Swordsaint Li Mubai

Swordsaint Li Mubai . . .

Deep within the Royal Sacred Region, within the sanctum of the Vermilion Bird Immortal Palace, Di Tian, the alter ego of Qin Wentian, remained absorbed in contemplation of the enigmatic picture scroll. The entire room radiated with a boundless runic light, as if yearning to resonate with the scroll's mysteries. Watching from a distance were the same old and young figures who had previously appeared before Di Tian within this immortal sanctuary.

However, just when it seemed like Di Tian's progress was uninterrupted, his aura suddenly fluctuated, causing the golden runic lights surrounding him to ripple and distort. It was as if he had sensed the perilous situation befalling his original body.

Ordinarily, Di Tian could effortlessly cast aside distractions and focus solely on his contemplation. He believed that by mastering the sealing energy, he could protect his original body. But the sudden appearance of the two generations of Sacred Emperors, along with the formidable Immortal Han, in the Medicine Sovereign Valley had shattered his tranquility. Anxiously, he hoped to accelerate his understanding of the picture scroll.

However, the more he succumbed to his anxiety, the more errors he made.

"Hmm?" The old man observed this with surprise. How could such a blunder occur at such a crucial moment? A cultivator at the Celestial Phenomenon Realm should have firm control over their emotional state. This disturbance in Di Tian's heart was absurd and unwarranted, in the old man's opinion.

"His emotional state is pitifully weak," remarked the black-robed young man beside the old man, dripping with disdain.

"His comprehension abilities are already exceptional. Moreover, this is just one of his bodies. I wonder which immortal art allows him to create such an identical duplicate. Most experts would never discern their connection." The old man pondered aloud. "Perhaps something has happened to his true self. I will investigate."

As the old man spoke, a formidable willpower extended toward the exit of the immortal palace, quickly blanketing the entire Royal Sacred Region. Instantaneously, countless cities, mountain peaks, humans, and demonic beasts appeared in his awareness.

"Buzz!"

His will honed in on a figure—none other than Qin Wentian, embroiled in battle. The old man witnessed every combat scene, and he couldn't help but mutter, "No wonder his emotional state wavered."

Di Tian, the alternate identity of Qin Wentian, had utilized an art to alter his appearance, concealing his true identity. Little did he know that all his preparations were in vain when confronted by this old man. Despite the perfection of the Great Nirvana Immortal Art, it couldn't elude the old man's keen perception. Regardless of how flawless the art was, the old man easily discerned Di Tian's true self.

Before Qin Wentian attained the Celestial Phenomenon Realm, he and Di Tian were distinct entities. However, their cultivation bases, bloodlines, and auras remained identical—an anomaly born from the Great Nirvana Immortal Art. But this also meant that individuals with extraordinary perception could recognize that Qin Wentian and Di Tian were the same person. The old man, for instance, had seen through their ruse when both Qin Wentian and Di Tian entered the immortal palace. Concealing this fact from his discerning gaze proved futile.

"It's as good a time as any to test his emotional state," the old man contemplated silently, his gaze lingering on Di Tian.

...

In the Medicine Sovereign Valley, Immortal Han approached Qin Wentian. His outstretched palms emanated a formidable engulfing force, shrouding the entire area. Qin Wentian and Mo Qingcheng found themselves involuntarily drawn closer to Immortal Han, their bodies resisting futilely. Several other experts suffered the same helplessness, unable to counteract the force of Immortal Han's pull.

The Medicine Sovereign materialized with a powerful force, shielding himself and Mo Qingcheng from the suction of Immortal Han. However, the others were not as fortunate. Those who had been drawn into the vortex transformed into crimson clouds of blood qi, devoured by Immortal Han's ruthless appetite.

"Sacred Emperor, you brought such an unscrupulous character here?" The Medicine Sovereign seethed, igniting the entire world with raging flames.

"KILL!" A formidable blaze of immortal fire surged toward the Royal Sacred Sect's experts, causing many to wither into ashes upon contact.

