Chapter 696: To Write His Name on the Register of Life and Death
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Between the Three Realms, many hidden connoisseurs were secretly observing the matter between Kong Xuan and Daoist Yuding. None of them considered that Kong Xuan would be able to gain an advantage, but they admired his bravery.

Furthermore, ever since the Heaven Courtyard was destroyed, those among the Daluo were rarely seen to maintain relations with each other. There was no doubt that this fight will surely go down in history.

Shen Lian was clueless as to what really happened in Yuxu Palace but he understood that he clearly had not reached an impasse; for if he did, he would at least be faced with the Zhenren of Daoist Yuding or possibly even the legendary Perfected Lord of Qingyuan Miaodao. If that happened, it did not matter whether Shen Lian was powerful enough. As long as he did not become a Daoist Master, he need not even thought about escaping.

While the crowd of deities and cultivators were battling Wen Zhong and co in the Flying Celestials Formation Chart, it was as if Shen Lian and the reincarnation of Yuding at trial were in another world.

The immense spiritual consciousness of Shen Lian’s opponent seized every opportunity available, causing Shen Lian’s Qi dynamic to be completely locked. No matter what Shen Lian did, his opponent would foresee and neutralize his actions. This was a premonition Shen Lian had, and it was also something that would inevitably occur.

All along Shen Lian could precisely judge the opponent’s intelligence to obtain a victory. This time, however, he was slightly inferior to his opponent in this respect.

Shen Lian’s figure kept on descending and gradually went underground. Finally, his ears and nose were covered by Underworld in its deepest layer. Unknowingly he reached the deep parts of the spring, followed by Yuding closely behind.

The purest and most vital Yin Qi stuck onto Shen Lian’s pores, causing him to sink deeper into the Yellow Spring of the Nine Underworlds where not even the daylight could be seen. The Register of Life and Death was found precisely at the depths of Yellow Spring of the Nine Underworlds. It could be linked to the heart of the Netherworld. With each breath, it spurred the mighty power of the Yellow Springs which gave off a tide. It finally spread to Shen Lian’s celestial body, extending to each limb and bone, causing him to tremble.

Shen Lian opened his palms and a dull, dark sword appeared in both of them. This was the Anattā Sword that Chen Jianmei transformed into.

Yuding was not too far away from Shen Lian. He took off the sheath of his Celestial Slaying Flying Sword, and with a stroke in the waters of the Yellow Spring, the tides calmed down.

Shen Lian’s mental state suffered a huge obstacle in the Yellow Springs of the Nine Underworlds. It was not as clear as it was on the outside. Yuding also suffered the similar hindrance.

The Anattā Sword trembled a little and gave out a faint cry. Its formless and shapeless sword Qi then attacked Yuding from all directions. There were no lawless rebel and no space to flow in disorder; like a skillful butcher dismembering an ox, the efficiency left no trace behind.

The expression on Shen Lian’s face was of peace and calm. Neither sword Qi nor a murderous intent was present. His heart was like a still water. At this point, he was the incarnation of Chen Jianmei, prompting the Anattā Sword as well as the concluding the karma of being killed back then on the latter’s behalf.

Countless of the most supreme and mysterious swordcraft trickled through his heart with an extreme familiarity. Every sword accumulated a period of time, slicing through the earth and sky. Many things were seen – the world, all living beings, and natural instincts as they were.

Even though celestial Yuding was merely a reincarnation at trial but he truly had the Daluo state of mind. His vital Qi was concentrated in the Celestial Slaying Flying Sword which was not inferior to any other magic weapon. However, when he faced the attack of the Anattā Sword, he could still feel some strain.

The swordcraft did not belong to Shen Lian, it belonged to Chen Jianmei – a lowly person, but also a swordcraft genius unparalleled throughout the times. The Anattā Sword had already transcended the boundaries of restriction and touched the most supreme of sword states.

Only with such supreme sword state did Shen Lian have the qualification to go up against Yuding.

Both of them seemed as though they reverted to being mere warriors fighting with swords. In the depths of the Yellow Springs, they were engaged in battle. Their movements were not quick and neither were they to the extent of destroying heaven and earth.

However, if any one of the master celestials of sword saw the other’s sword technique, their emotions would be moved since this was the true Sword of the Great Way. Simple movements would suffice to interpret the profound mysteries of the world. Those who could comprehend it were truly celestials.

