## AST 2490 - Stepping into Eighth Mortal Step, A Turn for the Better

Basic Sword Techniques!

Qing Shui’s sword strike was direct and clean. Qing Shui was utilizing an attack that combined the mastery of upper, middle, and lower sword techniques comprehension. This was the first time that Qing Shui had used it in a real battle. He had been practicing it.

Divine Weapon Flying Sword appeared as though it was carrying a blazing rainbow as it flew toward the Heaven Star Battle God.

Scattered Star Chess Pieces!

Heaven Star Battle God shook his sword once and the surrounding sky was covered in stars. The area was sparkling about as if it had become a giant chessboard. Heaven Star Battle God’s body shuffled back and forth, just like a fish in water. The Heaven Star Sword within his hand was fiercely attacking at full strength.

Bang!

Continuous contact noises could be heard. Qing Shui’s technique was ancient and simple. It was simple to the point that a three to five years old child could understand. The attacks could not be called ordinary by any means. Though it was simple, with each strike, Qing Shui could feel the terrifying power that was the Basic Sword Technique. This was especially true as the technique was being utilized by the Divine Weapon Flying Sword.

With the Divine Weapon Flying Sword’s reduction and Qing Shui’s strengths and debuffs on the opposition, Qing Shui felt there was not much pressure in this fight.

Once Qing Shui had debuffed the opposition, he would have the advantage in terms of speed. Under the influence of the Scatter Star Chess Pieces used by the Heaven Star Battle God, the speed disadvantage was nullified.

“Young man, if you have any trump cards, you better use it now. Otherwise, you can’t kill me.” Heaven Star Battle God said as he laughed at Qing Shui.

As he was speaking, the Heaven Star Battle God opened up caves behind his back.

Ten caves! Moreover, those caves were not common.

Ten caves weren’t a lot, but the opposition was the Nine Continents Divine Palace’s Palace Lord, thus Qing Shui did not feel surprised. Qing Shui reacted by opening his own ten caves behind him. The ten caves glittered in golden radiance.

“To be one of the ten caves holders as well, how extraordinary!”

“Divine Palace’s Palace Lord’s ten caves are common, but the young man’s ten caves are remarkable. If it was based on the auras given off by the caves, the young man seems to have the upper hand on the Palace Lord.”

“However, Divine Palace’s Palace Lord’s realm is undoubtedly higher.”

“But I feel that the young man has more than meets the eye. The Palace Lord had said that if it were a battle to the death, the one who would perish would be the Palace Lord.”

Two vigorous looking old men were observing the battle seriously.

With the opening of the caves, many beasts appeared on the battlefield. Heaven Star Battle God was Grade Ten Nurture God Realm. In terms of the martial realm, the Heaven Star Battle God was much higher than Qing Shui, but Qing Shui’s caves were stronger than the Battle God’s. On a scale, their strengths were somewhat equivalent, but Qing Shui’s tenth cave was a horrifying existence.

Roar!

Qing Shui summoned the Dragon Slaying Beast, Primordial Dragon Elephant, Dragon Spider, Dark Phoenix, Black Ice Divine Worm, Diamond White Tiger King, and Primordial Golden Bear.

Heaven Star Battle God summoned ten beasts. Those were two dragon-shaped beasts, two White Tigers, one Dragon Lion, one Exploding Crystal Ape King, three spider-type beasts, and one giant turtle.

Nine Palace Laws!

Qing Shui used his own domain ability which was similar to the opposition’s Scattered Star Chess Pieces.

Roar!

Roar….

The battle erupted! Dragon Spider spread a giant net out. Qing Shui rapidly walked and used Sixth Mortal Step right where he was.

Heaven Star Battle God’s Heaven Star Sword was shining brightly. At the same time, the giant ancient turtle raised its head fiercely, its sinister head emitting a bitter aura. Immediately, it weirdly moved in front of Qing Shui. Its giant shell shone with an unadorned radiance, the patterns on its shell was shining brightly.

At this time, Qing Shui had already fired off Stellar Transposition.

Qing Shui could use Stellar Transposition once every five minutes. This was the second time Qing Shui had used it this battle.

As if the milky way was setting like the sun, Stellar Transposition was aimed at the majority of the opposition’s beasts. The result was a group of injuries. The one who was injured significantly was none other than the giant turtle that had taken the initiative to block Qing Shui’s attack.

Bang!

An attack that neglected defense. With its immense defense, Qing Shui was not certain if he could destroy the giant turtle’s shell, but he certainly heard a chain of shattering noises.

