Chapter 0366: The Struggle for Dao Artifacts

Chapter 0366: The Struggle for Dao Artifacts

Qin Yun had developed his second life mark, reaching the second level of the Martial Dao, and his strength was undoubtedly greater than before.

Hong Yan once believed he could match Qin Yun blow for blow, but now he was certain that he had no chance of defeating him.

Qin Yun stepped down from the arena and approached Wei Zhongzheng, frowning as he asked, "Sect Leader, how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine; I can take a hit from each of them," Wei Zhongzheng replied with a relieved smile, seeing that Qin Yun had made a breakthrough. "Don't sweat it; I'll make it through!"

Although Wei Zhongzheng said this, everyone could see the paleness of his face, indicating that his injuries were still severe.

The fifteen Spirit Martial realm warriors had also used up a lot of energy to help Qin Yun forge his life mark.

Wei Zhongzheng stepped onto the arena and said to the fifteen warriors, "Come at me, then!"

If they hadn't been helping Qin Yun forge his life mark, these fifteen Spirit Martial realm warriors could have severely worsened Wei Zhongzheng's injuries with just one strike each.

But now, their strength had been greatly depleted, and even if they tried to strike Wei Zhongzheng with all their might, they wouldn't be able to generate much force.

"Qin Yun, what a masterstroke!"

"Wei Zhongzheng won't have to endure as much now!"

"Those Spirit Martial realm fighters must be fuming!"

Everyone watching Wei Zhongzheng on the arena thought Qin Yun's plan was quite brilliant.

Bang!

One of the Spirit Martial realm warriors yelled, charging forward and struck Wei Zhongzheng with a palm strike.

Wei Zhongzheng's expression changed slightly, and he took two steps back.

"Hah!" The middle-aged man, seeing that Wei Zhongzheng wasn't seriously harmed, snorted in dissatisfaction.

Then, the other dozen or so Spirit Martial realm warriors stepped up one after another, each landing a heavy palm strike on Wei Zhongzheng!

Wei Zhongzheng's injuries were far worse than Qin Yun had anticipated.

Even though the strikes came from a dozen exhausted Spirit Martial realm warriors, Wei Zhongzheng couldn't withstand them and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Qin Yun and Jiang Zhihu quickly rushed forward to support Wei Zhongzheng.

"One more hit! After this, it's over!" Wei Zhongzheng took a few deep breaths and then looked at the Spirit Martial realm elder, shouting, "Bring it on!"

Wei Zhongzheng had previously been struck once by each of the three Xuan Martial realm warriors, leaving him with severe injuries, which was why he couldn't hold on now.

"I stand at the pinnacle of the Spirit Martial realm. A full-force strike from me could seriously injure you—maybe even cripple you for good!" The elder chuckled with glee. "If I cripple you, the Sect Leader of the Nine Extremes Profound Gate, I will surely make a name for myself!"

This elder had strategically waited until the end to strike, giving himself more time to rest and recover some strength.

Although the peak of the Spirit Martial realm was far inferior to the Xuan Martial realm, a peak Spirit Martial realm warrior's desperate strike was still fearsome, especially against Wei Zhongzheng, who was already severely injured.

Qin Yun thought for a moment and suddenly said, "What if I take the final hit for the Sect Leader?"

Everyone was moved by his words.

Although Qin Yun had just reached the second level of the Martial Dao, the gap between him and a peak Spirit Martial realm warrior was still enormous.

That peak Spirit Martial realm warrior, even though very tired, could still disable Qin Yun with a single palm strike.

"Good, I’d be more than happy to!" The elder quickly agreed, laughing heartily.

"Xiao Yun, get down!" Wei Zhongzheng shouted in a low voice, "Are you crazy? You've just broken through to the second level of the Martial Dao realm, how difficult that was! Don’t let anything go wrong!"

