Chapter 1425: Wujiang (II)

However, before a divine ability could even appear, the layered temples scattered across the mountain like thick moss trembled violently. Sand and stone burst out, gray winds roared, and the structures collapsed with thunderous force.

A bright white Heavenly Gate descended from above, but unfortunately, the four Merciful Ones were not seated together. The blazing divine ability suppressed two golden bodies that had just risen.

The remaining two stared in shock and one cried out, "The Heaven-Venerating Gate!"

Another who looked like an ordinary man did not panic but instead grew furious and shouted, "You wretched brute, how dare you?!"

Before they could react further, thick dark green smoke surged up from the mountain. It appeared especially dense under the Radiant Light. Daoist Master Luo stepped into the air wearing his thousand eyed devil robe, a sharp dharma artifact in his hand, and grinned with sinister delight. "Bald monks!"

He raised his hand lightly and tossed out a flask that glittered with light. Pale white droplets spilled from it and struck downward, dispersing the smoke and suppressing the spirit wind. Flickering lights faded while black qi surged forth, entangling the two golden bodies.

He behaved exactly like a devil cultivator when he fought. Black qi rolled everywhere and even made Li Ximing’s expression darken. Yet the devil showed no restraint. The flask did not appear overwhelmingly powerful and could not hold the enemy for long. After briefly restraining the two opponents, he lowered one hand and yanked downward.

Two streams of emerald light immediately surged from the mist. One was light and clear like the wind, floating several meters above the ground, while the other was heavy and turbid like earth, gliding close along the ground.

Daoist Master Luo stepped forward, causing the mountain itself to tremble, and laughed. "Rise!"

The emerald light on the ground burrowed into the earth. Lines of green waves surged up through the sand and soil, stretching and spreading until the entire area transformed into a shimmering emerald sea.

The golden bodies of the Merciful Ones trembled and even emitted a clattering sound, as if their minds had been shaken. Their expressions turned ugly, and it was clear they would not break free for the moment.

Both of them had fought Merciful Ones before. These Buddhist cultivators relied on limited methods and feared mystical techniques above all. Once suppressed from the beginning, they rarely found a chance to recover.

Yet when Daoist Master Luo made his move, Li Ximing could not help cursing inwardly,

What kind of technique is this? Last time he acted he clearly held back all the way to the Eastern Sea. Only now that real interests are involved does he start using real strength.

Though he cursed inwardly, his movements did not slow in the slightest. He might only have a few reliable techniques, but they were lethally effective on Buddhist cultivators. Flames spilled casually from his mouth as he activated his divine ability.

Yet when Li Ximing looked carefully, the Buddhist cultivators below appeared startled and disordered but not truly frightened. They even seemed strangely steady. They exerted all their strength to defend with their golden bodies, and their eyes and words carried more hatred and malice than fear.

The unease in his heart slowly grew. After a brief hesitation, he drew the Ruler of Manifested Mountains and Rivers and stepped into the flames.

Li Ximing’s suppression here posed no problem since the opponent beneath him was mediocre in strength. But as Daoist Master Luo used his mystical technique to trap the other two, the face of the one who looked like an ordinary man yet held the highest rank suddenly changed as he drew in a sharp breath.

The treasure belly he held with one hand inflated like a balloon. In an instant it grew to the size of a house and broke free from the emerald sea on the ground. It expanded twice more in a single breath. A brilliant light swelled from the center of the jade white belly, and two naked arhats suddenly leaped out.

The arhats were imposing figures, their bodies powerful and well defined. One held a staff while the other wielded a sword. Black beads rolled around their necks as they rose on dazzling brilliant light and lunged toward Daoist Master Luo.

"Compassion Dao!" Daoist Master Luo’s expression immediately darkened. He flicked his sleeves and waves of dark green black qi surged inward along his robe as he shouted, "Go!"

The two streams of dark green black qi instantly wrapped around the two arhats and hoisted them into the air. Yet their treasure light burned fiercely, causing the black qi to sizzle. Worse still, after the two arhats emerged, the Buddhist cultivator holding the treasure belly saw the swollen belly shrink rapidly, though it remained the size of a person. Riding the wind upward, he rubbed the jade like he would his own belly.

