My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult-Chapter 299 - 298 Doubts Arise beneath the Dragon Locking Well
Chapter 299 -298 Doubts Arise beneath the Dragon Locking Well
Pure Land, Lingtai Temple.
Moonlight like water, stars scattered across the sky.
In the side room, An Jing circulated the “Great Celestial Star Refining Body Technique,” his acupoints shining like starlight, continuously accelerating the refining of nature’s spiritual energy into his body.
This sort of body refining martial arts that transcended the Heavenly Martial Level had its unique features.
As the starlight circulated, An Jing felt an even closer connection to heaven and earth, and his comprehension of the cosmic way deepened.
Historically, martial arts experts who reached the Heavenly Human Communication stage had to explore and comprehend on their own, without a complete system. However, the “Great Celestial Star Refining Body Technique” could connect heaven and earth, the cosmos, and the individual through the stars.
If such martial arts were to be disseminated, countless masters would surely be envious.
As he continued to cultivate, An Jing felt his understanding of heaven and earth gradually increasing.
“Whoosh! Whoosh!”
Just then, an immense qi force surged in.
Suddenly, a golden light soared from the Ancestor Master Hall straight into the sky.
This golden light dispersed the dark clouds, covering the entire sky of Lingtai Temple with a layer of golden light.
Afterward, a huge golden Buddha appeared within the golden clouds.
This golden Buddha was majestic, serene, and tranquil.
At the same time, a terrifying pressure emerged, as if a mountain was pressing down on An Jing.
It was like the descent of a divine being, inviolable.
The higher one’s cultivation was, the more they could feel the powerful pressure. Ordinary people, on the other hand, couldn’t grasp the subtleties involved.
“What is this?!”
An Jing fully activated the “Great Celestial Star Refining Body Technique” to resist this pressure and then leaped towards the direction of the Ancestor Master Hall.
Before long, he arrived at Lingtai Temple’s Ancestor Master Hall.
At that moment, the Ancestor Master Hall was enveloped in golden light, shining brightly.
The Buddhist Xi Hafu, Tianyi Bodhisattva, Exalted Vajra, and many other high-ranking Buddhist practitioners had all hurried over upon hearing the news. They looked forward in shock and devotion because the source of the golden light was the Buddha’s relics that Xi Hafu had spoken of.
A few breaths later, Xi Hafu, holding a wooden fish and a mallet, looked in the direction of Yujing City with a solemn expression in his eyes.
An Jing couldn’t help asking, “Master, what happened?”
Why would the Buddha’s relics release golden light?
Xi Hafu said, “It might be some kind of cosmic change.”
An Jing inquired, “What kind of change?!”
“Not sure what change exactly.”
Xi Hafu fell silent for a moment, then said, “But this change might trigger a great upheaval, and even Buddhism won’t be spared. It’s a warning.”
Hearing this, An Jing’s heart sank, “Could it be the Dragon Locking Well?”
The Xi Hafu in front of him was a Five Qi Grandmaster of Buddhism, certainly possessing an intuition and measure of the qi mechanism’s fluctuations. Given the changes happening in the world now, only the Dragon Locking Well came to mind.
“The monk only has a hunch, it may not be accurate.”
Xi Hafu set down his wooden fish, saying, “Recently, there have been many strange events causing unease. You should be careful when you return to Yujing City.”
An Jing’s frown deepened!?
What did Xi Hafu mean by that?
Be careful returning to Yujing City, could there be other intentions behind the Great Yan Emperor’s decree?
Xi Hafu then sat cross-legged in the Ancestor Master Hall, eyes closed, silently reciting the Buddhist scripture.
Seeing this, the other high-ranking Buddhist practitioners also took their seats on the meditation cushions.
An Jing glanced once more at the Buddha’s relics, then at Xi Hafu and the other Buddhist practitioners, before slowly exiting the Ancestor Master Hall.
After An Jing had left, Xi Hafu opened his eyes, which flickered with an indescribable complexity.
“Uncle Master.”
Tianyi Bodhisattva asked in confusion, “Why did you look towards Yujing City just now? What was it for?”
Xi Hafu with a solemn face said, “The monk saw a blood light soaring over Yujing City. The world will change because of it, whether for better or worse, I do not know.”
Tianyi Bodhisattva was shaken.
What kind of blood light would make Xi Hafu so concerned!?
Tianyi Bodhisattva asked, “Then why didn’t Uncle Master tell Mr. An? Isn’t he rushing to Yujing City?”
Xi Hafu gazed at the golden statue and said with a heavy tone, “The Buddha said, ‘Do not speak.’
…
After several twists and turns, the rising sun illuminated the base of Snow Mountain. The peak of Snow Mountain was framed by the clear blue sky, and the distant azure seemed almost within reach.
