"Greetings, Senior Bai Ze," said Qin Yun with a polite bow.

"Bai Ze." The heavily-injured Nine Phoenix, who was trapped in the Misty Rain Array, shouted as she returned to human form.

"Nine Phoenix, you still haven"t changed your temperament after all these years," berated Bai Ze softly. "Qin Yun has huge merit on him. He has done so much for the Three Realms. Do you think that just because he"s an Itinerant Immortal and won"t live for long that you can bully his family? That"s a nasty way of doing things! It"s too embarra.s.sing!"

Nine Phoenix could not help but say, "But Qin Yun is just too…"

"If you only had a few thousand years to live, you would understand how he feels as well," berated Bai Ze.

Nine Phoenix immediately shut up.

Qin Yun was somewhat astonished while watching from the side. Bai Ze was rather considerate towards him.

"Qin Yun," said Bai Ze seriously. "When I learned what Phoenix Voice had to say, I was placed in quite a difficult position. Punishment should observe the principle of proportionality of the offense. I find imprisoning her for a hundred thousand years to be a good idea. It will force her to come to her senses, or she might one day get into bigger trouble.

"As for Nine Phoenix, she is considered a powerful expert in the Three Realms. During the Daoist-Fiend war, she played an extremely important role. The both of you should not do anything that will pain the hearts of the various mighty figures in the Three Realms while letting the fiends cheer you on," said Bai Ze. "It"s best you let her out."

Qin Yun smiled faintly. "Alright, as you wish."

If Bai Ze really wanted to save Nine Phoenix, there was no way he could stop him.

Besides, Nine Phoenix had only taken action because of her junior. Teaching her a stern lesson was already humiliating enough for her! It was sufficient to let all the experts in the Three Realms witness that much.

"Sou!"

The three flying swords flew back and with a wave of his hand, he stored them away.

Dressed in red-robes, Nine Phoenix gave Qin Yun a conflicted look. She had lost terribly. It was a complete beatdown! Just the first six strikes of the so-called Seven Stars Combo had already made her sense death. If the seventh strike was delivered… she could very well be dead!

Facing an expert who could kill her naturally felt different.

"Whoosh." However, her fierce pride prevented Nine Phoenix from saying a word. She took one step and departed.

Bai Ze shook his head slightly when he saw her leave with a prideful stance. He knew her temperament well after all these years.

"Qin Yun, you are likely the strongest Itinerant Immortal in the Three Realms ever since me." Bai Ze looked at Qin Yun smilingly. "I have always been hoping to get an opportunity to meet you. It"s quite a coincidence today, so shall we have a chat?"

"I have always wished to pay you a visit, Senior Bai Ze," said Qin Yun as well. Bai Ze was an expert who hardly ever brought animosity unto himself.

Bai Ze had a very good reputation in the Three Realms.

Most demons were savage and ruthless, but Bai Ze"s temper was one of the best among the perfected Great Dao existences.

…

The mighty figures of the Three Realms had watched the battle between Sword Immortal Qin and Sagedemon Nine Phoenix with great antic.i.p.ation. However, the battle"s outcome left them somewhat dumbfounded.

It was a complete wipe out!

The ancient Sagedemon Nine Phoenix was completely trounced. She had no way of escaping once she was trapped by the Misty Rain Array. The moment the Qingping Sword was drawn, just a few strikes were enough to nearly take her life! Even Bai Ze had to come personally to save her.

"How is this Sword Immortal Qin so strong?"

"To be able to kill Nine Phoenix with a few strikes, his strength is already at the level of a perfected Great Dao, right?"

"Yeah. Although his Misty Rain Array is powerful, it is only capable of trapping Nine Phoenix and could not harm her. However, he was using the Connate Cardinal treasure, the Qingping Sword! With the Qingping Sword in hand, he is already able to release its true strength."

"Back when Senior Burning Lamp was in the pinnacle Golden Immortal realm, he obtained the twenty-four Sea Calming Beads. With it, he was able to release strength at the perfected Great Dao level. Now, Sword Immortal Qin is also able to release the full strength of the Qingping Sword."

"With the use of the Qingping Sword, he is probably invincible under the perfected Great Dao realm."

Mighty figures discussed among themselves in astonishment.

It was just like how Hou Yi"s arrow was able to produce strength that matched the Heavenly Dao realm.

Among pinnacle Great Dao figures… there were some who could produce strength at the perfected Great Dao realm.

For instance, the Three Fairies of Green Touring Palace was said to be able to cast the strongest array among pinnacle Golden Immortals. That array had the strength of the perfected Great Dao level and required the three fairies to do it collectively.

There was also Daoist Burning Lamp. Back when he obtained the twenty-four Sea Calming Beads, he was able to release strength at the perfected Great Dao level. It was all thanks to the Connate Cardinal treasure.

There was Yang Jian as well. Although few people knew of it, when he cast his Divine Eye of Destruction, it was at the strength of a perfected Great Dao. It was a very powerful blow that even Patriarch Blood Sea"s combat body could not withstand. However, the eye was not to be casually used. Similarly, the eye was something external and not a technique he cultivated himself.

With Qin Yun"s cultivation to date, he was finally able to fully express the Qingping Sword"s strength to the perfected Great Dao level as the strongest sword immortal in the Three Realms.

Of course, Qin Yun knew there was more to it than that.

