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Chapter 758: Chapter 758: Sword Duel

Jian Ao and Zhong Shan conversed in the Snow Plum Pavilion. Meanwhile, Daoist Master Shen Ya, Ye Qingcheng, Shen Qitian, and Toad Lai landed on a snowy mountain peak.

"They're here: Daoist Master Shen Ya, Shen Qitian, and Toad Lai. Who's the last one?"

"I don't know, probably another Daoist Master from the Realm of Longevity!"

"Oh? How do you know?"

"He's carrying the Absolute Immortal Sword. I saw it at Lingxiao Heavenly Court with my own eyes!"

"The Absolute Immortal Sword?"

"Why is Shen Qitian with people from the Realm of Longevity?"

"Could this be a conspiracy against Jian Ao?"

...

The crowd murmured among themselves. The four formidable figures stood on a distant snowy mountain peak, observing the Snow Plum Pavilion in the central valley.

Seeing Zhong Shan in the pavilion, their pupils contracted, eyes filled with hostility.

Ye Qingcheng stared at Zhong Shan with intense hatred. It was Zhong Shan who caused the fall of the Immortal Realm and annihilated the Immortal Slayer Sword in the Black Sea.

Shen Qitian was an old rival of Zhong Shan. Although Zhong Shan never considered him worthy of being an opponent, Shen Qitian thought otherwise. Besides their old enmities from the Great Luo Heavenly Empire, Zhong Shan's beast had swallowed Shen Qitian's Purple Gold Dragon Staff, a relic from his past life.

Toad Lai had few interactions with Zhong Shan, but their last encounter at Lingxiao Heavenly Court resulted in a crushing defeat. Moreover, Toad Lai's long-cherished slave, Qing Hui, was imprisoned by Zhong Shan, deepening his enmity.

As for Daoist Master Shen Ya, Zhong Shan was the Realm of Longevity's arch-enemy from a strategic perspective.

Each of these four powerful figures wanted nothing more than to tear Zhong Shan to pieces. But for now, they suppressed their fury, as their primary target was someone else—Jian Ao, the Lord of the Netherworld Sky.

The Netherworld Sky, one of the four great sacred lands with a history spanning thousands of years, was an enigma. Despite its ancient heritage, it had only one leader per generation. Yet, each leader inevitably rose to the pinnacle of Shenzhou's power.

This consistent supremacy puzzled many, but Daoist Master Shen Ya and his companions knew part of the reason: the Netherworld Sky's ruthlessness.

The Netherworld Sky was a place where people were unafraid of death. Its inhabitants were often brutally savage, not only to outsiders but also to their own. The policy of survival of the fittest was ingrained, even in selecting the leader.

Nangong Sheng, the previous lord, selected Jian Ao by setting a brutal battlefield filled with countless demons and magic beasts. The goal was sheer slaughter—only the strongest, the one who survived the bloodshed, could become the lord.

The Duel Begins

As the fifteenth day of the first lunar month dawned, countless experts surrounded the snowy mountains of Meishan, eagerly awaiting the duel.

Daoist Master Shen Ya, Ye Qingcheng, Shen Qitian, and Toad Lai stood on the snowy peak, observing the central valley's Snow Plum Pavilion.

In the pavilion, Zhong Shan and Jian Ao, having conversed for an entire day and night, were ready.

Jian Ao took a deep breath, his eyes sharp as swords. "Zhong Shan, it's time."

Zhong Shan nodded, standing up. "Let's end this."

The two stepped out of the pavilion, facing each other amidst the blooming plum blossoms. The air was filled with a tense silence, the world holding its breath for the impending clash.

From the snowy peak, Daoist Master Shen Ya and his companions watched intently, their presence a looming threat, ready to intervene as the duel commenced.

The gathered cultivators held their breaths, knowing they were about to witness a battle of unparalleled magnitude. The stage was set, and the duel at Meishan began.

The policy of the Netherworld Sky was simple: many strong contenders would die, leaving only the strongest. This method had always intrigued the Realm of Longevity, but the cost was too high. Thus, even though the policy of the Netherworld Sky was open, no other sacred land dared to imitate it. This brutal approach allowed the Netherworld Sky to produce exceptionally formidable individuals, often labeled as demonic by the world.

Only a place like this could cultivate a multitude of ruthless warriors.

Jian Ao!

The four formidable figures looked at Jian Ao, who stood amidst the snow, exuding a serene aura.

Jian Ao showed no signs of violent intent. Each generation of the Netherworld Sky's lords seemed to undergo this transformation: before becoming the lord, they were filled with murderous intent, but soon after assuming the title, they became calm and restrained.

Nangong Sheng was like this in the past, and now, so was Jian Ao.

"Daoist Master Shen Ya? Ye Qingcheng? It seems they come with ill intentions!" Zhong Shan frowned.

With a faint smile, Jian Ao said, "And what if they do?"

"Do you need me to hold anyone off for you?" Zhong Shan asked.

"No need, today you just watch," Jian Ao said with supreme confidence.

"Hmm," Zhong Shan nodded.

The two stood up and walked out of the pavilion.

"Jian Ao! You slaughtered countless monkeys and apes of my clan. Today is your death day!" Shen Qitian shouted from a distance.