The crystalline Snow Mountain shone with a blush of light, like a newly awakened maiden draped in a layer of transparent gauze, her jade-like icy features now adorned with a light touch of rosy clouds gently covering the mountaintop.
This was the Houjin Holy Land, the most sacred place in the hearts of hundreds of Houjin tribes, a place yearned for by many.
This place not only hid many experts of the Great Snow Mountain, but it was also close to the Royal Court of Houjin. The two were like horns on a head, mutually guarding each other.
The two great body refining sects in the world, one was the Buddhist Sect, and the other was the Great Snow Mountain.
With the rise of Houjin, the Great Snow Mountain also enjoyed unlimited glory. It absorbed not only all the resources of Houjin but also all the talented youths, resulting in an endless stream of experts from the Great Snow Mountain.
A red streak of light flew in from afar, appearing somewhat out of place in this white world.
This was indeed the exotic beast, Honghu.
At this moment, Zhao Qingmei and Nan Weiping were sitting on the back of Honghu.
After freshening up and changing into a new set of clothes, Nan Weiping’s head was full of luxurious hair. Her face looked very old, her eyes were extremely gloomy, and her whole body carried an aura of death.
Yes, it was indeed the aura of death.
Zhao Qingmei pointed to the Great Snow Mountain below that stretched endlessly and said, “Senior Nan, that ahead is the Great Snow Mountain.”
Nan Weiping nodded slightly, “This place should have quite a few master experts?”
Zhao Qingmei nonchalantly said, “Yes.”
Having been trapped in the Sealing Demon Well for so long, and unable to refine nature’s spiritual energy in the cave, Nan Weiping’s root essence had also diminished significantly. Coupled with the large amount of demonic qi absorbed by Zhao Qingmei earlier, her cultivation was no longer at its prime.
At the moment, besides looking for heavenly materials and earthly treasures that could increase her lifespan, she naturally needed some that could restore her primordial energy. And what kind of treasures were the fastest at restoring root essence? Naturally, it was the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence within the bodies of Grandmasters.
Nan Weiping’s purpose in coming here was very simple, and very pure.
It was to plunder the holy land of Houjin.
Talking about the great trends of the world to someone who has been imprisoned in the Abyss for hundreds of years was almost like telling a joke.
She only cared about herself, or rather, she only cared about what she wanted to care about. Beyond that, there was nothing else.
Honghu was an exotic beast, a treasure of heaven and earth, and with a flap of its wings turning into a red arc of light, it arrived at the summit of the Snow Mountain.
Within the misty clouds, there were rows of exquisitely elegant and magnificent palaces and towers.
The mountain gate stood tall in the sky, grand and imposing.
Nan Weiping’s figure flashed, and she landed in front of the mountain gate.
“Who goes there?!”
The disciples guarding the entrance of the Great Snow Mountain saw a person descending from the sky and immediately called out loudly.
With a wave of her hand, Nan Weiping unleashed a surge of Qi force.
“Boom!” “Boom!”
The Qi force was like mountains and tsunamis. How could the two guards withstand it? They were instantly shattered into blood mist by the Qi force and scattered in the midst of the mountain gate.
“Someone is storming the mountain?!”
One of the Great Snow Mountain’s disciples, seeing this scene, was both shocked and horrified.
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!”
Sounds echoed loudly, and soon from around the Jade Towers of the Great Snow Mountain, countless experts emerged. These were the deacons and elite disciples responsible for the protection and security of the Great Snow Mountain, each with at least the cultivation of the Second Grade Realm.
“How audacious! You dare to intrude into our Great Snow Mountain?”
One of them, seeing the scene of bloodshed, shot a piercing cold light from his eyes, “Who on earth are you?”
Nan Weiping said indifferently, “Hand over the Snow Lotus.”
Her words were calm, but they carried an undeniable authority.
“Truly presumptuous!”
“Where did this clueless thing come from, seeking death so recklessly?”
….
The crowd nearly burst into laughter upon hearing this.
What was Snow Lotus? It was a treasure of the Great Snow Mountain. And now, this old woman, close to death’s door, actually wanted the Great Snow Mountain to hand over its treasure, which was simply ridiculous.
Nan Weiping glanced at the people and then waved her sleeve.
“Boom!”
Without any fanfare, just a plain sweep, several Great Snow Mountain experts in front of her instantly turned into blood mist, devoid of any signs of life.
To her, killing seemed like the simplest thing to do.
A Grandmaster!?
The experts of the Great Snow Mountain present were all taken by surprise, they hadn’t expected this seemingly ordinary old woman to be so powerful.
Even those who had been laughing loudly just moments before now wore serious expressions on their faces.
“So it turns out to be a Grandmaster!?”
At this moment, a hard voice sounded.
