Remould the Glory of Sword Art

Swoosh!

In an instant, countless green flames burst and scattered, like fireworks shooting in all directions.

Venerable Yuan Huo came swiftly and left just as quickly, retreating with the impact, returning beside Xie Xuanyi in the wheelchair, his figure slightly swaying but quickly regaining balance.

On the other side, Green Flame Venerable appeared much more dismal.

He was hit hard by this strike, retreating dozens of steps, stumbling to stabilize himself.

"Daoist Perfect..."

Green Flame Venerable looked grim.

He stared intensely at Yuan Huo.

With the seventeenth realm cultivation he’d hidden for long, he attacked Venerable Yuan Huo directly, not expecting... the opponent’s realm to be higher than he imagined.

"I’m sorry."

Venerable Yuan Huo said lightly, "Last night, I experienced some joyful events and suddenly overcame the ’Heart Inquiry’ tribulation."

"...?"

Xie Xuanyi turned to look at Yuan Huo, his expression subtle.

He could see it.

Yuan Huo wasn’t lying.

The plunder that occurred last night indeed allowed him to find fortune in misfortune, breaking through one of the two great tribulations.

The Dao Heart bottleneck broke without assault.

At this moment, Yuan Huo’s Taoist Intent was only one tribulation away from being "Perfect." As long as he broke through the Asking Dao Tribulation, his Taoist Intent would transform into a "Dao Embryo," granting him the opportunity to advance to the Mountain Peak Yang God position.

"???"

Over on Heavenly Phoenix Venerable’s side, it wasn’t so easygoing.

"Senior Brother."

"Senior Brother."

Xuan Huozi and Lord Yun Ling supported Green Flame Venerable.

The latter, even in anger and annoyance, couldn’t erupt... The Demon Country respects strength, and he was directly crushed by Yuan Huo.

If it weren’t for the Master being present here.

He feared that in a battle with Yuan Huo, he couldn’t last even half an incense stick.

"Seems like Chi Huang taught yet another good disciple."

Foot of Qi Blue Mountain.

A gentle congratulatory voice sounded.

Heavenly Phoenix Venerable stood slowly, hands behind his back.

He stood at the forefront of all disciples.

His tall, majestic figure against the scattered flames appeared mountain-like.

"Logically speaking, I shouldn’t meddle in such trivial matters."

"But... since the nephew has already breached the ’Heart Inquiry Tribulation,’ he is no longer an ordinary disciple. Today, I will teach you proper respect for superior and inferior..."

With these words.

An invisible wave of power instantly spread.

A thick Dao Domain descended, immense power falling upon Yuan Huo’s head...

Heavenly Phoenix Venerable was not one of benevolence.

This Dao Domain, naturally, also landed on Xie Xuanyi’s head.

"Ugh."

Xie Xuanyi feigned pain, emitting a low sound.

In reality.

The Dao Domain of Heavenly Phoenix Venerable, landing on his flesh body, entered like a mud ox into the sea.

"This old thing is so shameless."

Xie Xuanyi inwardly cursed.

Heavenly Phoenix had already been promoted to Yang God.

Yet deliberately unclear, clearly planning to use "Flat Realm" cultivation to teach Yuan Huo a good lesson.

Yuan Huo’s breakthrough conveniently provided Heavenly Phoenix Venerable a chance.

At this moment... Yang God intervened.

The situation instantly reversed.

Even though Venerable Yuan Huo stepped through the Heart Inquiry Tribulation last night, furthering his Taoist Intent, he could not oppose Heavenly Phoenix.

In an instant.

He was suppressed under immense pressure, unable to lift his head. Even with Essence Blood surging throughout him, his whole body emitting a golden light, he could only be relegated to a position of suppression.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

At this moment, the entire foot of Qi Blue Mountain was suppressed by the Heavenly Phoenix Dao Domain.

He walked step by step towards Yuan Huo.

"Young man, you still have a chance now."

Heavenly Phoenix Venerable spoke blandly, transmitting his voice, "Hand over those things plundered last night... then admit your mistakes, and I can spare you."

"Heh... hehe..."

Venerable Yuan Huo heard the words, veins bulging on his forehead.

He stared fiercely at Heavenly Phoenix, grinning, "Old thing, what are you saying? I don’t understand."

His cultivation thus far, half of it relies on the demon blood aptitude.

The other half...

Lies in this indomitable Dao Heart!

If facing such pressure, he were to bow and admit fault.

How could he yet verify the Great Dao, and how could he ascend the Mountain Peak in the future?

Yuan Huo understood well.

The suppression by Heavenly Phoenix Venerable was targeting his Dao Heart!

Once he bowed his head.

The hard-won Heart Inquiry Tribulation... would break open anew.

"A hard-headed one."

