Chapter 129: Clash of Realms- Uninvited

The battlefield trembled under the weight of colliding domains. Jiang Feng stood firm, his Skyforge Bipolar Domain roaring like a living beast—a tempest of blue and gold flames that twisted into spirals, each lick of fire humming with the duality of creation and annihilation with the burning force of the sun. Above him, the Great Sun Domain's radiance pressed down, its light so searing it bleached the earth beneath his feet to ash. Yet against the cold, jagged skyline of Cheng Yantian's Sword Emperor City, even the sun seemed to falter.

Cheng Yantian's eyes glinted like the edge of a blade. "You think fire can melt a mountain of swords?" he called out, his voice cutting through the cacophony. The city behind him pulsed, its countless swords vibrating in unison, their metallic hum resonating with the rhythm of his heartbeat.

Jiang Feng didn't answer. Instead, he flicked his wrist, and the vortexes of flame and suction roared to life again. The fire vortex spiraled upward, condensing into a spear of molten light, while the other vortex yawned wider, dragging debris and loose stones into its maw. With a grunt, he hurled the fiery spear toward the heart of the Sword Emperor City.

The projectile streaked across the sky, trailing embers, but Cheng Yantian didn't flinch. He raised his palm, and a gargantuan sword—larger than a palace tower—detached from the city's skyline. It plummeted, intercepting the spear midair. The collision erupted in a cataclysm of light and sound, the shockwave flattening nearby boulders and forcing spectators to shield their faces and back away as fast as they could.

"Is this all?" Cheng Yantian asked, though his calm demeanor frayed at the edges. Sweat beaded on his brow; sustaining the Sword Domain was no trivial feat, even for him.

Jiang Feng's lips twitched. "Patience," he said, his voice low but carrying. "We've only just begun."

He slammed his palms together, and the Skyforge Bipolar Domain shifted. The blue flames darkened to an eerie violet, while the golden fire brightened until it was nearly white. The vortexes merged, spinning faster and faster, until they became a single, monstrous maelstrom. The ground beneath Jiang Feng cracked, fissures spreading like spiderwebs as the earth itself seemed to recoil from the energy.

Cheng Yantian's grip tightened on his sword. He could feel the balance of the battle tilting in but a few seconds, 'This guy is truly to be feared. If my sword Dao wasn't so stronger, these flames would have made quick work of me by now'. Without hesitation, he thrust his blade skyward, and the Sword Emperor City responded. A thousand swords tore free from their buildings, hovering in the air like a swarm of steel locusts. With a roar, he swung his arm downward, and the swords rained toward Jiang Feng in a silver deluge.

The maelstrom met the storm of blades. Metal shrieked as swords were swallowed by the vortex, some melting into molten slag, others ricocheting wildly into the distance. Yet for every sword destroyed, two more took its place—the city regenerated endlessly, its structures reforging themselves from pure sword Qi.

Jiang Feng's muscles strained. He could sense Cheng Yantian's domain feeding off the man's unwavering resolve, each sword a testament to his will. 'This isn't sustainable. He's only powering one domain while I'm powering two. Not only that but he seems on the verge of breakthrough to the second stage of the Golden Core realm. No wonder he's so strong, I don't think anyone else here has noticed this fact yet' he realized. The Little Sword Emperor's stamina was legendary, but even he couldn't maintain this forever. Unless...

A flicker of movement caught his eye. At the city's center, a single spire gleamed brighter than the rest—a sword taller than the others, its hilt adorned with intricate runes. The core.

"You've noticed," Cheng Yantian said, following his gaze. A smirk played on his lips. "But reaching it is impossible."

"Nothing's impossible," Jiang Feng shot back. He dropped to one knee, pressing his hand to the fractured earth. The Great Sun Domain's light intensified, focusing into a searing beam that lanced toward the city's heart.

Cheng Yantian moved. In a blur of silver, he intercepted the beam, his sword clashing against the concentrated sunlight. The impact sent cracks racing up his blade and his internal organs to shake a bit, almost sending his blood racing, but he held firm, his boots carving deep trenches into the ground. "You'll have to try harder than that!"

The spectators—a mix of rival cultivators—stared in silence. None dared to breathe, those who had initially wanted to attack their respective targets were too stunned to take action. This wasn't just a battle of strength; it was a duel of philosophies, of realms clashing as violently as the fighters themselves. Ji Moran stood someways away, her ice domain freezing the area as she locked eyes with the incoming Ling Meixue from the Celestial Shadow Church.

Then, a sound.

A low, resonant chime, like a bell struck in the depths of the ocean.

Both combatants froze. Above them, the sky darkened as clouds coalesced unnaturally, swirling into a vortex of their own. From within the gloom, a pressure descended—a massive dark bell with ancient patterns covering its surface.

"What... is that?" someone whispered, their voice trembling as it cut through the tense air.

Jiang Feng and Cheng Yantian exchanged a glance, their expressions grim. Jiang Feng had faced the Shadow Bell before and knew its terrifying power all too well. He also understood Ling Meixue's strength and silently hoped Ji Moran would be able to hold her own against her. The little sword emperor was already a formidable opponent, and Jiang Feng knew he might not be able to intervene immediately unless he resorted to the Gate of Darkness—a power he was reluctant to rely on.