As the crowd of the Great Snow Mountain parted, an old man clad in a golden fur coat emerged. His eyes carried a trace of coldness and a touch of solemnness.
Mu Chun Dharma King!
Within the Great Snow Mountain, obtaining the title of Dharma King meant that one must at least be a master of the Grandmaster Realm. With Houjin’s prosperity, the strength and status of the Dharma Kings of the Great Snow Mountain had risen along with the tide, and all who became Dharma Kings were Second Qi Grandmasters.
Mu Chun Dharma King looked at the old crone before him, his heart filled with confusion, as he found himself completely unable to fathom her depth.
Nangong Weiping glanced at Mu Chun Dharma King and said, “Have your Holy Master come out and speak with me.”
Mu Chun Dharma King’s brow furrowed and he responded, “Our Great Snow Mountain Holy Master is not someone you can simply demand to see.”
Zhao Qingmei bluntly said, “Senior Nan, unless you kill a few more people, they won’t willingly hand over the Snow Lotus.”
“What this young lady says is very true.”
Nangong Weiping smiled, yet despite the smile, there was a sense of coldness and gloominess about her.
Then, she extended her palm.
The concentrated True Yuan gathered at her fingertips, appearing as fine as droplets, but they contained a terrifying force within.
“Boom!”
In the next moment, with a tap of Nangong Weiping’s fingertips,
the droplet surged forward, piercing through Mu Chun Dharma King’s throat, leaving a hole the size of two fingers on his neck.
“Gurgling—!”
The light in Mu Chun Dharma King’s eyes faded away, and then blood continuously flowed from his neck as his body heavily fell to the ground.
Silence!
The entire Great Snow Mountain was as silent as death!
All the disciples of the Great Snow Mountain stood as if stupefied, unable to believe that Mu Chun Dharma King, the Second Qi Grandmaster, had been killed in a single move.
That was a Second Qi Grandmaster, after all!
The scene before them brought an unparalleled shock, with only Zhao Qingmei revealing a faint smile at a distance.
He was merely a Second Qi Grandmaster after all. Although Nangong Weiping’s Primordial Energy was injured, with her current strength, as long as it was not a Grandmaster, even a Five Qi Grandmaster would not be her match.
Nangong Weiping directly absorbed the two streams of Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence that surged out, immediately channeling them into her Dantian. The Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture began to operate, refining them.
“Senior Nan, I will lend you a hand,”
Zhao Qingmei stood on the honghu’s back, stretching out her pair of jade hands, and with a flash of silver light, the sharp Mandarin Duck Twin Blades appeared in her palms.
“Swish!”
Both blades simultaneously refracted a frightening cold light, slashing forward.
Boom! Boom!
Where the blade light passed, everything before it dissolved into nothingness, and several jade towers collapsed into ruins.
Everyone looked up.
Under the faint sunlight, a woman dressed in black stood atop the red bird, her face unclear, exuding a cold and suffocating presence.
Zhao Qingmei’s red lips parted lightly, and she said calmly, “If Zongzheng Huachun does not come out, I’m afraid the Great Snow Mountain will run red with blood today.”
The clear, icy voice reverberated between heaven and earth.
After speaking, Zhao Qingmei raised the Yuan Blade in her hands and heavily hacked toward the central palace of the Great Snow Mountain.
The blade light whistled past, splitting the air on both sides.
Now at the peak of the Three Qi Cultivation, if this strike landed, even the central palace of the Great Snow Mountain would become nothing but ruins and rubble.
Boom!
R𝑒ad latest chapt𝒆rs at freewebnovёl.ƈom Only.
Just as the blade light was about to touch the central palace, ripples spread through the air, followed by a pair of enormous palms emerging from the ripples and directly clamping down on the blade light.
“Bang bang bang bang!”
Qi Force churned, a tremendous force emanated, and Zhao Qingmei quickly retreated backward.
Here he comes!
There weren’t three people in all of Houjin who could easily repel Zhao Qingmei.
A figure stood atop the central palace, his robe billowing with the wind, making a rustling sound, his body seemingly merging with the palace beneath him, or perhaps it was more accurate to say he merged with this domain of heaven and earth.
If one were to classify the levels of Heavenly Human Communication, what Li Fuzhou achieved on the Eight Feet Platform should be considered the most superficial, as he had not practiced Martial Arts for long. An Jing’s comprehension of this was but a fraction better than Li Fuzhou’s.
However, You Gai’s comprehension of Heavenly Human Communication was profound, having entered this state for decades already.
Yet, even You Gai’s understanding of Heavenly Human Communication paled in comparison to the man before them.
His body gradually merged with heaven and earth, and it was difficult to tell whether he had become one with heaven and earth, or heaven and earth had become one with him.
Because this man was none other than Zongzheng Huachun, the Houjin Holy Master who had severed Jun Qinglin’s last thread of life.
