Chapter 1175: Sword Can Communicate with the Divine

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Qin Zhizhen vanished and reappeared, unleashing devastating刀 strikes.

And that azure-robed figure kept drifting in the air.

In reality, he was indeed forced back by Qin Zhizhen strike after strike, but his movements were graceful and free-spirited.

He walked on air as if strolling through a leisurely garden.

Qin Zhizhen undoubtedly held the initiative, but inflicting greater damage proved elusive!

Furthermore, with increasingly frequent attacks, he felt that Jiang Wang's parries were becoming more precise. Almost as soon as the saber arrived, the azure blade would follow.

In his peak Five Palaces Radiant state, stepping on the void, he was still slow to gain more advantage!

In Qin Zhizhen's perception, Jiang Wang certainly lived up to his reputation, being incredibly formidable.

In the spectators' view, both were peak heaven's favorites, and their clash was breathtakingly spectacular.

However, the hardship Jiang Wang felt was something only he could bear.

Who in this world, at the same realm, could face Qin Zhizhen without pressure?

In this battle between him and Qin Zhizhen, the transitions between offense and defense were incredibly rapid.

The tides of victory shifted constantly, changing in an instant.

But as the battle progressed, "Myriad Voices Worship" had already lasted sixteen breaths.

This meant...

The time limit for the Sound Perception Immortal State was approaching.

This near-immortal technique, a Daoist art, blended the perception of the mysterious expert's voice in the Primordial Chaos and the Sound Perception Immortal Canon inherited from the Myriad Immortals Palace, creating a mechanism that was too complex.

Although imprinted within the inner palace, it couldn't be used repeatedly. Even if he set aside everything else and focused on recovery, it would take at least an incense stick of time to activate it again.

An incense stick of time might not seem long on an ordinary day. But in a battle between peak heaven's favorites, it was enough for thousands of life-and-death moments to occur.

And without the enhancement of the Sound Perception Immortal State, his sword techniques would be hard-pressed to match Qin Zhizhen's saber techniques. Let alone swiftly capture Qin Zhizhen who moved within the void.

But Jiang Wang's expression remained calm. His eyes were still steady.

Looking at this azure-robed figure pressing his sword, people felt a fleeting sense.

There was nothing that he couldn't overcome.

There was nothing that could stop him from moving forward.

The seventeenth breath.

Agonizing and unbearable, tormenting and painful... this wait!

The spectators were on tenterhooks, but Qin Zhizhen did not reappear.

He was concealed within the void, location unknown.

Jiang Wang's robes fluttered, and he held his sword, looking around. Unable to see his opponent, he couldn't relax.

The eighteenth breath.

Jiang Wang suddenly flicked his long sword and said in a clear voice, "The Qi land has eight-note famous teas. Please, sample them!"

His left hand pressed down.

Time reached the nineteenth breath of the Sound Perception Immortal State.

Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp!

Flame sparrows rose around him, chirping in unison.

Then came the sound of zithers, bells, pipas... Eight instruments played in harmony, echoing the sound of ocean tides.

Jiang Wang's self-created Eight-Note Sea Incineration unfolded across the martial platform.

This art blended the eight notes of wondrous tea and the pure sound of ocean tides, and was refined after the Sound Perception Immortal State. Regardless of its power, its mere sound and melody were like celestial music flowing into the ears, leaving listeners feeling utterly enchanted.

On the Qi State viewing platform, everyone stood tall.

The eight-note famous teas of the Qi land, Qi people felt a sense of honor!

For Jiang Wang, his consideration in this battle was:

To use Eight-Note Sea Incineration to temporarily replace the spreading of the Fire Realm.

Still using area-of-effect damage to limit Qin Zhizhen's elusive Void Refinement Divine Ability.

For Qin Zhizhen to attack, he would first have to cross the sea of fire.

Even if it only caused the slightest delay, sometimes that was enough to change the outcome of victory.

In this way, he compensated for the absence of the Sound Perception Immortal State.

Battle was never a single person's game.

Just as Jiang Wang unleashed Eight-Note Sea Incineration, Qin Zhizhen's figure also appeared.

At that moment, Eight-Note Sea Incineration was rapidly expanding outward from Jiang Wang's center.

