Chapter 1661: Heavenly Dragon's Buddhist Chant

Death Seal, Heavenly Thunder, Magnetic Light. Any one of these three attacks would likely be fatal to an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator.

Master Huaiyin, having reached the pinnacle of body refinement, faced fewer restrictions than other spell cultivators within the Nine Earth Primordial Magnetic Divine Light. Many of their magic treasures and divine abilities were either unusable or easily diverted by the Nine Earth Primordial Magnetic force, significantly diminishing their power. His daring move to seize the treasure amidst the Death Seal and Heavenly Thunder stemmed from profound confidence in his ability to handle any situation. However, he had not anticipated a third person lying in wait, hidden so perfectly.

With all three attacks bearing down on him, Master Huaiyin's Arhat Golden Body, though mighty, could not withstand the assault and shattered instantly. Kun Dao had been patiently awaiting this precise moment; there was no way she would miss it. She seized the opening and struck successfully! Feeling the sticky blood on her palm, Kun Dao's eyes curved into a smile. In Kun Dao's eyes, Master Huaiyin's robust qi and blood were even more enticing than a Nascent Soul itself.

However, Kun Dao's triumph was short-lived. Her prey did not lose all power to resist or die instantly as she had expected, ready to be carved up. At that moment, Kun Dao had already guided the magnetic light through Master Huaiyin's wound into his internal organs and was about to detonate it, intending to utterly shatter his viscera.

"What kind of monster!" A furious roar suddenly erupted. The roar contained soul-stirring power. This was the Heavenly Dragon Buddhist Chant, a secret technique passed down only within Buddhism. The chanting, like thunder, could deter all enemies. Wielded by Master Huaiyin and empowered by his qi and blood, its might was particularly terrifying. Cultivators with weaker mental fortitude would have their primordial spirits shaken and their hearts and guts torn apart on the spot.

Kun Dao stiffened slightly. Master Huaiyin had, at some unknown point, turned his head to face Kun Dao. Zen sounds emanated from his tongue, and the Buddhist light in his eyes, fueled by his rage, blazed with astonishing killing intent. At this moment, Master Huaiyin was surrounded by dazzling Buddhist light. His Arhat Golden Body, though shattered, did not disperse; instead, the fragments reassembled, transforming into a Golden Dragon of Qi and Blood, aiding him in unleashing this Heavenly Dragon Buddhist Chant. The Golden Dragon of Qi and Blood merged with the Buddhist chanting, forming tangible sound waves. Master Huaiyin himself, however, appeared withered and close to death. His Golden Body was shattered, his internal organs severely damaged, and he was gravely wounded. Using the Heavenly Dragon Buddhist Chant in such a state further depleted his qi and blood, leaving him at the end of his tether. The Buddhist chant clearly could not deter Kun Dao; it could only buy him a brief moment to catch his breath.

In this dire situation, Master Huaiyin's outstretched right hand still hadn't retracted. He recklessly lunged towards the fragments, while his left hand returned to his chest. His fingers curled inward as he formed a hand seal with one hand. Kun Dao shook her head to dispel the impact of the Buddhist chant. Discovering that Master Huaiyin was still coveting the treasure, she inwardly scoffed at his recklessness. Just as she was about to deliver the killing blow, she felt her arm, which was still embedded in Master Huaiyin's body, suddenly constricted.

An astonishing surge of power, from an unknown source, erupted from within Master Huaiyin, forcing all of the Nine Earth Primordial Magnetic Divine Light back out of his body. Kun Dao felt the Nine Earth Primordial Magnetic Divine Light being compressed around her palm, unable to inflict any further damage on Master Huaiyin. Moreover, the force's momentum grew increasingly fierce, threatening to throw her back. Even more astonishing, Master Huaiyin, who had been on the verge of death, suddenly had a golden light flowing from his hand seal across his skin. His aura began to surge at a visible rate. This golden light emanated from Master Huaiyin's hand seal. Wherever the golden light reached, it was as if fortunes had reversed. Thunderous roars echoed from Master Huaiyin's meridians, the color returned to his face, his Golden Dragon of Qi and Blood reassembled, and the Arhat Golden Body reappeared! In an instant, Master Huaiyin had almost returned to his peak condition. Were it not for the shocking wound still visible on his back, no one would have guessed he had just been gravely injured and nearly perished.

