Sword Aura to the Heavens
Chapter 86 - 85: Fight to the Death

Chapter 86: Chapter 85: Fight to the Death

Cui Mu’s expression was somber, staring intently at Cui Lengzhou.

The two were cousins, with Cui Mu being much older. After breaking through the Ning Dan Realm years ago, he took charge of the Cui Family.

Cui Lengzhou was much younger with extraordinary talent, reaching Foundation Establishment in his thirties and the peak of that realm in his forties, making Solidifying Pill inevitable.

But then, the incident with Cui Yushang occurred.

Cui Lengzhou pursued both the qi cultivation and martial path but only displayed talent in the former. At that time, Cui Mu crippled his foundation, leaving him almost a wastrel unable to rise.

Yet today, Cui Lengzhou displayed the cultivation of the Golden Body Realm, the Fifth Realm of Martial Spirit, walking out from the dungeon, establishing his foundation, then solidifying his pill, with both Martial Spirit and Dharma Form appearing simultaneously.

Even though he was now at the mid-stage of the Condensation Realm, he still felt an oppressive force.

Cui Lengzhou was arrogant and reckless, and his combat style was the same. That’s why Cui Mu initially dealt with him; with Cui Lengzhou’s personality, if not dealt with, once he reached cultivation beyond the condensing stage, Cui Mu would have no control over him.

He saw the Thunder Spear pierce the sky and looked up, seeing beams of golden divine light radiate from himself. Above his head appeared a golden disc Dharma Form, allowing the spear to strike it without piercing through.

On the disc, many characters seemed to release dazzling golden glows.

In Qi Cultivation, some have Innate Dharma Forms; others forge post-natal ones and later recast them by subduing Great Demons or using Magical Treasures to strengthen them... Martial Spirit cultivation upon condensation can do the same.

Cui Lengzhou’s Dharma Form was recast by slaying a Great Demon Lion King.

His own Dharma Form merged with a family heirloom Magical Treasure, becoming stronger.

The Cui Family, with a thousand years of heritage, had many resources, so he needed to helm the family to channel resources to his direct descendants, ensuring perpetual dominance over the family—a selfish motive.

Because of this, he could forge his Dharma Form with a Magical Treasure, while Cui Lengzhou had to fight desperately on his own.

"Today, I shall cripple you again," Cui Mu coldly declared, eyeing the figure striding towards him. He had once hesitated to destroy Cui Lengzhou completely, inadvertently giving him the chance to rebuild his foundation and Dharma Form.

This time, he would not make the same mistake.

"Bang..." Cui Lengzhou strode forward, with a towering Martial Spirit behind him, also wielding a spear, reflecting him like a Thunder War God.

Above the sky, a lion’s roar echoed. The lion king’s phantom above Cui Mu’s head spewed thunder, a calamity of endless lightning descending to annihilate, obliterating the space below.

The nearby Cui Family members retreated frantically. As the thunderous glow fell, the region instantly turned into ruins, with the Dharma Form above Cui Mu emitting even more dazzling golden divine brilliance. The disc spun, countless golden characters clashing with the thunderous calamity glow, exploding in the sky, creating a terrifying scene.

The Lion King roared, diving down with boundless thunder, pressing towards the enemy’s Dharma Form. Cui Mu glanced up, pointing skyward as thousands of ancient characters soared to kill the Lion King, and the golden disc flew skyward.

"This madman..." he cursed inwardly, twenty years on, Cui Lengzhou still hadn’t changed. He fought like a madman, recklessly pitting Dharma Form against Dharma Form, which linked to a Qi Cultivator’s divine soul. A significant injury would also severely impact the cultivator.

Cui Lengzhou continued onward, cracking the ground beneath. He traversed the space with strides, his god-of-war-like figure reaching to kill, thrusting his spear forward, and the Thunder God-like shadow behind him simultaneously thrust forth.

This spear embodied the true essence of thunder, and as it struck, Cui Mu felt an incredibly oppressive aura.

He swung his large sleeve, struck forth with his palm, a huge golden ring resembling an Array emerged, and as it blasted forward, countless large handprints burst from it.

As the domineering spear thrust out, those numerous handprints exploded with its lingering power, crashing onto Cui Lengzhou’s resolute frame, but despite his disheveled hair flying wildly, he seemed oblivious, feeling no pain.

In Cui Lengzhou’s eyes, there was only killing intent.

The spear landed on the golden ring, purple lightning and golden light spread around, instantly shattering the buildings beneath, a terrifying storm swept outward, blowing distant Cui Family spectators away, many let out muffled groans, indicating the collision’s immense power.

Li Fan stood before Li Hongyi and Cui Yushang, with sword dao radiance shining from his body, forming a sword-shaped barrier that blocked the approaching storm, upon which a thunderous sound echoed.

Cui Yushang looked at the young man before her, genuine affection in her eyes, but he was a Li Mountain Disciple.

She glanced towards the battlefield, showing signs of tension. Her father was far more powerful than he once was.

Over these twenty years, how had he endured in the dungeon?

He must’ve possessed a strong will to walk out of the dungeon, entering the Golden Body in martial arts, and solidifying his qi cultivation.

Even if she didn’t know how her father achieved it, she could imagine his will, to surpass his peak after being crippled.

The first thing he did upon emerging was to fight to the death, to seek justice for her and her mother.

