Invincible Starts From Dao Fruit
Chapter 220 - 181: With a Lift of a Hand, a Sword Qi Map Unfolds! [Seeking Monthly Pass!]

Chapter 220: Chapter 181: With a Lift of a Hand, a Sword Qi Map Unfolds! [Seeking Monthly Pass!]

"Wang Shan!"

Lu Zheng shook his long spear and saw Chen Jichuan move, charging at him head-on.

The spear struck like a dragon.

It roared like a cannonball, ferocious and unstoppable.

"Well done!"

Chen Jichuan grasped his sword, skillfully parrying and engaging Lu Zheng in combat.

His swordsmanship was superb, both offensive and defensive, each move fluid and at ease, at times aggressive, at others mysterious and sinister, making it impossible for opponents to guard against.

But Lu Zheng was no slouch either.

He had deeply studied the ’Xingyi Fist’, having a profound understanding of the ’Three Body Style’ and ’Five Elements Fist’. The ’Five Elements Fist’ includes Splitting Fist, Drilling Fist, Beng Fist, Cannon Fist, and Cross Fist, corresponding to metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, embodying the Five Elements Realm.

The first Sect Leader of the Xingyi Sect, Northeast King Lu Fanchen, had long ago transformed the ’Five Elements Fist’ into the ’Five Ways Spear Skill’, also corresponding to the Five Elements, maintaining the styles and core of Splitting, Drilling, Beng, Cannon, and Cross.

The deeper the mastery in the Five Elements Fist, the more powerful the Five Ways Spear Skill becomes.

With Lu Zheng’s cultivation, he had practiced the Five Elements Fist to a profound level.

Transformed into spear technique, it was not weaker, but rather stronger.

The spear moved like hands and feet, wielded freely.

The spear technique was equally diverse.

At times a spear attack came overhead, with downward chopping force, forward slicing force, and backward pulling force. One spear shot, first striking with Ming Strength, then dark strength, then Transforming Strength, finally releasing Gang Strength. Beyond these four forces, there were also five different transformations: capture, slap, crash, press, and chop, all contained within.

Solid and powerful, the variation in force was more complex and profound.

Only Chen Jichuan facing him could sense it, while those outside White Horse Lake could only watch for amusement.

"Splitting Fist."

"Gold Element Spear Technique."

Chen Jichuan felt the sharpness in this spear technique and was excited at having found a worthy adversary, his sword moving like water, fighting fiercely against Lu Zheng.

A rare opponent.

This time Chen Jichuan challenged Lu Zheng not only for the ’Wood’ inscription and Xingyi True Inheritance within the Xingyi Sect, but also to use a formidable enemy to refine his own skills.

His movement was nimble like willow fluff, entwined with Lu Zheng in a relentless struggle.

Lu Zheng’s spear technique was ever-changing.

Sometimes as swift as a piercing arrow, unstoppable; sometimes as mighty as a collapsing mountain, seemingly able to overturn mountains and seas; at times, the strength was fierce and imposing.

Chen Jichuan’s swordsmanship was not inferior.

But relying solely on swordsmanship, he was still slightly at a disadvantage against someone like Lu Zheng, who had immersed himself in fist and spear techniques for three hundred years and was at Core Formation Eighth Layer.

Gradually falling behind.

Outside the arena.

Neither the Innate nor Transforming Strength levels could see who was more powerful, nor who had the upper hand between Chen Jichuan and Lu Zheng.

But Wang Yan could see it clearly.

"This Lu Zheng truly lives up to his reputation. His spear technique is fearsome, probably surpassing even Junior Master Li."

Wang Yan thought silently.

She could see Chen Jichuan lagging behind.

But she was not worried: "Although Junior Master is at a disadvantage, up until now, he has only displayed his swordsmanship and movement technique; his most formidable Sword Qi and Sword Array have yet to be unleashed."

Wang Yan saw clearly that Chen Jichuan was indeed holding back.

His movements were like willow fluff.

The sword light poured like a waterfall.

In White Horse Lake, he kept engaging in a hit-and-run with Lu Zheng.

One was at Qi Refining Seventh Layer, the other at Core Formation Eighth Layer, their control over mana and force was unparalleled. Each sword and spear strike, the force was highly condensed, exerted at will, with no excessive force wasted.

But when sword and spear collided, mana and force exploded, and each borrowed and unloaded force, inevitably causing outward ripples.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The waters of White Horse Lake erupted into a towering fountain dozens of feet high, surrounding the fierce battleground with moisture.

Not only the lake was impacted.

The central White Horse Island was also shattered and fragmented by the shockwave.

"Good heavens!"

"So powerful!"

"As expected of ’Sealing the Four Seas’! This ’Black Tornado’ is formidable too. I knew it, anyone daring to challenge Lu Zheng the Great Grandmaster, couldn’t be just a nobody!"

...

Outside White Horse Lake, the crowd of Jianghu individuals watched the two inside destroying the heavens and earth, having their breath taken away, shouting in excitement.

