The Great Beyond Realm lay between the Bitter Sea Realm and the Nepenthe Realm.
That was like an insurmountable chasm in the world of cultivation. There had never been an instance where someone in the Bitter Sea Realm had defeated someone in the Nepenthe Realm. The gap between the two realms was just too vast, and even with countless magic artifacts, the possibility of success was nearly nonexistent. Fortunately, what Chen Chao was trying to do now was not to defeat Daoist Master Ironcloud; it was simply to survive under his hands.
In the history of the cultivation world, there were only a few rare instances of a cultivator in the Bitter Sea Realm escaping from the clutches of a Nepenthe Realm expert in one-on-one combat. All of those youngsters who achieved such feats went on to become prominent figures in the years to come.
Chen Chao had already proven his exceptional abilities, but could the current him do it too?
Gripping the broken saber tightly, Chen Chao did not hesitate at all. The qi within his body surged and the flow accelerated. In each realm, the speed of qi flow was virtually fixed for cultivators. But the qi within Chen Chao's body started accelerating strangely again at this moment.
A white mist with golden threads slowly seeped out of his mouth and nose, making it look rather special.
Daoist Master Ironcloud activated a star and his palm emitted a deep blue light. Despite his severe injuries, he still brought forth his lifetime cultivation at this moment. This strike was his most powerful technique, even surpassing any previous state. Under the prerequisite of certain death, Daoist Master Ironcloud actually managed to take another step forward. Could this be the legendary ability to comprehend more in the face of death?
Unfortunately, everything was all too late. Right from when Daoist Master Ironcloud chose to kill Chen Chao, even if he took another step forward, it was also too late.
Because when he killed Chen Chao, he would definitely have a hole punched through by the Warden behind him.
Although the Warden would rather abandon his plan to kill Daoist Master Ironcloud and save Chen Chao at this moment, it was very clear that he did not have the capability to do so. Regardless of the circumstances, he would always be one step too slow. He lacked the many techniques of an immortal cultivator and could not arrive in front of Chen Chao at this instant.
A trace of worry flashed across his eyes and similarly a hint of anger. Killing a young man whom he held in high regard in front of him was naturally a great humiliation.
The Warden's eyes were as sharp as knives. If looks could kill, Daoist Master Ironcloud would have already died countless times by now.
Chen Chao did not know what the Warden was thinking at this moment, he just looked seriously at Daoist Master Ironcloud. When the star appeared not far from him, he chose to draw his sword. That broken saber was instantly pulled out of the sheathe by him, carrying a flash of snowy-white saber light as it crashed towards the approaching star.
The star, radiating a deep blue light and carrying a message of death, looked ordinary. But there was an undercurrent within that was very terrifying. Coupled with the gap in their cultivation realms, this saber strike was destined to have no effect.
The sharp blade failed to cut apart the star. It just hacked off some tiny fragments.
Those fragments were also razor-sharp. As they fell, they landed on Chen Chao's arm, quickly slicing through his skin and making blood flow out.
Some fragments even burrowed into his body, flowing deeper into his body through his blood vessels. Under normal circumstances, Chen Chao might have sought an opportunity to expel these fragments, but now, he did not have the time.
Actually, within his body, a white mist had long emerged in his meridians, enveloping the fragments that penetrated deep inside him. In an instant, it crushed and completely eradicated them.
But regardless of whether these fragments that entered his body would be eliminated or not, it was not the most pressing concern right now.
Chen Chao was currently facing another life-or-death trial.
His only advantage was that the Warden had healed many of his injuries earlier, and now, he was facing a severely injured Nepenthe Realm cultivator.
The balance would not be tipped by these trifling things, let alone be swayed in any way. Chen Chao's current situation remained perilous.
The oppressive feeling from the star was overwhelming. However, after a brief moment, Chen Chao could no longer hold onto his broken saber. After the webbing between his thumb and index finger ripped apart, the broken saber flew off into the distance. It pierced several large trees in succession before firmly embedding itself in the trunk of a large tree, with only the hilt exposed.
Daoist Master Ironcloud's expressionless face had already arrived in front of him.
That star illuminated his face, making him look even more terrifying.
Chen Chao was now without his saber. Facing the all-out attack of this powerful cultivator in the Nepenthe Realm, how would he respond?
