Chapter 1397: Golden Axe (II)

Nuyan was clearly far stronger than Nuxiao. Though the enhanced Heaven-Venerating Gate made his eyelids twitch, he still raised a hand lightly and released a streak of pink light as he shouted, "Come!"

A small kasaya rose into the air at astonishing speed. Riding the descending light of the Buddhist land, it wrapped around Master Baiyin in Nuxiao's hands and gently drew him away. Nuyan's entire body blazed with golden light. He had clearly been prepared to receive the Buddhist radiance and chose this precise moment to act.

Yet the heavenly gate did not descend toward him. The surging heavenly light instead crashed down on Nuxiao, seeking to sever the Buddhist radiance above. Li Ximing himself lunged toward her, completely unconcerned with Master Baiyin.

Tsk!

Seeing that his opponent truly did not care much for Master Baiyin and was instead intent on harming their side, relentlessly pursuing Nuxiao who could not yet receive the radiance, Nuyan felt himself at a disadvantage. He had no choice but to raise his hand to urgently restrain the radiant pass.

If Nuxiao were to be crushed beneath it, she would likely lose her dharma body. Then the lord might think I harmed her on purpose to seize Master Baiyin!

Nuyan sighed inwardly,

He abandoned Wang Xiaoxiao and his entire family to come all the way west just to take this dharma sword. It seems he has sensed something... A pity... This makes things far more troublesome.

He has already gained enough. Master Baiyin is of no use to him. His aim is simply to kill as many of us as possible, and preferably eliminating Nuxiao as well.

The Great Desire and Emptiness Daos had long taken note of Daoist Master Zhaojing! In recent years he had either stayed on the sidelines or remained hidden in the outer sea. Though both paths harbored some desire, they had found no opportunity to act. However, now that he openly stood with the Supreme Yang Dao lineage and cultivated Bright Yang as a Wei's Li, how could they not be tempted?

Thus, the Buddhist cultivators were aware of the Li Family’s investigation into Master Baiyin. Yet they also had their piece in the Wang Family and knew Wang Quwan belonged to Li, so they assumed that it was a diversion. After all, the Wang Family had two individuals carrying threads of fate and possessed several ancient dharma artifacts. How could the two sides compare? Those on the other end had even brought a Buddhist artifact, waiting for Zhaojing to arrive like a rabbit into a snare...

Though the presence of the Supreme Yang Dao lineage made killing him uncertain, grievously injuring him would already be ideal. Thus Zhaojing's arrival here, though not entirely unexpected, was still somewhat disappointing.

This place lies beside the Buddhist land. He would not dare act excessively. Let him withdraw on his own!

Now that Master Baiyin was in his possession, Nuyan was not overly fearful. Fortunately he had arrived quickly. The Heaven-Venerating Gate above him was gradually descending, despite him trying to hold it back. The light of the Buddhist land had stripped sixty to seventy percent of its power, yet it still weighed heavily upon him and left him with a heart full of unwillingness.

Heaven-Venerating Gate combined with Purple Mansion Realm True Fire... Truly unfair!

Fortunately his own methods were extraordinary. His four arms joined together to form a spherical golden shield. Brilliant light surged forth with golden flames, seeking to overturn this divine ability.

Crash!

The Profound Fire of the Three Phases' Guard flooded the area beneath the divine ability and completely suppressed him. Even though Nuyan was adept in fire, he was still scorched until his entire body burned with heat.

Yet, Nuxiao felt a measure of relief instead at the sight.

Without the greatest threats, the Profound Fire of the Three Phases' Guard and the Heaven-Venerating Gate... he is like a tiger with its fangs removed!

The brilliance of the Ruler of Manifested Mountains and Rivers still flickered in the air as Li Ximing sat suspended in space and formed a seal. Layers of Radiant Fire descended from the sky with the light of the sun. Nuxiao glanced at it and found its power indeed far weaker. Yet she did not dare be careless, having suffered losses before. Taking advantage of a moment's respite, she attempted to withdraw from the range of the Ruler of Manifested Mountains and Rivers.