Li Fan also glanced towards the battlefield, finding it beneficial even for him, as he had just entered the Soul Emergence Realm and was still far from the Condensed Core Realm.

He witnessed Cui Lengzhou, upon nearing, directly releasing a great palm strike with his left hand, fighting with flesh and blood, disregarding personal safety, yet forcing Cui Mu to retreat.

Cui Mu, at the mid-stage of the Condensation Realm, was repelled by Cui Lengzhou, despite having superior cultivation, lacking Cui Lengzhou’s courage and audacity.

Cui Lengzhou intended to stake his life against him.

But Cui Mu clearly didn’t dare.

"Martial path, cultivated to a high realm, is indeed powerful." Li Fan thought, knowing at least in physical strength, one must crush their opponent; although he mainly cultivated sword dao, he couldn’t neglect martial arts.

Cui Mu retreated, but Cui Lengzhou didn’t take a single step back, continuing the pursuit, forcing Cui Mu into close combat.

The fight shifted from ground to sky as more people gathered, with the Cui Family members looking up at the battle, deeply stirred.

Cui Mu was continuously forced to retreat, seeming as if suppressed by Cui Lengzhou.

If it continued like this...

What if Cui Mu lost?

Many dared not to imagine; if Cui Mu lost, Cui Lengzhou would surely kill him, then the Cui Family’s skies might change.

As the battle progressed, the purple and golden divine lights swept over the space below, turning vast Cui Family areas into ruins, and every clash made hearts flutter.

Cui Mu seemed impatient, facing suppression despite his higher cultivation, his fury rising, his aura growing more terrifying.

"Bang..."

A burst sounded as Cui Mu’s body was blown away, letting out a muffled groan, blood trickling from his mouth.

He looked up ahead at Cui Lengzhou, eyes turning golden.

"Cui Lengzhou, you seek death, I’ll fulfill it." Cui Mu coldly declared, radiant golden divine light emitted, merging with the golden disc above.

As the golden disc grew, covering the sky, Cui Mu flashed under it, closing his eyes, forming a Dharma Seal with his hands, seemingly merging with it entirely.

Golden radiance bloomed from him, with countless characters forming on the Dharma Form, each emanating a sharp aura, seemingly turning into spears.

"Kill!"

Cui Mu’s eyes ragefully opened, roaring, celestial characters descended like a straight line to annihilate.

"Booming..." Celestial thunder fell, crashing on the disc but not shaking it, with the Dharma Form Lion King bathing in thunder, charging at the golden disc, spewing divine thunder.

But the divine lightning seemed to be obliterated by golden light as streaks of light still descended. Though both in the Condensed Core Realm, Cui Mu’s cultivation was stronger.

The Lion King Dharma Form pounced at the golden disc, its physique enlarging continually, using flesh to block the descending characters, while Cui Lengzhou traversed the void, lightning surging.

"Boom, boom, boom..." Each falling character was like a sledgehammer, breaking through Cui Lengzhou’s defenses, striking his body, spilling blood and lacerating flesh.

"Die." Cui Mu bellowed, his mana running wild, unleashing a full-force attack.

The characters seemed enlarged, with ancient glyphs descending, shaking Cui Lengzhou’s body, continually spilling blood. Yet he walked on, bare feet bloodied, yet seemingly unaware.

As Cui Lengzhou advanced steadily towards him, Cui Mu’s expression abruptly changed, this lunatic...

Above, the Lion King, defending against Dharma attacks, emitted an angry roar as the weakening aura around the battle locked the territory like a thunder prison.

"Thunder Prison!" Cui Mu’s expression drastically changed.

"Bring your life." Cui Lengzhou roared, the lightning surging skyward, Martial Spirit and body merged, wielding the massive Thunder God’s Spear.

With its thrust, a beam of light emerged.

"Die!" Cui Mu bellowed as the golden disc tried to return but was imprisoned by the Thunder Prison, unable to escape, with destruction beams aiming at Cui Lengzhou.

The dazzling light shot forward; those below found it hard to open their eyes, only seeing within the blinding beam, a spear piercing through Cui Mu’s body.

They saw the two separate, their Dharma Forms returning.

Cui Lengzhou’s body was battered beyond recognition, blood dripped from the sky, his escape from the dungeon like a madman now even more terrifying.

"Father." Cui Yushang cried, her heart profoundly pained.

Li Fan, observing the battle, felt stirred.

He realized that in terms of power, Cui Mu should have been stronger than Cui Lengzhou, with his mana more profound, yet in momentum, Cui Mu was totally crushed, their auras not in the same realm.

Cui Lengzhou fought with a death wish, riddled with wounds, turned into a blood figure yet fought to kill without retreat, fully prepared to die.

It was this fighting will that allowed him to triumph over Cui Mu.

Cui Mu was finished.

Recalling what his master taught about Sword Cultivators, it must embody this thought; only with fearless and invincible will can one be unbeatable.

At this moment, Cui Mu glanced down at his own body, seeing a blood hole, with thunderous essence within, his aura rapidly waning.

He looked across, seeing Cui Lengzhou as a bloody figure.

Yet then, that bloody figure moved again, stepping forward once more.

Witnessing this, fear finally appeared in Cui Mu’s gaze.

Cui Lengzhou would undoubtedly kill him.