The Powerful Buried Immortal

The Powerful Buried Immortal

As Zai Qiu's words hung in the air, a steely resolve glinted in Qin Wentian's eyes. Zai Qiu's status in the Royal Sacred Sect was undeniable. Xia Sheng might lead them, but Zai Qiu had seized the ancient rune without opposition.

"Simply obey orders?" Qin Wentian chuckled coldly. When Zai Qiu claimed that treasure, Qin Wentian already suspected that Zai Qiu would treat them as mere cannon fodder, placing them in peril to reap the rewards. He wasn't selfless enough to sacrifice himself for Zai Qiu's benefit.

"You should clarify that. Otherwise, does it mean we'll die in vain?" Qin Wentian challenged, prompting contemplation among others who harbored the same thoughts. While the Royal Sacred Sect expert had promised they could cultivate an immortal art and maybe share in immortal treasures, were these guarantees legitimate?

"Qin Wentian." Zai Qiu shot him a chilling look. "I've heard of your reputation. You may be talented, but remember, we of the Core Faction lead here. Shed your arrogance; you lack the capability to be insolent. If you don't want to participate, you're free to leave."

"I didn't choose to be here; the Royal Sacred Sect invited me," Qin Wentian replied coldly, locking eyes with Di Shi. "If you don't want me to participate, that's fine, but choose your words carefully. Your Core Faction status doesn't concern me—I have no affiliations with the Royal Sacred Sect."

"Hehe." Laughter echoed, the woman from the Grand Shang Faction chiming in. She couldn't resist adding fuel to the fire. "How arrogant! The Royal Sacred Sect invited him here? Zai Qiu, Qin Wentian seems rather self-centered."

Knowing Zai Qiu's identity, she aimed to escalate the conflict between him and Qin Wentian.

Zai Qiu's expression darkened, about to respond when Quinn intervened. "Let's clarify things first. Most here are from the Royal Sacred Sect. I don't mind facing danger together, but if we're expected to bear all the risk without sharing the rewards, it's pointless."

Quinn's words carried weight as a Battle Sword Faction disciple of the Royal Sacred Sect. His combat prowess was evident, and he clearly sided with Qin Wentian.

"In that case, Quinn, what's your suggestion?" a young man beside Zai Qiu inquired. This Core Faction member, Sun Jing, was Xia Sheng and Zai Qiu's junior apprentice brother.

Sun Jing had a close relationship with Xia Sheng and Zai Qiu, and he now wore an unhappy expression when Quinn opposed Zai Qiu. Battle Sword Faction disciples were typically proud and challenging to control.

"If we obtain an immortal art or treasure, the possessor keeps it. They can share it with Senior Li upon leaving this place. The rest should respect this rule," Quinn calmly proposed, neither servile nor arrogant.

"Impudent! Senior Li's orders are clear—everything follows Senior Xia Sheng's commands. Quinn, are you deaf?" Sun Qing scolded.

"I'm evaluating our situation. Given our differing opinions upon entering, I believe offering a suggestion isn't overstepping. If everyone agrees to follow Xia Sheng's orders, even if they seem unfair, I'll comply as well," Quinn stated evenly. Sun Qing turned his gaze to the crowd, realizing many avoided eye contact. Quinn's suggestion resonated with them. If someone took the lead and faced any consequences, they would follow suit. After all, they didn't want to be the ones facing retribution if the idea failed.

Zai Qiu's eyes gleamed with a cold edge as he fixed his gaze on Quinn. "Very well, we'll adopt your suggestion. However, to prevent disputes over treasures, I'll make a slight modification. The one who lands the final blow on a buried immortal shall temporarily possess the treasure. Does anyone object?"

The crowd concurred, and agreement rippled through them. Zai Qiu concealed a cold, sinister smile, hidden from view due to his positioning.

