Chapter 1761: Buddhist Head (I)

Having learned his lesson the hard way, Sima Yuanli immediately hurled the spirit treasure. Li Ximing, however, did not pause for even a moment. Enduring the intense dizziness brought on by his failing divine ability mana, he held a hand seal before his chest for a long moment, and called out to the distant formation!

Hum!

The cascading rain of Radiant Fire still had yet to fade from the heavens when the great formation, shrouded in purple-gold radiance, thundered to life. Thirty-two beams of spirit light shot into the sky, illuminating the sky once more.

It was none other than the light of [Purple Rite] from the Purple Mansion Realm grand formation, the [Zhaoguang Profound Purple Spirit Formation]!

The towering temple in the sky was collapsing with a thunderous roar. White cicadas flitted among the torrents of falling crystal, while dazzling radiant light bridged heaven and earth. Despite the Radiant Fire of every hue raining chaotically from the sky, the figure of the young monk emerged amid the intermingled crimson and purple flames.

Guangchan's eyes were tightly shut. Golden Radiant Fire danced across his golden kasaya, while the profound runes that had once shimmered upon it flickered in and out. He stood utterly motionless, like a stone statue.

The only difference was the small hole, three fingers wide, that had opened in his chest. Radiant Fire could faintly be seen flickering within, while ragged wisps of purple matter poured from the wound, revealing shattered internal organs that resembled crystalline glass.

The [Great Radiant White Light] was, after all, an art of exceptionally high grade. Li Ximing had elevated its power even further with [Valley Wind Leading Fire], then devoted all of his attention into condensing it within the treasure pagoda. The resulting radiance had completely surpassed Guangchan's expectations. The [Great Radiant White Light] had done far more than merely injure his dharma body. It had pierced straight through the heart of his dharma body in a single strike!

Worse still, the [Wondrous Art of the Cicada-Slough Radiant Seat], the technique upon which he had staked his very life in cultivation, had only allowed him to shed his armored body. Once successfully activated, it could instantly dispel any injury that had not penetrated as deep as his muscles and bones. Yet the baleful golden radiance left behind by that piercing blow had spread throughout his limbs and bones. Even after transforming into a white cicada and escaping, he had still been unable to purge it!

Because of this, the thirty-two purple pillars of light shining between heaven and earth resonated with one another and rapidly converged to bathe the monk's face in purple. Yet Guangchan could not move at all. The Baleful Metal Qi of [Great Radiant White Light] had temporarily paralyzed his dharma body, while the [Light of the Six Directions] contained within the radiance possessed its own wondrous power of confinement. With the two reinforcing one another, he could not even open his eyelids!

Boom!

The thirty-two pillars of light converged into a dense waterfall of purple-gold radiance. It was none other than the [Vast Valley Purple Rite Light] of the grand formation!

At this moment of grave peril, the pale golden profound window above Guangchan's head opened on its own, releasing its own protective energy. The monk's figure became as insignificant as an ant as he was swallowed by the flood of purple-gold light.

Li Ximing coughed, but there was not the slightest trace of joy on his face. Instead, a flicker of regret passed through his heart.

Times have changed. When the Supreme Yang Dao lineage modified this grand formation for me, they sacrificed much of its offensive power to begin with. The [Vast Valley Purple Rite Light] is still useful against some early-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, but it is far too weak against this fellow's dharma body!

Thus, he sped away without the slightest hesitation, pursuing something through the sky.

Sure enough, although both attacks made heaven and earth lose their color, the [Vast Valley Purple Rite Light] was all thunder and little rain compared to the terrifying power with which the [Great Radiant White Light] had shattered the dharma temple. The monk’s face betrayed his pain, but he remained standing firmly within the purple light as a series of sharp cracking sounds rang out from his body.

At that moment, the monk slowly opened his eyes, his pupils filled with disbelief.

Fortunately, Li Ximing no longer had any other arts of comparable power at his disposal. With his dharma body still unstable, Guangchan raised a hand with some difficulty and immediately covered the wound in his chest. The equally large hole in his back rapidly closed, while the tear in his kasaya quickly shrank to the size of a needlepoint. ℴ

But in a battle between Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, how could he possibly be given time to tend his wounds? A long scroll unfurled through the air as the [Huai River Map] billowed in the wind. Layer upon layer of golden light surged forth, and a massive fortified pass immediately manifested before crashing down with overwhelming force!

