Chapter 229: Mutual Destruction

Yanluo County possessed the characteristic traits of a coastal region: its mountains were not particularly tall, yet the vegetation within them was exceedingly dense.

Gu Mo sprinted through the forest, carrying Gu Chudong, moving at an incredibly fast pace.

His Qinggong (lightness skill) had vastly improved. He now possessed not only the martial arts world's top-tier Qinggong techniques, 'Ladder Cloud Ascent' and 'Lingbo Weibu,' but also the ability to cross air as granted by 'Four Illuminations Divine Skill' and 'Tai Xuan Scripture.' Though the combined effect couldn't rival the Grand Proprietor's enigmatic 'Wind Thunder Rhyme,' it was comparable to that of a Qinggong grandmaster.

When he traversed the forest, an ordinary person wouldn't even catch a glimpse of his shadow.

Suddenly, a system notification sounded in Gu Mo's mind:Task invalidated.Wanted Target: Night Roamer.Task Level: Four-star.Task Reward: Spirit Finger.Detection indicates the wanted target has died, therefore the task is deemed invalid.

Gu Mo was momentarily surprised.

Although he had never directly fought Night Roamer, he had previously sparred with Su Meiniang and Mangfu, both of whom were considered top-tier experts in the martial arts world. As the leader of the Seven Absolutes Tower's three Jade Token assassins, Night Roamer's strength couldn't possibly be inferior to theirs.

Furthermore, Night Roamer earned his name due to his exceptionally profound Qinggong, which garnered him a reputation as a Qinggong grandmaster. Moreover, at the Hundred Households Office earlier, Night Roamer had fought Gu Chudong for a long time without losing ground, even managing to take away the bodies of Su Meiniang and Mangfu right under Gu Chudong's nose.

In the current Yanluo County, it seemed no one could kill such a figure except for the two siblings.

Gu Mo pondered but couldn't make sense of it.

However, he didn't dwell on it much. While missing out on 'Spirit Finger' was somewhat regrettable, he wasn't overly vexed. 'Spirit Finger' was a respectable martial art, but its combat effectiveness assistance to him at his current level was limited.

Besides, an invalidated task didn't mean the reward would be lost forever; other missions would be randomly matched to him in the future.

Gu Mo paid little attention to this matter.

He continued to pursue at full speed.

“Brother, the direction has changed. Northwest, towards Hai hour (9-11 PM),” Gu Chudong said.

Gu Mo immediately changed direction, his brow furrowing as he said, “That way seems to lead to the sea!”

“That’s right,” Gu Chudong confirmed, “I looked at a map of Yanluo County two days ago. Heading in this direction for about forty li, past Tongxia Post, you’ll reach the ocean. I was even planning to see the sea before returning to Linhai City!”

“This is a bit troublesome,” Gu Mo remarked.

Gu Chudong exclaimed in surprise, “What’s wrong?”

Gu Mo explained, “I strongly suspect the Grand Proprietor has mastered all seven 'Slaughter Arts' from the 'Abyssal Oblivion Seven Slaughter Rhyme.' The 'Water Slaughter Rhyme' is a method of water manipulation. If he gets into the water, just like with the 'Tai Xu Divine Armor' previously, I’ll truly be helpless.”

Gu Chudong said, “Brother, if the Grand Proprietor goes into the water, then let’s just give up. We can’t possibly follow him in, can we?”

Gu Mo nodded slightly.

While he coveted the reward for killing the Grand Proprietor, it wasn't to the extent of risking his life. Naval combat was currently his greatest weakness, and he indeed dared not casually enter the water.

“Brother,” Gu Chudong suddenly spoke, “I just thought of something.”

“What is it?” Gu Mo asked, puzzled.

“According to what Pei Yuanzhen said earlier, the four grandmasters of the Night Division are very powerful,” Gu Chudong stated. “And given the methods the Grand Proprietor just displayed, while formidable, he shouldn’t be so strong as to kill all four grandmasters without giving them a chance to even escape the courtyard, right?”

Gu Mo frowned.

However, there was no time for detailed thought. He said nothing more and pursued towards Tongxia Post.

Tongxia Post, located at the border between Yanluo County and Guanhai County, was a military stronghold nestled between two large mountains. Outside stood a city wall three to four zhang tall, and inside was a quiet market town.

Because of its close proximity to Huaihai, Tongxia Post was always the first place raided whenever pirates landed. Although protected by a city wall, in a world where martial arts masters could fly, a three to four zhang wall was considered quite low.

At this moment, outside Tongxia Post, Pei Yuanzhen, the Prefect of Linhai Commandery, and Commander Chen You were leading three thousand garrison troops, stationed and ready to launch an attack. Their delay was due to waiting for a signal; the appointed time for their rendezvous with Master Dongjing had not yet arrived, but it was fast approaching.

Inside Tongxia Post, at the entrance of a small courtyard.Master Zhu, Pei Yuanzhen’s advisor, and another Qinggong master from the garrison army were standing guard at the entrance. This was because Master Dongjing was currently meeting inside with two of Lin Jing’s officers.

Previously, after recognizing two of Lin Jing's officers as his disciples, Master Dongjing had voluntarily offered to act as an envoy. Pei Yuanzhen and Chen You each arranged for their most trusted confidantes to escort Master Dongjing, taking a circuitous route through the mountains to reach Tongxia Post.

Then, they found a way to arrange a meeting with the two officers.

By the time these steps were completed, dusk was already setting.

The two officers and Master Dongjing began their discussion inside the house.

After a long while,The door to the room opened. It was Master Dongjing who opened it.Master Zhu and his companion immediately walked over and asked, “Master, how did it go?”

