212: Peak Threshold
After finishing his energy regulation, Liu Qingtian, whose state had returned to its Peak and even faintly improved due to a deeper understanding of the Dao gained from consecutive fierce battles, cast his gaze toward the deepest part of the upper area.
There, fewer than twenty dao platforms stood, surrounding the summit of Yun Dao Cliff like stars surrounding the moon.
Those capable of occupying these dao platforms were all Prodigies who were famous across many Great Worlds, viewed as having great hope of charging into the Realm of World Opening, and even having the potential to glimpse the mysteries of the Dao Mastery Realm (Immortal King Realm) in the future.
Their auras were like deep abysses or vast seas, unfathomable; merely the Dao Rhyme naturally radiating from them made the time and space in that area appear exceptionally stagnant.
The first target Liu Qingtian selected was a young man sitting cross-legged on a dao platform constructed from countless phantom sword implements.
The young man wore white, had an ordinary face, eyes tightly closed, and a simple, sheathed longsword laid horizontally across his knees.
No sharp Sword Qi leaked from his body, yet he himself seemed like a peerless divine blade hidden in a case; once unsheathed, it would surely be earth-shattering.
"Sword Domain, Li Daoyi." Whispers came from nearby dao platforms, pointing out the man's name.
"It is said that he has cultivated the Sword Dao to the Realm of 'No Sword.' With a single thought, all Laws can become swords. He once used a single sword to strike down a Great World on the verge of extinction, sending it to its end."
Liu Qingtian could feel that this man's Sword Dao had some similarities with his own Myriad Manifestations Returning to Ruin Dao, both pursuing the ultimate "destruction" and "end," but the paths were completely different.
This stirred his intense Battle Intent.
He took a step and landed before Li Daoyi's dao platform.
"Please." Li Daoyi did not even open his eyes, merely spitting out a single word indifferently.
Liu Qingtian said no more. His Guixu Dao Domain expanded instantly, deep darkness spreading toward his opponent.
Wherever it passed, even the phantom sword implements on the dao platform began to blur and become unstable.
Just as the Guixu Dao Domain was about to touch Li Daoyi's Physical Body, the simple longsword across his knees suddenly emitted a clear sword hum!
Hum—!
Without seeing Li Daoyi make any move, an invisible, intangible Sword Intent, yet one that seemed capable of severing Karma and dividing time and space, had already descended!
This Sword Intent was not aimed at Liu Qingtian's Physical Body, nor at his Demonic Essence, but struck directly at the connection between him and his own "Myriad Manifestations Returning to Ruin Dao"!
Liu Qingtian's expression changed slightly. He immediately circulated his Dao Heart to stabilize the connection between himself and his dao foundation.
The Sword Intent struck down as if hitting an invisible yet extremely tough barrier, emitting a crisp "clang" sound, sending sparks flying.
Although he blocked this sword, Liu Qingtian's mind was also violently shaken.
Li Daoyi's Sword Dao was indeed strange and overbearing, actually able to directly attack an opponent's "Dao"!
"Although Guixu is strong, it has an end. My sword has no beginning and no end, leaving no traces to be found." Li Daoyi finally opened his eyes.
His pupils were actually pure silver-white, and within them, countless tiny sword shadows seemed to be born and die.
He pointed his fingers like a sword and gestured remotely at Liu Qingtian.
"Boundless Sword Prison!"
In an instant, Liu Qingtian felt as if he had been dragged into a world composed entirely of Sword Intent!
Up, down, left, right, past, and present, all existence turned into sharp, unparalleled Sword Qi, launching endless attacks on him from every possible angle and every fragment of time!
These Sword Qi were not physical entities but manifestations of Law and will, ignoring most physical and energy defenses, pointing straight to the Origin!
Liu Qingtian pushed the Myriad Manifestations Returning to Ruin Dao to its limit.
Dark light surged around his body, turning into a Domain of absolute defense, continuously annihilating the invading invisible Sword Intent.
But the Sword Intent was endless, as if it truly had no boundaries, while his Power of Guixu was being consumed at high speed.
