Chapter 229: Scripture of Infinite Salvation

The surrounding ghostly shadows and corpses all retreated in fear. Not because they were afraid of pure yang qi or the radiant Buddha's light, but because a far more terrifying evil had emerged!

Li Yanchu felt the malicious gaze that seemed to pierce through everything, and suddenly realized that ever since crossing that heaven-spanning great river, he had sensed a terrifyingly evil presence watching him for a brief moment.

Though it lasted only an instant, the overwhelming malice within it had been enough to put him on alert.

But that gaze disappeared too quickly, and he hadn’t been able to trace its source.

Now, the human-faced, tiger-bodied monster, a remnant in this once-Blissful Land of Mount Jinting, erupted with an aura of demonic fury that soared into the heavens.

The sky above darkened, thick clouds churning. It felt... as though the heavens themselves were pressing closer.

“So it was you, hiding in the shadows all this time... watching me! Demonic fiend! Today, I will cut you down!”

Li Yanchu remained completely unfazed by the demonic aura that could stir the heavens.

He moved in a flash, and his Jiaoslayer transformed into golden radiance as it slashed downward!

ROAR—!!

The human-faced, tiger-bodied monster let out a thunderous bellow. The earth trembled, and demonic chants echoed in the air!

In an instant, Li Yanchu’s seven emotions and six desires were stirred, and a chaotic swarm of thoughts tried to invade his mind.

“With a golden whip I scour the world, in golden armor I shine divine might! Exorcize evil!”

Li Yanchu’s voice was divine and resolute, like the lawful decree of Heaven itself!

The demonic chanting from the monster’s mouth was instantly shattered. The creature’s form suddenly swelled, transforming into a terrifying beast over ten zhang tall.

With a deafening roar, it charged straight at Li Yanchu!

Boom! Boom!

The ground shook violently under the monster’s steps, and the entire Daoist temple hall trembled with it. A terrifying aura swept across the realm.

Boom

!

A brilliant divine light erupted, and it looked dazzling and resplendent. Li Yanchu was clad in golden talismanic armor, his eyes icy cold, his fighting spirit surging. He looked like a great Spirit Officer of the Celestial Court descending to slay demons!

The full force of his divine Dao aura was channeled into the Jiaoslayer.

Rumble—!

A flash of radiant saber light swept fort, and that terrifying demonic monstrosity was cleaved clean in two. Its mountain-like body collapsed with a thunderous crash!

The power of the fourfold enhanced Spirit Officer Summoning Talisman was fully unleashed. This was part of the millennia-long war between Daoist disciples and horrifying demons.

And now, a scene from that eternal battle had played out once more, right here in the ruins of this desolate Daoist sanctuary.

Li Yanchu, with an utterly unstoppable presence, suppressed and destroyed the monstrous tiger-bodied, human-faced demon, whose evil qi had reached the heavens.

The heavens and earth were cleansed once again.

A trace of solemnity appeared in Li Yanchu’s eyes. He couldn’t help but wonder:

How fierce must the original battle have been in this once-immortal Daoist stronghold?

Even the residual demons were this powerful...

Back then, in the Blissful Land of Mount Jinting, what kind of horrifying evil had those Daoist elders faced that even Land Immortals had fallen?

A grand immortal Daoist sanctuary, a place on par with the holy lands of ancient empires, had perished without a single survivor or even a trace left behind!

At the very least, this thousand-year battle between righteousness and evil had ended today, with a Daoist disciple slaying the demon.

Li Yanchu's expression was solemn.

He turned toward the heavens and performed a formal Daoist rite, to honor the fallen Daoist sages who came before him.

Rumble

!

A thunderous explosion echoed through the heavens and earth! Countless bolts of lightning streaked across the sky, as if the world itself was about to be destroyed.

One by one, the figures of Daoist sages emerged from various corners of the Blissful Lands and heavenly realms. Their presence was ethereal and transcendent, untouched by the mortal world.

They flew toward the distant horizon.

Among them, one great immortal led the charge, one holding a peachwood sword, handsome and noble, wearing a golden crown. He was the first to meet the overwhelming heavenly lightning head-on!

In that moment, a resounding chant filled the ears of all present, as though the Daoist forefathers were right beside them, reciting scriptures in solemn unison.

“The human path is narrow, the immortal path vast, the ghostly path joyous...”

“Human life begins at birth.”

“The immortal path honors life, the ghostly path honors death.”

“The immortal path brings fortune, the ghostly path brings misfortune.”

