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

## Chapter 443: Cunning Plan, The Enraged Enchantress The Heavenly Abyss (天窟) was intensely hot, as though one was standing within a furnace. However, this heat was precisely at the threshold that a True King Heavenly Venerable (真王天尊) warrior could tolerate. Xu Yan advanced cautiously. Upon reaching the entrance of the Heavenly Abyss, he did not immediately step in but instead extended his hand and launched a sword into the abyss, seemingly testing the waters. Inside the abyss, there was no movement. It seemed genuinely devoid of danger. The Enchantress Witch had concealed herself, silently observing Xu Yan's actions, her heart perched with anxiety at the thought he might not enter the Heavenly Abyss. "Come on, boy, just step in. Once you're in, you won’t be able to escape!" she sneered inwardly. Finally, Xu Yan took careful steps into the abyss, cautiously surveying his surroundings and gradually approaching the pool. "When he discovers the Fallen Witch, as he defends himself, and when the Fallen Witch unleashes the Evil Eye, it will be time to capture him," she thought, confident she had been extremely cautious. Despite Xu Yan entering the Heavenly Abyss, she didn’t reveal herself. Adhering to their plan, they aimed to ensure nothing went wrong, allowing them to capture Xu Yan securely. She had paid a cost to temporarily bypass the restrictions of the Tai-Cang Earth (太蒼天地), bringing a particular treasure into the area to prevent Xu Yan's master from providing him a formidable artifact until rescue arrived. Success lay in restraining Xu Yan's life within her grasp before his master could intervene. If it weren't for the inability to descend if she were present personally, the Enchantress Witch wouldn’t have gone to such lengths, sending a clone with the treasure. Xu Yan pretended to be exceedingly cautious as he moved forward, as if oblivious to the Enchantress Witch's presence or the figure of the Flame Demon. "Enchantress Witch, Fallen Witch, and that powerful one imbued with a formidable fire, whose strength is exceptionally potent and peculiar," Xu Yan mused, clicking his tongue in amazement. The suffocating heat of the abyss came from this fire practitioner, whose strength was both immensely powerful and distinct. "Are you here to seal the abyss? Alas, with your strength alone, trapping me is impossible." Through the Small Heavenly Dao Eye (小天道之眼), neither the Enchantress Witch nor the Flame Demon remained concealed. "What kind of treasure is this? The Enchantress Witch is indeed benevolent!" Xu Yan's heart was filled with joy upon seeing the treasure prepared by her. The jade bamboo in the pool was clearly extraordinary. His face showed delight, yet he continued forward cautiously, slowly advancing while the Sword Within Heaven And Earth (劍裏乾坤) surreptitiously appeared and covered the space. The Fallen Witch, who until now was moderately hidden, should have been discovered, poised to act upon being noticed by Xu Yan. Surprisingly, as if entirely focused on the jade bamboo, Xu Yan didn’t become aware of his concealment. This caused a momentary lapse in judgment, his mind freezing on whether or not to take action. "The opportunity is now!" Xu Yan inhaled deeply, banking on their momentary hesitation. In a flash, Xu Yan disappeared from his original spot, his figure appearing to charge at the jade bamboo, but it was merely an illusion. His true form, with a Shifting Form, Changing Place (移形換位), abruptly appeared where the Enchantress Witch hid. The three enemies were momentarily beguiled by this mirage towards the jade bamboo, and in that fleeting instant, Xu Yan acted! "Dammit!" the Enchantress Witch's heart filled with shock and anger. This sly young man! A streak of pink light barely began to emerge, the treasure not yet fully brandished before Xu Yan thrust a wooden sword forth. Swish! Too quick to react, the wooden sword pierced into her. "Argh!" The Enchantress Witch screamed, her half-drawn treasure immediately dropped as Xu Yan swiftly retrieved it into his hand. Boom! In that instant, an array disk activated, casting a formation upon the Fallen Witch. Simultaneously, myriad swords flew from Xu Yan’s sleeves, transforming into a sword formation and enveloping the Flame