Sword of Immortal Annihilation

A Single Sword Frosts Fourteen Provinces.

*Clear skies to the east, thunder to the west.*

Above the immortal stairs, gloomy tribulation clouds gathered densely, lightning flashing and thunder rumbling.

Thick purple lightning bolts transformed into ten-thousand-*zhang* chains, hanging down from the sky one after another, a sight that chilled the soul to behold.

Chu Ran's face was slightly pale, a fine layer of sweat beading on his forehead. He weaved and dodged swiftly through the oppressive, narrow space high in the air. Purple lightning bolts struck down and exploded all around him.

Electric light flashed, purple thunder roared.

Streaks of lightning, bolts of electricity, like showers of fiery sparks.

A breathtakingly beautiful yet bone-chillingly dangerous sight.

**Before the Jade Purity Hall of the Shangqing Sect**

Immortal Lord Yueci's expression darkened, his demeanor grave. His gaze was fixed on the youth in the Qiankun Mirror, resisting the lightning tribulation single-handedly. He thought to himself, *No matter how formidable this youth is, he cannot withstand dozens of lightning tribulations simultaneously.*

He sighed inwardly. *After all, I cannot just stand by and watch him die.*

Having thought this, Immortal Lord Yueci prepared to rise.

A pale, slender hand suddenly blocked his path, stopping his movement.

Immortal Lord Yueci looked back to see Immortal Lord Changhe's cool, expressionless face shaking at him.

"I cannot watch this child perish, struck down by the lightning tribulation," Immortal Lord Yueci said, looking at him with a heavy tone.

Hearing this, Immortal Lord Changhe frowned.

After a long moment, his voice, clear and cold like the thin mist in the mountains, carrying an elusive, ethereal quality, spoke: "Your going would be useless."

"This is the Heavenly Venerable's will." Immortal Lord Changhe said. "Since he made this choice, he must bear the trial."

Who "he" referred to was self-evident.

Immortal Lord Yueci said coldly, "You think he can withstand this Triple Purple Lightning Tribulation?"

He snorted, his gaze fixed on Immortal Lord Changhe. "You overestimate him too much! If we do not intervene, he will undoubtedly die today."

"That, too, is his choice." Immortal Lord Changhe's voice was clear and cold, carrying endless chill, as he slowly spoke.

"Be it life or death, we cannot interfere."

Seeing Immortal Lord Yueci still wearing a cold, insistent expression, Immortal Lord Changhe frowned and, unusually, spoke a long sentence: "This lightning tribulation is the Heavenly Venerable's will. It grows stronger when met with strength. If you go, I fear you will *lose the lady and her guards*."

"..." The disciples behind him wore wooden expressions.

*Immortal Lord, you're misusing idioms again! 'Lose the lady and her guards' isn't used that way!*

# *Illiterate Immortal Lord* #

Hearing this, Immortal Lord Yueci finally stopped his movement, his brow tightly furrowed. After a long moment, he said, "So we just watch him get struck to death by the lightning tribulation?"

Immortal Lord Changhe's gaze was cool, answering without hesitation: "If he gets struck to death, then he deserved it."

"..." Immortal Lord Yueci.

He immediately looked at the cool, handsome Immortal Lord Changhe before him with reproachful eyes. *I misjudged you!*

*I never expected you to be such a cold-blooded, unfeeling, hard-hearted person!*

Facing his gaze, Immortal Lord Changhe's expression remained unchanged as he slowly continued, "He will not die."

He used a declarative statement. Though his tone was faint, it was unwavering and held no doubt.

"..." Immortal Lord Yueci.

He looked at Immortal Lord Changhe with skeptical eyes. "On what basis do you assert that?"

Immortal Lord Changhe didn't even lift his gaze, opening his mouth to say, "Based on the fact that he is the one I have set my sights on."

"!!!!" Immortal Lord Yueci.

"How could someone I have set my sights on die easily under this mere lightning tribulation?" Immortal Lord Changhe's tone was light and casual, yet overflowing with domineering confidence.

Immortal Lord Yueci's look towards him instantly changed. *I bow to you!*

*Why are you always so self-assured, venerable one?*

# *The Mysteriously Self-Confident, Illiterate Immortal Lord* #

Though Immortal Lord Yueci held Immortal Lord Changhe's words with half-belief and half-doubt, he was ultimately persuaded by him.

*Time, fate, fortune!*

Immortal Lord Yueci looked at the slender youth in the Qiankun Mirror, resisting the lightning tribulation alone, and sighed inwardly. *If you truly possess the Mandate of Heaven, then you will not die.*

↑ Immortals and such are actually the most superstitious.

**Meanwhile, on the Ascending Immortal Stairs.**

Those who had come to participate in the Shangqing Sect's disciple selection were terrified, their faces as pale as ghosts.

