Chapter 2280: Each Showing Their Skills
Lan Ying had long since infiltrated the central area of the Yama Clan's Great Saints, evading the perception of all cultivators. It was precisely for this reason that he could launch a surprise attack and severely wound a Hundred Shackles Great Perfection Great Saint.
"Swish! Swish! Swish..."
Under Lan Ying's control, the Slaughter Blood Sword transformed into a streak of blood light. In the blink of an eye, it pierced through the bodies of six Yama Clan Hundred Shackles Great Perfection powerhouses in succession.
Though not fatal, it greatly diminished their combat power, preventing them from refining the invading Slaughter Qi and returning to peak condition in a short time.
Of course, Lan Ying could achieve this so easily not only because of his own formidable strength but also because the Yama Clan's Hundred Shackles Great Perfection Great Saints were all preoccupied with controlling the Supreme Sacred Artifact to refine the Divine Illumination Lotus Pill Spirit, catching them off guard. In a direct confrontation, even if Lan Ying were stronger, defeating seven Yama Clan Hundred Shackles Great Perfection powerhouses would not be an easy task.
With seven Hundred Shackles Great Perfection powerhouses wounded in succession, the power fluctuations emitted by the Supreme Sacred Artifact sharply decreased. Fortunately, the spiritual will of the Divine Illumination Lotus Pill Spirit had been nearly completely refined.
"You all quickly collect the Divine Illumination Lotus Pill Spirit and the Imperial Grade Sacred Intent Pill. I'll deal with Lan Ying."
Yan Huangtu's gaze turned icy cold. His figure transformed into a golden streak as he charged forward, directly meeting Lan Ying's eighth sword strike.
The Slaughter Blood Sword was condensed from the Slaughter Qi and Divine Qi within Lan Ying's body, containing the Slaughter Will of billions of ancient beings. Even without swinging it down, merely suspending it in the sky could terrify cultivators below the Great Saint realm into trembling.
Even Great Saints, when facing the Slaughter Blood Sword, would be greatly affected, unable to unleash more than seventy percent of their full combat power.
However, Yan Huangtu's will was exceptionally firm. He accurately tracked the flight trajectory of the Slaughter Blood Sword and struck out with a fist.
Fist met sword tip.
"Crack!"
The sword tip instantly pierced his skin, causing Sacred Blood to flow.
The sword qi of the Slaughter Blood Sword sliced and shattered the flesh on Yan Huangtu's right hand, revealing the golden finger bones and arm bones beneath.
As if feeling no pain, Yan Huangtu let out a loud roar.
Instantly, densely packed Nine Dragon Divine Patterns emerged on his golden bones.
Each divine pattern took the form of nine divine dragons. The number of divine patterns was countless, and the number of dragon shadows was also countless, as if billions of golden dragons were flying out from within his body, domineering and imposing.
"Boom."
The Slaughter Blood Sword was shattered by the shock, reverting to a gaseous state.
The flesh on Yan Huangtu's arm automatically regenerated, restoring it to its original state. However, the Nine Dragon Divine Patterns continued to surround his body, emitting divine radiance that illuminated heaven and earth.
It was genuine divine radiance.
The Nine Dragon Divine Patterns on his bones were not inscribed by some deity but were innate, a "Heaven-Born Imperial Dao Divine Bone," with unparalleled defensive power. Even Supreme Realm Great Saints would find it difficult to destroy his bones.
One was a Cosmic Divine Fetus, the other a Heaven-Born Imperial Dao Divine Bone. It could be said that from the moment Yan Huangtu and Lan Ying were born, they possessed the fate of gods, with the potential to become Cosmic Divine Lords and Emperors of the Gods.
It was precisely for this reason that even Wu Jiang, with his myriad hands and eyes, was firmly suppressed by these two in this era.
A childish, almost infantile smile appeared on Lan Ying's face as he said, "Ever since I broke through to the Great Saint realm, I've been looking forward to a battle with you. Today, we finally have the chance to decide a victor."
Yan Huangtu glanced to the side. He saw that the Divine Illumination Lotus Pill Spirit had been completely refined and absorbed into the pill body of the Imperial Grade Sacred Intent Pill.
Yan Wushen and three Hundred Shackles Great Perfection Great Saints at their peak were using the Supreme Sacred Artifact to collect the Imperial Grade Sacred Intent Pill.
As long as he could hold off Lan Ying for a short while, the Imperial Grade Sacred Intent Pill would belong entirely to the Yama Clan.
As for the forces on the periphery, breaking through the Yama Clan's Great Saint formation in a short time was nearly impossible, so they were nothing to fear.
"Alright! I've long had issues with the Star Sea World's ranking of Hundred Shackles Great Perfection Great Saints. Why are you ranked second and I third? This ranking needs to change!"