The saying goes: experts see the techniques, while laymen watch the spectacle.

In regards to this great battle.

Without being in the Void Realm or God Realm, everyone was a ’layman’, merely watching for the spectacle.

Even those at the Void Realm or Core Formation level probably couldn’t discern much of the subtleties.

Only those at the Void or Gang Condensation stages could see the marvel in each move by Chen Jichuan and Lu Zheng, and be left in utter awe.

Wang Yan knew of Chen Jichuan’s prowess, untroubled by his safety, so she focused intently, watching in fascination.

Meanwhile.

Outside White Horse Lake to the northwest, high in the sky, a Thunder Divine Eagle circled, and a figure stood on its back. Distinguished by a sword-like brow and fair complexion, although hair and beard were streaked with gray, signs of youthful grace were still evident.

If Lu Zheng were to see, he would definitely recognize this person as the most powerful current figure of Yunzhou’s Sun-shooting Divine Mountain, ’Ding Jiangshan’ Li Rong, acclaimed as ’One arrow to fix Jiangshan, ten arrows to crack heaven and earth’!

His archery was even stronger than ’Star-splitting Arrow’ Li Qian two hundred years ago.

At this moment.

Li Rong had an Arrow Quiver on his back and held a powerful bow in his hand. His eyes fixed upon the lower White Horse Lake, his brows slightly knitting: "This swordsmanship seems somewhat familiar—"

He recalled.

Thinking back to when he first achieved the Void Realm, he once traveled and trained in the West Sea, where he had witnessed West Sea’s First Person, Sword Tower Master Chen Shan sparring with someone.

That Chen Shan’s strikes were also like pouring sword light, his swordsmanship incredibly varied, dazzling the eye.

"Chen Shan?"

"Wang Shan?"

Li Rong watched the ’Wang Shan’ become more and more like the ’Chen Shan’ in his memory, his brows suddenly lifting, sending a storm racing through his heart: "Wang Shan vanished over two hundred years ago, his name scarcely known in Central Earth. And that Sword Tower Master, also two hundred years ago, rose to fame after killing the original Tower Master, Huangfu Yu, with a sword. That means—"

Li Rong tightened his brows.

He then considered the Taixu Sword Sect and West Sea Sword Tower had potentially significant connections, as both based on swordsmanship.

"Taixu Sword Sect is already on a strong momentum."

"If they had assistance from West Sea Sword Tower or if ’Wang Shan’ is indeed the Tower Master ’Chen Shan’, then that’s trouble."

Li Rong’s heart sank.

The Sword Tower Master, respected as the ’First Person of West Sea’, with strength surely in the Void Nether Realm, wasn’t concerning.

But based on Li Rong’s knowledge, that ’Chen Shan’ had operated in the West Sea for long, having many close friends.

That’s the truly frightening part.

If the two were indeed the same person, and he called on friends from the West Sea, which of the other six major sects in the Central Earth Seven States could contend with them?!

"Whether or not they are the same person."

"This Taixu Sword Sect now has Li Qingshan, Wang Shan as two great Void Nether, plus a Great Sun Golden Peng Bird, they are already a major threat."

Li Rong thought of the ’Great Sun Golden Peng Bird’, adding more weight to his heart.

He remembered.

This Great Sun Golden Peng Bird had never appeared in Central Earth, always residing in the West Sea.

"Since it’s a threat, it must be eliminated early!"

Li Rong’s expression darkened slightly, reaching for an arrow from his quiver, continuing to watch the scene below.

...

Within White Horse Lake.

The battle between Chen Jichuan and Lu Zheng had reached a fever pitch.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Lu Zheng’s spear techniques grew increasingly brutal, each stab seemed aimed at the world’s end. Having reached its peak, it seemed something wondrous was forming.

"Life and death exchange."

"Reincarnation Spear Technique."

Unconsciously, Chen Jichuan fell into Lu Zheng’s rhythm. By the time he realized, he was already at a disadvantage, his swordsmanship completely suppressed and hard to break through.

"I can’t win this."

Chen Jichuan shook his head internally, hesitating no more.

He gave his Yellow Essence Sword a slight shake and instantly seven treasured swords flew out, encircling Lu Zheng from all directions.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Sword Qi burst forth, crisscrossing, transforming instantly into a beautifully intricate Sword Map.

This was—

"Seven-star Sword Diagram!"

Chen Jichuan performed a sword technique, the Sword Qi split and multiplied, each of the seven Yellow Essence Swords manifested forty-nine strands of Sword Qi, quickly forming an array, trapping Lu Zheng within.

"What—"

Lu Zheng was momentarily stunned at the sight of such a technique. Keeping his hands steady, the spear followed the cycle, deflecting sword Qi, trying to break out of the array.

But the Sword Map was relentless.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

For a while, breaking through was impossible, only sinking deeper.

Chen Jichuan manipulated the Flying Swords, executing the Sword Map.

Outside White Horse Lake.