"Die, monster!" Master Huaiyin roared again. This was not the Heavenly Dragon Buddhist Chant, but his voice was full of vigor. The Arhat Golden Body, with lowered brows, struck down with a palm towards the crown of Kun Dao's head. Golden dragons coiled around the Arhat's arm, and wherever it passed, circular golden patterns rippled, conjuring an astonishing storm out of thin air. It scattered the magnetic light and seemed capable of shattering the very void. Kun Dao was at the center of this storm, her fair wrist still embedded in Master Huaiyin's wound. If she did not retreat, she would have to bear the full force of the Arhat Golden Body's palm.

In less than a breath's time, the situation had undergone a dizzying, kaleidoscopic change. Kun Dao's stealthy attack had nearly killed Master Huaiyin, but the tide of battle had swiftly turned. Qin Sang and Su Zinan were both utterly astonished. They were surprised by the mysterious assailant's sudden appearance and by Master Huaiyin's powerful divine ability. The attacker's concealment was flawless, and her timing impeccable, clearly premeditated for a long time. Had it been them, they might not have escaped this calamity. Qin Sang couldn't help but feel a chill of fear; if not for the Fiery Jade Centipede's warning, he would have been the one ambushed. Master Huaiyin had, in a way, shielded him from disaster.

A thought flashed through his mind, and his Heavenly Eye Divine Ability pierced through the Nine Earth Primordial Magnetic Divine Light. Qin Sang saw Kun Dao's attire clearly and was instantly drawn to an object at her waist. It was a fiery red jade pendant, with what looked like flowing magma inside. It was identical to the pendant in the Ice Ritual Palace's tribulation image. The Fiery Jade Centipede's reaction also indicated that this was the very pendant that attracted it. "The Scarlet Immortal Pendant!" Qin Sang's pupils constricted, his eyes brightened considerably, and his thoughts surged. Without hesitation, he formed the Thunder Sound and Soul-Snatching Incantation seals again. In truth, he had already planned this. It was the same attack as before, only this time, Kun Dao was the target.

Master Huaiyin came from the Western Lands and had few enemies in the Central Plains. Kun Dao's immediate attack indicated she was a ruthless and indiscriminate killer. Kun Dao had spied on him multiple times, clearly with ill intentions. Even without the Scarlet Immortal Pendant, Qin Sang would not have shown her any mercy. At the same time, Qin Sang was speculating about Kun Dao's origins. Since entering the Formless Immortal Sect, he had never seen this woman, nor did the residual soul of the Crying Spirit Cave Lord contain any related memories. However, Kun Dao's various actions provided clues for his deductions. Qin Sang was certain that the Star Pavilion explosion and the emergence of the ancient cultivator's relics were her doing. This woman could use divine restrictions for concealment and manipulate the Nine Earth Primordial Magnetic Divine Light, but her control must be limited. Otherwise, she wouldn't have gone to such lengths to set up traps; she could have simply controlled the divine restrictions directly and put everyone in danger.

"Is she Zhu Wudao's accomplice?" Qin Sang considered this possibility. It would be normal for Zhu Wudao, who had gathered a group of demons and monsters, to hold back against the Crying Spirit Cave Lord and his group, guarding against their betrayal. Additionally, in the Crying Spirit Cave Lord's memories, Zhu Wudao had mentioned many descendants of the Formless Immortal Sect hiding in the shadows, some secretly watching them. However, they had been hunted by other forces for years, making them fearful and unwilling to reveal their identities. Now that the Formless Immortal Sect's ancient dwelling had appeared, those forces likely couldn't sit still either. It was not surprising that these individuals, possessing treasures inherited from the Formless Immortal Sect, could move freely within Emperor's Bestowal Mountain. In an instant, various thoughts raced through Qin Sang's mind, yet they did not affect his judgment or actions.

