Shocking the Nine Heavens With My Sword
Chapter 274 - 262 Domain (2/3)

Chapter 274: Chapter 262 Domain (2/3)

Although there has never been an explicit statement, experts of the Spiritual Sea Realm all share a common understanding that the first step to becoming a deity is to master the Domain.

Yes, every Nascent Soul Realm expert has mastered the Path of the Domain—it’s a must!

Right now, in the entire Imperial Capital, only Zhao Duotian and Ying Cheng’en have mastered the Domain. It is precisely because of this that they are both universally acknowledged as being absolutely capable of breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm, a fact proven by countless historical precedents.

But even with these two exceptional individuals, they only mastered the Domain after breaking through the Spiritual Sea Realm.

And now!

The supreme aura emanating from Zhou Heng’s body, the oppressive feeling as if a deity had descended to the mortal world, was the very sign of Domain formation!

Having formed a Domain, to have sovereignty over a personal slice of heaven and earth, to control everything within that realm, is to be a god!

This is the first step in becoming a deity!

A martial artist of the Mountains and Rivers Realm has actually taken the first step towards becoming a deity? The few Spiritual Sea Realm experts present almost felt like fainting. This was the opportunity they had been relentlessly seeking for hundreds, or even thousands, of years!

Envy, incomparable envy!

"Die!" Ying Dongyun’s palm struck out as his eyes flickered with pleasure. He wanted to repay Zhou Heng for all the humiliation he himself had endured, and then some.

Boom!

Suddenly, flames appeared before his eyes, instantly surrounding him completely. The intensity of the flames was incredibly high, scorching his soul!

What’s happening!

"Ah—" Ying Dongyun suddenly screamed miserably. The flames, which spared nothing, burned every inch of his skin before penetrating his body, incinerating his flesh, bones, and even his soul!

The pain was indescribable!

Bang!

He collapsed to the ground and began to roll about frantically. His blood-soaked body quickly turned black, as if he had become a piece of charcoal.

Zhou Heng’s gaze intensified, and whoosh—invisible forces wildly surged. Hss hss hss—countless Ice Blades formed out of thin air, relentlessly stabbing towards Ying Dongyun.

In the Domain Realm, thoughts become attacks!

They encompass everything; nothing physical can hide!

He was already just a step away from reaching the Domain Realm and now, under the pressure from Ying Cheng’en, he finally took that step.

When the time comes, success naturally follows!

Pupu pupu!

Thousands of Ice Blades simultaneously pierced Ying Dongyun’s body. A chilling white frost wafted around, but bizarrely, his body was still burning with purple flames, already melting his limbs!

What, what is going on?

How could everything be so inconceivable?

The Path of the Domain!

Below the stage, the crowd was abuzz. The exclamations of the Spiritual Sea Realm experts finally startled everyone. The news spread like wildfire—from one to ten, ten to a hundred.

A monster, a monster indeed!

Martial Artist of the Mountains and Rivers Realm has actually grasped the Path of the Domain, completely overthrowing the very principles of the Martial Path!

A formidable figure who will be revered for eternity has emerged!

Zhao Duotian and Ying Cheng’en may indeed have a higher cultivation level than Zhou Heng currently, but when it comes to potential for growth, who can compare to this youth? Even Zhao and Ying would pale in comparison; the difference isn’t even close.

Ying Dongyun has lost and there is no injustice in that!

Bang!

At that moment, Zhou Heng’s body trembled, and he was suddenly blasted into the air, smashing through the restrictions of the stage and flying out.

Like a meteor falling to earth, a giant crater was blasted into the crowd upon impact. Many people of weaker strength perished instantly under this attack, and many more were left with severed hands and feet, in a disastrous and bloody state.

Zhou Heng lay at the bottom of the crater, his body emitting a golden glow, but several of his bones were clearly broken, indicating severe injuries.

"This battle, Ying Dongyun wins!"

Just as everyone was completely confused, Ying Cheng’en’s voice suddenly rang out. A figure appeared to walk through the air towards the stage, as if there were invisible steps in the air.

His pace seemed unhurried, but in the blink of an eye, he reached the stage, where the restrictions seemed to be non-existent.

The young man was strikingly handsome with a halo of light behind his head, his entire presence godlike, emanating endless majesty that made people want to submit and pledge their unwavering loyalty.

—Ying Cheng’en!

By then, who didn’t understand that it was Ying Cheng’en who had intervened, knocking Zhou Heng off the stage?

Ying Dongyun wins?

Indeed, Ying Dongyun might barely be clinging to life, but he was still on the stage, while Zhou Heng had been knocked out of the ring. According to the rules, Ying Dongyun indeed won! However, the rules never stated that a third party could intervene to help!

Everyone knew it was Ying Cheng’en who had intervened, but who would dare to accuse him at this juncture?

Not a single murmur of dissent dared to be voiced!

Ying Cheng’en, that’s the first person beneath the three Old Ancestors, one who can cover the sky with one hand!

Yes, one who can cover the sky with a single hand!

In the world of martial artists, the powerful reign supreme, and the words of the strongest become the absolute truth!

"Damn it, it was clearly Zhou who won!" Feng Lianqing burst out in fury. Although she didn’t like Zhou Heng, it was only if he won that she could get her share of the money! Money was her life; anyone who robbed her of it was making an enemy!

Unfortunately, her voice was swiftly drowned out by the clamor of the crowd.