The two Sacred Emperors had not anticipated Immortal Han's complete disregard for consequences. At the very least, he should have waited until after the Medicine Sovereign's demise before acting so recklessly. Now, his actions had endangered the Royal Sacred Sect's experts.

"Everyone, retreat!" Zai Jiang bellowed, prompting the Royal Sacred Sect's experts to withdraw in haste. The Medicine Sovereign Valley's members followed suit. However, Zai Jiang's expression darkened at the sight of their escape. With a wave of his hand, golden lightning bolts streaked across the horizon, claiming the lives of many from the Medicine Sovereign Valley. The might of the strike was overwhelming, resulting in countless casualties.

In the presence of immortals, ascendants were no more than ants, incapable of withstanding a single blow.

"Do you think you can obstruct me?" Immortal Han sneered at the Medicine Sovereign. Then, a boundless crimson light engulfed the world as threads of blood-red lines infiltrated many bodies, transforming into razor-sharp crimson swords, harvesting the lives of the Medicine Sovereign Valley's members. Clouds of blood qi ascended toward Immortal Han, absorbed by him as if it were sustenance.

"The blood qi of these individuals is weak. Refining them has negligible effect," Immortal Han mused. His gaze then shifted to Qin Wentian and Mo Qingcheng, who stood behind the Medicine Sovereign. These two specimens were expected to be of exceptional quality, particularly Qin Wentian, who exuded an overpowering blood qi. There was no doubt that his blood qi would be of premium grade.

However, at that very moment, an awe-inspiring sword qi cleaved down from the heavens, leaving everyone in astonishment. Immortal Han and the Sacred Emperors gazed upward, witnessing a descending swordsman. Clad in white attire, this elderly man possessed flowing white hair and an ample white beard. Standing on a beam of sword light, he exuded an aura of immortality and an overwhelming sharpness.

"Who are you?" The old Sacred Emperor queried as he stared at the swordsman.

"Are you from the Battle Sword Sect?" The swordsman inquired dispassionately. Xu Cang, the Battle Sword Sect's old ancestor, froze as he gazed upon the white-haired swordsman. He trembled slightly, his voice quivering, "These individuals, including me, are members of the Battle Sword Sect."

"Why did you dismantle my grass hut?" The swordsman inquired. Xu Cang and the Battle Sword Sect members shuddered. 'His' grass hut? Could this person be the founder of their Battle Sword Sect?

"Disciple Xu Cang has been unfilial. The Battle Sword Sect faced an imminent threat, leaving us with no choice but to relocate. The sect's existence was threatened, so we had to destroy it rather than risk it falling into the enemy's hands. I beg for your forgiveness, Founder," Xu Cang knelt respectfully, his head bowed. He never anticipated that the founder was still alive and had sensed the dismantling of the grass hut.

"Are you Swordsaint Li Mubai?" The old Sacred Emperor questioned as he stared at the elderly man. This individual hailed from the same era as him, and to think that he was still alive.

"Members of the Royal Sacred Sect?" Li Mubai's eyes swept over them before he coldly stated, "What grievance do you hold against my people? Why do you seek to annihilate my sect?"

"Do you really think you can meddle in the affairs of the War Immortal Palace? Leave!" Immortal Han glanced at Li Mubai, his tone dripping with arrogance.

"You're from the War Immortal Palace?" Li Mubai's gaze stiffened as he retorted, "You believe that just because you come to a particle world and bear the War Immortal Palace's name, you can indiscriminately slaughter? How laughable."

"You dare to criticize my Immortal War Palace with your level of strength?" Immortal Han's expression turned frigid.

Li Mubai let out a contemptuous snort. The War Immortal Palace may have been a significant power in the immortal realms, but he, Li Mubai, was a wanderer who preferred the freedom of roaming the boundless realms. The vastness of the immortal realms made it virtually impossible for the War Immortal Palace to hunt him down.

"Bzz!"

