423 - Made-Up Martial Arts, Have You Really Mastered Them, Disciple?

Chapter 423: The Abyss of Heavenly Abyss, Arrival of the Eight-Leaf Calamity "Meng Chong, are you here to provoke the Myriad Treasures Alliance?" "I'm here to clarify one thing: the disciple of your alliance master was not killed by me. If I, Meng Chong, do something, I dare to admit it. If it was me, I wouldn't deny it. Your Myriad Treasures Alliance needs to give me an explanation for attacking me for no reason. "Of course, I, Meng Chong, am magnanimous. Since the attacker has already been slain by me, and I've emptied your branch's treasury, consider it compensation. "If your alliance master is willing, we can let this misunderstanding go. But if you insist it was I who killed his disciple, then bring it on!" Silence. The members of the Myriad Treasures Alliance branch, including the chief steward of this branch, the Treasure Guard Team, and numerous martial artists buying and selling treasures, all looked at the bald, burly man in shock. Too arrogant! "What's the matter? Any objections?" Meng Chong sneered, "I've already given your Myriad Treasures Alliance a way out. Don't take it unwisely. You should know the fault lies with you. You wrongfully accused me of killing your alliance master’s disciple. I was just defending myself." The chief steward and the Treasure Guard Team leader shook with anger. This was a direct affront to the Myriad Treasures Alliance's face, and if not dealt with, where would their prestige be? "Boy, less talk, surrender yourself, and meet with our alliance master. If he believes you, naturally this will all be forgotten." The steward spoke coldly. Even though Meng Chong had singlehandedly eradicated a Myriad Treasures Alliance branch and slain the True King Heavenly Venerables who surrounded him, that branch was in no way comparable to this one, as it was merely a small city. "Gentlemen, capture this man, and our alliance master will reward you handsomely!" The steward announced boldly. The alliance master Yan Shanhe, a top-notch Immortal Heavenly Venerable, was renowned across the Changyun Territory. Which Immortal Realm powerhouse in the territory didn't give him respect? Several other major forces also had ties with him. Whether for the sake of reward or to curry favor with Yan Shanhe, many True King Heavenly Venerables wouldn't want to miss this opportunity! Boom! Meng Chong's gaze turned cold, knowing that the conflict with the Myriad Treasures Alliance was irreconcilable, as they had posted a bounty on him. Thus, it was all about strength now. Though he was not a match for the alliance master Yan Shanhe presently, once he broke through again, he could crush him. “Before stepping in, think carefully if you can withstand Meng Chong’s blade!” Meng Chong wielded his blade. “You arrogant brat, do you think you alone can sweep us away? You're not even an Immortal Heavenly Venerable!” “Kill him!” Boom! The fight erupted, with a group of True King Heavenly Venerables joining forces against Meng Chong. However, faced with such a torrent of attacks, Meng Chong showed no fear; the Infinite Divine Tides manifested, bolstering Tian Lei's Refinement Technique, enhancing his physical body. Boom! Numerous attacks struck him but failed to move him an inch. "Die!" A flash of the blade, like thunder slicing through, and in an instant, a True King Heavenly Venerable fell! As he struck, Meng Chong realized he could profit from this! This branch of the Myriad Treasures Alliance was larger than the one in the previous city, and its treasury surely held even more treasures. Having acted, there's no need for politeness. Boom! A great day suddenly manifested, and a heavenly god-like figure appeared, astonishing countless martial artists. "I am the Heavenly God Meng Chong, here to annihilate a branch of the Myriad Treasures Alliance!" Meng Chong's voice boomed like thunder, resonating in all directions. The sun and stars appeared, wind and thunder swept the earth, and his blade illuminated the sky. Before the shocked eyes of many martial artists, that god-like figure slaughtered one True King Heavenly Venerable after another. The True King Heavenly Venerables, who had been preparing to step forward in battle, were instantly terror-stricken, their faces showing shock. This man could only be taken down by an Immortal Heavenly Venerable! Especially with that terrifying physical defense, no attack could harm him in the slightest. As those who aided the Myriad Treasures Alliance began to retreat in terror, one after another retreated