Immortal in the Immortal Martial Realm?
Immortal in the Immortal Martial Realm?
Qin Wentian found himself standing at the threshold of the Immortal Martial Realm, and an air of inevitability surrounded him. His journey to this point had been filled with trials and challenges, each one pushing him closer to the confrontation he now faced.
Before this pivotal moment, the eighty-one chosen individuals had embarked on their own separate journeys across the floating bridges, never truly crossing paths. However, whether it was the daunting test involving the black jiao python, the grueling trial featuring the ox demon, the perilous encounter within the cavern of life and death, or the climactic battle on the final battlefield, danger had lurked at every turn. Even Qin Wentian, with all his prowess, had teetered on the brink of death more than once.
The Immortal Martial Realm had earned its reputation as the graveyard of genius, a name that seemed fitting as the real clash of extraordinary talents was only just beginning. Now, they stood on the precipice of fantastic conflicts among these outstanding individuals, ready to emerge from their respective floating bridges.
Qin Wentian's gaze shifted from the Saint Child of the Supreme Demon Sect to the pinnacle of the pagoda. A brilliant, blinding light emanated from its summit, obscuring whatever lay hidden there. All he and the others could discern was this intense radiance that seemed to pour forth from the very heavens.
"Could there be an even greater treasure awaiting us up there?" Qin Wentian pondered aloud.
"Sir Qin, what do you believe awaits at the top of the pagoda?" Lin Xian'er inquired, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
"Xian'er, you arrived before me. Do you have any inkling of what lies at the summit?"
Lin Xian'er shook her head, her expression tinged with a touch of frustration as she replied, "This pagoda is an enigma. From here, we cannot discern the nature of the object atop it. The only way to uncover its secrets is to ascend, step by step, to its very pinnacle."
Qin Wentian's brow furrowed in puzzlement as he contemplated Lin Xian'er's words. He studied the radiant light enveloping the pagoda, its brilliance almost blinding. Unlike the others, he couldn't discern the intentions of this mysterious illumination.
"How do we ascend?" Qin Wentian inquired.
"It's quite simple. Just follow the path encircling the pagoda, and it will lead you upwards. But, Sir Qin, you must remember one crucial point: you cannot attempt this without thorough preparation. The moment you take that first step, everyone else will ascend simultaneously, and their combined attacks will converge upon you," Lin Xian'er cautioned, her voice gentle but filled with seriousness.
Only then did Qin Wentian notice that the other eleven geniuses remained frozen in place, maintaining their positions. None of them budged; all stood silently, waiting for an opportunity.
The Saint Child of the Supreme Demon Sect exuded an unmistakable aura of hostility aimed squarely at Qin Wentian. Yet, despite his desire to strike, the Saint Child remained motionless, rooted to his original spot.
"Since I've come this far, I might as well put it to the test," Qin Wentian declared, his eyes glittering with determination. With that, he took his first step onto the path leading to the pagoda's summit.
The pagoda soared to great heights, and the instant Qin Wentian placed his foot on the first step, the other eleven geniuses sprang into action.
"What a fool," the Saint Child of the Supreme Demon Sect scoffed, his body exuding a torrent of demonic energy.
As Qin Wentian ascended, the silvery glow from the pagoda's summit bathed him in an otherworldly brilliance. He could feel an immense pressure bearing down on him, a palpable weight that seemed to intensify with each step. The pathway stretched upward, and with every step he took, the others ascended in unison.
Qin Wentian couldn't help but be amazed; he could clearly discern the silhouettes of all eleven geniuses, each one taking that fateful step alongside him.
"Sir Qin, exercise caution in this place. Here, any attack you unleash will ricochet toward the others on the path. But the same rule applies to their attacks as well," Lin Xian'er's voice chimed in, an urgent warning carrying an air of gravity.
Before Qin Wentian could fully process Lin Xian'er's counsel, the Saint Child of the Supreme Demon Sect sprang into action. A crimson palm imprint, seething with savage and violent demonic energy, surged forward with devastating force. This blood-colored palm manifested right before Qin Wentian, hurtling menacingly in his direction.
However, it wasn't just Qin Wentian who faced this perilous attack; every participant found themselves in the same dire straits.
Qin Wentian's palms glowed with a fiery crimson hue as he raised them, unleashing an equally formidable counterattack. A thunderous clash erupted as the two palm imprints collided mid-air. While the Saint Child's attack was neutralized, the force of the collision reverberated through Qin Wentian, causing his entire arm to tremble uncontrollably.
Yet, this was only the beginning. As Qin Wentian grappled with the aftermath of that blood palm attack, a brilliant saber light streaked toward him with lightning speed. It aimed directly for the center of his head, intent on splitting him in two.
Qin Wentian's eyes narrowed in response. Swiftly, he raised his hands, countering the assault by striking upward. The saber light shredded the crimson palm imprints, but it, too, dissipated.
However, this engagement was far from over. Qin Wentian was beginning to grasp why Lin Xian'er had urged him to be cautious.
Following that initial attack, a succession of four or five potent strikes bombarded Qin Wentian without respite. His qi and blood roared within him, providing no reprieve. The only way to mitigate this onslaught was to retaliate in kind. In this grueling contest, the weakest among them, unable to endure the relentless barrage, would inevitably be the first to succumb.
A realization dawned upon Qin Wentian. Had someone perished here before his arrival? Although no evidence of a corpse existed to substantiate his suspicion, it seemed plausible that anyone subjected to these unyielding attacks would leave behind no trace.
"Sir Qin, stay vigilant," a melodious voice wafted through the air. Lin Xian'er's presence materialized within his consciousness.
A soul-stirring melody resonated in his heart. Even within this illusionary realm steeped in violence, one couldn't help but pause and appreciate the music.
