Translator: CinderTL
It must be said that when one's cultivation and status reach a certain level, every Dharma Manifestation prioritizes their own interests above all else.
Each Avatar transformed into a cunning fisherman, content to let others fight to the death while they reaped the benefits from behind the scenes.
Yet when the situation truly descended into a hopeless abyss, and someone dared to raise their voice and find a way out, these Dharma Manifestations displayed unprecedented resolve and execution!
As Yuan Shaoyang, Universal Transformation Venerable, and others secretly contacted one Dharma Manifestation after another, those who believed even billions in compensation might not save their cultivation realms seemed to reach a decision.
Especially as their numbers grew, and the hope of Yuan Shaoyang and Universal Transformation Venerable breaking the balance of the dark horned prison and triggering its premature eruption increased, the Dharma Manifestations flocked to their banner.
By now, they had abandoned any thought of defeating Li Chunjun.
Their only hope was to trigger the dark horned prison's premature eruption, freeing them from their confinement and allowing them to escape with their lives.
Outside, countless Supreme Sages and Imperial Lords were watching, with the Demon-Quelling Great Emperor and Yuan Taiji, two top-tier supreme sages, overseeing the situation. Even with Li Chunjun's formidable cultivation, he wouldn't dare defy the world by slaughtering over a hundred dharma manifestations before the very eyes of their respective sect's supreme sages.
Such an act would far exceed the bounds of their agreed-upon duel, tantamount to declaring war on both the Wu Ji Sect and the Heavenly Palace simultaneously!
Thus, they had resolved to detonate the dark horned prison prematurely as their only path to survival.
However, with so many individuals involved, their motives varied wildly.
While some were cunning strategists, many were opportunistic schemers.
As Yuan Shaoyang and the Universal Transformation Venerable secretly plotted to exploit Li Chunjun's focus on reshaping his dharma manifestation to disrupt the dark horned prison's structure and escape, Venerable Fengxing quietly projected a strand of his mental power into Li Chunjun's vicinity.
"Venerable Li."
To ensure absolute secrecy, Venerable Fengxing's projected mental power was meticulously concealed.
Yet Li Chunjun, having perfected the Heavenly Heart Eternal Method and attained the ninth realm of the Mind Realm, possessed an unparalleled sensitivity to his surroundings.
The moment Venerable Fengxing's presence materialized, Li Chunjun's gaze locked onto him.
"If my memory serves me correctly, there are still fifteen days left of the nine months I granted you. As I stated previously, no one is permitted to cross the void trace I left behind before the deadline..."
"Venerable Li, I have no intention of defying your will! I have urgent matters to report!" Venerable Fengxing replied hastily, not daring to hesitate. "Yuan Shaoyang of the Wu Ji Sect and Universal Transformation of the Heavenly Palace are unwilling to pay their dues. They are secretly plotting to disrupt the balance of the dark horned prison, causing it to collapse and erupt prematurely, in order to escape."
He added, "Even if they succeed in collapsing the prison, their chances of escaping are far from guaranteed. Yet attempting such a breakout in this perilous environment—even if they die halfway—would still be a significant loss for you, Venerable. Each death would cost you billions in revenue..."
Li Chunjun gazed at Venerable Fengxing, his expression unchanging.
Yuan Shaoyang and Universal Transformation Venerable's concerns were indeed well-founded.
Li Chunjun had never intended to let these Dharma Manifestations go free.
In a way, this was an unspoken understanding.
However, some individuals, desperate in their dire circumstances, clung to this lifeline, deceiving themselves into believing that willingly paying the Spirit Crystals would guarantee their survival.
But they had clearly forgotten: what mechanism could enforce such a transaction?
Agreements?
Contracts?
Oaths?
Once these Dharma Manifestations escaped the dark horned prison, even if they violated their agreements, the worst they would face was failing to achieve Heart's Perfection. They could simply retreat to their respective sects, or even flee the Profound Yellow Great World entirely, living in anonymity elsewhere. Li Chunjun lacked the means to effectively restrain them.
