Chapter 33: The Black Lotus Appears (Part 2)

  Dazzling light, deafening thunder. Under the cover of night, a kaleidoscope of colors burst forth in an explosion, shooting out in all directions and forming a breathtaking spectacle. Just then, Swordless Dust's sudden strike happened to coincide with that black column of light, resulting in a violent explosion that sent the entire Yellow River's waters soaring into the air. What was shocking, however, was that despite the incredible force behind Swordless Dust's sword, it failed to shatter the black column of light and instead sent him flying back several meters, leaving him at a disadvantage. And as for Cang Yue's sword, it too ended in the same result, stunning all four people present.

  The black light column also shook slightly after being hit by a fierce blow, but quickly recovered its stability. On the water surface, nine lotus flowers stood like nine stone pillars, standing there in an unbreakable and mysterious manner. At this time, around the light column, two huge black dragons suddenly appeared out of thin air, surrounding the light column and constantly swirling around it. All of this was mysterious and unpredictable, leaving people guessing.

  Jian Wuchen stabilized his figure, looking at the black light pillar with a hint of surprise in his eyes, revealing a thread of confusion and bewilderment. After glancing at Cangyue and Aoxue, Jian Wuchen asked: "Have you two fellow disciples seen this mysterious light pillar before? Do you know its origin? This thing is so eerie, it's not even afraid of the divine soldiers in our hands, what could it be, strange?"

  Cang Yue glanced at Lu Yun standing by the cliff, then turned back to look at the light pillar and said calmly: "I've never encountered such a monster before, I didn't expect it to be so formidable. Now, I believe all of you masters are already aware of what's happening here, they should arrive soon, let's wait for them, we can make a decision after they get here."

  Zhang Aoxue looked at Lu Yun and said softly, "Lu Yun, you'd better retreat a bit, be careful of the danger. This demon is still unclear what it is, we have to be more cautious."

  Lu Yun carefully investigated the origin of the black light pillar at the moment Jian Wucheng made his move. He had previously sent out seven Mind-Nourishing Waves, but unfortunately, the black light pillar possessed a power that could erode all yin souls, swallowing up all seven of his Mind-Nourishing Waves. This caused Lu Yun to dare not easily launch another Mind-Nourishing Wave, and instead changed his approach to analyze the nature and origin of the black light pillar.

  At this time, upon hearing Ao Xue's words, Lu Yun's heart was filled with joy and he took a step back of about three meters. He glanced at Ao Xue and smiled calmly: "If Yun Feng were here, perhaps he would have a way to investigate what kind of divine being this demon is. Unfortunately, he's not here now, or we could ask him. But it doesn't matter, the masters from the Six Institutes have arrived." As soon as his words fell, Ao Xue and the others had yet to realize when several flashes of light flickered across the horizon, and in an instant, eight figures appeared before the eyes of the four people.

  These eight people, apart from the six heads of the sects, also included Wu Wang from Dao Garden and Ben Yi from Bodhi Academy. Looking at that black light pillar, the six heads of the sects all had a slight change in expression, exchanging glances with each other. Tianjian Institute's Li Changchun said softly: "I didn't think that after so many years, the Black Lotus Platform of the Hundred Beasts Demon Domain would reappear in the world again. It seems that this time, the world is really going to be thrown into chaos."

  The Abbot of Bodhi Institute, Dharma Master Fa Guo, spoke up: "Legend has it that this black lotus platform has been hidden for over a thousand years and has never appeared in the human world. Unexpectedly, this time, during our Six Institutes' Martial Arts Conference, it suddenly appears at Tai Xuan Mountain, truly an extraordinary event. Seeing all the demons and monsters of the world stirring, the world is about to fall into chaos."

  The Seventh Xuan True Person of the Dao Garden said, "It's said that when this black lotus platform appeared in the past, it only flashed for a moment before the world fell into great chaos. Will it be the same this time? This thing is not easy to deal with and can't be easily destroyed. The Black Lotus is known as one of the three great treasures of the Hundred Beasts Demon Domain, and it's said that no one from the Cultivation World has ever been able to destroy it. There are legends that the body of this black lotus is an indestructible body that will last for ten thousand years, and nothing in the world can destroy it."

  Li Changchun looked at everyone and said in a low voice, "This legend is also recorded in our Tiānjiàn Academy. According to ancient records, it seems that there is something in the world that can destroy this Black Lotus. However, no one knows what it is. For now, what we need to do is observe the movements of this Black Lotus. As long as it doesn't show any unusual changes, we won't engage with it for the time being."

  On this side, Xuan Yu Zhen Ren called Ao Xue and Lu Yun to his side and asked about the matter in a low voice. After listening to their words, Xuan Yu Zhen Ren sighed lightly: "I didn't expect that the legendary three great divine swords would finally gather at Tai Xuan Mountain. But if even the divine swords can't restrain this black light pillar, I'm afraid it will be of little use for us six to take action."

  Lu Yun heard this and looked at the black light pillar, thinking of what Zi Yang Zhen Ren had said when he first came. There was a very powerful mysterious sword array on Mount Tai Xuan. Why is there no movement now? Won't something have gone wrong somewhere? Lu Yun looked at Xuan Yu Zhen Ren and asked softly: "Master, when we came up the mountain, Master said that there was an enigmatic and mysterious Xu Tian Sword Array on Mount Tai Xuan. Why is there no movement now? And what about the legendary divine bird Da Peng, where is it?"

  Xuan Yu looked at the others and said in a low voice, "The Xuan Tian Sword Array indeed exists. However, during this Martial Arts Conference, the Tian Jian Academy is afraid of accidentally injuring disciples from the other five academies, so they temporarily closed off that sword array. As for the legendary divine bird, it's generally very difficult to make an appearance. Unless the Tian Jian Academy faces a great danger that concerns life and death, the divine bird might appear."

