Chen Tian and Mie Kongyun's battle raged fiercely. At this moment, both sides had significantly depleted their strength. Having split their energy into three separate individuals, Chen Tian's main body and Mie Kongyun's main body were in a six-four split. For some reason, after Mie Kongyun split into individuals, his main body's strength was lower than Chen Tian's. Perhaps the opponent had not yet fully recovered. Chen Tian recalled the power of the King of the Wen Clan from his memories, a being capable of resisting the Heavenly Dao. Mie Kongyun, on the other hand, was a manifestation of the King of the Wen Clan's consciousness. Chen Tian dared not imagine what Mie Kongyun would be like if he fully recovered his strength.
Regardless, Chen Tian knew clearly that he couldn't win. Chen Tian and Mie Kongyun clashed their arms, exchanged blows left and right, and interlocked their legs. Their internal energy flowed, but for their bodies, this energy was negligible and caused no harm. Chen Tian unleashed a sweeping roundhouse kick with his left leg. Mie Kongyun lightly raised his left leg, and their legs collided with a thunderous bang. Chen Tian stumbled back a step, while Mie Kongyun retreated three steps.
A cold glint appeared in Mie Kongyun's eyes, and killing intent began to flow. Chen Tian was undoubtedly his most troublesome opponent. "Cut the grass and remove the roots," otherwise, Mie Kongyun couldn't imagine how strong Chen Tian would become after a few more years of cultivation. To be on par with him now; were these human cultivators from other worlds? Thinking this, the cultivators of their Star Brilliance Continent seemed rather weak. Of course, in the past, cultivators were slaves to their race. Mie Kongyun bore a heavy responsibility to re-establish the Wen Clan.
Mie Kongyun did not wish to die here. He eyed Chen Tian, his gaze filled with killing intent. Chen Tian's eyes were cold and devoid of emotion. Compared to Mie Kongyun, Chen Tian understood better how to conceal his emotions. Throughout the battle, he maintained a poker face, or at most, fleeting expressions that made it difficult for his opponent to find a weakness. Chen Tian was encased in armor, and both sides had now entered a full-power state. Two explosions echoed from either side of Chen Tian and Mie Kongyun, marking the locations where their individual forms were engaged in combat.
In the immortal cultivation world, Chen Tian flew on his sword, battling Mie Kongyun. A long sword spun around him, but this time, the condensed sword was far from as solid as it had been when he fought Xie Ku. He could only control a few blades. Chen Tian waved his arm, and the swords circled him, shooting out like beams of light. Chen Tian's sword control technique, using spiritual energy swords, attacked Mie Kongyun's individual form from all directions. Mie Kongyun's individual form was unfazed by this move; it inherited the consciousness and memories of the main body. Chen Tian's move posed no sense of danger, so there was no need to fear it. As spiritual swords attacked from all directions, Mie Kongyun spread his arms.
A circular barrier materialized from his body, covering Mie Kongyun's form. The spiritual swords struck the barrier but could not advance an inch. Seizing this opportunity, Mie Kongyun thrust out his palm, shattering the spiritual swords into pure spiritual energy. The barrier dissipated, and Mie Kongyun looked at Chen Tian, saying, "Is this all you've got?"
"What's the hurry? Since you want to see my true abilities, I'll show you."
Chen Tian's expression was calm. Spiritual energy condensed into a sword, this time only one. A blue and white long sword formed from spiritual energy, solidifying into a tangible weapon. This blue and white long sword was a manifestation of Chen Tian's memories of his former sword in the immortal cultivation world. With the sword in hand, Chen Tian's aura became incredibly sharp. The immortal cultivation world Chen Tian's greatest strength was not in spells but in swordsmanship, which here referred not just to weapon skills but a fusion of swordsmanship and spells, collectively known as immortal cultivation swordsmanship.
This was also why Chen Tian could sit at the apex of the immortal cultivation world. In that realm, he was known as "God Above," the foremost individual beneath the Heavenly Dao, a position no one had ever surpassed. He wouldn't have reached such a position without considerable skill. The blue and white long sword in Chen Tian's hand trembled slightly, as if possessing its own consciousness. Chen Tian paid it no mind, as it was merely a construct of energy that would dissipate after one use, with no lingering attachment. With the sword in hand, Chen Tian took a step forward and swung it.
Facing this sword light, Mie Kongyun raised his arm, which sprouted curved thorns. The thorns linked and fused with a grinding sound, forming a wrist blade. The wrist blade slashed out directly. Chen Tian's long sword and Mie Kongyun's wrist blade scraped against each other, sparks erupting into a brilliant light. Chen Tian and Mie Kongyun stood back to back. Chen Tian quickly turned and thrust his sword; this time, it was hundreds of stabs, sword shadows appearing in the thousands, covering Mie Kongyun's front. Each sword shadow felt like a real strike to Mie Kongyun, though he knew such a thought was impossible.