The skin bulged and suddenly opened into two eyes and a mouth. The two eyes glowed purple and emitted blinding rays of light. Majestic and fierce, they shone with the power to subdue demons and eradicate devils, burning directly toward the devil cultivator.

Daoist Master Luo was no ordinary figure. His robe fluttered and the countless eyes upon it all released a dazzling golden radiance that scattered the brilliant light. The devil cultivator’s face turned fierce as he shouted, "Compassion Dao again. This spirit robe of mine was forged precisely to counter Compassion!"

The favorable situation did not last long. After only a few exchanges, the Merciful One under the Enlightened Wisdom Seat on the ground had already freed himself, dispersing the white water and rising into the air on the wind.

"Devil!"

Daoist Master Luo possessed two divine abilities and felt no fear. Instead he secretly rejoiced inwardly,

If I stall them here, can they injure me or kill me? Meanwhile, how could you possibly stall Li Ximing over there?

Their actions were undoubtedly correct. Li Ximing’s divine abilities might not have been overwhelmingly superior, but his ability to cut off the Buddhist land was clearly more effective. The devil cultivator and the Buddhist cultivator fought for a time, golden light rippling, green-gray qi scattering, and the devil robe swaying in the wind.

The sky gradually darkened as they battled. But just as the fight began to grow heated and had not yet reached its peak, the sound of shattering crystal rang out.

Boom!

Pink radiance surged within the Bright Yang light and a rain of petals fell from the sky. The heavens darkened rapidly. Within the blazing True Fire, Li Ximing drew back his axe. He had already forced one of them to the brink of death.

Dealing with two opponents was naturally not as easy as during the great victory at Mount Tangdao. After all, he had no Boundless Water-Fire. Still, Li Ximing killed one first. Endless pink light erupted outward and shook the Heaven-Venerating Gate.

The other had clearly been waiting for this moment. Raising his four arms, he used the shock from his companion’s death to push upward and shake the heavenly gate. The golden face twisted fiercely and his lips moved faintly.

Devil, prepare to die!

Buddhist cultivators could indeed be reborn, yet losing a dharma body was always a tremendous loss. The more fearless the opponent appeared, the more uneasy Li Ximing grew. Still, he could not allow him to escape. Forming a seal with one hand, four long ribbons of bright white light appeared and wrapped tightly around the golden body, binding it in place.

Bright Light Heavenly Surge.

Light flared from the center of his brows as Heavenly Radiance, Hidden Light locked onto its target.

Yet before the radiant heavenly light could be released, a sudden chill rose in his heart, like a thorn pressed against his back. He decisively interrupted Heavenly Radiance, Hidden Light and sat cross legged in midair. His figure vanished, reappearing seated directly upon the heavenly gate.

A deep hum rang out. As the man in the white golden Daoist robe seated himself from the void, waves of heavenly light spread outward. They swept through the layers of clouds, bringing a gleam of brightness to the darkened sky and faintly stirring something hidden above, producing a subtle sound.

He had clearly missed the perfect moment by sitting down like this. In fact, he had nearly allowed the opponent to escape. Fortunately the enemy was not especially formidable. The Ruler of Manifested Mountains and Rivers had stymied him for a moment and Bright Light Heavenly Surge tightened until it burst outward, imprisoning him. Li Ximing’s divine ability was operating at full force as it barely managed to suppress the man beneath the gate so he could not move.

Yet Li Ximing was not paying the slightest attention to his prisoner as he sat cross legged. Taking a deep breath, he shifted his divine ability and drew True Fire back into his body. He quietly looked up at the dark clouds above until his pupils widened slightly.

A man was standing with his hands clasped behind his back within the gloomy clouds. He possessed striking features and appeared to be in his thirties or forties. His high nose and deep-set eyes gave him the look of someone from Mobei, and his expression was stern and cold.

The man wore black and silver armor with a robe fluttering in the wind. At his waist hung three weapons, a long sword, a short saber, and a dharma whip. They were arranged neatly and each one emitted a faint, shimmering glow.

Faint traces of retreating light from a divine ability that had not yet fully dispersed still hovered around him. It was obvious he had only just arrived.

What truly left Li Ximing silent was the other man’s cultivation. He thought to himself,

Mid-stage Purple Mansion Realm. This is a cultivator!

