Chapter 1427: Cloud Smoke Finally Rises (II)

Helian Wujiang's expression turned cold at once. He released the long sword that had shot skyward without hesitation, allowing the endless Baleful Qi to disperse. The Non-Empty Tribulation divine ability no longer held the heavenly gate up. Instead he focused completely, his eyes locked firmly on Li Ximing.

At that instant, a smile appeared on the man's handsome face. His lips split apart to the roots of his ears, forming a massive blood-filled maw. The flesh connecting it stretched into thin membranes as he lunged forward with lightning speed, casting a thick shadow.

He intended to swallow Li Ximing in a single bite!

Every step of weakness was meant to lure you closer!

The instant that eye locked onto him, Li Ximing's mind cleared and the mental suppression was dispelled. Yet the golden light binding his body was far harder to break. He could only urgently activate his divine ability with all his strength!

Fortunately he had awakened quickly enough. The golden light bound him only for a brief instant. Radiant Light had already ignited within his eyes, allowing him to move slightly.

Flame-Stepping Movement.

Bang!

A chain of Radiant Fire burst from his entire body. All the Bright Yang heavenly light gathered inward and transformed into waves of crimson Radiant Fire that drifted like smoke.

This Radiant Fire footwork technique was not weak. Facing such danger, Li Ximing squeezed out every drop of potential within his body, turning himself into Radiant Fire in a single instant. Yet the opponent was simply too close. The massive maw snapped back, and a burst of heavenly light erupted!

The Radiant Fire scattered and then gathered again, forming Li Ximing's figure once more as he surged forward yet again. The Daoist Master in the white golden robe had lost the upper half of his face. Dense rows of tooth marks appeared across the bridge of his nose as if some demonic creature had bitten it away.

Half of both ears were gone as well as golden blood streamed out. The front of his head was higher than the back. If viewed from above, one could even see the throat swallowing continuously. Yet he still moved forward.

The head before them retained only intact lips and teeth, yet he was still chanting. A round disk treasure engraved with runes in all eight directions dropped from his hand. It pulsed like breathing and shone with dazzling golden light.

Surging Yang Star Command Treasure Disk!

The disk's dense spell inscriptions layered upon one another and turned pure white. A single point of golden light drifted out and fixed the longsword in his hand in place. Immediately afterward, the world darkened, as though a clear heavenly light had opened above, scattering a field of golden-white radiance.

It was the killing light of Bright Yang!

Li Ximing had been lured in by Helian Wujiang, yet the latter was now also within the range of the Surging Yang Star Command Treasure Disk. Moreover, he was even closer than Chilu had been back then!

The Heaven-Venerating Gate in the sky had lost control and was sinking into the heavy black qi, suppressing Non-Empty Tribulation. Meanwhile, the Bright Light Heavenly Surge rose from both sides and entangled Helian Wujiang's dharma body.

More fatally, light flickered within Helian Wujiang's abdomen. Gouts of Bright Yang radiance kept appearing and fading in resonance with the outside world, yet he had no time to suppress it before the killing light of Bright Yang had already shone down.

Buzz...

A burst of radiance erupted in the sky, while Baleful Qi fell like rain. Bright Light gleamed upon Daoist Master Luo as he singlehandedly held back three Merciful Ones. Though somewhat disheveled, he could not help raising his head. His heart trembled slightly, and he could not help feeling a trace of envy,

As expected of the Surging Yang Star Command Treasure Disk... what a fine treasure...

Holding him back this long should already be enough. Still, even with the Surging Yang Star Command Treasure Disk, Li Ximing can at most wound Helian Wujiang. The Helian Family possesses a true devil cultivator Dao lineage. How could he possibly be easy to deal with?

Daoist Luo himself cultivated methods of the Devil Dao. Although Jiangnan called him a devil cultivator, in truth he still followed the Purple Mansion and Golden Core Daos. Thus, he both feared and coveted Helian Wujiang's Dao lineage, and he understood its dangers well.

He has the treasure disk to escape easily. Someone like me with no backing should start planning ahead!

His expression changed and his attacks became increasingly ruthless, as if he were about to fight for his life, causing the three Merciful Ones to grow wary. Yet the Bright Yang light above gradually faded and Baleful Qi filled the sky as the northern cultivator finally regained his footing.