The gap between him and real perfected Great Dao existences remained vast. Those ancient existences were more well-rounded and they had more means. He was only able to produce strength at the perfected Great Dao with the Qingping Sword. This was why Daoist Burning Lamp was willing to sacrifice the twenty-four Sea Calming Beads to transform them into the twenty-four heavens for a breakthrough. Only by being independently strong would one strengthen one"s Essence Soul Dharmic powers, realm, and divine powers. Just relying on weapons made one lack several means.

"Oh? Bai Ze appeared but did not save his disciple, Phoenix Voice?"

"He even allowed Qin Yun to punish her as he wished?"

"Qin Yun did not offer to release her and is still planning on imprisoning her for a hundred thousand years? That sure is some temper."

"Don"t provoke him. Even with Demon Emperor Bai Ze appearing, he still plans on imprisoning her. With this temper, he might do anything if you truly enrage him."

"After all, he only has a few thousand years left to live. A mighty figure that will die soon can naturally do anything."

The mighty figures in the Three Realms were indeed alarmed.

All of them decided not to offend Sword Immortal Qin. Even the disciples under them who were known to act belligerently were warned by these mighty figures.

Qin Yun"s goal had been achieved!

******

By the lake outside Red Fish City, Qin Yun and Bai Ze sat cross-legged on the gra.s.s while facing each other. In front of them was a wooden disk. A bottle of immortal brew and two alcohol cups were placed there.

"You are presently the number one Itinerant Immortal in the Three Realms. You are also the only Itinerant Immortal second to me in all of history," said Bai Ze with a smile. "While watching you take the same path as my previous incarnation, I feel worried for you, but I also wish to see how far you can go.

"This path is very difficult."

Qin Yun nodded. "I don"t even know if the twelfth Itinerant Immortal tribulation is the end."

Bai Ze nodded slightly. "Yes, I do not know if the twelfth is the end either. But I can tell you the might of the twelfth Itinerant Immortal tribulation."

"Thank you, Senior," said Qin Yun gratefully.

"When I transcended the tribulation, many in the Three Realms were watching. I believe you gathered quite a bit of information regarding it," said Bai Ze. "The twelfth Itinerant Immortal tribulation is still the same three tribulations of "Wind, Fire, and Lightning." The Wind and Fire tribulations were extremely powerful. If you can reach the perfected Great Dao realm, I believe pa.s.sing the Wind and Fire tribulations would not be difficult. I"m referring to a personal breakthrough, and not reliance on the Qingping Sword."

"Got it." Qin Yun nodded as he listened attentively.

"The hardest is the Lightning tribulation," said Bai Ze with a frown. "That Lightning tribulation was as though the Heavenly Dao of the entire Three Realms was punis.h.i.+ng me! It wanted me destroyed! Each bolt of Heavenly Lightning seemed to be born for destruction. It wanted to smite me into oblivion. I only managed to survive until the eighth Heavenly Lightning before capitulating. Not only did my body dissipate into nothingness, I was forced into reincarnation. I even hurt my soul"s essence.

"You are different from me."

Bai Ze looked at Qin Yun. "It"s impossible for the Fiend Ancestor to allow you a normal reincarnation. He will definitely attack while you undergo Samsara, completely destroying your soul, leaving only a wisp of True Spirit for reincarnation. And the reincarnation of a True Spirit… would have no memories. You will no longer be yourself."

Qin Yun nodded. "I know. I have no other choice."

"Back then, we were a bunch of Chaos G.o.dfiends. While probing the path of the Itinerant Immortal, there were other options, but you don"t have those," said Bai Ze. "I was the one who went the furthest but failed at the twelfth Itinerant Immortal tribulation. I wish for you to go further, so that I can see the path beyond."

"I also wish to see what lies beyond," said Qin Yun.

If one could live, who would wish to die?

"Are there any tricks to withstanding the Heavenly Lightning?" asked Qin Yun.

"As I said, the Heavenly Lightning was born for destruction, the obliteration of everything. What you need to do is defend against it, all the way to the end!" said Bai Ze.

"It was born for destruction?" Qin Yun fell into deep thought.

"Qin Yun, I have always been curious. Back when Yang Jian and the various heavenly troops from the Heavenly Courts and the Buddhist"s Arhats were prepared to rescue you, you could have brought your family along with you and a bunch of good friends… and left the Great Chang world. And after that, you would have had a carefree and eternal life. You could continue cultivating your sword immortal path in peace," said Bai Ze. "However, you chose to transcend the tribulations to become an Itinerant Immortal. You might even die mere thousands of years from now. Have you ever regretted that decision?"

Qin Yun fell silent for a moment.

"I do wish for an eternal and carefree life to be with my family," said Qin Yun, "but I have never regretted what I did. I saw the billions of lifeforms produced in the Great Chang world and saw countless children running around happily. I felt joy, joy from choosing to transcend the tribulations prematurely. I"m joyful that I protected them."

Bai Ze looked at Qin Yun and muttered, "You do not regret, but feel joyous?"

"For that, let me toast you." Bai Ze raised his wine cup.

Qin Yun also raised his.

The two enjoyed the wine.

"I will keep watching you and see how far you can go." Bai Ze got up and turned to leave. His figure vanished into the plain wilderness.

Qin Yun sat there alone and looked at the wine in front of him.

"How far can I go? I do not know either." Qin Yun drank another cup before getting up to leave.