Northern River’s Loose Cultivator sneered, “Shady fortune teller, do you really think that I’ll go easy on you if you disguise yourself as Little Sixteen? Naive! Even if you disguise yourself as her, you’ll just be a fake in my eyes. I’ll by no means show you any mercy!”

“I didn’t even think that much about it,” Copper Trigram edition Su Clan’s Sixteen said with a smile. “As long as this appearance can affect you a little, it is enough. In addition, can you stop talking rubbish now? Take out everything you have and come at me! Otherwise, don’t blame me for not giving you the opportunity to display your real strength.”

“I was about to tell you the same.” Northern River’s Loose Cultivator raised both his hands, and a series of sword orbs flew out of his body.

Each sword orb was manufactured with sword thread that had been repeatedly tempered by Northern River’s Loose Cultivator’s spiritual energy. After the body of the sword orb unwound into threads, it would become incredibly sharp; it was particularly good for breaching defenses.

While fighting, cultivators that made use of sword orbs had to consume a little more mental energy than cultivators that used normal flying swords, since they had to control the sword threads as well. Under normal circumstances, cultivators that made use of sword orbs would simultaneously operate two or three of them at most, for controlling more than that would just complicate things.

But at this time, sword orbs flew out of Northern River’s Loose Cultivator’s body one after another. In the end, a whole twelve sword orbs started floating around his body.

After seeing this scene, Immortal Master Copper Trigram was somewhat surprised. “I didn’t think that you would really end up forging this set of sword orbs.”

This was Northern River’s Loose Cultivator’s life-bound magical treasure—[Twelve Swords of the Milky Way].

This magical treasure was composed of twelve sword orbs, and the materials used to forge each sword orb were different.

Northern River’s Loose Cultivator had started to forge these swords when he was still in the Fourth Stage Realm, and when he reached the Fifth Stage Realm, he had managed to forge only two of them.

But now, he had unexpectedly finished forging the whole set.

If a single sword orb of this life-bound magical treasure was taken into account, its strength was inferior to that of an ordinary flying sword.

But if one persisted on this road and finished forging all the sword orbs, the strength of the twelve sword orbs when put together wouldn’t be as simple as an addition!

“If you use the [Twelve Swords of the Milky Way] with a suitable sword technique, your battle prowess should instantly increase tenfold, right? Old Northern River, it seems that Su Clan’s Seven’s title of ‘strongest Fifth Stage Spiritual Emperor’ should belong to you.” Immortal Master Copper Trigram faintly smiled. “Still, is this your ace in the hole?”

Northern River’s Loose Cultivator didn’t reply, and stretched out his finger. In the next moment, ten of the twelve orbs dashed forward, heading toward Immortal Master Copper Trigram.

Each sword orb unwound, turning into sword threads imbued with sharp sword qi.

Since the materials used to forge each sword orb were different, their properties were also different. Some had cold properties, other fire properties, and others again were just very sharp or could conduct electricity. In short, the ten sword orbs had all different properties.

“You aren’t planning to use all twelve of them? Are you still trying to feel out my strength?” Copper Trigram edition Su Clan’s Sixteen smiled, and stretched out her foot, gently tapping on the ground.

Soon after, bamboo slips used for divinations suddenly appeared, and transformed into beams of light that kept off in front of the ten sword orbs.

Northern River’s Loose Cultivator’s sword orbs didn’t shrink back, and the sword qi exploded, cutting toward those beams of light.

“Bang, bang, bang!”

The sharp sword qi swept past the beams of light, chopping both the beams of light and the bamboo slips inside into halves. This type of defense was simply too weak!

Northern River’s Loose Cultivator said indifferently, “I wasn’t feeling you out. Ten sword orbs are more than enough to deal with a shady fortune teller like you.”

Soon after, the ten sword orbs combined under his control, and headed toward Copper Trigram after turning into a helix.

“Bang!”