Its organs were shattered!

At this time, Heaven Star Battle God attacked with his sword while flying over with great speed. This sword strike was as swift as a flying meteor. It was as though the strike followed an orbit, giving it a feeling that it could not be defended nor dodged. It was a strange Heavenly Technique.

Meteor Smash!

Roar!

It was at this time that the Primordial Golden Bear pounced over with its glowing gold aura. A giant bear paw swiped against the glowing sword.

Ding!

Crisp metal contact noise could be heard loudly. The noise could crack metal and rocks. Near one’s ears, this sound was louder than an explosion. An invisible sound power and Origin Qi erupted to the surrounding area. An invisible wall of Origin Qi had blocked the eruption. If not for the wall, how many people would have been killed by the power eruption?

Heaven Star Battle God was emitting a light silver aura. He had been repelled by the Primordial Golden Bear.

The Primordial Golden Bear’s strength was tremendous. Grade Seven Nurture God Realm had given Primordial Golden Bear an explosive power. This was Qing Shui’s unrivaled Heavenly Technique. Primordial Golden Bear with 80% bloodline purity was one of the highest existences. Even some true dragon beasts were incomparable to the Primordial Golden Bear.

Mighty Dragon Elephant Stomp!

Deadly Poison!

Qing Shui’s beasts were battling without holding back. Heaven Star Battle God’s beasts were also displaying their own strengths. Qing Shui swiped his hand and the Bloodthirsty Demonic Vines erupted.

Primordial Dragon Elephant had stunned the Exploding Crystal Ape King. Qing Shui did not waste this opportunity to trap the Exploding Crystal Ape King with his Bloodthirsty Demonic Vines.

With Qing Shui’s increase in strength, his Five Elements Divine Refining Technique also excelled greatly. This was especially true for his Bloodthirsty Demonic Vines. Bloodthirsty Demonic Vines had become one of Qing Shui’s strongest abilities. Once someone was trapped by the Bloodthirsty Demonic Vines, it was near impossible to escape. It was the same for the Heaven Star Battle God. However, if the Heaven Star Battle God risked his life to escape, then maybe there was still a possibility.

Two dragon-shaped beasts were up against the Primordial Golden Bear.

Meanwhile, Heaven Star Battle God rushed toward Qing Shui.

Even though Qing Shui would not lose against the Heaven Star Battle God, he did not have enough battle prowess to gravely injure the Battle God.

He used Mortal Step over and over again.

Roar!

Heaven Star Battle God’s Heaven Star Sword’s aura dazzled as though it was a whirlwind rushing toward Qing Shui.

Heaven Star Meteor!

With the effect of Mortal Step, Qing Shui had sealed off Heaven Star Battle God’s terrifying attack. Qing Shui went unscathed by the attack.

Qing Shui had the Marrow Nibbling Golden Dragon Silkworm as his trump card, but he did not feel like using it just yet. Heaven Star Battle God had a trump card as well, but he also did not use it. It would seem the two had a tacit understanding.

After battling for a while, the beasts’ battle situation had changed.

Primordial Golden Bear had slaughtered the two dragon-type beasts. Dark Phoenix, Primordial Dragon Elephant, and Dragon Spider had been heavily injured. Qing Shui sent the three back into the Realm of Violet Jade Immortal.

Dragon Slaying Beast and Black Ice Divine Worm had killed off two other beasts. With one of the beasts trapped and the giant turtle that was holding onto its last breath, there were only four other beasts on the opposition’s side.

With Dragon Slaying Beast, Black Ice Divine Worm, Diamond White Tiger King, and Primordial Golden Bear by his side, Qing Shui had the upper hand now.

Qing Shui stepped once again. The battle must continue and become a test of stamina.

Yes!

Once Qing Shui reached the seventh step, he walked toward the Heaven Star Battle God to attack, taking a habitual extra step along the way.

He had already taken over a thousand attempts at the eighth step, but it had always ended up in failure. By the ‘eighth step’, he meant the Eighth Mortal Step.

However, this time, as though the stars all aligned and nature ran its course, a fierce power appeared within Qing Shui’s body.

Success! Eighth Mortal Step!

Qing Shui was finally able to successfully utilize the Eighth Mortal Step. In his hand was a Stellar Transposition, ready to use. The intricate and berserk strike was fired off with the buff of the Eighth Mortal Step. Heaven Star Battle God’s face changed, but he was smiling. His expression was that of calmness, not a single ounce of frantic was seen.