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Chapter 1039: Chapter 1039: Whether You Believe It or Not, I Do

The Zhuxian Sword?

Hmph, the Zhuxian Sword was destroyed long ago. No matter how it was restored, it could never regain its former power.

In an instant, Jinpeng assessed the situation and shot forward with a roar. His speed was so fast that even among Ancestral Immortals, few could match him. In the blink of an eye, only an afterimage remained as he closed in on Zhong Shan. Zhong Shan could barely catch a faint glimpse of him with his divine sense.

The four swords of Zhu, Lu, Xian, and Jue simultaneously sealed Jinpeng's path.

But Jinpeng was too fast. His figure blurred as he moved, turning the four-sword blockade into an attack from just one sword, the Juexian Sword.

With a fierce glare, Jinpeng swung his right hand to strike the Juexian Sword.

"Boom!"

The powerful collision caused the space around them to tremble violently. In this clash, Jinpeng realized that this sword was indeed the Juexian Sword.

Despite the fierce impact, neither the Juexian Sword nor Jinpeng gained the upper hand. However, Jinpeng, ever the ferocious fighter, did not retreat. Instead, he pressed forward, sidestepping the Juexian Sword while lunging toward Zhong Shan.

Jinpeng could see that Zhong Shan was the leader of the group. If he could capture Zhong Shan, the rest would be at his mercy.

With a swift motion, Jinpeng reached out to grab Zhong Shan. The surrounding space seemed to lock in place, sealing off any escape.

But at that moment, Jinpeng saw something unexpected—Zhong Shan was not retreating in fear but was instead charging forward to meet his attack head-on.

Jinpeng almost laughed. A mere Grand Immortal daring to confront him directly?

"Roar~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!"

Suddenly, a deafening dragon's roar erupted from within Zhong Shan's body, drawing the attention of every cultivator in the deserted city.

At the same time, Zhong Shan's eyes widened with intensity. The Ninth Stage of Heavenly Demon Body Refinement erupted within him, boosting his strength tenfold. In Lingxiao Heavenly Court, Zhong Shan's voice resounded as he commanded the people to raise their right hands.

Protected by the True Dragon, and borrowing the momentum of the Great Zheng Kingdom, Zhong Shan's power surged, momentarily reaching the level of an early-stage Ancestral Immortal.

"First Form of Heaven-Opening!"

With a thunderous shout, Zhong Shan's palms suddenly turned silver. As the True Dragon within him let out a resounding roar, Zhong Shan unleashed the First Form of Heaven-Opening.

In the void, a massive silver Dao path extended from the heavens to the earth. A mighty force accompanied Zhong Shan's palms, forming an enormous ax blade tens of thousands of feet long.

As the First Form of Heaven-Opening was unleashed, the void trembled, and a black hole appeared at the edge of the ax blade as it swept toward Jinpeng.

Meanwhile, Zhong Shan had already sent the Eight Extremes Heavenly Tail, Mr. Corpse, Hao Meili, and the others into the "Divine Realm."

Unstoppable, the First Form of Heaven-Opening created a black hole in the void, and the terrifying ax blade slashed toward Jinpeng's incoming hand.

Knowing full well the terrifying nature of his opponent, Zhong Shan did not hold back. He immediately unleashed the same devastating move he had used against the Snow Plum Ancestor, recognizing the monstrous threat that Jinpeng posed.

Jinpeng initially didn't use his full strength when he attempted to grab Zhong Shan. After all, Zhong Shan was only at the Grand Immortal stage, and Jinpeng feared that if he exerted too much force, he might accidentally crush him. He still had plans for Zhong Shan, and he needed him alive. But even with his measured attack, Jinpeng was confident that no mere Grand Immortal could escape his grasp.

However, in the next instant, Jinpeng realized his mistake. As the dragon's roar emanated from Zhong Shan, Jinpeng could feel the power within him surge in a direction he hadn't anticipated. What he thought was a lamb ready for slaughter had suddenly transformed into a fearsome ancient beast.

