Chapter 249: Probing Forward
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Zhao Yan was extremely adept at one of the moves in the Radiance Clouds Sword Technique called "Day and Night, Dance of the Clouds". One could compare Zhao Yan to a bull-fighter and Xiao Budian was the bull; it was undeniable that Zhao Yan was teasing Xiao Budian. All that was happening made Zhao Yan intensely gratified as he settled the score.
Xiao Budian’s constant expressionless face still irked him, however. There was not a single hint of frustration on Xiao Budian’s childish face – in fact, all he was doing was watch Zhao Yan and the switching of sword radiances and the cloudy mist with those beady eyes of his.
The feeling was like he was trying to catch a fluttering butterfly.
This discovery ruined Zhao Yan’s mood but also put Xiao Yan slightly on edge.
Indeed, after a short while, Xiao Budian laughed and shook his head. "I’m done playing with you." He punched out with intense force and layers of lightning, centered around his body, exploded outwards like unstoppable tides.
As for Zhao Yan’s ever-changing sword radiances, Xiao Budian actually had the power to capture them but he got lazy to continue to play with Zhao Yan. His resolution was the clumsiest and most direct one possible but it was also the most effective.
Deploying an attack with a large surface area did not require much mana but attempting to dodge such an attack would be futile and highly ineffective.
Zhao Yan’s brow moved up an inch and he said plainly, "Are you treating me like an Aurous Core stage cultivator, like you?"
He made a gesture and the surrounding streaks of light and misty energy began to concentrate on his sword radiance. The strength and potency of the sword radiance increased exponentially as the transitioning back and forth between light and mist continued.
The sword radiance rose up and met Xiao Budian’s lightning strikes. The two forces clashed and light, mist and lightning clustered into a mess, annihilating each other.
Xiao Budian chuckled as his body blew up into a hurricane. The energy began to build up as the lightning melded together with the winds into a thunderstorm.
Ever since he formed the Aurous Core and advanced to the Aurous Core stage, the power of his Infinite Thunderstorm had also been improving exponentially.
More accurately put, the potential of the Infinite Thunderstorm is unlimited. However, Xiao Budian might not be able to handle its power once it reached a certain level.
When Xiao Budian successfully advanced to the Aurous Core stage he developed special capabilities to control the power of the thunderstorm. He could let the Infinite Thunderstorm get stronger and terminate its metaplasia and continue strengthening it.
The rolling thunderstorm blanketed the entire scene and was unstoppable as it pushed back Zhao Yan’s sword radiance.
That was not the end, however. Xiao Budian huffed and puffed, and absorbed the spiritual energy of the world with his Nine-holed Aurous Core. The power of the Infinite Thunderstorm continued to rise.
Even the Mountain Defense Formation Spell to protect Xingyun Peak responded to the spike in power. Layers and layers of clouds and light bore down on Xiao Budian.
The Purple Cloud Grandmaster frowned and raised his hand to stop the Cloud-Sky Sword of Radiance Formation. If the formation continued to press on, Xiao Budian could not possibly handle it and it would embarrass the Sword of Radiance Sect.
"The power of his thunderstorm act is immense. He could indeed put up a fight against a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, at least in terms of mana and pure power comparison." The Red Cloud Grandmaster thought to herself and a dreary look could be seen on her face as she glanced at the Azure Clouds Grandmaster.
She was a middle-period Nascent Soul stage cultivator and was unafraid of Xiao Budian. However, the Azure Clouds Grandmaster was only in the infant stages as a Nascent Soul stage cultivator and could definitely feel the pressure from Xiao Budian.
The Azure Clouds Grandmaster's facial expression also darkened. He witnessed Xiao Budian’s battle against Yu Wanfeng and was quite clear about Xiao Budian’s potential. Yet, a battle such as this would stir anyone regardless.
"From what the Azure Clouds Grandmaster said, the power of Xiao Yan is far greater than this guy. I’m afraid of what comes when they reach the Nascent Soul stage." The Purple Cloud Grandmaster slowly iterated.