frantically. Boom! Ignoring these people, Meng Chong slashed open the Myriad Treasures Alliance's treasury, collecting all the treasures, storage pouches, including those of the Treasure Guard Team leader and the chief steward. Boom! Suddenly, the heavens and earth were enveloped by a powerful aura, as if an almighty being was overseeing this realm. The Laws of Heaven and Earth continued to descend. An Immortal Heavenly Venerable was approaching, about to arrive. Everyone's faces lit up with joy; the Immortal Heavenly Venerable had finally appeared! Meng Chong was doomed! "Farewell!" With a sneer, Meng Chong took a step, seeming like the great sun traversing the sky, and in an instant, he reached the horizon. “Where do you think you’re going?” The Immortal Heavenly Venerable roared in anger, giving chase. The two figures disappeared into the horizon, while the city’s numerous martial artists looked on at the once Myriad Treasures Alliance site, now left in ruin. The deeply hidden treasury was completely emptied. "Who is this fierce individual?" "The Myriad Treasures Alliance has had two branches annihilated in succession; they surely cannot sit idly by." "The Heavenly God Meng Chong is bound to leave a ferocious name in the history of the martial path; his death would be worthwhile." "I suddenly feel uncertain. An Immortal Heavenly Venerable may not be able to hunt him down!" "I'm envious; Meng Chong accumulated so many treasures. If only I could..." The martial artists' breaths grew heavy. At this time, Meng Chong was practically a walking treasure trove. Originally, each branch of the Myriad Treasures Alliance had powerful guardians, with treasuries heavily fortified. Unless an Immortal Heavenly Venerable made a move, they couldn't be breached. Furthermore, no one dared to plunder the Myriad Treasures Alliance's treasuries. Now, however, Meng Chong, such a relentless figure, had directly breached two branch treasuries, looting countless martial resources. Yet considering Meng Chong's power and ferocity, robbing him was more challenging than attacking a Myriad Treasures Alliance branch! --- Xu Yan emerged from seclusion, heading to a city in Changyun Territory to investigate the situation of the Heavenly Abyss there. "Is the Myriad Treasures Alliance really hunting down my junior brother?" He discovered the bounty posted by the Myriad Treasures Alliance. Immediately, he retrieved a communication talisman to contact Meng Chong and understand the situation. "Senior Brother, it's a trivial matter. If the Myriad Treasures Alliance wants to hunt me down, let them. For now, there's no need for you to step in. "I may not be able to defeat an Immortal Heavenly Venerable yet, but they can't threaten me either. I've already shaken them off. I won't stay in Changyun Territory for long; once I've looted a few more Myriad Treasures Alliance branches, I'll leave." Meng Chong replied through the talisman. Xu Yan was undoubtedly preparing to go to the Heavenly Abyss. Once involved in this matter, the Heavenly Abyss would no longer be an option. Hence, Meng Chong had no intention of having his senior brother intervene. Moreover, the Myriad Treasures Alliance couldn't pose a threat to him. He was merely passing through Changyun Territory, nearly amassing the resources he needed. "Junior Brother, be careful. If you need anything, contact me." Xu Yan nodded. With his junior brother’s abilities to conceal his identity and evade capture, it wouldn’t be too difficult. "I've reached a major completion in the Divine Appearance Realm; reaching its perfection isn't far off. Once reaching perfection, I should be able to kill ordinary Immortal Realms." Xu Yan thought to himself. “Once I breakthrough to the Void Shattering Realm, I’ll crush through the Immortal Realm!” Xu Yan was filled with hope. In a place within Changyun Territory. “Sir, we’ve discovered Xu Yan’s whereabouts.” “Good, very good, where is he?” "Xu Yan was spotted in this location..." “I’ll personally take action. Xu Yan's time has come. Let’s see what power lies behind him and whether it can stir up the winds and clouds in the Divine Realm!” Said a man wearing a fearsome mask carved with eight leaves, chillingly. Upon exiting the Myriad Treasures Alliance branch, Xu Yan glanced back, hesitated slightly, but ultimately decided not to take down this branch. “Forget it; the Myriad Treasures Alliance poses no threat to my junior brother for now. If it becomes a threat, it won’t be too late for me to act.” Inside the Myriad Treasures Alliance, Xu Yan purchased a compendium on the