Chapter 50: Green Wood Thunderblade

After setting up the Mystic Water True Dragon Formation, Mu Yuan finally felt reassured. Drawing power from the sea within Green Tide Valley, he could harness immense force. Dealing with an unprepared Hua Zhenzi, plus himself, certainly wouldn’t be a problem!

However, Mu Yuan also knew the Mystic Water True Dragon Formation was incredibly profound. He had only grasped the basics; he’d hardly dedicated serious effort to it, unlike his dedication to swordsmanship. Moreover, hastily arranged, it could only unleash limited power. If it were the true Mystic Water True Dragon Formation, even without his help, Hua Zhenzi would be instantly crushed by its formidable power the moment he entered. Even a cultivator who had reached the Core Formation Realm would meet certain death inside it!

Even so, arranging the formation took him until dusk. Mu Yuan straightened his robes just as a streak of light appeared in the sky in the distance. Squinting his eyes, he saw Hua Zhenzi flying high above. The man wore deep blue robes and stood upon a massive, shimmering flying sword.

The speed of sword flight was truly breathtaking. In an instant, Hua Zhenzi was before him, sleeves fluttering gracefully. The flying sword beneath his feet transformed into a slender streak of light twirling around his fingers. Combined with his handsome looks and cold expression, he truly resembled an immortal being!

Seeing Mu Yuan, Hua Zhenzi let out a cold laugh. “You arrived quite early! Afraid you might not make it back tonight!”

Mu Yuan couldn’t be bothered to respond. He frowned as several more streaks of light appeared in the sky, heading their way. Anticipating his thought, Hua Zhenzi declared, “These are witnesses I invited. Disciples from every peak and grove of Longevity Palace, even two peers from Medicine God Valley are here to witness our wager!”

Hua Zhenzi’s voice rang out clearly. Seven observers arrived: disciples from the Five Peaks and Medicine Valley. Excluding Cloud Brilliance Peak and a female disciple from Medicine God Valley, the rest were men!

The lineages of Cloud Brilliance Peak and Cloud-Capped Peak were on good terms. Mu Yuan recognized the person he saw: Qi Wei. Beautiful with snow-white robes and an aloof demeanor, she bore a striking resemblance to Hua Zhenzi. Mu Yuan had long heard rumors of Hua Zhenzi’s feelings for her, though he never confirmed them. He hadn’t expected her to be invited today!

Hua Zhenzi introduced the two Medicine God Valley disciples to the gathered crowd. Mu Yuan learned they were distinguished figures: Hua Xin and Jin Yun, both disciples of Danhuo, with Jin Yun being the daughter of Master Danyang, the Lord of Medicine God Valley herself—a position of utmost prestige.

As for the other four peaks, Mu Yuan recognized some faces but not all. Watching Hua Zhenzi speak confidently, Mu Yuan thought inwardly, “So he’s dead set on dragging Cloud-Capped Peak through the mud. He truly harbors ill intent!”

After introductions concluded, Hua Zhenzi turned to Mu Yuan with a smile. “This time, I challenge you to a wager!”

Mu Yuan laughed loudly. “Looks like Senior Brother Hua Zhenzi thinks he has me beaten! Fine, I’ll play along with my life on the line! State your terms!”

The sword light Hua Zhenzi had been playing with, faded during introductions, now flared sharply. Inches of radiance expanded into a foot-long emerald glow. Hua Zhenzi proclaimed distinctly, “You stole my junior brother’s Jasper Sword last time. I heard the Sect Leader granted you a set of Sword Pills just days ago. Since you’ve already passed that Jasper Sword to your disciple, we’ll let that slide. For this wager, if I win, your Sword Pills belong to me!”

Mu Yuan’s smile vanished. He replied coldly, “And if you lose?”

Hua Zhenzi laughed heartily, brimming with a wild confidence. “If I lose… Ha! If I lose, tell you what, you take this sword in my hand, the Green Wood Thunderblade!”

Mu Yuan scoffed. “I have the Six Harmonies Sword Pills. What use is your Flying Sword to me? Though, I doubt you have anything better. Very well, I’ll take the Thunderblade!”

Hua Zhenzi’s eyes narrowed, murderous intent flashing. “Such big talk! Witnesses from every peak are present, including friends from Medicine God Valley. Don’t you dare back out if you lose!”