Thus, the notion of buying one's life with Spirit Crystals contained a fatal flaw.
Yuan Shaoyang, Universal Transformation Venerable, and the others had agreed to this arrangement only because the Wu Ji Sect and Heavenly Palace had been utterly demoralized at the time.
In such a state of shattered morale, without regrouping, it was only a matter of time before Li Chunjun slaughtered them all.
Li Chunjun knew this.
He knew that many Dharma Manifestations would realize this as well.
Therefore, even while reshaping his own Dharma Manifestation, he maintained a keen awareness of the Heavenly Palace and Wu Ji Sect's Dharma Manifestations.
Especially after breaking through to the ninth realm of the Mind Realm, which brought a significant boost to his mental power, he could observe the actions of the Heavenly Palace and Wu Ji Sect members with greater clarity.
Thus, when Venerable Fengxing came to warn him, Li Chunjun had already anticipated their move. The only question was how they planned to execute it.
But...
The outcome remained the same.
"Only half a month left..." Li Chunjun murmured.
He assessed his current state.
For the past eight months, he had refrained from cultivating, even actively suppressing any growth in his cultivation realm.
Yet, at his level of cultivation, even suppressing his realm was no easy task.
Had he not prioritized advancing his Mind Realm first, he would have broken through to level 41 three months ago.
Now...
Delaying any further would be impossible beyond another month or two.
Moreover, if Yuan Shaoyang and Universal Transformation Venerable truly destroyed the structure of the dark horned prison, causing its collapse, he would never find peace to continue his cultivation.
With this thought, he exhaled deeply.
"Then let it be."
His expression hardened.
The void origin crystal, the core of his Sovereign Dharma Manifestation, began to glow brilliantly.
In the next moment, his Essence, Qi, and Spirit erupted into a violent conflagration, burning a hundred times faster than True Spirit Incineration. He poured every last drop of his Essence Qi into the void origin crystal.
Simultaneously, the Void Law and Destruction Dao he had cultivated and comprehended surged into the crystal. The Mind Power of his ninth realm, channeled through the void origin crystal, completely mastered these forces.
Venerable Fengxing, who had just reported Yuan Shaoyang to Li Chunjun, was anxiously awaiting judgment. But when he suddenly sensed this extreme transformation in Li Chunjun's state, his eyes widened in disbelief.
"Why is he suddenly burning his Essence, Qi, and Spirit?!"
His eyes widened further.
Even though there were no enemies in sight, Li Chunjun was recklessly expending and burning his Essence, Spirit, and Mind, pouring it all into reforging his Dharma Manifestation...
Could it be...?
"He failed to reforge his Dharma Manifestation and suffered a qi deviation!"
Had the urgent news he brought caused Li Chunjun to rush, leading to a critical mistake?
Though he found it hard to believe, he couldn't imagine any other reason for Li Chunjun to inexplicably burn his Essence, Spirit, and Mind. Such a drastic measure was usually reserved for life-or-death situations.
If Li Chunjun had truly succumbed to qi deviation...
"Look!"
Without hesitation, the Venerable betrayed his allegiance once more, unleashing his mental power to swiftly alert Yuan Shaoyang and the Universal Transformation Venerable to the situation: "Li Chunjun is burning his Essence Qi!"
Yuan Shaoyang and the Universal Transformation Venerable had maintained vigilance over Li Chunjun even while communicating with the other Dharma Manifestations. However, the distance between them had only allowed them to sense a drastic change in Li Chunjun's aura. To discern the exact nature of this transformation, they needed a closer look.
Venerable Fengxing's reminder quickly made the two Venerables realize something.
An opportunity!
Though they couldn't fully understand the situation—whether it was a trap, a conspiracy, or a genuine chance—it didn't diminish their perception of this moment as a once-in-a-millennium opportunity!
Because...
They had no other choice!
They couldn't afford to abandon even the slightest glimmer of hope!
