Chapter 1410: Three Heads Felled By The Sword (I)

Sweat appeared on Guan Gongxiao's forehead, and he felt somewhat frightened. He hurriedly said, "Daoist Master, we have already exchanged blows. These Master Monks can dissolve my spell arts with Buddhist light and colored radiance. A single illumination is akin to pulling the foundation from beneath a tall building, causing everything to collapse and disperse, forcing one to bow and submit. They are not easy to deal with.

"However, these fellows cannot withstand dharma artifacts. Though their bodies are sturdy, they carry no weapons at hand. They are not overly troublesome when fighting with spells."

Guan Gongxiao naturally knew the strengths and weaknesses of his own Dao lineage. He had likely long understood that the Capital Guard Dao had difficulty dealing with Buddhist cultivators. Now that Li Ximing asked, he spoke very plainly.

"Spell arts are neutralized... I have never heard that Yehui possesses as many spell arts as Changxiao. He merely carries a pair of spirit artifacts that can produce flames and thunder. The Capital Guard Dao... it is commonly said to be a method of ghosts, gods, and mountain spirits. It does not match well against Buddhist methods, so being slightly inferior is normal."

The cultivators of the Capital Immortal Dao were slowly approaching in fear, led by the saber-wielder Gongsun Baifan. When he reached Li Ximing, he bowed and said respectfully, "Greetings, Daoist Master."

Li Ximing glanced at him and asked, "How is the Song Family?"

Mentioning the Song Family inevitably referred to Song Yunbai. She had the highest cultivation among the lord's lovers. Guan Gongxiao's expression dimmed as he answered softly, "Daoist Master, she has already been taken away by a Daoist Master. We do not know his appearance. Judging by his clothing and the clogs on his feet, we estimate that he is a cultivator from the south of Wu State... from Lacquer Marsh."

The Song Family were supporters of the Capital Immortal Dao, yet having a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator taken away without a word was certainly not a good matter. When Fei Qingya of the Fei Family from Moongaze Lake had left, even though she was of little importance, Li Ximing had wished he could throw the entire Fei Family into Huyi Mountain. How much more serious was it when Song Yunbai was one of the Song Family's primary decision-makers?

Moreover, Lacquer Marsh was the greatest marsh in the south. Most cultivators there depended on Mount Changhuai. Only a few Daoist Masters and the Sword Immortal Duoling could be considered rogue cultivators. Most were affiliated with Mount Changhuai, the foremost power of Wu State!

Mount Changhuai is even stronger than the Golden Feather Sect. Geographically, it dominates its corner in peace and calls itself the Changhuai Dao lineage. All under it regard Changhuai as the orthodox tradition. No wonder he feels uneasy.

Li Ximing continued to turn the situation over in his head without concern for the trouble it might bring. As he listened casually, several streaks of light suddenly shot through the sky.

They were led by Kuiqi, the current leader of Great Xiukui Temple[1]. His face was long and his brows slender. He still wore the same black robe, with a black rope dharma artifact tied at his waist, along with the mottled bronze Great Kui Convergence Bronze Sword.

Walking beside him was Tinglan, who had spent many years in seclusion healing her injuries. Her complexion looked good as she frowned while speaking about something. Since the occasion was formal, she was no longer wearing her favored autumn-yellow robe but instead a set of purple garments. She also held the Purple Throne Serene Spirit Pavilion in her hands.

Behind them on one side was Houfu, with a cloth sack tied at his waist. He had grown acquainted with Li Ximing in the outer-sea and nodded in greeting from afar. On the other side was the gentle and graceful Ning Wan, holding the Frosty Absolute Sword.

The four before Li Ximing were the Daoist Masters of the Supreme Yang Dao lineage who walked the lands of Jiangnan. Not counting those who disliked appearing or refused to appear, these alone were already capable of deciding the life and death of more than half of Yue State.

Beside him, Guan Gongxiao had already fallen to his knees and dared not raise his head. The cultivators on either side were also almost all collapsed on the ground. Meanwhile, Chilu had naturally fled long ago.

Li Ximing casually instructed, "Take your people and guard the west. When fighting breaks out in the south and the people on the lake head north, you will also bring your forces and move west."

After speaking, he withdrew his divine ability and rose upon light, taking the initiative to offer a salute. "I truly thank all of you, fellow Daoists!"