They all looked up towards the sky above.

They saw the thick, dense tribulation clouds, the gloomy, terrifying sky.

Thunder rumbled, lightning flashed like fire.

The imposing aura between heaven and earth suddenly became heavy and oppressive, as if wanting to crush people's kneecaps, forcing them to submit.

Ten thousand *zhang* of lightning tribulation struck down with a deafening roar!

Everyone on the immortal stairs was scared out of their wits, their eyes staring in terror at the sky.

They saw a youth weaving through the lightning tribulation. Bolts of fiery purple lightning exploded beside him, grazing past him, yet not a single one struck him directly.

*Incredible!*

*Awesome.*

*Badass.*

The young youths watched, dumbfounded, thinking... *As expected of a maestro of courting death. Those who court death must have some real skill.*

*If he survives, I'll definitely worship him as my idol!*

Many secretly resolved in their hearts. *To dare challenge the Shangqing Heavenly Venerable's authority, to resist the lightning tribulation alone—what courage (idiocy).*

*If he dies, I'll collect his body and bury his bones.*

*If he doesn't die, I'll follow his lead and become his leg accessory!*

*If he doesn't die from this, his future will be one of immense nobility!*

*Talented and powerful, blessed with deep fortune and destiny.*

*If I don't hurry and cling to his leg, I'll surely regret it later.*

↑ People in the cultivation world are just this practical, straightforward, and bold.

**And at this moment, Chu Ran**, high in the air, narrowly dodged a purple lightning bolt.

It grazed past him. The tribulation lightning touched his robe, instantly destroying the hem. A charred smell wafted out.

Chu Ran lowered his head, glanced at the ruined section of his hem, revealing a small section of smooth, fair calf beneath, and frowned.

*Even the trouser leg covering the calf is ruined...*

A moment later.

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the gloomy sky.

The lightning tribulation was striking more and more, each bolt stronger than the last. He could dodge for a while, but not forever.

He needed to think of a method to solve this permanently.

A thoughtful expression appeared on Chu Ran's face. He had a rough guess about the origin of this lightning tribulation.

Simultaneously, his inner emotions were utterly...** (*collapsing*).

*Why did no one tell me you can't fly over the Ascending Immortal Stairs? Flying gets you struck by lightning!*

Ten thousand years later, many Shangqing Sect disciples, seeking shortcuts, would fly directly up from the foot of the mountain.

True, the Shangqing Sect did have a rule against riding the wind over the Ascending Immortal Stairs at high altitude.

But everyone flew like that, and no one was ever struck by lightning!

—*That's because, ten thousand years later, there was no Heavenly Venerable presiding over the Shangqing Sect!*

*Silly child!*

Currently, the Shangqing Heavenly Venerable was within the Biyou Palace atop the highest peak of the Shangqing Sect.

This was his Daoist domain. Who the hell dared to fly over his domain? *Seeking death!*

As the saying goes, *when the tiger is away from the mountain, the monkey proclaims himself king.* Ten thousand years later, immortals ascended to the upper realm; a barrier existed between immortal and mortal.

The Shangqing Sect also no longer had immortals or deities. The Heavenly Venerable was gone, and most of the restrictions on the immortal stairs were removed.

Chu Ran's heart was practically collapsing. *I just wanted to take a shortcut, and I get struck by lightning!*

*What kind of thing is that to do to a person?*

His elegant face wore a contemplative look. After a moment, he raised his head.

Eyes as dark as crow feathers gazed into the distance towards the Shangqing Sect's mountain gate, the Tai Chi Plaza.

That place—

was the summit of the immortal stairs, the great gate and front hall of the Shangqing Sect.

Once he reached there, the lightning tribulation would dissipate.

Chu Ran quickly calculated in his heart, then his eyes suddenly hardened. *Do it!*

**Within the Biyou Palace**

The Shangqing Heavenly Venerable, watching the change in his expression, felt a flash of amusement in his eyes. A faint smile curved on his exquisitely handsome lips.

A faint smile, dazzling to the eyes.

*What is he going to do?* The Shangqing Heavenly Venerable was curious. Indeed, the restriction he set targeted all immortals, deities, and Buddhas who flew over the immortal stairs. Once they entered the Shangqing Sect, it would no longer count as overstepping or offense, and the lightning tribulation would naturally dissipate.

But could he reach the Shangqing Sect while surrounded by dozens of lightning tribulations?

The exhaustion from dodging the lightning tribulation alone would be enough to consume all his mental energy and strength.

At this moment, whether it was the youths on the immortal stairs, Immortal Lords Yueci and Changhe and their disciples before the Jade Purity Hall, or the Shangqing Heavenly Venerable sneakily peeping within the Biyou Palace—all had their eyes fixed on Chu Ran's actions.