“Playing with the mysterious and profound.”
Nangong Weiping looked up at Zongzheng Huachun above and said flatly, “Are you the Holy Master of the Great Snow Mountain?”
Zongzheng Huachun looked at the old crone below without any change in his expression, but his heart could not help but hold a trace of solemnity.
How could it be possible?
Even with his cultivation as a Five Qi Grandmaster, he was unable to discern the old crone’s level of cultivation.
The one who killed Mu Chun Dharma King with a single move was definitely a top-notch expert.
Could this person be above my own cultivation?
Could it be a grandmaster level expert!?
Impossible, how could a grandmaster possibly appear in this world?
Nangong Weiping had no ability to see through people’s hearts, naturally unaware of the drastic changes occurring within Zongzheng Huachun’s mind at this moment.
Zongzheng Huachun’s eyes grew slightly cold as the true qi within his dantian began to circulate, “Exactly.”
Nangong Weiping said, “Either hand over the Snow Lotus, or die and then hand over the Snow Lotus.”
Zongzheng Huachun’s eyes narrowed, “In this world, you are the first to speak to me like this.”
Although Nangong Weiping’s voice was indifferent, it carried a hint of domineering, “In front of this old body, there is no difference between emperors, holy masters, and the ants of heaven and earth.”
Zongzheng Huachun began to laugh, then fell silent without saying another word.
Sometimes, when a situation has reached such a point, speaking further is no longer necessary.
The two opposing figures, their true qi clashing more and more violently, although neither had made an actual move yet, their aura alone enveloped the entire Great Snow Mountain.
Boom!
Another clash of true qi, a muffled sound echoed, and in the eyes of Zongzheng Huachun and Nangong Weiping, a cold gleam simultaneously flashed.
Whoosh!
Almost simultaneously, their figures moved, two silhouettes streaked across the sky like lightning, and in the next instant, collided thunderously over the central palace of the Great Snow Mountain.
Nangong Weiping’s eyes were cold as she faced the oncoming Zongzheng Huachun, her fist roaring out, her true qi rolling like waves, the momentum as if intending to split mountains.
In the face of Nangong Weiping’s powerful onslaught, Zongzheng Huachun made no attempt to dodge.
He too wanted to see what this suddenly appeared expert was capable of.
Thud!
The two forces, imbued with extremely powerful true qi, smashed into each other fiercely, the low sound instantaneously spreading thunderously, a visible wave of qi surged out from between the two, and all the surrounding buildings of the Great Snow Mountain’s central palace were shattered to dust.
“Rumble!” “Rumble!”
At once the sky darkened, clouds churned, and thunder rolled, enveloping the entirety of the Great Snow Mountain.
Zongzheng Huachun stood amidst the destruction, his expression neither happy nor sad.
The power of heaven and earth vested in him at that moment.
“Heavenly Human Communication!?”
The sound of thunderous lightning even caused Zhao Qingmei to frown deeply.
Jun Qinglin had once said, Zongzheng Huachun’s understanding of Heavenly Human Communication might be the best in the world.
The deeper the understanding of Heavenly Human Communication, the stronger the force of heaven and earth one could borrow.
And right now, Zongzheng Huachun had reached a profound depth, his communication with the force of heaven and earth was exceedingly high too.
Zongzheng Huachun stepped back dozens of paces, and in Nangong Weiping’s gaze toward Zongzheng Huachun, a hint of surprise emerged.
Clearly, the realm of Heavenly Human Communication reached by this Holy Master of Houjin had taken her by surprise.
“So what if it’s Heavenly Human Communication?”
Nangong Weiping’s true qi of heaven and earth surged towards her, its robust and powerful essence causing even the masters of Great Snow Mountain to be somewhat taken aback. Who exactly was this old lady, and how could her strength be so formidable?
Nangong Weiping took a step, and it seemed as if the very sky trembled slightly. She clenched her palms into fists, shouted ferociously, and her fists hammered out vehemently.
Waves of true qi! Charging crazily!
Woo woo!
Each time Nangong Weiping’s punches whistled through the air, they turned into a true yuan energy orb.
Within just a few breaths, the sky was filled with those violent true yuan energy orbs, then they blanketed towards Zongzheng Huachun in overwhelming swarms.
Each orb, containing Nangong Weiping’s fierce fist wind, held enough power to severely damage a Five Qi Grandmaster. With such an amount gathering together, it was terrifying.
True Yuan!?
Zongzheng Huachun watched the ferocious attack that surrounded him within a few yards, a glimmer flashed in his dark pupils, then with a tap of his toe, he exploded forward.
Whoosh whoosh!
