Chapter 243 - 138: True Thunder Subdues Celestial Permanence, Mingjing Strikes Point Star

Chapter 243: Chapter 138: True Thunder Subdues Celestial Permanence, Mingjing Strikes Point Star

Xuzhuang had sent his Dharma Body into the Grotto Heaven first as a probe, baiting out the Celestial Permanence Sect’s countermeasures. He wasn’t about to waste his Magical Power for nothing. Scarcely three breaths after his Dharma Body entered the Grotto Heaven, Xuzhuang charged in, sword in hand!

"Not good!" Seeing this, Wang Xingsi’s heart seized with panic. He hurriedly grabbed the Array Talisman and shook it several times, attempting to use the grand array’s power to restrain Xuzhuang. Unexpectedly, Xuzhuang had already halted his sword’s momentum and was now floating gracefully in the air. His gaze locked onto Wang Xingsi, and from a distance, he pointed a finger.

RUMBLE! A streak of crimson lightning flashed from Xuzhuang’s fingertip, striking in front of Wang Xingsi in an instant. The array node flared with a brilliant spiritual light, but it shattered a moment later as the Profound Fire True Thunder exploded with a deafening roar.

"Argh!" Protected by the array node’s spiritual light and his Treasure Robe Daoist Robe, Wang Xingsi was not killed instantly by the Profound Fire True Thunder. He only spat out a mouthful of essence blood, and amidst a spray of crimson droplets, he tumbled from his post in the array.

Only then did the expressions of the Celestial Permanence cultivators change. Without waiting for a command, they unleashed a barrage of spells, all aimed at intercepting Xuzhuang.

However, this instantly relieved all the pressure on the Dharma Body. With a great roar, its Magical Power swelled like a tsunami, blasting away the remaining Magical Artifacts and Daoist arts. It shattered the grand array’s restraints and, without a second thought, shot up into the heavens.

Instead of attacking anyone, the Dharma Body flew straight into the firmament, its Magical Power dispersing into the clouds. It instantly communed with the Celestial Pure Qi. Wind and thunder howled as dark clouds roiled, and within them, hundreds of bolts of Profound Fire True Thunder began brewing.

Xuzhuang did not draw his sword again. Clasping his hands behind his back, he rose to a position beneath the thunderclouds. His sharp, handsome features, illuminated by the flashing lightning, possessed the majesty of a Celestial God. He swept his gaze over them and said coolly, "Surrender, and you shall live."

A single bolt of Profound Fire True Thunder had critically wounded Wang Xingsi, their most powerful member who had even cultivated Gangyun. Now, hundreds of fiery lightning bolts churned within the clouds, their endless booming a promise of annihilation. This world-ending display of power instantly shattered the will of the Celestial Permanence cultivators. Looks of despair appeared on some faces as they gave up all resistance.

Wang Xingsi had just pushed himself up from the ground, a bitter smile on his face. Before letting Xuzhuang into the Grotto Heaven to set the ambush, he had already considered the possibility of a total loss. But for a sliver of hope for the Celestial Permanence Sect’s lineage, he had no choice but to act.

But he had never imagined the loss would be this devastating!

Seeing that half of his fellow sect members had given up resisting, and that even his two junior brothers were looking at him, he propped himself up and said, "Celestial Permanence is willing..."

Before the word "surrender" could leave his lips, Wang Xingsi’s expression froze, and he cried out in wild joy, "Zhenren, I implore you to seek justice for our sect!"

The moment he spoke, a solemn look flickered across Xuzhuang’s face. At the same time, as looks of elation began to spread among the Celestial Permanence cultivators, the thunderclouds filling the sky suddenly vanished with a POP, as if a bubble had burst.

The gate to the Grotto Heaven had not activated. Instead, a single point of starlight flashed from some unknown, distant dimension. In an instant, it arrived "nearby." Following it, an old Daoist took a great stride and inexplicably appeared in mid-air. He had a withered branch for a hairpin, wore a Star-Pointing Robe, cradled a Star Silk Dust, and with his crane-white hair, he looked like an immortal of old.

"This is...?" From his position in the array, one of the Celestial Permanence Sect’s Nascent Soul Elders suddenly remembered something and cried out ecstatically, "Star Pointing Zhenren! I implore you, Star Pointing Zhenren, to seek justice for our sect!"

"Silence!" Xuzhuang’s sharp gaze cut sideways, sweeping over the elder’s face. The elder choked, his words cut off. A boundless rage swelled within him, but before he could speak again, Xuzhuang had already fixed his attention on Star Pointing Zhenren. His brow furrowed slightly. Cupping his fist in his palm, he bowed and asked, "May I ask, Zhenren, why you obstruct me?"

When this question was asked, let alone that Nascent Soul Elder, who didn’t feel it was utterly absurd?

The Dao of the True Form Temple was indeed profound. As for this man, even those who had never heard his name before today would now have it deeply seared into their minds.

But no matter how talented this person was, how ferocious his might, or how formidable, what right did he have to put on airs before a Grotto Heaven Zhenren?

However, Star Pointing Zhenren just gave his duster a light flick and said, "The Celestial Permanence Sect’s lineage was personally passed down by the Earth Immortal Ancestor Grandmaster. I cannot bear to watch their blood flow in rivers, which is why I have chosen to intervene."

Xuzhuang replied coolly, "According to the rules of the Celestial Waterfall Dharma Assembly, my sect won the declared war against the Celestial Permanence Sect. We are entitled to take control of the Celestial Domain. If the Celestial Permanence Sect resists, we have the right to shatter their mountains and raze their temples."

Star Pointing Zhenren’s long eyebrows twitched, but he showed no sign of anger. "Correct," he replied. "My actions do stem from my own selfish desires, and I have indeed violated the rules of the Celestial Waterfall Dharma Assembly. That is why I am *only* intervening to stop you."

His tone remained perfectly even as he spoke, yet it carried an unmistakable chill. "Young friend, you need only retreat and cease your designs on Celestial Permanence. Do so, and you may take sixteen provinces for yourself."

Xuzhuang’s brow twitched. ’So that’s what he means. Star Pointing Zhenren sees the Celestial Waterfall Dharma Assembly as nothing more than a trifle. Is he giving the True Form Temple tacit permission to wantonly attack and conquer the sects in the provinces?’

Due to the special nature of the Celestial Waterfall Realm, it wasn’t hard for Xuzhuang to imagine the chaos that would ensue after the rules of the Celestial Waterfall Dharma Assembly were destroyed. He had originally thought that the Grotto Heaven Zhenrens would have some scruples about this, but now it seemed... at least the Star Pointing Zhenren before him did not.

But no matter what Star Pointing Zhenren chose, Xuzhuang didn’t care. He replied in a deep voice, "Forgive this junior for refusing. Please, Zhenren, do not interfere in the conflict between the True Form Temple and the Celestial Permanence Sect."

Hearing this, Star Pointing Zhenren seemed to be stunned for a moment. He then shook his head and said, "Hopelessly foolish!"

As soon as these words were spoken, all sound between heaven and earth suddenly vanished. In the dead silence, Xuzhuang seemed to sense an immense crisis approaching him.

Star Pointing Zhenren attacked with unbelievable speed. Did it take a thousandth of an instant? A ten-thousandth? Or was it some measure of time beyond all comprehension?

In truth, Xuzhuang didn’t have time to react at all. Nor did he, as he had anticipated, have a chance to activate the talisman for his Primordial Treasure Lotus Parasol. In an instant, it was as if he were already on the verge of life and death.