Qin Yun said to the elders of the Nine Extremes Profound Gate, "Elders, please escort the sect leader away. If he continues to get injured, our Nine Extremes Profound Gate will be downgraded to a Spirit level sect!"

The Nine Extremes Profound Gate only had Wei Zhongzheng as a Xuan Martial realm expert. If he continued to be injured and couldn’t recover to his peak strength, it would be as if the Nine Extremes Profound Gate no longer had a powerful Xuan Martial realm expert to hold the fort.

Being downgraded from a Xuan level sect to a Spirit level sect would be very humiliating, a huge blow to our reputation. It would also mean being targeted by many enemies!

Even though Wei Zhongzheng was unwilling, he was still dragged away by several elders.

The elders, though exhausted, were willing to shield Qin Yun from the strike, but the old man refused.

"Qin Yun, you are responsible for the disappearance of our Jian Xuan Mountain's sect leader. If he really doesn’t come back... do you know what that means for us?" The old man's body trembled slightly, exuding a cold and sinister aura.

This peak Spirit Martial realm elder hailed from Jian Xuan Mountain!

Qin Yun sneered, "If he’s gone, those eyeing his position can finally take over as sect leader! At that time, the new sect leader of Jian Xuan Mountain will surely thank me in their heart!"

Granny Ye also activated the formation to contain the shockwaves of the palm strike.

"You..." The old man's expression changed, and he quickly shouted, "Take this palm!"

Qin Yun had already prepared his defenses!

He fused the attribute Dao power released from three Dao Pills, flowing it throughout his body.

"You’re done for!" The old man grinned fiercely, his palm landing on Qin Yun's heart.

Boom! The force of the palm strike echoed, shaking the sky in all directions, extremely terrifying!

The palm strike sent Qin Yun flying, blood gushing from his mouth as he slammed into the transparent barrier and collapsed to the ground.

"Hahaha... I’m still alive!" Qin Yun lay on the ground, laughing heartily.

Everyone had been on edge for Qin Yun, worried that he would be killed by the palm strike!

Now, hearing his excited laughter, they knew his injuries were not life-threatening!

"Then I’ll finish you off!" The old man was furious and charged at Qin Yun.

Everyone was shocked, not expecting the old man to go for the kill.

Wei Zhongzheng bellowed in fury and rushed towards the arena!

Granny Ye also hurried to deactivate the formation, but she was a fraction too late. The enraged old man had already lunged forward, channeling a surge of energy into his palm as he struck at Qin Yun.

If Qin Yun had only taken one palm strike, he might have been able to survive it!

But being continuously attacked by a peak Spirit Martial realm warrior using martial techniques, he would be doomed.

The old man was also quite tired, but killing Qin Yun was well within his capabilities.

Seeing the opponent intent on killing, Qin Yun was both shocked and furious, quickly letting out a loud shout!

A sudden burst of flames erupted before him, revealing a massive cauldron!

The elder's furious punch also hit the cauldron!

When they saw the cauldron, the powerful figures who had visited the immortal tomb were utterly shocked and cried out in amazement!

That was the Heavenly Lion Subduing Dragon Cauldron! This is an ancient Daoist artifact!

This cauldron was obtained by Jian Xuanzi, but now it appears in Qin Yun's hands!

There's only one explanation: Jian Xuanzi was killed, and Qin Yun was the one who did it!

Crash!

The elder's fist hit the Heavenly Lion Subduing Dragon Cauldron, and a powerful counterforce sent him reeling, his body engulfed in fierce flames, forcing him to stagger back several steps.

Qin Yun swiftly flew over, maneuvering the Heavenly Lion Subduing Dragon Cauldron to hover, then slammed it down with full force onto the elder!

Thud!

The elder, defenseless, had his head crushed by the Heavenly Lion Subduing Dragon Cauldron, shattering instantly!

Blast!

Qin Yun wielded the Heavenly Lion Subduing Dragon Cauldron once more, bringing it down with devastating force on the elder!

