Chapter 549: Arrival
Chapter 549: Arrival
The moment the Golden Body Dharma Image appeared, spiritual power surged forth, its might unparalleled. Its expressionless face revealed neither joy nor sorrow as it extended a finger towards the horrified Sage Son.
This single finger attack was incredibly powerful.
The Sage Son's face twisted in agony as his limbs gradually broke, his flesh and blood blurring.
But in the next instant, he was restored to his original state as if nothing had happened.
Between his brows, a bloody mark glowed, emitting a deep and pitch-black radiance.
At the same time, behind the Sage Son, a gigantic blood-colored figure appeared.
This figure, soaked in filthy blood, seemed to be a Blood Man with surging vitality, capturing souls and striking fear into people's hearts with its terrifying pressure.
This was a Blood-colored Dharma Image!
It was the Cave Void Blood Shadow of the Demon Path's Old Ancestor.
It was also a talisman!
A powerful life-saving talisman similar to the "Longevity Talisman of Fate"!
Taking advantage of the Sage Son's momentary distraction, Bai Zisheng quietly approached and then shattered his own Longevity Talisman of Fate, triggering the Golden Body Dharma Image in an attempt to kill this Demon Path Sage Son!
With the Dharma Image's finger attack, the Sage Son's life hung by a thread.
The life-saving talisman between the Sage Son's brows was also forcibly activated to counter the Golden Body Dharma Image, protecting his life.
A "life" exchanged for a "life".
One talisman shattered another.
In the Great Departure Mountain.
The Orthodox Path's Golden Body Dharma Image and the Demon Path's Blood-colored Dharma Image clashed, their fingers and palms meeting in a heaven-shattering, earth-shattering battle.
Golden and blood-colored spiritual powers swept across the heavens and the earth.
Peaks collapsed, trees were uprooted, rocks and soil turned to powder, and beasts were affected, crushed to ashes.
Bai Zixi still stood in front of Mo Hua, protecting him.
The residual power of the Longevity Talisman, following Bai Zixi's heart's desire, protected Mo Hua and Xue Yi, who was not far away.
Mo Hua was untouched by the battle.
He stood there, stunned, his eyes fixed on the two Dharma Images, his heart filled with indescribable shock.
"This is... a real cultivator..."
"Moving mountains and filling the sea, destroying the heavens and extinguishing the earth..."
"This is what it truly means to have the power to reach the heavens and probe the netherworld..."
"The Cave Void Realm..."
Mo Hua's eyes held both shock and aspiration, and he couldn't help but clench his small hands.
One day, he too would hold the power to overturn the universe.
With a flip of his hand, he could cover the sky, and with another, he could level the earth!
At that time, no one would dare to scheme against his master, bully his junior disciples, or hurt the people he cherished!
...
The clash of the Dharma Images lasted only an instant, but it shook the heavens and the earth.
Soon after, the thunderclouds in the sky returned once more.
The Heavenly Tribulation descended for the second time.
The scarlet tribulation lightning struck down from the heavens, seemingly filled with icy rage, aiming to obliterate both the Orthodox Path's Golden Body Dharma Image and the Demon Path's Blood-colored Dharma Image!
Once again, everything returned to calm...
...
Before this, when the first Longevity Talisman of Fate shattered.
The destiny of this place had already been stirred.
The blockade of the Heavenly Secret Lock of the Underworld Path was also erased by the tribulation lightning, causing a leak of destiny, and the consequences were foreseeable.
The huge spiritual power fluctuations caused by the Dharma Images also spread out from the Great Departure Mountain, causing a stir among cultivators.
A thousand miles away, in Liyuan City.
A middle-aged cultivator in a white robe sensed the shattering of the first Longevity Talisman of Fate and the fluctuations of the Cave Void Realm Dharma Image. His heart trembled, and he accidentally crushed the teacup in his hand.
"Longevity Talisman of Fate...?"
"Shattered... shattered?!”
Even with his late Golden Core cultivation and his high position for the past two hundred years, his deep scheming nature couldn't hide the sudden pallor that spread across his face.
He was the Master of the Dao Court in Liyuan City.
Liyuan City was the largest immortal city in the entire Great Departure Mountain State.
And the Dao Court in Liyuan City was also the largest, with the most cultivators and the highest authority in the entire Great Departure Mountain State.
As the Master, he was responsible for the safety of the entire Great Departure Mountain State.
