Chapter 88: Backfire

Lin Jiufeng stared in shock at the moon behind him. At this moment, it had split in two. The sea beneath him also quickly lost its power, causing Lin Jiufeng to furrow his brow. He swiftly activated his energy, directing it into the moonlight manifestation to stabilize the image.

However, Taoist from Taohuashan and Wufa Zen Master immediately realized Lin Jiufeng's intention. Their divine souls entered the Twenty-Four Heavens, connecting their minds as they simultaneously manipulated the realms, exerting immense pressure on Lin Jiufeng.

Boom!!!

The twenty-four worlds simultaneously bore down on Lin Jiufeng, causing him to frown. He quickly countered with the Fish Leaping from the Sea phenomenon. Another vast sea appeared, and a large white carp leapt from it, splashing water in every direction, striking down on the twenty-four heavens with a tremendous force. The heavens shook violently, producing a sound like the ringing of celestial bells, reverberating throughout the universe. The Taoist from Taohuashan and Wufa Zen Master groaned in response.

However, this strike, though powerful, was insufficient to shatter the twenty-four realms.

Once again, the Taoist from Taohuashan and Wufa Zen Master joined forces, applying all their pressure on Lin Jiufeng.

Crack, crack, crack!

Lin Jiufeng's Taoist manifestation began to fracture. The pressure was like a furious ocean, violently tearing at the energies, flooding into the manifestation, causing Lin Jiufeng to finally feel the strain. He was, however, pleased. He had longed for such pressure.

After ten years of seclusion, he had amassed deep power, but had been unable to break through the tenth forbidden realm or comprehend the path of the human world. Lin Jiufeng realized that he lacked the external pressure to break through.

In the beginning, when facing the mighty Taishang Dao, the Yuhua Sect was at a disadvantage. Lin Jiufeng needed to grow stronger to protect those he cared about. Then, the Wen family appeared, and that period became the time when Lin Jiufeng's cultivation grew the fastest.

Sometimes, Lin Jiufeng wished someone would give him a bit of pressure, but no one could provide it.

For him, the tenth forbidden realm was no longer a threat.

Now, however, the Taoist from Taohuashan and Wufa Zen Master, working together, brought forth the twenty-four heavens, giving him a long-awaited challenge.

As the moonlight manifestation shattered, Lin Jiufeng acted decisively. His internal energy surged, and his understanding of Taoist laws erupted in a series of powerful strikes. These laws entered the Four Great Manifestations.

The Four Great Manifestations were: Moon Rising Over the Sea, The Lotus of Suffering in the Sea, Fish Leaping from the Sea, and Flowers Blooming on the Other Side of Heaven.

The Moon Rising Over the Sea was already cracking, with the moon sinking into the sea.

If not for the support of the other three manifestations, the Moon Rising Over the Sea would have already been crushed by the twenty-four heavens.

But with the three remaining manifestations, plus the fractured Moon Rising Over the Sea, it was difficult to withstand the pressure of the twenty-four heavens.

At this moment, behind Lin Jiufeng appeared a book painted in ink wash, faintly glowing.

The Chronicle of Time!

It recorded the various insights Lin Jiufeng had gained: Taoism of Nature, Fleeting Images of Human Life, The Word of Rain, The Gateway to All Laws, One Thought, One Bloom, Ruling the World...

These insights merged into the Four Great Manifestations, desperately supporting the fractured Moon Rising Over the Sea.

The shattered moon began to slowly repair itself. Though it still bore a crack, its power had returned.

Thus, the Four Great Manifestations, surrounding Lin Jiufeng, worked together to resist the twenty-four heavens.

At that moment, the entire world radiated with Taoist resonance, like oil on fire, igniting everything around them, collapsing the very earth, as if plowing through fields, exposing everything in its path.

The Taoist from Taohuashan and Wufa Zen Master, their divine souls glowing intensely like a blazing sun, gritted their teeth and persevered, forcing the twenty-four heavens downward.

Boom!!

Lin Jiufeng, standing within the Four Great Manifestations, appeared calm. His hands moved in intricate gestures, manipulating the resonant laws, absorbing, analyzing, and deconstructing the twenty-four heavens created by the Taoist and Zen Master.

Lin Jiufeng acknowledged their ideas and insights, which truly impressed him. That was why he fought so earnestly.

The Four Great Manifestations clashed against the twenty-four heavens, with their Taoist laws battling fiercely, shaking the heavens and dimming the light of the sun and moon.

This scene was astonishing.

The five simple words of "Twenty-Four Heavens" represented vast and diverse worlds. Though these worlds were still in their infancy, lacking many elements, their potential for development was unimaginable.

The Four Great Manifestations were a display of Lin Jiufeng's profound power, interlinked and supporting each other. With them alone, he managed to block the twenty-four heavens.

And yet, from Lin Jiufeng's demeanor, it was clear that he had not reached the point of desperation.