And Qin Zhizhen stood at the edge of the martial platform, facing Jiang Wang across the quickly expanding sea of flames.

The five radiating light sources within his body were so brilliant.

This scene was so similar to the earlier one when the Fire Realm descended. Jiang Wang also spread out a large-area Daoist art. Qin Zhizhen also leaped out of the void and also chose to maintain distance.

Their battle seemed to be replaying scenes.

In a sense, both were firmly executing their battle strategies.

This was a comprehensive clash of will, power, and wisdom.

Facing the surging sea of flames and tide of sounds, Qin Zhizhen held his long saber vertically. With the power of the Five Palaces amplified, he unleashed a single vertical slash!

The saber cleaved through the sea of flames and tide of sounds.

Eight-Note Sea Incineration parted for him.

And he said slowly, "Celestial music is pleasant to the ear, it makes me feel refreshed and invigorated."

His voice was firm, a resolution made, irreversible.

Holding the hilt with both hands, he moved the hilt to his left abdomen, the long saber pointing diagonally to the front right. He continued—

"I also have a saber strike, please witness it!"

He seemed to be in place, and yet not.

His hand seemed to move, and yet it didn't.

But the saber light had emerged, the saber's clang had begun.

The dark saber edge instantly slashed out from all directions, completely enveloping Jiang Wang!

This was—

Void Refinement Eight Extremes Saber!

This saber technique was developed by Qin Zhizhen in conjunction with the Void Refinement Divine Ability.

Although it was still inferior to the Three Worlds Asura Severing Saber, because he created it himself, his understanding was deeper, and he wielded it more freely. Activated in the Five Palaces Radiant state at this moment, its performance in battle was not lacking in the slightest.

He had been moving within the void, attacking Jiang Wang multiple times. Although he had never achieved a decisive kill, he had already become thoroughly familiar with the void of this martial platform, establishing connections unique to him, and thus was able to unleash the Void Refinement Eight Extremes Saber at this time!

Its principle was still moving through the void, but having become familiar with this void, the speed was maximized.

It appeared that the person was far away, yet the saber was close, as if crossing spatial distance. It was simply a divine saber technique!

This was the decisive strike Qin Zhizhen had planned!

Terrifying saber light poured down like rain.

Dark saber edges from all directions brought night.

And Jiang Wang was already in the night!

Can one person withstand the long night?

How can one not be defeated?

At this moment, only an azure blade was seen.

In the long night, a bright moon was born.

Sword light suddenly erupted!

Jiang Wang, standing alone in azure, wielded his sword like a solitary dance.

One sword made the long night bright!

But only the sound of—

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, whoosh, clang, clang!

Eight consecutive sounds!

To be precise, amidst the seven clangs of saber and sword colliding, there was a sharp sound of a cold edge slicing flesh.

Qin Zhizhen held his long saber, standing in place, his black martial attire flapping in the wind. Across the flame tide and sea of fire, he faced Jiang Wang.

And Jiang Wang stood with his sword, a diagonal wound on his chest, deep enough to see bone, blood flowing down, covering the "red plum blossom" that Zhao Rucheng had previously left on the azure robe.

Unlike the many spectators who were worried sick.

Jiang Wang himself seemed to feel no pain, completely unaware.

He still held his sword tightly, looking steadily into Qin Zhizhen's eyes.

He chuckled softly, "Good saber!"

His long sword Long Xiangsi slightly turned: "Please try again!"

Of the eight strikes that the Void Refinement Eight Extremes Saber unleashed in an instant, this person was hit by one strike.

And this strike had much of its power neutralized, far from being fatal.

This could not possibly satisfy Qin Zhizhen!

His Void Refinement Eight Extremes Saber, manifesting and striking from the void, had always slain countless enemies. When had it been so easily blocked?

Furthermore, he was unleashing it in his Five Palaces Radiant state!

Could this person's sword techniques truly reach the divine?

He refused to believe it!

"As I wish!"

Qin Zhizhen said only this one sentence, then his horizontal and vertical saber had already reached into the void, unleashing a torrential downpour once more. Void Refinement Eight Extremes!

And this time—

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!

Jiang Wang was like a helpless green leaf, drifting in the storm.