Yet, the sensation before him did not deceive him. This move by Chen Tian had surpassed the realm of mere swordsmanship. This was indeed not just swordsmanship but immortal cultivation swordsmanship, a new system Chen Tian had created by fusing spells with swordsmanship. This move contained Chen Tian's spells, exhibiting endless variations and fused with swordsmanship, transforming the sword techniques from mere illusions into real attacks. This meant that every single one of Chen Tian's thousands of sword shadows could inflict actual damage, not just illusions.
In normal swordsmanship, only one sword shadow was real, while all others were illusions meant to deceive the opponent's perception and eyes. Chen Tian's move involved no illusions; all were genuine attacks. Mie Kongyun sensed something peculiar about this. He stood his ground without moving. A light condensed behind him, forming a long spear. Mie Kongyun's right hand reached behind him and drew out the spear. The moment the spear was drawn, a beam of light shot straight into the sky.
All of Chen Tian's sword shadows shattered the instant the beam of light appeared. The long spear in Mie Kongyun's hand vanished. Mie Kongyun sneered, "Let's see how you can harm me. Resign yourself; only death awaits you."
"I don't believe it."
Chen Tian had no idea what had happened to make his moves dissipate so inexplicably. It was strange. Chen Tian's mind worked rapidly, and he quickly deduced it was that long spear. Chen Tian had no information about the spear. He hesitated to attack, fearing that if his attacks were continuously nullified, Mie Kongyun would be invincible, and he would be in a difficult predicament. How could he win?
However, he needed to verify. Chen Tian wanted to confirm whether the idea in his mind was true. If it was, Chen Tian had a chance to win. If it was false, then Chen Tian truly had no way to deal with Mie Kongyun. But on second thought, it was fortunate that their objective wasn't to kill Mie Kongyun's individual forms.
"I'm thinking too much. Fight according to the main body's plan."
Chen Tian murmured inwardly. These were merely individual forms, endowed with their own missions when they were split. Chen Tian had already calculated everything. Once Mie Kongyun stepped into the trap, Chen Tian could kill him.
Chen Tian had no need to interfere with the main body's plan. He would not think about how to kill this individual form. Seeing Chen Tian's gaze change, Mie Kongyun's expression shifted. He had noticed the change in Chen Tian's expression, even if it was only for a moment. Mie Kongyun was certain he hadn't misread; Chen Tian's expression was confident, as if victory was already assured. This thought gnawed at him. He couldn't fathom how Chen Tian could possibly win. Chen Tian couldn't win.
Mie Kongyun was well aware of his own strength; Chen Tian would not win. Only he would.
At this moment, Mie Kongyun was unaware that Chen Tian had discovered the Wen Clan's weakness. This battle of split forms was merely a trap, waiting for Mie Kongyun to jump in before the net was cast. Unfortunately, Mie Kongyun did not know. Chen Tian's figure moved decisively and attacked. With a spiritual sword in hand, he thrust it out, sword light filling the air, painting the blue and white sky overhead. He unleashed a move more powerful than before. Mie Kongyun was unfazed by Chen Tian's move. The wrist blade on his arm split into two and extended. With a movement of his arm, Chen Tian's long sword was caught in the center by Mie Kongyun's wrist blade.
Chen Tian spun his body, the long sword following his rotation. Soon, under the spinning long sword, Mie Kongyun's wrist blade was ground to fragments. The spinning long sword continued to attack Mie Kongyun. Seeing this, Mie Kongyun shot a shield from his chest to block Chen Tian's sword. The sword struck the shield, and Mie Kongyun was sent reeling back a few steps, his body shaking as Chen Tian was flung away.
Chen Tian stabilized his figure, stepping on his sword to fly. Chen Tian looked down at Mie Kongyun from above, which greatly displeased Mie Kongyun. Wings unfurled from Mie Kongyun's back, formed of energy, soaring into the sky to battle Chen Tian amongst the clouds.
Two beams of light collided in the sky with incredible speed, exceeding the speed of sound. Sounds could even be heard during the collisions; it was all incomprehensible.
Chen Tian and Mie Kongyun's speed had reached the speed of light. In the outside world, one second was equivalent to a hundred seconds of their collisions. If their speed increased further, they would enter the river of time. Both realized that at such speeds, they would be pulled into the river of time. As individuals, they lacked the ability to resist the river of time. The river of time encompassed all time in the universe, and upon entering it, they would be directly shattered, becoming a part of it.