Such an anomaly shouldn't exist in this world, yet here it was, right before his eyes.

Of course, Jinpeng, seasoned by countless battles, instinctively merged with his Dao.

"Boom~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!"

A massive explosion shook the area, engulfing the surroundings in a huge black hole. Two Dao paths, one gold and one silver, collided in a blinding flash, their brilliance unmatched.

The abandoned city, unable to withstand the might of the two Ancestral Immortals, crumbled to dust in the wake of the attack. The surrounding powerhouses retreated in fear—who were these monstrous beings, and why had another fight broken out here?

As the First Form of Heaven-Opening dissipated, the black hole gradually faded, and the Dao path behind Zhong Shan vanished as well. This time, Zhong Shan did not pass out. His cultivation had increased, allowing him to better withstand the aftermath of such a powerful technique. Although his entire body was still exhausted, Zhong Shan maintained his composure.

Glaring at the distant Jinpeng with fierce, unyielding eyes, Zhong Shan's presence exuded an overwhelming sense of ferocity. Though tired, he was far from defeated. He had anticipated the challenges he would face upon arriving in the Four Great Continents, and with the mind of an emperor, Zhong Shan was certain he still had cards to play.

While Zhong Shan's Dao path disappeared, Jinpeng's remained. Within the golden Dao, Jinpeng appeared disheveled—his hair was disarrayed, and his hand bled profusely.

He had underestimated his opponent, a mistake that had cost him dearly.

Though Jinpeng's injuries weren't severe—he had managed to expel most of the residual power from the First Form of Heaven-Opening using his Dao—the gash on his hand was deep. If he had not been so careless, if he had used his full strength from the beginning, he might not have been injured, nor would he be in such a humiliating state.

It had been countless millennia since Jinpeng last bled in battle. Today, he had bled once more.

Furious, Jinpeng called forth a weapon—a flaming halberd known as the Fangtian Halberd appeared in his right hand. His rage was palpable, his eyes burning with the intent to kill.

But before he could act, the others who had been sent into the Divine Realm by Zhong Shan reappeared before him.

Jinpeng hesitated, the surprise from Zhong Shan's unexpected power still fresh in his mind. Otherwise, he would have already charged forward with his Fangtian Halberd. Who was Jinpeng, after all? This was the same being who, upon entering the Ancestral Immortal stage, dared to wreak havoc in the Great Thunder Sound Temple—a being who feared neither heaven nor earth.

"Senior Kong Xuan, will you continue to just watch?" Zhong Shan called out.

Kong Xuan?

The name made Jinpeng freeze. He looked up, scanning the skies.

Kong Xuan, who had been observing the scene from above, had been watching everything unfold with a cold detachment. Only when Zhong Shan addressed him did Kong Xuan reluctantly descend.

Jinpeng's expression shifted as he heard the name. Surprise flashed across his face, quickly replaced by a complex mix of emotions as he looked at Kong Xuan.

"You're still alive?" Jinpeng exclaimed.

"You're the same as always. My return may not have shaken the heavens, but at least the Four Great Continents and Eastern Continent should have heard by now," Kong Xuan replied, shaking his head slightly.

Jinpeng stared at Kong Xuan, his emotions a swirling blend of joy and confusion. Their history was long and complicated, and the fact that Kong Xuan stood before him now only added to Jinpeng's inner turmoil.

Jinpeng shook his head in frustration, "I just returned from the West, how would I know?"

Kong Xuan nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

"Step aside. I'm going to take them down," Jinpeng declared, his tone firm.

Kong Xuan, however, shook his head.

"What? Are you going to stand against me as well?" Jinpeng's voice carried a note of irritation.

Kong Xuan's approach to Jinpeng was not cold; instead, he seemed genuinely concerned as he tried to reason with him. "You can't take them now. I promised Jieyin I would protect them to repay a favor I owe him from long ago."