The Heavenly Lion Subduing Dragon Cauldron erupted with a thunderous shockwave, unleashing a surge of purple-gold thunderfire that reduced the elder to ashes!

Witnessing this, Qin Yun was equally astonished, never having anticipated the Heavenly Lion Subduing Dragon Cauldron's immense power!

An unprepared Spirit Martial realm elder was obliterated in just two blows!

Naturally, the Spirit Martial realm elder who was slain had already drained much of his energy.

Additionally, he had just struck the Heavenly Lion Subduing Dragon Cauldron, injuring himself with the recoil and completely sapping his ability to fight back, allowing Qin Yun to finish him off.

Had he been at full strength, even a ninth-level Martial Dao realm expert could have handled Qin Yun and the Heavenly Lion Subduing Dragon Cauldron!

Granny Ye, in the midst of shutting down the grand formation, was utterly stunned by the events unfolding on the martial platform!

Everyone else was equally dumbfounded, gaping at Qin Yun and the Heavenly Lion Subduing Dragon Cauldron!

Qin Yun had actually slain a peak Spirit Martial realm warrior!

Incredible!

After the initial shock wore off, the crowd erupted into a chorus of exclamations!

"Qin Yun, you've killed a disciple of Jian Xuan Mountain... you're courting death!" an Xuan Martial realm elder bellowed in rage.

"Everyone saw it—he attacked me first, and I had no choice but to defend myself!" Qin Yun calmly stowed the Heavenly Lion Subduing Dragon Cauldron.

Everyone agreed that the elder had been in the wrong to strike first!

The elder, after landing a palm strike on Qin Yun, failed to kill him and, driven by his frustration, pressed on with his assault.

He simply hadn't anticipated Qin Yun possessing such a formidable Daoist artifact, and his own exhaustion left him vulnerable, leading to his demise.

With the grand formation shut down, Qin Yun swiftly moved to Wei Zhongzheng's side, while several Xuan Martial realm elders hastily approached.

"Qin Yun, tell me, is that the Heavenly Lion Subduing Dragon Cauldron? Where is the sect leader? He was the one who obtained it, so how did it end up in your hands?" the elder from Jian Xuan Mountain demanded angrily.

"I don't know where he is, but after I escaped, this artifact flew to me on its own and chose me of its own accord!" Qin Yun said.

In the ancient artifact compendium, the Heavenly Lion Subduing Dragon Cauldron is an immensely powerful ancient artifact, and now it has been obtained by Qin Yun!

"The Heavenly Lion Subduing Dragon Cauldron was first obtained by our sect leader. Regardless of the circumstances, it rightfully belongs to Jian Xuan Mountain. You must return it at once!" the elder glared at Qin Yun: "If you do not return it, you are stealing Jian Xuan Mountain's artifact!"

Jian Xuanzi is likely deceased, but in the eyes of that elder, Jian Xuanzi's life or death is no longer important; what matters is obtaining this Heavenly Lion Subduing Dragon Cauldron!

Qin Yun sneered coldly: "It's true that Jian Xuanzi obtained the Heavenly Lion Subduing Dragon Cauldron first! But this artifact has acknowledged me, so it belongs to me!"

"Otherwise, with my abilities, I could never have subdued such an artifact! That is to say, Jian Xuanzi abandoned the Heavenly Lion Subduing Dragon Cauldron, and later it chose me, having nothing to do with Jian Xuanzi anymore!"

Everyone agreed that his reasoning was solid!

Mastering an artifact is no simple feat; it requires refinement to subdue it.

If one cannot gain the artifact's acknowledgment, then it is impossible to master it.

Even those in the Spirit Martial realm would require years to master an artifact.

Qin Yun's adept handling of the Heavenly Lion Subduing Dragon Cauldron was clear to everyone, having reached the level of complete mastery over the artifact!

And such a situation mostly occurs when the artifact actively acknowledges its master!