Redemption of a Born Demon

Chapter 356 - 260: True Qi Condensation Form, a Cold Sword Gleam of 70 Meters

The woman said with a light laugh.

Flying Sword Technique?

Mount Emei was very close to Qingcheng, so Zhou Qingchen could naturally recognize the Flying Sword Technique.

She recalled reading reports about it. During the battle of Modu, one of the three Ancient One avatars that attacked Yi Beidou had used a similar Flying Sword Technique.

Pioneer Group, Cyan Sword.

"Something unexpected happened on Devi’s end. Even though this is just an ordinary target, we still have to ensure complete success."

Cyan Sword said coolly.

The Pioneer Group had internally assigned a threat rating for this mission’s target, and Zhou Qingchen’s index wasn’t high.

After all, during the battle of Modu, she had defeated Ulysses, the representative of the Starry Sky Country’s "Sea," but it was a pyrrhic victory achieved only by using a Secret Technique. She had suffered a severe backlash afterward, and for several months, there were no records or data of her taking any action.

Although the Pioneer Group’s intelligence network was formidable, it couldn’t obtain information about Zhou Qingchen Crossing the Tribulation. Thus, they only used the power she displayed with her Secret Technique when defeating Ulysses as their reference point.

By that standard, Zhou Qingchen’s rating was indeed quite ordinary. The only issue was her speed, which made a one-hit kill difficult. However, dispatching two of their avatars should have been more than enough to guarantee success.

’An ordinary target...’

Hearing his words, a muscle in Zhou Qingchen’s cheek twitched.

BUZZ!

A jade-like, cyan-green spot of light appeared on her palm. The light then spread at incredible speed, enveloping her entire body.

WHOOSH!

Her long black hair floated upward as her body became weightless. Her toes barely touched the ground, as if she could ascend into the sky at any moment.

Like a Fallen Immortal’s Descent, a Celestial Maiden Descending to the mortal realm.

Ascension Technique!

When she fought Ulysses, using this Secret Technique had left her severely injured. But things were completely different now.

After being tempered by the ordeal of the Celestial Vault Gang Wind, her Yang Spirit was now incredibly stable. The backlash from this Secret Technique had been drastically reduced, allowing her to use it at will in regular combat.

In the three months hidden from the Pioneer Group’s view, her power had increased tremendously.

"Oh? A little bit of an aura, I see."

The woman said with a light laugh. She flicked a finger, and the cards circling her trembled. An exceptionally brilliant card flew out and struck Cyan Sword’s body.

In the world as the woman saw it, amidst the countless threads of the environment, the one connected to Cyan Sword lit up brightly, making him stand out in her vision.

Astrology: Life Star Amplification!

Every person has their own Star of Destiny. With a radiant Life Star—Fate’s Radiance—one’s strength is enhanced in every aspect, their connection to the world deepens, and they gain immense, indescribable boons such as good fortune.

This Technique could greatly enhance a person’s Life Star in a short time, boosting their potential and attuning them more closely to the natural environment, allowing them to leverage a more massive Magnetic Force.

This kind of amplification had a potent effect on a Sword Immortal like Cyan Sword, who cultivated Qi.

But this wasn’t the end. More cards flickered and disintegrated as a series of terrifying effects were stacked onto Zhou Qingchen.

Within the Astrology Horizon, the light from Zhou Qingchen’s body rapidly dimmed, and the threads connected to her became faint and illusory.

Zhou Qingchen felt a power acting upon her body.

Life Star Amplification!

Sensory Deprivation!

Qi Weakening!

Battle Intent Devouring!

A terrifying series of debuffs assailed her in an instant.

This was the Astrologer’s way of fighting.

Without lifting a finger, she could drive an opponent to their death simply by manipulating the magnetic field.

Its profound nature was reminiscent of the Celestial Gu Technique used by Zhu Zi’Er; different paths to the same end. However, the threat she posed was far greater than that of Zhu Zi’Er during the battle of Modu.

In terms of power, range, and area of effect.

By continuously weakening her opponent’s Life Star and magnetic field, forcing them into a state of Fading Destiny, she could directly sever their thread of fate.

A person who has lost their thread of fate, completely severed from the world, is as good as dead.

However, she wasn’t acting alone this time. There was no need to go through the trouble of waiting for that to happen.

The rest could be left to Cyan Sword.

The next moment.

BUZZ!

