hu before gently setting him down. He spat out a mouthful of black blood and flashed to Qin Jia, asking:
"Why did Triumphant Mountain deliberately lure me out here? It can't have simply been to let you get thrashed, right?"
Qin Jia parted his lips but only manage to spurt out two mouthfuls of essence blood. He could only shake his head to signal his own ignorance.
Chen Xia tore off his tattered sleeve and looked at Qin Jia, saying: "If you die, remember to be more careful in your next life. If you live, then keep your distance from me in the future."
Naturally, Qin Jia was in no state to respond as blood continued trickling from the corner of his mouth. It was uncertain if he could even survive.
Chen Xia spat out another mouthful of blood. Despite faring better, the intense fight had still taken its toll. Having crossed realms to battle opponents during his adventures in the Azure Skies Sword Sect, he was considered rather experienced.
He circulated his internal spiritual energy to nurse his injuries and consumed a high-grade healing pellet from his storage treasure to recuperate.
The surroundings were silent without any chatter. The other cultivators watched him fearfully, with reverence mixed within that fear.
It was respect towards the strong.
Bai Jie had already rushed to Zhen Hu’s side, anxiously shouting: “Master, can you still speak? Master, are you alright?”
Zhen Hu stared blankly, his consciousness blurred. Seeing Bai Jie, he absentmindedly asked:
“Didn’t you run away already? How come you died before me?”
“I’m not dead, not dead! Master, Mr Chen came to save us!” Bai Jie quickly replied.
“I see, I see, ask Mr Chen to burn more paper offerings for us,” Zhen Hu seemed unable to fully comprehend as he nodded hazily.
Before the two could clarify further.
Chen Xia suddenly turned his head, gazing towards the extremely far distance where a faint but tremendously horrifying aura emerged.
He knitted his brows, thinking that things would get troublesome if this turned into a war of attrition.
In the extremely far distance,
Qin Ji had his hands in his sleeves. Within, flesh squirmed as he softly asked: “Sir, what do you think of this person?”
The flesh twisted madness, as if extremely excited and agitated.
"With such a supreme mortal vessel, becoming Forbidden Zone Lord would be a given if I acquire this body!
Qin Ji nodded. “You’re satisfied then. It’s just that this man seems to have an unknown quasi-Emperor supporting him from behind...”
“What’s a quasi-Emperor to me? Gaining this vessel, I may even have the chance of becoming an Emperor! Why would I fear a mere quasi-Emperor?!” The voice rang disdainfully, full of greed.
“What do you intend to do then?” Qin Ji asked again.
“Unleash your minor heaven and earth, just a split second is enough.” The voice uttered greedily.
“Very well.” Qin Ji raised his hand. Dense trees instantly sprouted between him and Chen Xia, stretching across heaven and earth like a vast flourishing forest.
Within it flowed a long, narrow river with small boats passing by.
This was Qin Ji's minor heaven and earth.
The more powerful a Heaven Mending Realm cultivator, the more intricate their minor heaven and earth would be.
As a fifth level Heaven Mending Realm like Qin Jia, his realm was barely enough to manifest a basic minor heaven and earth.
For true masters, their revealed minor heaven and earth would be exactly like another heaven and earth, containing living things, events and more.
Practitioners within would then be akin to gods!
Chen Xia's expression remained unchanged as he stretched out his palm, starting to chant:
“Past and fut...”
His eyes abruptly flashed a bestial shade of bloody red, exuding a thick aura of greed.
At the same time, within the secret chamber of Triumphant Mountain, the flesh and blood statue started shuddering madly, unable to stop grinning.
Back when he first heard from Qin Ji that there existed such an exceptional genius, he was already moved at heart, harboring thoughts of outright seizing the body.
Having probed further, he was even more satisfied now. It was virtually the most terrifying innate talent he had seen over several great ages.
As long as he could successfully wrest control, he would no longer have just the position of Forbidden Zone Lord, even becoming an Emperor was possible!
He utilized immense divine sense to peer into Chen Xia’s heart, only needing to reach the sea of consciousness to bewilder his heart and take hold of his sea of consciousness before slowly transforming this unparalleled vessel from within.
The flesh and blood statue charged madly from Chen Xia's divine sense towards his sea of consciousness. He could hardly wait any longer.
Passing through the five viscera and six bowels, channels and acupoints, one final step would lead towards the sea of consciousness!
As he finally arrived, his face was wild with delight but he quickly froze in place.
Because before him was not some cultivator's sea of consciousness, only a vast sea of swords!
What... what was going on here? How was this possible...
The flesh and blood statue grew dazed, having never seen such a sight over several great ages.
Hum—!
An immense sword cry rang out. His breathing intensified as he hastily glanced over, only catching sight of half a sword tip yet still leaving him flustered with alarmed eyes.
An immortal sword! This man actually possessed an immortal sword!
The flesh and blood statue dared not proceed further and was about to retreat, to reconsider his plans. But before he could withdraw, boundless might abruptly descended, watching over him condescendingly with pure white pupils, exerting unrivaled pressure.
The flesh and blood statue froze instantly despite only glancing once.
Heaven Devouring Celestial Dragon?!
Not only that...but how... was this possible... oh f**k!
The flesh and blood statue had no more ways to convey his current line of thought. This was even harder to accept than Chen Xia defeating a fifth level Heaven Mending Realm practitioner.
This was indeed a supreme mortal vessel but now, it seemed to be far too supreme.
So supreme that the flesh and blood statue felt he was no longer qualified to be the usurper.
First a sea of swords, then an immortal sword along with the Heaven Devouring Celestial Dragon to boot.
Damn, this was insane!
Furthermore, the supposedly cosmos-devouring Heavenly Dragon was not battling the immortal sword, indicating that Chen Xia had perfect control over both.
The flesh and blood statue dared not ponder any further, only wishing to flee as soon as possible. No longer wanting to enter Chen Xia's body now.
But having come and gone as he pleased?
The eyes of the Heaven Devouring Celestial Dragon glimmered as its mouth gaped wide like a stellar black hole, beginning to engulf the flesh and blood statue.
The flesh and blood statue frantically ran outwards but movement proved extremely difficult. Clenching his teeth, he directly severed half his soul to escape with the other half.
He darted out through the channels and acupoints. Just as he was about to break free from the gloomy and dark divine sense, he met the scarlet-eyed Chen Xia exuding a sinister aura and killing intent, grinning playfully at the flesh and blood statue.
“Foolish idiot, you dare barge in?!”
He casually waved his hand.
The silhouette of half an immortal sword abruptly hurtled over to be pinched within Chen Xia’s fingers before swinging down leisurely.
All the flesh and blood statue saw next was boundless sword radiance!
Chen Xia suddenly opened his eyes as if waking up from a brief dream, somewhat puzzled.
Deep within Triumphant Mountain,
The flesh and blood statue howled painfully, its body even trembling uncontrollably.
Him, an ex-Forbidden Zone Lord, had just witnessed terror beyond his wildest expectations!