Under this relentless onslaught, the Heavenly Moon Purple Gold Wheels trembled on the verge of collapse. No matter how many were summoned, they were obliterated in an instant.
Those inescapable sword lights that broke through his defenses struck his body, causing the black and white chess pieces to spin wildly as they activated in desperation.
So this is what they mean by ‘one sword shatters ten thousand techniques’?
With nothing but a single sword orb, he has already forced an equally ranked Golden Core cultivator into dire straits.
Luo Chen was filled with admiration. To dedicate oneself entirely to a single sword, it was no wonder sword cultivators were said to be the strongest among their peers.
However, since this man dared to challenge a Jade Cauldron sword cultivator, surely he had more tricks up his sleeve, right?
As Luo Chen was speculating, a piercing roar suddenly resounded across the banks of the Lancang River.
"Sect cultivators, you have gone too far!"
In the next moment, a small pagoda shot forth from the black-robed cultivator’s hand.
The pagoda radiated an ancient aura, clearly a treasure of great antiquity.
As he channeled his enchanting power into it, the pagoda rapidly expanded with the wind.
Ten zhang!
Twenty zhang!
In the blink of an eye, it surpassed the thirty-zhang height that Mi Shuhua had once struggled to unleash.
And it showed no signs of stopping.
Forty!
Fifty!
One hundred zhang!
The towering pagoda, now a hundred zhang tall, descended onto the river like a pillar holding up the sky. The black-robed Golden Core cultivator took a deep breath, retrieved his Heavenly Moon Purple Gold Wheel, and then flung both hands outward.
Clang! Clang!
Clang! Clang!
Dozens of thick black chains shot out from the pagoda, writhing like dragons and serpents. Wherever they passed, sword lights collapsed in an instant. Their momentum was unstoppable, and in the blink of an eye, they had encircled a five-li radius around Pang Renxiong.
Seeing this, the black-robed cultivator burst into triumphant laughter. "This is one of the three great treasures of the Valley of Ghosts and Divinities!
"Within it lies the power of eighteen earth fiend, while externally, it is fortified with nine great formations, truly the pinnacle of top-tier enchanted treasures!
"Once it sealed countless demons. Today, I shall use it to slay the Jade Cauldron sword cultivator!"
***
Dozens of li away, Luo Chen understood everything clearly.
This treasure must be the Demon Locking Pagoda that Miao Wen had mentioned on their way here.
Its power was truly overwhelming.
Even the sword orb, renowned for its unparalleled sharpness, was helpless against the entrapment of those black chains.
No wonder this person had the confidence to challenge Pang Renxiong.
Thinking about it now, Mi Shuhua had truly been played to death.
The Jade Cauldron Sword Sect had first sent him to mobilize the Poshan Gang’s manpower and resources in search of the Golden Core Ruins, then used him as bait, and in the end, didn’t even bother to save him. They had never seen him as anything more than a disposable pawn.
No, that’s not right. Given Mi Shuhua’s personality, he must have understood the situation clearly. With a great treasure before him, he must have decided to take the gamble. And he did, indeed, seize the greatest share of resources from the ruins. Perhaps there was even an opportunity related to forming his Golden Core inside.
He just didn’t expect that, aside from being surrounded by five Foundation Establishment cultivators, a Golden Core expert would secretly strike him down.
Understanding the full picture, Luo Chen couldn't help but feel a wave of sorrow.
It was not only for Mi Shuhua but also for himself.
Mi Shuhua had been nothing more than a pawn in the hands of Golden Core cultivators, and Luo Chen himself had similarly been tossed between Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Sect cultivators, at their core, had nothing but disdain for rogue cultivators!
With this realization, Luo Chen’s mood grew even heavier as he observed the battle unfolding before him.
This black-robed Golden Core cultivator claimed to be a mere rogue cultivator.
But by the time one reached the Golden Core Realm, could anyone truly be rootless and without affiliation? If nothing else, the fact that he had colluded with five Foundation Establishment cultivators meant that he had a backing somewhere.
The most likely possibility was the Lianyun Trade Alliance.
That organization spanned dozens of trade markets and housed more than twenty or thirty Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Having Golden Core cultivators stationed there was only natural. Even if they weren’t high-ranking officials, they would at least hold a position as honored elders.
Perhaps the Demon Locking Pagoda isn’t even his trump card!
As Luo Chen speculated, the two in front of him—Miao Wen and Luo Tianhong—were also engaged in discussion.
Miao Wen’s voice carried a hint of urgency. "Elder Pang specializes in the Grand Geng Sword Scripture, but he can't fully unleash its power over a river. Now that he’s at a disadvantage, what should we do?"
However, Luo Tianhong remained unhurried, his expression calm and steady. "No need to worry. Elder Pang has simply been inactive for too long, he’s just toying with him."
"Uh... That said, he should have had enough fun by now!"