259: Chapter 259 Major Tribulations, Observing the Battle from the Clouds

Although Cang Song's zhenyue sword also followed a heavy and powerful path, when it clashed head-on with Mu Zhanye's giant axe, it faintly felt somewhat strenuous.

Both of them followed the path of heavy swords and heavy weapons, but Mu Zhanye occupied the cultivation advantage of the Late Stage Undergoing Tribulation, and coupled with the fact that the giant axe's weight far exceeded the zhenyue sword, every collision shook Cang Song's arms until they felt slightly numb.

Seventh Aunt Mu's sealing formation diagram was like an expanding purple spider web, slowly rotating in the Void Realm, shrouding a space of a thousand zhang in radius within it.

Every time her dragon-head cane struck the ground, dozens of new runes merged into the formation diagram, making that binding force stronger and stronger.

The figures of Elder Cangwu and the other two were noticeably more sluggish in the formation diagram than before, and the circulation of their Sword Intent was also suppressed by at least twenty percent.

Mu Xuanji, on the other hand, was like a venomous snake lurking in the dark. His slender long sword rarely made a frontal move, but it always delivered a fatal blow at the most critical moment and from the trickiest angle.

His sword was too fast—so fast that even Elder Cangwu's Divine Sense could only capture a trace of an afterimage.

His sword was also too accurate, every strike landing precisely on the weakest nodes of the three people's defense.

Elder Jianchi had to split at least thirty percent of his mental focus specifically to watch Mu Xuanji. His pitch-black long sword always crossed horizontally in front of his chest, ready at any time to block the fatal blow that might stab out from the Void Realm at any moment.

Seven figures crossed and flickered in the air, each collision accompanied by a deafening roar.

Sword lights, spear shadows, axe radiance, and runes, various forces intertwined and collided in the Void Realm, turning the sky above Huaiyang City upside down.

In the Void Realm even higher above Huaiyang City, more than a dozen figures were hidden behind layers of cloud mists, their gazes closely locked onto the melee of the seven Undergoing Tribulation figures below.

The auras around their bodies were completely restrained, making it impossible for ordinary Cultivators to detect their existence. However, if a Tribulation Transcender concentrated and observed carefully, they would discover that the aura emitted by any of these figures was not inferior to the seven fighting below.

In the due north direction, a white-haired Elder dressed in a purple Dao robe stood with his hands behind his back on the clouds. The Zixiao emblem on his chest represented his identity—Grand Elder of Zixiao Holy Land, Peak of Tribulation Transcendence.

Stroking his long beard, he cast his gaze onto Elder Cangwu's light cyan sword radiance and narrowed his eyes slightly: "Elder Cangwu's Sword Intent has improved further. When I saw him make a move in the Southern Wilderness last time, it was far from being this condensed."

Not far from his side, a red-robed Elder and a colorful-robed woman stood side by side.

Faint firelight circulated around the red-robed Elder; he was the Second Elder of Lieyang Holy Land. The colorful-robed woman had a cold expression, and star patterns were embroidered on her sleeves; she was the Third Elder of Xingchen Holy Land. Hearing this, both of them nodded slightly.

"Those four from the Mu Family are not weak either." The Second Elder of Lieyang Holy Land spoke, his voice sounding like muffled thunder.

"Mu Jiu's spear momentum already possesses a hint of Void Tempering intent, and if Mu Zhanye's axe lands solidly, even someone at the Peak of Tribulation Transcendence would not dare to take it head-on."

"Unfortunately, they ran into that old fellow Elder Cangwu. His Sword Intent happens to restrain Mu Jiu's spear momentum. If Seventh Aunt Mu's sealing formation diagram cannot trap him, it will be hard for the Mu Family to come out ahead today."

"Not just Elder Cangwu." The Third Elder of Xingchen Holy Land's gaze fell upon the gray-robed Elder hugging his sword, her tone carrying a bit more solemnity.

"Elder Jianchi hasn't truly made a move yet. From the moment he drew his sword until now, he has only struck three times: one sword injured Mu Xuanji, and two swords broke open the three-layer seal that Seventh Aunt Mu placed on Cang Song."

In the due east direction, three figures stood separately above three layers of clouds.