The middle-aged man showed no urgency as he calmly met Li Ximing’s gaze. He seemed unconcerned about the Merciful One beneath the heavenly gate and simply stared at Li Ximing before saying slowly in a deep voice, "Helian Wujiang of Tiefo State greets Fellow Daoist."

His voice echoed across the night sky again and again. Daoist Master Luo turned pale with shock; the two Merciful Ones grew overjoyed; and even the Master Monks among the ruins below burst into jubilation, bowing in reverence.

The Helian Family!

A chill spread through Li Ximing’s heart as the name flashed through his mind, followed immediately by another thought,

Mid-stage Purple Mansion Realm. This cannot possibly be a newly advanced Purple Mansion Realm cultivator from the Helian Family. It is almost certainly the pillar that has supported them for years. They actually sent him out!

What does this mean?

Everyone knew that the Tiefo’s Helian Family was not an insignificant family. Their misfortune lay in their geography. They had once produced a genius named Helian Fan, but he had been surrounded and slain. They had remained trapped in hardship for nearly a hundred years afterward as they produced no talents of note. Only in recent years had a younger generation finally broken through, giving the family a chance to breathe.

Even a cultivator from as far away as Jiangnan like Li Ximing knew how hard the Helian Family had struggled to survive, surrounded on all sides by predators. That alone showed how difficult their situation had been in recent decades. If sending Helian Wumeng south meant the family had finally gained breathing room and was ready to expand and seek gains in the south, the appearance of Helian Wujiang changed the entire matter completely...

If the Helian Family has sent two Purple Mansion Realm cultivators south without concern, someone must have stabilized the situation in Mobei. What does that mean? Had the Compassion Dao acted as a mediator?

The Helian Family occupied the Hetao region and even ruled a state of their own called Tiefo. They faced the frontier of Zhao State near the west of Longdi and had long acknowledged Zhao as their overlord. Meanwhile the Murong Family of the Compassion Dao lay far away in Yan State. One stood in the west and the other in the east. The distance between them was immense!

It was not that the Compassion Dao lacked the strength to mediate. The real problem was that this region lay outside its sphere of influence, so there was no need for such trouble. Moreover, judging from the situation, the man had only just arrived. Why would the timing be so coincidental?

Kuiqi’s plan must have succeeded in some way. Otherwise he would not have just arrived. He would have been lying in wait long ago. These Buddhist cultivators would not have seemed so unprepared either. They would have feigned carelessness while secretly preparing their formation...

Even a minor place like Timber Mountain had drawn Helian Wujiang. Then who commanded the forces across the vast Lower Luo Plains? And what of Mount Xiaoshi, which guarded the rear of Mount Tangdao as a flanking gateway?

Is this truly just a simple southern advance by Buddhist cultivators?

The thought sent a chill through his entire body. Yet the situation allowed no time for deeper reflection. The man before him already had a hand at his waist. He lowered his head slightly, his deep eyes still fixed on Li Ximing.

"By order of the National Preceptor, I came south to guard Timber Mountain. I traveled day and night so as not to delay the command. However, I did not expect to encounter a descendant of the imperial line here. My apologies."

Helian Wujiang spoke of offense, yet his expression remained unchanged. His pale hand brushed slowly across the sword, the short saber, and the whip at his waist before finally grasping the spirit artifact whip and snapping it loose into his hand.

Boom!

Blinding lightning flashed and a torrential rain fell from the sky. A chill ran down Li Ximing’s spine. As the man raised his hand, he could faintly see layers of dark shadows weaving through the rain, appearing near and far.

Light burst from between his brows, yet it circled once among those serpent-like shadows before breaking apart into drifting fragments of gold. Li Ximing’s eyes suddenly shone as layers of Supreme Yang Radiant Light appeared before him, forming barrier after barrier that glimmered in the rain.

Bang!

The yellow-green radiance of the Ruler of Manifested Mountains and Rivers rippled through the air as it descended from above like waves of water. With a thunderous blast, the Supreme Yang Radiant Light exploded into bright white sparks, instantly evaporating all the rain within the surrounding area.

Boom!

Thunder rolled again as light and darkness intertwined. Through the rain, Li Ximing heard the man’s firm voice echo, "Heavenly Radiance, Hidden Light. A technique of the Cui Family."