"Phew..." Amidst the melody's allure, a note filled with malevolence abruptly shot forth, aimed squarely at Qin Wentian's throat. Despite Lin Xian'er's warning, Qin Wentian's reaction lagged. A blood-red halberd swung forth, slicing the malevolent note to shreds. He then altered the halberd's trajectory, sending it hurtling through the air with astonishing speed, targeting Lin Xian'er. However, Lin Xian'er had already vanished.
"Why aren't you dead yet?" A furious voice resonated, reverberating through his eardrums with relentless intensity. In the next instant, it felt as if a horde of demonic beasts was charging toward him. Qin Wentian watched as the Saint Child of the Supreme Demon Sect vanished from his original position, hurtling toward the group.
"DIE!" The Saint Child's silhouette expanded before Qin Wentian's eyes, transforming into a gargantuan demonic figure. It delivered a brutal punch, unleashing a torrent of blood-red demonic wolves. Each of these creatures possessed blood-red eyes, exuding an aura of dread that sent shivers down the spines of those who beheld them.
Every participant threw themselves into a furious struggle against the onslaught unleashed by the Saint Child of the Supreme Demon Sect. Crimson demonic energy surged forth from Qin Wentian, soaring to the heavens and shrouding him within. His physique gradually swelled, as if he were a descendant of an ancient, primordial demon emperor. His eyes radiated unparalleled authority, capable of penetrating the souls of others. In the center of his forehead, a third eye gleamed with demonic light.
Brandishing a blood-red ancient halberd and clad in demonic armor, Qin Wentian underwent a complete transformation through the Fiend Art technique.
The colossal Blood Halberd swung mightily, its power boundless. As Qin Wentian swept it through the air, space trembled in its wake, crushing the blood wolves with its sheer force. The halberd's motion created a tide of blood that devoured and overwhelmed the approaching onslaught.
"Sir Qin's strength has once again ascended," Lin Xian'er's gentle voice resonated through the atmosphere. Seated upon the path, she plucked the strings of her zither, her posture suggesting a stance of readiness and a reluctance to further engage in offensive maneuvers.
Beside Qin Wentian, Lou Bingyu stirred. As if on cue, snowflakes cascaded from her form, an icy energy so potent it could freeze the very essence of existence. Swiftly, the entire space became blanketed in a pristine, chilling white. Qin Wentian shivered, his gaze fixed on the figure at the epicenter of this wintery maelstrom. She resembled a solitary, proud plum that dared to blossom amidst the harshness of winter.
This was Lou Bingyu, the favored disciple of the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness.
"Chi, chi..." In addition to the cold, Qin Wentian sensed a sword qi that blended seamlessly with the snowstorm. The drifting snowflakes bore a cutting power, capable of slicing through the defenses of any who stood in their path. Yet, Lou Bingyu remained still, withholding her attack.
With a buzzing hum, Lou Bingyu finally made her move. A frigid gleam, akin to the glint of winter snow, slashed through the air as her snowstorm bore her killing intent.
In that single sword strike, loneliness mingled with pride, all shrouded in Lou Bingyu's signature frostiness. Qin Wentian watched as she pivoted and advanced towards him. Snowflakes surged in her wake, forming a relentless vortex aimed at breaching his defenses. Each snowflake brimmed with power, an embodiment of destruction.
Qin Wentian could no longer discern individual sword lights; instead, he saw an avalanche of snowflakes hurtling toward him, each as sharp as a real blade.
Responding swiftly, Qin Wentian stomped the ground, unleashing his ancient halberd once more. This strike bore neither sound nor presence, piercing through the swirling vortex of snow. The moment the ancient halberd met the snowflakes, a formidable energy pulsed outward in all directions, shattering the blanket of snow and clashing directly with the heart of the vortex.
The ancient halberd froze instantly, its surface cracking, and with a resounding boom, it shattered into fragments. Simultaneously, the vortex was forcibly torn asunder, its strength negated.
"The most cherished personal disciple of the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness is truly exceptional," Qin Wentian reflected. Lou Bingyu's sword strike had not employed her full might, and he had held back as well, as it seemed his opponent had.
However, among the other participants, one could no longer withstand the onslaught and fell victim to Lou Bingyu's blade.
Suddenly, the pressure that had weighed upon them lifted, and the rest simultaneously ascended another step. With each participant's defeat, the others could reduce the gap to the peak by a single stride.
As Qin Wentian joined the others, his eyes remained fixated on the dazzling white-silver radiance that crowned the summit of the pagoda. The ethereal glow seemed to beckon them, a celestial challenge amidst the unforgiving trials below.
Eleven exceptional talents stood on the precipice of destiny, their fates intertwined in the treacherous ascent. Was it preordained that only one would reach the pinnacle?
In the heart of the Immortal Martial Realm, peril lurked at every corner, and each test posed its own harrowing challenges. Only those who emerged victorious would claim the title of era-defining geniuses, their prowess unchallenged among their peers. But what was the true purpose of this enigmatic realm?
Could the whispers circulating within the Royal Sacred Region hold any truth?
Was an immortal truly seeking a worthy successor?
Within the hallowed grounds of the Immortal Martial Realm, did a genuine immortal await?
These questions swirled in Qin Wentian's mind, mingling with the anticipation that pulsed through the remaining participants. The allure of uncovering the realm's secrets and achieving unimaginable greatness filled the air.
As the suspense mounted, Qin Wentian couldn't help but wonder about the revelations yet to come. The enigmatic realm held untold mysteries, and the journey to its apex promised to be fraught with both peril and opportunity.
And then, amidst the contemplation and intrigue, a playful voice chimed in:
"Can't wait for tomorrow? Eager to uncover the rest of this tale right now?"