Chapter 51: Success

With his body half-hanging in the air, water vapor gathered under Mu Yuan’s feet and quickly formed a misty cloud that supported his weight. Though Hua Zhenzi had forced him down, he still appeared supremely graceful.

Even so, Hua Zhenzi was stunned by Mu Yuan’s resilience. Despite the two-level gap in cultivation, Mu Yuan had resisted fiercely, never looking awkward under Hua Zhenzi’s storm-like lightning attacks. Mu Yuan’s swordsmanship was especially skilled and flexible, blocking those swift thunderous assaults.

Mu Yuan stood steadily on the cloud ball. Below him was the blue tide sea and the Mystic Water True Dragon Formation. Rich water elemental spiritual energy surged into Mu Yuan’s body, as the Tidal Flow operated vigorously. The Dragon King’s Dynamic Force blended with the Longevity True Qi flared instantly, shifting from the gentle aura of the Longevity Art to an elusive and commanding presence.

The Six Harmonies Sword Pills still floated around Mu Yuan, their glowing colors flashing strangely in purple, black, green, and blue hues. Thin threads of lightning wrapped around them, creating explosive sounds. The sea beneath seemed stirred, sending waves crashing ashore with foam that unleashed sky-shaking force.

Not just Hua Zhenzi, but even the watching crowd furrowed their brows. Hua Xin and Jin Yun, disciples from other sects, could see this was no longer Longevity Palace magic. Qi Wei from Cloud Brilliance Peak knew a bit more—after all, True Lord Qinghua and Cang Qing Zi were close partners and shared everything. Cang Qing Zi had told her that Mu Yuan mastered the Tidal Flow, so she naturally instructed her own disciples.

The Longevity Palace’s core techniques were varied and open to all disciples who wanted to learn other methods, especially since the Tidal Flow complemented the Longevity Art and helped cultivation more than focused techniques. True Lord Qinghua wouldn’t miss this chance to guide the younger generation, inviting Cloud Brilliance Peak disciples to study the Tidal Flow too.

“Is this the Tidal Flow? It has unique mysteries, for sure—way deeper in lightness and change than our Longevity Art,” thought Qi Wei. Seeing Mu Yuan’s aura become shifting and unpredictable, unpredictable when and where a thunderous strike might come, she felt a spark of curiosity.

Mu Yuan’s energy shifted, but he stayed still. Hua Zhenzi kept his momentum, as the Green Wood Thunderblade let out a dragon-like roar mid-air. Hua Zhenzi grabbed it, making it shine brightly with a piercing green light. A phantom Azure Dragon image appeared, roaring and rushing down fiercely.

Hua Zhenzi also leaped forward, his legs spinning so fast they left afterimages. He aimed straight for the top of Mu Yuan’s head.

“Isn’t that your sect’s Divine Wind Leg Technique? Truly lives up to its name,” Jin Yun asked a nearby male cultivator with a smile.

The male cultivator was from Feilai Peak, part of Zhen Yun Zi’s seven peaks. Flustered by attention from such a beautiful woman, he stammered, “Fair Lady is right. This is indeed my sect’s Divine Wind Leg Technique.”

Jin Yun smiled without replying, watching the battle overhead.

Hua Zhenzi’s legs moved like illusions as countless ice flakes formed on Mu Yuan’s Sword Pills. Instead of attacking, Mu Yuan sank into the valley to dodge the fierce onslaught. But Hua Zhenzo pursued relentlessly, sending down waves of sword light and leg shadows. Explosions echoed like a mountain pressing down, forcing Mu Yuan deeper into the valley.

Hua Zhenzi pressed his advantage with the Green Wood Thunderblade glowing around him. In his hand, it became a roaring angry dragon, green light seething violently. Instantly, countless light rings burst out, like a galaxy pouring down or a riverbank breaking. The overpowering surge crashed toward Mu Yuan but felt as if it was hitting a vast ocean. It only made the light around Mu Yuan ripple slightly, not shifting him at all.