Jian Ao glanced at the four opponents, lingering briefly on Ye Qingcheng. He could see the unique aura emanating from the Absolute Immortal Sword on Ye Qingcheng's back, a sword intent so powerful it pierced the sky.

"Hmm!"

The Absolute Immortal Sword let out a soft hum.

"Hmm~~~!"

Around them, the swords of the gathered spectators began to tremble, as if they were paying homage to the Absolute Immortal Sword.

Many onlookers clutched their swords in shock, trying to stop them from shaking.

Before Jian Ao, a gentle breeze arose, which Zhong Shan, standing nearby, recognized as numerous tiny sword auras.

The Absolute Immortal Sword was challenging Jian Ao.

"It truly is a peerless sword!" Jian Ao took a deep breath and nodded.

After giving the Absolute Immortal Sword a long look, Jian Ao turned his gaze to Daoist Master Shen Ya, who still carried his giant gourd, the Immortal Severing Gourd, now adorned with tiny colorful spots.

Finally, Jian Ao looked at Shen Qitian.

Seeing Shen Qitian, Jian Ao smiled faintly and waved his hand. A red-clad woman flew over from not far away.

"Shen Qitian, do you still remember who I am?" the red-clad woman, Jian Hong, called out excitedly.

Once a relentless pursuer of Shen Qitian, Jian Hong now felt emboldened with her father's support, calling out to Shen Qitian with a newfound arrogance.

"Jian Hong?" Shen Qitian's pupils contracted.

His eyes filled with anger. It seemed his misfortunes began after encountering Jian Hong. Relentlessly pursued, he had become a solitary figure.

"Jian Hong, go ahead," Jian Ao instructed.

"Yes!" Jian Hong responded enthusiastically, drawing a black sword.

Jian Hong soared into the sky, her gaze locked onto Shen Qitian from a distance.

"Shen Qitian, come and meet your death!" Jian Hong's loud voice echoed.

Her declaration stunned everyone. Who was this woman suddenly challenging Shen Qitian?

"That's Jian Hong, the Palace Master of the Sword God Palace. Wasn't she rumored to be killed by Shen Qitian?"

"I heard she's Jian Ao's daughter?"

"She's challenging Shen Qitian, a Heaven Tier expert? Is this a joke?"

...

People were bewildered by Jian Hong's audacity. Her resurrection was already unbelievable, and now she dared to provoke Shen Qitian?

From a distance, the four formidable figures frowned.

Daoist Master Shen Ya looked towards Jian Ao, "Jian Ao, are you sure you want your daughter to fight? Aren't you going to intervene?"

"This is a family matter. It doesn't concern you," Jian Ao replied calmly.

"As a mediator, it certainly concerns me," Daoist Master Shen Ya said sternly.

"Did I ask you to mediate?" Jian Ao's tone showed a hint of impatience.

Daoist Master Shen Ya raised an eyebrow but said no more.

Shen Qitian looked at Jian Ao and then at Jian Hong in the sky, sneering, "If you want to die, don't blame me!"

Shen Qitian stepped forward.

Jian Hong flew towards Shen Qitian, her black sword emitting a massive sword aura towards him.

Jian Hong was only at the Emperor Tier. No matter how fierce, Shen Qitian didn't fear her. Shen Qitian had regained his past life strength, reaching the tenth level of the Heaven Tier. How could he fear an Emperor Tier cultivator?

The battle began.

All the onlookers held their breath.

Jian Hong's initial strike didn't release much sword aura, just one, but it expanded a hundredfold as it shot towards Shen Qitian.

"What a sword technique!" Ye Qingcheng praised from afar.

Next to Zhong Shan, Jian Ao whispered, "Enlarge!"

"Boom!"

The sword aura Jian Hong released suddenly expanded ten thousand times!

Like a towering mountain crashing towards Shen Qitian, the transformation was too fast. The initial arrow-like aura had now become a colossal mountain. How could an arrow compare to a mountain?

The spectators' mouths dropped open in shock, their eyes wide.

Shen Qitian, who had been ready to shatter the sword aura with a palm strike, broke into a cold sweat and quickly dodged.

As Shen Qitian dodged, the enormous sword aura shot towards Daoist Master Shen Ya.

The three formidable figures quickly jumped aside.

"Boom!"

The mountain they had been standing on exploded into fragments.

An overwhelming sword aura—could this be from an Emperor Tier cultivator?

Shen Qitian looked uncertain, while Jian Hong glanced at Jian Ao below.

Seeing her father's smile, Jian Hong's face flushed with excitement.

Her eyes fixed, Jian Hong swung her black sword at Shen Qitian again. Though not as skilled as Jian Ao, Jian Hong was a master of the sword. Her powerful sword aura filled the sky, surrounding her body with countless sword auras.

These auras served both to attack and as a protective barrier. While sword cultivators were fast, even faster opponents existed. Yet, as long as an opponent touched the surrounding sword auras, Jian Hong could react by sensing them, striking faster than she could by sight alone.

Relentless, Jian Hong continued her assault, each main strike suddenly expanding ten thousand times. The overwhelming sword technique shook the surrounding space violently.