Chapter 49: What Kind of Divine Technique Is That?

The entire entrance hall was shrouded in smoke and filled with murderous intent. Several sections of the walls had already collapsed, with gravel continuously tumbling down.

Brother Chen’s rage twisted his face. He had thought the Axe Gang would surely win this battle, so much so that he hadn’t even let Heaven’s Cripple and Earth’s Defect make a move. He never expected to lose everything, suffering heavy casualties.

His already violent temper nearly made him explode on the spot with fury.

He roared at Heaven’s Cripple and Earth’s Defect, “You two blind fools, what are you waiting for? Get in there!”

Proud and arrogant, Heaven’s Cripple and Earth’s Defect had been watching from the sidelines. Although their eyes saw nothing, their spirits were locked onto Xiang Nan.

When Xiang Nan unleashed his Supreme Profound Divine Art, the muscles on their faces contorted from the pressure. The overwhelming sword aura and oppressive force were unlike anything they had ever encountered.

How could a young man possess such power? Could it be true that the waves behind drive those ahead onto the shore, only for the first to perish in the sand?

No! They were the truly invincible masters—so long as they killed those who came before.

Murderous intent surged. Heaven’s Cripple and Earth’s Defect planted their stances and set their specially crafted Demonic Zithers across their thighs. The movement was swift and decisive, poised for both offense and defense. The surrounding air seemed frozen, energy gathering and ready to burst.

The lackeys had all been dealt with; now, they faced true adversaries.

Xiang Nan placed Xu Jiya gently to the side and strode alone to the center of the hall. This final duel was his alone.

Though the members of the Eagle Alliance were anxious, they were also awestruck by the Supreme Profound Divine Art Xiang Nan had just displayed. A martial artist at the early second stage, yet possessing such power—it defied belief. This mysterious young master seemed capable of anything.

Facing formidable foes, Xiang Nan did not dare be careless. Sword in hand, he roused the genuine energy within him.

In an instant, a fierce wind erupted at his feet, swirling around him like a tornado before gradually spinning into a flowing Tai Chi pattern. Standing at the heart of the Tai Chi, Xiang Nan’s white T-shirt billowed wildly, his neat bangs tossed by the tempest, making him appear as a battle god descended to the mortal world, exuding an awe-inspiring pressure.

Faintly, a halo of white light seemed to envelop him.

The Supreme Tai Chi Divine Art, the Supreme Purity Primordial Qi Divine Art, and the Supreme Profound Divine Art—all three merged seamlessly, enough to shake the heavens and the earth.

On the other side, Heaven’s Cripple and Earth’s Defect did not yet pluck their zithers. Their robes fluttered in the wind, but their figures remained unyielding. The oppressive aura that Xiang Nan’s Three Supremes Divine Art radiated had already shattered much of the energy they had mustered.

In a clash between experts, there was no need for flashy moves; the true contest lay in the depth and strength of their inner energy.

Time seemed to stand still. Aside from the roaring winds and the swirling Tai Chi, everything else hung suspended.

After several breaths.

Within Xiang Nan, the purple blood was stirred by the immense pressure, coursing swiftly through his limbs and bones, bestowing him with even greater strength. Yet, Xiang Nan could not yet freely command this purple blood; it always surged forth at critical moments of its own accord.

The power it brought augmented his genuine energy, making it richer and more robust. But an uncontrollable frenzy still lurked within the purple blood, not yet fully refined. This wildness clashed with the harmony of his Three Supremes Divine Art, causing a counter-effect.

Xiang Nan quickly steadied his mind, silently reciting the Heart-Cleansing Mantra to suppress the purple blood.

In that brief moment, his formidable genuine energy faltered.

Heaven’s Cripple and Earth’s Defect, masters of their craft, instantly sensed the shift in Xiang Nan’s state—a flaw revealed, an opportunity to kill.

A rapid flurry of sounds—sharp, relentless—erupted as waves of demonic sound crashed down on Xiang Nan like a tiger pouncing from above.

At that moment, Xiang Nan had just managed to suppress his purple blood. Opening his eyes, he saw the sonic blades, brimming with murderous intent, slashing toward him like lightning.

“Be careful!” Xu Jiya and Su Yao cried out in unison, faces pale with anxiety and fear.

Even knowing Xiang Nan carried the Resurrection Herb, what if he really died this time? Anyone could see that Heaven’s Cripple and Earth’s Defect had unleashed their ultimate killing technique, their ferocity more than tenfold what it had been before.

As the sonic blades were about to strike Xiang Nan’s face, a burst of white light condensed in the air, forming an invisible Tai Chi and Eight Trigrams diagram. Like a shield with gravitational force, it materialized before Xiang Nan.

The power of the demonic sound was absorbed by at least half.

The remaining force struck Xiang Nan squarely. Without that white light barrier, he would have been shredded by the assault.

Reeling from the blow, Xiang Nan was sent flying backward. In mid-air, he chewed the Resurrection Herb he’d held in his mouth. The moment the herb entered his body, his injuries healed instantly.

But before he could regain his footing, another wave of demonic sound followed.

At that moment, Heaven’s Cripple and Earth’s Defect leaped forward, their movements eerily synchronized and demonic. They channeled their energy and played the zither with all their might.

The melody “The General’s Command” was urgent and violent.

One layer, two layers, three layers—up to nine layers of demonic sound.

Wave after wave, the air filled with sonic blades, each slashing toward Xiang Nan with breakneck speed and ferocity.

“Supreme Tai Chi Divine Art!”

Xiang Nan tossed aside his sword, his hands forming the Wild Horse Separates Its Mane gesture, streaked with two glowing white threads of Dao rhythm.

Dao rhythm was a supreme law that only true cultivators could manifest.

Yet with his cultivation at the second stage, two stars, and the spiritual energy at his brow, Xiang Nan guided it forth with ease.

“Boom!”

The Dao rhythm rippled outward from Xiang Nan, dissolving the murderous, lightning-fast demonic sound in an instant.

Everyone present was stupefied.

“What kind of immortal technique is that?”

“Is this really a martial contest? Isn’t this a battle of gods?”

“Is Brother Nan really only second stage? I wouldn’t believe it if you killed me!”

On the other side, Heaven’s Cripple and Earth’s Defect broke out in cold sweat. Their supposedly invincible Ninefold Demonic Sound had been neutralized—vanished without a trace, not even a sound?

Were they dreaming?

Impossible!

But there was no time to be shocked.

Worthy of their reputation as third stage, nine-star experts, Heaven’s Cripple and Earth’s Defect spun and unleashed another wave of ninefold demonic sound. This time, they even overdrawn their energy and stamina, blending their own blood essence into the music.

Such overwhelming power—surely it couldn’t be neutralized again?

Yet in the next instant, the white Dao rhythm coiled protectively around Xiang Nan, dissolving the demonic sound as soon as it approached.

Heaven’s Cripple and Earth’s Defect were utterly dumbfounded. Their entire worldview collapsed.

What kind of immortal was this? Wasn’t he supposed to be young, a throwback to a previous era?

You must be some ageless demon, deceiving us all!

At that moment, Xiang Nan’s eyes flashed violet, killing intent blazing. He thrust out a single palm, releasing a bolt of white light that blasted Heaven’s Cripple and Earth’s Defect through the air.

The Demonic Zithers crashed to the ground, shattered into eight pieces.

As for the two musicians, they had already been reduced to mangled flesh, utterly devoid of life.