"Protect them?" Jinpeng's expression darkened.

"Yes."

"So, you're choosing to protect them? I'm telling you right now, I'm going to capture them. Are you going to let me, or not? What's more important to you, Jieyin's favor or mine?" Jinpeng pressed, his eyes narrowing.

Kong Xuan looked intently at Jinpeng for a moment before shaking his head. "You're still the same as ever—an extraordinary being with innate talent. But this world isn't one where sheer strength can solve everything. Have you still not learned to think?"

"Think? What do you mean by that? I've crushed every enemy beneath my feet. I only know that when I want something, I go and take it. Back then, when you were humiliated at the Great Thunder Sound Temple, I didn't hesitate to storm the temple, regardless of the consequences, just because I wanted to stand up for you and restore your honor. Now, are you going to let me through or not?" Jinpeng was seething with anger.

Kong Xuan shook his head again. "I was like you once, but the world isn't a place you can conquer with mere willpower. As for them, it's true I promised Jieyin I'd protect them, but more importantly, they aren't as simple as you think. I can tell you right now, if anything happens to them here, you will undoubtedly be torn apart."

Jinpeng knew that Kong Xuan wouldn't lie to him, but he still found it hard to believe. What kind of backing did these people have?

"Why? Who are they?" For the first time, Jinpeng's tone became serious.

"Who they are doesn't matter. What matters is that these people are now the balance point for another battlefield," Kong Xuan explained.

"They're a balance point...?" Jinpeng's gaze shifted toward the massive black hole in the distance—the battlefield that had engulfed the Heavenly Court. His heart skipped a beat as he tried to process this revelation.

How could this be? How could this group be tied to the battle raging in the sky?

"At most, they might be connected to Jieyin!" Jinpeng said, though with less certainty than before.

"Yes, they are connected to Jieyin. But right now, the sky is in a delicate balance. If you break that balance, your enemies will include not just Jieyin, but also Taishang, Zhunti, Ying, Guiguzi, Haotian, and even Sa!" Kong Xuan's voice was stern.

"I don't believe it!" Jinpeng shouted in anger.

"It doesn't matter whether you believe it or not. I do. And as long as I'm here, no one will harm them," Kong Xuan firmly stated, standing resolutely in Jinpeng's path.

Jinpeng clenched his Fangtian Halberd, his muscles tense and veins bulging in his hands. His anger was overwhelming, and the urge to lash out was nearly unbearable. His eyes were bloodshot, and it seemed as though he would attack at any moment.

"Until that battle is over, you are not to touch them. After the battle ends, I won't stop you," Kong Xuan declared, his voice calm but unyielding.

Jinpeng was furious to the point that veins bulged on his forehead, but Kong Xuan was the one blocking him. If it had been anyone else, Jinpeng would have slashed them down without a second thought. But now, he found himself caught in a frustrating dilemma.

After casting a fierce glare at Zhong Shan and his group, Jinpeng turned abruptly, deciding to avoid further conflict with Kong Xuan. With a flash, he disappeared from sight.

Kong Xuan watched Jinpeng leave and let out a small sigh. Without acknowledging Zhong Shan, he once again found a high peak and perched himself atop it, resuming his watchful stance.

Zhong Shan, feeling the exhaustion catch up with him, swayed slightly. Hao Meili quickly moved to support him.

The abandoned city had been destroyed in the earlier battle, so Zhong Shan and his group found another secluded valley to rest.

The surrounding powerhouses, witnessing the earlier confrontation, could only gulp nervously. The Bull Demon King's expression was complex, unable to fully grasp or articulate his feelings about what had just transpired. Sun Shen, on the other hand, cast a resentful glance in the direction where Jinpeng had disappeared.

In a distant, hidden valley, Tathagata Buddha watched the scene unfold. His usually serene face now bore a slight frown as he contemplated the implications of what had just occurred.

To read the manga version, please click the YouTube link https://youtu.be/GnU613H6xm8