"I don't know if you are as frightened as I am right now. Death is, of course, a terrifying thing."
Daoist Master Ironcloud's indifferent voice rang out. Even if he killed Chen Chao, he would soon face death himself too. When he spoke these words, he had a hint of lament.
Chen Chao looked at Daoist Master Ironcloud. Looking at his face that was illuminated by the star, he shook his head.
"I don't know what it's like to die because I won't die."
As he spoke, a page of paper suddenly appeared at his fingertips.
That page was stained with a lot of blood, but the blood could not dampen the paper; it just dripped down little by little. The paper itself had rows of tiny, golden characters, making it look very extraordinary.
The instant he saw this piece of paper, Daoist Master Ironcloud became unbelievably furious, "So, it was you, you thief?!"
The fundamental reason behind Daoist Master Ironcloud's loss of composure today was actually the theft of this page of paper. Previously, he just thought that Yu Xiyi had stolen that page, which was why he showed no mercy when he attacked Yu Xiyi. Now, he found out that it was Chen Chao who had stolen that piece of paper.
It naturally made him even more angry.
At the same time, he felt that his decision to end Chen Chao's life at the last moment of his own life was an extremely correct one.
But Chen Chao did not want to die.
He held that page in his hand and faced it right at Daoist Master Ironcloud.
Back then, Yu Xiyi taunted this page of paper. Then, he ended up severely injured.
So what about Daoist Master Ironcloud?
That star had already crashed over.
The terrifying pressure of a Nepenthe Realm powerhouse had already crushed down. No one could evade it.
The page suddenly broke free from Chen Chao's hand and floated in front of him. Then, terrifying auras poured out from the golden characters on the paper.
Daoist Master Ironcloud's face suddenly became extremely ugly. Looking at this scene, it was unclear what he was thinking.
That star had already collided.
Countless auras had surged from the page, meeting the star head-on.
……
……
Many years ago, those young people who were seen as ants by them returned from exploring that ruin, bringing back many decent magic artifacts. Among them, a frail youth fearfully took out a piece of paper covered in golden writing. The daoist responsible for receiving these items did not even look at it and casually tossed it into the pile of items. The young man also died that very day because he was too weak.
Later, these items were delivered in front of Daoist Master Ironcloud. Daoist Master Ironcloud took a look at them. Those magic artifacts held no meaning to him, what he wanted were ancient cultivation methods, what he wanted was the true path to immortality. Hence, he picked up that piece of paper.
After taking a look, he was shocked by the powerful aura on it.
He believed it to be the work of an ancient prominent figure, as long as he could decipher its contents, he would surely gain something. For many years thereafter, he had been studying the contents the entire time. For this, he spent a great deal of time and also reaped many benefits. At the very least, his cultivation realm had taken another step forward.
But, he also did not know what secrets were on this page.
But he was very clear that the person who wrote the words on this page was not someone whom he could rival.
But now, whether it was by choice or by fate, that star of his had clashed with that page of paper.
……
……
The aura that was terrifying to the extreme surged from that page of paper. It was an aura that originated countless years ago and was still as powerful today.
Chen Chao looked at the star in front of him, as if he saw the back view of a towering figure in it. That powerful existence stood there, seemingly indifferent, calm and collected.
But it was unlikely that any of the individuals here considered that figure to be genuinely indifferent.
A profound fear appeared in Daoist Master Ironcloud's eyes. That star was instantly shattered, scattering all over the ground.
Daoist Master Ironcloud's complexion turned deathly pale. A streak of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He took several steps backward in despair, but he still did not die.
The aura on that page of paper was exceedingly measured. It harbored no killing intent towards any cultivator in the world. When provoked by Yu Xiyi earlier, it provided a corresponding response and merely injured him rather than taking his life. Facing that star now, it just shattered it and incidentally wounded Daoist Master Ironcloud without claiming his life either.
However, there were undoubtedly people in the world who wanted to take his life.
Such as Chen Chao, and also the Warden...
The Warden had already struck him with a punch to his back.
Daoist Master Ironcloud had all vitality crushed by this punch, but he did not seem to have any painful expression. His eyes were very bewildered and it was unclear what he was thinking.
It was also unknown what he saw earlier.