Demon. The Sword Within Heaven And Earth retracted. In a split second, the pool, the jade bamboo, and the treasures surrounding it fell into Xu Yan's hands. The time between striking and gathering treasures was merely a heartbeat, only then did the Fallen Witch begin breaking out of the formation. The Flame Demon transformed into a terrifying fire giant, incinerating myriad swords and advancing. Meanwhile, the Enchantress Witch's screams echoed, a sword rampaged within her, seemingly intent on annihilating her. "Enchantress Witch, thank you for such a magnificent gift!" Xu Yan grinned brightly, his sword swung wide, exuding annihilating Sword Intent. "This doppelganger of yours, destined to perish by my hands again!" The Enchantress Witch abruptly turned into a pink light, retreating frenziedly. "Xu Yan, you impudent brat, I swear you'll die!" How had she suffered so humiliated, repeating losses to a young, seemingly weak individual, this was unbearable! "Let’s see if you can escape first!" Xu Yan acted as though aiming to completely obliterate her. "Humph!" The Enchantress Witch snorted coldly; she understood this doppelganger couldn’t contest Xu Yan, needing to return to re-establish her form. "Fallen Witch, Flame Demon, stall him. I’ll be back instantly!" she declared before vanishing in a streak of pink light from the Heavenly Abyss. Xu Yan's face beamed; the Enchantress Witch had taken his master’s sword back, the mission accomplished! "Fallen Witch, Flame Demon? Ha, do you really think you can stop me?" he chuckled. In an instant, the grassy, sandy elements of the abyss transformed into slaughtering swords, numbering innumerably. "Slash!" Standing triumphantly, Xu Yan waved, and innumerable swords, each exuding distinct and fierce intents, shot forth like a torrential downpour against the Flame Demon and Fallen Witch. Simultaneously, a gesture released the Mountains and Rivers All Phenomena (山河萬象), and from the midst of the crashing mountains and rivers emerged a vaguely mighty silhouette. Quickly, the powerful figures clashed in battle, shaking Heaven and Earth, and instilling awe. The Fallen Witch and Flame Demon felt a chill. They were merely doppelgangers, limited in strength. "Are you a disciple of Shan Gu?" The Flame Demon suddenly asked in a deep voice. Within the Mountains and Rivers All Phenomena, two powerful figures clashed. Though one was indistinct, being an old acquaintance, an old rival, it was undeniably recognized. Xu Yan raised a brow. Shan Gu? Wasn’t he the powerful one who perished together with the Nether Witch? "No, Shan Gu is deceased. You cannot be his disciple, and your path differs entirely!" the Flame Demon quickly disagreed. "But regardless of being Shan Gu's successor, a talent like yours must die!" Boom! The Flame Demon spoke, transforming entirely into flames. Seeming like a fiery incarnate humanoid, burning intensely, unleashing formidable fiery force. "Today, you cannot escape!" The Flame Demon's icy voice resounded. Flames turned into monstrous pythons and into a giant net, completely sealing Xu Yan’s surroundings, wrapping towards him. The Fallen Witch unveiled numerous glaring eyes, casting evil light, manipulating a black rod, spreading an ominous force, striking at Xu Yan. "You truly think you can stop me?" Xu Yan mocked. Neither the Flame Demon nor the Fallen Witch had reached the Immortal Realm, and though he hadn’t broken into the Void Shattering Realm, he could handle their assaults. As for the Enchantress Witch, having taken his master’s sword, she wouldn’t have a chance to descend again. "They intend to contain me here until her return. Unfortunately, their plan is destined to fail. My master is likely teaching her a lesson right now." Xu Yan laughed. Whoosh! The sword light fluctuated, the Mountains and Rivers All Phenomena emerged, and a colossal golden dragon soared within, its majesty undulating as it roared. "Flame Demon, your strength is definitely commendable. Suppressing your consciousness would transform your flames into quite a treasure." Xu Yan observed the approaching fiery net, commenting with a light laugh. "Heh, with you, it's impossible to suppress even this wisp of my consciousness!" the Flame Demon huffed dismissively. Although this doppelganger wasn’t strong, he was