Celestial Refining Divine Scripture

Li Fan explained, "It’s said that in the distant past, when the prodigies competed for supremacy, it often led to large-scale massacres between the immortal sects. Later, an unspoken understanding formed, each relying solely on their strength."

"If your skills are inferior to others and you die, then you die in vain."

"However, generally speaking, if it’s not out of deep-seated hatred, those with powerful backgrounds won’t usually kill outright; after all, there’s an accepted code on the surface, but no one knows what may happen in secret."

"As for ordinary people facing great sect prodigies, even if they’re strong enough to suppress them, few would dare kill directly. The secret retaliation would be too much for most to bear."

"There are also examples like sneak attacks, assassinations, or incidents in deserted places. If you kill someone’s prodigy or disciple and their sect’s powerhouse happens to be nearby, the outcome is obvious."

Li Fan gave a bitter smile, "The disciple I killed from Celestial Sword Mountain was just unlucky. I didn’t want to slay him, but relying on the Mountain’s name, he threatened me. How could I dare offend Celestial Sword Mountain? If I’d spared him, I would have surely died!"

"But I didn’t expect that other disciples from Celestial Sword Mountain were just nearby. Right after I killed him, they arrived."

Xu Yang fell into thought.

This unspoken rule is, in fact, a good thing.

So long as, on the surface, it prevents some powerhouses from throwing all shame aside, then the competition among prodigies is much fairer.

To a certain extent, most who lack deep hatred would not kill unless absolutely necessary.

After all, what if one day it was their turn?

"Young Master, with the reappearance of the Starry Extreme Night, the prodigies and cultivators of the Eastern Continent are bound to see their strength advance by leaps and bounds."

"Originally, cultivators of the Eastern Continent were already very powerful, and the resources and treasured lands are innumerable; through this event, even some second-rate prodigies can be fully sublimated, rivaling the top prodigies of the Northern, Western, and Nanzhou."

"As for the original top prodigies, there’s no need to say more. Under their guardians’ protection, they’ve received world-shaking opportunities in amazing lands."

...

Though he was sequestered within Celestial Sword Gorge at the time, Xu Yang could guess the situation in the Eastern Continent based on past experience.

The strong only get stronger, and prodigies become even more monstrous.

Xu Yang nodded slightly.

All this was obvious.

The greater the challenge, the more his interest was piqued.

As for the Northern Continent, there was truly not much threat left.

Even Yang Yuan, Xu Yang was confident he could hold his own now that he’d broken through to Celestial Immortal.

With all his means, he could even escape a newly advanced Golden Immortal’s grasp.

As they pressed on, with Yuanmie—a Golden Immortal—present, they avoided many dangers, getting through safely despite the shocks.

The information from Li Fan also helped Xu Yang form a rough understanding of the Eastern Continent.

For instance, Celestial Sword Mountain has six peaks, each with a strongest chief prodigy. The current first chief had already reached the Golden Immortal Realm before the arrival of the Starry Extreme Night.

A Golden Immortal powerhouse under thirty years of age.

How terrifying is that!

In all the Eastern Continent, that was a renowned name, rarely matched.

As for the other five chiefs, all were extraordinary as well, none below the Late Stage of Celestial Immortal Realm.

By Li Fan’s estimate, when leaving Celestial Sword Gorge, the trial disciples left behind by Celestial Sword Mountain were mostly at the Middle to Late Stage of Celestial Immortal Realm.

Such power was no threat at all to Xu Yang.

Boom!

Clang!!

Suddenly, violent tremors surged from up ahead. Sword cries echoed endlessly, sharp and earth-shattering, raising a tidal wave of sword qi that swept across the land for thousands of feet.

In the chaos, the furious howls of immortal beasts could be heard.

Where the eye reached was a dense sea of sword qi, chilling to the core.

Xu Yang shuddered involuntarily.

"A Golden Immortal Sword Cultivator."

Yuanmie stared solemnly ahead, "At least at the peak of Early-stage Golden Immortal, if not Middle-stage Golden Immortal."

"Such terrifying Slaughter Sword Intent."

He fixed his gaze on the core of the sword qi ocean—as if a blood sea vortex. Even from afar, his heart quaked uneasily.