With great power came great responsibility.
But now, at this very moment, in the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he had suddenly sensed the fluctuations of a Cave Void Dharma Image.
And a Longevity Talisman of Fate had been shattered...
The white-robed cultivator's heart turned cold, and his mouth felt bitter.
"Which family's young master came to play in the Great Departure Mountain and broke their Longevity Talisman of Fate...?"
The Longevity Talisman of Fate... was it an ordinary talisman?
What kind of family would use such a talisman?
And what kind of disciple would be given such a talisman?
Without a life-or-death crisis, could the Longevity Talisman of Fate be shattered?
What did this imply?
It showed that the security of the Great Departure Mountain State was severely lacking!
If anything went wrong, he, as the Master of the State, would undoubtedly be held accountable!
It was like having a black iron lump hanging over your head, whether it was your fault or not!
Those big aristocratic families wouldn't listen to your explanations. Someone would have to shoulder the blame and bear the brunt of their anger.
And that was just the talisman shattering.
What if the young master who had been given the Longevity Talisman of Fate suffered some kind of accident...?
The white-robed cultivator's face turned pale, and he immediately stood up, shouting, "Attendant!"
An official walked in and cupped his hands, "Master, what are your orders?"
The white-robed cultivator glanced at the direction of the spiritual power fluctuations, mentally calculating the layout of the Great Departure Mountain State, and after a long while, he vaguely recalled a name, "Liyuan City..."
"Send a message to the Dao Court of Liyuan City and ask what's happening over there?"
"Yes."
The official took his leave and returned after a cup of tea's time, his expression grave, "Master, there's no reply from Liyuan City..."
The white-robed cultivator frowned, "No reply?"
Anger rose within him, and he scolded, "Neglecting their duties? How dare they be so negligent and lax...!"
The white-robed cultivator suddenly paused, a chill running through his heart.
Who would dare to be so bold? The white-robed cultivator's face turned grim as he gave his orders.
"Pass down my command. Within the time it takes an incense stick to burn, all the deputy and executive officers at the Golden Core stage in Liyuan City must present themselves before me without any excuses!
"Everyone, no exceptions! Anyone who dares to disobey will be expelled from the Dao Court!"
The executive officer was stunned and alarmed, knowing that this matter must be of great significance.
It was the first time he had seen the usually calm and composed master show such severity.
The executive officer immediately relayed the order.
Before long, all the Jin Dan stage cultivators in Liyuan City had gathered before the white-robed cultivator, their expressions grave and filled with confusion.
"Master, what has happened?" one of them asked.
The white-robed cultivator waved his hand. "Get ready to depart for Lishan City immediately!"
"All of us?" One of the deputy masters was taken aback.
The white-robed cultivator thought for a moment and casually pointed to a Jin Dan stage cultivator. "You stay behind to guard the city. Everyone else comes with me."
The cultivators exchanged glances, perplexed.
The deputy master couldn't help but ask again, "Master, what exactly has happened?"
The white-robed cultivator was frustrated and irritable, but seeing their confused expressions, he reluctantly explained, "A Longevity Talisman of Fate has been shattered. We're going to investigate."
"The Longevity Talisman of Fate?!"
The cultivators were shocked and began to murmur among themselves.
"What is that?"
"A talisman?"
"Is it that important?"
"Is it worth mobilizing all of us?"
...
The white-robed cultivator hesitated, at a loss for words.
After all, Liyuan City was quite remote, and although these Jin Dan stage cultivators came from respectable backgrounds, most of them were from minor aristocratic families or sects and lacked knowledge about the truly major legacies.
"Master, are we overreacting to a single talisman?" someone asked cautiously.
Just a talisman—was it really worth mobilizing all the top Jin Dan stage cultivators from the largest Dao Court in the entire Dalisanzhou boundary?
The deputy master also questioned, "Master, is this talisman that crucial?"
The white-robed cultivator was exasperated and could only grit his teeth in frustration. "You guys know nothing! Let me tell you, a single Longevity Talisman of Fate is more precious than my life!"
Upon hearing this, the cultivators' expressions changed drastically, and they finally realized that the situation might be far more serious than they had imagined.
"Enough chatter! Put on your Daoist robes, bring your magical treasures, and prepare your pills. We leave now!" the white-robed cultivator barked.
"Yes!" the cultivators replied solemnly.