When the ten helix-shaped sword orbs reached their destination, a turtle shell appeared in front of Copper Trigram, keeping off the attack. This was the same turtle shell that Copper Trigram used to make his shady divinations.

The turtle shell was a very powerful defensive magical treasure, and although the ten sword orbs spun like drill bits after coming in contact with it, they were unable to break through its defense.

“You took out your turtle shell so quickly?” Northern River’s Loose Cultivator said.

In the past, this turtle shell was the magical treasure with the strongest defense in Immortal Master Copper Trigram’s possession, and it was unknown what the current level of its defense was.

“Ahaha, if you have the skills, try to get past its defense!” Immortal Master Copper Trigram smiled from behind the turtle shell. At the same time, he stretched out his hand and took out an ‘eight-trigram disc’, starting to silently read an incantation.

Along with Copper Trigram reading the incantation, spiritual energy started to condense on the eight-trigram disc.

Immortal Master Copper Trigram’s favorite tactic was to hide behind powerful defense while using powerful magical techniques to take his enemies down one by one, and he was very good at it.

“In that case, look as I break through your defense!” Northern River’s Loose Cultivator gently shouted, and the ten sword orbs scattered, starting to rotate in midair. Then, they gathered, forming a sword formation.

This time, the power the ten sword orbs released increased sixfold. After that, they generated ten huge seven-meter-long swords of light that headed toward Immortal Master Copper Trigram.

“Boom, boom, boom!”

Immortal Master Copper Trigram’s figure disappeared amidst the radiance of the swords and the sword qi.

When those ten sword lights descended, another ten sword lights condensed from the sword orb in the sky, which also rained down. It was like an endless cycle.

❄️❄️❄️

The surrounding cultivators that were observing the battle couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.

“The power of the ten sword lights that Northern River’s Loose Cultivator used already surpassed that of the Fifth Stage Realm, right? How much was the disparity between that attack and one of the Sixth Stage?” a Fifth Stage Spiritual Emperor asked.

A cultivator of the True Monarch Realm next to him replied, “If we only take into consideration power and speed, the strength of that attack was very close to the Sixth Stage rank. This type of sword technique can easily determine the winner in a battle between ordinary Fifth Stage Spiritual Emperors.”

However, the battle on the summit of the forbidden city between Immortal Master Copper Trigram and Northern River’s Loose Cultivator had just started. None of them had used their real strength yet, and they were very likely just warming up.

Were those two guys really just Fifth Stage Spiritual Emperors?

Song Shuhang looked at the exciting battle unfolding on the summit of the forbidden city without blinking. Then, he started to worry in his heart… The summit of the forbidden city isn’t going to get destroyed during this battle between Senior Northern River and Senior Copper Trigram, right?

The forbidden city was part of China’s history, and it would be a pity if it got destroyed.

Young Master Phoenix Slayer said, “Little friend Shuhang… it’s truly like you to worry about these things. However, you don’t need to worry. Defensive barriers were placed around the buildings adjacent to the forbidden city. Nothing bad will happen.”

“But will those barriers hold?” Song Shuhang asked. Given the level of this battle between Northern River’s Loose Cultivator and Immortal Master Copper Trigram, even barriers of the Sixth Stage rank might not hold!

Young Master Phoenix Slayer said, “Don’t worry. The one that set up the barriers this time is Venerable Seventh Cultivator of True Virtue. Unless Northern River and Copper Trigram’s destructive power can surpass that of a Venerable, they won’t be able to destroy the barriers. Now then, will Copper Trigram’s turtle shell be able to keep off Northern River’s barrage of attacks?”

“I think an attack of this level is still not good enough to breach Copper Trigram’s defense,” Fairy Lychee said at this time.

She was a cultivator of the Sixth Stage True Monarch Realm. Therefore, she could tell that although Immortal Master Copper Trigram was in a bit of a predicament, the defense of his turtle shell was still steady.

In addition, when she was swinging around Immortal Master Copper Trigram the last time, she felt as though Copper Trigram was hiding his real strength.