As the true qi orbs howled through the air, Zongzheng Huachun’s figure became extremely blurry. Those phantom afterimages appeared behind him, and with ghost-like speed, he weaved directly through the fierce orbs of fist wind.
He knew, even though he had practiced body refining martial arts, being hit by this attack would still be highly unpleasant.
“Whoosh!”
Zongzheng Huachun’s figure, passing through the myriad of true yuan orbs. Then his fingers curved, his gaze icy, between his fingers, a dazzling golden light burst forth.
“Take this move of mine and see!”
Zongzheng Huachun shouted coldly, pointing out into the void, an extremely fierce and domineering black rainbow light erupted from his finger tips, tearing through the sky, and charged violently towards Nangong Weiping.
The power of heaven and earth bolstered his physique, along with the Snow Mountain Holy Body Technique, plus this unparalleled finger technique.
At this moment, he unleashed his strength to its utmost extent.
Even knowing the opponent was a very high-level expert.
Zongzheng Huachun had to make a move!
Not making a move was even more unacceptable than a defeat.
Nangong Weiping looked at the black rainbow light piercing through the air, the overbearing and vigorous fluctuations within it not causing her expression to change in the slightest. Her arm slowly rose, and then she threw a punch with an immensely heavy demeanor.
“Buzzing!”
As Nangong Weiping’s slow and peculiar punch burst forth, the air in front of her vibrated, seemingly turning into a mountain approximately ten thousand feet tall.
Boom!
Nangong Weiping’s heavy punch landed on that ten-thousand-foot mountain.
Zongzheng Huachun also trembled, and immediately turned into a black rainbow light that howled forth, borrowing the power of heaven and earth, colliding head-on with the mountain that pierced through the sky.
Bang!
The collision of the two unleashed a shocking wave of True Qi, sweeping across the land and stirring up a fierce storm.
“You’ve got some skills. I want to see just how many punches you can take today!”
Nangong Weiping’s cold shout resonated, and then her fists exploded, each wave of True Qi blasting out and rushing toward Zongzheng Huachun.
“Bring as many as you like, I’ll take as many as you bring!”
Facing Nangong Weiping’s formidable offensive, Zongzheng Huachun did not retreat in the slightest.
True Qi burst forth violently, the air in front becoming agitated, with faintly visible arcs of Qi taking shape.
Woooo!
Everyone on Great Snow Mountain raised their heads at that moment, looking with shock at the roaring Qi wave.
This level of combat was simply grand and majestic.
Boom, boom!
The overwhelming offensive in the sky collided fiercely, and the powerful forces clashed together. Then, wave after wave of astonishing True Qi explosions followed.
The storm of True Qi created a whirlwind in the sky, raging and spreading. Cracks spread one after another across the great hall below, and some buildings collapsed outright.
Everyone was frantically dodging the overwhelmingly powerful True Qi impacts.
Zongzheng Huachun took several steps back, each step leaving a deep crack in the ground, clearly overpowered by the absolute path, even with the aid of heaven and earth’s power, he was no match for the old woman opposite him.
“Impudence!”
Just then, an explosive shout came from the distance.
“The impudent one is you!”
Nangong Weiping sneered, and continued to throw punches forward.
“Rumble!”
The air in front shattered, and massive Fist Force collapsed like a falling mountain. The approaching expert was instantly repelled, turning pale as a sheet.
The person was none other than Taiyin Kui, the shadow of Zongzheng Huachun.
Atop Great Snow Mountain.
Nangong Weiping looked ahead at the two Five Qi Grandmasters, with a dominating and arrogant demeanor.
Truly befitting of a Grandmaster Realm expert.
Zhao Qingmei also gasped in her heart, one punch had repelled the charging Taiyin Kui, even when Nangong Weiping was greatly injured, it was somewhat terrifying.
Taiyin Kui whispered, “Holy Master, we should join forces.”
Zongzheng Huachun took a deep breath and looked towards Nangong Weiping, “You only want one snow lotus?”
Nangong Weiping shook her head, “The old lady wants three.”
Three!
Currently, there were only three snow lotuses on the entire Great Snow Mountain. By requesting three, Nangong Weiping was practically uprooting Houjin’s foundation.
Zongzheng Huachun took a deep breath, “Two.”
Nangong Weiping’s mouth cornered up into a cold smile, silent.
Zongzheng Huachun said, “You are injured, and this place is Great Snow Mountain territory, with many strong hands. If we were to fight desperately, it may not go well for you.”
His words made sense, but he didn’t know exactly who he was facing.
Nangong Weiping began to gather her True Yuan, she was never one for many words.
The fist is the hardest truth in the world.
She said she wanted three, and she would have three!
That’s because Nangong Weiping hated those who break their promises the most, whereas she herself was a woman of her word.
Zongzheng Huachun declared in a deep voice, “You can have three.”