But after the storm subsided, when the downpour stopped.

The green leaf remained as before.

Qin Zhizhen couldn't help but glance at the gracefully falling Jiang Wang, the surprise in his eyes undeniable. This time, his elusive Void Refinement Eight Extremes Saber, every single strike had been blocked!

Every saber strike returned without success!

How was this possible?!

Why Qin Zhizhen's Void Refinement Eight Extremes Saber was so easily blocked, he would probably never know the reason.

Because Jiang Wang did not intend to let him know the wrong path.

This Void Refinement Eight Extremes Saber, with the ability of saber techniques, moved within the void and reality, crossing spatial distance. It could certainly be called powerful.

It was absolutely a top-tier saber technique.

But Jiang Wang had already seen similar attacks before. Meeting it abruptly today was not unfamiliar.

That was when he was in the Maze Realm, encountering the Crackling Void Divine Ability of the sea tribe expert Yu Siqing.

The innate divine ability to "ignore distance and attack across space" was faster and more sudden than the Void Refinement Eight Extremes Saber. Because Qin Zhizhen's saber still needed to travel a distance through the void, Yu Siqing's attack did not.

At that time, facing Yu Siqing, Jiang Wang relied on prediction.

The first time he almost died, the second time he was still injured, the third time he could already avoid it... Finally, he killed Yu Siqing in the Boundary River.

The longer the battle lasted, the more he understood his opponent, the richer his "knowledge" became, and the more accurate his predictions were.

And he and Qin Zhizhen had already clashed saber and sword a thousand times!

The biggest mistake Qin Zhizhen made was leisurely finishing his battle with Bei Gongke of the Yong State in front of him, using it to establish momentum.

Their battle had begun with that conversation during the selection rounds.

At that time, Qin Zhizhen had already started to build momentum. And why wouldn't Jiang Wang have started studying him at that time?

And not just Qin Zhizhen.

Every heaven's favorite on this world stage, Jiang Wang had seriously observed. He watched battle after battle, studying every move and form, precisely to supplement his "knowledge."

And for Qin Zhizhen to create an invincible momentum, he gave Bei Gongke enough time to showcase himself - wasn't that also giving Jiang Wang enough time to understand him?

From the moment both sides stepped onto the martial platform until now. In the nineteen breaths of the Sound Perception Immortal State, Jiang Wang did not waste a single breath. In the world of sound, he missed none of the sounds he could collect about Qin Zhizhen!

Why was it that earlier, with Qin Zhizhen in the Five Palaces Radiant state moving within the void, every saber strike he unleashed could be blocked?

It was because of this.

Now, although the Sound Perception Immortal State had faded, "knowledge" had been supplemented.

Frankly, his "knowledge" of Qin Zhizhen was much richer than his "knowledge" of Yu Siqing back then.

Especially saber techniques!

Qin Zhizhen's strongest Three Worlds Asura Severing Saber had already been cut open by him. Although that was mainly due to the Countering Control effect of the Diversion Divine Ability, that kind of clash had already allowed Jiang Wang to thoroughly understand the state of Qin Zhizhen's strongest saber technique.

As the battle progressed to this point, he was already very familiar with Qin Zhizhen's saber!

The strongest point of the Void Refinement Eight Extremes Saber was its unpredictability, but once its landing point was predicted, for Jiang Wang, this saber was nothing more than ordinary!

"Truly good saber techniques!"

In the astonished eyes of the people, Jiang Wang lightly twirled his sword. He didn't intend to explain Qin Zhizhen's surprise, he only said, "Again!"

At that time, Eight-Note Sea Incineration was still surging across the field.

As Jiang Wang twirled his sword, sword qi leaped up into flowers, one of which was picked up by a flame sparrow.

A flame sparrow held a sword flower.

Then came the second, the third...

One after another, translucent sword qi flowers rose around the azure-robed youth, and one after another, fiery red flame sparrows gracefully came to hold them.

The flame sparrows, holding sword flowers, flew up with Jiang Wang as their center.

In an instant, they filled the line of sight!

The entire martial platform, with a sea of fire surging beneath it, a tide of sound flowing within the sea of fire,

Above, flame sparrows holding sword flowers danced.

This scene was dreamlike and illusory, like seeing spring scenery!