❄️❄️❄️

“Boom, boom, boom~” Sword lights endlessly fell, and stopped only after sixteen waves.

In the sky, the ten sword orbs appeared again, and formed a new sword formation, seemingly starting to accumulate their strength again.

After the attack of the sword lights stopped, Immortal Master Copper Trigram’s figure also became visible. At this time, the turtle shell keeping off in front of his body had shrunk until reaching a size of 50 centimeters; it was nearly burst open.

Immortal Master Copper Trigram said, “That was scary. It felt like a machine gun suddenly opening fire!”

Northern River’s Loose Cultivator gritted his teeth, and said, “That turtle shell of yours sure is hard!”

“It’s the tool I use to make a living. It has to be durable!” Immortal Master Copper Trigram said. “Now, get a taste of my attack!”

He had finished preparing his magical technique.

[Deadly Strike of the Four Divinations!]

The eight-trigram disc in Immortal Master Copper Trigram’s hand dimmed.

It didn’t release any powerful light, and neither were there fluctuations of spiritual energy.

Still, without anyone noticing, the two defensive barriers that Northern River’s Loose Cultivator had set up around his body were breached.

Next, two of Northern River’s Loose Cultivator’s talismans suddenly started dissipating as well…

A strange power that not even cultivators could see with the naked eye was attacking Northern River’s Loose Cultivator.

“Is this the Deadly Strike of the Four Divinations…?” Fairy Dongfang Six blinked her eyes, and said, “From what I remember, this magical technique is mysterious and unfathomable, and it can noiselessly kill people. Although it’s a move of the Fifth Stage, its power is comparable to techniques of the Sixth Stage. In addition, its degree of difficulty is also comparable to magical techniques of the Sixth Stage. The people that have learned this magical technique believe that it is impossible to control this magical technique without the mental energy of the Sixth Stage rank.”

Just as they were discussing, the two sword orbs behind Northern River’s Loose Cultivator moved, and the other ten sword orbs also came back.

The twelve sword orbs flocked together and formed a powerful sword formation.

Then, the sword formation attacked something in midair!

After that, it felt as though it had minced something to pieces in midair.

The destruction of the [Deadly Strike of the Four Divinations] suddenly came to an end.

However, Immortal Master Copper Trigram didn’t seem to mind. He patted his eight-trigram disc with a smile, and said, “See? I told you earlier not to show off in front of me and use your twelve sword orbs. You insisted on using only ten, but in the end, you were still forced to use all twelve!”

“You really like to talk nonsense.” The corner of the Northern River’s Loose Cultivator’s mouth twitched.

Earlier, he wasn’t showing off! That was just normal banter before the start of a battle, alright? Sure enough, he and this shady fortune teller were truly like oil and water.

“We are finished warming up… Now, it’s time to conclude the battle.” Northern River’s Loose Cultivator slightly bent his body and narrowed his eyes, staring at Immortal Master Copper Trigram. “Actually, you disappointed me a little.”

“Ah? How did I disappoint you?” Immortal Master Copper Trigram said. “Don’t get carried away! Northern River, do you really think I won’t give you a good beating?!”

Northern River’s Loose Cultivator smiled gently. “Shady fortune teller, do you want to take a look at the starlight in the sky?”

“I can look at it just by raising my head. I’m not interested,” Immortal Master Copper Trigram replied. At the same time, his body tensed up—Northern River was about to unleash a big move!

The pressure emanating from Northern River’s Loose Cultivator’s body sharply rose, and the twelve sword orbs moved at the same time.

[Twelve Swords of the Milky Way]—Night Sky.

The sword orbs enveloped Copper Trigram and Northern River, and an illusory starry sky suddenly appeared on the top of their heads.

The illusory starry sky had been generated by the sword intent of the twelve sword orbs.

This was Northern River’s Loose Cultivator’s strongest attack. While using this move, the destructive power he could release increased twelvefold.

