Chapter 210: Breaking Through the Realm

Chapter 210: Breaking Through the Realm

For six consecutive days, heavy snow fell from the sky, blanketing the world in white. The air was bitterly cold, and the snow piled up to the height of a person. Without riding on the back of a Mystic Beast, an ordinary person would be buried under the thick ice and snow, turning into a frozen statue.

By nightfall, they finally emerged from the Moshate Desert and arrived at a small town on the desert's edge. This border town already fell within the territory of the Blood Devouring Demon Sect, just five days' journey from the Demon Sect Headquarters, the infamous Nine Death Cliff. Riding a Mystic Beast of Third Rank or higher would shorten the trip to just two days.

The convoy transporting the Iron Coffin settled in a relay station, where everything had been arranged in advance by the Demon Sect.

That night, Ning Xiaochuan healed all fifty-five Martial Artists and absorbed fifty-five Chilling and Desolate Spirits, an effect comparable to consuming twenty-seven Intermediate Elixirs.

"Hisss—"

The Profound Qi within his body had swelled to its limit, teetering on the edge of breaking through the bottleneck to reach the Transcendent Realm Second Layer.

A translucent glow shimmered across Ning Xiaochuan's skin, forming a crystalline shell that seemed ready to shed at any moment. Surrounded by Demon Sect experts, Ning Xiaochuan dared not attempt his breakthrough here. If he did, the commotion would surely alert everyone, making it nearly impossible to escape alive.

"Whoosh!"

Ning Xiaochuan swiftly suppressed the Profound Qi within him and activated Rainbow Teleportation, transforming into a streak of Rainbow Radiance as he silently slipped out of the relay station. He needed to break through outside the town.

Duanmu Linger and Lin Zhanglao emerged from the shadows, their eyes fixed on the direction Ning Xiaochuan had gone. They exchanged a glance. "Ding Xiaosan is indeed suspicious," one murmured.

With a flicker of movement, the two turned into fleeting shadows, chasing after Ning Xiaochuan.

Ning Xiaochuan flew out of the border town and re-entered the desolate desert, stopping at a spot 100 kilometers away.

"This is far enough from the town. I'll break through here."

He sat cross-legged and summoned the Cloud and Sunset Returning Qi, forming a spherical Profound Qi Shield around himself for protection.

"Whoosh!"

"Whoosh!"

Just as Ning Xiaochuan began his breakthrough, two figures descended from the distance, landing outside the Cloud and Sunset Returning Qi.

Duanmu Linger and Lin Zhanglao stood in the desert, their expressions cold and sharp as they stared at Ning Xiaochuan within the Profound Qi Shield.

Duanmu Linger drew her Desperate Crescent Blade, her fingers pressing against the hilt. "Ding Xiaosan," she said angrily, "your cultivation is clearly at the Transcendent Realm. Why did you deceive us?"

Ning Xiaochuan knew his identity had been exposed, but he remained calm. "Miss Duanmu, I never claimed I wasn’t a Transcendent Realm Martial Artist. How is that deception?"

Duanmu Linger retorted, "Didn’t you say you were a Primary Heart Nurturer?"

"Is it impossible for a Primary Heart Nurturer to also be a Transcendent Realm Martial Artist?" Ning Xiaochuan countered.

Duanmu Linger gritted her teeth in frustration. "After all the trust we placed in you, you’ve been lying to us this whole time. What is your real purpose?"

Ning Xiaochuan said, "Miss Duanmu, I hope you can calm down first. Even if I did deceive you, I haven’t done anything harmful to you. On the contrary, I’ve helped you a lot. If not for me, it’s very likely all of you would already be dead."

This was something neither Duanmu Linger nor Lin Zhanglao could deny.

Duanmu Linger’s anger eased slightly as she said, "Fine, I’ll give you a chance. Tell me your true identity, and perhaps I’ll spare your life."

Ning Xiaochuan, while continuing his breakthrough, fell silent for a moment before speaking bluntly, "Ning Xiaochuan."

Hearing this name, both Duanmu Linger and Lin Zhanglao were stunned, momentarily speechless.

The person they had been searching for had actually been right beside them all along.

A dark line appeared on Duanmu Linger’s forehead as she swiftly drew her Desperate Crescent Blade from its sheath. A sharp blade light shot through the darkness as she said coldly, "So it’s you, this treacherous villain. Today, you’ve fallen into my hands—consider it your rotten luck."

Ning Xiaochuan remained calm. "Miss Duanmu, please refrain from personal attacks. Though the Demon Sect and the imperial court are irreconcilable, I, Ning Xiaochuan, act with integrity. Please don’t label me as a treacherous villain. Those words suit your Demonic Martial Artists far better."

"Pah! You dare claim integrity? Then tell me, wasn’t the Ruthless Ghost Envoy killed by your hand?"

"To be precise, she died on me."

"Shameless!"

The favorable image Ning Xiaochuan had once held in Duanmu Linger’s heart was utterly destroyed.

She had never met someone as shameless as Ning Xiaochuan—to kill a woman and then dare to speak such words.

A person like this deserved to be torn apart by five horses!

"Will you do it yourself, or shall I send you on your way?" Duanmu Linger demanded.

Ning Xiaochuan frowned slightly. "Since I act with integrity, why should I kill myself?"

"You still dare claim integrity?"

Duanmu Linger felt Ning Xiaochuan had reached a new level of shamelessness. Seeing no point in further words, she raised her blade with both hands and slashed toward him.