"Let's not dwell on this," Xia Sheng interjected. "We're all from the Royal Sacred Region; such trifles shouldn't divide us. Since Zai Qiu has accepted, we'll follow suit. Let's give our all, and we'll undoubtedly acquire many immortal treasures. As you've seen, the dangers here are very real."

"Indeed, unity is key. We must work together to minimize the danger," Quinn affirmed with a sense of justice. Siko, on the other hand, looked at Quinn disdainfully. He understood Quinn well—an earnest advocate for fairness and justice. However, these Core Faction members had different motives.

"Let's proceed," Xia Sheng commanded. A cascade of runes illuminated, and the formation radiated a brilliant glow. A gust of wind whirled around them, as if the golden roc formation were taking flight. At the formation's forefront, Quinn, Siko, Qin Wentian, and Wu Teng stood at the beak of the golden roc. Xia Sheng, at the talon position, extended his arms, creating a resounding noise as the suspended sword above the tomb roared. Moments later, the tomb disintegrated, and a primordial sword intent enshrouded the entire space.

A chilling wind gusted, chilling everyone to the bone. Above the tomb, a white-robed figure materialized, gazing blankly at them. He extended his hands, as if testing his own strength.

"Why are you all so feeble?" a raspy voice resounded, tinged with disdain. His eyes sparkled with sharpness as if a swordbeam pierced their hearts when he locked eyes with them.

"Did you bury me here?" The figure approached slowly, and a towering sword aura blanketed the sky. An overwhelming sword might enveloped the onlookers.

"Attack now!" Xia Sheng commanded. Quinn nodded, and the runic inscriptions composing the golden roc radiated brilliantly. A swordbeam tore through space, hurtling toward the white-robed figure.

"Why so weak?" The white-robed figure pointed his finger, and countless points of light converged, spiraling madly.

Buzz!

The wind intensified. Zai Qiu and the others stationed at the wings sprang into action. The golden roc's manifestation surged toward the buried immortal as a corroding palm strike lunged at the white-robed figure.

The white-robed figure's palms cleaved through space, like a sword descending from the heavens, slicing through everything. The golden roc's sharp talons shot forth as well, with Xia Sheng and the others pouring all their strength into the assault, seeking obliteration.

The white-robed figure inhaled deeply, ascending into the air. Glittering sword lights converged around him, erupting in a furious barrage, as if tens of thousands of swords were unleashed simultaneously. Slowly advancing, he faced the golden roc manifestation and unleashed his sword qi, tearing through everything it touched, reducing it to nothingness.

Rumble!

The golden roc's wings flapped, propelling it straight ahead. Inside the formation, everyone channeled their attacks, and Qin Wentian and his companions at the forefront landed before the white-robed figure.

"He deliberately provoked this. The golden roc's movement is controlled by those at the wings," Qin Wentian informed Quinn and the others. Zai Qiu managed the left wing, while Sun Qing commanded the right.

"Let's give it our all," Quinn said calmly.

"Thousand Massacre Sword Art!"

As his words echoed, his sword qi surged ahead, millions of rays of light piercing the air, empowered by the formation. Siko, too, unleashed his attack, but his swordplay contrasted with Quinn's. Quinn's style was direct, emphasizing speed and power, while Siko's was crafty and sinister. The Evil Dragon Sword Art, the Defying Dragon Slash—each of his moves held deadly potential.

All within the formation unleashed a frenzy of attacks. The white-robed figure stood calmly before the golden roc, his diminutive figure exuding an immeasurable power. Each of his sword strikes held lethal force, yet the roc's defense halved the strength of his blows. Despite this, Qin Wentian felt the specter of death looming over them more than once.

"Push him toward the center of the golden roc formation; we can kill him more easily there," Qin Wentian suggested. Simultaneously, the golden roc's wings flapped as it surged forward, positioning itself above the white-robed figure. Radiant light cascaded downward, yet the white-robed figure made no attempt to dodge. He seemed lost in a trance, his gaze vacant, fixed on the golden roc. All he desired was to attack.

