The renown of "Mortal Body Berserker" Mộc Phàm echoed throughout Falling Wind City, reaching not only rogue cultivators but also the higher echelons of both the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Profound Yin Valley. His extraordinary strength, combined with his mortal status and lack of spirit roots, made him an aberrant existence, a problem that needed solving.
The Heavenly Sword Sect, after multiple failures to contain Mộc Phàm with their Qi Condensation and early Foundation Establishment cultivators, finally lost patience. They decided to send a truly powerful individual: Ye Feng, a young genius of the sect, who had reached the Late Foundation Establishment realm and was known as the "Son of Heavenly Sword" for his exceptional swordplay and pure cultivation.
Ye Feng appeared in the middle of Falling Wind City, dressed in pristine white robes, a simple ancient sword on his back. His aura was as sharp as an unsheathed blade, permeating the air and sending shivers down the spines of the surrounding cultivators. He made no effort to hide his disdain for Mộc Phàm. "A mere mortal ant dares to disturb the peace of Falling Wind City? You had good fortune but didn't enjoy it, instead seeking your own death!"
The Profound Yin Valley, standing with Mộc Phàm, immediately reacted. Elder Phù Dung appeared, her expression grave. She knew Ye Feng's strength well, and despite her trust in Mộc Phàm, she was worried. "Ye Feng, he is under the Profound Yin Valley's protection. What do you intend?"
"Under the Profound Yin Valley's protection?" Ye Feng sneered. "Does a mortal without spirit roots even deserve the Profound Yin Valley's protection? He has broken the rules of the cultivation world. I am here today only to restore order."
Without further words, Ye Feng drew his sword. The blade didn't emit dazzling spiritual light, but a sharp sword intent, as if it could cut the air in half, spread everywhere, making all nearby cultivators shiver. This was sword intent that had reached the form-shaping level, demonstrating the essence of his swordsmanship.
Mộc Phàm stepped forward, placing a hand on his chest, where his Body Core was wildly circulating. He sensed an unprecedented danger. This was a true opponent. But he did not retreat. His eyes were resolute, utterly fearless.
"What is wrong with my mortal status that I should be judged by you?" Mộc Phàm growled, "Your heavenly dao is not my heavenly dao!"
With a low roar, Mộc Phàm charged. He had no sword, no magic artifact, only steel fists and a body tempered to its limits. He utilized the "Mortal Body Hundred Forgings Art" to its highest degree, every muscle fiber and bone erupting with power.
Ye Feng sneered, disdainful. He merely waved his sword lightly, and an invisible sword qi shot out, aimed directly at Mộc Phàm.
Swish!
Mộc Phàm didn't dodge. He unleashed an "Iron Fist Burst" punch, enveloped by a thick, silvery layer of "blood qi." The punch directly clashed with the invisible sword qi. A small explosion rang out; the sword qi dispersed, but Mộc Phàm was also pushed back a few steps, his arm feeling numb.
"Oh? A little interesting." Ye Feng slightly frowned. He hadn't expected a mortal to block his sword qi. "But is that all?"
Ye Feng began to attack more fiercely. His sword transformed into a surging river, sometimes soft as silk, other times sharp as a needle, continuously striking at Mộc Phàm's weak points. Each sword strike carried terrifying sword intent, aiming to sever his tendons and bones, to pierce his Body Core.
Mộc Phàm continuously dodged and counterattacked. He employed his wild combat experience, turning himself into a whirlwind. He used agile footwork, using his arms to block deadly sword strikes, letting blood flow. Each time he was injured, his Body Core circulated faster, boosting his self-recovery ability, and his wounds quickly clotted, leaving new scars on his toughened body.
The battle became a clash between the cultivator's sword dao essence and the mortal's pure physical strength. Ye Feng's spiritual energy and sword intent formed waves of fierce attacks, while Mộc Phàm relied on endless endurance, astonishing recovery, and powerful punches to counter.
The people of Falling Wind City, both cultivators and mortals, watched with bated breath. No one expected a mortal to hold out for so long against Ye Feng, a genius of the sword dao.
After nearly half an hour of fierce combat, both Ye Feng and Mộc Phàm were exhausted. Though Ye Feng's spiritual energy was still abundant, he couldn't believe a mortal had pushed him to this extent.
"You truly are an anomaly!" Ye Feng roared, a hint of madness in his eyes. He decided to hold nothing back. Spiritual energy surged into his sword, making it emit a dazzling light. "This is my final strike, Heavenly Sword — World Severing! For a mortal like you, to die by this strike is an honor!"
Ye Feng's sword transformed into a blinding white light, shooting directly towards Mộc Phàm, carrying the power to tear through space. This was Ye Feng's strongest sword technique, far exceeding even the Foundation Establishment realm.
Mộc Phàm closed his eyes. He felt the aura of death enveloping him. But he was not afraid. In that instant, the nameless stone in his pouch suddenly emitted an incredibly powerful ancient aura, not spiritual energy, but a primal, purest form of energy, directly merging into his Body Core.
Mộc Phàm's Body Core burst forth with silvery-gray light. His body suddenly tensed, muscles rippling, transforming into a dark bronze statue. All the "blood qi" within him condensed to an astonishing degree, forming an invisible but steel-hard protective layer.
"Blood Body True Art!" Mộc Phàm roared. This was the realm hinted at by the "Mortal Body Hundred Forgings Art," a type of Mortal Body Dharmakaya formed from the ultimate condensation of "blood qi," almost indestructible!
Ye Feng's blinding sword light pierced straight into Mộc Phàm.
Clang!
A heaven-shattering collision echoed, not the sound of flesh being torn, but of metal striking metal. Ye Feng's powerful sword qi was blocked! His sword trembled violently, its tip embedded deep into Mộc Phàm's protective "blood qi" layer, but unable to advance another inch.
Mộc Phàm opened his eyes. His gaze was bloodshot. He reached out and tightly gripped the blade embedded in his body. Blood seeped out, but it couldn't make him falter.
"You... you're a monster!" Ye Feng was stunned, utterly terrified. He had never seen such a thing.
Mộc Phàm said nothing. He used all his strength and broke Ye Feng's sword!
Crack!
The sword, Ye Feng's pride, shattered. The spiritual energy backlash caused Ye Feng to cough up a mouthful of fresh blood, his face turning pale.
"Ye Feng, you have lost!" Elder Phù Dung exclaimed, her voice filled with surprise and relief.
The battle ended in the horror of the Heavenly Sword Sect and the awe of the rogue cultivators and mortals who witnessed it. Mộc Phàm, the Mortal Body Berserker, had defeated a Late Foundation Establishment genius with only his mortal body!
He stood there, his body covered in wounds but his eyes resolute, like a towering monument, proving another path, a path no one dared to believe was real.