112 The Nine Scenic Wonders of Yunxiao
Cao Jingzong glanced at the sky and mused, "It seems it is just the seven of us. Then let us form the Big Dipper Seven Killing Sword Formation to resist the demon tide."
"Junior brothers and sisters, after this battle, I, Cao, will reward you handsomely!"
Pausing briefly, he turned to the True Immortal Xiaoyue and said, "Senior sister, please stay in the sect to oversee the overall situation."
True Immortal Xiaoyue nodded and replied, "Be careful."
Cao Jingzong laughed heartily, transforming into a sword light that shot into the sky. He shouted, "Junior brothers and sisters, form the formation!"
The Big Dipper Seven Killing Sword Formation was a compulsory skill for disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect's inner gate. Wherever and whenever there were seven disciples together, they could form this formation to repel formidable enemies.
Cao Jingzong flew out from the protective array of the Bright Heart Sword Sect. Behind him, the purple-skinned gourd glowed with spiritual light. A brilliant sword light burst forth from the gourd, circling once in the air, magnificent and grand, with the sword's hum like thunder!
Timur, Pang Yue, and the other six also ascended, each taking a position and releasing their sword lights.
Pang Yue occupied the position of the Kaiyang star. He urged his sword light to follow a mysterious trajectory and immediately connected it to a spiritual mechanism. Instantly, the sword light surged, its power increasing tenfold!
An overwhelming killing intent filled the skies and earth for a thousand miles, drawing in the world's vital energy. Above, seven dazzling spiritual lights gathered, shining like the Big Dipper stars, brilliantly radiant!
The seven, spaced a hundred miles apart, melded into the grand formation. They sat cross-legged in the void, absorbing energy and circulating their magic to keep their sword light ever sharp.
Thanks to the spiritual mechanism of the Seven Killing Sword Formation, Pang Yue’s consciousness rose several levels, expanding his perception range tenfold.
He vaguely sensed an overwhelming and surging demonic aura rolling in from the east, fierce and unstoppable.
"Is that the demon tide? How did Cao Jingzong know it was coming?" Pang Yue wondered, but Cao’s voice came to his ears.
"Junior brothers and sisters, the demon tide is imminent. I must say something that will be necessary!"
"Sharpness diminishes in secret, the greatest bane to sword cultivators!"
"There is no secret technique in swordsmanship; it is simply to always preserve a surplus of energy, never exhausting it."
"We form the Seven Killing Sword Formation to slay Golden Core-level demons, but beware not to be greedy or reckless, lest we lose our sharpness!"
While Cao Jingzong was instructing them, the torrential rain suddenly ceased!
The clouds parted to reveal the moon, stars scattering across the vast sky, pure and ethereal.
Above Hutu Island, the seven massive spiritual lights radiated dazzling brilliance, forming a majestic sword formation that exuded overwhelming killing intent.
Beneath the sword formation, the protective light screen of the Bright Heart Sword Sect's array seemed somewhat dim in comparison.
Between sea and sky, a towering wave of jade-green water surged, rising halfway to the heavens, sweeping toward Hutu Island.
Countless sea beasts and demons surged ahead, charging out of the mountainous wave like a tidal mountain, directly attacking Hutu Island!
A colossal monstrous fish, as large as a small mountain and over a hundred zhang long, with razor-sharp teeth and a roar like thunder, suddenly leapt into midair, carrying the massive wave toward Pang Yue’s spiritual light!
Pang Yue sat upright within the spiritual light, extending a finger to command the Seven Killing Sword Formation, unleashing a hundred-zhang sword light that slashed at the monstrous fish.
The sword and the fish clashed midair; the sword light swept through!
The monstrous fish was instantly cleaved in two, blood spraying across the sky.
Numerous sea monsters and fish and shrimp immediately swarmed, fighting over the carcass and devouring it clean.
Pang Yue wielded the sword light to consecutively slay three more demonic beasts before focusing his gaze. Outside Hutu Island, a dense mass of demons gathered, countless and thick.