undoubtedly a mighty entity; even a fraction of his awareness far surpassed what an Immortal Realm warrior’s soul could contend with. "Is that so? Let’s see!" Xu Yan giggled. A sudden tempest arose, assailing the flaming net, this tempest even infiltrating the Flame Demon's consciousness. Even more frightening, this particular gale embodied an unyielding essence. "Is this...?" ### New Terms: 1. **Heavenly Abyss (天窟)** - Translation Explanation: The term "天窟" is directly translated to "Heavenly Abyss," with "天" meaning "heaven" and "窟" meaning "cave" or "abyss." The translation emphasizes the mystical and dangerous aspect of the location, aligned with the narrative's tone. 2. **Enchantress Witch (媚巫)** - Contextual Translation: The term "媚巫" combines "媚," meaning "enchanting" or "seductive," with "巫," meaning "witch." The name highlights her cunning and magical prowess, fitting the character's deceptive nature. 3. **Fallen Witch (墯巫)** - Contextual Translation: "墯巫" directly translates to "Fallen Witch," with "墯" implying "fall" or "collapse." The translation maintains the underlying idea of a witch with a potentially tragic or detrimental power. 4. **Flame Demon (炎魔)** - Contextual Translation: "炎魔" translates straightforwardly to "Flame Demon," representative of the character's fiery and demonic nature. This matches the context of a character embodying formidable fire power. 5. **Sword Within Heaven And Earth (劍裏乾坤)** - Contextual Translation Explanation: "劍裏乾坤" translates to "Sword Within Heaven And Earth." "劍" means "sword," while "乾坤" signifies "heaven and earth." This encapsulates an all-encompassing sword technique imbued with the essence of the universe. Overall, the translation aimed to maintain the original tone and intent of the Chinese text while ensuring clarity and coherence for English-speaking readers. He found it somewhat hard to believe—could it be that this opponent's lethal technique was trained using the Unyielding Energy (不化之氣)? "Indeed, this Sword Intent is cultivated from Unyielding Energy, and this particular Sword Intent specializes in obliterating divine souls," Xu Yan chuckled lightheartedly. This doppelganger of the Flame Demon differed from those of the Fallen Witch and the Enchantress Witch. Though the doppelgangers of the Fallen Witch and the Enchantress Witch were also power-based, their powers diverged greatly. Once their consciousness was vanquished, their powers dissipated as well. However, the Flame Demon’s doppelganger seemed to contain a sliver of primordial strength. Even if its consciousness was extinguished, it would persist, possibly becoming a precious artifact. This was linked to the Flame Demon's immense strength and even his own true form. Xu Yan suspected that to blockade the Heavenly Abyss, to trap him here, the Flame Demon must have infused a sliver of his primordial power, as an ordinary power doppelganger couldn't achieve this feat. Boom! The Unyielding Sword Intent instantly merged with the flames, even permeating that sliver of the Flame Demon's consciousness. "Enchantress Witch, I won't hold for long!" The Flame Demon's expression shifted drastically, his gaze toward Xu Yan filled with an icy killing intent. This youth had to die, lest he become a paramount threat in the future! In Tai-Cang Earth, no such monstrous talent should be allowed to exist! "You useless Fallen Witch!" He glared furiously at the Fallen Witch, who failed to pose any threat to Xu Yan. The Fallen Witch was thoroughly frustrated. Xu Yan seemed unperturbed by his Evil Eye, drastically diminishing his lethal force, and all other methods were ineffective against Xu Yan. "Stop shouting, the Enchantress Witch won't be coming!" Xu Yan beamed brightly. The Enchantress Witch might currently be undergoing some punishment. The Flame Demon was inwardly shocked—could the Enchantress Witch truly be receiving a lesson? "Who is Xu Yan's master?" Several figures flitted through his mind, yet none seemed to match. Given the Enchantress Witch's prowess, any of those figures could indeed discipline her. "Who is your master?" the Flame Demon sensed that his consciousness wouldn't last much longer. He had underestimated this opponent’s assault capabilities which indeed contained Unyielding Energy. "My master's name bears too much causality