Zhao Qingmei felt somewhat disappointed, having not expected Zongzheng Huachun to keep such composure and really bring out all the snow lotuses.
If he hadn’t agreed, there would have been an earth-shattering battle at Great Snow Mountain today.
Nangong Weiping nodded, “If they are not in my hands within the time it takes an incense stick to burn, I shall ensure that blood flows like a river in Great Snow Mountain today.”
Zongzheng Huachun glanced at Taiyin Kui, whose face bore a somewhat somber expression as he walked toward the back mountain.
Taiyin Kui moved swiftly, and it wasn’t long before he returned with three boxes in his arms.
A flash of cold light flickered in Zongzheng Huachun’s eyes, then he enveloped the boxes containing the three Snow Lotuses with his sleeve and passed them to Nangong Weiping, saying, “Today, my Great Snow Mountain has built a good relationship with you. May I know your name?”
“If you want to know my name, wait until you become a grandmaster,” replied the figure.
Nangong Weiping took the boxes and after verifying their contents, leaped onto the back of the Honghu, ignoring Zongzheng Huachun completely.
“Let’s go,” Nangong Weiping said to Zhao Qingmei.
Zhao Qingmei nodded slightly, then spurred the Honghu into the distance.
Watching the receding figure of the Honghu vanish, Taiyin Kui clenched his fists, which creaked audibly.
Since when had the Great Snow Mountain suffered such humiliation, being robbed of three Snow Lotuses?
The cold light surged in Zongzheng Huachun’s eyes as well, but he concealed it extremely well, vanishing almost instantly.
At that moment, a Dharma King stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said, “Holy Master, that person who wielded the sword must be Zhao Qingmei, the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect.”
“Demon Sect!?” Zongzheng Huachun’s eyebrows furrowed. “No wonder I felt that the person’s martial arts qi mechanism was so familiar; it turns out they were from the Demon Sect.”
After thinking for a moment, Taiyin Kui said, “The Demon Sect has not produced a grandmaster in the last three hundred years.”
That person was too strong, even surpassing Jun Qinglin.
When had the Demon Sect nurtured such a terrifyingly powerful individual?
Zongzheng Huachun remained silent, moving towards the rear hall.
He too was filled with doubts about the sudden appearance of Nangong Weiping.
The unexpected arrival of this powerful figure had disrupted all his plans, but could she become a variable in the world of today?
“There must be no variables with the Dragon Locking Well, absolutely none.”
Thinking of something, Zongzheng Huachun clenched his hand tightly, then picked up brush, ink, paper, and inkstone to write furiously. He recorded everything that had just happened, sealed it with utmost secrecy, and lastly wrote on the envelope: To be opened by my teacher only.
…
Clear skies and fresh air.
Only a few days remained before the final month decreed by the Great Yan Emperor, and An Jing had not stayed at Lingtai Temple, but rather set off toward Yujing City.
Thinking back to what happened the previous night, he still had his doubts.
Why had Buddha’s relics released golden light, and what exactly did Xi Hafu mean by his words?
After pondering for a while, An Jing was still unclear about the connections.
Vast stretches of golden sand stretched as far as the eye could see.
An Jing, clad in white, shouldered a sword box that stored the Evil Suppressing Sword, Dulu Sword, and Blood Tears Sword, his figure vanishing into the distant north.
His pace was not fast, yet it seemed to merge with the wind and sand.
Somehow, An Jing’s thoughts drifted to the days when he had journeyed to Yujing City with Lou Xiangzhen in search of Zhao Qingmei.
Back then, though he had the Cultivation of the First Grade, he didn’t understand the Jianghu that well and was only somewhat famous as a Swordsman. He had no idea the waters of Jianghu were so vast and turbulent.
Times had changed, and now he was the world’s foremost swordsman.
There were few left in the world who could cross swords with him, having become an invincible Sword Immortal.
Lou Xiangzhen once said a Swordsman carries his sword, travels thousands of miles, does thousands of things, and then the Sword Dao can be established.
For An Jing now, he had been to many places, traveled to most parts of Yan Country, even to the Pure Land, but there were still many places in the world he had not reached, such as Houjin, Zhao Country, and the faraway Guishuang.
“Perhaps when my Cultivation reached a standstill,” An Jing murmured, “I will really need to travel far and wide to find my Dao.”
His figure disappeared into the sands, moving toward the distance.
The Pure Land was vast and sparsely populated, with the desert occupying much of the land, and it could be a long while before seeing any human habitation.
Suddenly, An Jing sensed something. His expression remained calm, without the slightest change.
“Whoosh!” “Whoosh!” “Whoosh!” “Whoosh!”
Just then, four swordsmen wielding longswords emerged from the surrounding sands and launched an attack.
