Chapter 991: Slaughter, Number One In The Macrocosm (1)

As this sword strike unfurled, the fearsome sword intent it contained tore through the divine aurora domain, striking directly at Sovereign Qing Ling atop the divine bridge.

The Great Dao of Spacetime, while not as destructive as the Great Dao of Destruction in raw power, excelled in its unpredictability, granting absolute control and the initiative in battle.

He’s fast.

Sovereign Qing Ling's eyes flickered, but he remained unperturbed. Lights flowed across the divine bridge beneath his feet, and two flying swords materialized around him—one wreathed in flames, the other encircled by flowing water.

At first glance, they seemed unremarkable. But when the two flying swords shot forth, piercing through billions of li of void in an instant, they transformed into two terrifying divine beasts—a dragon and a phoenix. Unlike mere illusions, the forms of the two divine beasts were entirely real.

They intertwined, their surfaces rippling with countless Dao fluctuations. Roaring furiously, the beasts met Wu Yuan's lightning-fast strike with overwhelming momentum.

Boom!

The two world-shattering forces collided. The residual waves of sword qi shook the divine bridge, causing Sovereign Qing Ling to stagger backward involuntarily.

What?

Sovereign Qing Ling's heart shook.

Boom! Boom!

The dragon and phoenix were now covered in countless fractures, their surfaces riddled with cracks. Their aura was greatly diminished as the shockwaves from the collision blasted outwards in all directions, warping billions of li of void. Even light itself was annihilated—to the naked eye, all that could be seen was an enormous region of pitch blackness.

This? Ming Jian actually gained the upper hand?

Sovereign Shi Qing gaped in disbelief. He hastily sent a message through the Immortal Court Voidrealm: "Voltari, did you all see that? Ming Jian is far too powerful—we'd best not provoke him."

Within the Immortal Court Voidrealm, Sovereign Voltari, Sovereign Sha Fan, and Sovereign Sang Cheng all wore grave expressions.

They had originally hoped for Ming Jian, Bei You and the others to tie down Sovereign Qing Ling with the arrays. Now it seemed the situation was nothing like what they had anticipated.

Haha, excellent! Ming Jian's swordsmanship?

Sovereign Heng Yang, observing the battle from within the array, was elated, his heart surging with excitement.

Such profound sword techniques—truly extraordinary.

Sovereign Qing Ling has already unleashed his Water and Fire Twin Swords. Those are two top-grade Dao Instruments from the same source, yet he's still at a disadvantage in direct combat?

Sovereign Bei You was equally shocked. He knew Wu Yuan's Dao comprehension had greatly improved, but he hadn't expected his strength to progress this much.

Sovereign Zhen Guang and Sovereign Zhu Yue were even more dumbfounded.

I would probably die from a single sword strike from Ming Jian or Qing Ling.

Sovereign Zhen Guang thought with trepidation.

Perhaps Ming Jian truly can defeat Sovereign Qing Ling.

Sovereign Zhu Yue felt a glimmer of hope rising within him.

...

Whether it was the Sovereigns observing on-site or the many Sovereigns of the Greenridge Immortal World and Voltari Temple watching through the voidrealm, all were stunned by this exchange. This clash was undoubtedly the greatest battle in the history of the Greenridge Macrocosm.

In the darkness of outer space.

"Ming Jian, I must admit, you weren't boasting. Your strength is indeed extraordinary." Sovereign Qing Ling's divine bridge emanated endless auroral light, stabilizing his footing.

The Divine Aurora Chart was a powerful Dao Instrument that served as both domain and defense, undoubtedly one of the finest treasures among Dao Instruments.

Sovereign Qing Ling was truly shaken. He had just gone all-out, employing three top-grade Dao Instruments and unleashing the power of an eighth-stage Sovereign. Yet he was still at a slight disadvantage?

“To withstand my sword strike—as expected of Sovereign Qing Ling." Wu Yuan spoke calmly.

Wu Yuan's mind remained tranquil. Suppressing Sovereign Qing Ling? It was entirely within his expectations. Though he wasn't certain whether the Sovereign Qing Ling before him was his true self or a mana body, the ability to unleash eighth-stage Sovereign combat power matched the intelligence reports.

However, from the moment Wu Yuan decided to send his true self, he no longer took his opponent seriously.

My Dao comprehension level is significantly lower, but it's still at the sixth-level Dao Field stage.

Wu Yuan mused.

Moreover, I possess dual Apotheosis root and soul, and can unleash nine lifebound flying swords simultaneously.

In other words, even without employing the Samsara Sword’s Dao resonance, Wu Yuan's qi refiner self could reach the threshold of an eighth-stage Sovereign with just his lifebound flying swords.

Upon activating a fraction of the Samsara Sword’s Dao resonance, his sword techniques' power would surge dramatically, naturally allowing him to suppress Sovereign Qing Ling.

If he went all out? He would be even more terrifying. However, Wu Yuan had no desire to unleash his full power just yet. He had other plans, and only wished to suppress Sovereign Qing Ling slightly for now.

"Qing Ling, I don't want to kill you. Leave while you still can." Wu Yuan's cold voice echoed through the void.

These words startled all who were observing. He was truly a monstrous prodigy on par with Zhu Shan and Wu Yuan of the Eldritch Court —so arrogant and domineering. However, the strength Wu Yuan had displayed proved he had the right to act this way, leaving the many Sovereigns speechless.

"Kill me? Ming Jian, if I had only sent a mana body today, it would indeed be very difficult to defeat you." Sovereign Qing Ling's voice was frigid. "Unfortunately for you, this is my true self. Die!"

