Chapter 60

Ascending to the heights of the nine heavens, breathing in the essence of heaven and earth, and attaining the path of immortality is the lifelong aspiration of every cultivator. However, the path to immortality is distant, and the great way is ruthless. The path of cultivation is fraught with dangers, and a single misstep can lead to a fall into the cycle of rebirth.

Therefore, cultivators, while contemplating the great way of heaven and earth, must use various means to avoid misfortune and protect their own safety. Magic treasures are the protective magical tools that cultivators use to defend against natural disasters and human calamities.

A cultivator’s magic treasure is refined day and night with their own Dao power, making it spiritually aware and immensely powerful. Generally, the higher the cultivation level of a cultivator, the more powerful the magic treasure they can refine.

For example, the Xuanwu Seal of the Purple Bamboo Peak lineage and the Seven-Leaf Treasure Branch in Ziyu’s hand are both refined by great cultivators at the Void Mastery realm.

As a result, to fully unleash the power of these two magic treasures, the cultivator using them must at least have reached the Void Mastery realm.

Ziyu’s cultivation is only at the initial stage of the Eighth Heaven of Awakening, and he can only unleash a small portion of the Seven-Leaf Treasure Branch’s power. Therefore, Gu Fei was able to shake this powerful magic treasure of the Tai Xuan Peak lineage.

If this magic treasure were to unleash its full power, even if Gu Fei had ten lives, they would not be enough to save him.

On the platform, Gu Fei pressed forward step by step, continuously using his fists to clash with the Seven-Leaf Treasure Branch in Ziyu’s hand. Brilliant golden light and emerald green Wood Essence Qi collided intensely, producing a series of thunderous booms.

The platform under Gu Fei’s feet, heavy as a mountain, shook violently, as if it could collapse at any moment.

The Metal Fist was overwhelmingly powerful. Even though Ziyu continuously used powerful Dao techniques and even released hundreds of thorny vines to entangle Gu Fei, all of them were shattered by the force of his punches. Ziyu seemed to be at a disadvantage.

Without any weapons, Gu Fei was subtly forcing Ziyu, who held the Seven-Leaf Treasure Branch, into a disadvantageous position. The combat strength Gu Fei displayed was truly unbelievable.

“Master, the cultivation techniques of the Cui Ling Peak lineage seem not to be underestimated!” the Daoist Xuan Fa, sitting on the steps in front of the square, suddenly said to the Daoist Xuan Tian beside him.

“This young man is not simple. At such a young age, he has cultivated the techniques of the Cui Ling Peak lineage to such a realm. Even compared to his deceased master, he seems to be no less!” the head of the Purple Bamboo Peak, Long Hongxue, also spoke.

“From what I know, the cultivation techniques of the Cui Ling Peak lineage are extremely difficult to cultivate and achieve success. Is this disciple of the Cui Ling Peak lineage really a once-in-a-century cultivation genius?” the head of the Wangyue Peak, Daoist Xuan Cang, said.

The heads of the seven lineages were all surprised by the strength Gu Fei displayed.

However, no one knew that Gu Fei was not a cultivation genius. The reason he had such cultivation today was because of a secret that only he knew.

A Yin-Yang Fish Jade Pendant increased his cultivation speed tenfold. Besides increasing his cultivation speed, this Yin-Yang Fish Jade Pendant could also gather the surrounding essence of heaven and earth when Gu Fei cultivated.

It was this magical jade pendant, which had fused into Gu Fei’s chest, leaving only a faint Taiji symbol on his skin, that greatly increased his cultivation.

However, this mysterious Yin-Yang Fish Jade Pendant, on the night when the Six Path Demon Lord attacked Tai Xuan a year ago, suddenly flew out of Gu Fei’s chest. It not only forcibly extracted part of the spiritual energy contained in the Tai Xuan Sect’s divine artifact, the Qiankun Mirror, but also broke the Tai Xuan Sect’s protective mountain array and drained the spiritual energy of the eighty-one spirit stones used to suppress the array’s focal points.

After absorbing such an immense amount of spiritual energy, this mysterious Yin-Yang Fish Jade Pendant seemed to become dormant. After fusing into Gu Fei’s chest, it had shown no abnormalities for the past year.

The tenfold cultivation speed greatly benefited Gu Fei, increasing his ability to absorb the essence of heaven and earth. He did not have to worry about his power running out. Each punch he threw seemed like a golden sun exploding, shaking the heavens and earth. With full effort, he broke through all kinds of Dao techniques, forcing Ziyu to retreat continuously.

“Whoosh!” With the Eight Directions Step, Gu Fei suddenly left a residual image on the spot and soared into the sky, breaking through the layers of Wood Essence Qi with the Metal Fist and leaping into the air.

“Haha…” Gu Fei suddenly let out a loud laugh, the sound deafening, the rolling sound waves breaking the sky and making the ears of the surrounding disciples ring.

Gu Fei’s disheveled hair flew, his eyes sharp like blades. His tall figure suddenly inverted, head down and feet up, then dived down.

“Metal and Wood Combined!” Gu Fei lightly shouted, his expression becoming extremely solemn. He punched downward with both fists, the right fist emitting brilliant golden light, and the left fist radiating a misty green glow, stirring up fierce gales, as if invoking the Metal and Wood forces of the great Five Elements. A vast expanse of blinding light poured down.