As he attacked, Qin Sang abandoned his retreat, flapping his Phoenix Wings vigorously, leaving a trail of black fire in the void as he charged back. While Qin Sang surged forward, Master Huaiyin, multitasking, had already extended his other hand into the cluster of fragments. Before being ambushed, Master Huaiyin had intended to sweep up all the treasures. The Poison King would soon arrive, and he believed he could withstand an attack from Qin Sang and Su Zinan and still retreat safely. If the female cultivator's relics contained information about Emperor's Bestowal Mountain, it could prove useful when cornering the strange-faced man. Although he had obtained the even more precious Xin Metal Origin Crystal, which was sufficient to replace the spiritual item he had been seeking, his agreement with the Poison King remained. Furthermore, his current opportunity was not unrelated to the Poison King, so he couldn't simply break his promise. Now gravely injured, Master Huaiyin dared not be overconfident; he had to make a choice. Master Huaiyin gathered the golden light in his palm, only drawing the Xin Metal Origin Crystal into his hand. His arm vibrated powerfully, sending the other treasures flying into the distance, lest they attract further attacks.

Some of the treasures were destroyed in the explosion. Only a handful remained. Among them were four swords: two were longswords, one of which had been resting on the female cultivator's lap, likely her personal sword; the other two were finger-sized, one a golden sword, the other a jade sword. The spiritual swords were small, without scabbards, and their form resembled sword talismans. There was also a jade box made of black jade, bearing a seal that flickered continuously, evidently from the intense impact it had sustained. Qin Sang's mind was entirely focused on the jade pendant at Kun Dao's waist. He merely glanced at the other treasures and had no intention of changing his target. Su Zinan, on the other hand, whose eyesight was not as keen as the Heavenly Eye Butterfly's, had his vision and perception obstructed by the Nine Earth Primordial Magnetic Divine Light around Master Huaiyin. He could only see Kun Dao's blurry figure and had not yet discovered the Fire Rhinoceros Pendant.

Just as he was filled with doubt and surprise, he saw the treasures being sent flying by Master Huaiyin, and his expression subtly shifted. Su Zinan's figure flickered repeatedly as he too advanced, gathering the lingering power of the Death Seal, heading straight for Kun Dao. His idea was similar to Qin Sang's: Kun Dao's origins were unknown, making her a rare commodity, and capturing her alive would be best. However, Su Zinan was more adept at profiting from others' conflicts, so he appeared to be going for the treasures. A faint, ethereal mist constantly enveloped him, a manifestation of the two main souls' power from his demonic banner, used to counter the Nine Earth Primordial Magnetic force. As long as the main souls did not leave his body, he would not be identified, even the Heavenly Eye Butterfly had not noticed, merely assuming it was one of Su Zinan's body-protecting magic treasures. In an instant, four forces converged, and a chaotic battle was on the verge of erupting.

Heavenly Thunder descended once more. Master Huaiyin instinctively prepared to defend himself, but was surprised to find it was directly targeting Kun Dao. Unable to guess why Qin Sang was acting so righteously, he decided not to overthink it. The Arhat Golden Body's palm struck down, forming a thick, golden astral wind. 'Boom!' Kun Dao, locked onto by the Heavenly Thunder and the Buddhist palm, appeared exceptionally vulnerable. The Heavenly Dragon Buddhist Chant and Soul-Snatching Incantation followed one after another, further shaking her mind. Additionally, Qin Sang also unleashed his Sun God Tree. Within the Nine Earth Primordial Magnetic Divine Light, the Sun Divine Birds could easily lose control and veer off course, so he had to wait until he closed a certain distance before making his move. Though it sounds complicated, Qin Sang and Master Huaiyin reacted incredibly fast, giving Kun Dao almost no openings. Kun Dao was on the verge of dying as her head was about to be shattered.

Suddenly, Qin Sang saw Kun Dao retract her arm, spread it wide, close her eyes, and open her mouth, emitting a hoarse, desperate shriek. The scream was so piercing that even through the Nine Earth Primordial Magnetic force, Qin Sang felt as if sharp needles were piercing his ear.