The white-robed cultivator nodded, about to say something, when he suddenly sensed something and his heart skipped a beat. His eyes widened in horror.
The deputy master hesitated, pointing toward the distance and stammering, "Master, is that what happens when a Longevity Talisman shatters...?"
The white-robed cultivator whirled around and took just one glance before his legs turned weak, almost unable to stand.
In the distance, golden light filled the sky, and the aura was terrifying.
"Another... shattered talisman?"
No, there were more...
The white-robed cultivator stared intently.
In the far distance, a golden light and a crimson light confronted each other.
Although they were too far away to see clearly, the dense auras clearly indicated that they were... two Dharma Images?
And among them, that blood shadow... was it the Cave Void of the Demon Path?!
A Longevity Immortal Talisman of the Demon Path?!
In just a short moment, two Longevity Talismans had shattered, and there was also a Longevity Immortal Talisman of the Demon Path?
"What in the world is going on?"
The white-robed cultivator's eyes were filled with shock.
...
Farther away, in the Central Dao Court of Daozhou, located in the Heavenly Axis Pavilion.
The Elder was playing chess with the Inspector.
The Elder had white hair and a weathered face, but his eyes were deep and profound. The Inspector had half-white hair and a handsome face, and his eyes were humble.
The two of them took turns placing their pieces on the board.
Soon, hurried footsteps approached from outside the door.
A disciple of the Heavenly Pivot Pavilion rushed over and abruptly stopped, suppressing his anxiety. He respectfully knocked on the door.
The Elder ignored him and continued playing chess.
The disciple at the door was anxious, but he could only wait respectfully.
The Inspector couldn't bear to see this and said softly, "Elder..."
The Elder finally came back to his senses, sighing softly. He moved his gaze away from the chessboard and slowly said, "Come in."
The disciple felt as if he had received a great honor. Despite his urgency, he still entered quietly, making no sound.
He bowed and presented a jade slip to the Elder, saying respectfully, "Elder, we've calculated that in the third-grade Dalisanzhou boundary, in Lishan City..."
"Mm."
The Elder nodded slightly but gave no further instructions.
The disciple was at a loss.
The Inspector shook his head helplessly, took the jade slip, and said to the disciple, "The Elder knows. You can pass on the message. This matter has been planned for a long time, and there are established protocols to follow. Just do as planned..."
The disciple breathed a sigh of relief and respectfully took his leave.
The Inspector hesitated for a moment, glanced at the content of the jade slip, and was slightly moved. "The Underworld Path's Heavenly Secret Lock..."
"Blood Banner Sealing the City, Demon Sword Hanging by a Thread?"
...
Supervisor Meng murmured to himself, his expression shifting as he exclaimed, "Elder..."
"Hmm?" The Elder responded calmly.
Supervisor Meng glanced at him, his eyes widening in surprise. "You knew about this already?"
The Elder kept his eyes fixed on the chessboard, not bothering to reply.
Supervisor Meng continued cautiously:
"The Shangguan family, the Yun family, and the Dao Xuan Sect... a while back, when they asked you to perform divinations, you said you couldn't, were you just brushing them off?"
"The matters of Lishan City... did you know about them beforehand?"
"You..."
The Elder lifted his head, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "You, always so distracted when playing chess. Can't you focus?"
Supervisor Meng paused, letting out a bitter laugh.
With turmoil brewing, the secrets of the immortal path were shrouded in uncertainty.
Was this really the time to be playing chess?
The Elder shook his head, sighing. "You're too restless and impulsive. You lack focus and discipline. At this rate, you'll never improve at chess..."
Supervisor Meng glanced at the chessboard, his gaze heavy.
On the board, the Elder's pieces had been mostly "captured" by him.
And even then, it was only because he had spared the Elder's feelings and held back, giving him some advantages.
Although it might be considered disrespectful to say so.
After all, it was common knowledge that the Elder of the Celestial Axis Pavilion was notoriously bad at chess.
Now, the Elder was saying that he would never improve at the game, and Supervisor Meng didn't know how to respond...
Supervisor Meng's heart felt weary, but he couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you worried at all?"
"Worried about what?" The Elder asked, nonchalantly.
"Of course, I'm worried about... the Dao Xuan Sect and the others..."
A chill flashed in the Elder's aged eyes. "Worried that they'll rush to their deaths?"
Supervisor Meng's eyes widened, and his expression turned solemn. "Have you divined something?"
