Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

Chapter 419: Chapter 267: Capture_1

In the Hundred Flowers Building, the battle was intense.

Although Zhou Fengyu harbored some ulterior motives, he couldn’t be too obvious about it, so on the surface, he was locked in fierce combat with the Armored Refining Corpses, difficult to resolve or separate, and it seemed unlikely that there would be an outcome anytime soon.

“This old ghost!”

Witnessing this scene, Fairy Qihua, Chu Lingfeng, and others couldn’t help but curse inwardly, yet they didn’t verbally point it out. They evidently had a similar idea in mind, to hold their ground as the primary strategy, waiting for reinforcements.

After all, their opponent was the Heaven Martial Emperor, who was the most legendary figure in history. Who knew what extraordinary methods he might have? Even Divine Bridge Master Zhou Fengyu didn’t dare to test them lightly—how could they, mere Yuan Core cultivators, take such a risk?

The best strategy was to delay, to keep delaying until reinforcements from the Evergreen Palace or the Hundred Flowers Building arrived.

This was everyone’s thought.

However…

“Whoosh!”

A gale blew, bringing dense fog that crept into the battlefield, causing everyone’s hearts to tighten with unease.

As unease arose, the sound of footsteps echoed. Amid the dense, rushing fog, a figure stepped into the building.

“Heaven Martial… Xu Qingyang!!!”

The pupils of everyone in the Hundred Flowers Building shrank as they looked at the newcomer with uncertain and bewildered expressions.

Though they didn’t know him personally nor had they ever seen him before, the instant their gaze met his, they recognized the identity of the person before them.

It was none other than the legendary Divine Martial Ancestor of ten thousand years past, the Great Zhou Emperor Venerable—Xu Qingyang!

“Boom!!!”

Zhou Fengyu swept his sleeve gracefully, discarding his previously feigned demeanor, and repelled all the Armored Refining Corpses with one motion, focusing his cold gaze solely on the newcomer.

“Heaven Martial Emperor!”

“Xu Qingyang!”

Chu Lingfeng’s eyes narrowed as thoughts raced through his mind, but he didn’t act rashly. Instead, he voluntarily retracted his aura, reducing his own presence.

He did so, and the man in green next to him also did similarly, retreating undetected by a step, leaving the battlefield to the Divine Bridge Master Zhou Fengyu.

Only Fairy Qihua, helplessly stepping forward with a determined expression, said in a deep voice, “The Great Zhou Heavenly Martial’s name has been praised for a long time, and seeing it today, indeed it is no mere reputation. However, the Evergreen Palace has always treated people kindly, offering healing to the world without getting involved in the disputes of the Martial World. The Emperor Venerable, as a dominant figure from a generation, ought to be clear about grievances and gratitude. Why would you choose to trouble the Evergreen Palace?”

Her speech was comprehensive, courteous and proper.

However…

Xu Yang paid no attention whatsoever, his glance focused solely on Zhou Fengyu, “You only have one move to make.”

“Hmm!?”

Zhou Fengyu’s eyes sharpened with apprehension, but still unwilling to show weakness, he said gravely, “You are so confident in yourself?”

Between his words, he still sought to probe further.

But Xu Yang did not say anything more, simply stating, “Make your move.”

“…”

Facing such coercion, Zhou Fengyu fell silent.

One move?

One move!

Where did his confidence come from?

Cultivation?

Although his Qi Blood was full, it hadn’t surpassed the limits of Yuan Core.

Just Yuan Core, facing Divine Bridge, where did he get the confidence to dictate the terms of a bout decided by one move?

Is it because of these Iron Armor Corpses?

Or that Thunderbolt Strength, or some other method?

With doubts swirling in his mind and feeling the pressure, the battle had not yet begun, but the momentum was already waning!

But after all, he was a Divine Bridge Master; he swiftly recomposed his morale, stared intently at the newcomer, glanced at the surrounding Armored Refining Corpses, and said coldly, “Since that’s the case, I shall then witness the legendary skills of the Martial Ancestor.”

With a fierce cry, he stirred his vital energy and the earth trembled in response, splitting his power between offense and defense.

Although agreeing to a bout decided by one move, martial combat was not just a contest of power, but also of wit. Everything said was a game of strategic thinking; how could he let the opponent control the pace and the situation, deciding it all in one move?

The initiative had to be in his own hands!

Zhou Fengyu was well aware of this, which is why he didn’t care about the agreement of one move. He started with a probe, half offensive and half defensive, stable and sure, seeking not for achievements but to avoid mistakes, truly a veteran warrior and martial master.

“Rumble!”

