Chapter 288: Chapter 147: One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Techniques, King Buddha Is Slain!

"He... he blocked it?!" someone stammered, unable to believe their eyes.

"Lord Zhong Ming blocked that monster’s attack?"

"More than just blocked it! That man couldn’t overpower Lord Zhong Ming. He’s the one who was seriously injured, while Lord Zhong Ming only has a bit of blood at the corner of his mouth!"

The scene before them far exceeded everyone’s expectations.

After the shock, a boundless, tidal wave of ecstasy washed over every Cultivator’s Heart Spirit. Those who had been scared into a boneless heap on the ground now struggled to sit up, their Magical Power surging uncontrollably within them. With hope came the courage to fight once more!

A commander’s courage inspires his entire army. And Zhong Ming was, without a doubt, the kind of hero who could ignite that hope!

"Brothers, fight alongside Lord Zhong Ming! We might not lose after all!"

"Yeah! Let’s give these Cultists hell!"

"Victory to Lord Zhong Ming! Victory!"

Cries rose and fell as the ordinary Cultivators’ morale soared. They took up their weapons again and charged toward the Followers of the Evil Cult. The tide of the once one-sided battle was faintly beginning to turn.

Outside the Star Secret Vault, the elders of the six Major Sects and Prince Qinghe, who had already succumbed to despair, watched this scene through the Array’s projection. Their expressions changed dramatically, their clenched fists trembled, and the light of hope reignited in their eyes.

However, unlike the ordinary Cultivators inside the Star Secret Vault whose morale was soaring, the elders outside were more perceptive. Safe from the immediate danger, they had the luxury of deeper thought. And so, just after their hope had appeared, they were soon shaking their heads in regret.

Even after witnessing the Divine Monarch’s might, they still didn’t believe Zhong Ming could win. As for the reason...

"You bastard, that really hurt!"

The sky-blotting giant hand, derived from the fusion of his [Celestial Nose] technique, had been shattered by a single punch from Zhong Ming. This caused Cheng Lv’s expression to change drastically.

But he quickly suppressed his fear, his face contorting into a sinister snarl. "Zhong Ming, I admit I underestimated you."

He sneered, his tone full of certainty. "But you’re only at the Qi Cultivation realm. Your Magical Power is pitifully weak. How long can you maintain a Divine Monarch Dharma Aspect that consumes so much of your Heart Spirit?"

"Also, the Spiritual Qi in this Secret Vault was polluted by Liu Yu’s Plague Qi long ago. You must have absorbed a fair amount of it just now to activate the Divine Monarch, didn’t you?"

At this, Cheng Lv’s smile grew wild and uninhibited. "Hahaha! Don’t you feel like your insides are being torn apart by knives right now? Zhong Ming, you’re no match for me at all!"

"You dare to wound me? Just you wait. I’ll torture you piece by piece and make you suffer the most painful punishments in this world, until you’re begging for a death that will never come!"

"..."

Cheng Lv’s words, and the flaws he revealed about Zhong Ming, were like a bucket of cold water poured over the heads of the ecstatic Cultivators.

It was undeniable. From a rational standpoint, his words made a lot of sense.

This made Yi Yunya’s face pale, and her gaze toward Zhong Ming filled with worry. The Cultivators who had just mustered their courage couldn’t help but halt in their tracks, their expressions complicated.

Yet, as the target of Cheng Lv’s tirade, Zhong Ming’s expression remained calm—so calm it was almost frightening, as if everything Cheng Lv had said was nothing more than an insignificant trifle.

"I’m not sure how long I can maintain it. But it will be long enough to kill you!"

WHOOSH!

Before his voice had even faded, Zhong Ming controlled the Divine Monarch Dharma Aspect to shoot into the air, soaring straight into the heavens!

HUMMM!

High in the sky, Zhong Ming drew closer to the supreme, one-of-a-kind Sun. Because of this, the Sun’s blessing upon him intensified, reaching the level of the Triple Crown.

And this, in turn, allowed the aura around Zhong Ming to faintly break through the Qi Cultivation realm, reaching the level of Foundation Establishment.

The next moment, Zhong Ming extended his right hand into the void. A myriad of starlights, wreathed in the Flame of the Sun, converged in midair to form a great, coiling Dragon of the Morning Star!

CLANG!

As Zhong Ming clenched his fist, the great dragon instantly transformed into a dazzling longsword. Starlight flowed along its blade, and fierce flames blazed. This was Zhong Ming’s Lifebound Sword, forged from the Power of the Star Soul—the Dragon of the Morning Star (Sword)!

With the Divine Weapon in hand, the threat Zhong Ming posed multiplied several times over. Even Yuan Rong, who was watching from the side, couldn’t help but pale slightly. She subconsciously asked Cheng Lv, "Do you need my help?"

"No need." Cheng Lv’s refusal was curt and decisive.

He didn’t do this out of some Martial Artist’s honor, insisting on a one-on-one duel with Zhong Ming.

Rather, he was certain that in this Secret Vault filled with Plague Qi, Zhong Ming’s Magical Power would eventually run out.

He wanted to defeat Zhong Ming himself. This was partly to wash away the shame of his earlier injury, but more so because he wanted to claim Zhong Ming’s head for himself. For a Cultivator of such extraordinary Talent, his head would undoubtedly be an exquisite Cultivation Resource!

"He’s my prey!" Licking his chapped lips, Cheng Lv’s eyes glinted with greed. "So what if he can power up? With the strength of a hundred men, I’m invincible!"

As he murmured, a withered head on his chest suddenly came to life. A thick green light spread from its neck, instantly covering his shattered right arm.

Where the green light flowed, shattered bones rapidly regenerated and splattered flesh re-formed. In a mere instant, his right arm was restored, looking even thicker and more powerful than before.

Flexing his arm in satisfaction, Cheng Lv looked up at Zhong Ming in the sky and laughed arrogantly. "Zhong Ming, do you see? You can’t kill me, you can’t even hurt me—" CRACK!

Before he could finish his rampant taunt, an incredibly sharp power erupted from within his newly repaired arm once again!

This power was insidious, easily crushing the bones and flesh that had just been reborn. His right arm exploded with a bang, sending bone fragments and flesh flying!