Cultivating with Top Enlightenment Chapter 985 - 424: Ning Qi Battles Mountain Ancestor

A shiver traced the dragon-faced cultivator's face as he abruptly understood the mask he wore had been removed by the young man confronting him.

Instantly, his hands contorted into dragon claws, lashing out like deadly scythes toward Ning Qi, who had shed his mask.

However, the newly emerged Ning Qi subtly shifted his stance, darting away with the grace of a startled swan, instantly creating distance between them.

The dragon-faced cultivator's assault sliced only through Ning Qi's afterimage.

At this precise moment, everyone present witnessed the true visage hidden beneath the mask, revealing a shocking likeness to the Mountain Ancestor himself.

The sole dissimilarity was a vicious, jagged scar marring that face, presenting an utterly terrifying spectacle.

"!!!"

Gazing upon that face, an involuntary tremor of fear rippled through the onlookers.

By now, no one dared to question the formidable might of the Mountain Ancestor.

But the source of those horrifying scars on this avatar remained a profound mystery.

Within the shadowy expanse of Buzhou Mountain.

Due to Buzhou Mountain's shadow having completely merged with the Vast Realm, the Vast Realm's Will had been sealed. This confluence had nearly caused Buzhou Mountain's shadow to consume the intersecting Boundary Wall, leaving only a final barrier, as fragile and transparent as glass.

Consequently, the scenes projected onto the Vast Realm's sky could still be observed from within this confined space.

Both the Saint Ancestor and the Sea Ancestor watched the dragon-faced cultivator's revealed face, their expressions undergoing a dramatic shift.

The Sea Ancestor swiftly cast her gaze toward the Mountain Ancestor positioned atop Buzhou Mountain, drawing a stark comparison between him and the dragon-faced cultivator.

"How can this be..." the Sea Ancestor murmured, troubled.

The Saint Ancestor, perplexed, inquired, "What have you discerned?"

The Sea Ancestor appeared deeply disturbed, gesturing toward the Mountain Ancestor's face projected on the Vast Realm's sky. She stated:

"I recognize those scars on that countenance. It mirrors exactly how Haoshan appeared when he first received the Buzhou Mountain heritage back then."

"What?"

The Saint Ancestor's heart lurched upon hearing this revelation.

"Are you suggesting that the scarred visage is the Mountain Ancestor's true form?"

The Sea Ancestor again directed her gaze at the Mountain Ancestor within Buzhou Mountain's shadow. She noted that this particular Mountain Ancestor's face was perfect and unblemished, sculpted with sharp precision, exhibiting incredibly defined features.

Shaking her head, she replied, "I cannot be certain, but one of them must be an avatar. Therefore, the one bearing the scars must be the true body!"

Her countenance conveyed extreme distress, as she finally comprehended that all her past struggles had been against an mere avatar.

What further confounded her was the question of why, even at their exalted level and after countless millennia, the Mountain Ancestor's face still bore such horrific scars...

The Saint Ancestor, processing this information, knitted her brows.

"We must relay this crucial intelligence to Ning Qi immediately!"

...

Within the cavernous expanse.

The dragon-faced cultivator fixed an intense gaze upon the two Ning Qi figures before him.

No, he should now refer to the true body of the Mountain Ancestor, his eyes flicking back and forth between the two distinct forms.

"Avatars, much like my own?"

This thought flashed through the Mountain Ancestor's mind with lightning speed.

For cultivators at their pinnacle, the cultivation art of forging avatars was hardly considered a groundbreaking Divine Technique.

However, the quality and capabilities of these created avatars could differ immensely!

Some individuals' avatars were mere phantoms formed from condensed energy, capable only of creating fleeting optical illusions.

Other avatars possessed a fraction, perhaps a tenth, of the true body's might; such manifestations were already deemed quite formidable.

Yet, at their advanced stage, weak avatars served no purpose other than to contend with those of lesser cultivation, representing a sheer waste of vital energy.

Consequently, neither the Mountain Ancestor's nor Ning Qi's avatars could be classified as ordinary manifestations.

The Mountain Ancestor's mind raced through a myriad of possibilities in an instant.

His dragon-shaped mask had been torn away by the newly manifested Ning Qi, yet he showed no inclination to conjure another mask using his magical power.

He seemed content, even amused, to display the scars etched upon his face, a fierce grin spreading across his marred features.

"Intriguing!"

"For ages, I have employed the World-Devouring Roaming Dragon technique to seal this entire cavernous domain. The spatial passage itself was jointly constructed by my avatar and myself. Yet, you managed to circumvent both of us, effortlessly seal the spatial passage I established, and infiltrate this sanctuary.

Just who exactly are you?

Or perhaps, you are indeed Ning Qi, but the entity we confronted earlier was consistently your avatar?"

The Mountain Ancestor posed his questions once more.

Ever since Ning Qi's sudden reappearance, he had rapidly revised his initial conjecture, which now bore a striking resemblance to the actual truth.

Ning Qi's avatars stood poised on either side, confronting the Mountain Ancestor.

The avatar formed by heart's blood, Ning Qi No. 2, continued to shield the Saint Ancestor's avatar and the Vast Realm Will behind them. While its offensive might was not immense, it expertly wielded the Path of Yin and Yang, effectively negating all assaults from Mountain Ancestor.

The Ning Qi that recently emerged was, in fact, Ning Qi's reincarnated form.

Meanwhile, Ning Qi's true body was engaged in manipulating the True Martial Spirit Realm, subtly merging with the entirety of the Vast Realm from another dimension.

It was evident that Mountain Ancestor's suspicion was mirrored by everyone present.

Ever since the commencement of the Spirit Realm War, Ning Qi had been remarkably active, yet his strength had been observed to increase incrementally by all.

However, Ning Qi's current surge in power had clearly outstripped everyone's comprehension, leading to widespread suspicion regarding his true identity.

Ning Qi's reincarnated self took a deliberate step forward, sensing the opportune moment had arrived to unveil the truth.

Confronting Mountain Ancestor was secondary; the cultivators of the Vast Realm and Sword Ancestor Zhao Yujun, however, were in dire need of this revelation.

Ning Qi declared, "Your deductions are accurate; I was indeed merely an avatar previously."

A light chuckle escaped him as he went on, "I no longer need to maintain any pretense. I am revealing everything now!"

A collective gasp of astonishment swept through the onlookers upon hearing his words.

The Saint Ancestor's avatar and the Vast Realm Will exchanged concerned glances with the Ning Qi standing before them.

The avatar discreetly conveyed a detailed explanation to the two, much like the information previously shared with the Mountain and Sea Realm Will.