CHAPTER 580: CHAPTER 268: TRANSCENDENCE CHALLENGES THIRD-RANK EARTH IMMORTAL

At this moment, it wasn’t just Sect Leader Li of the Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect. The other Earth Immortals of the Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect—including the three Grand Elders, two Vice Sect Leaders, and several Tributors—all looked towards Lin Xuankong with some confusion and incomprehension.

Spiritual Crane Fairy Qu Qiao’Er even floated over and said to Lin Xuankong, "Tributor Mu, don’t worry. If we act, we will definitely defeat Flaming Blade Duan River! However, you are... after all, your cultivation is only at the Early Stage of the Tenth Layer. There’s no need for you to personally deal with Flaming Blade Duan River!"

Apparently, even the Earth Immortals from the Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect standing alongside Lin Xuankong did not believe he could handle Flaming Blade Duan River. After all, Flaming Blade Duan River was a Late-Stage Third-Grade Earth Immortal. Moreover, he was renowned, adept in immortal techniques, and, as the Vice Sect Leader of the Fire Spirit Immortal Sect, equipped with the Initial Tier Immortal Artifact, the Fire Spirit Cauldron.

Such a Late-Stage Third-Grade Earth Immortal was a formidable opponent. Never mind a cultivator at the Initial Tier of the Tenth Layer; even Earth Immortals of the same tier might not be able to defeat Flaming Blade Duan River! For instance, Spiritual Crane Fairy Qu Qiao’Er herself... if it weren’t for Lin Xuankong’s Initial Tier Immortal Artifact in her possession, she would be no match for Flaming Blade Duan River.

At this moment, it wasn’t just the Earth Immortals of the Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect who were filled with confusion and incomprehension. Hundreds of Earth Immortals from the Seventy-Six Immortal Sects Alliance were also shaking their heads, sneering. Among these Earth Immortals, nearly half were below Third Grade. This meant there were a good 150 to 160 First and Second Grade Earth Immortals! None of these hundred-plus Earth Immortals dared claim they could defeat Flaming Blade Duan River. Many of them, under Flaming Blade Duan River’s attack, likely wouldn’t last more than a few breaths before their immortal bodies were shattered, forcing them to rely on their Earth Immortal Golden Cores to escape! If First and Second Grade Earth Immortals faced such a fate, what about a mere Transcendent Realm cultivator?

At this, Flaming Blade Duan River couldn’t suppress a cold laugh. If he were facing an assault from the Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect, especially with Mu Shiba’s assistance where many of their Earth Immortals possessed Initial Tier Immortal Artifacts, he, the Vice Sect Leader of the Fire Spirit Immortal Sect, would indeed be somewhat apprehensive and ready to flee at any moment.

However, when he heard Lin Xuankong declare he wanted to fight him one-on-one, Duan River truly couldn’t hold back his amusement. Of course, Flaming Blade Duan River had seen the powerful methods Lin Xuankong used during his battle against Chang Li. Those beneficial techniques had allowed Lin Xuankong, while still at Ninth-Layer Perfection, to possess a body size and potency akin to an Initial Tier Earth Immortal! Based on those methods alone, Lin Xuankong was undoubtedly the strongest Ninth-Layer Perfection cultivator in the Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect’s disciple recruitment competition.

But ultimately, he was still just a Ninth-Layer Perfection cultivator, an ant-like existence in the Transcendence Realm! So what if he relied on beneficial techniques to boost himself to the level of an Initial Tier Earth Immortal? He was still several major realms below a Late-Stage Third-Grade Earth Immortal—a disparity as vast as that between the clouds and mud!

Thinking these thoughts, Flaming Blade Duan River shot a sneering glance at Lin Xuankong, then turned to Galin Bodhisattva of Spirit Platform Buddhism, who was not far away. A murderous glint flickered in his eyes, yet his face wore a respectful expression. "Galin Bodhisattva, it’s not that Flaming Blade Duan River intends to harm your friend! He wishes to challenge me one-on-one. I can’t just stand here dumbly and let him attack me, can I? Galin Bodhisattva, what do you say?"