The ground surged as he activated the Yuan Skill, causing gravity to intensify, and with the pull of Yuan magnets, he formed a domain filled with Earth Yuan power.

As a Divine Bridge Master, he could command the power of heaven and earth, displaying the might of the Dao.

Such might, even if half offensive and half defensive, also carried extraordinary power—under Divine Bridge, it was extremely difficult to withstand.

However…

Xu Yang raised his hand, his two fingers acting like a sword, tracing a dragon and snake in the air, and in an instant, he formed a talisman.

“Boom!!!”

As soon as the talisman was formed, thunder roared and heaven and earth shook.

“!!!!!!”

Zhou Fengyu, who had just initiated his move, had his eyes shrink as if struck by lightning, standing motionless on the spot.

This was… the Five Thunder Destroying God Spell!

Although three months wasn’t a long time, Xu Yang had used the remnant essence of the Evil Emperor’s relic to transform his Martial Path Yuan Skill into Yuan Spirit Mana. He was now an unquestionable Golden Core Cultivator with a mastery of Taoist techniques at his fingertips.

Now he performed right before their eyes a thunder series curse technique specifically targeting the Divine Soul—the Five Thunder Destroying God Spell!

“Rumble!”

At the sound of thunder, a loud explosion rang out, Zhou Fengyu stood rigid, his mind blanked. Clearly uninjured by any physical attack, yet the crown on his head inexplicably shattered, his hair disheveled, his complexion turned pale.

Thunder series curse techniques, targeting the Divine Soul!

Although the martial arts system also has methods for Condensing Spirit, it mainly focuses on the Qi Blood of the physical body. The cultivation of the Divine Soul is far less advanced than specialized Taoist techniques. Faced with the Five Thunder Destroying God Spell, lacking corresponding experience, he was caught off guard and suffered a great disadvantage.

Fortunately, he was a Divine Bridge Master, and his cultivation advantages were apparent, with the formidable martial body also providing some resistance to Divine Soul attacks. Even after taking a direct hit from the Five Thunder Destroying God Spell, it only resulted in a shattered crown and a pale face, but it didn’t reach the core of his being, nor was his life at risk.

Even in his mind, a light shone brightly, revealing an illusory relief stone stele, with golden seal characters that dazzled and captivated the eye. Gradually they formed a vast expanse of earth, protecting the martial artist’s spirit and will…

It was the nineteenth stele of the War God’s Atlas—Earth Yuan Unlimited!

The War God’s Atlas, with its extraordinary power, could even provide protection to the Divine Soul, forming a kind of soul-binding prohibition. When Xu Yang lethally struck Shi Wei and wished to search his soul, it was the backlash from the power of the diagrams that led to his failure.

From this it could be seen that by cultivating the True Martial God of War, one’s Divine Soul could also be tempered, capable of withstanding soul attacks to a certain degree. At the very least, one could trigger the prohibition, ensuring mutual destruction rather than falling under control.

Shi Wei was merely a Yuan Core, yet he possessed such ability. Zhou Fengyu, as a Divine Bridge Master, was naturally even superior. With the power of the diagrams from the True Martial God of War being invoked, he was about to disperse the effects of the Curse Skill and recover his ability to move.

However…

In the face-off on the battlefield, where life and death were at stake, while this Thunder Series Curse Skill could not determine victory or defeat, it had successfully seized the initiative.

In the battle of the strong, a single moment could decide success or failure, or even life and death.

The result of losing the initiative was…

“Whoosh!!!”

Zhou Fengyu’s pupils shrank as he had just regained consciousness from the assault of the Five Thunder Boom when he saw a forceful wind bearing down on him, with five cold glints aiming straight at his body.

“Despicable!”

Zhou Fengyu cried out in alarm as he urgently summoned his true essence to form a protective barrier, but it was too late. The cold, fierce glints pierced through the air, ruthlessly penetrating the martial artist’s body.

“Pfft pfft pfft pfft pfft!”

Five muffled sounds as blades passed through his body, piercing vital points and further aligning with the Five Elements to seal the Qi Blood and Martial Path Yuan Core within the body.

“Mysterious Iron Divine Weapons!!!”

Zhou Fengyu bellowed in shock and anger, feeling intense pain throughout his body as his Qi Blood and inner energy congealed, difficult to mobilize. With Condensing Spirit’s Inside View, he saw five Mysterious Iron short swords, like long nails, piercing through the five vital points, targeting the organs to form an array, severing Qi Blood flow, and sealing his Yuan Core!

It was a crude application of the Five Elements Sealing Heaven Lock Demon Array.

