Chapter 433: Tingyou Battles Zhengde!

In the dark and silent chamber, the footsteps were heavy and forceful, as though merging with the veins of heaven and earth themselves—each movement carrying an invisible yet overwhelming pressure.

Without a doubt, this was a formidable enemy.

The man had red lips and white teeth, holding in his hand a resplendent divine sword that shimmered with flowing light. He was dressed in a white robe and wore a golden crown; between his brows exuded a proud, condescending aura.

As his gaze fell, an invisible killing intent instantly locked onto Lü Yang and Ancestor Tingyou, as if two blades of murderous sword intent had directly cleaved into their Seas of Consciousness!

“Clang—clang!”

Lü Yang’s expression grew solemn as he unleashed his 【Sword Intent】, dissolving the overwhelming power hidden within the other’s gaze. This sort of formless murderous sight was clearly a pinnacle manifestation of 【Sword Intent】. If it were any Foundation Establishment cultivator of lesser strength, that one glance might have killed them on the spot!

‘He’s stronger than Hong Ju.’

Although Hong Ju was also at the perfected Foundation Establishment realm, he possessed neither the Metal attribute nor a Blessed Land—merely a blank slate among blank slates, with combat power within his realm hardly worth mentioning.

But this sword-bearing youth was different.

He possessed a Metal attribute from 【Heaven-Bearing True Lord Zhengde】, and his own body was the True Lord’s manifestation—perfectly compatible, granting him immense battle prowess.

No matter how one looked at it, this was a formidable foe!

“You two… who are you?”

At last, the sword-bearing youth spoke faintly. “What on earth has happened outside? Who dares trespass into my Ye Family’s sacred ground? Where is Ye Guangji? What is he doing?”

“Still counting on the Demon-Suppressing True Person, are you?” Lü Yang sneered coldly. Though this matter had little to do with him, and he himself did not quite approve of the Demon-Suppressing True Person’s persistence, that did not stop him from despising the people of the Sword Pavilion. “Fellow Daoist, best not to delude yourself—no one can save you today!”

Having said that, Lü Yang deliberately dragged the Holy Sect into the matter as well.

“This time, our Holy Sect entered the Sword Pavilion to eradicate evil and uphold the Dao—to bring righteousness back to the world. After today, there will be no more Sword Pavilion in Jiangnan!”

At those words, the atmosphere turned abruptly murderous.

“...Ignorant brat—seeking death!” The sword-bearing youth’s eyes grew chillingly cold; without even moving, a flash of white light suddenly gleamed in Lü Yang’s vision.

A sharp gust of cold wind followed.

“Clang!”

A clear sword cry resounded within Lü Yang’s mind—but just as it was about to strike him, it halted abruptly, stopping no more than three inches from his throat.

Behind Lü Yang, a circle of pure white radiance spread outward, splitting into countless web-like lines that rooted themselves within the surrounding heavens and earth, binding him tightly with the world. It was precisely this connection that forced the sword-bearing youth to stop at the final instant.

【Same as the World】!

‘A pity.’

Seeing the sword-bearing youth halt at the last possible moment, Lü Yang sighed inwardly. As expected, one capable of cultivating Sword Intent could retract and release his sword arts at will—utterly at ease.

That was far more troublesome than Heavenly Jiao Tianqiu.

Moreover, with Bodhisattva Guang Ming’s prior example, Lü Yang had no doubt this sword-bearing youth could eventually break through 【Same as the World】—he merely needed some time.

But just then, Ancestor Tingyou stepped forward.

“Allow me.”

At that moment, Ancestor Tingyou’s voice had already regained its calm, yet his tone carried unshakable resolve.

“...Very well.”

Seeing this, Lü Yang nodded and stepped back. He slammed the 【Myriad Spirits Banner】 heavily onto the ground, and a golden ring of light surged outward.

【Xianghuo Shendao】!

In an instant, the entire chamber filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. Phantom figures arose, and the vast incense power of faith descended upon Ancestor Tingyou’s body.

“Hoo—”

Though the power of incense could not fully restore Ancestor Tingyou to his peak, it elevated his rank to stand on the same level as the sword-bearing youth.

And that alone was enough!

After all, in the past, he hadn’t even possessed the qualification to stand on the same plane—only to be annihilated by a single sword. Until today, he could finally battle his foe as an equal!