On the viewing platform, Wen Tinglan, whose mind was entirely on Yan Fu, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "Twenty-Four Solar Terms Sword?"

During their days together, she and Zishu were not close friends, but they were acquainted.

Zishu's eyes were glued to the martial platform, and she said dumbly, "Not entirely."

Though only a resemblance in spirit, it was still a sign of exceptional talent!

In the early period of Jingzhe, the peach blossoms bloom. In the early period of Qingming, the tung blossoms bloom.

Yin Wenhua's peach sword flowers and tung sword flowers were seen by Jiang Wang.

His imitated sword flowers only had a five-tenths resemblance in spirit, and were naturally far inferior to the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Sword. But he had ingeniously incorporated the art of flame sparrows holding flowers.

He cultivated sword qi into flowers and had flame sparrows hold them.

This technique, merging sword art with Daoist art, was already astonishing.

Using sword flowers to replace flame flowers.

The power thus greatly increased!

Those who hadn't witnessed it firsthand could hardly imagine this scene.

In the air, flame sparrows held sword flowers, flying towards Qin Zhizhen. Flame sparrows concealed fire, sword flowers contained sharp edges.

On the ground, the sea of fire surged with a tide of sound, splitting and rejoining.

This combined attack, sweeping across the martial platform, had a suffocating pressure!

In an instant, heaven and earth seemed to deceive each other!

Facing such a sudden offensive, Qin Zhizhen turned and stepped into the void. He finally gave up on trying the Void Refinement Eight Extremes Saber again.

Once again, he was forced back!

He had unleashed two peak saber techniques, yet he was forced into the void twice.

His proud saber technique, which was even a cut above the peak in this realm, was utterly powerless against Jiang Wang!

As this battle progressed, no one would doubt Jiang Wang's strength anymore.

But on the other hand, the terror of the Void Refinement Divine Ability was also fully revealed.

After destroying the Fire Realm, Qin Zhizhen could be said to be able to advance or retreat freely, holding all the initiative. As soon as something was off, he would escape into the void, and seize any opportunity to leap out and fight.

However, it was precisely because Qin Zhizhen held such initiative that Jiang Wang's terrifying nature was highlighted even more!

At the same time...

All the experts watching this battle should be considering these questions—

Since the battle began, how long has Qin Zhizhen been moving in the void?

To what extent has his Void Refinement Divine Ability been developed? How much has it consumed in its usage so far? How much room is left for extravagance?

How long can the light of his Void Refinement Divine Ability illuminate?

And concerning these questions, Qin Zhizhen and Jiang Wang, in the midst of battle, naturally would not miss them.

As soon as Qin Zhizhen disappeared, Jiang Wang immediately activated Eight-Note Sea Incineration, completely covering the martial platform. At the same time, he controlled the flame sparrows holding sword flowers to scatter everywhere, forming a large net.

This "netting" method of sword flower flame sparrows was inspired by the sea tribe army's hunt for him in the Maze Realm.

Almost every sword flower flame sparrow was linked as much as possible to other sword flower flame sparrows. Any attack anywhere could be supported as quickly as possible.

Gan Chang'an on the viewing platform frowned in silence.

This Jiang Wang of the Qi State was simply like the most experienced hunter. Facing the Void Refinement Divine Ability, he clearly did not hold the initiative, yet he could calmly set traps, using geographical advantage to respond to the celestial timing, often striking later but arriving first, thus seemingly holding the upper hand!

What terrifying combat talent.

He shouldn't delay any longer... he thought.

The judgments of strong individuals are often the same.

Almost at the same moment that Gan Chang'an had this thought.

On the martial arena, opposite Jiang Wang, a dark, eerie door appeared.

A faint black light covered the area within three steps in front of this door, forming a fan-shaped black shadow.

Qin Zhizhen, wearing black martial attire and holding a black horizontal and vertical saber, walked out of this dark, eerie door.

The way he emerged from the void this time was so different!

The sword flower flame sparrows hovering around him almost immediately swooped down, forming a formation to attack.

And Qin Zhizhen just stood at the doorway, in the fan-shaped shadow, without moving. He even glanced at Jiang Wang from afar, then closed his eyes.