The Elder had lost all interest in the game. He moved a piece, sacrificing a large group of his own pieces, and said coldly:
"I didn't divine, it's for their own good."
"If I didn't divine, they wouldn't die."
"If I divined slower, they would die slower."
The Elder's words carried a profound meaning.
Supervisor Meng's eyes sharpened, "Is it truly that dangerous?"
The Elder didn't confirm nor deny.
Supervisor Meng asked, puzzled, "Did you tell the Shangguan family, and the people from the Dao Xuan Sect about this?"
"No point..."
The Elder shook his head, fiddling with the pieces on the board, "Even if I told them, they wouldn't believe me. They'd probably think I was exaggerating or had ulterior motives, and they might even blame me."
"So, I might as well drag it out..."
The Elder sighed, "Old and senile, how could I calculate so quickly and accurately?"
"Then, what about them..."
"Let fate take its course. What will be, will be." The Elder said indifferently, then looked at Supervisor Meng and continued slowly, "Even a moth wouldn't think it would die before flying into the flame."
"Can you stop a moth from flying into the flame?"
Supervisor Meng frowned, "Is this situation truly that dangerous?"
The Elder silently gathered the chess pieces, resetting the board. "Not everyone can play this game, and not everyone can handle this situation..."
Supervisor Meng's eyes turned grave, and he nodded.
The Elder's words implied that this matter involved the secrets of the heavens, and the stakes were too high. It was best not to get involved.
However, Supervisor Meng also felt that the Elder's words had a double meaning and were also a subtle criticism of him.
As if he was implying that Supervisor Meng wasn't worthy of playing chess with him.
Even though it was obvious that the Elder himself was terrible at the game...
Supervisor Meng shook his head, thinking for a moment before asking, "Elder, I still don't understand. If we get involved in this situation, what dangers lie ahead?"
The Elder's eyes turned cloudy, and he asked in return, "Who are we plotting against?"
"Mister Zhuang?" Supervisor Meng hesitated.
"Do you think that young man with the surname Zhuang is so easy to scheme against?"
Supervisor Meng was taken aback, then frowned. "Even if he was extraordinary in the past, it's been so many years. With his damaged foundation, can he still be that difficult to deal with?"
The Elder coldly smiled, "He's at the end of his lifespan, having exhausted his heavenly fortune. He's powerless to turn the tide, or else he wouldn't be in such a desperate situation. Moreover..."
A hint of gravity flashed in the Elder's eyes.
"...the most terrifying one is actually not him, but his senior brother..."
Supervisor Meng's heart skipped a beat, "You mean, the eccentric...?"
Supervisor Meng hesitated, then decided against saying the name out loud. He shook his head, "It's just a case of a demonic heart within the Dao. It's not like he has a top-tier demonic cultivation legacy, right?"
The Elder glanced at him, "If you could stop talking big, it would save me a lot of worry."
Supervisor Meng looked a little disgruntled.
"That brat with the surname Zhuang, and his senior brother, are naturally the same."
"With a single thought, they can manifest two laws, their schemes are unfathomable..."
"Compared to 'scheming', you lot can't outscheme that Zhuang brat. And when it comes to 'playing', you definitely can't outplay his senior brother."
"You schemed against the Zhuang brat, but he values sentiment and won't go all out against you..."
"...But his senior brother is a different story, he won't be so easy to deal with..."
"If you really come face to face with them, nine times out of ten, you'll all end up getting played to death..."
The Elder's gaze turned murky.
The Inspector's expression gradually became solemn...
...
In the Great Departure Mountain.
After the Heavenly Tribulation, the golden light and blood-colored light dissipated.
The Sage Son's face was filled with disbelief:
"My Undying Talisman... is shattered?!
That little bastard with the surname Bai, exchanging one 'life' for another, actually managed to destroy my Undying Talisman?!
What the hell, who are these people?!
Is this how you use a Longevity Talisman?!
This is a Longevity Talisman, a life-saving treasure!
The Sage Son's anger surged, and a mouthful of blood rose to his throat, but he couldn't spit it out or swallow it down.
The mountains and forests were overturned, and the surroundings were in ruins.
Bai Zisheng regretted not killing the Sage Son.
It was only then that he realized that this damn Sage Son also had a "Longevity Talisman" to protect his life.
However, it was a fair trade, so he couldn't complain.
Bai Zisheng retreated back to Mo Hua and Bai Zixi's side.