“You are not in your true body, and I am not at my full strength either.”

“Then that makes it fair.”

Before his words faded, Ancestor Tingyou had already struck. He no longer used the numerous Dao techniques he had previously imitated, but instead formed a simple hand seal.

“【Nine Heavens Secret Demon Yin Thunder】!”

Lü Yang instantly recognized it—it was a minor divine ability from the Witch Ghost Path, specialized in attacking souls. Ancestor Tingyou had even used this very spell against him once before.

In the next moment, lightning and thunder exploded as demonic shadows howled, crashing down directly upon the sword-bearing youth’s head. Yet, although Ancestor Tingyou had pushed the spell to its utmost limit, the foundation of the ability was still that of the Qi Refining level—how could it rival true Daoist divine arts?

“Boom!”

With a deafening roar, the sword-bearing youth surged forward. His sword light ripped through the countless bolts of demonic thunder; before the blade itself arrived, its intent had already sliced open blood marks across Ancestor Tingyou’s face.

But at that very moment, Ancestor Tingyou’s form suddenly scattered.

“【Immersing Village】!”

The dissolving figure transformed into rolling currents of 【Zi Water】, in perfect accordance with the principle of “Metal chills in cold water, and when the Son prospers, the Mother wanes”—a divine art meant precisely to bury metal and iron!

The sword-bearing youth fell into it, startled but unpanicked. He immediately activated another divine art that shone brilliantly:

【Benefiting Metal Radiance】!

Under that divine brilliance, his originally murderous 【Geng Metal】 aura transformed into 【Xin Metal】. And since 【Xin Metal】 was born of 【Zi Water】, nourished by its ripples, washed of its impurities, only then could it shine brilliantly—thus breaking through the encirclement by the very principle of “Water Refines Metal Splendor.”

Seeing this, Ancestor Tingyou was unsurprised. He retreated a distance and spat forth a single breath.

That breath turned into a divine light, seemingly light as floating mist, yet heavy as mountains—embodying the union of water and fire, yin and yang intertwined in mysterious harmony!

【Melting Metal Vault】!

This was unmistakably a 【Chou Earth】 divine art!

【Chou Earth】 belonged to Yin Earth—ridden by cold, damp water, yet dwelling at the time of the dual Yang Qi’s uprising, thus containing both the warmth of fire and the mystery of water.

Water could nurture metal—but also drown it.

Fire could forge metal—but also destroy it.

All depended on the Dao attainment of the user, and at Ancestor Tingyou’s level, it naturally became the nemesis of all metallic sword Qi.

In an instant, the sword-bearing youth froze in place. The countless sword Qi around him melted like snow in spring—first drowned by water, then refined by fire. In the blink of an eye, they shattered inch by inch, every trace of killing intent dissolving into nothingness, forcing him to withdraw his sword, retreating with several new water-and-fire scars upon his body.

“You’ve cultivated Wall Earth as well?”

Only then did the sword-bearing youth regard Ancestor Tingyou seriously. Their clash had not only compared divine powers, but also the depth of their Dao attainments.

The result was self-evident.

He had been forced back.

More importantly, the opponent’s configuration clearly also belonged to 【Wall Earth】—yet in that Dao, he should have been the number one in this world!

How could this be?

“What’s wrong, Daoist Zhengde—do you not recognize me?”

Ancestor Tingyou sneered, wiping away the mist that obscured his face, revealing his true countenance and karma for the first time—no longer hiding.

And Lü Yang saw—

In that instant, the once-composed sword-bearing youth froze where he stood, his eyes wide in disbelief, as though he had seen a ghost in broad daylight.

Immediately after, he instinctively stepped back a pace.

“Tingyou…”

Of course the sword-bearing youth recognized Ancestor Tingyou. He had inherited a wisp of Metal Essence from 【Heaven-Bearing True Lord Zhengde】, along with vast memories pertaining to him. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

That man—who had once become a near-lifelong shadow in his True Lord’s heart, forming a heart devil that impeded his progress for years—was none other than this Ancestor Tingyou! The very purpose for which 【Heaven-Bearing True Lord Zhengde】 had created him… was to transfer that heart devil onto himself!

How could he not recognize him!?