“This…” Ziyu, looking up at this scene, was greatly shocked, his face turning pale. “That is… he… how is it possible…”

Ziyu clearly sensed that Gu Fei’s aura had undergone a tremendous change. Two overwhelming forces were emanating from his body, one of which Ziyu was extremely familiar with, as it was the surging Wood Essence Qi.

How could two opposing forces coexist in one body? This was truly inconceivable.

Not only was Ziyu stunned, but even the Tai Xuan Sect disciples watching from below were all dumbfounded, as if turned to stone.

In the air above the platform, the two forces continuously collided, not weakening but instead growing stronger, emitting even more powerful energy fluctuations.

The combination of the two elements was still incredibly powerful. This was a combat technique that Gu Fei had comprehended after breaking through to the Eighth Heaven of Awakening. If this technique were to be fully mastered, it could combine all five elements, unleashing a terrifying power that could make the heavens and earth pale.

Currently, Gu Fei could only combine two elements.

Gu Fei’s execution of this technique was not smooth, as he had not yet fully grasped and mastered it. However, even so, he could continuously unleash his potential.

The Metal Fist and the Wood Fist collided, the two elemental forces intertwining and increasing in power. The combined force was like a river of the nine heavens pouring down, unstoppable, causing the heavens and earth to tremble. The platform below shook violently, cracks appearing on its surface.

The protective magic applied to the platform seemed unable to withstand the overwhelming force pouring down from above, and it was on the verge of shattering.

Seeing this, the spectators around the platform were greatly alarmed and quickly retreated to a distance, not daring to approach.

On the steps in front of the square, the heads of the seven lineages and the Sect Master Xuan Tian were also moved. The power of the combined elements was astonishing. The protective magic on the platform was strong enough to withstand the full attack of a cultivator at the peak of the Ninth Heaven of Awakening.

Did this mean that the power of Gu Fei’s combined elements could rival the full attack of a cultivator at the peak of the Ninth Heaven of Awakening? A martial artist, a terrifying martial artist, invincible among peers, was indeed not an empty claim!

Even if the Cui Ling Peak lineage faced the risk of decline, they did not abandon the cultivation of this ancient body-strengthening technique, which was not a rash decision.

In the crowd, Zhao Zirou looked up at the figure diving down from the sky with amazement, her eyes sparkling.

At this moment, Ziyu, facing the combined force of the two elements, felt as if a mountain was pressing down on him from above, the overwhelming force almost making him unable to stand straight.

“Good job, Gu Fei. I didn’t expect you to be so formidable. It seems I underestimated you!” thoughts raced through Ziyu’s mind.

Seeing the overwhelming force of the combined elements about to envelop him, he made a move that no one could have predicted. Ziyu, a disciple of the Tai Xuan Peak lineage, waved the Seven-Leaf Treasure Branch in his hand, releasing surging Wood Essence Qi, and broke through Gu Fei’s punch.

Gu Fei’s combined elements unleashed an overwhelming punch, enveloping the entire platform. For Ziyu to break through Gu Fei’s punch, he would have to leave the platform.

Thus, as soon as Ziyu’s feet touched the ground outside the platform, he would lose the match. However, Ziyu did indeed leap off the platform in front of the astonished crowd.

“Roar!” The moment Ziyu leaped off the platform, he roared, a powerful wave of magic energy bursting from his body. He took steps in the air, making an incredible turn, as if there were an invisible ladder in the void, and soared into the sky.

Ziyu’s body narrowly avoided the overwhelming punch from Gu Fei, not only evading the punch but also reaching the same height as Gu Fei.

“Whoosh!” The Seven-Leaf Treasure Branch in Ziyu’s hand suddenly emitted a brilliant light, the emerald glow swirling as it grew into a massive treasure tree over a dozen zhang tall.

Ziyu raised the treasure tree and smashed it down at Gu Fei without hesitation. Gu Fei’s strength was truly astonishing, his martial skills and divine abilities difficult to counter. Even with a powerful magic treasure in hand, Ziyu felt a sense of danger.

“Humph!” Gu Fei let out a cold laugh, continuing his rapid descent, but he retracted the combined force of the two elements.

“Thud!” Gu Fei’s body landed on the platform, his feet hitting it like a massive drum, producing a dull sound.

His right side was surrounded by golden light, while his left side was enveloped in ghostly green flames. The Metal and Wood forces surged within him, making him look extremely strange.

At the moment Gu Fei landed on the platform, a massive tree, emitting a mountain-like force, was already smashing down on his head.

“Roar!” Gu Fei clenched his fists and punched upward, the right fist representing Metal and the left fist representing Wood. The two elements combined, the fists vibrating as the two different forces intertwined and struck the massive treasure tree.

“Boom!” The energy wave formed by the combined elements instantly collided with the treasure tree transformed from the Seven-Leaf Treasure Branch. The overwhelming punch, in the shocked gaze of the crowd, directly sent the treasure tree flying.

Ziyu’s body shook violently, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and he was thrown back as if struck by lightning.

“Boom!” With a loud sound, the platform under Gu Fei’s feet finally could not withstand the overwhelming force and shattered. Gu Fei’s body fell with the collapsing platform.

At the same time, a figure rushed up from the ground. A middle-aged Daoist in a green robe caught the flying Ziyu, recalled the Seven-Leaf Treasure Branch, which had shrunk to its normal size, and retreated.