The four swordsmen attacked from different directions, their Sword Wind sweeping up the sand and creating an extremely mysterious sword formation that filled every gap in the space before them.
An Jing’s eyes remained undisturbed, his body motionless.
“Clang!”
At the moment when those four blades landed, An Jing’s hand reached behind to the sword box, drawing out an ancient longsword.
The sword was still stained with blood.
The moment the Blood Tears Sword was unsheathed, the blood flowed from the hilt to the tip, eerie and somewhat beautiful.
A sword’s duty covers family, country, and all under heaven.
With the unsheathing of the sword, the entire world seemed to become instantly clear.
All the surrounding sand seemed to freeze in place, each grain sparkling in the golden radiance.
The vast Sword Qi soared directly to the heavens!
The four swordsmen exploded on the spot, forming a terrestrial tornado that connected heaven and earth, several times fiercer than the previous storm. It swept up countless sands and stones, making the world seem ready to crumble.
This earth-shattering terrestrial tornado was split in two from the center and slowly dissipated into the atmosphere before it could wreak havoc.
Regrettably, there were few to witness this scene.
“What a fierce sword.”
At that moment, a rough ancestral accent suddenly rang out.
It belonged to a Guishuang expert, who was dressed just like Chamo, except he appeared much older.
In his hand was also a blade, with its back curving along the edge, two blood grooves on either side, and wave-like nail print patterns. The blade was exceedingly sharp, and the handle extended three to four inches, made from two pieces of wood, ox horn, or animal bone, clamped together and fixed with rivets.
The blood of the four painted the sandstorm red, stirring up a whirlwind of crimson grains.
An Jing said indifferently, “Are you here for revenge?”
The swordsman replied, “Yemo Tai from Guishuang.”
Touching the Blood Tears Sword in his hands, An Jing said, “I don’t care who the dead are.”
Yemo Tai nodded and said, “The dead naturally need not concern themselves with the affairs of the world.”
When narrow paths meet, courage makes the victor!
In the midst of this yellow sand-filled sky, the swordsman and the bladesman encountered each other.
Both had reasons to wish the other dead.
Sometimes it has nothing to do with right or wrong. From the beginning, one’s stance determines their identity, status, and ultimately, their fate.
If you had been to Guishuang, you would know that Yemo Tai was the third swordsman of Guishuang.
And if Yemo Tai had been to Yan Country, he would know that An Jing was the top swordsman of this world.
What does it mean to be the top swordsman? It means there is no other swordsman more formidable than him.
Regrettably, both were unaware of this, yet they met each other.
What happens when two wild beasts meet in the jungle?
Exactly, there will be bloodshed, there will be death.
A bladesman with a heart set on killing is like a wild beast.
Yemo Tai looked at the young swordsman before him, his eyes filled with undisguised ferocity and killing intent.
His way of the blade was just so, which was why his disciple, Chamo, was the same.
Whoosh!
A bloody gleam of the blade attacked, carrying an exceptionally fierce aura of slaughter.
An Jing neither dodged nor retreated, his Blood Tears Sword directly meeting the onslaught.
Clang clang clang clang clang!
The sword and the blade collided fiercely in the air, erupting with a sharp clash of metal, grating to the ear.
After that, the two rapidly separated.
Clang!
Yemo Tai’s blood blade flashed by, an invisible pressure surged toward An Jing, and the still air suddenly rippled like water being stretched to its limit.
With a pop! Yemo Tai’s pressure was crushed by the might of An Jing’s sword skill.
The oppressive force was merely a prelude. Yemo Tai immediately displayed his signature technique as he began his attack, the blade’s wind howling fiercely with a chilling blood aura.
Pop!
Another sharp sound as the blade’s wind and the Sword Qi shattered, and on the tip of the Blood Tears Sword flickered a deep, star-like sword light.
Yemo Tai’s blade skill was incredibly concentrated, indestructible, and nothing external could shake it, including An Jing’s Sword Skill.
The next moment, Yemo Tai instantly appeared in front of An Jing. Immediately, the sound of clashing metal rang out along with sparks flying wildly, flickering crazily.
Yemo Tai’s pupils dilated as he harmonized with the surging Qi mechanism, and above in the sky, thunder rumbled as though it was connected to the long blade in his hand.
In Guishuang, once his Thunder Blade was unsheathed, it was unmatched; with heavenly thunder pressing down, no matter how skilled an expert one was, they would have to submit.
Even a Grandmaster of the ancestral land would be instantly slain by him.
Above in the sky, thunder roared, and clouds moved from all directions.
If gods block the way, kill the gods; if Buddha blocks the way, kill Buddha.
But now, what he was facing was an immortal!
It was a peerless Great Sword Immortal.
Instead of retreating, An Jing advanced, meeting the sweeping heavenly lightning with an outstretched palm. The vast Star River emerged.