Both the Red Cloud Grandmaster and the Azure Clouds Grandmaster’s expression changed and anybody could see that it was a forlorn and dismal one. They peered at Xiao Yan and Xiao Budian and heaved heavy sighs after a long while.
Sometimes, we might be a lot happier if we stopped thinking so much.
They turned their gaze towards Lin Feng’s pavilion. Nothing was going on there, but its very existence exerted some kind of invisible pressure on the Purple Cloud Grandmaster.
"The Leader of the Celestial Sect of Wonders actually brought up disciples of this calibre – it is frightening, indeed."
Zhao Yan stood fast under the pressure from the Infinite Thunderstorm. His face was solemn and dark. "There must be something wrong with his Aurous Core! It’s not possible that he could possess such strength and such a mana pool."
He could feel that Xiao Budian’s Infinite Thunderstorm was still gathering power. He could wait no longer and raised his hand to fire a golden talisman.
The Sky Sword Talisman was a Nascent Soul stage magic item. It could store large amounts of intense sword energy that only Nascent Soul stage cultivators could release. This item was Zhao Yan’s trump card.
The sword energy generated by the golden talisman-like item pierced the sky in waves and forcefully pushed back Xiao Budian’s Infinite Thunderstorm.
"Metaplasia of the clouds, Gasification of a million blades!" Zhao Yan shouted as the sword energy generated by the Sky Sword Talisman fused with that of his own. The result was a bright mass of sword Qi, nearly covered the entire area and shot towards Xiao Budian like a hurricane.
Xiao Budian was unafraid. With a laugh, he stamped on the ground with his right foot and the Infinite Thunderstorm stopped expanding and retracted around his body.
Divine Martial Way of the Muscular Body, Heaven-Shaking Thunderstorm!
The raging thunderstorm enveloped Xiao Budian’s body. One could see his silhouette becoming bigger and bigger, rising from six feet to over twenty feet in no time. It was as scary as the descent of the Ghost God onto earth.
The thunderstorm seemed to have become his armor. He shook his gigantic arms and explosive force of the act repelled the hurricane sword radiance.
"What fearsome physical power! The dragon race does not seem to be much better." Zhao Yan bit his lip. "Let me see how strong you actually are."
Zhao Yan’s "Metaplasia of the clouds, Gasification of a million blades" immediately morphed into the most powerful technique of the Sword of Radiance Sect, the "Flight of the Clouds, Strike of the Thunderstorm"!
Zhao Yan appeared to merge with his sword and flew into the sky. He was one with the clouds and the sword radiance in the sky, and brilliant streaks of light shot out all around the sword radiance. The unpredictable and obscure nature of the clouds and mist were completely gone – what was left was pure destruction. Once again, the sword radiance slashed towards Xiao Budian’s Thunderstorm Demon and God with seemingly unstoppable force.
The sword Qi from the Sky Sword Talisman was emptied into this blow. The power injected into the sword caused it to shuttle through space; it disappeared from its original position and appeared in front of Xiao Budian at the exact same time.
Even a Nascent Soul stage cultivator had to pay attention when defending against such a fearsome sword technique. One would definitely be dead or heavily injured if stabbed or impaled by such a blow.
Xiao Budian did not show any sign of fear. The Thunderstorm Demon and God Avatar opened its mouth and released a booming laughter. "Not only you have a Nascent Soul stage magic item."
The green light on his body flickered as his whole person immediately vanished into thin air.
Zhao Yan was taken aback. He suddenly recalled the Azure Clouds Grandmaster’s reminder that Lin Feng once bestowed upon Xiao Budian a small green crucible that was capable of breaking the space-time continuum. The small crucible was a Nascent Soul stage magic item and it was with this item that Xiao Budian could stand up to Yu Wanfeng, a Nascent Soul stage Grandmaster.
However, that was only what he heard. It was a completely different story when faced with the real thing. Only now did he know how frustrating the situation was and how difficult to handle Xiao Budian’s Green Bronze Crucible of Emptiness was.