With a mere thought from Ying Cheng’en, the flames and Ice Blades surrounding Ying Dongyun vanished, but his charred body could not possibly rejuvenate instantly. Ying Cheng’en’s eyebrows knitted slightly, but he quickly dismissed the concern and strode through the air towards Zhou Heng.

This time, he truly walked very slowly.

The higher one’s Martial Realm, the faster one naturally moved, each leap higher and farther, something anyone could understand. But for Ying Cheng’en to seem as though he could tread upon air was simply too exaggerated!

It was as if he were a deity!

Even though many disapproved of Ying Cheng’en’s bullying of the weak, they couldn’t help but shiver deep inside when watching him float through the air and sense his omnipresent, supremely noble aura.

How could they criticize a god?

Everything a god did was right!

Ying Cheng’en hovered above Zhou Heng, handsome and well-built, with a halo of nearly tangible light behind his head that morphed into various shapes, conveying a sense of immense pressure as well as offering enlightenment.

"Zhou Heng, I must admit, I have underestimated you a bit!" Ying Cheng’en said calmly, his voice not loud but piercing every corner, reaching deep into everyone’s soul.

Including those Spiritual Sea Realm Experts, everyone felt an intense sense of powerlessness, no thoughts of rivalry surfaced, as if it were an incontestable truth to submit before this man!

Zhou Heng... could he ever truly become stronger than Ying Cheng’en?

The crowd began to doubt again!

In the Martial Path, there are many instances of brilliant talents who dwindle mid-journey, seen by all—their moments of brilliance do not guarantee eternal glory.

Could anyone really stand against such a formidable Ying Cheng’en?

"However, ants will always be ants!" Ying Cheng’en did not move a finger, yet Zhou Heng’s body lifted from the pit as if grasped by an invisible hand, completely devoid of any power to resist.

"Everyone thinks I would be apprehensive to kill you because of Zhao Duotian!" Ying Cheng’en’s lips curled into a smile. "They are all wrong! Whomever I, Ying Cheng’en, wish to kill, has only one path—death!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, countless Silver Thorns suddenly appeared, forming a sphere aimed directly at Zhou Heng at the center.

The Bloodline Power of the Ying Family was specially designed to break defenses, and perhaps other members of the Ying Family could not breach Zhou Heng’s surreal defenses, but Ying Cheng’en was no ordinary member—he was a Spiritual Sea Realm Expert, one foot already stepping into the Nascent Soul Realm, a monstrous talent among geniuses!

Clang!

The Silver Thorns shot out, instantly solidifying into a sturdy, silver metallic sphere with no gaps for needles to pass through.

It was over, surely dead and gone.

Everyone sighed inwardly. Under such an attack, no one could possibly survive.

A slight frown creased Ying Cheng’en’s brow, a feeling that something was amiss.

Crack! Crack, crack!

A strange noise emanated, and under tens of thousands of watchful eyes, the metallic sphere began to deform, as if hollow inside, with indentations emerging one after another.

Crack!

A golden fist suddenly burst forth, then another, and both hands spread apart, forcibly tearing the metallic exterior and revealing a tall young man.

A gentle breeze drifted by, and Zhou Heng’s black hair fluttered up, his robes billowing; he stood like an unsheathed longsword, its sharp edge unmistakable!

What was happening?

Ying Cheng’en’s previous assault hadn’t killed Zhou Heng?

It shouldn’t be—the attack was so terrifying that it would have been instantly fatal even to a fellow Spiritual Sea Realm Expert!

Zhou Heng clenched his fists, his eyes shining bright as two little suns. He laughed heartily, saying, "You are nothing special!"

Such an arrogant tone!

But who could so casually deflect Ying Cheng’en’s strike was entitled to such bold words.

Ying Cheng’en, however, smiled showing his teeth, "Now I am somewhat curious about you. Surrender!" He stretched out his hand toward Zhou Heng, which instantly transformed into a giant white jade palm, incredibly smooth and warm.

Zhou Heng laughed heartily, flicking his right hand, which was now holding a Talisman. "I won’t accompany you any longer! Ying Cheng’en, wait until I break through the Spirit Sea Realm, and I will sever your head!"

"Ten Thousand Miles in an Instant Talisman!" He yelled, and in a flash, he disappeared.

He had escaped!

He had run from under Ying Cheng’en’s grasp!

No one had ever heard of someone escaping after Ying Cheng’en decided to take action!

Even though the one defeated was Zhou Heng, it was Ying Cheng’en’s face that felt slapped!

Since it was a "Ten Thousand Miles in an Instant Talisman," he had undoubtedly fled to who knows where. Teleportation Talismans, though rare, were not unheard of.

This time, Ying Cheng’en really had taken a monumental tumble!

Before a Martial Artist from the Mountains and Rivers Realm!

A shadow finally crossed Ying Cheng’en’s face, which previous disasters could not perturb. His right hand involuntarily clenched into a fist, veins bulging, his gaze flickering with intense killing intent.

For the first time in his life, he had been thwarted!

He snorted, stretching out his right hand, sweeping up Ying Dongyun from the void, his feet moving, quickly retreating dozens of miles away.

Only when he was completely out of sight did the crowd dare to discuss Ying Cheng’en’s setback; each person was animated and thrilled.

They could never stand against Ying Cheng’en in their lifetimes, but to witness such a genius suffer setback was truly gratifying and thrilling.

The crowd slowly dispersed, but it would not be long before the news of Zhou Heng and Ying Cheng’en’s battle reached everyone’s ears in the Imperial Capital. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com), your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)