Duanmu Linger, at the Transcendent Realm Second Layer, possessed profound cultivation. Her Sword Qi surged, sweeping across hundreds of meters of desert, churning the yellow sand into a blade-formed dragon.

Ning Xiaochuan, at a critical moment in his breakthrough, remained unshaken by Duanmu Linger’s assault. He sat steadily, channeling all his power into his brow, condensing it into a dazzling fireball.

His brow seemed to harbor a blazing sun.

Blazing Sun Scorching the Heavens!

"Boom!"

A fiery dragon erupted from his Profound Qi Shield, shattering the swirling sand and melting grains into liquid droplets that fell to the ground with a sizzling sound.

The towering flames surged like waves, crashing toward Duanmu Linger in layers.

"Swish! Swish!"

Duanmu Linger unleashed eighty-one blade lights in succession, weaving a Blade Net that shredded the flames into fist-sized fireballs raining from the sky, setting the desert ablaze.

For someone her age, reaching such a level of cultivation was truly terrifying—no wonder she had once been a contender for the title of Saintess.

Lin Zhanglao, after over seventy years of cultivation, had only reached the Transcendent Realm Second Layer, yet he was already considered a powerhouse among the older generation, worthy of being named an elder.

Ning Xiaochuan's heart remained utterly calm. With a circular motion of his hands, the Profound Qi within his body surged outward, enveloping his skin and rendering it translucent as an eggshell. This signaled his imminent shedding of Mortal Skin.

"I refuse to believe I can't break through your defense!" Duanmu Linger, brimming with confidence in her cultivation, rarely considered herself inferior to her peers. Now, she was determined to overpower Ning Xiaochuan.

"Heavenly Blade Essence!"

She channeled all her Profound Qi into her crescent blade. The weapon flew from her grasp, hovering above her head as it erupted with a brilliance rivaling the full moon. Silver blade light flooded the desolate landscape—a testament to this acquired Divine Ability, one of the Demon Sect's supreme techniques.

By merging her Blood Qi with the blade, she achieved the state of Man and Blade as One, unleashing power surpassing that of Martial Artists in the same cultivation realm.

"Boom!"

The Desperate Crescent Blade's radiance stretched fifty meters long, transforming into a true lunar crescent as it slashed toward Ning Xiaochuan.

Sensing grave danger, Ning Xiaochuan countered even as he continued his breakthrough.

"Stars and Moon Sharing the Sky!"

Hundreds of starlight beams erupted from his body, as though countless stars had burst forth from within him. Among them, a silver moon surged forward—a clash of two moons, a collision of two Martial Arts Divine Abilities.

"Rumble—!"

The impact sent Ning Xiaochuan flying 100 meters backward. Fortunately, his Cloud and Sunset Returning Qi remained intact; otherwise, the Sword Qi would have grievously wounded him.

Duanmu Linger was also flung back, a strand of her hair severed, leaving her disheveled.

"Damn it! I'm a whole realm above him, yet I can't even break his defense!" The humiliation burned. She raised her hands, summoning a Profound Qi Cloud that condensed into hundreds of metallic weapons—sabers, spears, broken halberds, shattered swords—all manifesting within the cloud.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

The weapons bombarded the Cloud and Sunset Returning Qi.

"Bang!"

Duanmu Linger's fingers sharpened into blades, slicing through the Returning Qi. Her slender figure darted inside, palm striking toward Ning Xiaochuan's chest.

A faint smile curled Ning Xiaochuan's lips. "Miss Duanmu, you underestimate me too much."

His ribs had long fused with the Divine Ability "Ten Thousand Swords Transforming into Rain"—his ribs were the technique, the technique was his ribs.

Before her palm could land, thousands of blinding Sword Qi erupted from his chest, coalescing into Ancient Swords that doubled in lethality. The sheer killing intent even summoned a thunderstorm.

Duanmu Linger let out a sharp cry, her body dissolving into Profound Qi mist as she retreated like a receding tide.

"Thud! Thud!"

The Sword Qi was terrifying, piercing her robe until it was riddled with holes, reduced to tattered rags resembling a beggar's attire.

Elder Lin could no longer bear to watch. "His breakthrough is imminent. Let's join forces."

Duanmu Linger, realizing she couldn't defeat Ning Xiaochuan alone, nodded in agreement.

But just as Elder Lin prepared to strike, his body suddenly convulsed— "Gush—!"

Someone struck from behind, piercing through Lin Zhanglao's body as a bloodied hand emerged from his abdomen.

"Bang!"

Lin Zhanglao died on the spot, collapsing to the ground.

Xiao Cheng wiped the blood from his hands, his expression cold and indifferent, as he said lightly, "Ning Xiaochuan, now you see it, don’t you? This is how Demonic Martial Artists are—always repaying kindness with betrayal."

Duanmu Linger was shocked by the sudden turn of events, gripping her Desperate Crescent Blade tightly as she guarded herself, fully on alert.

Ning Xiaochuan, however, was not surprised. Throughout the journey, he had sensed Xiao Cheng’s presence.

This meant he had been hiding in the shadows all along, watching him, only refraining from acting due to his wariness of the Demon Sect Saintess’s power.

Ning Xiaochuan intensified his efforts to break through to the Transcendent Realm Second Layer and chuckled, "Though Demonic Martial Artists repay kindness with betrayal, Alliance Leader Xiao’s methods don’t seem particularly honorable either."

Xiao Cheng laughed, "Survival is honor."

He then pointed at Lin Zhanglao’s corpse on the ground and added, "Death is dishonor."

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