Heavenly Materials and Treasures of the Divine Domain and introductions to the various Heavenly Abysses. The Myriad Treasures Alliance, spanning thirty territories, naturally had information for sale on the Divine Domain’s various territories and their distinct Heavenly Abysses. As a commercial alliance, they were well-versed in heavenly materials and treasures, especially rare ones, and offered sales of these compendiums. They even publicly sought particular rare treasures from time to time. After obtaining this information, Xu Yan visited the Myriad Treasures Alliance first to purchase the necessary details. --- **New and Noteworthy Terms:** 1. Myriad Treasures Alliance (萬寶盟) – A prominent organization involved in trading treasures across various territories. 2. Changyun Territory (長雲境) – A territory mentioned in the context where various power struggles are occurring. 3. Yan Shanhe (嚴山和) - Alliance Master of Myriad Treasures Alliance, known as a top-notch Immortal Heavenly Venerable. 4. Eight-Leaf Calamity (八葉天煞) – Refers to a person or entity linked to the mask and presumably a title or group. 5. Xu Yan's Masked Opponent – No specific name revealed, only described as wearing an eight-leaf engraved mask. 6. Heavenly Abyss (天窟) – A location of significance where powerful events are expected to occur. --- In this passage, the conflicts between Meng Chong, the Myriad Treasures Alliance, Xu Yan, and potentially new adversaries in Changyun Territory take center stage. Meng Chong uses the Infinite Divine Tides (神濤無量) and Tian Lei's Refinement Technique (天錘百鍊功), highlighting his formidable physical and combat capabilities. The Heavenly Abyss and Myriad Treasures Alliance's reach signify the extensive network and ongoing power shifts influencing the protagonists' paths. He also inquired a bit about the Tian Sha Di Ying (天煞地影), but there was no information regarding this force. It's unclear whether this branch of the Myriad Treasures Alliance is not ranked high enough to have information on Tian Sha Di Ying, or if Tian Sha Di Ying is truly so well hidden that even the Myriad Treasures Alliance has nothing on them. Xu Yan leaned towards the former; this branch of the Myriad Treasures Alliance doesn't have the capacity to access information on Tian Sha Di Ying. "Within Changyun Territory, the most famous Abyss is the Wu Demon Abyss, also known as the Fallen Wu Abyss. It is occupied by an extraterrestrial power called the Fallen Wu. "The Fallen Wu possesses a Hundred-Eyed Light. Once illuminated by this Hundred-Eyed Light, one can become lazy, weak all over, willpower depressed, with no fighting spirit, making it difficult to exert their strength." Xu Yan focused his attention on the description of one of the Abysses. "Fallen Wu? Could it be from the same place as the Charming Wu? If I go to this Abyss, I wonder if I could lure the Charming Wu." Xu Yan muttered to himself. "I'll go to the Fallen Wu Abyss and see if this Fallen Wu is as bizarre and powerful as the rumors say." The records about the Fallen Wu focus on its Hundred-Eyed Light, which can make people lazy, weak, and devoid of fighting spirit. Even an Immortal Heavenly Venerable encountering it must be cautious, and a slight misstep could lead to peril. There was an Immortal Heavenly Venerable once who, unable to resist the Hundred-Eyed Light, became lazy and weak, unable to muster the spirit to face an attack. In the end, another Immortal Heavenly Venerable rescued him from the Abyss. "In the Fallen Wu Abyss, aside from the Immortal Realm's Fallen Wu, there are smaller Fallen Wu entities. I wonder if they are just avatars." Exiting the city, Xu Yan determined the direction and set off towards the Fallen Wu Abyss. "With my mastery in the Wisdom Sword Realm, Unyielding Sword Intent, the Mountain and Rivers Phenomenon, and the Small Heavenly Dao Eye, the power of the Fallen Wu should not be able to affect me." His martial prowess is far superior to that of Tai Cang's martial path, offering multiple methods to counteract such strange powers. Not far from the city, Xu Yan suddenly stopped. A figure drifted closer, as though the very world was under their command. The newcomer wore a fearsome mask engraved with eight leaves. "Eight-Leaf Calamity?" Xu Yan raised an eyebrow. The Tian Sha Di Ying forces, where the Seven-Leaf Calamity is an Immortal Heavenly Venerable, saw the Eight-Leaf Calamity as a stronger tier within the Immortal Heavenly Venerables. Meanwhile, the Di Ying is tasked with infiltration and assassination, excelling in stealth and assassination. The Di