Heavenly Phoenix Venerable wasn’t surprised by this answer.

He arrived directly in front of Venerable Yuan Huo, slowly raised his hand, then lifted it high.

Phoenix Fire aggregated.

This palm.

He silently infused it with a strand of the Taoist Intent of his own Yang God Dao.

Next... just a "lightly brushed" slap to the Venerable Yuan Huo, and he could take advantage to completely cripple the foundational bones of this favored disciple of Chi Huang.

"!"

This scene was extremely obscure.

But Xie Xuanyi saw the entire process.

His eyes darkened.

A strand of Sword Qi was already brewing in his sleeve.

In these few days of interaction, he felt quite guilty towards Yuan Huo.

Earlier, borrowing blood... he had "owed" a Debt of Cause and Effect to Yuan Huo, and by taking Yuan Huo last night to break through the Heart Inquiry Tribulation, in a sense, he had repaid this "Cause and Effect."

But what’s done is done.

Xie Xuanyi would never watch Yuan Huo’s foundation be crippled.

"Since you refuse to apologize, don’t blame me."

Venerable Heavenly Phoenix gave Yuan Huo three breaths.

Then.

He didn’t hesitate, as a palm struck down.

...

...

Chh chh chh!

At the base of Qi Blue Mountain, there was a deathly silence.

Only the buzzing, piercing crackle echoed in the surrounding void.

The Dao Domain of Venerable Heavenly Phoenix was shattered.

Phoenix Fire scattered and flew about.

A faint bloody aura spread, and fresh blood slowly flowed down the raised wrist of Venerable Heavenly Phoenix.

"...?"

Venerable Heavenly Phoenix squinted and looked at the position where he raised his hand.

There was a figure, taller and more imposing than him, who appeared at some unknown time.

The crackling echoes in the void were thunderous.

This tall figure was now holding the wrist of Venerable Heavenly Phoenix, and even though the latter silently injected the Power of the Great Path of the Yang God, it was still "lightly brushed" aside. The one who came was Qilin Miaofa True Monarch. Tonight, the Nether Sea Venerable hosted a banquet, not only inviting the Heavenly Phoenix Palace... but also inviting this recluse friend from the Nine Venerables who had been living in seclusion in North Swamp for years.

Qilin Miaofa True Monarch had already been a renowned Yang God Venerable across the world sixty years ago!

His cultivation, strength, was far beyond that of Venerable Heavenly Phoenix, who had just been promoted to Yang God Venerable.

"Fellow Daoist Heavenly Phoenix, let’s leave it at that."

Qilin Miaofa True Monarch lowered his head and said calmly.

"This is not the Heavenly Phoenix Palace."

"It’s not your banquet tonight either."

With these two sentences.

Qi Blue Mountain fell into a deathly silence.

"..."

Venerable Heavenly Phoenix furrowed his brows, not speaking.

He had a momentary stare with Qilin Miaofa True Monarch.

But in that instant, he knew, his concealed cultivation had been seen through by the other!

The other did not expose it.

It could be considered giving him some leeway.

He deliberately concealed his cultivation to teach Yuan Huo a lesson... if this matter were to spread, it would indeed damage his reputation.

Though the Demon Country revered strength, the law of the jungle, it also despised the despicable and vile.

"Since True Monarch Miaofa has spoken, I will give True Monarch face."

Venerable Heavenly Phoenix took a deep breath, calming his mood.

He gave Yuan Huo a meaningful glance, snorted coldly, and said no more as he left with his disciples.

"Are you... alright?"

Qilin Miaofa True Monarch slowly turned his head.

He looked at Yuan Huo and spoke gently.

"Thank you, True Monarch... I’m fine."

Venerable Yuan Huo spoke, deeply moved.

This rescue was completely unexpected for him.

He never expected that the legendary True Monarch Bei Zhao would come forward for him.

Yuan Huo respectfully gave a salute and sincerely said, "The kindness of True Monarch today, Yuan Huo will remember for life, and will repay a hundredfold in the future."

Qilin merely smiled and shook his head.

His gaze slowly moved away, sweeping over...

Ao Ying, Cui Zhen.

Finally, Xie Xuanyi.

"Hmm?"

When he swept over Xie Xuanyi, Qilin’s gaze momentarily fixed.

Its focal point.

Precisely at Xie Xuanyi’s sleeve.

At Xie Xuanyi’s cuff.

A strand of Sword Qi, gathered then dissipated, extremely faint, almost undetectable.

Yesterday, after being candid with Cui Zhen, he had learned about most of what had transpired over the years.

But...

Cui Zhen was still unwilling to tell him.

The identity of that "mysterious fellow," who accompanied alongside him.

At this moment.

This Qilin Miaofa True Monarch had a faint answer in his heart.