Chapter 417: Sense deprivation

The heart of a Martial Artist lies in their vigorous Qi.

With a vigorous heart and bold spirit, they fear nothing and never stop advancing.

They dare to throw punches at stronger opponents, for the sake of the Qi in their chest, they advance resolutely and never stop.

Of course, this Ancient Holy King currently lacked such a thing.

Ever since he abandoned his sword and fled for his life, he had completely lost his heart and courage.

But at this moment, he reeked of alcohol, emanating a decadent and violent aura, completely devoid of the nobility a Martial Artist should possess.

Beside him, Lu Mountain God Jin Chi emerged from the Formation: “Give me a quarter of an hour, and I'll deal with this person.”

The demons danced and giggled, not finding the Holy King fearsome at all. Some even laughed and asked Jin Chi, “Lu Mountain God! Such a cripple, just leave him to us. How could we let you personally handle him?”

As they spoke, these demons licked their lips and fangs.

Jin Chi felt a bit disgusted, but he didn't show it. He merely said, “At least he still dares to stand out now, which is worthy of respect. Although I, Jin Chi, am brutal, I am not without courage.”

After speaking, he was seen leaving the Formation and moving to meet the Holy Flame Clan Ancient Holy King who was flying towards him.

The demons didn't mind, simply moving far away to avoid being affected by the aftermath of the battle.

Though they looked down on him, it was still a fierce battle between two sixth-ranks, which probably wouldn't be easy to deal with. The strongest among them were only seventh-rank, and without forming a military Formation, it would be difficult to withstand the battle's aftershocks from a sixth-rank.

On the Holy King's side.

Looking at the gigantic fierce tiger Spiritual Artifact floating outside the world in the distance, his wings trembled.

A wave of weakness surged from the soles of his feet, spreading throughout his entire body.

The scene of that battle from the past appeared before his eyes.

He no longer knew why he was doing this, only flying forward driven by instinct.

An unbearable, heavy, and turbid air was congested in his lungs; this pain reached an intense degree.

He felt as if he had almost lost consciousness, causing his head to ache and feel dizzy, his limbs completely uncontrollable, twitching uncontrollably.

Was he hypoxic?

Certainly not. A sixth-rank didn't even need to breathe.

Back then, his single sword strike could cleave mountains and seas, unifying the entire world.

But... that battle in the past...

Cleaving mountains and seas, even the Heavenly Dao could not bind him.

So what? Could he Breakthrough that palm strike?

The so-called mountains and seas were merely overturned by the opponent's single palm.

The Holy King, bolstered by the alcohol, had his hard-won courage and spirit broken.

However, his reason told him that at this moment, even if not out of pride, even if only to help the second child escape, he should act.

He had to act, he had to...

Deeply stirring his power, Martial Dao Inner Qi surged out, covering his fist.

A storm-like Fist Intent poured forth, and the Inner Energy gradually solidified! Standing tall against the sky, a single punch in mid-air, as if thousands of thunders exploded simultaneously, the clear sky trembled, and the earth bowed!

However, Jin Chi lightly exhaled a mouthful of Jin Qi (Metal Energy).

Just like the golden thread Li Qi had used back then, with a whoosh, it pierced out at a speed exceeding the Heavenly Dao's limit!

With a clang!

It pierced through the Fist Intent, scattered the Inner Energy, and directly slammed into the Holy King, sending him flying far away.

However, Jin Chi did not pursue him, but slowly said, “Take it, stand up and continue. You are not good at using your fists. Still, use your full strength. That way, you will have no regrets even if you die.”

On the other side, the Holy King was blasted several hundred miles away before he stopped, and a sword was stuck in his chest.

His breathing became heavy, and his heart began to pound.

This sword was his 'Innate Sword'. According to the world's classification, it was a typical sixth-rank Spiritual Artifact, and it was a unique and exclusive Spiritual Artifact. Others could only unleash 50% of its power, but he could easily unleash its full power, and even 'overclock' it, exceeding the Spiritual Artifact's limits to unleash 120%, or even 150%, of its power.

After abandoning his sword back then, he never thought that one day this item would return to his hands.

And it had been refined!

Clearly, some extremely mysterious technique had refined this naturally formed original Spiritual Artifact into a more powerful, more specialized Spiritual Artifact, with countless Jin Qi (Metal Energy) flowing within it. Was it that 'Immortal' who did it?

Yes, after taking this sword, perhaps he thought his own sword was also very useful.

The Holy King stopped advancing, pulled the sword from his chest, and a certain resonance surged within his heart.

The opponent had not taken possession of this sword, but had returned it to him, and even strengthened it.

