Cultivating with Top Enlightenment Chapter 643 - 288: Two Patriarchs (Part 4)

This old ox appeared to be simple and honest, but in reality, he possessed a profound understanding of human nature.

His explanation clarified why he had remained passive even when the Feather Transformation Upper Sect dispatched an Integration Realm titan to wipe out the Infinite Sword Sect.

Consequently, Ning Qi remarked:

"Brother Niu, you are aware that I do not enter battles without preparation. Since I have decided to strike, I naturally have a strategy in place."

Ning Qi then ushered the demons into the great hall.

Niu Dingtian spoke up:

"Still, I felt quite ashamed that my Niu Mo Upper Sect did not come to your aid when the Infinite Sword Sect was in jeopardy."

Ning Qi dismissed the concern with a casual wave of his hand.

"Brother Niu, there is no need for such words. When the Beixuan Upper Sect’s Integration Realm ancestor threatened us previously, I was merely at the Void Path Realm. Your personal arrival back then demonstrated great sincerity."

"I have recently managed to break through to the Integration Realm and feel quite capable of handling the people from the Feather Transformation Upper Sect on my own, which is why I did not seek your help, Brother Niu."

"Furthermore, had I been unable to hold my ground, I would have certainly sent a messenger to request your assistance."

Hearing those words, Niu Dingtian felt his heart ease slightly.

It was true that he had been somewhat negligent, but he never anticipated that Ning Qi would reach the Integration Realm with such speed. Had he known, he would not have entered a meditative seclusion.

Niu Dingtian realized clearly that Ning Qi was a figure who could not be underestimated. If he failed to support him before his ultimate rise, he might find himself only able to look up at him from afar in the future.

Luckily, Ning Qi held no grudge.

Naturally, Ning Qi did not mind at all.

In truth, he had only sent the Sword Ancestor to the Niu Mo Upper Sect to seek aid as a way to pacify the elders of the Infinite Sword Sect who lived in fear of the Beixuan Upper Sect.

During that time, Ning Qi had secretly departed, assuming the identity of Master Zhanxuan to single-handedly destroy the Beixuan Upper Sect.

If he hadn't feared the Integration Realm back then, why would he fear it now?

Nevertheless, the current alliance between the two sects served both parties well.

The others within the Infinite Sword Sect were unaware of the true extent of Ning Qi’s power; having powerful allies helped bolster the confidence of the disciples.

It ensured they wouldn't live in constant dread of vengeance from the Feather Transformation Upper Sect.

Before long, Ning Qi finished attending to his demonic guests.

Niu Dingtian looked at Ning Qi, appearing as though he wanted to say something but held back.

"Brother Niu, if there is something on your mind, please speak freely," Ning Qi said with an open manner.

Niu Dingtian rubbed the back of his head, looking somewhat bashful as he spoke:

"Now that Brother Ning has reached the Integration Realm, I wish to spar with you. I am curious to see how the Qiu Niu Divine Form manifests under the power of the Integration Realm. I wonder if you, Brother..."

Ning Qi replied without hesitation, "Then let us have a duel."

Thus, the two figures reappeared upon the plaza situated among the central peaks.

Word of a battle between two Integration Realm experts quickly rippled through the Infinite Sword Sect, drawing a massive crowd of observers.

Only a handful of people had witnessed their previous encounter, but now their Sect Leader was going up against Niu Dingtian, who stood at the peak of Unity Realm Perfection. Who would want to miss such a sight?

Numerous figures descended upon the plaza, silently finding their places to watch.

Without wasting words, Niu Dingtian and Ning Qi attacked simultaneously.

As he had done before, Niu Dingtian compressed his massive frame to match Ning Qi’s size.

Both human and demon unleashed the Qiu Niu Divine Form, their bodies radiating rule-based divine shadows that coalesced into the image of the Qiu Niu.

The two spectral Qiu Niu forms tore through the air and smashed into one another.

Moo!

The roar of the ox resonated through the heavens, yet the sound was not jarring.

Within that cry, the audience could hear various musical notes blending into a single, mystical harmony.

According to legend, the Qiu Niu was a lover of music, much like a god of melody; many ancient lutes were carved in its likeness.

The two continued their fierce exchange in the sky. Every strike was a physical blow, yet the sounds produced were melodic and pleasing, leaving the observers with the feeling that they were witnessing something beyond their comprehension.

It was natural that they did not understand.

For both the human and the demon, the Qiu Niu Divine Form was not merely the shape of a divine beast, but the music of that beast.

Each collision was more than just flesh hitting flesh; it was a clash of fundamental rules. They infused sound waves into every strike to batter their opponent’s spirit during the assault.

Anyone who failed to grasp this would be pierced by sound waves saturated with rule-based divine power, causing their consciousness to spiral into chaos—emotions like anxiety, impulsiveness, rage, and terror were all woven into the sound.

Their rule-infused melodies could also dismantle an opponent's internal rules; the longer the battle lasted, the more precarious the situation became.

After decades of secluded Cultivation, both had made significant progress.

Niu Dingtian’s Qiu Niu no longer seemed as clumsy as it had in the past; it was more fluid, as if he had truly become the divine beast itself.

After countless exchanges, Niu Dingtian was suddenly sent crashing into the plaza, leaving a massive crater in the ground.

The crowd was momentarily paralyzed with shock.

Niu Dingtian hauled himself out of the pit, panting heavily, and looked up at Ning Qi, who remained suspended in the air with an effortless grace.

Despite exerting his full strength this time, he was still unable to overcome Ning Qi and had been knocked from the sky.

Niu Dingtian sensed that if Ning Qi hadn't been holding back, he might have been defeated within a mere twenty rounds.

At this moment, his limbs felt heavy and his strength was spent; he couldn't even summon his rules.

Of course, Niu Dingtian knew this was only temporary, as Ning Qi had not been malicious in his strikes.

Niu Dingtian stared intently at the Qiu Niu Divine Form Ning Qi was displaying, his eyes as wide as bronze bells.

Last time, Ning Qi had used his Void Path Realm cultivation to project the form into the air to fight. This time, he was using his actual physical body to manifest the Qiu Niu Divine Form.

As Niu Dingtian silently analyzed Ning Qi’s technique, he was stunned to realize that even though he had learned the form from Ning Qi, the latter's execution was far more flawless than his own.

Niu Dingtian felt as though Ning Qi’s Qiu Niu possessed additional layers and divine meanings.

It was as if they were both monkeys; while some focused solely on being a monkey—which was hard enough—others used that same body to master the seventy-two transformations.

Niu Dingtian was the former, whereas Ning Qi was the divine monkey who had mastered all the transformations.

Silence hung over the spectators.

Everyone present finally grasped the reality of the situation.

Niu Dingtian, at the peak of Unity Realm Perfection, had been defeated by their Sect Leader.

And judging by the look on his face, the demon seemed to have lost with a sense of total admiration!