My Wife Turns Out to be an Empress of the Dynasty-Chapter 682 Three Great Paths

682: Three Great Paths

682: Three Great Paths

“Treasure, it’s all mine!”

“Opportunities, they’re mine as well!”

Ding True Man’s eyes were filled with greed as he watched his treasure cauldron plummet toward Gu Lan.

To him, it seemed inevitable that everything before him would soon fall into his grasp.

However, what happened next was beyond anything he could have anticipated.

The moment his cauldron smashed onto Gu Lan’s head, it stopped dead in its tracks, unable to descend even a fraction further.

What had blocked his treasured weapon was nothing more than a basic Five Elements magical shield—one so elementary that even a King Stage cultivator could conjure it with ease.

“This…

How is this possible?!”

Ding True Man was stunned, disbelief written all over his face.

In an instant, he realized that the young scholar before him wasn’t some low-level cultivator.

On the contrary, he was likely another Heaven-Fixing Realm expert, just like himself.

Otherwise, there was no way Gu Lan could have escaped his spiritual perception, leaving his true cultivation level undetected.

“So, you must be the disciple of that esteemed Worldly Realm Envoy,” Ding True Man sneered coldly.

“To have reached the Heaven-Fixing Realm in such a desolate place…

your talent isn’t bad.”

“Too bad this time, you’ve encountered me.

Your fate is sealed!”

Regaining his composure, Ding True Man fixed his icy gaze on Gu Lan.

With a wave of his hand, he retrieved the treasure cauldron.

At this moment, he regarded Gu Lan as a true adversary, and this meant he was ready to get serious.

“Path of Wood!”

Ding True Man formed a complex hand seal, his robe billowing as a strong spiritual aura surged around him.

His expression was solemn, the demeanor of a seasoned expert.

And indeed, he was one.

Having survived countless battles over the years, Ding True Man’s strength was no fluke.

In the Heaven-Fixing Realm, mastering three Great Path Rules was a feat that marked him as a formidable figure across the Star Realms.

“You hold a treasure without matching power!”

“This is the path to your demise!”

With his hand seals complete, a dense and almost tangible aura of wood-element spiritual energy surrounded Ding True Man.

The sheer concentration of this energy was rare, even in places where natural spirit beings were born.

This was a testament to Ding True Man’s extraordinary strength.

Yet, this time, he had chosen the wrong opponent.

In the vast Six Realms, few could rival him.

Even Divine Son Arthur had no choice but to flee when they crossed paths.

As for Zhuge Qingyun, the Worldly Realm Envoy whom Ding True Man respected as a powerful elder, even he could only deliver a single overwhelming strike.

While Zhuge Qingyun could defeat Ding True Man, killing him outright was another matter entirely.

After all, Zhuge Qingyun rarely intervened directly.

Killing a Heaven-Fixing Realm expert was no easier than slaying an ancient deity’s progenitor.

Ding True Man knew he was in for a grueling fight.

Even in this remote Worldly Realm, where Heaven-Fixing Realm cultivators typically wielded less refined Great Path powers, he held nothing back.

“Wood Domain: Earth Imprisonment!”

With a mighty shout, Ding True Man slammed his hand seal into the ground.

Instantly, all the vegetation within the area erupted in wild growth.

Towering ancient trees shot up from the earth, their dense canopies blotting out the sky.

These trees formed an inescapable barrier, enclosing both Gu Lan and Ding True Man.

“Young one, I have mastered the Paths of Wood, Metal, and Space!”

“With the power of three complete Great Path Rules at my command, what can you possibly use to contend with me?”

“This Wood Domain not only embodies the pinnacle of the Wood Rule but also incorporates a trace of the Space Rule.

Until our battle concludes, you won’t be able to escape!”

Standing proudly atop his cauldron, Ding True Man exuded confidence.

In his eyes, victory was already within his grasp.

Even though the young scholar’s cultivation level had exceeded his initial expectations, Ding True Man was certain that, within his Wood Domain, even an opponent of equal realm could not defeat him.

“Is that so?”

Gu Lan’s lips curled into a subtle smile as he observed Ding True Man’s confident demeanor.

Under different circumstances, Gu Lan might have acknowledged the threat Ding True Man posed.

Though Gu Lan’s cultivation had always been higher, the addition of the Space Rule to Ding True Man’s arsenal would have made a decisive victory challenging.

But now, things were different.

Gu Lan had recently mastered all Five Elements Great Paths, elevating his strength to an entirely new level.

Thus, facing Ding True Man brought him no pressure whatsoever.

Still, Gu Lan had no intention of killing him outright.

He needed information about the Six Realms and the other Star Realms.

A living enemy from beyond the realm was far more valuable than a dead one.

Without wasting any more words, Gu Lan raised his hand, summoning the Hongmeng Sword.

The moment the sword materialized, a faint Sword Intent rippled through the air.

Unlike ordinary Sword Intent, this one wasn’t overwhelmingly sharp or forceful.

Yet, it carried an undeniable presence that couldn’t be ignored.

“So, you’re a sword cultivator,” Ding True Man remarked, his expression growing more serious.

“No wonder you’ve remained so composed.”

Though he respected sword cultivators for their strength, Ding True Man wasn’t fazed.

Sword cultivators were known for their dominance within the same realm, but he believed his mastery of the Metal Great Path, with its unparalleled sharpness, was more than a match.

Besides, with three Great Paths under his control, the gap between him and someone who wielded only one was as vast as heaven and earth.

Even so, Ding True Man didn’t underestimate his opponent.

The moment Gu Lan summoned the Hongmeng Sword, Ding True Man struck again.

“Path of Metal: World-Destroying Solar Flare!”

With another hand seal, Ding True Man activated his cauldron.

Golden spiritual energy burst forth, coalescing into a massive, blazing golden sun.

It radiated destructive power as it hurtled toward Gu Lan, seemingly intent on annihilating everything in its path.

The battle between two Heaven-Fixing Realm experts was a spectacle of sheer devastation.

Ding True Man spared no effort, deploying his most devastating techniques.

His strategy was flawless: the Wood Rule to trap and the Metal Rule to kill, a relentless assault that left no room for his opponent to breathe.

As the blazing sun descended, Ding True Man watched intently, curious to see how this so-called prodigy of the Worldly Realm would withstand his might.

“Interesting, but not impressive.”

As the golden sun approached, Gu Lan’s eyes briefly lit up before dimming with disinterest.

While the technique was unique, its power only slightly surpassed that of Divine Son Arthur’s previous attacks.

To Gu Lan, it was underwhelming.

Still, if the strength of these external Star Realm cultivators was only at this level, it boded well for the future.

With that thought, Gu Lan’s mood brightened.

Without further delay, he lifted the Hongmeng Sword.

“Temporal Art: Instant!”

The world seemed to pause.

A single beam of sword light appeared, as if birthed from the very fabric of the universe.

Under Ding True Man’s horrified gaze, that sword light effortlessly sliced through his golden sun.