for you to bear," Xu Yan stated proudly. "What a joke! Is there anything within this world that I, the Flame Demon, cannot withstand? Even the mighty..." the Flame Demon paused his speech. "Oh, realized that there are those who can overwhelm you?" Xu Yan taunted with a sneer. "Heh, it's not about being overwhelmed, just that some shouldn’t be mentioned!" the Flame Demon retorted with a cold laugh. "Slash!" Suddenly, Xu Yan vanished, reappearing right before the Fallen Witch, as a black sword light descended. Puff! The Fallen Witch's gaze turned cold and fierce. He swung his black stick, conjuring a swirling dark aura, seemingly to corrode Xu Yan's attack. Yet, as Xu Yan's sword descended, he clapped his hand, and with a roar, a golden dragon burst forth. True Dragon's Wrath! Puff! The Fallen Witch was blasted backward, his multiple gaze dimming. In shock, he sputtered, "How have you become so strong?" What kind of anomaly was this? During the Changyun Realm (長雲境), Xu Yan's strength hadn’t even approached the current level. Not much time had passed! His power had almost doubled! At this rate, within a century, this opponent's strength might rival his main form! This youth had to die! The Flame Demon was also surprised; had this young man been concealing his true abilities all along? "Several years have passed; isn't getting stronger inevitable?" Xu Yan slashed continuously, ignoring the Flame Demon's fiery attacks. "You brat, my consciousness here is bound to dissipate. Even so, I won't let you have the upper hand; now witness..." The Flame Demon readied himself to self-destruct this doppelganger, transforming into a potent assault meant to seriously injure Xu Yan, if not kill him. Then came an enraged, almost crazed roar, "Xu Yan, you and your master both deserve death. Don't think you’ll get away with this! "Argh, you scoundrel, how dare you scheme against me? I'll tear you both to shreds. "No, I'll turn you into my enchanted slaves, tormenting you day and night until my anger is vanquished!" The enraged voice, devoid of any seduction or tenderness, carried only fury, madness, and hatred. The Heavenly Abyss trembled, the laws of Heaven and Earth surged, transmuting into lightning, guarding the boundary, ready to annihilate the intruder with Heaven and Earth’s might! Both Flame Demon and Fallen Witch were stunned. That was the Enchantress Witch's voice—what had befallen her? They knew her well and had never seen her so furious or out of sorts, not even when someone had chastised her shamelessly before. Yet now, she seemed to have lost her mind, fuming with wrath, desperate to storm into Heaven and Earth herself. The Flame Demon, preparing to self-destruct, paused, glancing upwards, catching a glimpse of a lingering pink glow outside the Heaven and Earth. "Here's a chance!" Xu Yan, unfazed by the Enchantress Witch's breakdown, took advantage of the Flame Demon's distraction, appearing before him instantly, thrusting his sword into the fiery core, the heart of the Flame Demon's consciousness. Puff! In a deadly strike, the Flame Demon’s consciousness shattered. "How did you..." The Flame Demon was stunned—how did Xu Yan locate the core of his consciousness? Before he could finish, his consciousness vanished. ### New Terms: 1. **Unyielding Energy (不化之氣)** - Contextual Translation: The term "不化之氣" translates to "Unyielding Energy," emphasizing a potent, persistent force that remains unchanged. Its role in cultivating Sword Intent aligns with the narrative's description of an energy that empowers and augments martial prowess. 2. **True Dragon's Wrath** - Contextual Translation: This technique refers to the fearsome attack of a golden dragon bursting forth, metaphorically invoking wrath comparable to a mythological dragon’s fury. The "True Dragon" wording conveys authenticity and immense power. 3. **Changyun Realm (長雲境)** - Contextual Translation: The "長雲境" realm is a higher state of cultivation journey, translating directly to "Changyun Realm." It signifies transformation and enhancement of the protagonist's abilities over time. Overall, these terms maintain the intended meanings from the original text, ensuring they are represented accurately for English-speaking readers, emphasizing their significance and depth within the story's context.