My Simulated Road to Immortality Chapter 4 - 4: Fairy’s All-Out Sword

The two sky-high cultivators got caught off guard and struck directly.

No gruesome sprays of blood or torn flesh occurred. Encircling the pair, mere ripples spread out. An unseen force protected them from the onslaught of bullets, surging like an ocean's wave.

"Hmm, what sort of magic tool is this?" Amid the abrupt attack from thousands of ordinary folks, the cultivators stayed composed. Kou Hong extended his right hand, hoisting a soldier skyward while snatching the weapon from the man's grasp for a close look. Then, he flung the soldier aside without a care.

"Fascinating, it replaces complex mechanical setups for magic arrays and harnesses the blast from common materials instead of spiritual power. Its might rivals the early energy refining stage…" Having examined it briefly, Kou Hong grasped the gun's working mechanism.

He shook his head: "Who would have thought that after millennia, the mortals exiled to the Immortal Realm crafted something so refined. Regrettably, it functions solely in this flawed Tao domain. Beyond the Immortal Realm, it's nothing but worthless junk." As he uttered these words, the firearm in his grip vanished instantly. He had stashed it away thoughtlessly.

"These insignificant humans actually dared to strike at us cultivators. At first, I had some remorse, but now it looks like they're begging for annihilation!"

From his lofty vantage, Kou Hong gazed down at the hordes of mortal troops cloaked in shadows, a mocking glint in his eyes.

Positioning his right hand forward, he swiftly inscribed arcane symbols into the empty air.

Abruptly, myriad glimmers erupted from the gloom, spreading like rampant flames into colossal fire orbs.

"Taoist Technique: Fire Dragon Chant!"

With Kou Hong's icy bellow, the fierce scarlet blazes linked the massive fire spheres overhead, as though they were living tissue.

A colossal serpent forged from furious infernos, its face twisted in savagery, materialized abruptly, looming over Xuanjing City.

The blazing serpent unleashed a thunderous bellow, twisting its form before diving earthward.

"Boom!"

Deafening blasts rang out without pause.

Structures across Xuanjing City collapsed as if they were fragile playthings, crumbling effortlessly with no fight back.

The ferocious red fires, seeming to possess their own awareness, began consuming everything within reach upon impact.

In mere moments, Xuanjing City transformed into a hellscape of unyielding flames!

Yet Kou Hong, the one who wrought this devastation, creased his forehead suddenly, his features twisting in profound shock.

For he observed that even as the city lay in ruins, the majority of soldiers had astonishingly endured his assault!

Remember, the Fire Dragon Chant he deployed was his utmost effort.

A Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator's might surpassed what mere mortals could endure!

Even supposing the troops were disciplined and had grabbed defenses or ducked behind structures at the first hint of his incantation, the death toll should've been vastly higher than what he witnessed!

What in the world was happening!?

Kou Hong felt stunned and perplexed. Then, as if enlightenment struck, he gestured, drawing forth a tiny metal device—previously flagged as hazardous by his spiritual energy, which had blocked it from reaching him and let it fall.

"This is…" Kou Hong's expression shifted dramatically. Shifting his focus to the area around with heightened wariness, the former scorn in his gaze morphed into dread.

"These concealed weapons are steeped in mortal blood—they carry the Immortal-Ordinary Miasma…" Immortal Master Dao Xuanzi declared, his visage stern.

"We've barely entered and faced a trap. Moreover, they've deployed the Immortal-Ordinary Miasma. Evidently, our attackers anticipated us. Could a cultivator be orchestrating these mortals from the shadows?" The duo exchanged glances, thoughts racing. "No matter what, this location is bizarre. We mustn't linger."

Although Dao Xuanzi and Kou Hong would cross swords over the Golden Core Technique, that remained their personal affair.

Confronted now by this unforeseen development and hordes of lowly mortals, the pair—bound by a century of tacit pact—chose retreat in unison.

Maybe sensing the cultivators' withdrawal plans, the silenced gunfire from the Fire Dragon Chant's chaos resumed its clamor.

This only deepened the doubts in Dao Xuanzi and Kou Hong's minds.

These mortals harbored clear malicious intent!

"Let's depart!" As the two prepared to flee, a voice boomed from beneath.

"Dao Xuanzi! Kou Hong! Should you escape today, by tomorrow the tale of your Golden Core Technique acquisition will flood the whole Immortal Cultivation World!"

The proclamation appeared to resound from every corner of Xuanjing City, reverberating and persisting through the nocturnal heavens.

The voice carried a raspy edge, yet brimmed with ironclad assurance and chill.

Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi halted abruptly. Terror gripped them, disbelief etching their faces.

"Impossible! Only we knew of the Golden Core Technique—how did it get out?" In that instant, panic seized them.

They had delved into the Cave Mansion's mysteries, only for Kou Hong to betray and seize the technique before bolting. Dao Xuanzi pursued doggedly, prompting Kou Hong's frantic dash into this Immortal Realm for a shot at life…

Scenes of their journey replayed in their thoughts, vivid and relentless.

Who could it be!?

As the cultivators trembled in fright and disarray, scores of artillery rounds launched from the obscurity, trailing bright streaks, zeroing in on the pair.

"Seeking death!" Kou Hong cast aside his astonishment, fury surging hotter.

"Taoist Technique: Ember Explosion!"

