Chapter 1483: A Peerless Vine
Chapter 1483: A Peerless Vine
"[Second Form: Piercing the Soul]!"
Zhang Lie's disaster-grade mistmeld clam soulshard activated as he infused its energy into his swords, causing them to shine radiantly with multicolored light. He glanced straight at his opponent's soul.
The golden-haired man blocking his way didn't have a soul; Zhang Lie was certain that it was nothing more than a puppet.
The real enemy lay hidden, waiting for a more opportune moment to strike.
"Do you think I won't be able to do anything to you if you hide behind a puppet?"
A rainbow arc accompanied Zhang Lie's slash, as though an aurora borealis were visible in the sky. It shone in all the colors of the rainbow, momentarily hypnotizing anyone who looked at it.
All those who witnessed the hypnotic light would stand still in a daze.
The sword energy flew through the heavens. His sword shone as brightly as the northern lights overhead, bringing him momentarily out of the physical into the intangible.
No one discovered the small threads of black hidden within the gorgeous display.
The sword energy struck the golden-haired man. The black threads pierced through the void as the aurora extended into the distance.
Within the void, the golden fog dispersed, revealing the golden-haired man anew. Golden flames danced around him. He stood with traces of blood by his mouth, clearly having been wounded by Zhang Lie's attack.
What had appeared before Zhang Lie was nothing more than an avatar, a puppet meant to play around with Zhang Lie and his ilk.
Unexpectedly, however, Zhang Lie was able to infuse karmic power into his attack, allowing him to hurt Coruscant Sun despite attacking only his avatar.
Coruscant Sun stared coldly at Zhang Lie, his hands forming seals as an explosive aura erupted from him.
"I, Coruscant Sun, have never suffered defeat since my birth. That you would have been able to hurt me with a trick—you won't be able to escape," Coruscant Sun muttered. His gaze grew brighter as he spat out radiant flames.
"The Solarvines' ultimate technique—[Solarflame of the Divine Vine]!"
Those flames had been extracted from deep within the sun and were frightening in their intensity and strength. Many spectators gasped. The void distorted where the flames burned, and the shining, infinite expanse of vines surrounding them formed a domain of slaughter.
Li Feng shouted, "Be careful, Captain!"
Several Redgold cultivators had surrounded Li Feng and blocked his way.
Perhaps they were puppets made of vine; perhaps not. The solarflame streaked across the sky and surrounded Zhang Lie, boxing him in.
"[Blade of the Heavens: the Sea Swells]!"
Zhang Lie stared at his opponent, his eyes cold. Energy poured out of him in waves, honing the edge of his blade. The pulses of energy struck the realm like a tsunami, devouring everything within. The solarflame was extinguished and the divine vines torn.
Coruscant Sun was shocked that his attack had been foiled. He spurred more flame and vines onward.
"[Ninecarp Transformation]!"
Red scales formed a natural suit of red armor around Zhang Lie. He was surrounded by what looked like scarlet flames, but was actually steaming, blood-red water-attuned genetic energy. A black sun rose behind his back, and a blood moon shone at his feet.
A long tail grew out of his back. His black hair took on a red tint, as though they were lit up by an inner fire. Interlocking rings of black and red that warped natural law surrounded his body, and a domineering aura exuded from him.
The steaming water-attuned genetic energy sprayed outward, quenching the solarflame. Shockingly, all the water was evaporating from the golden vines, which bore incredible resistance against fire.
Coruscant Sun shot out an unusual vine that looked like black crystal instead of the regular gold. It gave off umbral light.
"[Light's Bulwark: Dragon's Teeth]!"
Concentrated light-attuned genetic energy surrounded Li Feng as he shot out a piercing burst of light that surpassed even Sun Xiaowu's penetrating power.
The Redgold cultivators had no hope of stopping Li Feng. In the blink of an eye, he slew all the Redgolds and reduced them to motes of light.
A mark of white light was emblazoned on the back of his palm. He reached out toward the vine, intending on helping Zhang Lie. When he tugged on the vine, he felt a sharp jerk of pain. His palm was bleeding despite the fact that he had imbued it with his light-attuned genetic energy, concentrated so densely that it was tougher than an ordinary weapon.
"That's... what makes Coruscant Sun so much stronger than the rest of his generation. Allegedly, his father spent great effort in refining and tempering him, consuming a large quantity of his clan's resources. He's far stronger than the average Solarvine," one person said.
"Don't come over, Li Feng!"
In the blink of an eye, Zhang Lie erupted with strength. Genetic energy grew agitated around him as he released a cloud of scarlet steam, glowing with motes of starlight. He attempted to destroy this black vine with all his strength.
He sent a sword slash forward, blazing with fire. The fiery-red genetic energy was interspersed with radiant light.
The end of the black vine broke off as Coruscant Sun shouted in surprise. He retreated, his face dark.
The vine should have been impossible to destroy; it was able to ruin others' treasures and absorb the essence of their blood. He had never before suffered any damage to the vine, not until today.
Zhang Lie stepped forward, surrounded by scarlet steam as though he were in a blazing furnace. He quenched the solarflame of the divine vine.
"Very good. If you're this strong, then I have the more reason to fight you at full strength." Coruscant Sun calmed down. He faced Zhang Lie coolly.
The solar vine soared into the air. Solar energy emanated from it, transforming into a giant sun. A pillar of golden light shot down rays in the form of sword energy, bolstering him and augmenting his transformation.
As the solar vine struck, a giant sword fell from the skies, breaking through the cloud cover. It was reinforced by solar might, as though the sun itself were falling from the sky.
Golden flames surged into the air from the repeated attacks. Sword slashes filled the sky as golden leaves and tendrils fell from Coruscant Sun's golden vine.
Finally, Zhang Lie leapt up into the air and stomped on Coruscant Sun's head, emulating what Golden Sun had done to others.
Coruscant Sun cried out in shock. His skull fractured and almost shattered.
Then, Zhang Lie chopped at his neck with a palm strike as fast as lightning, sending his head flying out.
Losing his head didn't affect Coruscant Sun's ability to fight. He melded together with his divine vine, which slowly turned pitch-black. The energy it gave off was more intense than ever. A sea of golden light spawned, each ray of sword energy like a blazing sun.
The fallen leaves and tendrils blazed like flames, transforming into golden men that looked like the spitting image of Coruscant Sun.