Chapter 100: Chapter 101: Shaking an Artifact

With every breath he took, Song Changsheng felt all the muscles in his body engage. Spiritual Qi from the air seeped into him through his pores, merging with his muscles and tempering his physical body.

His muscles slowly grew stronger. Turning his focus inward, he saw his spleen was also emitting a faint, earthy-yellow glow. It seemed... a little heavier.

’This Body Forging Method of the Earth Dragon Race really is simple and convenient. As long as I’m used to this breathing pattern, I’m essentially forging my body at all times, even while I sleep.’

Song Changsheng marveled inwardly. ’This has to be the most comfortable cultivation method in existence. No wonder the Earth Dragon Race spends most of its time sleeping.’

Then again, it made sense. ’With the Earth Dragon Race’s natural talent, it would be a global catastrophe if they ran around all the time instead of sleeping.’

Song Changsheng cultivated for several days straight. There was no news from either the Earth Fire Sect or the Earth Dragon, but his physique had grown considerably stronger. The only thing was, the *Five Beasts Body Refining Technique* stated that when the technique was cultivated to the Great Success stage, the "Earth Dragon Flipping Over Painting" would appear on one’s spleen.

All he felt now was that his spleen had grown heavier than before; he couldn’t see any pattern. ’Looks like Great Success is still a long way off.’

’My physical body’s strength has now far surpassed a Tier One Spiritual Artifact and reached the level of a Tier Two Spiritual Artifact. I can probably ignore most of the Magic used by Cultivators at my own level.’

Song Changsheng was very satisfied. ’Just the "Earth Dragon Flipping Over Painting" alone has had such a profound effect. If I were to cultivate all five paintings to Great Success, or even the Perfection Realm... the results would be unimaginable.’

Suddenly, Song Changsheng’s brow furrowed. He looked to the southeast. Although there was nothing but a cold stone wall in sight, he could clearly feel two powerful auras rapidly approaching from that direction.

’So they’re finally here. No wonder nobody made a move; they were waiting for reinforcements. I just wonder if it’s the Earth Fire Sect or the Lieyang Sect.’

Song Changsheng shot to his feet. With a wave of his sleeve, he opened the stone door and saw Song Xianhe rushing toward him with several clansmen.

"Young Clan Leader, that Qu Jinsheng is back! There’s a middle-aged man in Battle Armor with him, and he looks incredibly strong. What should we do?"

"Clan Elder, do not worry. I’ll go and see them."

The group arrived outside the mine, where the Guardian Array was already active. Song Changsheng looked up to see two figures standing on their swords in midair. One was gaunt, dressed in a gray shirt, with high cheekbones and a sinister gaze. It was Qu Jinsheng, an old and unwelcome acquaintance of Song Changsheng’s.

The first time they met, he had only been a Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivator. Now, he had clearly ascended to a higher level.

Standing beside him was a dark-faced, middle-aged man clad in a suit of Profound Armor that glinted coldly. He wore a helmet and stood on a broadsword, looking less like a Cultivator and more like a great general from the Mortal World.

"I have long heard that the Lieyang Sect possesses a set of ’Profound Gang Armor.’ It was once the Battle Armor of a Province Governor in the Daqi Kingdom during the Ancient Era. That Province Governor’s slaughter filled the fields with corpses, and his armor, soaked in blood and Evil Qi, became a viciously malevolent artifact. When its Evil Qi is unleashed, it is said that both men and ghosts flee.

"While your set of armor is impressive, Fellow Daoist, it lacks any significant Evil Qi. I presume it’s a replica of that famous Battle Armor," Song Changsheng said with composure, rising into the air on his Spirit-Slaying Gourd.

"Heh, you’re quite knowledgeable for one so young. That’s right, it’s a replica. But it’s more than enough to deal with you," the dark-faced, middle-aged man sneered.

"Fellow Daoist Zhangg, why waste words on this young brat? Let’s take his head quickly so we can go back and report our success," Qu Jinsheng said, his triangular eyes fixed malevolently on Song Changsheng.