Eight Golden Core-level demons as large as islands, and others as huge as mountains, surrounded Hutu Island. Countless sea demons frantically surged toward the island.
"Eight Golden Core-level demonic beasts, the rest are Dao Foundation and Qi-eating levels..." Pang Yue frowned.
This demon tide was no stranger to the Heavenly Sword disciples.
South of the Heavenly Sword Sect lay the Myriad Demons Island, a gathering place for countless demons.
Every decade or so, Golden Core-level demons would lead their beasts to attack human islands.
The Heavenly Sword Sect used these attacks to temper disciples' swordsmanship and refine their talents.
Soon, Pang Yue found himself surrounded by an endless sea of demonic beasts, fighting fiercely against overwhelming numbers.
Some demons rode the fierce waves, crashing onto Hutu Island, heading straight for the Bright Heart Sword Sect.
But most were blocked by Pang Yue.
Elsewhere in the Seven Killing Sword Formation, the situation was similar.
From a high vantage, one could see seven huge spiritual lights guarding the perimeter of Hutu Island. Sword lights flickered, relentlessly holding back the endless sea of beasts.
Pang Yue’s incarnation was limited, lacking even a decent magical treasure besides his inherited sword techniques.
Now, empowered by the Seven Killing Sword Formation, his magic surged, and his sword light was magnificent, rivaling the Dao Foundation’s peak.
He sat cross-legged in the void, battling the demonic horde while recalling Cao Jingzong’s earlier words.
"There is no secret technique in swordsmanship; it is simply to always preserve a surplus of energy, never exhausting it."
He shifted his sword postures with ease, commanding the astonishing sword light. With dazzling snowy-white radiance, he painted a misty cloud sea!
Mists rose, rosy clouds drifted!
It was as if a vast expanse of boundless sky appeared on the horizon, endless and rolling waves of clouds!
The Nine Scenes of the Cloud Sky!
Under the onslaught of countless demons, clouds scattered and sword intent soared, silently felling numerous sea demons!
The demonic beasts surged like moths to a flame, with a desperate spirit of all-or-nothing, charging relentlessly.
The cloud mists transformed into a vast sea of clouds, rolling endlessly, embodying a profound and lingering artistic conception.
At this moment, the supreme sword technique of Cloud Sky Peak, the Nine Scenes of the Cloud Sea, was fully manifested in Pang Yue's hands, revealing divine might.
The fierce and vicious demons darkened in comparison beneath this long-lasting and profound sword intent!
Countless demon corpses tumbled off the cliffs near Hutu Island.
The misty cloud sea stretched like a painting across the sky, firmly holding this battle line!
Elsewhere,
Timur’s sword light flashed like lightning, wielding the sword qi thunderclap technique to roam the skies unhindered. Wherever he passed, thunder rolled and blood stained the heavens.
No demon could withstand a single strike from him.
Demonic corpses fell like rain, striking hard against the coastal reefs.
Even amid battle, he kept watch around him.
When he saw a cloud-like sea of sword qi rising in the southeast, he was instantly startled.
"This sword technique... why is it so unknown?"
...
At the Tianxuan position of the Seven Killing Sword Formation,
Cao Jingzong commanded a blazing sword light, murderous intent radiating in all directions.
The sword light swept past without change, instantly destroying countless demons with an overwhelming and unmatched killing force.
With a finger's motion, the blazing sword light split into thousands of fine sword rays, like falling stars. Wherever they passed, the sky was cleared clean!
But the next moment, countless demons surged again, overwhelming once more.
His cultivated sword technique was one of the five great primordial spirit legacies of the Heavenly Sword Sect, called the Purple Cloud Immortal Gourd Sword Scripture!
Its sword intent was supreme; ordinary Qi-eating demons could not even endure the killing intent radiated by the sword qi.
Only Dao Foundation-level demons could withstand the sword light’s baptism and be sent to the Western Paradise.
Suddenly,
Cao Jingzong looked southeast, a glint of admiration flashing through his eyes.
"What a marvelous Nine Scenes of the Cloud Sky!"
A faint smile appeared on his face, moved by the sword technique’s near-Dao realm artistic conception.