“To the high, pure, and clear spirits, let their mournful songs echo through the heavens.”

“May the immortal path be fulfilled; may the human path not fall to ruin...”

“The heavens above are vast and mighty, but our Dao shall prosper evermore!”

One after another, the Daoist sages ascended to the skies, their forms merging with the celestial clouds.

Li Yanchu's spirit was violently shaken.

This was the “Scripture of Infinite Salvation”! Its full name was

The Supreme Cavernous Mystery Spirit Treasure Scripture of Infinite Salvation and Highest Grade.

When one kept pure vows, held ritual fasts, and recited this scripture, it was said to dispel heavenly disasters, bless emperors, ward off poisons and plagues, and deliver salvation to the people, offering protection and guidance to both men and women alike.

At that moment, a majestic and boundless vast surge of destiny and divine merit, like a white rainbow, descended into Li Yanchu's body!

A subtle stir rose in Li Yanchu’s heart.

Now that he was empowered by the Spirit Officer Summoning Talisman, and protected by various talismans and spiritual armor, if any heavenly omen weren’t favorable to him, it would never have descended upon him at all.

At this moment, if someone equally skilled in Qi Sight were to observe his aura, they would certainly perceive something divine and extraordinary.

However, even though the people present were all peerless young elites, none had cultivated the Qi Sight or Heaven’s Eye, so they couldn’t understand what was truly happening.

Xiao Ce finally let out a breath of relief.

Just as he was about to step forward and offer congratulations, the very heaven and earth around them suddenly shifted dramatically!

The next instant—

All of them vanished without a trace, as if they had never existed within this blessed Blissful Land at all.

***

Li Yanchu felt his entire body become weightless, floating as though gravity had ceased to exist. An indescribable comfort spread through his limbs. He focused his mind and looked around, and he now stood above a sea of clouds.

All around him, blood rain poured from the sky, and the world was shrouded in darkness.

Dozens of terrifying figures were locked in battle across the heavens!

The overwhelming pressure of their clash made the earth tremble constantly, and lightning roared without end, like the ancient pools of divine lightning had descended into the mortal realm.

It was terrifying and nightmarish.

Amidst this battlefield, stood a man. He wielded a peachwood sword as he stepped upon earthly flames. He was wrapped in heavenly lightning and bore a wooden talisman upon his crown that drew in spirit qi from the eight directions, creating a swirling vortex of divine aura around him.

It was Immortal Ma!

The moment Li Yanchu laid eyes on him, he recognized him immediately.

Despite being besieged by dozens of fearsome enemies, Immortal Ma remained calm and immovable, his presence alone suppressing all those around him.

“Heaven and Earth without limit, Yin and Yang lend their power. With utmost respect, we summon the Lightning Kings of the Five Directions to manifest in divine glory. Divine soldiers, act with urgency by the mandate of the law!”

A domineering voice rang out, echoing powerfully through the void, shaking the soul.

In an instant, countless bolts of divine lightning came crashing down, illuminating the heavens and earth. Li Yanchu was shocked to find, he couldn’t do anything at all.

No one could see him. It was as if he were just a passerby, an invisible observer.

He could only watch as the immortal and dignified Immortal Ma unleashed divine power, facing off alone against a multitude of terrifying figures.

Is this a remnant memory of that great immortal?

Li Yanchu thought to himself.

He frowned as he stared at the scene before him, feeling stifled and powerless. But his battle spirit surged. He utterly despised those dozens of terrifying, world-condemned figures.

He longed to annihilate them completely.

Rumble

!

Many of those dreadful figures were instantly reduced to ashes by the righteous might of the Five-Lightning Spell.

Li Yanchu saw a blinding white light fill his vision, and then the entire scene vanished.

***

When Li Yanchu opened his eyes again and regained consciousness, he looked around, momentarily bewildered. Everywhere his gaze landed was filled with familiar arrangements.

The room was simple and sparsely furnished; it was his own residence in Qingyun Temple.

“I’m... back?” Li Yanchu’s brow furrowed.

Whether it was the Scripture of Infinite Salvation recited by the shadowy ancestors of Mount Jinting, or the earth-shattering might of Immortal Ma suppressing dozens of demonic entities by himself, all of it had shaken him deeply.

To suddenly return from that apocalyptic, world-rending vision to his own peaceful and slightly worn Daoist temple... He found himself momentarily unable to adjust.

He pushed open the door and stepped outside to take a look, and then he froze in place.

The skies were clear and cloudless, and the time of day was exactly the same as when he had left.