Under the cover of the starry sky…

“Shady fortune teller, you have lost!” Northern River’s Loose Cultivator said, full of confidence.

“Damn! Old Northern River, this move of yours is too exaggerated. Its strength doesn’t only stop at a tenfold increase!” Immortal Master Copper Trigram sighed with emotion.

Had he still been a Fifth Stage Spiritual Emperor, he would have been KO’d by this move.

After perfecting his sword technique, Northern River’s Loose Cultivator possessed a fighting capacity comparable to that of Su Clan’s Seven, who was the strongest Fifth Stage Spiritual Emperor.

Immortal Master Copper Trigram knew his limits, and he was aware that he would have been no match for Su Clan’s Seven when he was still a Fifth Stage Spiritual Emperor. After all, what Immortal Master Copper Trigram excelled at wasn’t fighting.

Still, Old Northern River… I bet you didn’t even think of the possibility that I wasn’t a Fifth Stage Spiritual Emperor anymore, but already a Sixth Stage True Monarch!

From today onwards, call me True Monarch Copper Trigram!

“Stupid Northern River, you are a hundred years too early to defeat me!” Immortal Master Copper Trigram stretched out his hand and took off the three-piece magical treasure on his body.

Without the restraint of this magical treasure, his aura started to increase without a stop!

It started increasing from the peak of the Fifth Stage Spiritual Emperor Realm and kept going up.

Golden spiritual energy endlessly revolved in his body, forming a lake of spiritual energy all around his body.

This was the [Spirit Lake Force Field] characteristic of Sixth Stage True Monarchs.

Whenever Sixth Stage True Monarchs operated the spiritual energy inside their body at full strength, they would create a [Spirit Lake Force Field] around their body. Inside this area, all the spiritual energy of the world would give priority to the True Monarch and help him first.

All the enemies below the Sixth Stage would have the regeneration of their spiritual energy decreased, and the strength of their magical techniques would likewise get affected by the Spirit Lake. Aside from this, it had several other uses as well.

❄️❄️❄️

“Sixth Stage True Monarch Realm!” The many fellow daoists of the Nine Provinces Number One Group cried out in surprise. At what time had this shady fortune teller advanced to the Sixth Stage True Monarch Realm?

“Now I understand…” Fairy Lychee said. As expected, Copper Trigram had already advanced to the Sixth Stage! The reason he had concealed his real strength with such care was for today’s battle!

Sun Splitting Halberd Guo Da said, “I’m going to suffer a loss this time. I bet that Northern River’s Loose Cultivator would win the match, but I didn’t expect that this shady fortune teller had already advanced to the Sixth Stage!”

Young Master Phoenix Slayer said, “Same here. I remember that basically all the fellow daoists in the Nine Provinces Number One Group bet on Northern River’s win. Su Clan’s Seven, who was the banker, is going to become rich.”

Fairy Lychee said, “I bet on Copper Trigram… Earlier, I felt that there was something wrong with him. Therefore, I made a few guesses.”

Just as they were discussing… Immortal Master Copper Trigram threw out a hundred or so bamboo slips after activating his [Spirit Lake Force Field]. The bamboo slips turned into a bamboo grove that kept off Northern River’s Loose Cultivator’s strongest attack, ‘Night Sky’.

Soon after, the bamboo grove that Immortal Master Copper Trigram had created and Northern River’s Loose Cultivator’s strongest attack, Night Sky, canceled each other out.

‘Night Sky’ dispersed, and Northern River’s Loose Cultivator started gasping for breath.

Immortal Master Copper Trigram faintly smiled, and took out a long banner, pointing it at Northern River’s Loose Cultivator.

Then, he said in a melodious voice, “Northern River, it seems you’ve consumed a lot of energy. In that case… let’s end this battle!”

The name of the banner was [Five-Dragon Banner].

This banner was Immortal Master Copper Trigram’s real life-bound magical treasure!