Zhou Fengyu did not know what the Five Elements Sealing Heaven Lock Demon Array was, but he recognized the origin of these five short sword-like spikes—they were made from Earth Sha Mysterious Iron from Iron Heart Fortress!

As a Divine Bridge Master from Earth Yuan Mountain, he practiced Body Training daily with “Earth Yuan Gravity,” his physical body was extremely tough, impervious to ordinary weapons. Only Mysterious Iron Divine Weapons from Iron Heart Fortress could cause substantial harm.

However, Mysterious Iron Divine Weapons were completely restrained by the Earth’s polar magnet. How could they injure him? Thus, since becoming a Divine Bridge Master, he had not experienced the pain of weapons piercing his flesh or tearing through muscle and bone in over a hundred years.

But now…

Pain pain pain, the pain was extreme!

The pain alone would have been bearable, but his Qi Blood was sealed, and the power of the Yuan Core immobilized.

What to do?

With his thoughts in disarray and no countermeasure in sight, he felt a whirlwind approaching, rapidly closing in on him.

It was Xu Yang!

Three months ago, after Chen Pojun was defeated and left not only the seventy-two Mysterious Iron Divine Weapons but also his “Earth Sha Broken Army Armour” in pieces, Xu Yang used the fragments to refine five Spiritual Artifact level Flying Swords. Shaped with the logic of the Five Elements Sealing Heaven Lock Demon Array, they were specifically designed to seal a person’s Qi Blood and Martial Path Yuan Core.

For martial artists, this was indeed an exceedingly malicious act.

But one man’s enemy is another’s hero—the initial effectiveness of the magic artifacts was clear, so naturally, it was time to strike while the iron was hot and settle the battle.

Xu Yang rushed forward, joined the five elements with a palm strike, and thundered down upon Zhou Fengyu’s various vital points, deepening the effect of the “Five Elements Sealing Heaven Lock.”

Eventually…

“Bang!!”

With a loud impact, a figure flew out, crashing into the Hundred Flowers Building’s pavilion and turning it into ruins, buried within, their life or death unknown.

“Senior Zhou!”

“This…”

The people of Hundred Flowers Building turned pale with shock, utterly aghast.

One move?

Truly just one move?

The Divine Bridge Master, fighting the Divine Bridge, was defeated with a single stroke by the opponent, brutally crushed!

This…

“This is bad!”

“Fairy, let’s get out of here!”

The people of Hundred Flowers Building were utterly aghast, and even the leading Fairy Qihua was at her wits’ end. Ultimately, it was Chu Lingfeng and the man in green who came to their senses, cried out, and then leaped up, fleeing in terror.

Flee, flee, flee!

The Divine Bridge Master had been defeated with one move, unable to even use the True Martial God of War. What could they, the strongest merely Yuan Core cultivators, small fish and shrimp, do but flee? Fight a desperate battle with him?

Don’t joke!

The two protectors of the building soared away on their swords; the people of Hundred Flowers Building also came to their senses. Without a second thought, the leading Fairy Qihua turned and fled, with the rest scattering like birds and beasts.

Seeing this, Xu Yang did not pursue but instead activated his magical formula, chanting spells, and employed “The Technique to Drag Thousand Mountains.”

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

Following that came a series of dull sounds, as the panic-stricken people of Hundred Flowers Building fell to the ground, with even the highest in cultivation, the three from Qihua, unable to maintain their flight. They sank under the oppressive weight akin to thousands of mountains bearing down on them.

“What is this… evil skill?!”

“The Earth Yuan Gravity from Earth Yuan Mountain?”

“To think there’s such a technique!”

Under the immense pressure of a thousand mountains, the three gritted their teeth and supported themselves, urging their true essence, but still found it difficult to move. They involuntarily knelt down, and soon after, saw a shadow cast down in front of them.

Within the shadow, the three struggled to look up, using the last of their strength. They saw a large figure armored in Mysterious Iron, a cold glint in the hollow eyes. The hands sheathed in Mysterious Iron armor rose, but instead of drawing a weapon for slaughter…

“Bang!!”

With a loud sound, an Iron Armor Corpse’s hand came down, flipping the three onto the ground.

On the other side, Xu Yang pulled Zhou Fengyu, dust-covered and eyes bulging with shock, from the ruins of the pavilion.

Subsequently, without considering his horrified expression, he took out a low-grade magic artifact-level Beast Controlling Bag and directly placed him inside.

The seventy-two Iron Armor Corpses also moved, carrying all the people within and outside the building—immobilized by The Technique to Drag Thousand Mountains—together in a pile.

Then, Xu Yang threw out more than a dozen crudely made Beast Controlling Bags and gathered all the hundreds of martial artists inside.

This trip had been very rewarding!