Chapter 1536: Relax a Little

"[Blinding Flash: Thousandfold Echo]!"

Sun Xiaowu's body split into over a thousand clones, so many they seemed to fill the altar. Each was simultaneously real and illusory.

He sent half his clones to stop Leiting Ya, while the others dealt with his opponents.

Sun Xiaowu, who boasted the ability to manufacture clones, could control the battlefield by himself.

The cultivators of the fifth realm continued to take down his clones.

The woman in black released a tendril that curled toward the neck of Sun Xiaowu's actual body.

"That's the real him!"

The woman in black seemed to be able to directly identify the vitality coursing lifeforms and easily figured out which of the Sun Xiaowus was real.

The jade mantis, sapphire-blue scorpion, and the man with the black knife shot toward Sun Xiaowu.

No matter how realistic Sun Xiaowu's clones, they were unable to hold them back. However, Sun Xiaowu could manufacture clones indefinitely, and he would prove to be a problem if left unchecked.

Even the crazed Leiting Ya was temporarily giving up on Leiting Zi and Fang Yi. He was forcing his way through hundreds of Sun Xiaowu's clones, straight toward his main body.

"[The Nine Moons of the Underworld]!"

Nine flaming moons appeared in the sky, overshadowing the hall. Sun Mengmeng was intent on helping her brother with his crisis.

Feng Xian formed seals with her hands. Her body was a series of afterimages; she looked like a divine bird swooping with wings outstretched, a frightening gale behind her. The nine flaming moons were swept up in a gale, that black flame manifesting atop the altar as a tornado.

The jade mantis, sapphire-blue scorpion, and the man with the black knife drew near.

Despite the danger, Sun Xiwou was laughing. His eyes were cold.

"[Adamantine Aegis: Martial God]!"

Golden runes emerged from Sun Xiaowu's body and revolved around him as his aura grew stronger and stronger. As the golden runes merged with his genetic energy, Sun Xiaowu transformed into a mecha over a hundred meters tall. The golden runes surrounded Sun Xiaowu, turning him into a burning sun.

After just a single clash, the man screamed, his black bone knife shattering along with one of his arms. Then, half his body became a splatter of blood as he was sent flying.

"You—" Leiting Ya gaped in shock. His chest hurt; he was unable to overpower his opponent. He coughed out blood.

At the same time, Sun Xiaowu's arm grew taut. The black orchid whose vines had been creeping around it was torn apart.

The jade mantis screeched hoarsely, but was likewise sent flying with a fist.

Feng Xian's jeweled sword slid into Sun Xiaowu's chest noiselessly and soundlessly, a stealthy blow that he couldn't dodge.

Sun Mengmeng's eyes narrowed as black flames raged and transformed into a howling demon.

"[Lunar Apostasy]!"

Sun Mengmeng's entire bow was blazing. She launched her arrows straight into the air, which exploded among the clouds and formed a black moon, which exploded into rays of moonlight and rained down from the heavens. Feng Xian, seeing the attack, tried to draw her jade sword, but was unable to pull it out from Sun Xiaowu's chest at all. She had no choice but to give up and retreat.

"Sister, there's no need to be so worried. I'm quite alright—except for the fact that you almost burned me to death." Sun Xiaowu steadily strolled out from the sea of flames, his expression calm, as though he were entirely unharmed. If not for the sword embedded in his chest, Feng Xian would have thought that her strike had never landed.

Feng Xian frowned. "How could this be?"

The jade sword slowly melded into Sun Xiaowu's body, transforming into blood and flesh. He licked his lips and burped, then gave her a thumbs up. "Not a bad sword."

Feng Xian grimaced. "What sort of monster are you?"

𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"I'm an ordinary cultivator, of course."

"Liar!"

"Being the first to enter this ancient hall has its advantages. Not only were there incredible spiritual pills here, there were even records of flashes of intuition from ages long past, along with all manner of tattered weapons and Immortal swords. I absorbed those relics as I meditated on the gathered insights. Now, all my blood and flesh is forged of the weapons and Immortal swords that I absorbed, and my will is a patchwork of fighting spirit."

His skin glowed with golden runes, under which were ancient armaments stacked in an orderly fashion. As he landed on the altar, it cracked underneath his feet. Sun Xiaowu was no longer reining in his strength, and the weight of his new body was terrifying.

His eyes were blood-red, and golden light emanated from his body and manifested in the form of competitors who had once reached this hallowed place.

"Come on, then! I'm a superior Sun Xiaowu, now available for a limited time!"

Sun Xiaowu's combat strength was far greater than ever before.

Above his head was a shocking glow as the sun met the sea.

Zhang Lie and Radiant Sun began their fight.

Radiant Sun used his most potent techniques from the very beginning.

"[Endless Slash]!" Radiant Sun shouted, aiming the vase at Zhang Lie and sending a torrential burst of sword energy toward him.

Pale blue genetic energy rippled about his arms. He flicked his wrists, causing a frightening aura to descend on the world. The sky began to darken, and a fish the size of a whale materialized in the air.

[Fists of the Silent Sea: Soar] swept over the arena. As more and more genetic energy gathered around Zhang Lie's arms, it looked as though he were at the heart of a whirlpool.

Ripples of energy spread out from Zhang Lie, warping the space around him. The towering waves looked like enraged black dragons, flooding the area and striking Radiant Sun's jeweled vase.

As the waves burst apart, the air filled with echoes of Zhang Lie's signature genetic energy, shattering space and swallowing up all life in its vicinity.

The vase exploded in a burst of golden light, igniting the entire hall.

Both combatants stood amidst a raging sea of golden flames, each focused on the other.

Those around them retreated, clearing a space around them.

Radiant Sun focused. "As expected of the man who was able to defeat my son. You're skilled among those of your generation."

Zhang Lie sniffed disdainfully. "I've beaten you, too."

Radiant Sun didn't know that someone had made an eidolon of him that all cultivators of the dimensional realm would have to face to gain qualifications for the Cup. He thought that Zhang Lie was speaking of Zhang Lie's imminent victory over him.

"Let's see whether you have what it takes, then!"

Radiant Sun shouted. A divine glow emanated from his body, along with golden flames. He himself transformed into a divine weapon that tore through the heavens, splitting the sky in twain.

"[Limitless Golden Sun Slash]!"

Radiant Sun transformed into a huge solar sword that tore apart the void and shook the very stars.