Chapter 415: Sword Slaying Burning Radiance [Red Gu]

Burning Radiance.

The second strongest existence in the Burning Purity Holy Land after Monk Burning Karma.

His current cultivation had reached the peak of Void Treading's ninth stage, half-step into Great Ascension.

Yet he wasn't actually a monk.

To be precise, he was a demon—a bodhi tree enlightened by Monk Burning Karma.

He had existed since the founding of Burning Purity Holy Land, and after its establishment, he cultivated into human form.

In a sense, he could be considered the guardian beast of Burning Purity Holy Land.

"Kill without mercy? What arrogance."

Chen Huaian drew his sword without wasting words.

"Well met!" Burning Radiance's eyes flashed brilliantly as he pressed his palms together, not striking but reaching to grasp at Chen Huaian's incoming blade: "Long have I heard the Sword Pavilion Patriarch's swordsmanship reigns supreme. Let this humble Burning Radiance verify the rumors today!"

As his voice faded,

Burning Radiance seemed to grow distant in Chen Huaian's vision.

The Nine Dragon Sacred Pavilion behind him also receded.

Time itself stretched thin in this moment.

In a blink, the Burning Purity Holy Land beyond the membrane vanished, along with all accompanying cultivators. The Black Scales Sword in his hand became a withered branch.

A blood moon hung overhead, its crimson reflection staining the waters below.

Upon that liquid crimson moon stood a figure in black robes, standing on a bodhi leaf, wielding Black Scales Sword, his silver hair cascading unnaturally without wind.

"Oh? Taking this Venerable One's form makes you me now?" Chen Huaian smirked at the withered branch.

Buddhist arts excelled in illusions.

He'd been silently pulled into a minor realm by Burning Radiance.

Understandable—his current avatar only manifested Void Treading ninth stage power, not half-step Great Ascension, let alone true Great Ascension. Burning Radiance fighting on home territory gaining first move was expected.

"Perhaps the benefactor speaks truth." The Chen Huaian-shaped Burning Radiance grinned unnaturally: "But after killing you today, I shall become you. What difference remains when I replace your everything?"

With these words, Burning Radiance swung Black Scales Sword downward.

Chen Huaian observed calmly.

Admittedly, elevating to Great Ascension would effortlessly crush this foe.

But what meaning held such victory?

This Cangyun Realm avatar was merely an extension. Overreliance on superior realms would breed dependency. Should the avatar disappear—or worse, become an enemy as now—how would he prevail?

"I am no longer who I was."

Chen Huaian murmured, closing his eyes against the approaching blade.

The real world faded further.

Outside the illusion, his hands stood empty, Black Scales Sword somehow fallen at his feet.

Yet his grip now held a sword condensed entirely from Yin-Yang Sword Intent.

His blade extended toward Burning Radiance.

Within the bodhi illusion, Chen Huaian reopened his eyes. That laughable withered branch in his hand slashed downward at his doppelgänger.

The sword was never in hand.

The sword eternally resided in heart.

Form had long ceased to constrain him.

Memories of conversations with Dang Kang surfaced, countless sword insights erupting simultaneously—

All channeled through that withered branch!

Outside the illusion, while Black Scales Sword remained grounded, Chen Huaian now wielded a swordlight-forged replica.

Inside, the branch unleashed razor-sharp sword qi—launched later yet piercing toward Burning Radiance's brow at terrifying speed.

In reality, amidst Burning Purity Holy Land's radiant buddhist light—

The previously confident Burning Radiance stood frozen half a zhang away.

His face paled as he stared dumbly at Chen Huaian.

The sword-intent blade had already pierced his forehead, its tip emerging from his skull amidst a crimson mist.

"You... how could you strike me?"

The illusion shattered. Chen Huaian's calm gaze settled on Burning Radiance:

"Your divine ability is formidable. Your illusion mastery approaches perfection. But... you should never have wielded a sword. You comprehend nothing of blades."

"You understand swords?" Burning Radiance's face twisted, "A mere Void Treading ninth stage—what Dao could you grasp?!"

"None understand swords better than This Venerable One." Chen Huaian stood sword-backed, nodding slightly.

Not even Zhang Yibai could refute this.

Zhang Yibai comprehended Yin-Yang Sword Intent, from which he perceived Samsara—a path not purely of the sword.

Whereas the Dao Chen Huaian grasped was Sword itself.

The sharpness that severs all, the valor that charges forward, the simplicity forged through endless tempering.

"This Venerable One grasped Dao while still at Golden Core."

"Bullshit!" Burning Radiance roared at Chen Huaian's smile.

Unleashing full power, he transformed into a golden bodhi tree—its colossal form nearly enveloping the entire Burning Purity Holy Land. Thunderous howls echoed through its canopy: "What fucking sword Dao? Witness me shatter your path today!"

Before the echoes faded, countless golden vines erupted skyward—exploding like thunderbolts as they rained upon Chen Huaian.

Chen Huaian narrowed his eyes, gazing upward.

The sky was blotted out by vines, but so what? A sword's edge parts all creation—how could mere bodhi wood obstruct it?

"Sword Pavilion Patriarch! These bodhi vines have been nourished three thousand years—each tougher than superior spirit artifacts! Can your blade sever infinity itself?"

Burning Radiance's laughter rolled like thunder.

Chen Huaian remained silent, simply swinging his sword—

As though brushing away dust.

Where the blade passed, space itself collapsed layer by layer, air evacuating into absolute vacuum.

From this void, swordlight emerged.

The descending vines disintegrated into countless fragments.

Chen Huaian swung again—faster now—until swordlight formed an impenetrable silver curtain three feet around him. Vines contacting this curtain were instantly pulverized into sawdust.

"So... strong!"

True Martial Holy Land disciples gaped at the spectacle.

The colossal bodhi tree dwarfed Chen Huaian, who stood amidst the vine storm like a leaf boat in a typhoon—seemingly fragile yet indestructible as a fortress.

"Impossible! How can you repel my assault?!"

Burning Radiance's eyes nearly burst from their sockets.

This minor realm was his bodhi tree's domain.

Yet even channeling the realm's full power, he couldn't breach Chen Huaian's three-foot perimeter.

That space belonged to another dimension—

The dimension of swords.

The dimension of Chen Huaian's Dao.

While his own path proved so insignificant...

It couldn't even make contact.

"Boring." Chen Huaian shook his head: "Peak Void Treading ninth stage merely qualifies to cross blades with This Venerable One. Your Dao... lacks purity!"

As he spoke—

All spiritual energy in the Sumeru Realm converged upon him.

Countless minor realms scattered throughout the dimension shattered like glass marbles on a snapped cloth.

Sword intent concentrated in Chen Huaian's grip—

Then erupted as Black Scales Sword left its sheath.

A howling gale sliced across hundreds of zhang—

Through the vine tempest—

Past countless bodhi leaves—

And finally through Burning Radiance meditating within the tree.

The sword's roar rivaled thunder.

Burning Radiance's body split asunder.

...

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