Whoosh!

A total of seven divine swords materialized one after another around the divine bridge beneath Sovereign Qing Ling's feet.

Each divine sword was blue, with surging torrents appearing to flow within. Yet flames raged across their surfaces. Water and fire, perfectly combined.

"Ming Jian, come receive another of my sword strikes." Sovereign Qing Ling roared in fury.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The seven divine swords immediately combined their power with the Water and Fire Twin Swords he had first unleashed, forming a powerful sword array together.

The Nine Swords Array coalesced in an instant, forming an ethereal divine sword of immense power – Merciless Water and Fire. It slashed toward Wu Yuan.

"Go!" Wu Yuan stood within his sword domain. With a mere thought, a single divine sword whistled as it shot forth.

Boom!

Another head-on collision. The shockwaves from this clash were even more astonishing, but this time it was Wu Yuan who found himself at a disadvantage.

Swish!

The overwhelmingly powerful Water-Fire divine sword sliced through the void, cutting through the vast sword domain surrounding Wu Yuan as it whistled toward him.

Wu Yuan was forced to retreat, his form flickering.

"Ming Jian, don't run." Sovereign Qing Ling bellowed as the divine bridge beneath his feet moved. His speed was equally swift.

Lifebound flying swords? Seven of them? Each one is likely a high-grade Dao Instrument.

Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.

It seems this Sovereign Qing Ling has poured all his treasures and wealth accumulated over eons into these lifebound flying swords.

If one were still at the mortal stage and expended vast quantities of precious treasures to upgrade their lifebound flying swords along the optimal evolution pathway, one could swiftly upgrade them to high-grade Dao Instruments upon ascending to Sovereign.

Most Sovereigns raised their strength step by step. When in the mortal stage, the majority of cultivators couldn't obtain such extraordinary treasures. Thus, the lifebound artifacts of most qi refiner Sovereigns were not particularly powerful.

However, in the workings of heaven and earth, there was always a sliver of hope.

Only after becoming a Sovereign did Wu Yuan learn that there were methods to retroactively improve a lifebound artifact's foundation, allowing it to further evolve to the level of a high-grade Dao Instrument.

But the cost was astronomical—at least tens of times more than the resources expended during the mortal stage—and it still couldn't perfectly compensate for all flaws.

Forget ordinary Sovereigns, even most late-stage Sovereign powerhouses lacked the wealth for such an endeavor.

A single sword of mine is no match for nine swords.

Wu Yuan pondered. With a thought, two more lifebound flying swords suddenly appeared around him. Three swords struck in unison.

Of his nine lifebound flying swords, at least six were needed to maintain the sword domain. Three flying swords could be dispatched for attacks at most.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Wu Yuan's three lifebound flying swords formed an arrow formation as they streaked across the sky. Empowered by the sword domain, they moved to intercept the oncoming Water-Fire divine sword.

In that moment, sword intents clashed, and sword qi crisscrossed through the battlefield.

Sovereign Qing Ling's sword array possessed both the explosive ferocity of the Law of Fire and the endless persistence of the Law of Water. The fusion of these two Laws was profound and unfathomable.

Meanwhile, Wu Yuan's flying swords excelled in their unpredictability—attacking and then retreating, impossible to defend against.

Moreover, since Sovereign Qing Ling was on the offensive, his sword array had no choice but to enter Wu Yuan's sword domain, naturally coming under its suppressive effects. For a time, the two sides were locked in an even struggle.

So Sovereign Qing Ling sent his true self. Seven lifebound flying swords, combined with numerous top-grade Dao Instruments, his strength is indeed extraordinary.

Wu Yuan silently contemplated.

His opponent’s willingness to send his true self showed his extreme confidence—he clearly believed no one in this macrocosm could kill him.

This Ming Jian is also using lifebound flying swords. Did he also send his true self? His flying swords are more powerful than mine.

Sovereign Qing Ling realized this point as well.

Moreover, he has a full nine lifebound flying swords.

While both wielded high-grade Dao Instrument lifebound flying swords, Wu Yuan's had evolved his along the optimal evolution pathway. They were a cut above Sovereign Qing Ling’s, with even greater potential.

In this moment, both sides recognized how strong the other was, understanding how difficult it would be to claim victory in this battle.

For Sovereign Qing Ling, defeating Wu Yuan seemed nearly impossible. His opponent was already so strong in direct combat, and as a Sovereign of Space, he could easily flee if he wished.

As for Wu Yuan, he didn't want to reveal too much strength for now to ensure he could execute his later plans more smoothly.

Boom! Boom!

The two super powerhouses manipulated their artifacts and domains, clashing furiously.

...

The various observing Astral Monarchs gazed from afar at the two late-stage Sovereigns locked in fierce combat, faces filled with awe. It was truly too terrifying.

𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"So Sovereign Qing Ling actually has seven lifebound flying swords. He's never revealed this in all the years before."

"Indeed, he's hidden his true strength too deeply. Sovereign Qing Ling's current combat power is undoubtedly at the peak of eighth-stage Sovereign."

"But Sovereign Ming Jian, who has less than a hundred thousand years of cultivation, can actually face him head-on." Sovereign Shi Qing, Sovereign Heng Yang, and the others watched intently, awaiting the outcome of this battle.

"Hmm? What's happening?"

"It seems Sovereign Qing Ling is about to unleash his ultimate technique."

"What is that figure? This...!" Sovereign Bei You's expression changed abruptly as he sent a transmission, "Ming Jian, be careful."