The Mirror Legacy - Chapter 1301: Baoqing (II)
Chapter 1301: Baoqing (II)
Hoo!
A single breath sent fierce winds erupting across the island. No matter how powerful the rosy mist was, it dispersed instantly under the Merciful One’s breath, revealing the white robed man suspended within the formation once more.
Li Xizhi’s expression grew grave. When he saw the Master Monks closing in again, he finally placed his hand on the hilt of the long sword strapped to his back. His fair, slender fingers pressed against the gemstone set in the sword, yet he still hesitated.
Yang Xiao’er was also faintly angry beside him. Seeing her husband hesitate, she stepped forward and said in a gentle tone, “Do not worry, husband…”
The understanding between them needed no words. Yang Xiao’er knew that he did not fully grasp the situation and feared injuring the Master Monks, giving others grounds to accuse him and provoking the Merciful One to pursue the matter relentlessly. Li Xizhi likewise knew that his wife was confident.
Li Xizhi trusted his wife completely. Over the years, he had survived several brushes with death thanks to this capable partner. He nodded slightly, and his wrist moved.
Clang!
The long sword shimmering with multicolored radiance was drawn slightly from its sheath, revealing a pure white blade with sharp, smooth edges and exquisitely graceful lines.
The eyes of Zhuzhen, who had seemed distracted above, suddenly lit up. He snapped his head around as if jolted awake and let out a thunderous roar.
“How dare you?!”
At the same time, a bright, warm white stream of light leapt from within the formation. It shifted into yellow and white hues, then at the instant of manifesting, each divided into three points of flowing light that interwove and roamed, exceedingly nimble.
Threefold Moonlight!
Only then did the many Master Monks surrounding the formation retreat together, a chilling sense of danger surging through their hearts.
Clang!
A gigantic golden hand tore through the great void and appeared abruptly in midair before the Master Monks. Mana surged violently within that golden palm as it forcibly shielded the group of Master Monks behind it.
Zhuzhen was, after all, the Merciful One. The ability to traverse the great void granted far too many advantages. All six bright streams of warm white light were seized at once, the closest one nearly reaching a Master Monk’s throat, making his dharma body shudder with cold as a faint trace of blood appeared.
The Master Monks all felt a chill down their spines and exchanged stunned looks.
He nearly killed someone.
It was only because Zhuzhen reacted quickly that they had survived. If the Great Konghai Temple had mobilized in force, with the Merciful One present, and still lost several Master Monks, the disgrace would have been unbearable.
The golden palm barely managed to grasp the sword essence in a single thought. Dense, sharp, grating sounds of metal rang out, yet it was like rain clearing to reveal a sudden rainbow, colors interweaving as streaks of multicolored light seemed to fall from the sky.
Li Xizhi had already sheathed his sword.
Autumn Moon’s Harmonious Echo!
It was the third form of the Law of Celestial Moon Sword!
Li Xizhi had attained Sword Essence more than twenty years later than his younger brother and only crossed the threshold to cultivating this sword by relying on the Five-Colored Boundless Sword Art. Yet his innate ability and talent were in no way inferior to Li Xijun’s. When the Five-Colored Boundless Sword Art was combined with Threefold Moonlight, it produced six sword lights, and the Autumn Moon’s Harmonious Echo unleashed atop that foundation was even more powerful.
In the next instant, violent, piercing, earthshaking friction rang out from within the palm. The sound was sharp and brittle, making the Master Monks grimace in pain, while the monks below bled from both ears.
The golden palm seemed to have grasped a prickly iron spike and flung it away in pain, then as if out of rage or reflex, it suddenly lifted and struck the grand formation of Northern Dan with a single blow.
Boom!
More than a dozen Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators inside the formation spat blood and were blasted backward like arrows loosed from a bow. The grand formation of Northern Dan exploded with a thunderous roar, spewing dense golden smoke. It was like a glass dome struck by a hammer as it instantly filled with fine cracks.
Bang!
A violent roar erupted from the great hall high above Northern Dan as thick white smoke burst forth. The formation plate had clearly been shattered beyond support.
The field fell deathly silent.
Crack……
The grand formation of Northern Dan slowly fell away. Yet whether it was the monks at sea or the cultivators on the island, none snapped out of their daze. They were not shocked that Zhuzhen had shattered the Foundation Establishment Realm formation with one strike. On the contrary, it would have been strange if he could not.