The Sage Son glared at the three of them with malicious eyes, his anger rising, "Damn you! Shattering my 'Undying Talisman', I will make you pay!"
Bai Zisheng coldly humphed, "Your lackey is dead, what can you do to us now?"
Bai Zixi's Longevity Talisman had shattered, and the Golden Body Dharma Image had killed five Golden Core Demon Cultivators.
Although Bai Zisheng hadn't intended to kill anyone, the Dharma Image's spiritual power was too strong, sweeping away all the Golden Core Demon Cultivators in its path, leaving them dead or crippled.
There were only a few Demon Cultivators left, who had been affected by the Sage Son's own "Undying Talisman" and lost their lives.
More than a dozen Golden Core Demon Cultivators had been almost completely annihilated.
The remaining two or three lay on the ground, their lives hanging in the balance.
As Bai Zisheng approached the Sage Son, he sensed the spiritual power emanating from him, which was only at the late Foundation Establishment stage and had not yet reached the Golden Core stage.
Without his Demon Path lackeys, this Sage Son was alone and helpless.
Therefore, Bai Zisheng remained unafraid and even wanted to curse at the Sage Son some more.
But Mo Hua immediately said, "Let's go!"
Bai Zisheng was taken aback for a moment, then realized that now was not the time to indulge in verbal sparring.
Bai Zixi also nodded.
The three glanced at each other and were just about to leave when they heard the Sage Son coldly laugh:
"You think you can leave? Do you really think you can get away?!"
Before the Sage Son could finish speaking, the atmosphere in the forest changed.
A surge of powerful demonic energy suddenly descended, surrounding the Sage Son.
As the demonic energy dissipated, a group of demonic cultivators with sinister eyes appeared.
Moreover, they were all Golden Core Demon Cultivators! They wore the same blood-red robes, indicating they were from the same demonic sect.
At the forefront was an old demon with late Golden Core cultivation. His face was full of wrinkles, and his back was hunched as he bowed to the Sage Son, "This old servant arrived late to save you, Holy Son, please forgive me!"
The Great Departure Mountain was sealed off by the demon cultivators.
The huge disturbance caused by the Dharma Images had also attracted the attention of the demon cultivators, who arrived as reinforcements.
A total of more than twenty Golden Core Demon Cultivators stood behind the Sage Son, obeying his every command.
The Sage Son let out a sinister laugh, and his expression turned cold as he looked at Mo Hua and the others:
"Today, none of you will leave this place alive!"
"You shattered my Undying Talisman, and I will make you pay the price!"
The Sage Son glanced at Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi, his lips curling into a cold smile, "Previously, I gave face to your Bai family and let you go, but you dared to go against me, not knowing your place..."
"Now that your Longevity Talismans are shattered and you have lost your self-protection, you are like fish on a chopping block, at my mercy!"
"Let's see how you try to escape now!"
His eyes held anger, jealousy, and a hint of hidden greed.
The group of demon cultivators glared at them with vicious expressions.
Xue Yi bit her lip, shielding the three children behind her.
But her figure looked so small and fragile, and despair filled her beautiful eyes.
In the face of the Golden Core Demon Cultivators, Mo Hua also clenched his jaw, feeling helpless.
The difference in their cultivation levels was just too great!
He furrowed his brows, deep in thought, when he suddenly paused and slowly turned his head towards the western entrance of the mountain, his eyes widening in shock, and the hairs on his body standing on end.
Bai Zixi sensed Mo Hua's strangeness and turned to look as well, but the entrance was empty, barren, and there was nothing there.
The Sage Son noticed their reaction and sneered, but before he could say anything, the blood-robed old demon behind him spoke up with a solemn expression, "Holy Son, someone is coming..."
The Sage Son's expression turned grim, and his eyes darkened.
The surroundings fell silent.
After a few moments, the other Golden Core Demon Cultivators also sensed the anomaly and turned their heads towards the western entrance.
The entrance was empty, with no one in sight.
Soon, footsteps could be heard, one heavy and the other light, as if one person was walking with a deep stride while the other was shallow.
A figure gradually appeared at the entrance.
He was disheveled, covered in mud, his face stiff, and he wore a dirty Taoist robe that seemed to have been taken from a corpse, as it hung loosely on his body.
(This chapter is about 6,000 words long, so rounding up, it's like I've added an extra chapter, hehe~)
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