This gave him a glimmer of hope, and respect.

Are all Immortals from outside the domain like this?

However, before this glimmer of hope could even land, a voice transmitted through a secret technique from afar rang in his ear: “You are good at using this sword, aren't you? Come, attack me. I will give you a dignified funeral.”

“Or, surrender to me, and you will still be the Holy King of this realm. You will become my patriarch in this world, and your world will move towards a more prosperous future.” Jin Chi walked steadily, noble golden light shining around him, Divine Qi swirling, full of oppressive power.

The Holy King said nothing.

The world considers those who readily embrace death as brave...

But, what's so difficult about dying?

What's truly difficult is to draw a sword against this 'Immortal' before him, such a sense of oppression...

Minor courage is born of hot blood.

Great courage arises from righteousness.

Now, he had long lost his hot blood and his courage.

All that remained was a sense of 'not letting go'.

However, the Holy King glanced below the world barrier.

The Immortal outside gave him two choices: death or surrender.

The Immortal inside also gave him two choices: to die meaninglessly, or to exchange his death for a possibility.

These Immortals...

They truly leave no way out for people.

However, being able to choose was already very good.

In the world below, there were countless Holy Flame Clan members who didn't even have the right to choose.

The Holy King squatted down and caressed the world barrier, stirring up ripples of light.

Through these ripples, he could clearly see this world.

This world that could be called 'home'.

Under great courage, fear also seemed to lessen significantly.

So, he looked up again, and his figure vanished from its original spot.

Jin Chi sighed and shook his head.

It's not easy to break and then establish. He had thought he could take in a promising talent.

Sword Qi whistled forth!

— — — — — — — — — —

Li Qi looked up at the sky.

His perception was considered very powerful among those of the same rank, even a generational gap. Some sixth-ranks might not even be able to match him. After all, with True Knowledge Dao Resonance and Information Stream Vision, Li Qi's eyesight could be said to be very strong.

Therefore, through the anomalies outside, he could clearly see the battle outside.

The battle of a Martial Artist, truly, was fierce.

Fierce, powerful, the long sword in his hand like lightning, striking directly at the wild tiger.

A sword strike like the sky collapsing, the firmament itself seemed to be under the Sword Intent, countless sword lights flickering outside the sky, as if to cut down the stars.

The fierce tiger, his opponent, was completely engulfed in the sword light. Even Li Qi could not penetrate the impenetrable sword shadows.

As expected of a sixth-rank, under his own sacrificial blessing, fighting with his life, the combat power he unleashed, if it were within the world, would probably be enough to make the kingdom below 'sink'.

To be able to conquer this world back then was indeed entirely due to his strength, dominating an era.

However, he couldn't win...

He simply couldn't get close.

The greatest strength and weakness of a Martial Artist lay in this.

Martial Dao Inner Qi, in essence, is obtained by a Martial Artist devouring other Qi and refining it. Therefore, Martial Artists attach great importance to 'eating'. They devour different types of Qi and transform them into their own Martial Dao Inner Qi. No matter what they eat, it will eventually transform into Qi of the same nature.

This gives Martial Dao Inner Qi an extremely powerful effect: no matter what kind of Qi, when it encounters Martial Dao Inner Qi, it will dissolve like ice and snow meeting fire, being completely devoured.

A Martial Artist's single punch can break all techniques, essentially by using this method to forcibly melt through the opponent's techniques.

The so-called techniques and Divine Abilities, when broken down, are merely different types of Qi, revolving around the 'Dao', thereby forming different shapes and producing different effects.

In fact, it is very similar to a machine. Various small parts are put together, and then they can produce various effects and influence the outside world.

Different types of Qi are the small parts, and techniques are the assembled machines.

From a simple gear set that even a primary school student can assemble, to a Gundam that crosses the Universe, their essence is all based on this principle, or rather... called 'Dao'.

However, Martial Dao Inner Qi is completely different. Martial Dao Inner Qi is more like collecting all the parts, and then melting them all! Turning them into lava!

Then, using this lava, they turn the opponent's machine into scrap metal.

Breaking through all techniques and protective Divine Abilities, directly using brute force to beat the opponent into a corpse!

This is the unique advantage of Martial Dao Inner Qi.

But the weakness is also this.

Lava itself cannot form any machine, so Martial Artists cannot apply any Divine Ability, cannot use techniques, and even longevity is not achieved through techniques, but through Physical Body quality.

As long as the Physical Body is strong enough not to decay, then one will naturally not die. There is no need to use all sorts of flashy things to protect one's vitality like other Dao paths.

The extremely short attack range of a Martial Artist is due to this reason.