Helian Wujiang possessed long arms and a narrow waist, with an exceptionally handsome face. Black qi coiled across his armor. A horizontal slit more than two centimeters long had opened across his chest, revealing a cold pupil within, while the surrounding Baleful Qi billowed with his movements.

Body Divine Ability!

The surging Baleful Qi divine ability merged with colored light and flickered across his body. Yet a fist-sized hollow had appeared in his abdomen, shining with white light. Flesh mixed with Baleful Qi wriggled around it, slowly forcing the wound to shrink.

Helian Wujiang's face had already returned to normal, regaining its original handsome appearance. A hint of surprise crossed his expression, and he even froze briefly,

What formidable resolve. He truly is an imperial descendant, someone who broke through the barrier in just over a decade!

His divine ability was a lethal technique against enemies. Once it entered the abdomen, Non-Empty Tribulation outside could immediately sink into it and respond to enemies in various ways. Even now, he was not discouraged.

There are still ways to fight... At least he is an imperial descendant, so defeating him will not disgrace the Helian Family. Still, failing to take his life will make it difficult to report back to the National Preceptor.

Not far away, the man in the white golden Daoist robe stood in the air. The flesh on his face was also reforming. Flames emerged from his lips as they opened and closed slightly, giving him the solemn bearing of a divine statue.

Li Ximing was calm and cold as he evaluated the battlefield. Though his injuries looked terrifying, he had merely lost part of his body. For a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator whose body held no fatal vital points, this was nothing serious.

This is the true strength of a mid-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivator fighting at full strength. This is not like Yehui who dragged things out and refused to fight seriously.

Flames spilled from his lips as his body held the golden disk reversed in his hand, releasing profound halos of light. Four bright stars trembled beside him as heavenly light poured down, confronting the Baleful Qi on the other side.

Helian Wujiang merged Baleful Qi into his dharma body as Bright Yang light continuously erupted from his injury. Holding a sword in one hand and a whip in the other, battle intent gleamed in his eyes as he laughed, "Again!"

No one knew what devil technique he cultivated, but his Body Divine Ability was especially strange. It rolled like clouds and constantly interacted with Baleful Qi. His wounds suppressed themselves rapidly as Baleful Qi poured from his body and merged with Non-Empty Tribulation, gradually covering the entire sky until only his pale red pupils remained visible.

"My Helian house has ruled a nation for many years and yet we are only called a royal clan. Today I come by command and may offend you, but I wish to witness the might of an imperial descendant!"

His voice rolled across the sky, yet there was no reply. Only the bright heavenly gate stood within the sea of Baleful Qi, its complex patterns shining downward like the sole light within a dark ocean.

————

Mount Xiaoshi.

Gray winds roared and heavy rain came down in a torrential downpour.

Mount Xiaoshi stood across a narrow path from where the Buddhist cultivators were stationed. It was the closest defensible location, and the Buddhist forces there were the strongest. It had also been the first battlefield, and now it lay in complete chaos.

Purple qi drifted across the mountain as a Purple Essence spirit treasure pavilion hovered in the air, radiating waves of light that stood out vividly in the rain. Layers of luminous curtains descended like drifting silk.

"Tinglan!"

The woman standing atop the pavilion was naturally Daoist Master Tinglan. At this moment she was entirely focused on circulating her divine ability. Thunderous sounds rolled through the sky while the treasure light refused to yield. A five-cornered formation formed in the air, enclosing the purple radiance within.

Yet the formation did far more than merely bind the light. The five standing on the formation nodes jointly drew upon the radiance of the Buddhist land. The blessing they gained had already climbed to its peak, and their energies faintly resonated with one another, pushing the drawn radiance to an even higher level.

At the head of the formation stood a large, fat monk with a kasaya draped across his shoulders and a smile on his face. He was the fastest-rising Merciful One of the Emptiness Dao in recent years, Xuwang.

If the Emptiness Dao had gained immense profit in the previous conflict between the north and south, then aside from a few Mahas, Xuwang could be considered the greatest beneficiary. He had led the destruction of Mount Bianyan and achieved the rank of Merciful One on the spot. Even Maha Daisi, who had seized Li Xuanfeng's destiny, did not gain as much as he did.