The Blood Tears Sword in his hand casually traced a long arc of a rainbow.
The magnificent Sword Qi was unstoppable, cleaving through everything ahead, and the surging lightning was directly cut off by the sword light.
The thunder lost its voice, the dark clouds turned pale.
A sword shattered the lightning!
It was as effortless as breaking dead branches and pulling up rotten wood!
Yemo Tai’s face changed dramatically under the intimidation of the sword light; by the time he realized what was happening, his whole body was already covered by the pervasive sword light.
His clothes were dyed red with blood.
At this moment, he had become a blood-soaked man.
Such a fast sword!
Such a formidable swordsman!
“Run!”
In a moment of sheer terror, Yemo Tai didn’t hesitate to sprint away into the distance.
Suddenly, he felt his body suspended in midair, his neck fiercely grasped, making it incredibly difficult to breathe.
Looking up the arm that was clutching his neck, it belonged to a Buddhist monk expert, who stood with his chest out and belly prominent, earlobes hanging down to his shoulders, yet his face was extraordinarily grim and icy.
Yemo Tai didn’t know who the person before him was, but he had lost all strength in his body and couldn’t resist at all.
“Bang!”
The newcomer was Xi Hafu; currently, he exerted great force with his palm, twisting Yemo Tai’s neck and turning him into a mist of blood, as his body’s Spiritual Essence was entirely absorbed by the ‘Buddha’s relics’ behind Xi Hafu.
An Jing, observing the sudden appearance of Xi Hafu, frowned and said, “We meet again.”
This Xi Hafu was the very same one seen at the bottom of the ancient city.
Because only he had the peculiar habit of snapping other people’s necks.
Xi Hafu glanced at An Jing and said, “It seems that the poor monk and the benefactor are quite fated.”
An Jing asked, “Why isn’t the master at Lingtai Temple?”
Xi Hafu countered, “Why should I be at Lingtai Temple?”
An Jing continued, “Shouldn’t you be there?”
Xi Hafu indifferently replied, “Is the one put on a high pedestal at Lingtai Temple and revered by people truly a Buddha?”
Upon hearing this, An Jing’s pupils contracted.
Xi Hafu seemed to be questioning as well as self-reflecting, “What exactly is a Buddha, and where is a Buddha?”
This string of words made An Jing’s brow furrow.
In the profound silence, Xi Hafu’s words carried a Zen riddle, causing one to fall into deep contemplation and thought.
The wind swept the sand, and the world fell silent.
Thinking of something, Xi Hafu opened his mouth to ask, “The benefactor mentioned earlier that you came for the matter of the Dragon Locking Well; do you now have some clues?”
An Jing nodded slightly and said, “I was not clear on it before, but now I have some understanding. The master said the Dragon Locking Well was built to suppress the qi of evil spirits.”
Xi Hafu responded, “Qi of evil spirits? What is the qi of evil spirits they talk about, and if I say it isn’t, does it become not so?”
An Jing asked, “If not the qi of evil spirits, what exactly does the Dragon Locking Well suppress?”
Xi Hafu sneered, “That is clearly the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.”
Spiritual energy of heaven and earth!?
An Jing felt even more shaken inside.
The Xi Hafu in Lingtai Temple said the Dragon Locking Well suppressed the qi of evil spirits; why does the Xi Hafu before him say it is the spiritual energy of heaven and earth?
Who is telling the truth?
Xi Hafu continued, “It is precisely because the sealing becomes more stable that the world’s shackles have grown increasingly severe; thus, it has become a shackle and fetter to the world.”
Mystified, An Jing said, “Then why would the Great Yan Dynasty seal the earth veins and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth?”
With a hint of mockery on his lips, Xi Hafu said, “If the world were full of Masters everywhere and countless Great Grandmasters, where would the royal authority be? Where would the oppression of the royal family and nobility be? When a person possesses superhuman powers, who calls the shots in the end—is it the human emperors or the exalted land immortals?”
“The Dragon Locking Well is merely a shackle the dynasty uses to inherit the power of the royal family and imprison the capabilities of people worldwide.”
Boom!
Struck by this revelation, An Jing felt as if he had been struck by lightning.
Two Xi Hafus with two entirely different, even contradictory, statements.
What then lies beneath the Dragon Locking Well? Is it the qi of evil spirits or the spiritual energy of heaven and earth?
Xi Hafu said, “Benefactor, are you intending to return to Yujing City?”
An Jing nodded, “Exactly.”
“I told you, you and this poor monk truly have a connection,” Xi Hafu remarked.
He pulled out a sealed letter from his sleeve and said, “The poor monk has received a letter, and he happens to be going to Yujing City, too.”
The white sheet of paper flapped in the wind, displaying five large words: Hunting Meet in Yujing City.
….
