Nine Evolutions of the True Spirit
Chapter 459: Strongest Cultivator In The North Ocean

The Zephyr Passion Eighteen Sword Forms was an ultimate sword art of the Xuan Ling Sect, consisting of 18 moves. Each move could be considered a powerful sword art itself. After mastering one of the sword arts, the cultivator would also attain a minor divine ability.

Out of the 18 minor divine abilities, nine of them were collectively known as the Elegant Passionate Nine Swords. Together, these nine minor divine abilities formed a great divine sword formation known as the Zephyr Passion Sword Formation. The remaining nine minor divine abilities were known as the Passionate Nine Swords and formed a powerful divine sword formation called the Passionate Sword Formation.

Rumor had it that after the ancestors of the Xuan Ling Sect created the Zephyr Passion Eighteen Sword Forms, they envisioned that after combining these two great divine sword formations, they could create an ultimate move called the Unbind Sword. Supposedly, this move’s power would surpass that of a great divine ability by thousands of times. However, no one in the Xuan Ling Sect had achieved this feat, leading the North Ocean cultivators to believe that the legend was nothing more than a fabrication made by the Xuan Ling Sect.

Dao-Sheng was a natural-born genius. Although he was not a swordsman, he derived inspiration from the Xuan Ling Sect's signature sword art and independently created his own divine formation, called the Breeze Formation. Its power was not inferior to that of the Zephyr Passion Sword Formation or Passionate Sword Formation.

Dao-Sheng's unique Wind Formation formed a great divine ability after reaching nine tornados. With 18 tornados surrounding Heaven Forge Mountain, the Wind Formation had reached a power far greater than that of the combined strength of two great divine ability-level formations.

A concerned Tian-Lu looked at Tian Fan, and asked hesitantly, "Senior Brother Tian-Fan, should we team up with Senior Sister Tian-Xue to nullify Dao-Sheng’s attack?”

Tian-Xue shrugged in response. "Why break it? The North Ocean’s cultivation world has enjoyed peace for far too long; they have forgotten the might of Law Avatar Realm cultivators. It is about time that we let the disciples of our sect witness the power of the strongest Law Avatar Realm cultivator in the region. We don’t need anyone else to overestimate themselves and attempt another assassination on a Law Avatar Realm cultivator.”

Tian Xue's speech was targeted at those in the Zhen Ling Sect who believed that they could take down a Law Avatar Realm cultivator through their combined power. These individuals believed that if it weren’t for Ao Yu’s betrayal, Xuan-Yin would have taken down Dao-Shi, or would have managed to retreat unscathed. Despite Tian-Xue and the other elders being very protective of the disciples, they felt that they couldn’t let them develop an arrogant attitude where they no longer took Law Avatar Realm cultivators seriously.

Noticing Tian-Lu’s concern, Tian-Fan smiled and added, "Don't worry. Dao Sheng’s attack is no doubt powerful, but it isn’t strong enough to shatter the sect’s protective formation. Besides, do you think we would let him run rampant amongst our disciples?”

Hearing that, Tian-Lui eased up a little. The 18 whirlpools surrounding the mountain started shifting paths, gradually linking with each other. Together, they formed a massive net of rotating wind and water, dangerously approaching the mountain.

Just as the net was about to crash into the mountain, a deep and calm voice sounded out, “Formation!”

A sparkling translucent giant barrier, descended from the top of the Heaven Forge Mountain like a curtain, covering the entire mountain range within its formation.

The voice belonged to Guo Xuan-Shan. Along with Xuan-Chen, Guo Xuan-Shan was the strongest formation cultivator in the sect and was responsible for its protective formation.

In the blink of an eye, Dao-Sheng’s net cut toward the Zhen Ling Sect's protective array.

Creak, creak.

A deafening sound echoed across the area as the protective formation started vibrating vigorously. The wind net appeared to be unaffected. Like a bloodthirsty beast, it shrouded the protective formation, leaving dents on the formation with each strike.

"Steady!”

Guo Xuan-Shan’s voice spoke again. The protective formation received a surge of power, allowing it to combine with the power of the Core Forging Realm cultivators of the sect. Despite still flickering from time to time, the formation was much more sturdy than before.

"Recover!"

Guo Xuan-Shan remained calm. As soon as his voice faded, the dimming formation lit up again. With the formation’s recovery, Dao-Sheng’s attack could no longer shake it.