"Li Chunjun's attempt to reshape his Dharma Manifestation has failed! He's suffered qi deviation and is clinging to life by burning his Essence Qi! Fellow Venerables, strike now! Settle your grudges and avenge your grievances today!" Universal Transformation Venerable roared.
"Kill!"
Yuan Shaoyang immediately rallied over twenty Sovereign Dharma Manifestations from the Wu Ji Sect. They swiftly bypassed the void trace left by Li Chunjun and charged toward him, where his Essence Qi was burning fiercely.
Perhaps there was a trap, perhaps a conspiracy!
But none of that mattered!
With no other options and forced to gamble everything, even if Li Chunjun's transformation proved to be poison, they had to take the risk.
Over a hundred Dharma Manifestations charged forward in two waves, their movements decisive and their momentum overwhelming.
Li Chunjun couldn't help but admire their execution.
Humans were truly perplexing creatures.
At times, they were as scattered as grains of sand, each dragging the others down.
Yet at other times, they could unleash remarkable combat prowess that demanded attention.
However, Li Chunjun's expression remained unchanged.
The Heavenly Palace and Wu Ji Sect's Dharma Manifestations had sealed their fate the moment they failed to unite and organize against him during his Life Level breakthrough from 39 to 40 within the dark horned prison.
Facing their desperate final assault, Li Chunjun spread his arms wide, his body merging seamlessly with the void origin crystal at the core of his Sovereign Dharma Manifestation.
Simultaneously, his Life Level effortlessly transitioned from 40 to 41, instantly replenishing the Essence Qi and Spirit that had been burning fiercely for less than three breaths.
This renewed energy surged into the Supreme Treasure within his body—the Immortal Artifact material Liu Yu had spoken of.
Driven by the Supreme Treasure, the storm power and destruction power already fused within his body erupted instantly.
Even though his Void Storm Dharma Aspect hadn't fully reformed, and even though his Dharma Aspect hadn't been fully manifested, this nascent sword qi storm still surged violently like a tsunami, crashing against the Wu Ji Sect's Dharma Aspects, which had charged forward with unwavering resolve.
That sharpness, that destruction...
In an instant, the twenty-odd Wu Ji Sect Dharma Aspects were reminded of the death-dominated terror they had felt more than eight months ago!
"How could this be...?"
Yuan Shaoyang, leading the charge, watched the roaring sword qi storm with pupils contracting sharply.
An unprecedented bitterness welled up in his heart.
He had known it all along.
Li Chunjun had been cultivating perfectly well. How could he suddenly suffer qi deviation?
Perhaps this so-called qi deviation was merely a part of his cultivation method.
They had simply failed to understand it, mistaking the fluctuations brought about by this cultivation for a chance to escape death. That's why they had staked everything on this desperate gamble!
The result...
Unexpected, yet entirely predictable!
The bitter realization lingered for a moment. As the sword qi storm drew closer and the suffocating aura of death washed over him, Yuan Shaoyang's heart burned with resentment and fury.
"Li Chunjun," he roared, "even if your talent is unmatched and your might unrivaled, the Wu Ji Sect... will never yield!"
His Essence Qi and Qi blazed violently throughout his body.
"Wu Ji Sect disciples, heed my command!"
Yuan Shaoyang unleashed a desperate, piercing cry.
Under the influence of his despair, the Dharma Manifestations that followed him seemed to grasp their impending doom. Their Essence Qi surged, and their Qi ignited.
"Kill!"
The blazing Qi coalesced into a dazzling crimson radiance, forming a river of blood that surged forward with tragic grandeur and savage ferocity. It collided head-on with the Sword Qi Long River, a torrent of destruction power.
Boom!
The Void froze.
Countless crimson mists erupted like splattered blood.
But in the very next instant, the blood mist and Qi were utterly engulfed by the sword qi storm.
Undiminished, the storm continued its relentless advance, sweeping toward the Dharma Manifestations of the Heavenly Palace.
(End of the Chapter)
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