Chapter Fifty-Five: The Divine Majesty of the Sun Emperor

Yang Nan saw clearly that the power Bu Xu wielded could be summed up in a single word—Break!

He glimpsed that graceful figure flash lightly across the sky.

Six grandmasters’ magical artifacts shot toward her like six rainbows. Bu Xu, holding the Yin-Yang Sword, went forth to meet them.

Seven streaks of rainbow light collided in the heavens, bursting forth with dazzling brilliance like the clash of comets!

A clear hum rang out—the Immortal Yin-Yang Sword sang. As its energies flowed, even time and space seemed to freeze. Though the six treasures possessed boundless power, in that instant, they were caught fast in midair, unable to move!

Thunderous explosions echoed. In a heartbeat, the Immortal Yin-Yang Sword’s yin and yang energies severed the head of the Divine General, tore open the Blood Corpse’s abdomen, crushed the magic seal, sliced through the ink cord, shattered the demon pearl, and broke the treasured blade!

No matter how potent their magic or how fierce their aura, when faced with Bu Xu’s sword, all were swept aside like dead twigs—one strike settled all accounts!

Before the Immortal Yin-Yang Sword, every magical artifact or spell met only one fate: defeat.

The six rainbows were swiftly cut to pieces, their brilliance vanished without a trace. Against Bu Xu, the six grandmasters were like six infants, utterly unable to retaliate.

The blade hummed like a dragon’s cry. Bu Xu smiled coldly, her sword radiating a terrifying might. Black and gold energies entwined like dragons and serpents, descending from the heavens to bind the six grandmasters in an instant.

“Explode!” Bu Xu commanded, her voice icy. The yin and yang energies erupted with a roar, shattering like stars, splendid and beautiful.

The swirling energies destroyed the protective magic around each grandmaster in a blink.

In that brief moment, all six grandmasters were utterly defeated, blood spraying from their mouths as they collapsed to the ground, powerless to fight back. Their magical artifacts, heavily damaged, returned to their owners, their spiritual light greatly diminished.

‘How awe-inspiring! What a fierce aura!’ Yang Nan was overjoyed within. Since Bu Xu had gained the Immortal Yin-Yang Wheel, her powers had grown unfathomable. With a sword in hand, she truly dominated the world. The secret of the “Break” technique from the School of Weapons was wielded to perfection by Bu Xu; whenever she held a sword, nothing could withstand her blade, nothing could resist her breaking force. This was the true might of the Kunlun School of Weapons!

“Yang Lan, I’ve heard you hold our Daoist arts in contempt at Seeking Immortal Mansion. Today, Bu Xu wishes to see how much of Mad Song’s divine skill you have mastered!” Sword in hand, Bu Xu faced Yang Lan, her icy gaze brimming with murderous intent. Yang Lan scorned Daoist arts, dismissing the Daoist sects—how could Bu Xu let that pass?

Yang Lan knew his fate was sealed against a great sage like Bu Xu; what did it matter that he was a grandmaster? The gap between them was vast beyond measure.

But now, what use was begging for mercy?

Yang Lan clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit. “Martial arts connect to the divine. Though my skills are humble, I will not let you disgrace my master! Today’s battle, I will fight to the death!”

Bu Xu sneered. “Very well, let’s see what power your Six Path Primordial Skill truly possesses.”

Yang Lan stamped his feet, racing swiftly through the void. The qi around him burned fiercely. With a shout, he shot across the sky like a meteor, fist leading, gathering a peerless force toward Bu Xu.

His punch was unstoppable, strong enough to split mountains and shatter stones, as if a thousand tigers roared within his fist!

This move approached the mysteries of the Dao; once unleashed, the enemy’s movements slowed while his own fist was as fast as lightning, heavy as a mountain, leaving the foe helpless.

Yang Nan’s face changed—the same technique had overwhelmed Chi Yang, binding his magic and powers. Those with lesser strength couldn’t even defend themselves.

The fist tore through the heavens, its force sweeping the wilds. It seemed the world was filled only with roaring, raging qi!

Yet, when Yang Lan’s all-out punch reached Bu Xu, she merely stretched out the Immortal Yin-Yang Sword, lightly tapping Yang Lan’s seemingly unstoppable fist.

The binding force of the punch was instantly riddled with holes, the furious howls abruptly silenced. The Yin-Yang Sword, like an embroidery needle, pierced through all the terrifying energies of the punch.

“Six Path Primordial Skill is nothing special. Did your master never teach you the principle of concentrating force into a point, rather than scattering it across the wilds?” Bu Xu spoke calmly, but her hand showed no mercy. Her sword passed through Yang Lan’s fist, then struck his chest with heavy force.

Yang Lan felt as if struck by lightning, his punch dissipated, his body falling helplessly from the sky.

His face was ashen, his heart sunk into desolation. He lay on the ground, unable to rise; that sword, break against break, wielded by Bu Xu—a great sage—whose yin and yang energies were the source of all spiritual power. Except for the Saints, who could withstand such force?