Boom!

A terrifying shockwave of sound spread through the air. Countless sheer peaks rose beneath the mighty pass as all manner of Bright Yang phenomena manifested at once. Rivers ceased to flow; golden statues toppled; armies collapsed; and vast palaces crumbled. Bells and drums resounded between heaven and earth, their sonorous echoes lingering without end.

However, Guangchan's Dao conduct was terrifyingly profound. The instant the pass descended, he managed to temporarily suppress the golden radiance and free himself from the effects of his earlier injury.

Raising his brows, he shouted, "Hold!"

The profound window hovering above his head suddenly blazed with brilliance, holding back the spirit treasure for an instant. Yet the [Huai River Map] was a spirit treasure, it could not be stopped so easily. Not only did it lock onto his aura, but curtains of white light fell on either side, cutting off every avenue of escape!

[Huai River Map]... I suppose that's no surprise!

Caught within the spirit treasure, Guangchan's gaze darkened as he glanced at the treasure pagoda. The pagoda he had painstakingly refined was still firmly pinned in place by Manifest Earth, without the slightest possibility of moving. The monk could only slide his thumb from the tip of his middle finger down to its pad, and his expression changed.

When Li Ximing had used the formation to suppress him and break free earlier, he had never intended to retreat. Instead, he had sped away to put some distance between him and his opponent. Now he swept up his sleeve, and his fair hand suddenly expanded. The [Heaven-Venerating Gate] that had previously been augmenting his own body descended at once, trapping the Valley Water lotus within!

Guangchan had already escaped from beneath the [Heaven-Venerating Gate] once using a Valley Water art. This time, Li Ximing was specifically guarding against him using the [Borrowed Valley Rite Brilliant Art] to pull the same cicada-shedding escape once again!

So he isn't merely a Daoist who knows nothing but alchemy and cultivation!

For a moment, Guangchan was both furious and impressed, but there was not a trace of fear in him. Since escape was impossible, he immediately raised his sleeve to block the countless streams of golden radiance pouring down from the spirit treasure.

Enduring the pain in his chest, he forcefully swept out his sleeve and committed himself fully, chanting, "Land of jeweled fangs and golden borders, let the sacred dharma dwell within me!"

The profound window hovering above his head abruptly contracted and returned to between his eyebrows, causing his aura to surge dramatically. Yet with it gone, there was nothing left to impede the descent of the [Huai River Map]!

Thud!

As the sound reverberated in the air like a gong, Guangchan seemed to have been struck squarely on the head. The needle-thin wound on his back abruptly widened until it was once again three fingers across. Two streams of white blood ran from his nostrils, while his open eyes filled entirely with gold.

He now found himself amid layer upon layer of fortified passes, surrounded by flowing rivers. The mighty fortifications stretched endlessly into the distance, towering high above him. Countless figures clad in golden armor and robes stood atop them, gripping bows and spears as they glared down furiously.

I'm inside the [Huai River Map]!

Li Ximing's face was pale as he circulated his mana, sitting atop the [Heaven-Venerating Gate] and hurriedly regulating his breathing. Yet his divine ability did not slow in the slightest. The moment he saw Guangchan enter the spirit treasure, he immediately abandoned the Valley Water lotus and moved to descend upon the spirit treasure himself, intending to seal Guangchan's connection to the great void.

Guangchan had yielded three moves in succession precisely so he could recover from the consequences of his earlier miscalculation. How could he possibly yield again?!

His expression darkened as the endless golden expanse of the [Huai River Map] filled his pupils. Swallowing the blood filled with Radiant Fire, he watched as numerous phantasmal images gradually emerged behind him.

He then intoned in an eerie voice, "Jeweled fangs form my body; my body submits as the heart endures. The Undefeated Dharma Master manifests, revered by all who listen to his proclaimed teaching. May the fullness of enlightenment within a single drop reside in me."