Zhangg Chenlong glanced at him but said nothing. Delays, after all, could breed new problems.

"Do you dare come out and fight?" Zhangg Chenlong bellowed.

Song Changsheng immediately scoffed. "That’s hilarious. The two of you are Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and I’m just at the Early-stage. If you were in my shoes, would you come out?"

"So the Young Clan Leader of the Song Clan is nothing but a coward hiding in his shell. Fine, then I’ll just have to smash that shell to pieces!"

With that, both men attacked in unison, relentlessly bombarding the Guardian Array with Magic. For a moment, the very earth shook and the mountains trembled.

Song Xianhe and several Stewards quickly took out their Jade Tokens and began manipulating the Grand Array to withstand the assault.

But this time, they faced not only Qu Jinsheng but also the even stronger Zhangg Chenlong. After just a few exchanges, they were already growing exhausted.

Just then, Song Changsheng made his move. Yin and Yang Qi surged from the gourd beneath his feet, pouring into the Grand Array. It manifested as a Tai Chi Diagram, completely blocking the two attackers’ assault.

Song Xianhe and the others felt the pressure on them vanish instantly.

"I have taken full control of the Grand Array. Stewards, fall back for now."

"Yes, sir!" Song Xianhe quickly led the others in retreat. A battle of this magnitude was beyond them; the greatest help they could offer Song Changsheng was to not get in his way.

The mine’s Guardian Array was a Tier Two Low Grade array. With Song Changsheng controlling it, its full power was unleashed. Not only did it withstand all of their attacks, but it even had enough strength left to counter.

Seeing that his sustained assault was getting nowhere, Zhangg Chenlong grew anxious. He swiped a hand over his Qiankun Bag, and a yellowed Talisman appeared in his grasp.

’A Tier Two Array-Breaking Talisman!’

Song Changsheng’s expression faltered. Array-Breaking Talismans were the bane of all Arrays, and he had witnessed their power firsthand.

’I can’t wait any longer! Gourd Spirit Slayer!’

The Spirit-Slaying Blade activated instantly. An invisible blade shot straight for Zhangg Chenlong’s Sea of Consciousness. Zhangg Chenlong felt a tidal wave erupt within his mind, as if a ray of light had appeared in his Sea of Consciousness, hurtling directly toward his Divine Soul.

Although the attack was sudden, the Divine Soul of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator already possessed some defensive and offensive power. He mobilized all the energy in his Sea of Consciousness, condensed it into a great shield, and slammed it into the approaching light.

In an instant, the great shield shattered, cracks spreading from the point of impact, but it had bought Zhangg Chenlong enough time to completely envelop and protect his Divine Soul.

The Spirit-Slaying Blade grazed the edge of his Divine Soul, shearing off a corner. Zhangg Chenlong felt a tearing pain, and his face turned deathly pale in an instant.

It all happened in a flash. A humming sound emanated from within Song Changsheng’s body as his blood and qi surged. He shot toward Zhangg Chenlong like an arrow loosed from a bow.

With his Divine Soul damaged, Zhangg Chenlong’s consciousness was in chaos. By the time he could react, Song Changsheng’s flaming fist was already right in front of him.

BANG!

Zhangg Chenlong felt like he had been rammed by a wild bull. He was sent flying backward, and he crashed into a nearby mountain peak, becoming embedded in the rock.

Just as Song Changsheng was about to press his advantage, Qu Jinsheng charged in, Spiritual Sword in hand. It was clear both sides had spared no expense to kill him this time; the Lieyang Sect had brought out a replica of the Profound Gang Armor, and the Earth Fire Sect had produced a Spiritual Artifact of their own.

"Get out of my way!" Song Changsheng roared. His blood and qi surged and converged on his fist, causing it to swell to several times its normal size at a visible rate.

His fist of flesh collided with the Spiritual Sword, creating a sound like metal striking stone.

Song Changsheng didn’t budge an inch. Qu Jinsheng, on the other hand, felt his entire arm go numb from the impact. He couldn’t help but exclaim in shock, "You’re taking on an artifact with your bare flesh?!"

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