The Holy King shattered countless techniques and crushed Lu Mountain God's attacks countless times. In a desperate battle, disregarding the consequences, he unleashed power beyond any previous instance.

But—

He couldn't get half a step closer.

Lu Mountain God... was too strong.

Although he was a sixth-rank, his strength allowed him to contend with a fifth-rank, and he was also very wealthy.

One could see that Lu Mountain God was surrounded by Five Spirits and a hundred treasures, like a thousand-threaded iron net.

There were swords, sabers, daggers, scissors, bows, arrows, crossbows, projectiles, spears, halberds, lances, arrowheads, pearls, rings, bracelets, tubes, seals, tripods, gui vessels, bells, furnaces, bo bells, zheng bells, and duo bells.

Moreover, they were all Innate Jin Qi (Metal Energy)! Their number might be in the millions, so vast as to be immeasurable! Infinite and boundless!

From Li Qi's perspective, Lu Mountain God's fighting style was entirely about overwhelming the opponent with money.

How many Spiritual Artifacts did that Green Mountain produce?

But thinking about it, it made sense. Lu Mountain God had been dwelling in a treasure land for thousands of years; his foundation was probably incalculable.

Why is Green Mountain called Green Mountain?

There were too many metals of gold, iron, and copper, which rusted, covering the entire mountain with green and yellow rust. When it rained, the entire golden mountain turned yellow-green, thus earning the name Green Mountain.

In this situation, it was no wonder Lu Mountain God would use this fighting style.

Every second, thousands of Spiritual Artifacts were shattered, but Jin Chi didn't care at all. He just stood there, watching the Holy King, who was surrounded by endless Spiritual Artifacts.

Watching the other party struggle bitterly, watching the other party desperately fight for survival.

The Heavenly God stood indifferently, observing the Mortal who had given his all.

The Divine Dao is naturally superior.

This is 'God'.

The earliest Divine Dao was actually created by those Innate Divine Beings, who were naturally superior to other Mortals. Although Lu Mountain God was not an Innate Divine Being, he had already cultivated a Divine Body, and countless worlds believed in him, which was also the source of his demeanor.

At this moment, even if the Holy King chose to surrender again, he would not stop.

There was only one chance; once missed, there was only death.

Seeing the Holy King struggling to cope under the onslaught of the endless Spiritual Artifact rain, Lu Mountain God spoke.

He said, “To be defeated like this, you probably won't be convinced. I said I would give you a good funeral, and I cannot go back on my word.”

After speaking, he waved his hand, and the endless Spiritual Artifact rain suddenly retracted, flying back behind him, leaving only a pile of broken fragments on the ground.

The Inner Energy on the Holy King's body flickered, a sign of extreme fatigue, similar to a normal person gasping for breath.

But he did not stop to recover his Qi; instead, he seized this opportunity to accelerate sharply! Charging towards Lu Mountain God!

A strike that burned his potential.

Several distorted sword shadows streaked across the sky, sweeping like wind, instantly extending for dozens of miles, truly as fast as a “meteor”, causing his entire body to turn red, erupting with fire and heat!

This sword directly pierced Lu Mountain God's body.

The aftermath exploded, causing the world barrier beneath them to ripple like a water surface, spreading for hundreds of miles!

The shockwaves flew backward like white lines of waves, startling the demons to scatter and hide, but many who were close were directly annihilated.

However—

Lu Mountain God remained expressionless.

Facing the explosive strike of a peer sixth-rank Martial Artist, he was actually completely unharmed.

The reason was very simple.

A phantom of a 'Green Mountain' was swirling around him.

Green Mountain was Lu Mountain God's Dao foundation.

The purest Jin Qi (Metal Energy) mountain, of ultimate hardness and solidity, descended upon this place.

The Holy King's life-forged strike couldn't even leave a scratch.

Then, a cracking sound was heard.

The Holy King's exoskeleton, and the sword in his hand, shattered together.

The power of Green Mountain was not something a sixth-rank Spiritual Artifact and a sixth-rank Martial Artist could withstand.

Lu Mountain God reached out and lightly patted, turning the Holy King into dust.

Completely annihilated.

“It's a pity about this Spiritual Artifact, though. I even reforged it once. What a waste.” Lu Mountain God sighed.

However, when he patted, he felt something stick to his hand.

“What is this? Blood?” Jin Chi raised his hand and looked at the red marks on it.

Blood was quite normal.

But... the Holy Flame Clan's blood didn't seem to be red.

But before he could think further.

Suddenly, darkness struck!

Lu Mountain God immediately lost his gaze and stood愣 where he was.

The Five Sense Deprivation from the Five Aggregates Demonic Blood!