Suddenly, a cold sneer was heard from the distant sky. Although the origin of the voice seemed to be far away, it exploded in the ears of the cultivators present, instantly crippling the Core Forging Realm cultivators of the Zhen Ling Sect that were responsible for keeping the formation running. The cultivators lost control of their energy, including Guo Xuan-Shan and his assistant Xuan-Chen. Their faces paled and their limbs felt numb.

Guo Xuan-Shan's expression immediately twisted. "This is bad!"

He hurriedly shouted, “Cleanse!”

Guo Xuan-Shan reacted quickly, but the others did not. Guo Xuan-Shan’s shout pulled these cultivators back to their senses, but it was too late. The cultivators were thrown into chaos, preventing them from being able to maintain the operation of the protective formation.

The formation started flickering and was slowly engulfed by dark spots.

Suddenly, the wind net contracted again, with 18 whirlpools rotating around it. The explosive sounds from the collision became more intense. The protective formation wanted to expand outwards, breaking free from the binding of the wind net, but it was only being damaged further by the net.

An ear-deafening roar suddenly erupted. A pair of giant claws faintly appeared above the Zhen Ling Sect. The giant claws expanded into view, reaching down and grabbing the whirlpools, instantly tearing them into pieces.

The protective formation grasped the precious opportunity to recover. A few moments later, the protective formation finally gained enough strength, allowing it to shatter the final 12 whirlpools after another two were destroyed by the giant claws. The giant claws made of spiritual energy dissipated, disappearing into the protective barrier.

As soon as Dao-Sheng’s attack had been foiled, the Core Forging Realm cultivators in charge of the formation spurted blood and fell unconscious. The cultivators that had managed to stay awake, including Guo Xuan-Shan, were all in shock.

To be able to withstand the True Spirit Sect's defensive formation, established four to five thousand years ago by the only True Spirit of the True Spirit Sect, Elder Taican, was extremely shocking.

“What is this absurd strength? Not only did he manage to withstand the protective formation set up by the only ancestor of our sect, but he also managed to injure more than half of the Core Forging Realm cultivators sustaining the formation. What monstrous power!” Guo Xuan-Shan thought.

If it weren’t for Guo Xuan-Shan’s leadership and ability to gather the strength of the cultivators, activating the Transcendent Hands of the formation to tear apart the waterspouts, the cultivators present would be facing far worse injuries.

“Who else in the North Ocean holds such rampant strength? It must be Dao-Sheng! He’s the only person I can only think of that can go against our sect’s protective formation single-handedly!” Guo Xuan-Shan thought.

The cultivators of the Zhen Ling Sect witnessed firsthand the prowess of the strongest cultivator in the North Ocean. Before this, Dao-Sheng was too far away from them. Even though the Zhen Ling Sect had always regarded the Xuan Ling Sect as a target to chase, most of the cultivators merely saw Dao-Sheng as a powerful foe that could face the elders of the sect. They acknowledged his strength, but they were not giving him the respect he deserved as the strongest cultivator in the North Ocean.

A long continuous laugh broke the silence. Tian-Fan smiled in response. "It has been decades since we last met, yet you’re still as sharp and powerful. No, you’re far stronger than before, Senior Brother Dao-Sheng. You no doubt live up to your name as the strongest cultivator in the North Ocean. Please allow me to thank you for letting the disciples of my sect learn a lesson and realize that there will always be a person far stronger than them somewhere in this world. It’s about time they learn how to respect a powerful cultivator to avoid becoming arrogant and complacent!”

A faint sigh was released as a voice filled with the vicissitudes of time echoed in the sky, "Tian-Fan, are you mocking me? Originally, I wanted to test the strength of you and your wife with this Wind Formation to see if both of you have made some progress over these past years. I didn’t expect you to be able to stand to the side and merely watch as your disciples fought against my attack alone.”

Understanding what Dao-Sheng was trying to say, Tian-Fan replied with a smile, “One can’t become useful without being properly educated. I figured I could use you as a way to teach these disciples a lesson, Senior Brother Dao-Sheng.”

“I have to say that in this regard, our sect is not as decisive as yours,” said an old man. He appeared in the distant sky and slowly walked in the air toward the Zhen Ling Sect.

His words caught Tian-Fan off-guard, but that didn’t stop him from smiling. “You’re flattering us, Senior Brother Dao-Sheng.”

Dao-Sheng looked around, and said, "Almost everyone is here. There’s no point hiding. Let’s meet face to face.”