Outside the battlefield. The Poison King was nearly there. Faintly hearing the woman's shriek, his expression turned extremely serious. Master Huaiyin's two angry roars earlier, combined with this shriek, indicated an unknown anomaly ahead. The Poison King had confidence in Master Huaiyin's strength, but hearing these sounds, he felt a certain unease. Unfortunately, he was not skilled at dealing with the Nine Earth Primordial Magnetic force, which caused him to fall behind. Realizing this, the Poison King dared not hesitate. He flicked his sleeve, muttered an incantation, completed a spell, and extended his index finger. Just then, a black thread shot out from his sleeve. The Poison King ran his finger along one end of the black thread, conjuring a black demonic wind that, penetrating layers of the Nine Earth Primordial Magnetic force, rushed towards the battlefield first. The Poison King's gaze was solemn, and his speed immediately slowed considerably as he remotely controlled the gu worms with his mind.

Hearing the scream, Qin Sang inwardly cried out, "Not good!" He then saw the Nine Earth Primordial Magnetic Divine Light around Kun Dao furiously contracting, forming a yellow-black beam of light that shot upward, directly confronting the Arhat Golden Body's massive palm. Unfortunately, Kun Dao's action was rushed and imperfect. Her protective Nine Earth Primordial Magnetic Divine Light became thin, unable to block the Heavenly Thunder and Death Seal. 'Crack!' Amidst thunderous crackles, the giant palm was obstructed, while the Heavenly Thunder and Death Seal pierced through the Nine Earth Primordial Magnetic force, striking Kun Dao almost simultaneously. Surprisingly, Kun Dao did not die on the spot from these two attacks; her injuries were much lighter than Qin Sang had estimated.

At some point, a hazy gray mist had appeared on Kun Dao's body. This mist, chaotic in form, was utterly incompatible with the Nine Earth Primordial Magnetic Divine Light. Amidst Kun Dao's screams, the mist surged wildly. Concurrently, the space around her began to tremble and become extremely unstable. The surrounding Nine Earth Primordial Magnetic Divine Light shattered one after another. Master Huaiyin's gaze turned solemn as he sensed danger. His recovery using the secret art was already difficult and would not last long. Having obtained the Xin Metal Origin Crystal, he had already intended to retreat. Seeing Kun Dao forced back, he made a decisive move and withdrew.

Kun Dao's shoulder was struck by lightning, her skin splitting open and flesh tearing, her blood evaporated by the lightning's power. Her chest was hit by the Death Seal, a clear 'Death' character imprinted on her body, and the essence blood within her was drawn by an inexplicable force towards the Death Seal. However, these injuries were not fatal, seemingly with most of their power blocked by the mist. As space and the divine restrictions vibrated, Kun Dao's figure became increasingly illusory. Seeing this, how could Qin Sang not understand? Kun Dao was trying to escape! But to his disappointment, Master Huaiyin chose to retreat. Qin Sang lightly raised his palm, and the Sun God Tree reappeared, slowly rotating in his hand. The three divine birds on it flapped their wings, ready to fly. Unexpectedly, Kun Dao's movements were even faster. The mist, like a vast ocean, surged from an unknown space, tearing open the void wherever it passed, creating numerous fissures. Qin Sang and the other two knew instinctively that these were not void rifts, but rather gaps in the divine restrictions. The other side of these fissures should be the exit they had desperately sought, but now none of the three wanted to enter.

'Rip!' The fissures rapidly spread, quickly surrounding Qin Sang and the others. At this moment, Su Zinan finally saw Kun Dao's true appearance, and his eyes lit up: "The Fire Rhinoceros Pendant!" He finally understood why Qin Sang had decisively attacked Kun Dao; it was because he was drawn to this treasure. Without a moment's hesitation, Su Zinan lunged straight for Kun Dao. While Qin Sang and Su Zinan pressed forward, Master Huaiyin did the opposite, retreating further and further, showing no reluctance. Just then, a strange hissing wind sound came from afar, and a demonic wind rushed over. Faintly, fine black threads could be seen within the demonic wind. The Poison King had finally arrived! Master Huaiyin's mind relaxed, and he quickly rushed towards the demonic wind, indeed seeing the Poison King following behind it.

"Master..." Seeing the wounds on Master Huaiyin's body, the Poison King was greatly alarmed. Master Huaiyin gently exhaled, his breathing unsteady, and sighed, "Forgive this monk, I can no longer accompany fellow Daoist."