Chapter 221 - 128: Sacrificing the Nascent Soul for the Lineage, Taking the Field to Face the Foe

Chapter 221: Chapter 128: Sacrificing the Nascent Soul for the Lineage, Taking the Field to Face the Foe

"And so, the Divine Flow Sect dares to issue a challenge to the Dragon Image Sect. If your esteemed sect refuses, you must relinquish the Dragon Image Domain, for the worthy deserve to rule it."

Even though the Divine Flow Sect had made its ambitions plain to see over the past century, until this very moment, many had still adopted a wait-and-see attitude.

After all, never mind shaking or even supplanting the position of one of the Five Domains Great Sects; merely issuing a formal challenge was an unprecedented event in the history of the Celestial Waterfall Dharma Assembly.

Thus, as soon as Mu River spoke, the entire crowd erupted in an uproar.

In an instant, all eyes were fixed on the Divine Flow Sect and the Dragon Image Sect. The Divine Flow contingent had traveled light, with only three people in total. In contrast, the Dragon Image Sect’s party had a full ten members. Unfortunately, to those with cultivation high enough to see the truth of the matter, the balance of power was the complete inverse of their numbers.

Of the ten members from the Dragon Image Sect, seven were only at the Nascent Soul First Layer. While not entirely useless, the gap between them and a Nascent Soul Third Layer cultivator was simply insurmountable.

Be that as it may, Yang Bijie showed no fear. On the contrary, he maintained a perfectly composed posture. His gaze swept past Mu River, who had stepped forward, and settled deeply on Chu River and He Haojun behind him. He then responded in a heavy voice, "Such savage ambition. How utterly laughable."

"The Dragon Image Sect has taught the Dao for ten thousand years. Why would we fear the likes of you? Since you dare to issue a challenge, we will see it through to the end."

"Good!" A rare smile touched Mu River’s stern face. He glanced at Chu River, saw him nod slightly, and then declared, "Very well. The Divine Flow Sect is not an unreasonable party. We invite Sect Master Yang to set the terms of the challenge."

A battle for Daoist succession, after all, was not a simple contest of techniques; there were no fixed rules. Typically, the best way to compare the sects’ overall strength was for everyone to fight at once. However, some sects did establish specific rules for their duels. The Divine Flow Sect was clearly supremely confident, for as the challengers, they were allowing the Dragon Image Sect to dictate the terms.

Yang Bijie snorted softly. Seated high upon the Five Domains Jade Platform, he looked down and declared, "I see your Divine Flow Sect has brought but three people. So that none may accuse our sect of bullying the few, we shall also send out three to face your three."

"Hm?" Mu River’s brow twitched. The Divine Flow Sect had fully expected the Dragon Image Sect would not relinquish its numerical advantage. Yang Bijie’s proposal left Mu River surprised and suspicious. ’Is he trying some kind of gambit? Pitting his weakest against our strongest? But our sects aren’t on equal footing for that kind of strategy to work.’

Not daring to make a rash decision, he looked back at Chu River. A glint flickered in Chu River’s eyes as he slowly shook his head.

The Divine Flow Sect was completely confident of victory even in a three-on-three match. However, Chu River and He Haojun were not exactly firm allies. If there was even the slightest chance, Chu River wanted to crush the Dragon Image Sect by his own power, before He Haojun had to make a move. He was willing to face a few extra Nascent Soul First Layer opponents to do so.

He Haojun seemed to understand Chu River’s thoughts. He merely rocked a folding fan he had produced at some unknown point, his expression unchanging and his intentions unreadable.

Understanding dawned on Mu River. He cupped his hands toward the platform and said, "Sect Master Yang, this is a battle for our sects’ very succession. Surely you don’t propose a simple best-two-out-of-three? That would be far too childish."

"Oh?" Yang Bijie said from on high. "If that’s the case, then let the winner of a match continue to fight. We will go on until one side has no combatants left. That will decide the outcome."

This pronouncement only deepened Mu River’s confusion, but then a faint snort reached him, followed by a voice transmission from Chu River. He immediately cupped his hands and replied, "Very well. The Divine Flow Sect accepts."

Yang Bijie seemed to smile with disdain, then turned to an old Daoist leaning on a staff to his right. "Junior Martial Uncle Chao, please fight the first battle."

A complex expression flickered for a moment in Elder Chao’s turbid eyes. He nodded, and with a wave of his sleeve, a streak of light carried him into the sky. His gaze swept across the three from the Divine Flow Sect, lingering for an instant on Chu River before he shouted coldly, "I am Chao Qianji. Who will be the first to face me?"

Provoked by the old Daoist, Chu River showed no sign of anger. He simply mused, "Junior Brother Mu River, you can take the first round."

Mu River acknowledged the command. Chu River added a warning, "You don’t need to win this battle. Your only task is to protect yourself and figure out what tricks that Old Chao has up his sleeve."

Mu River nodded, then rose into the sky upon a yellow cloud. He cupped his hands toward Chao Qianji and announced, "I am Mu River, here to seek your guidance, fellow Daoist."

When Elder Chao saw that the Divine Flow Sect was sending out Mu River, he merely snorted and said coldly, "Fine! Let’s see what brilliant techniques you have to show." With that, instead of attacking, he summoned a streak of light and retreated.

Mu River’s expression grew stern. He immediately gave chase, raising his palm to form a hand seal. After a two-word incantation, he swept his hand forward. With a WHOOSH, a Gang Wind materialized, filled with spinning golden blades that blasted violently forward.

They might have exchanged pleasantries before the fight, but Mu River’s first move was a killing blow. This was the Divine Flow Sect’s signature technique: the Golden Blade Annihilation Gang Wind. It combined the destructive power of a sweeping Gang Wind with the lethality of cutting golden blades, a technique capable of leveling mountains and splitting the earth in an instant.

Elder Chao had barely put any distance between them when Mu River’s Golden Blade Annihilation Gang Wind descended upon him. Yet, the old Daoist showed no panic. He simply turned, flicked his wide sleeve, and waved it through the air. Instantly, a cloud of smoke billowed out.

This mist was thick and murky, churning without end like a river of sand. In a flash, it billowed out to cover a vast area, obscuring the clear sky. When the Golden Blade Annihilation Gang Wind slammed into it, the golden blades managed to slice their way in, but the Gang Wind itself simply collapsed and dissipated.

’What?!’ Mu River focused his senses and felt it immediately. His golden blades, painstakingly refined from vast amounts of metal qi, seemed to have sunk into a quagmire. He could no longer control them, and they were rapidly eroding.

Mu River frowned. After a moment of careful perception, he figured out the trick. Elder Chao’s dense fog had been refined specifically from Corrupting Iron Qi. Not only did its elemental properties directly counter the Gang Wind, but the moment the golden blades entered, they were instantly befouled by the qi. The technique was clearly designed for the express purpose of neutralizing his Golden Blade Annihilation Gang Wind.