Mu Yuan took a deep breath. Longevity True Qi surged from his Dantian like spring grass spreading through his body. The Six Harmonies Coldwood Sword Pills abruptly appeared in his hand. Transforming into six swirling balls of light, they emitted a radiant emerald green sheen, tinged with a palpable chill.

These Sword Pills were forged from Thousand-Year Darkwood, supplemented entirely with Yin-cold materials. As the saying goes, water and fire are ruthless; intense cold injures deeply. Among Longevity Palace’s Magical Artifacts, these were renowned for their potent offense. As Mu Yuan activated them, frigid air billowed out, seeming to freeze the space around them!

Seeing Mu Yuan summon the Sword Pills, Hua Zhenzi bellowed. The Green Wood Thunderblade instantly emitted a loud shriek. Propelled by Hua Zhenzi’s power, it soared like an Azure Dragon emerging from the sea—wrathful, turbulent, unleashing a mighty roar that sounded like thunder! Streaks of lightning sizzled amidst the wind as it slashed down towards Mu Yuan!

“Hua Zhenzi looked refined and scholarly, yet his sword style ran wild, fierce, and overpowering. Every slash seemed accompanied by screaming winds and thunder, Longevity Qi whipping up furious whirlwinds that tore rocks and plants right out of the earth. They spiraled violently into the sky before crashing down towards Mu Yuan with crushing force!”

“A Spirit Refining master truly lives up to their name. His handling of Longevity True Qi far surpasses my skill!” Mu Yuan unleashed his own Zhenqi. The Six Harmonies Sword Pills flared brilliantly, becoming six icy spheres radiating intense cold! They froze both physical debris and incoming Sword Qi aimed at him!

Though both were Longevity Palace disciples cultivating Longevity Qi, Hua Zhenzi was at the Gathering Aura and Condensing Malice Realm. His Longevity True Qi contained Heaven and Earth’s Yin and Yang Auras, supremely condensed and profound. When unleashed, it pulsed with the endless cycle of Yin-Yang mutual generation. Compared to Mu Yuan’s pure Longevity Qi, which also drew upon nature’s Wood aura, Hua Zhenzi’s was far superior.

Most crucially, Hua Zhenzi possessed overwhelming spiritual sense control. Limitless Sword Qi flooded the sky, managed with pinpoint accuracy. His Greenwood Divine Radiance sword technique manifested with terrifying power. If not for the exceptional refinement of Mu Yuan’s six Sword Pills and his own mastery of the cold-harmonizing Tidal Flow technique, Mu Yuan would have fallen within the first three exchanges!

“So this is the power of an expert in Gathering Aura and Condensing Malice! It seems I greatly underestimated this realm!” Mu Yuan felt surrounded by the piercing shrieks of Sword Qi. Though the Six Harmonies frozen Sword Qi shielded the periphery, the sheer lethality still sent shudders through him. Even his inner Zhenqi felt suppressed, flowing less smoothly than usual!

The six Sword Pills encircled Mu Yuan like six spheres of light, spinning at blinding speed. Longevity True Qi churned inside them, converting into torrents of Sword Qi that surged outwards. The Sword Qi gradually divided again, morphing into countless streaks to confront the onslaught. It was as though the Sword Pills acted as converters, transforming Longevity True Qi into razor-sharp, unpredictable Sword Qi!

Despite this, Mu Yuan was steadily forced back. The gap in their strength exceeded his expectations. The Green Wood Thunderblade swept in wide, powerful arcs, howling like a wild Green Dragon. Following Hua Zhenzi’s constantly shifting finger seals, each mighty slash seemed capable of splitting the sky, shattering mountains, and crushing stone. Mu Yuan retreated step by step. Every clash jolted his entire body into numbness and weakness, threatening even to shatter his spiritual grip on the Six Harmonies Coldwood Sword Pills!

“Well, this leaves me no choice!” Seeing Hua Zhenzi pressing relentlessly forward, Mu Yuan found himself backed against the cliff edge of Green Tide Valley. With one final, thunderous emerald slash from Hua Zhenzi streaking across the sky, Mu Yuan could hold out no longer. One foot slipped, and he plunged into the chasm below!