Galin Bodhisattva, dressed in a white Buddhist robe, glanced at Lin Xuankong. Seeing him nod slightly, the Minor Success Bodhisattva of Spirit Platform Buddhism immediately shifted her gaze back to Duan River and nodded. "Flaming Blade Duan River, since Tributor Mu wishes to challenge you one-on-one, you two can naturally go all out and rely on your own abilities. However, Flaming Blade Duan River, you are a Late-Stage Third-Grade Earth Immortal. Remember, when you make your move, be careful not to harm Tributor Mu’s life!"

Upon hearing this, Flaming Blade Duan River was overjoyed. At this moment, who did the hundreds of Earth Immortals from the Seventy-Six Immortal Sects Alliance, including the many from the Fire Spirit Immortal Sect, fear the most? Naturally, it was this Minor Success Bodhisattva from Spirit Platform Buddhism. With her present, forget the Earth Immortals from the Seventy-Six Immortal Sects Alliance; even if seven hundred and sixty such alliances were present, they wouldn’t dare touch Mu Shiba! Yet now, Galin Bodhisattva of Spirit Platform Buddhism had surprisingly agreed to let Flaming Blade Duan River and Lin Xuankong duel...

Flaming Blade Duan River was secretly ecstatic. Not harm Tributor Mu’s life? Hmph, when dealing with a cultivator, merely taking their life is the simplest outcome! If I want to make him suffer, there are far more ways than just killing him! Wiping out his body and most of his meridians completely, as was done to Second Prince Chang Li, would make him suffer far more than simply killing him. That would be equivalent to forcing him to restart his cultivation from Transcendence Realm Tier One. This is especially true for this Mu Shiba, who managed to condense the Sixth Celestial Vein by some ridiculous luck. If his body were annihilated and all his meridians destroyed, he would not only drop to Transcendence Realm Tier One but also lose this Sixth Celestial Vein. Losing the Sixth Celestial Vein... trying to obtain it again would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens! Furthermore, I could target his divine soul. Damaging his divine soul would equally ensure that this damned Mu Shiba wouldn’t make any significant progress in his cultivation for the next several hundred years! Thinking of these possibilities, Flaming Blade Duan River couldn’t stop a wide grin from spreading across his face.

At this time, Great Elder Duan Qianchou of the Fire Spirit Immortal Sect also felt a surge of delight. A hint of killing intent flashed in his eyes as he said calmly, "Duan River, although Galin Bodhisattva has instructed you not to harm Mu Shiba’s life, as Grand Elder, I must reiterate: remember, you absolutely must not harm Mu Shiba’s life! Our Fire Spirit Immortal Sect cannot be seen to bully the weak; we must act with restraint. You understand my meaning!"

Hearing this, Flaming Blade Duan River turned to look at Duan Qianchou. Their eyes met, and it was clear they understood each other’s unspoken meaning. Wasting no more time, Flaming Blade Duan River quickly transformed his body and approached Lin Xuankong. With his hands clasped behind his back, he looked at Lin Xuankong with disdain. "Tributor Mu, I, Flaming Blade Duan River, am ready. I intend to witness your astounding techniques and see just how you, a mere Transcendent Realm cultivator, plan to challenge me, a Third-Grade Earth Immortal!"

Flaming Blade Duan River spoke this way, goading and belittling Lin Xuankong, because he was naturally worried that Lin Xuankong might suddenly get cold feet and back out of the duel. To Flaming Blade Duan River’s further delight, Lin Xuankong turned to the assembled Earth Immortals of the Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect and shook his head with a solemn expression. "This Flaming Blade Duan River is mine! Everyone, please rest assured and observe the battle peacefully from the side!"

With these words, the True Qi around Lin Xuankong’s body abruptly surged—he was clearly preparing to strike!