This magic item was made to unlock spatial mysteries and give the user control over the latter.
Xiao Budian’s body kept on flickering in the air and was much more insidious and unpredictable than Zhao Yan’s sword radiance before.
The thunderous punches hammered upon Zhao Yan’s sword radiance again and again, but never once met head-on with the sword the radiance. Xiao Budian avoided direct contact and repeatedly attacked from the flanks until Zhao Yan’s sword radiance began to waver and collapse.
Zhao Yan heaved a heavy sigh and muttered under his breath, "Barrier of Clouds and Mist, Veil of Wind and Rain…"
The arching sword radiance began to dissipate and all the power injected into the former transformed into layers of sword Qi, enveloping Zhao Yan within. The thick barrier of clouds and mist collectively defended the user against Xiao Budian’s iron fists.
The attack on the cluster of clouds hammered upon the cluster of clouds. As powerful as the attacks were, the cloud mass simply trembled without any real damage caused. Sword Qi that had been pushed back quickly rejoined the rest of the cloud mass and continued to defend against Xiao Budian’s hurricane attacks.
Lin Feng had been observing the fight all along and a smile appeared on his face.
Previously, the technique "Flight of the Clouds, Strike of the Thunderstorm" could be said to be the Sword of Radiance’s most aggressive and offensive killer move.
In contrast, the technique "Barrier of Clouds and Mist, Veil of Wind and Rain" was the most defensive and protective move of the Sword of Radiance Sect. The user gave up all offensive power in the sword radiance and retracted the latter to protect himself or herself.
However, using the defensive technique for long was not the solution as Xiao Budian would continue to step up his advantage. In the end, he was the one that was on the offence and had the initiative. If Zhao Yan, who was but desperately defending himself, made a wrong move or lost his focus for just one moment he was irrevocably lost.
"The outcome is obvious." Lin Feng grinned as the Purple Cloud Grandmaster on the other side let loose a heavy sigh.
Xiao Yan peered at the Sword of Radiance disciple beside him with mocking eyes and said, "I told you, this would be over soon."
The company of disciples from the Sword of Radiance all wore solemn expressions. They watched Xiao Budian repeatedly assault Zhao Yan and the pace of invasion was only getting fiercer. It seemed as if Zhao Yan cloud mass was going to collapse and fail him anytime.
Xiao Yan laughed again and directed his gaze to one side, "How long more do you wish to watch?"
The air split in half as the tyrannical Prince Chong Yun stepped forward from the void. He was in the company of the Aurous Core stage cultivators that he brought along, including Wang Jiannan.
Prince Chong Yun eyed Xiao Budian but did not say anything.
He did not want to enter the battle himself, but not a single person in his company of Aurous Core stage cultivators could stand up to Xiao Budian. This fact deeply embarrassed him.
The disciples of the Celestial Sect of Wonders were touted to be unmatchable by cultivators of the same stage and level. Even if he stepped in and won the battle, there was not much glory in it as he was already at the Nascent Soul stage.
There was not yet any movement from Prince Chong Yun’s camp but someone was already thinking about him.
Lin Feng watched Prince Chong Yun silently and thought to himself, "I wonder what Wu Qingrou is thinking about. Maybe he wants to probe forward and gather information before he walks it."
At this point in time, Lin Feng voice-projected to Yue Hongyan and said, "Hongyan, you can challenge Wang Jiannan now. Whether or not you wish to let him live is up to you."
Yue Hongyan’s eyes erupted into flames as she heard Lin Feng’s message. Without any hint of hesitation, Yue Hongyan stepped forward and raised her Black Ember Pole-Ax at Wang Jiannan.
Prince Chong Yun squinted a little bit as the Aurous Core stage cultivators began to exclaim.
The company of disciples from the Sword of Radiance Sect reacted by staring at Yue Hongyan with astonished looks.
The red-haired young lady remained silent. She simply raised her eyebrows a little bit – her intentions were clear.