What left them stunned was Zhuzhen’s reaction of pain.
This is a great cultivator of the Great Konghai Temple…
There had been only one cultivator who could contest the Merciful One at the Foundation Establishment Realm in all of Jiangnan over the past several hundred years.
Duanmu Kui.
Li Xizhi had merely caused Zhuzhen pain. Without the formation blocking that strike, he would have been reduced to ashes on the spot. Of course, this could not be compared to Duanmu Kui, who, holding an immortal text, had once beaten a Merciful One who marched south until his head split and blood flowed, forcing him to retreat.
That was also under the premise of wielding an immortal text. Who was Duanmu Kui? He was a figure who had once dominated an entire era and nearly reversed the reputation of the Locust Shade Ghost Immortal Foundation through sheer personal strength. Dominating an era was not a title just anyone deserved. Even without an immortal text, how many in Jiangnan could match him?
The current scene extinguished all momentum across Stone Pond. No one dared raise their head to look at the Merciful One at this moment. Even Yang Xiao’er was startled. She had not expected her husband’s sword to be so formidable and immediately clenched a talisman in her hand.
Please do not fly into a rage.
Zhuzhen, the Merciful One, slowly raised his head and examined his own palm. The golden palm was perfectly smooth, with nothing upon it. No matter how hurried his move had been, Li Xizhi could not possibly have broken his Dharma Body, nor had even a trace remained. Yet he had undeniably felt pain.
It must be a sword technique capable of harming the Shenyang Mansion. A fine sword technique.
Zhuzhen had guessed correctly. When Autumn Moon’s Harmonious Echo was unleashed, the Threefold Moonlight followed close behind, the three merging into one. They simultaneously severed the Shenyang, Qihai, and Juque acupoints and required Sword Essence to be executed. If it were to gain Sword Intent capable of cutting into the great void, this sword technique would become even more terrifying.
Unfortunately, the gap between him and me is simply too great. It was nothing more than a momentary shock.
Zhuzhen’s thoughts passed in an instant. His gaze fell upon the white robed swordsman on the island, anger flaring on his face as his voice turned cold. “Good. Good. Everyone says that heaven and earth are shaken when you draw your sword. You truly are worthy of being a descendant of the Sword Immortal.”
As his voice fell lower, Yang Xiao’er slowly tightened her grip on the talismans hidden in her sleeve. Li Xizhi had already given quiet instructions for the cultivators to retreat, while he himself remained unhurried and clasped his hands in salute.
He replied, “This junior merely relied on a trick. Many thanks for the senior’s guidance.”
In the next instant, a black wind burst forth from Yang Xiao’er’s sleeve, while Zhuzhen’s massive golden body vanished from the sky. The Master Monks chased after the Azure Pond Sect cultivators, as the formation continued to crackle and shatter. Ant-like monks swiftly swarmed onto Northern Dan Island.
Boom.
A golden palm materialized in midair and seized the black wind. Its five fingers tightened and yanked it violently backward. Li Xizhi and Yang Xiao’er, caught within the black wind, spat blood simultaneously.
Yet Li Xizhi saw that Yang Xiao’er showed no fear at all, calmly riding the wind as she whispered, “Daoist Master Ning has made a move.”
Judging by the timing, Ning Wan could not have arrived here from the north in time. Li Xizhi could not tell whether Daoist Master Ning had just arrived or had been here all along. Zhuzhen’s behavior was equally strange.
Is he unable to seize us for the moment, or unwilling to do so? thought Li Xizhi.
He could only lower his head slowly and cast all such thoughts aside.
As Yang Xiao’er’s words fell, sheets of icy snow descended from the sky. A white robed woman tore through the great void and appeared. Unlike Zhuzhen’s guarded and affected coldness, this fairy’s chill carried anger.
“What a grand display of authority from the Great Konghai Temple.”
All the cultivators present immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Li Xizhi and his wife relaxed as well. Zhuzhen secretly exhaled, while golden light fully flared across his Dharma Body as he replied, “Daoist Master Ning arrives at the perfect time. My Maha wishes to discuss the matter of Northern Dan with you in detail.”
He remained standing where he was as golden light surged skyward behind him. A slender monk clad in gray robes and holding a monk’s staff gradually appeared. The monk’s eyes were set high, one hand held before his chest, his chin sharp and his demeanor carrying a hint of malice. Unlike the towering Dharma Bodies of the Seven Daos in the north that pierced the clouds, he looked like an ordinary monk. Yet when he planted his staff upon the ground with a crisp sound, all wind and snow came to a halt.