Yan Huangtu floated in the void, gently pressing his foot downward.
"Whoosh—"
A golden map unfurled beneath his feet, featuring rivers and lakes, mountains and peaks, deserts and seas... The various terrain structures were intricate, so detailed that one could see the outlines of leaves on every tree on a mountain peak.
Calling it a map was less accurate than calling it a world.
The smile in Lan Ying's eyes deepened. "Using Yama Qi to effortlessly manifest a world scroll—it seems you are only one step away from the Thousand Questions realm."
As he spoke, Lan Ying opened his right palm.
In his palm appeared a nine-colored embryonic universe. Within the universe, countless stars dotted the void, gathering into galaxies, some forming rivers, some forming flowers, and some resembling a beautiful woman...
Lan Ying held the embryonic universe as if lifting a lamp, a profound expression on his childish face. "The Dao you manifest is merely a world. What I manifest is a universe. In terms of scope, you've already lost."
Yan Huangtu remained expressionless. "The universe is boundless, the star sea shoreless. You don't truly understand what the universe is, nor do you know where its boundaries lie. How can you manifest a universe? The universe you manifest is definitely incomplete; perhaps you've already embarked on a wrong path."
"When Tai Shang was preaching, he once told a parable: An ant asked a slug, 'How vast is the sky, how thick is the earth?' The slug replied, 'The sky is ninety-nine zhang high, the earth is ninety-nine zhang thick—beyond our strength to reach.'"
"Before the universe, what difference is there between you and me and an ant? Manifesting heaven and earth as an ant—don't you find it laughable?"
A flicker of imperceptible surprise passed through Lan Ying's eyes. Then, he directly hurled the embryonic universe forward. Space trembled, and the golden world beneath Yan Huangtu's feet shattered inch by inch.
"Well struck."
Sensing the immense energy contained within the embryonic universe, Yan Huangtu wrapped his arms around himself. A vast number of Sacred Dao Rules flew toward his head, condensing into the forms of the sun and moon, resonating with the golden earth beneath his feet.
The sun and moon revolved, colliding with the embryonic universe.
"Boom."
The moment they touched, the embryonic universe shattered, turning into starry mist.
"This..."
Yan Huangtu found it hard to comprehend. The attack Lan Ying had launched was so fierce—how could it be so easily broken?
Almost instantly, Yan Huangtu realized something was wrong.
The starry mist formed from the shattered embryonic universe enveloped Yan Huangtu and the golden world he had manifested.
Every wisp of mist contained Sacred Dao Rules and formation inscriptions, tougher than holy iron chains, trapping Yan Huangtu like a cage.
"I had intended to settle the score with you today, but I value the Imperial Grade Sacred Intent Pill more. The decisive battle will have to wait for another time."
A sinister light gleamed in Lan Ying's eyes as he said this. Then, he shot forward at his maximum speed.
He knew well that the starry mist could only trap Yan Huangtu for a moment.
And he had to seize that moment to snatch the Imperial Grade Sacred Intent Pill, or he would never have another chance.
"You continue collecting. I'll hold off Lan Ying."
Leaving these words behind, Yan Wushen retreated and charged decisively toward Lan Ying. As he flew, his body grew enormous, manifesting a nine-zhang-six-half-Buddha golden body.
His body radiated golden light, his skin devoid of pores.
"Do you think you can stop me for even an instant?"
Lan Ying let out a sinister laugh. As he charged forward at high speed, he raised his right arm.
That single arm was like a divine sword capable of splitting heaven and earth, containing unmatched sword intent. Sharp sword qi shot out from the tips of his five fingers.
"Not good—Lan Ying is using the Life-Severing Bone-Scraping Sword!"
The expressions of the Yama Clan's Great Saints changed simultaneously. They immediately rushed forward, worried for Yan Wushen.
The Life-Severing Bone-Scraping Sword was far more terrifying than the Slaughter Blood Sword.
A single Slaughter Blood Sword had wounded seven Hundred Shackles Great Perfection Great Saints.
How could Yan Wushen, who was only at the Immortal Realm, possibly withstand the Life-Severing Bone-Scraping Sword?
Unfortunately, far water cannot quench near thirst. Lan Ying and Yan Wushen had already clashed.
One stood nine zhang and six chi tall, like a vajra giant god. The other was like a child, radiating nine lights and eighteen colors, agile and nimble. He swung his sword—no, swung his arm—slashing toward Yan Wushen's neck.
"This sword was meant to sever Zhang Ruochen's half-divine body. Since I've encountered you first, I'll break your half-Buddha body first. The greatest difference between you and Zhang Ruochen is that you were born into the Yama Clan, so you can live."
Just as Lan Ying's arm was about to strike Yan Wushen's neck, it suddenly dropped, slashing toward Yan Wushen's left shoulder. As his arm descended, the smile in Lan Ying's eyes grew even deeper.
