It was preposterous for a cultivator at the first tribulation of the Nascent Soul stage to unleash a Dao Domain, especially one facing a powerhouse who had survived the fourth tribulation. Yet, as Zhang Fan's Dao Domain took shape…
“This freak. He only recently broke through to the Nascent Soul stage, how can he have cultivated nearly two thousand Daos of Rule?” Liu Mu couldn’t believe it, but he could clearly sense the densely packed, invisible Daos of Rule within the domain.
Even a genius like himself had only cultivated close to a thousand Daos of Rule. Some cultivators at the third tribulation of the Nascent Soul stage might not even surpass him.
The number of Daos of Rule cultivated wasn’t directly tied to one’s cultivation level; it was related to comprehension. However, for a cultivator at the first tribulation of the Nascent Soul stage to cultivate nearly two thousand Daos of Rule was an outrageous display of comprehension.
“Fellow Daoist Zhang Fan truly keeps shattering our understanding of cultivation. Having only passed the first Nascent Soul tribulation and cultivated nearly two thousand Daos of Rule, it makes us feel ashamed,” Fu Mengtian sighed, and a flicker of hope reignited within his heart, which had previously been filled with despair.
As Zhang Fan unleashed his Thunder Sword Dao Domain, Elder Ku Jian felt an evident pressure. The scope of his own Ku Jian Dao Domain had to shrink to resist Zhang Fan’s Thunder Sword Dao Domain.
“I must say, you truly surprise me. If you are willing to join my Black Sand Grotto-Heaven, we can overlook your previous actions and even cultivate you extensively.” Zhang Fan’s astounding display prompted Elder Ku Jian to extend an olive branch.
“If this is the way of your Black Sand Grotto-Heaven, then it is truly contemptible!” Zhang Fan remained unmoved, instead retorting with mockery.
To offer an olive branch to the killer of an elder – such actions would surely chill the hearts of others.
“That is truly a pity.” Elder Ku Jian expressed his regret. Such a prodigy, now an enemy, would have to be eliminated today.
Immortal Radiant Rainbow felt a stir of interest. He wished he could go and assist. If he could recruit Zhang Fan into his True Fire Grotto-Heaven, it would be a great accomplishment.
However, he had been gravely injured in his previous clash with Elder Ku Jian, his combat power reduced to less than fifty percent. He wouldn’t be able to withstand even a single sword from Elder Ku Jian, so he could only watch from the sidelines.
“To extinguish a peerless genius, it does make one feel a bit excited.”
Elder Ku Jian gripped a dry, pitch-black wooden sword. Over two thousand sword Daos of Rule flew from his Ku Jian Dao Domain, merging into the wooden sword.
“Ku Tian Eight Swords, Ku Tian!”
The dry wooden sword slashed out, as if draining the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Within the Ku Jian Dao Domain, a pervasive death aura mingled with the sword shadow, transforming into a black bone dragon that lunged towards Zhang Fan.
“Fellow Daoist Zhang Fan, be careful. Ku Tian Eight Swords is Elder Ku Jian’s signature technique. Each strike is incredibly potent and carries a dense death aura. Do not confront it head-on.” 138 Read.net
Immortal Radiant Rainbow transmitted a message to Zhang Fan. Elder Ku Jian had not even used the Ku Tian Eight Swords when fighting him, which demonstrated the intensity of his murderous intent towards Zhang Fan.
Even without Immortal Radiant Rainbow’s reminder, Zhang Fan felt an immense threat as soon as Elder Ku Jian drew his sword.
Zhang Fan sheathed his ancient bronze sword, clenched his fist, and channeled nearly two thousand Daos of Rule into it before unleashing a defiant strike!
“Thirty-Six Forms of the Battle Emperor: Myriad Dao Fist!”
With the integration of the Daos of Rule, the power of the Myriad Dao Fist was amplified dozens of times. As the fist shot out, it drew upon the power of heaven and earth, forming a colossal white phantom fist that erupted like a cannonball.
The fist phantom collided with the black bone dragon. However, it only held for less than a breath before shattering, dispersing into a cascade of silver light. The black bone dragon’s body dimmed slightly but continued its attack with undiminished ferocity, flying towards Zhang Fan.
The Myriad Dao Fist, infused with nearly two thousand Daos of Rule, had reached the level of a fourth tribulation Nascent Soul cultivator, yet it was still no match. Fortunately, Zhang Fan was prepared. Brilliant light flickered across his body…
“Disintegrate!”
The invisible force of disintegration merged into his Dao Domain. The black bone dragon, affected by the disintegration force, began to dissipate. By the time it reached Zhang Fan, its energy had been mostly eroded by disintegration, leaving it with less than half of its peak power. Zhang Fan casually threw a punch, easily dispersing it.
Elder Ku Jian’s full-force strike, capable of easily killing a peak third tribulation Nascent Soul cultivator, was so effortlessly broken by Zhang Fan.
At least, it appeared that way.
Fu Mengtian, who had been holding his breath, secretly let out a sigh of relief upon witnessing this. Being able to withstand Elder Ku Jian’s full-power strike meant Zhang Fan possessed at least the strength of a fourth tribulation Nascent Soul cultivator.
With such power, even if he couldn't win, Elder Ku Jian should not be able to stop him from escaping.
“What a wondrous domain.”
Elder Ku Jian’s eyes gleamed with intense interest. With his cultivation level, he could naturally feel that his sword strike had been affected by an invisible force, slowly being eroded.
“Now, I am becoming more and more intrigued by you.”
Zhang Fan’s displayed combat prowess astounded him, as did his peculiar domain, which he had never heard of before.
“Take another move from me. Thousand Mile Sword!”
Elder Ku Jian raised his sword again. As the power of his domain surged, trees within a thousand-mile radius turned to ash. The residual energy flowed ceaselessly towards the pitch-black wooden sword in Elder Ku Jian’s hand.
Concurrently, the imposing aura emanating from Elder Ku Jian’s body continued to rise, causing the faces of everyone present to become solemn.
Immortal Radiant Rainbow, watching from afar, also felt a sense of dread. Even though he had passed the fourth Nascent Soul tribulation, he lacked the courage to face this sword strike from Elder Ku Jian.
Zhang Fan also knew that his ability as a mere first tribulation Nascent Soul cultivator to withstand Elder Ku Jian’s sword strike had completely enraged him. Henceforth, Elder Ku Jian would hold nothing back.
“Horn of Heaven Rend!”
Zhang Fan’s immense magical power surged within him, continuously pouring into the Heaven Rend Rhinoceros scripture. As the scripture was illuminated, it seemed to awaken some ancient beast, and a faint aura of primordial desolation permeated the air, instilling a sense of fear.
“What is that?”
Everyone looked up in unison. Behind Zhang Fan, the phantom of a massive rhinoceros-like beast materialized. Its horn stood erect atop its head, exuding an unparalleled sharpness that seemed capable of piercing space with ease.
With his breakthrough to the Golden Core stage and entry into the Nascent Soul stage, the power of this divine ability, Heaven Rend Rhinoceros, had greatly increased.
“Slash!”
Elder Ku Jian gripped his sword with both hands and unleashed a mighty blow. A pitch-black sword light streaked rapidly across the sky. The concentrated energy was so immense that it even caused space to warp.
Even though this sword strike did not land directly on the ground, it gouged a trench tens of feet deep across the land in its wake. The entire city of Fuliu seemed to be cleaved in two!