The four Daoist Masters returned the salute. Kuiqi was the most open in manner. He extended one hand forward in a gesture of invitation and said loudly, "Zhaojing, you are too polite. Let us go together. We cannot allow the Seven Dharma Forms[2] to linger too long and defile the lands of Jiangbei."

Li Ximing gave his thanks and stepped forward with them. When he saw the Frosty Absolute Sword in Ning Wan's hand, its blade painted with the scene of mysterious snow and the Supreme Yin ascension to the heavens, he sighed inwardly,

Sword cultivators of Jiangnan would probably have no regrets even if they died after merely touching this sword...

Houfu noticed him looking at the Frosty Absolute Sword and simply smiled, "This sword is unique in the world. Only Daoist Master Donghua's Xueli can compare to it. The long saber Blood Fiend Tower that Situ Huo treats like a pillow is nothing but scrap metal next to it. Even Guo Shentong's Arrogant Tidebreaker falls behind by three tiers."

After he finished speaking, Tinglan smiled and said, "You cannot compare them so casually. Look at who those people are..."

The Purple Mansion Realm cultivators advanced on their divine abilities. Kuiqi heard Daoist Master Houfu’s relaxed explanation, yet one hand rested on his sword as he rubbed it slowly and sighed. "They cannot be compared!"

Although Daoist Master Houfu spoke casually as if he were relaxed, Li Ximing still sensed a faint hesitation in Kuiqi. It seemed he was somewhat anxious and worried about something.

After all... they had to face Zhelu and Daisi of the Emptiness Dao. The Great Desire Dao at least had Pi Jia and Nuzi. Though it was unclear how many Buddhist cultivators had been lost in earlier struggles or how many remain now, the Helian Family still has Purple Mansion Realm cultivators in the wings... That was not even counting the Merciful Ones within the Buddhist land.

Although the Merciful Ones were not as strong as Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, groups of three or five were troublesome enough. There might even be two or three among them beneath the Golden Lotus Throne who knew some spell arts and had experience fighting immortal cultivators, which made them even more troublesome.

As he followed the group, he soon saw the radiance of the Buddhist land shining in the sky. Clusters of golden clouds floated above Mount Tangdao as Prime Magnetism flickered.

The mountain itself towered into the clouds with jagged rocks everywhere. Two enormous golden statues stood upon it. One bore countless eyes across its body and looked terrifying. The other had three heads and twelve arms, surrounded by multicolored light. Its eyes shone like stars in the high sky, and its hands were like suspended mountain peaks, wreathed in crimson clouds. Each was truly the size of a mountain.

These two golden bodies were only a little shorter than the highest peak. They treated Tangdao Peak as a high-backed immortal throne and sat firmly before it, one facing west and the other east. Around them sat many Merciful Ones, all bathed in dense colored radiance that made the scene dazzling.

The Daoist Masters were no bigger than ants before these golden bodies. Yet the colored clouds drifting through the sky paused. One of the Merciful Ones lying or standing on both sides immediately rode the wind forward and clasped his hands before them.

𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Daoist Masters, you actually have the leisure to visit our Great Primordial Hidden Radiance Temple!"

Li Ximing recognized the two golden statues with a single glance. One was Zhelu, the sixth-generation abbot of the Buddhist land Emptiness Dao. The other was Pi Jia, the fifth-generation of the Great Desire Dao!

These two Mahas were not strangers. They had been the main forces behind the ambush of Tinglan and Qiuhu[3]. It was Daoist Master Ling Mei of the Sword Gate who had eventually forced them back. If the two of them were personally guarding this place, it only showed that the Emptiness Dao and the Great Desire Dao had clearly decided together that the Great Primordial Hidden Radiance Temple established on this mountain was of utmost importance.

Daoist Master Kuiqi's expression darkened at the sight of two Mahas on the mountain putting on airs and sending only a Merciful One without speaking themselves. He said coldly, "The northern Buddhists have taken Mount Tangdao and turned into such giant forms. Do you intend to cross the mountain and come to White River Stream as well?

"The True Monarch wielded his sword back then and nearly slew the Maha Liangli of the Sea of Desire, forcing him to swear a great oath not to cross the river for three hundred years. Do you now intend to break that oath?"

