Chen Tian and Yao Yuan clashed in battle. Chen Tian struck first, his long sword slashing upwards. Yao Yuan parried with his own long sword, their blades locking. With a strong pull, Yao Yuan disarmed Chen Tian, sending his sword flying. He then pressed his attack, lunging towards Chen Tian. Facing the approaching blade, Chen Tian remained unfazed despite his sword being knocked away. With a calm gesture, he raised his arm, and his sword, guided by his will, flew back towards him and then directly at Yao Yuan's unprotected forehead.
Sensing danger from behind, Yao Yuan reacted swiftly, defending himself with a sword strike that sent Chen Tian's sword flying again. The sword returned to Chen Tian's hand as he calmly executed Yu Jian Shu, the most basic technique of controlling one's sword in the cultivation world. Holding his sword with one hand, Chen Tian met Yao Yuan's gaze. Yao Yuan was surprised by Chen Tian's tenacity. Even with half his strength unleashed, he couldn't gain an advantage. And judging by Chen Tian's demeanor, he wasn't using his full power either. The outcome of this fight was uncertain.
Chen Tian seized the moment while Yao Yuan was lost in thought. He stepped forward, his figure blurring into a streak of sword light as he charged at Yao Yuan. Yao Yuan abandoned his contemplation and met Chen Tian's assault with a flurry of sword exchanges, neither giving ground. Their swords clashed, the sharp sounds echoing through the heavens. Standing on the ground, it was impossible to tell who had the upper hand. Chen Tian’s expression grew serious; Yao Yuan was more formidable than he had anticipated. Continuing this fight would expose more of his abilities, and he needed to end it quickly.
Chen Tian raised his long sword, pointing it towards the sky, and then brought it down. A blade of sword intent, sharp and swift, shot towards Yao Yuan. Seeing Chen Tian unleash his technique, Yao Yuan decided against a direct clash of sword skills. He flicked his wrist, gathering the sword intent of all living beings into his own long sword. With a swing, the two blades met, igniting an explosion. Both Chen Tian and Yao Yuan performed their next moves simultaneously. Chen Tian repeated his earlier gesture, drawing a circle with his arm. However, this time, swords materialized around him, forming a circle that enveloped him. With a point of his finger, Chen Tian unleashed a volley of sword lights, over a dozen of them, aimed at Yao Yuan.
Yao Yuan watched the incoming sword lights, each one feeling like a razor-sharp blade. He dared not underestimate them; this attack was a genuine threat. Yao Yuan threw his long sword forward. The sword, possessing its own sentience, actively defended him against Chen Tian's assault, spinning and creating a barrier of sword energy that completely enveloped Yao Yuan. The cylindrical barrier formed by his spinning sword nullified Chen Tian's sword lights, shattering them instead of making any impact.
Chen Tian was astonished. Yao Yuan's sword possessed a spirit, automatically defending its master. It was no wonder he was a divine representative, possessing strength that rivaled his own.
Both Chen Tian and Yao Yuan gathered their strength for their next moves. Chen Tian’s long sword condensed three types of sword intent, converging at its tip, and the sword radiated multicolored light. On Yao Yuan's side, his sword pulsed with a constant, condensed form of the sword intent of all living beings, making the weapon even more formidable. They attacked simultaneously. Yao Yuan brought his sword down, and as it descended, its phantom image grew, appearing like a celestial blade descending from the heavens, its silver aura carrying immense power towards Chen Tian’s head.
Chen Tian extended his arm, firing a multicolored beam of light—a fusion of three sword intents, shot from the tip of his sword. The beam collided with the colossal sword phantom, causing the surrounding area to explode. The ground fractured, and the resulting shockwaves sent people into a panic.
"Quick, ascend to the sky!"
"Those who don't want to die, fly up!"
The ground was no longer safe. The impact of Chen Tian and Yao Yuan's collision turned the ground to dust. The shockwaves were so powerful that some who were too slow to react were blown apart, disappearing into nothingness.
This was only because some people had the presence of mind to react; otherwise, casualties would have been far greater.
"My heavens, is this a phenomenon that practitioners at their realm can produce?"
Some were shocked, some were terrified, and some were excited. The shock came from the fact that both Chen Tian and Yao Yuan were at the fourth realm, yet their destructive power and the phenomena they created rivaled those of fifth-realm cultivators. Such scenes were usually witnessed only among cultivators of the fifth or sixth realm. The terror stemmed from the overwhelming power of Chen Tian and Yao Yuan; they were so powerful that the onlookers feared repercussions should Chen Tian decide to settle scores, especially since he was fighting Yao Yuan to such an extent. The excitement arose from the belief that Chen Tian’s formidable strength was due to a powerful inheritance, and everyone desired it.
As the residual shockwaves of the clash subsided, the ground transformed into a molten landscape, resembling a volcanic crater. Chen Tian and Yao Yuan's collision had obliterated the surface, exposing magma from tens of thousands of meters below. The sheer power displayed was astounding; surviving such an attack directly was unthinkable.
"I don't want this inheritance anymore. I'm leaving."
"Me too. These individuals are beyond our reach."
"Farewell. Inheritances are good, but one must first survive to cultivate."
...
Suddenly, many people lost their courage. These were all fourth-realm cultivators, and their numbers dwindled by over a hundred. It was foolish to try and seize an inheritance from Chen Tian without the might of a sixth-realm cultivator. Given his performance against Yao Yuan, who was also at the fourth realm, it was evident that they were no match for him. Anyone who challenged him would surely die.
It was better to leave than to spectate, lest they incur the wrath of these powerful beings. If Chen Tian held a grudge against everyone present, who knew what future consequences might arise?
Chen Tian and Yao Yuan faced each other, their clothes tattered. The residual shockwaves from the center of the explosion were even more potent than the initial blast. The fact that both of them only suffered torn clothing amazed both sides.
Chen Tian and Yao Yuan began to gather strength for another exchange when a voice suddenly echoed, "Enough, you two. Stop fighting."
A familiar voice reached their ears. Chen Tian and Yao Yuan sheathed their swords as a young man descended from the sky, capturing everyone's attention.
Heavenly Dao looked at the cultivators in the sky and sternly commanded, "Why haven't you dispersed? Are you still watching the show?"
"No, we're leaving now."
Heavenly Dao’s single command scattered everyone. These individuals dared not offend Heavenly Dao. If he harbored resentment, the passage between their world and the dark realm would be closed, turning them into outcasts despised by all.
Heavenly Dao of the dark realm possessed no combat ability, not even the skills to fight, as evidenced by the absence of any realm aura emanating from him. Yet, no one dared to disrespect Heavenly Dao.
Heavenly Dao controlled the switches to all passages, which was the source of his intimidating power.
"You two, if you want to fight, do it in another world. Find yourselves a place, as this is not a battlefield. Look at what you've done. This place cannot be repaired. What do you propose to do?"
Faced with Heavenly Dao's questioning, Chen Tian and Yao Yuan exchanged glances and nodded. The next moment, they vanished.
They ran away!
They fled, unwilling to repair the damage.
Heavenly Dao watched Chen Tian and Yao Yuan disappear instantly, stamping his foot in anger. He could not repair this place alone. The powers of two other Heavenly Daos were mingled within it. Without Chen Tian and Yao Yuan's assistance, there was no solution.
It would take three years for the three of them to repair it together. The prospect of one person fixing it was an endeavor that would last for an indefinite period.
Chen Tian and Yao Yuan understood this perfectly. Who would be willing to spend three years here? They simply fled.