"Cannot be trapped!" Liu Qingtian knew that prolonged defense would lead to defeat.
He let out a long howl and, disregarding the consumption, once again unleashed "Heaven and Earth Together Silent"!
A terrifying implication of extinction erupted with him at the center, forcibly and briefly extinguishing the Law Foundation of this "Boundless Sword Prison"!
The Sword Prison fluctuated violently, appearing momentarily stagnant.
Taking this opportunity, Liu Qingtian captured the location of Li Daoyi's true body and, gathering all his strength, blasted out a "Black Hole Fist"!
The fist force transformed into a miniature black hole that devoured everything, heading straight for his opponent!
However, facing this punch capable of annihilating stars, Li Daoyi's expression remained calm.
He pointed his fingers like a sword and lightly slashed at the incoming black hole.
"Slashing Void."
A silver line, so fine it was almost invisible, flashed past.
The miniature black hole, violently rotating and devouring all things, was actually split in two from the middle!
It was as if the very concept of its "existence" had been severed by this sword!
The separated black hole instantly lost stability and silently annihilated and dissipated.
Liu Qingtian's pupils shrank!
His Black Hole Fist Intent had actually been broken so casually?
And just at the moment when his old strength was exhausted, new strength had not yet been born, and his mind had a momentary gap due to his ultimate move being broken, Li Daoyi's second sword arrived.
This sword was still invisible and intangible, yet faster and sharper than before!
It seemed to traverse the barriers of time and space, ignoring the Guixu Dao Rhyme swirling around Liu Qingtian, and appeared directly in front of his chest!
"Puff—!"
Liu Qingtian could not make any effective defense in time.
He only felt an indescribable sharpness and sense of extinction penetrate his body!
His protective Demonic Essence was torn apart like paper, and his Demon Body, tough as divine metal, was easily pierced!
A sword hole, visible from front to back, appeared on his chest.
No blood flowed from the wound; only pure destructive Sword Intent rampaged wildly, destroying his vitality and eroding his dao foundation!
"Ugh, ah—!"
He couldn't help but let out a muffled groan, his figure staggering backward, his face instantly turning pale as paper.
This sword not only severely injured his Physical Body but also damaged his Dao Origin!
That sharp Sword Intent was like a maggot on a tarsal bone, rampaging within his body, clashing violently with his Power of Guixu, bringing heart-wrenching pain.
He had lost!
And it was a crushing, disastrous defeat!
With just two swords, he was severely injured and lost the ability to fight again!
Li Daoyi slowly withdrew his finger, his silver-white pupils looking at Liu Qingtian indifferently.
He did not pursue, merely closing his eyes again, as if he had done a trivial thing.
"As expected, Li Daoyi is still so monstrous..."
"This Guixu Demonic Venerable is already very strong to have forced him to use two swords."
"An injury to the Dao, I'm afraid it will be hard to recover for decades. What a pity, his path to the top is cut off here."
The surrounding discussions were filled with pity, and also deep awe for Li Daoyi.
Liu Qingtian covered the terrifying sword hole in his chest, feeling the rampant Sword Intent within his body and his rapidly fading vitality.
His eyes were full of unwillingness, but more so, a kind of realization.
He had underestimated the terror of these top Prodigies.
Li Daoyi's Sword Dao had already transcended the scope of ordinary Divine Ability and touched the dispute over the Origin of the "Dao."
Its Realm was more than a notch higher than his!
"Is this... the final threshold to the Peak?" He thought bitterly, his consciousness beginning to blur due to the injury and intense pain.
He forcefully raised a breath of Demonic Essence, suppressed his injuries, stabilized his figure with difficulty, and stopped lingering.
Transforming into a dim stream of light, he fell toward the lower layer of Yun Dao Cliff, to the dao platform he had previously occupied.
The urgent priority was to heal!
Otherwise, let alone reaching the top, even his life might not be guaranteed!
This serious injury was more severe than any he had ever suffered.
An injury to the Dao is the hardest to heal.
His path to the heavens seemed, at this moment, to have been forcibly interrupted.