Even Chen Tian could not recover this individual form from the immortal cultivation world. This was the river of time. When Chen Tian's main body entered the river of time, it had no effect on him because Chen Tian was undergoing reincarnation and transcendence. During this period, the river of time could not shatter him, nor could it bind him. Mie Kongyun's thoughts differed from Chen Tian's. Mie Kongyun lacked the ability to resist the river of time. Whether it was his main body or this individual form entering it, the outcome would be death.
Mie Kongyun's strength had not fully recovered, so he couldn't do something that would harm himself. Mie Kongyun and Chen Tian stopped. Chen Tian looked back at another battlefield, which was even more intense.
"So, the plan can proceed."
Chen Tian murmured to himself with a hint of melancholy. He nodded towards the other battlefield, as if transmitting a message. In an instant, Mie Kongyun didn't notice Chen Tian's action. Chen Tian gathered all his spiritual energy into his palm, where it transformed into a long chain. The chain slowly formed, continuously extending. After a few seconds, the chain filled the entire battlefield. This spiritual energy chain was formed from Chen Tian's internal spiritual energy, all of it condensed. Chen Tian intended to execute his final plan.
Chen Tian's chain filled the entire battlefield, making Mie Kongyun sense danger. Mie Kongyun could tell that Chen Tian had condensed all his internal energy. But why condense it into such a long chain?
Did he think this thing could defeat him? What a joke.
Mie Kongyun did not believe it. Chen Tian moved his arm, and the chain began to coil and wrap around the two of them, forming a cage of chains. At this moment, Mie Kongyun understood Chen Tian's intention and exclaimed in surprise, "Madman, you intend to seal me too! You madman."
"Sky Locking Cage. Play with me here for a while."
Chen Tian said with a smile. Sky Locking Cage was a powerful move of the immortal cultivation world Chen Tian. This move could seal heaven and earth. It was created with the consent of the Heavenly Dao in the immortal cultivation world, and even the Heavenly Dao struggled for a while before it could escape. Chen Tian did not believe Mie Kongyun could escape.
"Haha, boy, this move has consumed all your energy. Do you still have the ability to fight? Once I defeat you, this cage will automatically dissipate."
Mie Kongyun laughed madly, as the scales of victory had tipped in his favor. Chen Tian's next words were like a bucket of cold water, "Dream on. This Sky Locking Cage can sustain itself by absorbing everything around it even if I am not here. Unless you possess the power of the Heavenly Dao, it will not dissipate."
"I don't believe it. Is there such a technique in the world?"
Mie Kongyun erupted with full power, his fists striking the chains. The chains remained unharmed and, as they wrapped around, their hardness increased, exactly as Chen Tian had said. He truly couldn't leave.
"Boy, you think you've won by sealing me like this? Don't assume victory. If the main body dies, both of us will disappear, and everything will cease to exist."
"Indeed, but I will be the one to win."
Chen Tian smiled faintly, appearing sunny and confident. His body was devoid of energy. Mie Kongyun did not strike to kill this individual form of Chen Tian. Killing him now had little significance; this individual form was as powerless as a mortal. Cultivators do not attack mortals.
This was an unspoken rule within them, a rule that existed throughout the universe. Chen Tian lay down directly on the chains and fell asleep. As for recovering energy, forget it. Any energy Chen Tian recovered would be instantly drained by the Sky Locking Cage, making it impossible to regain spiritual energy.
"Proceed with the plan. It all depends on your side."
Chen Tian's eyes narrowed into slits as he fell asleep, leaving Mie Kongyun speechless. He couldn't get out either, and his pride wouldn't allow him to attack a mortal.
On Chen Tian's other battlefield, the immortal cultivation world's battlefield was enveloped by a vast white light, forming a spherical cage. Chen Tian of the divine realm smiled. It seemed the plan was successful. Now, he only needed to deal with the opponent on his side.
"Where are you looking? You dare to get distracted during a fight, and it's with me."
Mie Kongyun's other individual form attacked directly. Mie Kongyun's individual forms were all split from fixed patterns. Even so, Chen Tian found it slightly taxing to deal with. Mie Kongyun's palm descended towards Chen Tian's back. Chen Tian glanced at the other battlefield, distracted. The palm struck in front of Chen Tian. Fortunately, Chen Tian's reaction was quick enough, and he instantly teleported away from his original position.
Mie Kongyun's palm missed. Chen Tian condensed the power of the clear wind beneath his feet, the wind element enhancing his speed considerably.