Jiang Feng's sharp eyes caught the subtle changes in the Shadow Bell. It had undergone a shocking transformation, its aura darker and more oppressive than before. Not only that, but he could sense that Ling Meixue, like many others, had broken through to the Golden Core Realm. His gaze flickered to Ji Kan, who was observing the unfolding battle with a calculating expression before suddenly darting toward the two women. Jiang Feng took it all in, a cold light flickering in his eyes as he prepared for the worst base on the distractions that would come from a third party.

"Ice Press!" Ji Moran's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. She took a step forward, her will to fight surging with every movement. Her silver sword flashed with blinding speed, leaving trails of frost in its wake. Ice began to form around her body, crystallizing into a protective barrier. With the concept of Deepfrost, her sword, gleamed with an otherworldly light, encased in crystal ice that seemed to burn with cold fire. At the tip of the blade, a snowflake formed, radiating an icy aura that connected seamlessly with her Ice Domain. The air around her froze, crackling with power.

Chime!

The Shadow Bell's eerie echo reverberated once more, sending a shockwave rippling outward. The dark bell descended with a deafening roar, accompanied by the howls of ghosts and the anguished screams of the dead. The soul-piercing attack forced many cultivators to clutch their heads and retreat further, their faces pale with fear. At the same time, Ling Meixue's Twin Shard Daggers shot toward Ji Moran from two different angles, their deadly precision unmistakable.

BOOM!

The Shadow Bell slammed into the Ice Domain with a thunderous crash, sending shards of ice flying in all directions. Ji Moran's sword, however, was already homing in on Ling Meixue, its icy edge cutting through the air with lethal intent. The area around Ling Meixue seemed to compress under the weight of the attack, but the Shadow Church disciple merely grinned, her movements fluid and unhurried.

Seeing that her bell had little effect on the Ice Domain, Ling Meixue's grin widened. She took a step back, one of her daggers clashing against Ji Moran's sword while the other was intercepted by an ice wall that erupted from the ground. The force of the impact sent a tremor through the battlefield.

"Interesting domain!" Ling Meixue called out, her voice dripping with mock admiration. Her body blurred, becoming a shadowy figure that darted in and out of sight. When they had first entered this place, Ji Moran had been nothing more than an insect to her—someone she could have easily crushed if not for Jiang Feng's interference. But now, she had grown strong enough to challenge her and was actually able to hold her own. The thought both amused and irritated Ling Meixue.

"You're very strong yourself," Ji Moran gritted out, her teeth clenched against the relentless howls and screams that threatened to overwhelm her senses. She took a deep breath, circulating the energy of her Golden Core. Icy spiritual energy flooded her body, freezing her meridians in place. Yet, instead of hindering her, the frozen pathways seemed to accelerate the flow of energy, amplifying her power. Three massive lotus flowers formed around her, their crystalline petals acting as shields. But no sooner had they appeared than a dagger struck one from behind, its eerie precision sending a chill down Ji Moran's spine.

"She has quick reaction time," Ling Meixue muttered, finally allowing a frown to crease her brow. She vanished as quickly as she had appeared, her movements a blur. The Shadow Bell chimed again, its sound waves causing the Ice Domain to tremble and the ground to crack under the strain.

Bang!

Sword and daggers collided in midair, sparks flying as the two women fought with ferocious intensity. The clash of their powers created a maelstrom of ice and shadow, the battlefield a chaotic mix of beauty and destruction. It was then that an unexpected figure broke through the barrier of ice and ghostly howls.

Ji Kan smashed through an icy wall, his massive frame landing between the two women with a ground-shaking thud. He turned to face Ling Meixue, his eyes burning with a fierce determination. By nature, Ji Kan was a brute force cultivator, relying on his unparalleled strength and mastery of close combat. His presence was a force of nature, and his arrival shifted the balance of the fight.

"What are you doing here?!" Ji Moran demanded, taking several steps back. Her icy eyes darted around, scanning for any sign of Ling Meixue's next move. The Shadow Church disciple was unpredictable, her daggers capable of striking from any direction in the blink of an eye.

"I'm here to protect you," Ji Kan replied, his voice steady and resolute. "This is the task your father gave me. Moran, no matter how much you dislike me, I, Ji Kan, have a duty to fulfill." His eyes burned with passion and fighting spirit, his loyalty unwavering.

"Eheh, such a heroic spirit," Ling Meixue sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She reappeared a short distance away, her grin widening as she observed the two. "But the girl's heart belongs to another. You're just a blockhead looking to get her killed, if you ask me." Her eyes gleamed with malice as she continued, "I can see the fear in your eyes. Even if we're at the same cultivation level, your deep-seated fear of the Shadow Church will hinder your ability. But a kill is a kill, all the same."

Ji Kan's expression hardened, his fists clenching as he prepared to face her, her words weren't a lie, just the name of the Celestial Shadow Church sent chills down the spins of the younger generation and even the old. It would be a lie to say that he didn't fear the dark arts of a bloodthirsty organization.