Meanwhile, the Taoist from Taohuashan and Wufa Zen Master had reached their limits. Their divine souls were desperately supporting the twenty-four heavens, trying to overpower Lin Jiufeng.

At that moment, countless experts watched the battle from afar, mesmerized.

This was a true battle of Daoism, and even though they could not directly participate, they were learning from it.

It was different from the battle with the drunken martial artist, which was a display of physical prowess. This battle, however, was an academic exchange of Taoism.

Everyone hoped there would be more such battles.

...

In the Sacred Land of the Demonic Sect, a man dressed in black, Zhou Tianzi, furrowed his brows and said, "The Taoist from Taohuashan and Wufa Zen Master are indeed formidable. They have developed such a terrifying technique, forcing my master to take this seriously."

"However, my master is invincible. Even together, these two will ultimately fail!"

Zhou Tianzi remained confident, unwavering in his blind reverence for Lin Jiufeng. To him, his master was the strongest.

Far to the north, in the vast northern sea, on a lone island.

Yue Dashan stared solemnly, murmuring, "These two are indeed formidable. If the twenty-four heavens were to descend on me, I wouldn't be able to withstand it."

"But to defeat my master? It's nothing but a pipe dream," Yue Dashan shook his head.

In the distant central plains, in a scholarly academy in Jiangnan, an elderly scholar with a head full of white hair and a thin, sallow face frowned and said, "The Taoist from Taohuashan and Wufa Zen Master can no longer hold on."

He saw clearly that although the battle between the twenty-four heavens and Lin Jiufeng's Four Great Manifestations was still ongoing, the key was who controlled the Taoist laws.

The Taoist from Taohuashan and Wufa Zen Master could not match Lin Jiufeng's depth of experience. Furthermore, their divine souls were already out of their bodies, forcefully driving the twenty-four heavens. The scholar knew the twenty-four heavens were far from perfected. They lacked many details, and it would take more effort for them to sustain them than it would for Lin Jiufeng to control his Four Great Manifestations.

After all, Lin Jiufeng had long comprehended the Four Great Manifestations and had integrated them into his being, making them as easy to use as breathing.

The scholar shook his head. The Taoist from Taohuashan and Wufa Zen Master had acted too hastily. Now, they could no longer maintain control over the twenty-four heavens.

In the southwestern mountains, a Kirin, standing on clouds, frowned and said, "These two have invested too much. They've been overtaken by their own technique. They have no way out."

The Kirin, a divine beast, saw the situation clearly. Initially, the Taoist from Taohuashan and Wufa Zen Master had controlled the twenty-four heavens. However, as they clashed with Lin Jiufeng, they kept pouring more energy in, draining their divine souls to the last drop. Now, they wanted to withdraw, but it was already too late.

The twenty-four heavens had turned against them, absorbing their divine essence and forcing them to continue fighting Lin Jiufeng.

It was a path of no return.

The Kirin sighed, "What a pity, two unparalleled talents."

In the South Sea, an injured Old Dragon also sighed, "Such a pity."

...

Lin Jiufeng noticed this as well.

During the confrontation, he sensed something was wrong with the Taoist from Taohuashan and Wufa Zen Master's divine souls. Upon closer inspection, he realized they had been ensnared by the twenty-four heavens, unable to break free.

Lin Jiufeng frowned and slowly relaxed his sword fingers.

He had initially planned to strike directly, knowing that their divine souls were in a vulnerable state, and a single sword strike would likely cripple them.

But now, he reconsidered.

If he struck, the Taoist and Zen Master's divine souls would be gravely wounded, if not destroyed, leaving the twenty-four heavens a fleeting illusion.

So, Lin Jiufeng chose to retreat. His Four Great Manifestations dissipated, and the twenty-four heavens came crashing down with a thundering roar. Lin Jiufeng grunted, activating his Divine Demon Body Refining Method.

The divine figure in his dantian glowed faintly, providing energy. Lin Jiufeng's strong body bore the full weight of the twenty-four heavens, veins bulging, blood surging. Gritting his teeth, he said, "I'll hold up the twenty-four heavens. You two better get out of here."

The Taoist from Taohuashan and Wufa Zen Master's divine souls were already trapped, unable to escape. They tried to flee, but their essence had been drained. There was no hope left for them. They could only watch helplessly, unable to even utter a sound.

At that moment, others also sensed something was wrong. The Taoist from Taohuashan and Wufa Zen Master seemed to be in danger.

Many rushed forward, hoping to help, but the power of the twenty-four heavens was too great. No one could get close.

Just when everyone was panicking, an old man appeared out of nowhere, undeterred by the weight of the twenty-four heavens. He stepped in and grabbed the Taoist and Zen Master's divine souls, pulling them out forcefully.

Meanwhile, Lin Jiufeng, carrying the weight of the twenty-four heavens, let out a roar. All his energy gathered into a single point, forming a powerful force. Then, a sword finger, moving from bottom to top, cut through the twenty-four heavens with a tremendous crash.