Ying with a shadowy cloud mask is also an Immortal Heavenly Venerable in strength. This Eight-Leaf Calamity indeed surpassed ordinary Immortal Heavenly Venerables, though still not as powerful as top figures like the Great Yue Emperor. Yet among Immortal Heavenly Venerables, he is not far from the peak. Given Xu Yan's knowledge of the realm, the Great Yue Emperor is in the late Immortal Realm, ranked among the top Immortal Heavenly Venerables, while Sui Hongwu is in the early Immortal Realm. Whereas this Eight-Leaf Calamity is in the mid Immortal Realm. "You of Tian Sha Di Ying are quite the persistent ghosts," Xu Yan sneered, unafraid. "Xu Yan, you're the most gifted I've ever seen, and today I shall end this prodigy," the Eight-Leaf Calamity declared coldly. "By a skulking coward like you?" Xu Yan laughed disdainfully. "Your arrival is just timely; I shall test my martial path on you," Xu Yan mocked, smiling. "You are the first prodigy to belittle an Immortal Heavenly Venerable, and all who do so must die!" The Eight-Leaf Calamity raised his hand. Boom! The force of the world gathered, seemingly held within his palm. "Die!" He pressed down, and the power of the world slammed down as though to crush everything under the heavenly might. Buzz! With a wave of his hand, Xu Yan wielded the Yin-Yang Immortal Sword, everlasting and ever-living. The Mountain and Rivers Divine Appearance emerged, and the power of the Laws of Heaven and Earth descended, weakening the opponent’s control over the world's force. "What sort of martial path is this?" The Eight-Leaf Calamity expressed surprise at Xu Yan's Mountain and Rivers Divine Appearance. Despite not being in the Immortal Realm, Xu Yan wielded a similar command over the Laws of Heaven and Earth. Although it wasn't the same as masterfully ruling a region like an Immortal Heavenly Venerable, it still weakened the opponent's dominion. It mirrored a battle between two Immortal Heavenly Venerables, each vying for control of a realm’s power. "No wonder he is unmatched below the Immortal Realm; with such martial prowess, what True King Heavenly Venerable can rival him?" The Eight-Leaf Calamity's heart trembled, yet he was inwardly thrilled. "Such a wondrous martial path suggests that there must be a supreme entity behind Xu Yan. Killing him will infuriate that entity and plunge the Divine Domain into chaos." The Eight-Leaf Calamity's eyes shone brightly; he finally understood why Lord Tian Shi wished to kill Xu Yan and Meng Chong. This was the quickest, most efficient, and swiftest way to stir the Divine Domain into turmoil! "Your martial path is wondrous, but you have not yet stepped into the Immortal Realm. Today you will die!" The Eight-Leaf Calamity smiled coldly, brandishing a chilling divine sword. "Die!" Swish! A flash of cold light spread through the heavens, the sword light gathering the power of the world, striking down in an instant. Xu Yan raised an eyebrow, smirking disdainfully, "A frog at the bottom of a well, daring to brandish a sword before Xu Yan, the Sword God?" Buzz! The Eight-Leaf Calamity's sword had barely entered the Yin-Yang Sword Wheel before being deflected, returning with enhanced sharpness and seemingly imbued with intelligence. "How is this possible?" The Eight-Leaf Calamity was stunned. In the realm of swordsmanship, he was hailed as the finest in Changyun Territory. --- **New and Noteworthy Terms:** 1. Tian Sha Di Ying (天煞地影) – A mysterious force consisting of members like Seven-Leaf Calamity and Eight-Leaf Calamity. 2. Wu Demon Abyss / Fallen Wu Abyss (巫魔天窟 / 墯巫天窟) – A notorious location in Changyun Territory, occupied by an entity known as the Fallen Wu. 3. Fallen Wu (墯巫) – An extraterrestrial being with the ability to project the Hundred-Eyed Light making opponents lethargic. 4. Charming Wu (媚巫) – Possibly related to the Fallen Wu, though specific details are not provided. 5. Eight-Leaf Calamity (八葉天煞) – Part of the Tian Sha Di Ying, this figure is powerful among Immortal Heavenly Venerables, ranking higher than the Seven-Leaf Calamity. --- This passage reveals Xu Yan's adventurous drive and the ensuing confrontation with the mysterious Eight-Leaf Calamity. The narrative introduces formidable forces like the Tian Sha Di Ying and expands on the mystical realms and martial paths. Xu Yan's prowess defies norm, expressed through his grasp of the Laws of Heaven and Earth, creating a clash that challenges established hierarchies. The evolution from adept to prodigy in the face of experienced foes underlines the theme of surpassing traditional bounds.