Three cyan Flying Swords suddenly shot out from Cyan Sword’s upper, middle, and lower Dantians. The moment they left his body, they slammed into one another and fused, condensing into a single, dazzlingly brilliant Flying Sword!

The Flying Sword was covered in complex Talisman patterns, its cutting edge glowing across several meters. It was like a Celestial Sword Approaching the Dust.

This was a killing blow aimed at Zhou Qingchen.

The Astrology amplifying Cyan Sword and weakening Zhou Qingchen had widened the gap in their power. Moreover, both the Astrologer and Cyan Sword had extremely long attack ranges. Despite being over a hundred meters away, they could still launch a fatal attack. This meant Zhou Qingchen’s speed would also be severely suppressed!

No matter how fast her physical body was, could it be faster than a Flying Sword condensed from a magnetic field, moving as it pleased?

Therefore, in their eyes, Zhou Qingchen’s death was certain.

SWOOSH!

The Flying Sword was simply too fast. Bolstered by the Astrologer’s power, it appeared before Zhou Qingchen in an instant, aimed at her chest.

Unavoidable!

Even Yi Beidou had failed to dodge the terrifying speed of this Flying Sword back then.

Once it pierced her chest, the Flying Sword would surely destroy Zhou Qingchen’s Life Magnetic Field.

Furthermore, the Flying Sword Cyan Sword used this time was not the single-use type he’d employed against Yi Beidou, but one that could attack multiple times at his command.

As long as Zhou Qingchen was injured, the battle would be decided.

However...

THUNK!

The Flying Sword plunged half an inch into Zhou Qingchen’s chest and stopped, caught fast. The blade vibrated but couldn’t advance another inch.

"What is this?!"

Seeing this, Cyan Sword’s pupils contracted sharply.

A Flying Sword is made of True Qi. No matter how strong a physical body is, it shouldn’t be able to block it. Otherwise, Yi Beidou wouldn’t have been pierced through the chest.

For the Flying Sword to be stopped dead in its tracks, there was only one possibility.

’This person’s Life Magnetic Field is as solid as bronze and iron.’

’What terrifying stability is this?!’

This was the fruit of Zhou Qingchen Crossing the Tribulation.

Her Yang Spirit body had condensed until it was almost real. The endless Celestial Vault Gang Wind had been like countless flying swords, constantly tempering her Life Magnetic Field.

Now, she possessed a Transformed Body!

’Underestimating me will cost you dearly!’

SNAP!

"Is this the power of an Ancient One’s avatar? So weak."

A smile touched Zhou Qingchen’s lips. She grabbed the Flying Sword lodged in her chest, binding it tightly with the power of her Yang Spirit. Simultaneously, she stamped her foot.

SWOOSH!

Her weightless form shot forward, and this time, it was the Astrologer’s turn to look horrified.

All the debuffs she had placed on Zhou Qingchen were severed by a cyan light as condensed as amber, leaving not a single trace behind.

Dustless Sword Step!

’How can her power be so far beyond what our intelligence suggested?!’

’Three months ago, she was just an ordinary Saint Realm expert!’

’Retreat!’

However, Zhou Qingchen was too fast. The Astrologer had no time to think. Her abilities weren’t suited for close combat; if Zhou Qingchen got near, she would have no way to fight back.

Her only hope was to create distance, giving her Astrology Skill time to stack its effects.

But in the next moment, her pupils went vacant, and her mouth fell open.

SWOOSH!

A flash of sword-light, as condensed as amber, swept upward from below, cleaving her entire Life Magnetic Field in two.

THUMP THUMP THUMP!

In an instant, her organs shuddered, her brain roared, and blood burst from her eyes, ears, nostrils, and mouth.

While not instantly fatal, her body was catastrophically injured in a split second.

She looked over and saw Zhou Qingchen standing in the distance, still holding the posture of two raised fingers.

They were still nearly seventy meters apart.

’A slash of sword light that covered nearly seventy meters?!’

"True Qi Condensation Form, freely changing its size?"

Seeing this, Cyan Sword’s expression also changed dramatically.

’With this move alone, she’s qualified to contend with my main body.’

"It seems we underestimated you,"

Cyan Sword said with a sigh, watching Zhou Qingchen rush toward him.

He knew they had no chance of escape.

"No. You underestimated this era!"

Zhou Qingchen’s cold voice echoed in his ears.

SQUELCH!

Then her two fingers, as sharp and pointed as a sword, pierced through the center of Cyan Sword’s brow.