Under the gaze of all—

Chu Ran did something no one expected.

He hovered in mid-air, motionless.

Yes, he stopped moving.

Not dodging, not evading.

His robe was mostly damaged, only his sleeves fluttering freely in the wind.

Hair black as ink, face elegantly cool and aloof, amidst the gloomy sky and showers of fiery sparks, his beauty was dazzling, radiant and luminous.

Majestic, noble.

Inviolable.

*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!*

Several lightning tribulations roared, their light illuminating half the sky.

Thick, intertwined like ten thousand chains, surrounded by blinding lightning.

They struck straight down towards Chu Ran's head!

And Chu Ran—

Still stood there motionless.

Seeing this, everyone was instantly horrified.

*Why isn't he dodging!?*

At this moment, countless people had the same thought arise simultaneously in their hearts.

*Why isn't he dodging!*

*Why isn't he dodging like before?*

*It's over...*

*He's done for.*

Expressions of pity appeared on people's faces. *Brother, what courage!*

*Personally demonstrating to the world what it means to 'court death with one's life.' We will remember you for this bravery!*

Before the Qiankun Mirror, Immortal Lord Yueci abruptly stood up, his expression drastically changing. Staring at the youth in the mirror, his features majestic as he faced the oncoming lightning tribulation without dodging or evading, he felt shocked and horrified.

*Does he not want to live!?*

Only this explanation—

*He's seeking death!*

Having attained the Dao and become an immortal for ten thousand years, this was the first time since his ascension that Immortal Lord Yueci felt his heart and spirit so stirred.

He practically felt like a mortal whose six roots were not yet pure.

And Immortal Lord Changhe, sitting beside him, remained as cool and expressionless as ever, his features clear and sharp, his gaze deep and profound, fixed on the mirror.

Utterly composed, unperturbed in the face of danger.

—If one ignored the shattered armrest of the chair in his grip.

At this moment, everyone's hearts were tied to Chu Ran in the sky.

Their expressions horrified, they stared at him.

The thick lightning tribulation, intertwined like ten thousand chains, roared, accompanied by endless flashes of silver light, striking down towards Chu Ran's head.

Chu Ran's expression held no fear, no dread. He raised his eyes, his dark, crow-feather-like gaze fixed on the lightning bolt streaking towards him faster than light.

The purple lightning drew closer and closer—

The powerful thunderous pressure bearing down on him made it hard to breathe.

Fresh, red blood spilled from the corner of his lips. This body, chronically ill and unhealed despite being nourished with True Dragon's Blood, was ultimately frail and weak.

After all, it was *not tolerated by the Heavenly Dao!*

Thus, neither living nor dying, neither perishing nor vanishing.

It was merely a body!

However—

A smile slowly curved on Chu Ran's lips. Even if it was just a frail, weak body, it was still the vessel for his survival!

*Though the world discards him like a worn-out shoe, he is his own precious treasure.*

*How could I possibly be so distraught as to seek death?*

Within Chu Ran's long sleeves, fluttering and snapping in the wind, a silver light suddenly flashed.

Like cold, desolate moonlight, it illuminated the entire gloomy sky.

Seeing this, everyone immediately widened their eyes.

They saw—

Chu Ran draw a long sword from his sleeve. Its light was like autumn water, like a bright moon.

He raised it to block the sky!

*Had he been frightened senseless by the lightning tribulation?*

Everyone was horrified inwardly.

*How could a mere sword hope to block the lightning tribulation!*

*Wishful thinking!*

*Absolutely impossible!*

However—

They were disappointed.

What happened next was completely contrary to their expectations.

They saw the sky full of lightning tribulation strike down towards Chu Ran. Upon colliding with the long sword Chu Ran held above his head—

It instantly stopped moving.

Then, as if being violently absorbed by some powerful force, it crazily and massively surged into that sword.

Suddenly, a light as brilliant as the sun burst forth.

Everyone couldn't help but close their eyes, shielding their vision with their hands, not daring to look directly at this intense glare.

A long time later.

When the intense light vanished, everyone opened their eyes.

The lightning tribulation... had disappeared.

Instantly, everyone widened their eyes, faces full of disbelief.

That sword, as thin and light as autumn water, really... blocked the lightning tribulation?

*Holy crap!*

*A divine artifact! It must be a divine artifact!*

*No wonder that youth dared to resist the lightning tribulation alone. Damn, he had a divine artifact in hand!*

At this moment, the sky was still gloomy, the tribulation clouds not yet dispersed.

Chu Ran stood in the air, his robe mostly damaged, his hair slightly disheveled, his face pale, yet he was smiling. His features were elegant, his face handsome, his tall form jade-like. He softly recited, "A single sword frosts fourteen provinces."

"My sword is named 'Seal Thunder.'"