Li Ximing did not let her go and immediately followed on a streak of light. Though she possessed a lotus throne, it was meant to augment herself rather than serve as a flying implement. With the Ruler of Manifested Mountains and Rivers continuing to entangle her, escape was impossible.

Nuxiao gradually felt anger and resentment rise. The slender thousand hands behind her emitted light as she said with a resonant hum, "What do you intend now?!"

Before her words finished echoing through the air, Li Ximing vanished.

Nuxiao immediately braced as if facing a great enemy. Ignoring the Radiant Fire and heavenly light before her, the brilliant light in her mouth was already prepared, while her escape light was fully activated. As expected, the great void flickered and Heavenly Radiance, Hidden Light emerged from within the descending Radiant Fire.

She remained wary on all sides, knowing he intended to repeat the same tactic. Extending two fingers, she activated a spell art to temporarily block Heavenly Radiance, Hidden Light, while the golden glow behind her stayed unwavering, guarding against Li Ximing's possible appearance.

Yet the heavenly light before her quickly faded. There was no one amid the shattered Radiant Fire. Her confusion vanished in an instant as she turned her head toward the east. Suppressed beneath the divine ability and beset by True Fire, Nuyan’s expression suddenly changed.

"Not good!"

Almost in the same instant as his thought, the blazing True Fire before him parted, and the Daoist Master in white and gold finally appeared. His expression was cold. The azure yellow spirit ruler at his side radiated mountain and river patterns that instantly enveloped the area, intensifying the suppressive force of the divine ability already grinding against him until it became difficult to endure.

But what truly drew Nuyan's gaze was his hand.

Li Ximing was holding a golden axe with a meter-long handle. The blade curved like a crescent moon, with embossed beast patterns rising across its heavy brown gold surface, reflecting a terrifying spirit light.

Dense Bright Yang radiance clung to the axe, as though its presence alone could stagger him. A deep fear crept across Nuyan's face as two words surfaced in his mind,

Spirit artifact!

The Brilliant Yang King's Axe in Li Ximing's hand was heavy as mountains and rivers, while the Heaven-Venerating Gate locked him within blazing True Fire. Nuyan was not without his own trump cards, yet his heart felt as though it had plunged into an icy abyss.

A spirit artifact. Where did he obtain a spirit artifact?

𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

He had not feared being trapped because his opponent lacked any decisive means to truly harm him. But now the situation had reversed. With True Fire burning, he could only raise his golden red lips and forcefully spit out a round pearl.

The pearl was smooth and luminous, semi transparent, with countless runes flowing across its surface. Clearly it was a life preserving treasure artifact refined over many years.

At the same time, golden Dao light shone from between his brows and surged into the pearl. His eyes widened in strain; the short distance felt like an eternity as the spirit artifact descended upon him.

Bang!

The pearl treasure artifact took the first impact.

The treasure artifact collided with the long prepared spirit artifact. Dazzling Radiant Light sparked from the point of contact. The divine ability mana Nuyan had infused vanished instantly, and the pearl was struck away at a speed barely visible to the eye.

The Brilliant Yang King's Axe still gleamed with cold brilliance. Though slightly dimmed by the collision, as the treasure artifact flew away trailing Radiant Light, the axe burst forth with even greater Bright Light, seeming to grow stronger.

A vast expanse of gold reflected within Nuyan's pupils.

Clang!

Dense brilliant light intertwined with Bright Yang radiance and surged skyward, climbing along the white gate pillars and across layers of celestial runes like a rising golden current. The divine ability Heaven-Venerating Gate trembled in midair and transformed into a golden cloud stretching to the heavens as grains of sand and stone began to fall from it.

Rustle...

Sand and stones rolled down over Nuxiao's golden body. Bathed in the radiance, her entire face glowed gold, while the Buddhist light above flickered uncertainly. Deep fear rose within her.

A spirit artifact of pure offense! A spirit artifact resonating with Bright Yang!There is no way he obtained this himself... We have been outmaneuvered by the Immortal Dao!