Chapter 235: Chapter 127: Dao Concealment

’Since I’m here, I’m confident I can leave completely unscathed.’

’The Confucian Sword Immortal isn’t going anywhere.’

’Even if I am here at a friend’s request, why would I risk my own life to challenge the Profound Celestial Grand Sect?’

Clad in his Muddy World Profound Robe, the immortal-like youth, Su Chen, whispered in mid-air.

The White-clothed Daoist’s strongest technique had failed to take effect.

The Confucian Sword Immortal hadn’t come.

Or rather, he couldn’t come.

Something more important than the White-clothed Daoist’s life required his attention.

There, in the deepest reaches of the Imperial Palace.

The Longevity Fires of the Old Emperor and the Confucian Sword Immortal flickered, locked in an endless struggle over some unknown discovery.

And so, the colossal sword shadow fell in an instant, cleaving the entire execution ground in two.

Billowing clouds of dust and debris surged upward.

Blotting out the sky and sun!

"So powerful!"

"I never knew Mortal Cultivation could be this strong."

Whether it was the soldiers of the Daqi Armor or the three thousand retainers on the execution ground, everyone present was utterly dumbfounded. They stared at the terrifying sword shadow, their eyes filled with horror and disbelief.

Ever since the behemoths of the Five Great Sects moved mountains and overturned seas, carving away ninety percent of the Spirit Veins in the Eastern Domain...

From then on, the Five Great Sects reigned supreme.

The thousands of nations in the mortal realm could no longer access even a sliver of the Mountain Sea Spiritual Qi, nor could they produce a single top-tier Immortal Cultivator. They were reduced to dust beneath the feet of the Immortal Sects and Demon Sects, becoming their personal playgrounds.

The power of the Immortal Dao was deeply ingrained in the hearts of the people.

But now, a Daoist at the Foundation Establishment Post Realm...

A figure of some renown even within the Profound Celestial Sect, had been defeated. And he’d been defeated by a mortal cultivator.

"Is that even possible?"

"I... guess so."

"After all, a Nine Times Life-taker is a being of legend. The stories say they can suppress those in the Foundation Establishment Post Realm, so maybe... maybe it’s not so strange?"

Among the three thousand retainers, two who were in the Innate Realm exchanged glances.

They too were on the path of taking life from the heavens.

Unfortunately, even a single act of life-taking was incredibly difficult.

Nine Times Life-taking!

In their eyes, the Muddy World Profound Robe before them was like a towering mountain they could only look up to, a sight that left them breathless with admiration.

The dust settled.

The high platform was gone, and the ground itself had caved in.

Countless spiderweb-like sword marks, thousands upon thousands of them, covered the area. Where they converged, a great chasm born of the Sword Dao had been carved into the earth. The White-clothed Daoist, his robes now tattered, sat dazedly on the ground, completely crestfallen.

That one sword strike had scared him witless! It had also crushed every last bit of his pride.

The same Sword Pill.

The same Sword Control Skill.

And yet he was as weak as dust, utterly and crushingly defeated.

"What are you all standing around for?"

"Get going."

From his position in mid-air, Su Chen frowned as he looked at the three thousand retainers, who were still standing frozen as if scared out of their wits. He had to remind them.

"If you don’t leave now..."

"When the Confucian Sword Immortal arrives, I won’t be protecting you."

That jolted the three thousand retainers to their senses.

Some broke free from their ropes and scattered in a chaotic rush.

Others gave Su Chen a deep, respectful bow to express their gratitude before departing.

The last few to remain were the strongest among them, all Innate Great Cultivators. They hesitated, wanting to speak, clearly wishing to ask if Prince Xue was safe, but they thought better of it and gave up on the idea.

’Prince Snow is a good man.’

’But a good man can’t hold the throne, nor can he keep the empire in line.’

’Perhaps... we never should have helped him step into the swirling vortex of the struggle for the throne...’

They sighed, shaking their heads, and finally departed in silence.

"Let them pass!"

"Let them pass!"

The Commander of the Daqi Armor at the execution ground and the head of the Imperial Guard were both trusted aides from the Crown Prince’s Mansion. But now, drenched in sweat, they stared at Su Chen in terror. They didn’t dare to block anyone’s path in the slightest, nor did they even dare to help the disheveled Crown Prince to his feet, terrified of angering the Nine-Life Celestial Pride before them.

The sea of armored soldiers also parted fearfully, clearing a path.

’He... how is he so strong?’

As for the Crown Prince, his robes were in disarray and stained with blood. The sword strike hadn’t been meant to kill, merely to intimidate, but it had sent a chill down his spine, leaving him at a complete loss.

Prince Xue never arrived.

Instead, an old acquaintance from the Reception Platform had come.

He had never paid Su Chen any mind.

Not even after learning he was a Nine-Life Celestial Pride.

’After all, he was just a mortal ant on the Path of Cultivation.’

’Who would have thought this Nine-Life Celestial Pride would be so absurdly powerful? He had nearly slain a Foundation Establishment cultivator—the White-clothed Daoist of the Profound Celestial Sect, the Confucian Sword Immortal’s own disciple.’

’I was clearly the one who met him first, but he ended up on Prince Xue’s side...’

Crown Prince Yi seethed, grinding his teeth.

「In the distance.」

Within the Imperial Palace, the two entangled Longevity Fires shot apart.

The one representing the Confucian Sword Immortal finally sensed the disturbance here and rushed over at incredible speed.

’They’ve mostly gotten away. I guess I can consider the job done.’

Su Chen muttered to himself and turned to step into the night.

Just then, a voice called out to him.

"You... what is your name."

It wasn’t the Confucian Sword Immortal.

It was the White-clothed Daoist.

He rose to his feet. His white robes were so soaked in blood they looked as if they were transforming into robes of crimson.

Having suffered a great defeat, his entire demeanor had changed. His wild arrogance was gone, replaced by a sharp, restrained edge.

"Why do you ask?"

Su Chen glanced back at him.

He had defeated many people in his life. Some were left in shock, forever looking up to his strength. Some were terrified, coming to fear him as they would a nightmare. And some had joined hands with him as friends, walking shoulder to shoulder, drinking fine wine, singing boisterously, and witnessing a brilliant new era together.

But he had never met anyone quite like the White-clothed Daoist.

"I lost this time."

"But next time..."

The White-clothed Daoist’s fists were clenched. There was resentment in his eyes, awe, and even fear, but the one thing that hadn’t changed was the untamable pride rooted in his very bones.

"Next time, I will defeat you!"

"In all my life, I have sought worthy opponents, but never have I met a peer who could last a single exchange with me."

"Today, I suffered my first defeat!"

"One day, I will personally come to you and defeat you! I will return this loss, and I will be the one to strike you down with this Sword Pill!"

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