“In years past, my master and I debated the Dao in Chang’an. Three Martial Saints came to challenge him; he broke them with a mere wave, and told me: Though martial arts can reach the divine, martial arts have declined, techniques are incomplete—not because martial arts are inferior to Dao, but because people are inferior…” Bu Xu’s graceful form descended from the sky like a celestial maiden, her voice still calm. “There are three thousand paths to the Great Way, each with its own wonders; martial arts is but one. Though you call yourself a Martial Saint, at the grandmaster’s level, in my eyes, you are but an ant.”

“Even your master, Mad Song, would yield three steps to me!”

The killing intent faded from Bu Xu’s eyes as she sheathed her sword, descending lightly through the void, like a celestial maiden.

‘Why doesn’t she kill us?’ Yang Lan and the six grandmasters exchanged glances. Only today did they realize such divine Daoist arts truly existed; before her, what were grandmasters? What was the world?

One sword could cut down all things. The Immortal Yin-Yang Wheel, in Bu Xu’s hands, was so terrifying…

Yang Nan clapped his hands, sighing with relief. “Luckily, the celestial sister arrived just in time. Otherwise, I’d have been finished…”

Bu Xu turned, a hint of a breathtaking smile on her lips, walking to Yang Nan’s side. She reached out and twisted his ear gently, her tone indifferent: “It’d be better if you were dead. Besides acting wildly and stirring up trouble, what else can you do? You didn’t even spot a simple trap. Do you really think you’re invincible?”

Her grip tightened, and Yang Nan felt as if his ear no longer belonged to him—the pain was worse than the punishments of the three hells and six paths! “Celestial sister, stop twisting! It hurts so much…” Seeing her affectionate gesture, Yang Nan felt an overwhelming sense of warmth despite the pain in his ear, his heart filled with joy. “It’s going to fall off… my ear’s going to fall off…” He cradled the Immortal Yin-Yang Wheel, putting on a pitiful act.

Bu Xu, seeing his shameless behavior, withdrew her hand coldly. “From now on, you are to call me ‘Master.’ If you call me ‘sister’ again… hmph!”

‘Master???’

Yang Nan felt as if struck by lightning, stunned for a moment before he asked in bewilderment, “Why? Isn’t it Kunlun tradition that only those who reach the sage level can take a master?”

Bu Xu turned, her icy eyes flashing coldly. “Do you have any objections?”

Seeing her murderous look, Yang Nan was frightened and dared not object, quickly grinning. “Celestial sis… uh… Master, you are wise and mighty. How could I disagree?”

Escaping death and being accepted as Bu Xu’s disciple, Yang Nan was overjoyed—he had no complaints at all.

Even if Bu Xu was ruthless and domineering, she was good to him. If she hadn’t stepped in and defeated all his enemies, Yang Nan would have been worse than dead. Where else could he find such a master?

“Master, what should be done with these people?” Yang Nan glanced at Yang Lan and the six grandmasters lying weakly on the ground, a hint of murderous intent flickering in his eyes.

A thousand demon soldiers lay dead or wounded, Chi Yang was gravely injured, Yang Nan himself had been driven to despair, and his parents’ blood feud remained unavenged. If he did not settle this score, would he still be Yang Nan?

Bu Xu raised her hand, and after a series of clanging sounds, she seized all the magical artifacts from the seven grandmasters. She handed them to Yang Nan. “These artifacts are yours. If you become a grandmaster in a few years, go and kill them one by one. If not, let them kill you.”

Yang Nan felt a chill. He instantly understood: Bu Xu was setting a pact. His vengeance was his own to fulfill. If he failed, he deserved to die. Kunlun did not keep useless disciples.

“Fine! Within a few years, I will visit each of them!” Yang Nan suppressed his murderous intent, deeply grateful for Bu Xu’s thoughtful plan. Killing them now would only be exploiting Bu Xu’s power; slaying them after his own rise would be his true reputation.

“Celestial Talisman Sect, Danyang Sect, Ten Thousand Demon Valley, Chengming Institute, Prajna Temple, Ghoul Sect, and the commander of the imperial guards—each master is renowned, some among the top ten experts in the world.” Bu Xu listed the origins of the six grandmasters, then turned to Yang Nan, her icy gaze showing a hint of teasing. “These are your future enemies. If you become a grandmaster but fail to destroy them, I’ll cripple your powers and banish you from Kunlun!” Her eyes flashed with cold indifference. “This is the price of being my disciple!”

‘No way…’ Yang Nan trembled inside. Bu Xu was sending him to his death! The backgrounds of these six grandmasters spanned Daoist, Buddhist, and Confucian sects, each with a formidable master behind them—top ten experts, top ten Daoist masters. The challenge was clear. After graduation, he would have to take on six major sects… how miserable would his future be?

Is every true heir of Kunlun this fierce?