A vast fire circle started coalescing midair.

"Beware, Kou Hong—evade now!" Just then, Dao Xuanzi's urgent cry pierced the air.

"What?" Kou Hong jolted. Probing with his spiritual consciousness, horror dawned on his features.

He tried to veer away, but it was too delayed.

The barrage of shells detonated nearby.

No thunderous blasts ensued—just spurts of murky crimson fluid erupting close by, forming a localized blood shower that soaked the two cultivators!

"Ahh…"

Icy wails tore through the firmament.

Simultaneously, the formidable presence of the duo plunged sharply.

After a fleeting resistance, they couldn't sustain it and plummeted from above.

Myriad soldiers encircled them, weapons at the ready.

But this instant, the state of the two "Fairy" figures chilled even these elite, death-ready warriors to their cores.

Dao Xuanzi and Kou Hong had looked in their twenties before. Yet post-blood drenching, their locks whitened instantly. Within breaths, they aged decades, faces etched with gnarled lines, a terrifying spectacle.

Their crumpled forms lay sprawled. Kou Hong teetered on oblivion, vitality ebbing fast. Dao Xuanzi, with deeper cultivation, fared marginally better, yet strained near demise.

Thus ended these exalted Immortal Teachers!

Not just the on-site troops, but Li Fan—lurking afar and orchestrating covertly—shivered inexplicably upon his subordinates' updates.

"If you two yield, our Commander-in-chief vows to preserve your lives!" a trooper yelled from afar at the duo.

"Yield…" Body ravaged, Dao Xuanzi eyed his reluctant comrade beside him. He meant to speak, but only bitter laughs escaped.

Sensing Dao Xuanzi's intent, Kou Hong divined his plan.

He shook his head faintly, mustering his final vigor to pass his storage ring to Dao Xuanzi.

"Go…" Kou Hong's lips parted slightly, then his head lolled, and he perished.

Odd phenomena stirred aloft!

A scarlet wyrm manifested overhead. It writhed in torment, roaring and straining to escape some bind.

But its struggles proved futile.

It dwindled progressively until merely a husk remained.

Soon after, the wyrm was wholly consumed, vanishing entirely.

Only then did observers discern a plain, brownish twig that had taken root and grown within, devouring the beast utterly!

Even a mundane branch could consume a dragon!

This awe-striking display, akin to splendid pyrotechnics, illuminated the skies for leagues.

Every creature beholding this phenomenon found identical phrases surfacing in their minds.

"Foundation Establishment Cultivator Kou Hong, mortal for 205 years, forged Tao foundation via the exotic Curled Dragon Branch. In the Immortal Realm, ambushed by myriad mortals, felled unwittingly by the Immortal-Ordinary Miasma."

"Cultivation dissipated, lifespan exhausted."

"Now deceased, ascended to the heavens!"

Kin slaying kin stirred pity, evoking universal sorrow…

All entities beneath this portent near Xuanjing City drowned in such sentiments, unable to extricate themselves.

The mesmerizing spectacle endured nearly half an hour before slowly dissolving.

The troops regained composure at last, quietly regarding the lone withered cultivator amid the scene.

"Immortal Master Dao Xuanzi, our Commander-in-chief seeks no mutual destruction. Cease resistance, and he assures your protection…" The soldiers pressed on with Li Fan's directives.

Yet in the shadows, Li Fan inwardly sighed, aware his bid to ensnare an immortal here had crumbled.

He hadn't foreseen the Immortal-Ordinary Miasma's deadliness to cultivators.

As anticipated, Dao Xuanzi dismissed their calls outright.

He stared at the vanished celestial display, eyes tinged with reminiscence.

"The Curled Dragon Branch…"

After ages, he averted his sight and forced his bent frame upright.

Surveying the vicinity, Dao Xuanzi sought the unseen manipulator.

"I know not your identity," he addressed Li Fan, "nor your aims."

"Perhaps the Golden Core Technique draws you, or some other prize." Dao Xuanzi eyed the ring in his palm, speaking evenly, "Having been puppeteered by you to this brink of ruin, we brothers had little retort."

"Yet I won't yield," Dao Xuanzi uttered icily.

"Whoever shadows us undetected, privy to our deeds, must wield deep cultivation."

"Such a figure, shunning direct clash, skulking via mortals and stooping to the reviled Immortal-Ordinary Miasma—abhorred by all cultivators—"

Dao Xuanzi inhaled deeply.

"My brother Kou Hong perishing thusly pains me for him."

Dao Xuanzi rose steadily, overlooking the assembly once more. His countenance stayed neutral, devoid of sorrow or mirth.

"You've beheld my brother's Foundation Establishment奇物. Now witness mine."

"Through heaven and earth's marvels, I erected my Tao Foundation," Dao Xuanzi intoned resoundingly.

"My Tao Foundation bears the name: Dao Xuan."

A immense, fractured iron blade materialized over Xuanjing City.

All life in its umbra felt minds grinding like corroded gears, thoughts lagging and dim.

"I wield a sword; behold it all."

The realm flared brilliant, and Xuanjing City's denizens plunged into frozen stasis.

Next, as if fragile panes cracking, the whole city fractured in a flash!

"Return to truth."

The advancement bar plunged, and Li Fan whispered to himself ere awareness dimmed.