Li Ximing understood immediately. Pi Jia was different from Zhelu and was not the foremost authority. Behind him stood Liangli, the Maha of the Sea of Desire who presided over the Buddhist land, whose cultivation was likely even higher...

So he had once been struck down by the True Monarch Shangyuan.

Yet Pi Jia remained calm when this matter was mentioned. The twelve hands behind him spread out as his voice rumbled. "Our Liangli of Great Desire Dao once sought guidance from Jade True and benefited greatly. We are very grateful and will naturally not violate the oath. The Emptiness Dao has gone south, so I have come myself to lend a little assistance."

Li Ximing thought,

I have never heard of this matter. Could it be that a Dharma Master of Great Desire Dao once intervened to protect someone?

He hesitated slightly, but the possibility seemed high. After all, True Monarch Shangyuan was a Jade True sword immortal. Those who died at his hands likely died for real. If a Dharma Master had intervened to save someone, it would not be impossible. Once a Dharma Master acted, the impact could easily be suppressed even if someone had witnessed it. Moreover, True Monarch Shangyuan himself was not someone who liked to boast about such matters...

Kuiqi had no interest in arguing further and simply pressed a hand on his sword as he said, "There is nothing to discuss. Mount Tangdao is beyond the Golden Feather Sect's control, but White River Stream belongs to the lands of our Immortal Dao. If you insist on crossing the river, we will settle it today."

At this moment, Zhelu finally spoke. A thousand eyes blinked as his voice echoed faintly. "The Frosty Absolute Sword possesses heaven-shaking power and is truly formidable. It is even more so in Ling Mei's hands. But regarding White River Stream, it cannot be settled without a battle.

"As for you, girl, I fear this is not your true body!"

His words were suddenly directed at Tinglan!

"We of the Buddhist Dao have seen your sect's Migration Command Token!"

If Tinglan were truly a transformation of the Migration Command Token and her injuries had not yet healed, then their side would effectively be down one more person...

The moment those words were spoken, Li Ximing knew the matter could not end peacefully. Yet Tinglan seemed not to hear at all and only smiled as she looked at him. Suddenly heavenly light flashed across the sky, and two more golden bodies appeared in the heavens on both sides.

Daisi and Nuzi!

But it did not end there. Rolling Baleful Qi surged up from the earth as ground flames erupted into the sky. They weaved through the air until they quickly formed into a middle-aged man wearing a pure white feathered robe adorned with glazed ornaments.

The handsome man held a long-handled oar-blade weapon that was entirely black, neither quite a blade nor quite a spear. His snow-white feathered robe fluttered in the wind, his hair loose over his shoulders, and eighteen glazed jewels hung from his waist. He looked up and smiled.

"So this is what the southerners look like. Nothing special!"

Li Ximing needed only a glance to know this man specialized in weapon arts. Beside him, Ning Wan sighed and muttered, "Helian Wumeng."

The sky was filled with imposing Buddhist and majestic demonic presences. Yet the side of the Supreme Yang Dao lineage remained calm. The first few Daoist Masters at least watched, but Houfu simply lowered his head and admired the Baleful Qi beneath his feet.

Strangely, although the figures on the opposite side arrived with great momentum, none charged forward. Only a few Merciful Ones flew up to form a formation to meet the enemy. Perhaps they too were waiting for Ling Mei.

Kuiqi gazed at the golden bodies in the distance and shifted slightly, revealing Ning Wan behind him. The great void suddenly echoed. Ning Wan stood holding the sword in reverence, and a man appeared before her.

The man stood around two meters tall, and his figure was thin yet upright. His robes were black and white, with only a gourd hanging at his waist. His brow bones were full and sharp, his beard and hair neatly tied into a crown. His hands were clasped behind his back, and his calm eyes beneath his brows stared at the golden bodies.

His bearing was not remarkable. If not for the dense radiance of divine ability surrounding him, he would have looked like a village schoolteacher. Yet when he stood before the crowd, the direct disciples of the Supreme Yang lineage all bowed together and said respectfully, "Welcome, Grand Daoist Master!"

1. Also known as Xiukui Dao Gate. ☜

2. Referring to the Seven Daos of Buddhism. ☜

3. Referring to Ning Wan. ☜