"Do you think breaking my half-Buddha body is that easy?"
Yan Wushen, whose speed had been far slower than Lan Ying's, let out a deep snort. A rainbow-colored Buddha light appeared on his forehead. Deep within the circle of Buddha light, a stone bridge hovered, as if existing within Yan Wushen's Qi Sea, or perhaps spanning some corner of the vast universe.
"Impossible—how can the Yama Clan carry two Supreme Sacred Artifacts into the Heaven Hunting Battlefield?" Disbelief filled Lan Ying's eyes.
If the Tongtian Ruyi was here, how could the Naihe Bridge also appear?
"Whoosh—"
A deathly light condensed on the Naihe Bridge, flying out from Yan Wushen's forehead and striking at Lan Ying from close range.
Forced to act, Lan Ying withdrew his arm and slashed at the deathly light.
"Boom."
After a brief stalemate, the deathly light was shattered by Lan Ying.
The gap in cultivation was too great. Even though Yan Wushen had outmaneuvered Lan Ying, he still could not match him.
However, the moment he had bought gave Yan Wushen time to neutralize the Life-Severing Bone-Scraping Sword. He used space power to distort space, causing Lan Ying's arm-sword to merely slash past him.
Even so, the sword qi of the Life-Severing Bone-Scraping Sword still sent Yan Wushen flying more than ten miles away, unable to block Lan Ying any further.
"To withstand a single strike from me and escape unscathed—you truly deserve the title of Eon-level genius. I look forward to your rapid growth."
Lan Ying chuckled lightly and flew toward the Imperial Grade Sacred Intent Pill.
Yan Wushen knew he could no longer stop Lan Ying. Staring at his back, his expression was extremely heavy. "At my current cultivation level, if I were to face him head-on, I definitely couldn't last five exchanges."
Yan Wushen understood well that a head-on confrontation with Lan Ying was actually the easiest scenario.
Because everything was out in the open. Even if he couldn't win, with the wonders of the Way of Space, he still had some confidence in preserving his life.
But the most terrifying thing was that Lan Ying wouldn't engage him directly. Instead, he would hide in the shadows and launch assassinations. In that case, Yan Wushen felt he wouldn't even have the ability to protect himself.
"I must break through to the Hundred Shackles realm as soon as possible, no matter the cost," Yan Wushen thought to himself.
Lan Ying easily neutralized the attack power of the Supreme Sacred Artifact, which was being channeled by three Hundred Shackles Great Perfection Great Saints. Using three Slaughter Blood Swords, he sent them all flying.
Then, he reached out to seize the Imperial Grade Sacred Intent Pill.
Although the pill spirit of the Imperial Grade Sacred Intent Pill had its spiritual will refined away, its power remained immense. The closer Lan Ying's hand got, the stronger the resistance became.
But how could such resistance stop Lan Ying?
His hand drew nearer and nearer.
Yan Huangtu broke free from the starry mist, but it was too late. He could only watch helplessly.
The other cultivators who had intended to seize the Imperial Grade Sacred Intent Pill, seeing it about to fall into Lan Ying's hands, all stopped fighting. Their eyes were filled with helplessness and unwillingness.
"With so many Yama Clan experts unable to stop Lan Ying, the Cosmic Divine Fetus is truly terrifying. If Yan Wushen and Zhang Ruochen fail to keep up, they will surely be overshadowed by him. He will become the most dazzling genius of this Eon."
Feng Hou said this, thinking to herself that if she could invite Lan Ying to help her, the position of Fate Divine Maiden would be within easy reach.
Lan Ying was also a member of the Lower Three Clans.
But Lan Ying was even harder to invite than Zhang Ruochen. She had visited him many times, only to be turned away at the door. Every gift she sent was returned, as if nothing in the world could move his heart.
Zhang Ruochen still had the weakness of coveting beauty, which could be exploited with a beauty trap to break through his defenses.
Lan Ying, however, had no weaknesses. He was someone no one could persuade.
Just as everyone thought the Imperial Grade Sacred Intent Pill would be taken by Lan Ying, another hand grabbed it before him.
The resistance of the Imperial Grade Sacred Intent Pill seemed nonexistent to this person.
"Whoosh."
The owner of that hand materialized out of thin air. His appearance was indistinct—just a black silhouette, thin as a bamboo pole, tall as a rod.
Lan Ying, who was right next to him, was momentarily stunned. Then, his gaze turned icy cold.
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
He had thought himself the oriole, but he hadn't expected a venomous snake lurking nearby.
Whoever dared to plunder his prize deserved death.
"Courting death."
Lan Ying once again condensed the Life-Severing Bone-Scraping Sword. He raised his arm, radiating nine lights and eighteen colors, and slashed horizontally at the black silhouette.