A terrifying thing happened.

Those magnificent yet fierce sword flower flame sparrows, swooping down, one by one, after colliding with Qin Zhizhen, suddenly disappeared! There wasn't even a sound, not a trace to be seen!

Sword qi was gone, fire did not exist.

At the same time, the sea of flames and tide of sounds that filled the martial platform also surged forth, intending to eliminate Qin Zhizhen.

But it seemed to flow into that shadow.

It couldn't even get close to Qin Zhizhen!

Jiang Wang's perception was very clear, his sword technique power and Daoist art power surged into that dark, eerie door, and there was no collision at all.

Qin Zhizhen was clearly standing there, but the damage was borne by that door.

What was this door?

What kind of power was this?

According to the intelligence gathered by the Qi State, there was no information related to this.

This was the moment that tested combat talent the most.

Jiang Wang did not move rashly. Instead, he immediately controlled the power of Eight-Note Sea Incineration and the sword flower flame sparrows, holding them back, gripping his sword and waiting in silence.

His wait did not last too long.

A whimpering wind suddenly sounded in the arena.

From behind Qin Zhizhen, from within that dark, eerie door, floated out two teams of specters in armor, wielding halberds.

They emerged in single file from Qin Zhizhen's sides, their bodies shrouded in spectral energy.

Wearing tattered armor, as if "resurrected" from some ancient battlefield, the long halberds in their hands were sharp and gleaming with black light.

On these specters, Jiang Wang sensed an aura of the netherworld, but it didn't entirely belong to the netherworld.

Having dealt with the White Bone Evil God, he was not unfamiliar with the power of the netherworld.

What Qin Zhizhen was exhibiting now was some kind of divine ability that could summon specters?

Gate of the Underworld?

Jiang Wang could simultaneously feel that the energy of this martial platform had indeed changed somewhat. Slowly, but it was happening.

This divine ability of Qin Zhizhen could also change the environment and create a battlefield...

He quickly captured information, analyzed the situation, and supplemented his "knowledge."

At this moment, on the vast martial arena, the sea of flames still surged, and sword flower flame sparrows danced.

That dark, eerie door, and the fan-shaped shadow in front of it, were like isolated islands in the sea. In the sea of flames and tide of sounds, occasional scattered "waves" surged in, only to be instantly devoured by the dark, eerie door.

Qin Zhizhen, with his eyes tightly closed, stood in this "isolated island."

At the same time, the continuous Eight-Note Sea Incineration and sword flower flame sparrows consumed Jiang Wang's terrifying reserve of Dao power.

But this was a necessary consumption. He had to use these powers to create enough buffer for himself. To avoid being caught off guard when facing a killing move similar to Dou Zhao's Five Decays of Heaven and Man.

Fortunately, what Qin Zhizhen was consuming was even more of his divine ability power.

He had activated the Five Palaces Radiant state, moved within the void, and now displayed this divine ability... His consumption would only be even more terrifying.

Battle is a confrontation of power, and also a game of wits.

They constantly restricted, weakened, speculated, and targeted each other.

Burning the limits of their will and power, competing for the final victory.

Qin Zhizhen naturally wouldn't make unwise expenditures.

Just as the two teams of spectral soldiers floated out of the dark, eerie door, they held their long halberds and, without a sound, rushed towards Jiang Wang.

But contrary to the scene many imagined.

These two teams of imposing spectral soldiers, almost as soon as they rushed out of the range of the black fan-shaped shadow, were swallowed by the surrounding sea of fire and tide of sound!

Could Qin Zhizhen's carefully prepared killing move be so weak?

Only Jiang Wang in the arena had a slight change in his eyes.

He didn't feel that these two teams of spectral soldiers were very weak. After all, only he knew the consumption of Eight-Note Sea Incineration. But seriously, spectral soldiers of this level shouldn't appear in a battle of this level.

Something abnormal must be evil!

No matter how people guessed, Qin Zhizhen remained motionless with his eyes closed, silent like a dark reef.

In a moment, a black and a white figure floated out from behind him.

One was completely covered in white, with a smiling face, a tall, slender figure, a ghastly pale face, a long tongue hanging out, and a pointed hat with words on it, which read "Seeing Wealth at First Sight."

