Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 3122: Solemn Sentinel

Lin Mu’s gaze sharpened instantly. His heart recognized what his mind already knew.

"A Peak Grade Immortal Sword..." he whispered.

Afternoon Pine and Ocean Raker trembled faintly in his hands, not in fear, but in recognition of a greater elder. The blade’s presence was domineering, steady, and unyielding, as though it had stood guard over countless centuries.

Grand Elder Huo lifted the weapon with reverence, his lips curving into a fierce smile. His voice carried with it the affection of a warrior to a lifelong partner.

"My sword has not seen a proper battle in far too long," he said, his tone both proud and wistful. "But you, Lin Mu, have finally given it the chance."

He raised the weapon high, the silver edge gleaming like the dawn after a storm.

"Please meet—Solemn Sentinel."

The sword’s name echoed like a vow. The heavens themselves seemed to bow in acknowledgment of the blade’s might.

Daoist Chu’s breath caught in his throat, while Meng Bai’s eyes widened in awe. Even Little Shrubby and the twin snakes hissed, their instincts recognizing the sheer pressure of a weapon that had walked through rivers of blood and emerged unbroken.

Daoist Chu gulped with difficulty, his voice unusually subdued. "That... that is not a sword for show. That sword was born to guard and to destroy."

Lin Mu’s pulse quickened. His fighting spirit ignited further, blazing brighter than before. Afternoon Pine and Ocean Raker resonated with his will, their intent surging to answer the challenge.

Grand Elder Huo leveled Solemn Sentinel toward him, the silver blade steady, unshakable, like a mountain that could not be moved.

"Come, Lin Mu!" he bellowed, voice reverberating across the plains. "Let our Daos clash, let our steel sing, and let us see whose path shines brighter beneath the heavens!"

The silence that had once blanketed the Ash Fall Basin was no more.

The storm had begun.

RUMBLE

The clash of steel against steel resounded like thunder rolling across the heavens.

CLANG CLANG CLANG

Lin Mu and Grand Elder Huo exchanged blow after blow, their strikes fierce and relentless. Sword Intent poured from their every movement, so sharp that even the air itself was carved apart. Each clash gouged meter-deep gullies into the hardened lava ground, the terrain transforming beneath their feet with every passing instant.

The ashen plains that had lain silent for centuries were now a battlefield of titans, torn and reshaped by pure will and steel.

Daoist Chu and Meng Bai, standing at a supposed safe distance, quickly realized that no distance was safe. A particularly vicious shockwave tore through the ground, sending shards of molten rock unearthed from the depths, flying toward them.

Daoist Chu flicked his sleeve, conjuring a barrier of flowing Qi that intercepted the debris.

"Stay behind me," he instructed firmly, his tone betraying no room for argument.

The sheer force radiating from the duel was unlike anything Meng Bai had ever witnessed. His heart pounded in awe and trepidation.

Another shockwave burst forth, shaking the sky itself.

Daoist Chu frowned and turned to Meng Bai. "We should retreat further back. At this rate, even their aftershocks will tear us apart."

Meng Bai nodded quickly, and the two prepared to move with the beasts. But just as they began their retreat, Meng Bai’s sharp eyes caught movement in the distance.

"Wait," he murmured, pointing toward the horizon.

Two dark specks raced across the barren plain, growing larger with each passing moment.

Within breaths, the figures resolved into familiar forms. The first was slender but broad-shouldered, his dark furred body radiating power and his golden eyes gleaming with predatory sharpness: Elyon, the Dark Wolfkin.

The second was a tall striking figure with tanned skin and corded muscles, moving with effortless grace despite her sheer size. Her dark hair was tied back in a utilitarian braid, and her every step cracked the ground beneath her feet: Cattaleya.

The two landed heavily nearby, the ground trembling under their arrival.

Cattaleya clicked her tongue in annoyance, her fierce eyes narrowing as she crossed her arms. "Tch. They already started without us."

Elyon gave a low chuckle, his tail swishing behind him. "Seems we were a bit late."

Meng Bai shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips despite the storm raging before them. "Not that late. They have only just warmed up."

At that, both Elyon and Cattaleya turned their gazes toward the duel, their expressions sharpening as they watched earnestly. Warriors of their caliber needed no invitation, the clash unfolding before them was a lesson, a revelation, and an inspiration all at once.

On the battlefield, Lin Mu’s swords whirled in a storm of golden and blue light, each strike unyielding and precise. His body blurred between movements, flicker and blink being used nonstop; one moment weaving sword arcs, the next lashing out with a fist that carried the weight of mountains.

Grand Elder Huo met every strike with growing fervor, Solemn Sentinel roaring with each swing. His one eye gleamed with fire, and his movements grew heavier, faster, sharper. Each attack pressed closer and closer until even Lin Mu, with all his speed and power, began to feel the pressure.

One strike slipped past Lin Mu’s guard, crashing against his shoulder. The force would have shattered the bones of any other cultivator, but Lin Mu’s Burdenless Dominator Physique held firm.

He staggered back a single step, then steadied himself, a smile spreading across his face. "Good. Very good. I can feel it now. My Qi cultivation has finally adjusted."

With a thought, he summoned the Longgui Bulwark Armor.

From his flesh and bones erupted a searing hot energy that condensed into a shell of stone and magma. Rocky plates etched with glowing veins of lava interlocking to form a battle armor of earthly power. The ground quaked as his presence surged even higher.

Grand Elder Huo’s eye lit with approval, but he pressed harder still.

He swung Solemn Sentinel in a wide arc, a gleaming slash of silver light so vast it threatened to cleave the very sky.