Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 212 - 154: The Flying Sword Slays the Demon, Then Leaves with a Flick of the Robe

Chapter 212: Chapter 154: The Flying Sword Slays the Demon, Then Leaves with a Flick of the Robe

The Qing python rose straight up from the water’s surface, its half body alone towering a hundred meters high, coldly looking down upon Gu Wen with its lantern-sized snake pupils.

Gu Wen’s eyes flashed with a gleam; he had devoured several dozen Demon Cores that day, each one a minor henchman worth three years of Heavenly Marrow.

[One hundred and thirty years of Heavenly Marrow]

Though slaying them was as simple as picking Spiritual Medicine, as effortless as riding past with a sword to chop down demons, the profits ultimately weren’t enough. After all that work, he only gained seventy years of Heavenly Marrow, and it had only served to increase his irritability.

Wherever demons passed, tragedy followed.

Gu Wen didn’t feel satisfied with the slaughter, but the Qing python before him was strong; it ought to provide him with some exhilaration.

"Second Ancestor, it’s time to run."

Ao Tang felt the overwhelming presence of the Qing python and telepathically said, "Although I am a Divine Beast, my Divine Skills are in Alchemy and Escape Skills. This Snake Demon has a cultivation of Seven Six Dao Foundation, at least the strength of the Thirteen Level Heavens, while you are only at Five Four Dao Foundation."

Innates excel uniquely in one skill, but inevitably have their flaws.

Since he possessed the ability to escape from the hands of a Demi Immortal, it was only natural for his other abilities to be much weaker. Escaping was Ao Tang’s forte, which is why the Sanqing Taoist Sect had not dispatched a Venerable as a protector but instead had Ao Tang, with his Eight Four Dao Foundation, come along.

"I am capable of overcoming adversaries three levels above me. Now that I am at the Sixth Transition of the Golden Core, I can be considered to have reached First Level Perfection."

Gu Wen showed not the slightest intention to retreat; his words were so brash that even Ao Tang felt suffocated by them.

"My little ancestor, if you can overcome by a level, others can too, and moreover, they often look for obsolete and impractical old beings. Whether they rely on Divine Skills, Magic Treasures, or even just cultivation, what you’re facing now is a prodigy of the Devil Clan, a prodigy!"

There was a significant gap between those who had attained Dao Foundation Perfection and those who hadn’t, but for top prodigies, perfection was the norm. Many only began to encounter bottlenecks once they reached the nine levels of Dao Foundation. Often, prodigies had comprehensive strengths across the board, which included overcoming by one level, a privilege not unique to Gu Wen.

Geniuses surpass the vast majority at the same level, prodigies are invincible at the same level, and top prodigies, relying on Divine Skills, can surpass by one level, and some even by two.

For instance, Three Pure Daoist, Chi Yu Zi, Xiao Yunyi, Jun Yan, Jade Sword Buddha, and so on.

Apart from Divine Skills, they also possessed an Immortal Skill, thereby having an additional level of combat strength over others.

It’s like in mortal combat; first, you assess physique, then strength, then weaponry, and lastly, technique. There are various factors at play, all contributing to the combat prowess.

There are always stronger among the strong, but no one dares to challenge a prodigy by a level.

No matter how much Ao Tang tried to dissuade him, Gu Wen had already dismounted and landed on the river’s surface with his sword at the ready.

In an instant, the river water surged, yet the Qing python did not rush to attack. Instead, sensing Gu Wen’s cultivation level, it revealed a violent streak.

"Five Four Dao Foundation, you’re not even worthy to protect my path, yet how dare you stand before me?"

It slightly leaned forward, its snake pupils quivering with intense emotion, and its fist-sized nostrils exhaled steamy breath.

Suddenly, in the midst of the already chaotic emotions, a towering wave arose.

It smelled a scent, one capable of boiling its blood—a disgustingly foul odor it could never forget. When the Ba Snake Cave Heaven fell, the entire Cave Heaven smelled precisely like the man before it.

Yuqing Daoji, he came from the same lineage as that Great Demon, Qingcang!

Good! Good! Good!

The Qing python struggled to suppress its emotions, but it could not help drooling thick saliva from its venomous fangs.

"Do you know who I am?"

"Crawling scaly creature, you dare to claim kingship?"

Gu Wen slightly raised his head, his Chopping Clouds Sword in hand radiating white light, looking down on the Devil Clan prodigy with his Seven Six Dao Foundation arrogance.

Their four eyes met, both not hiding their murderous intentions.

The Qing python breathed out swords while Gu Wen’s swung his sword to form a river. Upon contact, the white light burst forth into a huge splash.

When True Sword Dao touched the Qing python’s sword light, it sliced through like a hot knife through butter, leaving a one-meter-long gash on the Qing python’s body.

For the Qing python’s thousand-meter-long body, a one-meter wound was barely a scratch.

This was why Ao Tang advised against the fight; although True Sword Dao was sharp, the opponent’s skin was far thicker. Gu Wen might overcome by using True Sword Dao, but others could withstand it with their more substantial foundations.

Forge yourself to make yourself stronger.

"The sword is sharp, but the person is weak."

"Four thousand years ago, your race of Immortals sacrificed the Ba Snake Cave Heaven with blood, causing the fall of many Devil Clan Cave Heavens using the Cave Heaven as a meteorite. Today, a debt of blood must be paid with blood. My name is Yu Ni, of the Ba Snake royal bloodline, and the one who will kill you!"

The Qing python’s scales shimmered with a blue light, and then the huge body beneath the water began to thrash around, performing a tail whip that was utterly disproportionate to its size, like a giant saber cleaving downward.

Clang!

The Taoist Sword clashed with the snake’s tail, sparks flew, followed by a subtle flicking of muscles at the tail’s end, resulting in thirty-plus collisions in an instant.

Gu Wen was somewhat strained, while the Qing python was a bit taken aback.

Logically, the opposition at the Five Four Dao Foundation should have been killed by it on the spot. Even with exceptional talent, he should not have been able to match it with a four-level difference.

The din of battle drew the attention of all around.

Atop Qingcui Mountain, countless green-dressed women raised by vines looked down upon the rivers. The golden-winged Dapeng soared thousands of feet high, surveying ten thousand miles. The Tushan Demon Emperor hid in the shadows, peering out, while half-Immortal great powers stationed outside of the world cast their gazes one after another.

They all saw the Qing python’s disgrace, and they all saw an individual of Five Four Dao Foundation fighting against one of Seven Six Dao Foundation.

Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!

The snake’s tail swung faster and faster, and with each collision, the Chopping Clouds Sword left a new wound on it.