"COMBINE OUR ATTACKS, EVERYONE, KILL HIM!" The wings of the golden roc closed, descending upon the white-robed figure and burying him beneath its colossal form.

The white-robed figure's eyes blazed with an intense swordlight. He mounted his sword and ascended to meet the golden roc, palms thrusting into space. An immense killing intent surged from him, blinding light engulfing the sky. Sword qi shredded the formation, and thunderous roars filled the air as destructive energy tore through it. Everyone was driven back, clouds of dust billowing from the ground as the white-robed figure stood triumphant, bathed in his own blood, radiating the aura of a battle-worn hero.

"Even with an incredibly potent peak-tier fourth-ranked battle formation commanded by supreme-tier Heavenly Dipper Sovereigns, we're still pushed into such dire straits?" The crowd's hearts pounded furiously.

The white-robed man then shifted his gaze toward Quinn and the others. He icily remarked, "Your swords lack power."

His words barely faded when his finger jabbed into the air. Immediately, a supreme, tyrannical sword might seized control of everything. Quinn and Siko brandished their swords, only to discover that even their sword intents were manipulated by the white-robed figure.

Despite his injuries, the white-robed figure advanced relentlessly.

"Quinn, Siko, endure it for now. The rest of you, wait for the moment the immortal unleashes his attack. Immediately follow up with your assaults," Zai Qiu commanded, causing the others' expressions to stiffen. Zai Qiu was ruthless, intending to use Quinn and the others as cannon fodder. Even if their subsequent attacks ended up killing the immortal, Quinn and his group might well be sacrificed.

Qin Wentian focused on the white-robed figure, activating the true intent of Dreams. But the formless sword qi shredded his true intent, preventing him from bringing the immortal into his dreamscape.

Buzz!

Water screens materialized as a protective barrier while a sonic wave surged toward the white-robed figure. Fan Miaoyu had made her move.

"RETREAT!" Quinn and the other three immediately veered left and right. A rainbow-like sword qi pierced the air, cleaving through the sonic wave. The white-robed figure reappeared, injured but unbroken. His sword prowess remained undiminished as he redirected his attention toward Fan Miaoyu.

"Damn!" Sun Qing muttered in frustration as their plan unraveled. He unleashed a devastating attack, a deluge of scorching lava surging toward the immortal.

Puchi!

A brilliant sword light cleaved through the air, dividing the scorching lava and landing on the white-robed figure, instantly setting him ablaze. Sun Qing couldn't contain his excitement. "HURRY, FINISH HIM OFF! HE CAN'T TAKE MUCH MORE OF THIS!"

As his triumphant voice echoed, a pair of ice-cold eyes locked onto him. The white-robed figure took a step forward. Sun Qing and Fan Miaoyu found themselves under the chilling grip of an overwhelming killing intent. With each of the white-robed figure's strides, they felt the specter of death drawing nearer. Driven by a burning desire for vengeance, he was willing to sacrifice himself to claim their lives.

A swift movement, and the white-robed figure shot forward like lightning.

"QUINN, SAVE SUN QING!" Zai Qiu's voice thundered. When the four of them had dodged earlier, Sun Qing and Fan Miaoyu had ended up closest to them.

But it was too late. The white-robed figure split into two beams of sword light, hurtling toward Sun Qing and Fan Miaoyu with blinding speed.

"YOU DIE!" Qin Wentian roared, his palms thrusting into the void as Quinn sprang into action, his sword slicing through the sky.

BANG!

The sword light aimed at Fan Miaoyu was briefly hindered by a Grand Nihility Palm Imprint before piercing through it. In the next instant, Quinn arrived, his sword locking in a fierce clash with the oncoming beam of sword light. The collision's force sent both Quinn and Fan Miaoyu hurtling through the air. However, Sun Qing was less fortunate. The other beam of sword light pierced his throat despite his valiant attempt to block it with all his strength.