Everyone watched in puzzled disbelief. Hua Zhenzi was equally shocked—he had expected a decisive blow, but got this. As he prepared to gather power, the surrounding air currents changed wildly. Seawater churned upward from all sides, increasing pressure drastically. Meanwhile, Mu Yuan let out a light shout—the Six Sword Pills danced violently upward. Light exploded from his right hand as Zhenqi surged out. Seawater rose and clung to it, forming a one-zhang-long light sword of condensed Zhenqi.

“Gathering Qi into a weapon!”

People screamed in surprise. Hua Zhenzi was stunned too. “Could he have formed a Golden Core? Impossible!”

Mu Yuan knew Hua Zhenzi was being suppressed by the Mystic Water True Dragon Formation. He seized the moment and attacked—both the Qi weapon and Sword Pills struck together. Sword Qi and Zhenqi light surged ferociously with unstoppable force.

Hua Zhenzi felt tormented without saying a word. Seawater surged toward him crazily, countless huge air vortices tearing at him. Not only did it spin him dizzy, but the vast water elemental energy also cut off all wood qi, leaving him unable to absorb a single strand.

Mu Yuan, however, flourished easily. He unleashed all his Taoist arts freely—the Qi weapon slashed wide and fast, the Sword Pills flipped joyfully above and below. He then used the Icecold Path from the Tidal Flow, freezing the surrounding seawater into an ice dragon. The dragon coiled intensely around the Green Wood Thunderblade, leaving Hua Zhenzi unable to move it. The Sword Pills absorbed endless sea waves, adding Mu Yuan’s ice-cold power to trap Hua Zhenzi in a layer of ice.

Mu Yuan leaped upward with a long shout, aiming his Qi weapon fiercely. It pierced through Hua Zhenzi’s protective Zhenqi and stopped right at his throat. The sharp Zhenqi light and bone-chilling cold made Hua Yuan shudder all over.

The icy water crystals still floated and fell around them, drifting to Mu Yuan’s side where the Qi weapon swallowed them instantly. Hua Zhenzi didn’t dare move a fraction. The Green Wood Thunderblade roared wildly but was held by the ice dragon formed from the Mystic Water True Dragon Formation and couldn’t escape.

“You’ve lost. The Green Wood Thunderblade belongs to me now,” Mu Yuan declared calmly, with no hint of politeness. Since both factions didn’t respect each other, Mu Yuan wasn’t afraid of lasting feuds. He reached out with his left hand, activating the entire formation silently. The ice dragon’s might grew stronger, and the valley’s cold qi and water energy seemed drained instantly. The Green Wood Thunderblade gave a crisp tremble and shrunk to a few inches. It shot right into Mu Yuan’s grasp.

Mu Yuan didn’t delay. He immediately sent the Flying Sword into the Black Water Gourd. Using the magic treasure’s own Restrictions, he sealed this excellent blade temporarily. To fully refine it, he’d need to make his Spiritual Sense strong enough to erase Hua Zhenzi’s marks.

Hua Zhenzi’s face darkened with uncertainty. He felt tempted to break the agreement but couldn’t bear losing the Flying Sword. Yet he sensed no trace of it now and panicked. With the Mystic Water Formation pressure still there, he reckoned that even a surprise attack might not hurt Mu Yuan. Besides, Mu Yuan watched him with a faint smile, calm and guarded, clearly anticipating trouble.

“Fine!” Hua Zhenzi felt his voice turn hoarse. “The Thunderblade is yours.”

He didn’t glance back, just flew upward with the wind. Without his Flying Sword, he couldn’t fly or control qi mid-air since he hadn’t formed a Golden Core. He relied on wind currents and Zhenqi friction to skim back to the cliff top.

Mu Yuan flew up with a beaming smile. “Forgive this trouble for all senior siblings, brothers, sisters, and Medicine God Valley friends. Mu Yuan thanks you all for coming here.”