Chapter 4: An Immortal’s Final Sword Strike

Caught off guard, the two cultivators in the sky took the full brunt of the attack.

Yet there was no explosion of blood or torn flesh, only waves rippling outward as an invisible force intercepted the storm of bullets.

“Hmm, what kind of artifact is this?” Despite suddenly getting besieged by thousands of mortals, the two cultivators remained unperturbed.

Kou Hong made a clutching gesture with his right hand, hauling a soldier into the air. He snatched the firearm from the soldier’s grasp, examining it closely before casually tossing the man aside.

“Interesting. By using intricate mechanical structures in place of arrays and harnessing the explosive force of mundane materials instead of spiritual qi, it can unleash power comparable to the early-stage Qi Refinement realm...” With just a glance, Kou Hong grasped the weapon’s mechanisms.

He shook his head. “Who would have thought that after thousands of years, the mortals exiled to this Immortal Forsaken Land could devise something so ingenious? A pity it only works in this place where the Great Dao is fragmented. Outside, it’s nothing but worthless scrap metal.” With that, the gun in his hand vanished, evidently stashed away.

“Insignificant mortals, you sure have some nerve, raising your weapons against us cultivators. I initially felt a twinge of guilt, but now I see you’re simply courting death!”

Kou Hong looked down at the countless mortal soldiers hidden in the darkness, his eyes filled with disdain.

His right hand moved rapidly through the air, tracing mysterious patterns.

Countless sparks erupted from the darkness, swelling like wildfire into massive fireballs.

He then barked a cold command, “Dao Technique: Flame Dragon’s Roar!”

Crimson flames erupted outward from the massive fireballs. The fireballs acted like nodes while the flames acted like connecting tendrils. In moments, the fireballs scattered across the sky were woven together like congealed blood and flesh.

Soon, a ferocious dragon composed of blazing fire coiled in the sky above Xuanjing City.

The dragon reared its head and let out a deafening roar before plunging downward.

Boom!

Explosions erupted without end.

The buildings of Xuanjing City offered no resistance and were effortlessly reduced to rubble like flimsy toys.

The crimson flames seemed to possess a will of their own, devouring everything they touched.

In the blink of an eye, Xuanjing City transformed into a blazing hellscape!

Yet Kou Hong, the architect of this devastation, frowned. His expression shifted between shock and suspicion.

Despite the devastation of the city below, he realized that most of the soldiers had survived the attack!

One had to understand that the strike he had unleashed in his fury was one at his full power.

The might of a final-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator was far beyond what mere mortals could withstand!

Perhaps the soldiers were highly trained, donning protective gear and hiding behind buildings the moment they saw him casting his technique. Even then, their casualties should have been far greater!

What was going on?!

After Kou Hong’s initial shock, he seemed to realize something. With a wave of his hand, he summoned one of the countless small metal projectiles that had rained upon them earlier, now scattered across the ground after being deflected by his spiritual qi.

“What is this?” After examining it for a moment, his face twisted in horror. He swiftly scanned his surroundings, his earlier disdain replaced by wariness.

“These projectiles have been soaked in mortal blood... It’s Immortal-Mortal Miasma...” Dao Xuanzi’s voice came through, his expression grim.

“We were ambushed the moment we arrived, and they even used Immortal-Mortal Miasma. They were clearly prepared. Could there be a cultivator behind these mortals?” The two exchanged glances, countless thoughts flashing through their minds. “Regardless, this place is too strange. We shouldn’t linger.”

Though Dao Xuanzi and Kou Hong had been ready to kill each other over the core formation method, that was a matter between themselves.

Now, even though their opponents were merely thousands of mortals, the two cultivators who had fought side by side for a century tacitly chose to flee. There were simply too many unexpected variables.

Perhaps sensing their intent, the gunfire that had been silenced by Flame Dragon’s Roar resumed!

“Let’s go!”

Just as they prepared to escape, a voice rang out from below. “Dao Xuanzi! Kou Hong! If you flee today, word that you’ve obtained a core formation method will spread throughout the entire cultivation world by tomorrow!”

The voice echoed from all directions, reverberating endlessly through the night.

It was aged, yet carried an unshakable certainty and ruthlessness.

Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi froze mid-air, their faces contorted in shock and disbelief.

“How is this possible? Only the two of us knew about the core formation method! How was the news leaked?!” For a moment, they were paralyzed by terror.

Scenes flashed through their minds—their joint expedition to the ancient cave, Kou Hong snatching the technique and his subsequent flight, Dao Xuanzi’s relentless pursuit, Kou Hong entering the Immortal Forsaken Lands, gambling on a chance of survival...

Who could it be?

As their minds reeled, dozens of artillery shells streaked through the darkness from unexpected angles, trailing long tails of flame as they homed in on the two cultivators.

“You must be tired of living!” Kou Hong snapped out of his daze, his fury erupting anew.

“Dao Technique: Ember Explosion!”

A massive ring of fire began to materialize in the air.

“Kou Hong, dodge!” Dao Xuanzi’s urgent warning came too late.

“What?” Kou Hong’s eyes widened as his divine sense swept outward.

He tried to evade, but it was impossible.

The shells detonated around them.

There were no deafening explosions; only bursts of dark red liquid, raining down in a macabre shower that drenched the two cultivators.

“AH!”

Bloodcurdling screams tore through the sky.

At the same time, the once awe-inspiring aura of the two cultivators that naturally cowed mortals faded.