One was dressed entirely in black, with a fierce face, a wide, fat body, small and dark face, and his hat also had four words, which read "Peace Under Heaven."

One held leg shackles, and the other held handcuffs.

They were imposing and very dignified.

They had no spectral aura, but instead a faint divine scent!

Black and White Impermanence from mythology!

They were also one of the most frequently manifested and driven divine figures in the era of flourishing divine arts.

Zhao Wuyan under the stage couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice, "This is the Hall of Yama!"

From the start of the battle until now, Qin Zhizhen had repeatedly traveled back and forth in the void. It turned out he was also cultivating this Hall!

The top-tier divine ability Hall of Yama was rarely seen in the world.

She had only found similar records in the ancient texts of the Dragon Gate Academy.

This exclamation was naturally lost outside the arena, unable to reach the martial platform.

Any factor that could affect the fairness of the battle would be erased by Yu Tu, who was presiding over the battle.

But Jiang Wang on the stage also felt the extraordinary meaning from the appearance of Black and White Impermanence.

These Black and White Impermanence were clearly much stronger than those two teams of spectral soldiers. If that was the case, what was the significance of the appearance of those two teams of spectral soldiers?

Perhaps... they were precisely fulfilling some requirement for the appearance of Black and White Impermanence!

Qin Zhizhen remained motionless with his eyes closed, perhaps cultivating something in the void...

He couldn't wait any longer!

Jiang Wang immediately made a judgment in his heart.

People only saw that behind Qin Zhizhen, as soon as Black and White Impermanence appeared, they immediately flew out of the shadow in front of the dark door and crashed into the sea of flames.

And Jiang Wang clenched his left hand. In an instant, the sea of fire and tide of sound all flowed back, and were absorbed into his body.

The flame sparrows scattered into fire elemental energy, leaving only flame flowers floating in the air.

He slashed with his right hand holding the sword, and the sword flowers in the sky also scattered.

In an instant, the world became empty.

Most spectators were confused.

Facing the Black and White Impermanence who had stepped out of the dark door, Jiang Wang didn't think of eliminating them. Instead, he dispersed his area-of-effect Daoist arts. What was the reason?

But at this point, not many people would doubt Jiang Wang's choices. After all, Jiang Wang had already proven himself. They would only think about where they were insufficient in their considerations, and what they had missed.

On the Mu State preparation platform, Cang Ming, whose face was hidden under a cloak and who had been meditating the whole time, suddenly said, "This makes it much more interesting."

What did he see?

The lean and small Nalang beside him did not speak, but his gaze at the martial platform became more serious.

The sword flower flame sparrows dispersed, the sea of fire and tide of sound disappeared.

The Black and White Impermanence who had already walked out of the dark door did not stop in the slightest.

One only saw the Black Impermanence with his long tongue hanging out flick his leg shackles. The jet-black leg shackles, emanating a chilling aura, whistled out, extending infinitely in the air, and heading straight for Jiang Wang.

And the short and fat White Impermanence twisted his hands, only separating the pair of handcuffs and gripping them into a pair of knuckle dusters.

Boom, boom, boom!

His footsteps rapidly stamped on the ground, rushing straight towards Jiang Wang.

(Eight thousand characters yesterday, ten thousand characters today. I originally wanted to split two thousand characters, because the goal of eight thousand characters in seven days is very tiring, and I would take any two thousand characters I could get. But I didn't want to ruin the reading experience. So it is what it is.

I am describing a vast world myself, and I should know that in a real world, there will be all kinds of people.

For example, you've only written five chapters, and they are desperately criticizing you. When your performance is poor, they say your performance proves you are bad. When your performance is a little better, they say the data is fake, and the leaders are all you... It seems like you have a blood feud with them, but in fact, you have never met them.

In this world, there will be all kinds of people.

Some people hurt you, and some people heal you.

I think I need to get used to it slowly.

I've been triggered, and they are happy about it. Making those who care about you suffer and those who hate you happy is not what wise people do.

I will walk with those who like this novel. Just watch how I give the Huang He Grand Meeting a brilliant ending!

I will try to reach eight thousand characters again tomorrow.

Of course, I'm just trying my best to write, I might not be able to do it.)