Li Fan’s face instantly went deathly pale.

"Don’t tell me we’re this unlucky?"

"Hmm?"

"You know who that is?"

Xu Yang and Yuanmie both looked to Li Fan.

Clang!

Whoosh!

A blood-red sword light twisted out from the bloody vortex, tearing heaven and earth, crushing swathes of barren cliffs, cleaving a crimson gash across the sky.

The immortal beasts wailed in agony.

"It’s really him!"

Hiss!

Li Fan drew in a sharp breath, lips quivering, "That’s Mo Bai Jun, former chief of Slaughter Peak on Celestial Sword Mountain. He gave up his chief seat and should be an elder now, but they say he succumbed to the Slaughter Sword Dao, possessed by the Slaughter Sword Intent."

"He went into the depths of Celestial Sword Gorge seeking to overcome this tribulation. For four or five years now, he hasn’t shown himself. Back when he entered, he was already at the peak of Early-stage Golden Immortal, stronger than most in the Middle Stage."

"If he’s survived the slaughter tribulation, that’s one thing. If not, after all these years, he may have broken through to Middle-stage Golden Immortal, but possessed by murderous intent—slaying beasts and people alike on sight."

Xu Yang’s expression instantly became extremely grim.

Such a powerhouse, if consumed by slaughter, was several times more fearsome than your average Middle-stage Golden Immortal.

"Go."

Xu Yang barked in a low voice without delay.

Yuanmie didn’t hesitate, sweeping his sleeve to gather the duo and speeding them toward the outer right edge.

Just as the three slipped away, the bloody sea in the distance suddenly shattered.

A blood-clad figure soared into the air; his long black hair stained by blood, his face surging with baleful energy, twisted into sinister patterns—enough to chill the soul.

He looked about thirty, with sharp, chiseled features, but his eyes were like blood-colored whirlpools, rotating forwards and back, soul-piercing.

"Kie~~"

Mo Bai Jun’s gaze swept suddenly in their direction; his face contorted, the killing intent on his body exploding, as he took a single step—raising a tempest of sword qi, blood-red as clouds, blotting out sky and sun.

From a distance, it was like a giant sword of blood hung across the sky, tearing the heavens asunder, thrusting straight at them.

"Damn, we’ve been spotted."

Yuanmie’s heart tightened. He ramped up his speed without a second thought.

Xu Yang and Li Fan’s faces went even paler. That raging, oppressive slaughter intent bore down violently, suffocating them.

Yuanmie’s speed burst to the extreme.

Yet the blood-red greatsword swept toward them like a shooting star in an instant.

In a blink, blood clouds pressed overhead.

At the core of Celestial Sword Gorge, the fierce sword auras on all sides were utterly crushed by the blood clouds.

As the waves rolled, layers of sword cries rose endlessly, as if bloody asuras were about to emerge, devouring mind and flesh alike.

Even Xu Yang broke out in goosebumps, every hair standing as a warning of unprecedented peril.

A blood-shadow, ghostly, appeared above the three.

Without any discernible movement, the world froze in an instant.

Yuanmie let out a muffled grunt, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his face ashen.

"Middle-stage Golden Immortal!"

Yuanmie looked up, terror scrawled across his features.

"He’s been consumed by murderous intent!"

Li Fan was utterly hopeless, shaking like a leaf, "It’s over, it’s over..."

Yuanmie was a Golden Immortal too, but even if he’d broken into Middle-stage, before Mo Bai Jun, he was completely powerless.

Sword Cultivators are already peerless in offense—their combat power is shocking.

Cultivating the Slaughter Sword Dao, even more so, they’re the elite among Sword Cultivators.

Let alone the now-unrestrained Mo Bai Jun.

Such a one is a complete madman, a demon with no concerns; cut him and he won’t even frown.

Below Late Stage Golden Immortal, few could face his edge directly.

"Kie-kie!!"

Mo Bai Jun looked down from above at the three struggling ants below, the blood-light on his face growing ever darker and more grotesque.

"Young Master, I can only block one blow."

Yuanmie gritted his teeth and gave a low, resolute cry, prepared to meet death head-on.