Ning Wan looked at him quietly and spoke softly, “With the fall of the three Yuans, you’ve come out to stir trouble.”
Exaggerated delight spread across the monk’s face. He grinned widely, revealing neatly arranged snow white teeth. “No matter how peerless they once were, they are all dead now, while I have become a Maha and my path to longevity has only just begun. This is the difference between Immortals and Buddhists. Let you enjoy a few years of pride. What use is it?
“Northern Dan belongs to my temple, so of course we will take it back. Fellow Daoist Ning, my temple gave your Supreme Yang Dao lineage some face and did not harm anyone. Return to where you came from.”
Ning Wan smiled faintly, like spring thawing ice, her tone gentle and soft, “Even if senior lives another four hundred years, the matters of Yuanwu Trampling the Face and One Talisman Suffices will not be erased. In the past, they were left unmentioned for the sake of friendship between our two sides. Now that the world hears of Baoqing attaining Maha, the stories should naturally be brought up again.”
Her words were plain, yet struck like thunder. Baoqing the Maha had spoken at length, only to be stopped cold by a single sentence from Ning Wan. His fists clenched tightly, jeweled light flaring in his eyes as he forced a smile through his anger. “You should worry about yourself, you wretch!”
————
Moongaze Lake.
Light flowed through the great hall. A man in black robes and dark crimson garments stood before the corridor, watching the heavy rain over the lake. His hand resting on the stone railing tapped lightly as he waited unhurriedly.
After a while, a white haired old man emerged from a corridor. He was thin and small, his face full of wrinkles, looking exceedingly shrewd.
He bowed as he came near and said respectfully, “Family head, the Locust Soul Hall in Jiangbei has already obtained the land of Hidden East. Its territory has expanded by five hundred kilometers, and many of the great families of Hidden East have pledged allegiance under its banner. Its strength is now growing ever greater and is truly formidable.”
Li Jiangqian nodded in interest and asked, “How did they obtain it? Did the Capital Immortal Dao hand Hidden East over to them? Did Guan Gongxiao fail to come up with any good solution?”
Qu Buzhi hurriedly replied, “Family head, turmoil broke out in Hidden East, and several great families defected to the Locust Soul Hall. Daoist Bai originally refused to accept them, but those families brought news. It turned out that White River Stream had always been territory of the Mifan Dao lineage. Lord Guan went along with the situation and handed over Hidden East. As for those families, Daoist Bai did not move against them, seemingly intending to make use of them again once the storm passes.”
Li Jiangqian nodded and replied, “That is barely acceptable. Daoist Bai is not foolish, only overly greedy. If something were truly too offensive, he would not be willing to do it. Once his greed stirs, he does not care much for minor grievances.”
Qu Buzhi quickly nodded and said, “Precisely because of this news, it is said in recent days that Daoist Bai also intends to reclaim Brahma Cloud and unify White River Stream.”
“The Locust Soul Hall truly leaks information worse than a sieve…” Li Jiangqian smiled mockingly as he replied, “People are all like this. After one or two experiences, they assume everyone is the same. When my family and the Capital Immortal Dao withdrew, his fear of Purple Mansion Realm forces gradually faded. In his heart, he felt they were nothing special. Seeing Chengyun and the Lotus Temple locked in fierce conflict and unable to manage the turmoil in their own territories, he began to form his own plans.
“Chengyun Gate is also happy to fight. Now that the Mifan Dao lineage has fully gathered, Brahma Cloud no longer has any meaning. They quickly shed all their local vassals, achieving two goals at once. Meanwhile, they are entangled with the Buddhist Dao and cannot spare attention. They fear nothing anymore.”
He surveyed the situation and thought to himself, Chengyun Gate is truly formidable. Without touching anything directly in their schemes, they have already shed all connections cleanly. After all, when faced with something like this, even the one setting the scheme would feel a chill in their heart.
Qu Buzhi did not know what he was thinking and did not dare speak further. He only saw Li Jiangqian suddenly grow pensive and ask, “Guan Gongxiao seems to have a younger sister. Is her name Guan Lingdie? I have heard she is very beautiful. Hmm. A Devil Dao Saintess. Is she still in Jiangbei these days?”
