Ch. 1822 - White Crane Patriarch

The Space-Time Purgatory technique drew upon the power of space-time as its source of destruction, supplemented by other edicts, and the combined force it produced was formidable.

At this moment the Leviathan was in exactly that state. Its tremendous power shot straight into the heavens, hovering and circling constantly around Xu Zimo.

Gradually, the force of space-time condensed into raging spatial currents, howling through the air like a gale.

Dense layers of chaotic currents closed in from every direction, engulfing Xu Zimo within.

The monstrous amalgamation formed by the Many-Treasure Elder's Five Beast Guardians instantly released its hold and slipped away into the void.

Then the Heavenly-Treasure Elder's low shout rang out.

"Grind."

The vast expanse of void where Xu Zimo stood instantly collapsed into nothingness.

The power of that grinding force was immense. Even an Infinite Dao powerhouse could be torn apart within it.

"Is it over?" many disciples murmured.

"He must be dead. The Three Treasure Elders have made their move, if he still won't die, wouldn't that be humiliating for them?" another disciple ventured tentatively.

But his words had barely fallen before it seemed those words were destined to come back on him.

BOOM.

An explosion rang out from the far side of the collapsed void.

The crowd started and spun around, only to see Xu Zimo raising his blade and charging toward the Many-Treasure Elder's monster.

"He's not dead!" someone cried out.

"How is that possible? The Leviathan's Space-Time Purgatory is one of a kind, how could he have survived? Did he use some sorcery?" a disciple said in disbelief.

But there he was, plain for all to see. Xu Zimo had appeared completely unharmed at some point, and his blade was already sweeping down toward the monster.

This time there was not a shred of hesitation.

He held nothing back.

The blade intent shook the heavens; the blade-light rolled forward like the surging tides of a boundless ocean, wave upon wave, endlessly renewed.

Crash, crash, crash.

As the slash fell, the monster reflexively raised both arms to block.

Those arms were formed from the Demon Dragon, dragon-roars rang out, demonic energy surged.

But Xu Zimo's blade was more overbearing still.

So what if it's a dragon? In this lifetime I have slain more dragons than I can count.

BOOM.

Both of the Demon Dragon's arms were cleanly severed.

The monster howled in agony.

Xu Zimo did not relent. Another slash came immediately, aimed at the monster's legs.

Its legs were formed from the Blood Qilin, the veins threading through them resembled a river of blood.

One leg swung out at Xu Zimo in a kick, and the surge of gore that came rushing toward him was like a great river crashing against a dam.

BOOM.

My blade opens the gates of heaven, cuts through the Nine Underworlds, slays ten thousand immortals, and extinguishes the great sun.

Slash upon slash cleaves heaven, nothing can stand against it.

The slash fell, sweeping all before it. The dam burst, the Blood Qilin's legs were severed.

Xu Zimo spun around and brought another slash on the backswing.

The White Tiger's head, which formed the monster's skull, was roaring with fury.

But that fury was helpless, the slash took the head off as well.

One final slash, aimed at the torso formed from the Netherworld Tortoise.

The Netherworld Tortoise's defense was the strongest of all, even under Xu Zimo's blade, it held for a brief moment.

But as blade-light erupted toward the sky and sparks rained down, one slash tore through it from top to bottom, splitting the Netherworld Tortoise in two.

Standing over a heap of broken metal and ruin, Xu Zimo turned, blade in hand, to face the crowd.

In that moment, the entire Peach Garden fell utterly silent.

Only the Many-Treasure Elder remained, his extended right hand trembling.

The Five Beast Guardians had consumed an immeasurable amount of his effort to create, and now they had been destroyed just like that. It felt as though his very heart was bleeding.

"Despicable wretch!" he bellowed.

"Many-Treasure Elder, our Casting Crane Lineage comes to your aid," a voice called out from not far away.

Elder Wuxu, who had retreated earlier, had returned.

This time, he was accompanied by an old man.

The old man had the white hair of the elderly and the complexion of a youth, with a white beard as pale as snow. His skin was smooth and clear, and he wore a plain grey Dao robe. His eyes were sharp and bright, and he carried a white jade horsetail whisk.

The moment this elder arrived, the countless disciples present dropped to their knees as one.

"Greetings, White Crane Patriarch."

Even the Three Treasure Elders offered their respects.

This was a sight to leave one speechless.

The Heavenly-Treasure Elder, as the head of the Treasure Lineage, held a standing second only to Queen Mother herself, the supreme ruler of the Jade Court. The head of a Lineage was the pinnacle of that Lineage.

Yet in the presence of this old man, even he deferred as a junior.

"This is bad," Wang Ya and her brother exchanged a glance, their faces shifting.

She leaned close to Xu Zimo and whispered urgently, "Brother Xu, run, they've gone too far, calling in even the old monster of the Casting Crane Lineage."

"Old monster?" Xu Zimo narrowed his eyes.

The man did put some pressure on him, real pressure.

For above the old man's head, barely perceptible, three flowers were gathering condensing like clouds, rising and falling. Ethereal and transcendent, with the bearing of a heavenly immortal.

Amid those three flowers, a crane could be vaguely seen, as though dozing.

None of this was openly displayed, yet it made clear. the old man before him had reached the Three-Flower realm.

It should be known that while Xu Zimo had already bloomed two flowers, he had not yet left the bounds of the Infinite Dao realm.

Without reaching Three Blossoms, the God-Soul cannot be cultivated.

In other words, even at the peak of Infinite Dao, one still cannot refine the God-Soul.

This old man's God-Soul had already undergone one full transformation.

"Who is this person?"

Hearing Xu Zimo's question, Wang Ya lowered her voice urgently. "The founding patriarch of the Casting Crane Lineage. His title is the Immortal Elder. 'Sitting serenely as the azure dragon returns to the purple zenith; joyfully riding the white crane down from Kunlun.' This Immortal Elder belongs to the same era as the Myriad Saint Lord of our Plant Lineage. The Immortal Elder had three disciples in his time, and one of them is the White Crane Patriarch."

Hearing this, Xu Zimo already had a general understanding.

The White Crane Patriarch's age spoke for itself. Whether in terms of strength or seniority, he likely surpassed the vast majority of people in the Jade Court.

The White Crane Patriarch was among the oldest generation of the Casting Crane Lineage.

"All of you, rise," the White Crane Patriarch raised one hand. His gaze settled upon Xu Zimo.

He said mildly. "Young man. You have spilled too much blood."

"What, are you here to convert me?" Xu Zimo smiled.

"I will not harm you. The Jade Court has its rules, matters will be handled as they should be," the White Crane Patriarch said.

"But if you resist, that changes everything. I trust you are a man of intelligence."

"I am a man of intelligence. It's a pity that all of you seem to be fools," Xu Zimo replied.

"Then there is nothing more to say," the White Crane Patriarch raised his hand.

A tremendous aura surged forward like a tempest, washing over everyone present.

Every face in the crowd shifted.

The might of a Three-Flower powerhouse was truly something that moved the heart.

"White Crane Patriarch, this is all a misunderstanding!" Wang Ya called out from beside him.

But her words were cut off immediately.

"You are a disciple of the Jade Court, yet you stand with an outsider. The Jade Court will punish you for this. Stand aside now. Otherwise, do not blame us for showing no mercy."

Wang Ya shook her head. She stepped forward and planted herself firmly in front of Xu Zimo, refusing to budge.

The White Crane Patriarch let out a cold snort, without a shred of compassion, and sent a massive palm strike crashing toward her.

At precisely that moment, from the ground where Wang Ya stood, a great tree sprouted without warning.

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