After resisting for a few moments, they could no longer hold on and plummeted from the sky.

A thousand soldiers surrounded them in a tight circle, guns at the ready.

Yet the current appearances of the two Immortal Masters sent chills down the spines of even these specially trained sacrificial soldiers who had long disregarded their own lives.

Dao Xuanzi and Kou Hong had once appeared as youthful men in their twenties or thirties. But after the rain of blood, their hair had turned snow-white. Deep wrinkles were carved across their faces, as though they had aged horrifically in mere breaths.

The two lay hunched and collapsed on the ground. Kou Hong gasped for breath, already on the verge of death. Dao Xuanzi had a slightly higher cultivation level, yet barely clung to life himself.

The once lofty Immortal Masters had been reduced to such a state!

Not only the soldiers present, but even Li Fan, who hid in the rear while directing the operation, felt an inexplicable chill upon receiving the report.

A soldier shouted from a distance, “Immortal Masters Dao Xuanzi and Kou Hong, our Grand Preceptor has made his decree! Surrender, and your lives will be spared!”

“Surrender...” The grievously wounded Dao Xuanzi glanced at his lifelong friend, whose eyes burned with unwillingness but could no longer speak. A cold laugh escaped him.

Seeing his expression, Kou Hong understood what he was planning to do.

With the last of his strength, he shook his head weakly before sliding his storage ring toward Dao Xuanzi.

“Go...” His lips barely moved before his head slumped, now lifeless.

Above, the heavens responded!

A crimson qiulong materialized in the sky, writhing in agony as if struggling against an unseen force.[1]

But its efforts were futile. It withered away, flesh and muscle vanishing until only skin remained.

Moments later, the entire dragon was consumed, bones and all.

Only then could onlookers see it clearly: an unremarkable brown branch had taken root within the qiulong, devouring it whole!

Even mortal wood could consume a dragon!

The spectacle, resplendent as fireworks, illuminated the sky for thousands of li.

Every living being who witnessed it, human or otherwise, received the same message in their minds and instinctively understood it:

“Foundation Establishment cultivator Kou Hong practiced the Dao for 205 years, establishing his Dao Foundation with the Curio, Qiulong Branch. In the Immortal Forsaken Lands, besieged by thousands of mortals, he fell to Immortal-Mortal Miasma.”

“His cultivation was lost, his lifespan exhausted.”

“Now, his body perishes and his Dao disperses, returning to heaven!”

A shared sorrow, an inexplicable grief, an overwhelming sympathy...All beings beneath this phenomenon in Xuanjing City were drowned in such emotions, unable to pull themselves away.

The dazzling vision persisted for nearly an hour before finally fading.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Regaining their senses, the soldiers turned their gazes to the remaining aged cultivator.

“Immortal Master Dao Xuanzi, our Grand Preceptor has no desire for mutual destruction. Surrender, and he guarantees your safety...” The soldiers continued their appeal as instructed.

Hidden in the shadows, Li Fan sighed inwardly, knowing this attempt to capture the immortals had failed.

He hadn’t anticipated that Immortal-Mortal Miasma would be this lethal against cultivators.

As expected, Dao Xuanzi ignored their calls.

He stared at the now-empty sky, his eyes brimming with nostalgia.

“Qiulong Branch...”

After a long moment, he finally lowered his gaze, struggling to straighten his hunched form.

He scanned his surroundings, trying to find the mastermind behind this ambush.

“I don’t know who you are,” he addressed Li Fan directly. “Nor do I know your goal.

“Perhaps it’s the core formation method. Perhaps something else.” Dao Xuanzi glanced at the storage ring on his hand, speaking calmly. “My brother and I fell to your schemes. By all rights, I should have no grounds for complaint.

“But I refuse to accept this.” His voice turned icy.

“Given that you managed to stalk us undetected and even know our every move, your cultivation must be formidable.

“Yet despite your stature, you dare not face us directly, resorting to cowardly tricks and hiding behind mortals. You even stooped to using Immortal-Mortal Miasma...

Dao Xuanzi took a deep breath.

“My brother Kou Hong, dying at the hands of someone like you...It sickens me to think of it.”

Slowly, he rose into the air once more, looking down upon the wary soldiers with an expression devoid of joy or sorrow.

“You’ve witnessed my brother’s Foundation Establishment Curio. Now, allow me to show you mine.”[2]

“With a Curio of heaven and earth, I established my Dao foundation.” Dao Xuanzi said solemnly. “My foundation is named: Dao Xuan.”

A massive, broken iron sword materialized in the air above Xuanjing City.

All living beings beneath the greatsword’s shadow felt their thoughts turn sluggish and slow, like rusted machinery grinding to a halt.

“This is my sword strike. Behold it well.”

The world abruptly brightened. Every soul within Xuanjing City froze, as if plunged into absolute stasis.

Then, like glass fracturing into countless shards, the entire city splintered apart in an instant!

Return to Truth.

As Li Fan silently recited these words, his charging progress plummeted. Then, his consciousness faded.

1. qiulong refers to a type of hornless dragon ☜

2. The original chinese term for Curio is 奇物, which can be directly translated to "wondrous object." As Dao pursuer pointed out, the word Curio means "a rare, unusual, or intriguing object." Since this is a xianxia novel, there is naturally also a magical/mystical aspect to Curios, and more will be explained later in the story :) ☜