Yuding started to be rather agitated as he unexpectedly realized his own mental state of Daluo was slowly receding. This indicated that, in spite of everything, he was not currently having the upper hand in his battle with Kong Xuan. This planted some doubts in him. At the same time, Shen Lian and the strength of the Anattā Sword slowly increased.

Along with the agitation of his heart, he finally exploded with a more valiant strength. The formerly ordinary looking body of his suddenly became a body with three heads and six arms. Thereafter, his Qi dynamic increased hysterically and his strength at that moment was more than three times as compared to before.

Shen Lian finally knew and experienced the legendary and mythical three heads and six arms. It was among the most abstruse secret techniques in the whole of heaven and the thousands of realms. Furthermore, it was the Celestial Arts that was created by the hands of Daoist Master himself. If Shen Lian regarded the amplification of its strength correctly, it might even be possible for it to surpass Celestial Arts on the level of The Three Incarnations.

With that, the originally dull sword gleam became increasingly resplendent. The pressure Shen Lian exerted was incapable of further increase.

Yuding’s three heads and six arms did not cease to stir and shake the Yellow Springs, as if it wanted to crush Shen Lian. This was a strength so universally shocking, akin to the exertion of pressure by the legendary Mount Sumeru on oneself. In light of this, one need not think about displaying one’s skills even if one had countless techniques.

Under such ruthless pressure, Shen Lian’s sword gleam lighted up with incredible resplendence, intending to throw off the stocks and chains of destiny, breaking all cages as well as crushing the vacuum.

However, there was still something beyond his reach. It was as though he lacked one last breath.

Shen Lian remained calm in the face of everything. In his heart he completely discarded the notion of success and failure, placing not too much importance in life and death. It was as if he had a bright and pure halo on him as he continuously forged ahead with a single destination in mind.

He advanced towards the area where the Register of Life and Death – a fragment of the Underworld’s core – was located.

Even with Yuding’s three heads and six arms, as well as the sharp increase of his immensely shocking strength, he still had no way to prevent Shen Lian from heading towards the Register of Life and Death.

Shen Lian’s sword gleam weakened continuously. The brilliance of purity on him was also receding while the pressure of the Yellow Spring’s waters increased by a million fold.

However, it appeared as though Shen Lian was not aware of this. His Daoist robe fluttered in the waters of the Yellow Spring as if it was able to transcend over three thousand Jambudvīpa 1.

Resembling the perfectly straight unfolding of a vibrant silk cloth, he thrusted his sword forward. Every single change was lost and time was stopped. It was Yuding’s hands which stopped them. Inch by inch, the Anattā Sword gradually dissipated and the last traces of Chen Jianmei indistinctly vanished forever.

“To incorporate a slice of nature’s beauty, a beauty born of heaven and earth.” A sudden Dao melody resounded from the Nine Underworlds. Shen Lian neither felt grief nor joy; and neither worry nor fear. The entire arm of which he gripped the Register of Life and Death with became black.

He flipped to a blank page. His positioned his finger on the whites of the paper and slowly wrote a name –’Yuding’.

Of all people, it was Yuding – a person of Daluo who had transcended the boundaries of life and death – whose name Shen Lian wanted to rewrite in the register. Simply speaking, it was like an act of a seventh level magistrate who was sentenced to death by a high ranking minister conferred with privilege by the monarch.

Shen Lian concentrated his Daoist force and wrote down Yuding’s name but the name vanished right after he finished writing. Even the Register of Life and Death dared not record Yuding’s name. Its pull of reincarnation also did not dare to lay the slightest of its force on Yuding.

Yuding laughed coldly, “Even the Ten Kings of Hell dare not do what you just did. It surprises me to see you so ignorant. You truly disappoint me.”

He did not rush in to attack. Instead, he completely froze the space around the area, intended to sever any possible way of escaping that Shen Lian had.

Shen Lian appeared cautious and reserved, holding a bright red flower in his hands. It was devoid of leaves, bearing only the flower and the flower stalk.

This was the Yellow Spring’s Flower of the Other Shore. Its flowers and leaves were mutually exclusive – when one was present, the other was not.

It was also the most mysterious flower in the Yellow Springs of the Netherworld. No one knew of the properties it possessed.