Thus his status within the Buddhist land had risen rapidly year by year. Though he had only been newly promoted to the rank of Merciful One, he already wielded a treasure artifact in his hand as he laughed loudly, "You’ve used Boundless Water-Fire to harm our fellow disciples for all these days. Now it does not seem so convenient for you anymore!"

As his voice fell, five beams of light flared and gathered upon the Merciful One riding a crimson tiger beside him. The monk said nothing. He merely raised a treasure pagoda and, gathering the power of all five, brought it crashing down.

Boom!

Golden treasure light and cloud smoke surged upward into the sky before pouring down over the purple pavilion in waves of brilliance. The Merciful Ones of the Emptiness Dao clearly hated her to the bone. After fighting her for so many years and clashing in countless battles, they had to retreat back to the Buddhist land whenever they could not win. Never before had they encountered anything as infuriating as Boundless Water-Fire and the Upper-Minister Vessel!

Tinglan herself remained calm and unhurried. The Purple Throne Serene Spirit Pavilion was a spirit treasure passed down from the Purple Smoke Blessed Land and famed for anchoring a region in defense. Five Purple Mansion Realm strands of Purple Essence had been sealed within the pavilion as its foundation. She and Ning Wan had defended and attacked together back then, and even Maha Zhelu had been unable to break through. Although these five had formed a formation, they still could not outlast her.

Just as the group surrounded her and maintained the formation, clouds surged in the northern sky. Pink radiance shot into the heavens while treasure light soared and glass-like brilliance fell like rain.

A Merciful One has fallen!

Judging from the direction, it was precisely where Kuiqi and the others were fighting. Dark clouds rolled and rain poured down. Tinglan seemed to relax slightly, yet her mind did not ease in the slightest as she raised her brows and looked again.

Xuwang showed little surprise. He simply looked at her coldly. A man who could fight his way out from among countless Master Monks and become a Merciful One on the spot was never a simple character. Those like him who rose instantly to Merciful One held a very special status within the Buddhist land.

Positions within the Buddhist land were always limited. Temples lacked neither monks nor Master Monks. Not to mention ordinary monks, there were also many Master Monks who believed in the next life. Countless monks and Master Monks lived and died quietly nourishing the Buddhist land without ever having a chance to advance.

When a new Maha finally appeared in the Buddhist land, a few Merciful One positions would be distributed. Yet the Maha would naturally bring along his own followers and spend ten or twenty years assigning the positions among them. Where would any positions remain for outsiders?

Someone like him gained tremendous fortune during the conflict between the north and south, which had expanded the Buddhist land and naturally granted him a position. His background and methods were both extraordinary. From beginning to end he had been one of Zhelu's most trusted confidants, which was why he had been placed here!

The moment he saw Tinglan, he understood that her stalling many enemies alone meant the Supreme Yang Dao lineage had already advanced northward.

Xuwang had just heard from the Buddhist land that this matter had gone beyond the Emptiness Dao or the Buddhist cultivators as a whole. The nominal Zhao Emperor had personally emerged from the inner palace to summon the National Preceptor and discuss affairs in Jiangbei.

The Zhao Emperor was nothing more than a puppet. Ever since the matter of offering up Metallic Essence had come and gone, he had held no real value. His only use was his identity as the shared sovereign of the northern Zhao State, like a seal. Whenever the Seven Dharma Forms wished to act together, they would stamp it once to signal approval.

If the Seven Dharma Forms had not reached consensus, who could have brought him out to court? The entire Zhao State had been shaken. The National Preceptor had already achieved the rank of Grand Daoist Master, and it was uncertain whether he would personally head south!

Kuiqi does have courage... but what of it...

Xuwang could truly say he admired Kuiqi. The Supreme Yang Dao lineage possessed numerous hidden trump cards; the northern factions lacked unified leadership; and Kuiqi himself was decisive. At the very least, up to this moment, no reinforcements had yet arrived at Mount Xiaoshi, the place farthest from the northern heartland.

The final outcome was hard to say, yet Xuwang's heart was already burning with anticipation,

One North-South conflict paved the road for becoming a Merciful One. If I can gain another great merit by expanding the Buddhist land... then becoming a Maha will be within reach.