  Lu Yun gazed at the black light pillar, the original Black Lotus was already surrounded and couldn't be seen. Silently staring at the soaring light pillar, Lu Yun suddenly said: "This powerful demonic aura, appearing at this time, is it hinting at something? Or is it showing off to our Cultivation Realm?"

  Lu Yun's words were not loud, but others who heard them had a change in their facial expressions. What Lu Yun said seemed to have some reason to it. This Hei Lian, why did it have to appear at this time? It's hard to say that there wasn't any intention of looking down on the Xiuzhen world in its actions. However, even if it did have intentions of looking down on the Six Institutes, what can be done about it now? Isn't this also a humiliating thing?

  The head of the Tianjian Institute, Li Changchun, looked at everyone with a slightly sunken face and said: "This matter, since it has appeared in our Taixuan Mountain, is a contempt for our six institutes. Now that we have gathered all the strong people from each institute, if we can't handle this, how can we stand in the cultivation world in the future? At present, the three legendary divine swords are gathered here, I think, as long as the three divine swords unite, they can naturally suppress this black lotus. Now, let's have them try it out, three swords combined, power doubled, that's our only hope. Wucheng, you first discuss with your two fellow sisters on the side. To combine the three swords, the three of us must be united in heart, otherwise there is no hope. You communicate with each other first, and after a stick of incense, we'll try it out." After finishing speaking, he gave Swordless Wucheng a glance.

  Jian Wucheng's eyes flashed with a hint of joy, and he nodded in agreement. Looking at the two stunningly beautiful women, Jian Wucheng said in a crisp voice, "Two junior sisters, let's discuss this further over there, and then we'll join forces to try and eliminate this demon." After finishing speaking, he looked at Cangyue and Aoxue with an eager expression.

  Cang Yue glanced at her master, saw him nod slightly, and without saying a word, slowly walked towards Jian Wucheng. Meanwhile, Xuan Yu Zhenren also nodded in agreement, Zhang Ao Xue saw this and couldn't help but glance at Lu Yun, then turned around to walk closer to Jian Wucheng. Soon the three of them had walked several zhang away and began discussing in hushed tones.

  Li Changchun glanced at the crowd of sect leaders, smiled and said: "Unexpectedly, this time, the three divine swords finally met. Perhaps this is also fate. Heaven may be borrowing their hands to stop this disaster. Don't you think they are a good match? The divine sword is bestowed by heaven, and the marriage is naturally formed, isn't it? What do Brother Xuanyu and Yu Zhangjiao think?"

  Li Changchun's words caused a slight change in the expressions of Xuan Yu Zhenren and Yu Wushuang, who did not expect him to bring up this matter suddenly. Looking at the three people not far away, the man was handsome, the woman was beautiful, and they were indeed a perfect match that was hard to find in the world. However, this matter was probably difficult to answer, and if it wasn't handled properly, it would likely offend the Tianjian Institute. Nevertheless, simply agreeing to it without any conditions would be unpalatable for both the Yi Garden and the Fenghuang Book Institute. After all, Cang Yue and Ao Xue were both outstanding disciples of the two institutes, and once they agreed to this matter, they would become people of the Tianjian Institute from then on, along with the two divine swords. At that time, the other five institutes would forever be unable to shake the Tianjian Institute's position as number one.

  Yu Wu Shuang smiled lightly, with a hint of unspoken charm, and said softly: "Now these things are not what we old folks can decide. These disciples under our door, although they won't oppose us, it's hard to guarantee that they won't resent us in the future. So for this kind of thing, the best way is to let them choose themselves, we just need to pay attention from the side and that's all, also to avoid them blaming us in the future. What does Master Xuan Yu think?" After finishing speaking, she looked at Xuan Yu Zhen Ren with a glance.

  Xuan Yu Zhen Ren said calmly, "What I think in my heart is exactly the same as Yu Zhang Jiao's. Cultivators should not discuss emotions, but no matter what, cultivators are also human beings and will always have some desires that need to be experienced step by step. For them, it is also a kind of worldly trial that benefits their cultivation. However, I, Yi Yuan, attach the most importance to cultivating one's heart, so as for her emotions, let her choose for herself. The hardest hurdle for cultivators to overcome is indeed the emotional barrier, so this requires extreme caution. As seniors, we can offer suggestions but should not force our will upon them. What do you think, Brother Li Chang Chun?"

  Li Changchun's eyes were slightly cold, but he quickly regained his composure and smiled: "Brother Xuanyu is right, I'm too worried. Let's just let things be. Since they've obtained the divine sword, perhaps some things are already destined. Why bother us with their worries? Now, let's think about it, is there a better way to deal with this Black Lotus?"

  Everyone heard the words and fell into deep thought. Lu Yun looked at Ao Xue not far away, and his heart had a slight feeling of unease. Perhaps it was Li Changchun's words that made him feel uneasy in his heart, he was really afraid, what if Ao Xue would one day be with Jian Wucheng, then wouldn't he never have the chance again?

  Time passed in their respective contemplation, and soon, Jian Wucheng, Zhang Aoxue, and Cangyue returned. Looking at the black light pillar, feeling the strong demonic energy, the three of them exchanged a glance, each fully preparing themselves. The three divine swords emitted different glows, swirling above the three people's heads, slowly releasing three powerful auras. As time passed, the three powerful auras gradually converged above the three people, merging into one incredibly powerful and unparalleled massive aura that instantly spread throughout the entire Taixuan Mountain.

  Under the moonlight, on top of Taixuan Mountain, by the banks of the Yellow River, a battle between good and evil is about to unfold. What will be the final outcome? The appearance of Hei Lian, what does it portend?