The Jianghu audience only saw ’Wang Shan’ with a flick of his sword unleash a scroll. Upon a second look, it was, impressively, a string of stars concealing Lu Zheng’s form entirely.

All they could see was.

The light within the map flickered erratically, from the tail end ’Shaking Light’, to ’Kaiyang’, then to ’Yu Heng’, ’Tianquan’, each movement was swift.

But upon reaching ’Tianji’, progress halted abruptly.

The light flickered wildly.

Yet it never moved forward, seeming to be trapped.

"What kind of art is this?"

"Such formidable Sword Qi!"

"Sword Qi forming a map?! This Wang Shan is too awesome!"

"Marvelous, marvelous! This should be the standard of Sword Sect powerhouses. The previous Taixu Sword Sect should have been called ’Spear Sect’ or ’Beast Sect’ instead!"

...

The crowd was astonished by the Sword Qi Map.

Some were dumbfounded on the spot.

Some loudly expressed goodwill.

One and all felt the trip was truly worth it.

Above White Horse Lake.

"Such a wonderful ’Seven-star Sword Diagram’."

Seeing his craft, Chen Jichuan couldn’t help but praise himself.

He had been practicing swordplay from the Da Liang World for over four hundred years, with no day of neglect.

Persistence pays off.

Finally forming this first ’Seven-star Sword Diagram’.

Once completed, it not only allowed Chen Jichuan to break through to Qi Refining Seventh Layer, but also unfolded the Sword Map, trapping even formidable Core Formation Eighth Layer experts like Lu Zheng within.

Moreover.

To breakthrough this Sword Map, one must possess immense power to shatter the seven treasured swords in one strike. Alternatively, weaker power could push through from Shaking Light to Tian Shu.

Otherwise, escape was impossible, the only fate being trapped to death within.

Lu Zheng was trapped in the ’Tianji’ star position; to break through, he still faced ’Tian Xuan’ and ’Tian Shu’.

"It seems."

"My ’Seven-star Sword Diagram’ can trap and kill Qi Refining Eighth Layer, and pose a significant threat to Qi Refining Nine Layers."

The first real test of Chen Jichuan’s newly formed Sword Map was Lu Zheng, giving him a more direct understanding of the power of this ’Seven-star Sword Diagram’.

Mana surged.

Killing intent soared.

Chen Jichuan cast the sword technique, determined to slaughter Lu Zheng.

Taixu Sword Sect intended to sweep across the Seven States, and wanting to reclaim the ’Wood’ Chapter from the Xingyi Sect, attain the Xingyi True Inheritance, meant removing all obstacles.

Lu Zheng must die.

In the face of two armies, there was no room for virtue.

A hundred years ago.

’Endless Skyborne Clouds’ Zheng Qianling thrice challenged Taixu Sword Sect masters, with the intention to kill them, then Xingyi Sect could ride the momentum to launch a massive attack on Taixu Sword Sect.

It was just reversed now.

Also, with Lu Zheng bringing the Six-Eared Ground Rat, he surely knew this. If he had the chance to kill Chen Jichuan, he wouldn’t hold back either.

Chen Jichuan held the sharp sword, with steel in his heart, taking advantage of Lu Zheng being trapped in the ’Seven-star Sword Diagram’, secretly casting the ’Five Thunders Oil Pool Fire Spell’, igniting the fire earlier embedded within Lu Zheng.

The battle was fought, swordsmanship polished.

The Sword Map unfolded, giving Chen Jichuan a direct understanding of the power of the ’Seven-star Sword Diagram’.

Next.

Naturally was to end the battle quickly, swiftly kill Lu Zheng, to prevent complications from dragging on.

The spell was cast—

"Boom!"

With a thunderous explosion, light erupted from the Sword Map, flashing fiercely, soon revealing a long spear and a set of armor falling out.

"Reincarnation Spear!"

"Reincarnation Armor!"

A great astonishment erupted outside White Horse Lake.

The Xingyi Sect had treasures left by Northeast King Lu Fanchen, mastered by generation after generation of strong figures.

This time Lu Zheng came to accept the challenge wielding the ’Reincarnation Spear’, though wearing no armor. It’s said the ’Reincarnation Armor’ could be stored within the Dantian, donned with a single thought in critical moments.

However, at this moment.

With the Reincarnation Spear and Armor falling out, as the master of the spear and armor, Lu Zheng’s life or death needed no further words?!

"Damn it!"

Outside the Western Heaven.

On the back of the Thunder Divine Eagle, Li Rong had been focused, his eyes on nothing but Chen Jichuan’s head. Having drawn his bow and released the arrow, he relaxed his mind only to see the Reincarnation Spear and Armor fall from the Sword Qi Map.

He was greatly shocked.

And filled with regret.

Shocked that Lu Zheng was so suddenly slain.

Regretting having observed for so long, allowing Chen Jichuan to kill Lu Zheng so effortlessly. More than regret, he lamented releasing that arrow just as Lu Zheng met his demise—

...