Grand Elder of the Xiao Family, Xiao Wanren, had a tall figure and a stern expression. With an unsheathed broadsword strapped to his back, he looked down indifferently at the battle below.

Grand Elder of the Lin Family, Lin Boyuan, had a lean figure and held a jade-bone folding fan, making him look more like a scholar.

Standing beside him was another Grand Elder of the Lin Family, Lin Qingyin, who was also the only female Cultivator present. Dressed in a plain white skirt, her expression was cold and aloof.

"The Mu Family is a bit reckless this time." Lin Boyuan shook his folding fan, his brows slightly furrowed, and his tone carried a hint of displeasure.

"They haven't even figured out the background of Kunlun yet, and they rushed right into it like this. What if they ruin the plan of the three families? Who will take responsibility for this?"

Xiao Wanren stood with his hands behind his back and said coldly: "You can't put it that way either. Elder Cangwu crippled Valley Master Qin Cangyan in public and belittled the Mu Family in public. If Mu Jiu doesn't make a move, how can the Mu Family hold their heads high in Central China? If my Xiao Family were stepped on the face like this, I wouldn't be able to bear it either."

"Mu Jiu must make a move; I have no objection to this." Lin Qingyin took over the conversation, her voice as clear and cold as jade.

"But those people like Valley Master Qin Cangyan are also ridiculously stupid. To want to kill someone without first investigating who was by the other party's side—are people from Kunlun someone they can casually mess with? When all is said and done, this matter is because the Mu Family failed to strictly govern their subordinates, which stirred up such a huge mess."

Lin Boyuan put away his folding fan and lightly patted it against his palm, his tone softening somewhat: "Forget it. Matters have reached this point, and saying these things is useless."

"Although Kunlun is unfathomable, our three families have been able to stand firm in Central China for so many years and are not to be trifled with. No matter how strong Kunlun is, it is merely a new force that has popped up in the last few years. The foundation of our Lin Family is not necessarily inferior to theirs."

"Indeed." Xiao Wanren's gaze fell upon the seven figures constantly colliding below, a flash of cold light crossing his eyes.

"Kunlun's record of slaying Ancestor of Liuli Sect is indeed not to be underestimated, but among our three families, any single one has the confidence to confront Kunlun head-on."

"Furthermore, our three families are allies in the first place, sharing the same breath and branch—glory together, loss together. If the Mu Family suffers a loss fighting alone, we will naturally have to step in. If Mu Jiu and the others can turn the tables back, naturally that's for the best; if they cannot, it won't be too late for us to make a move."

Lin Qingyin nodded slightly, her gaze falling upon the increasingly heavy purple formation diagram in the battlefield, and she said indifferently:

"Mu Jiu and the others are already beginning to fall into a disadvantage. Elder Cangwu's Sword Intent suppresses them far too much. If Seventh Aunt Mu's sealing formation diagram cannot trap Elder Cangwu, it will be hard for the Mu Family to come out ahead today. If this drags on any longer, Mu Jiu's xuanyou spear probably won't last a hundred moves."

Lin Boyuan spun his folding fan around in his hand, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes: "Be ready to make a move at any time. Our three families share the same breath and branch; it is impossible for us to sit back and watch the Mu Family be publicly humiliated by others."

In the due west direction, Immortal Master Xukong of Taixu Holy Land sat cross-legged alone on a cloud of auspiciousness, his eyes half-closed as if open yet shut.

The Underworld Sovereign of Jiuyou Holy Land stood with his hands behind his back, his entire body wreathed in black fog so that his face could not be seen, but those eyes, faintly visible within the black fog, were unblinkingly staring at the gray-robed Elder hugging his sword below.

The two did not converse with each other, merely silently observing the battle below on their own.

Deep within the clouds further away, several hidden auras were also fluctuating slightly.

Those were Elders and enforcers sent by some secondary-tier forces in Central China to gather information. Not daring to get too close, they could only sense those terrifying spiritual power collisions from afar.

There were also some traveling Loose Cultivators who were Undergoing Tribulation, who happened to pass by the southern part of Central China. Sensing the fluctuations of the chaotic battle between the seven Undergoing Tribulation figures here, they curiously came over to take a look, each observing this rare and magnificent Undergoing Tribulation battle in their own way.