Immortal Han advanced once more, closing in on Qin Wentian. However, a brilliant beam of sword light intercepted his path. Li Mubai had transformed into this very beam, materializing before Immortal Han with a luminous aura that bathed the sky in radiance.

Immortal Han exuded a blood-red aura, while Swordsaint Li Mubai radiated an aura so sharp it could slice through reality itself.

Qin Wentian's face was a mask of icy determination, though a burning rage simmered within him. He forced himself to remain composed, observing Li Mubai's swordplay. Each of Li Mubai's strikes possessed the potential to rend the fabric of space itself. His thrusts were as swift as lightning and brimming with devastating power. A single strike from him was guaranteed to be fatal.

"Senior, catch!" Qin Wentian called out, infusing the demon sword with his bloodline power and tossing it into the air toward Li Mubai.

Li Mubai's gaze followed the trajectory of the sword as it issued a sharp, resonant hum. He praised, "This sword possesses intelligence—truly a remarkable blade!"

As his words trailed off, Li Mubai's formidable sword intent enshrouded the demon sword, guiding it into his grasp.

"Swish~"

With a flourish, Swordsaint Li Mubai brandished the demon sword and surged toward Immortal Han with inconceivable speed, moving so swiftly that none of the experts present could track his movements.

The two engaged in a flurry of clashes. Qin Wentian watched as the demon sword expanded, its horizontal slash narrowly missing cleaving Immortal Han in two, instead inflicting a grievous wound on his body.

"The control of an immortal-ranked expert over the demon sword is significantly more refined than mine," Qin Wentian reflected. He witnessed Li Mubai condensing sword imprints, causing a myriad of razor-sharp blades to burst forth from the heavens. Their overwhelming presence made it seem as though even the very heavens would be torn asunder. In a radius of a hundred miles, everyone present quaked with fear, convinced that Li Mubai could effortlessly slay them if he so desired.

"DIE!" Li Mubai's voice reverberated, and the myriad of swords surged forward, converging on Immortal Han.

Immortal Han swiftly retreated, using explosive speed to ascend into the air. At this moment, a terrifying constellation image materialized behind him, taking the form of a blood-red devil with a gaping maw that emitted a powerful suction force, swallowing the oncoming swords.

"Go!" Li Mubai condensed more sword imprints with the demon sword. In a dazzling display, the demon sword slashed upward into the constellation. Thunderous explosions echoed as clouds of blood qi erupted. Immortal Han howled in agony as he transformed into a streak of light, fleeing into the distance.

The two generations of Sacred Emperors exchanged wary glances as they made a hasty retreat. Fear had gripped them, causing them to flee for their lives. This unforeseen turn of events had surpassed all expectations. Why on earth would the revered founder of the Battle Sword Sect suddenly materialize here?

"Founder, should we pursue them?" Xu Cang inquired, his gaze filled with determination.

"No," Li Mubai replied with a hint of concern. "There's no need to pursue them; whether we kill them or not won't alter the outcome. Moreover, I'm apprehensive that if we push them too far, the War Immortal Palace might choose to meddle in the affairs of this particle world." He furrowed his brows, acutely aware that if the War Immortal Palace did intervene, it would spell catastrophe for this particle world. Resistance would be futile; even if he were in the peak of his power, it would be an insurmountable challenge. Alone, he would stand no chance against them.

Qin Wentian wore a grim expression as he contemplated the grim reality. The War Immortal Palace's involvement had introduced an unexpected element into the already tumultuous battle for the Royal Sacred Region.

As he gazed upon the casualties strewn across the Medicine Sovereign Valley, a glint of vengeance flickered in Qin Wentian's eyes.

The demon sword emitted a faint hum as it obediently returned to Qin Wentian's side. Swordsaint Li Mubai approached him, his eyes lingering on the sword. "This blade is truly exceptional; it has developed a form of intelligence."

"Regrettably, I still lack the means to fully unleash its potential," Qin Wentian admitted, sheathing the demon sword. He continued, expressing his gratitude, "I must thank you, Senior, for your timely assistance. Without you, the consequences would have been unimaginably dire."