Master Dongjing nodded slightly and said, “It’s settled. The two of them will now go back to initiate a mutiny, gain control of Lin Jing, and simultaneously open the Tongxia Post stronghold gates.”

“Excellent! Where are they?”

“They’ve already left through the back door. Let’s wait here!”

Not long after, shouts and sounds of battle erupted from the Tongxia Post city gate. Signal flares soared into the sky, and the garrison troops outside the gate charged forward, pouring in like a surging tide.

With inside cooperation to open the gates, the garrison troops led by Pei Yuanzhen and Chen You successfully breached the stronghold with little effort. Only a small fraction of the enemy remained stubbornly resisting.

“Where is Master Dongjing?”Pei Yuanzhen immediately inquired after reuniting with Master Dongjing’s two disciples.

One of them quickly replied, “Prefect Pei, rest assured, our teacher is safe.”

“That’s good,” Pei Yuanzhen’s anxious heart settled, and he asked again, “What about that rebel, Lin Jing?”

An officer said, “Prefect Pei, I apologize. I only managed to severely wound Lin Jing by ambushing him when he was unprepared. However, Lin Jing’s martial arts were too formidable; he forcibly fought his way out. Fortunately, we had a backup plan; my junior martial brother was arranged to force open the gates, otherwise, it would have been quite troublesome. But now, seeing that the general situation was lost, Lin Jing has directly fled…”

Pei Yuanzhen stated gravely, “If he ran, then let him run. The immediate priority now is to quickly go and assist Yanluo County!”

Immediately, Pei Yuanzhen instructed Commander Chen to prepare to set off for Yanluo County.

Just then,A soldier rode up, saying, “Prefect Pei, Commander Chen, Gu Mo, the great hero from Yunzhou, has arrived! He also captured Lin Jing!”

Pei Yuanzhen and the others’ eyes lit up. They hurried to meet him. Not long after they started walking, they saw Gu Mo and Gu Chudong approaching from the other side of the market town.

Lin Jing was bound by a specially made Fish-Dragon Iron Chain from the Six Fan Gate, the chain piercing through his collarbones.

Pei Yuanzhen quickly went forward and asked, “What is the current situation in Yanluo County?”

Gu Mo replied, “Not a big problem. The soldiers from the Seven Absolutes Tower merely have a numerical advantage; they won’t be able to breach it anytime soon.”

“That’s good,” Pei Yuanzhen let out a long sigh of relief, then pointed at the disheveled Lin Jing and asked, “And this is…?”

Gu Mo explained, “He had bad luck. I was rushing over for something, and unexpectedly, as soon as I arrived, I saw Lin Jing fleeing in haste. My sister had seen his portrait, recognized him, and so I apprehended him.”

Pei Yuanzhen chuckled softly, looking at Lin Jing, and said, “Lin Jing, wickedness never goes unpunished. Even Heaven couldn’t stand to watch any longer.”

Lin Jing snorted coldly, saying, “Pei Yuanzhen, don’t be too pleased with yourself. The path I’m on now is merely the path you will eventually walk. I’ve just taken a step ahead of you!”

Pei Yuanzhen retorted coldly, “I wouldn’t dare to be so brazen as to embezzle military payrolls and sell military supplies!”

Lin Jing merely snorted again, saying nothing further.

Pei Yuanzhen didn’t want to waste more words. If Lin Jing had escaped, so be it, but since he hadn’t, only death awaited him. He waved his hand, ordering someone to escort Lin Jing away, then looked at Gu Mo and said, “Great Hero Gu, without further ado, let’s go get Master Dongjing now and immediately rush back to Yanluo County.”

Gu Mo asked, surprised, “Master Dongjing is here too?”

Pei Yuanzhen walked up to Gu Mo and whispered, “I specifically invited Master Dongjing to bear witness for me. Otherwise, if I privately mobilized troops, it would be troublesome if someone in the imperial court impeached me. Moreover, it’s largely thanks to Master Dongjing; if not for his two disciples being Lin Jing’s adjutants and their timely defection, entering Tongxia Post today would have been difficult!”

“Not so fast,” Gu Mo said. “Before we leave, there’s one more thing that needs to be done.”

Immediately, Gu Mo used internal sound transmission to secretly inform Pei Yuanzhen and Chen You about his pursuit of the Grand Proprietor.

At once, Chen You and Pei Yuanzhen exchanged glances.

Chen You immediately waved his hand and shouted, “Follow Great Hero Gu!”

Then, Gu Mo and Gu Chudong led the way, followed by several hundred soldiers, marching grandly towards the rear of the small town. They soon spotted an inconspicuous residential courtyard.

Gu Chudong examined the 'Shadow Pursuer Scroll' in his hand and whispered, “It’s in that small courtyard.”

“Surround it!”

At Chen You’s command, numerous soldiers quickly rushed forward.

Just then, the courtyard door opened, revealing Master Zhu and Commander Chen You’s adjutant. Behind them stood Master Dongjing. The three were startled to see the large military formation outside.

Pei Yuanzhen immediately shouted, “Quickly, come out! It’s dangerous inside!”

Upon hearing this, Master Zhu and Commander Chen You’s adjutant hurriedly prepared to help Master Dongjing outside.

But just as the three moved, Gu Mo suddenly pointed at Master Dongjing and declared, “He is the Grand Proprietor of the Seven Absolutes Tower.”

At his words, everyone present froze. Except for Gu Chudong, all looked at Gu Mo with blank expressions, suspecting he was speaking nonsense.

Pei Yuanzhen, thinking Gu Mo had made a mistake due to his blindness, quickly said, “Great Hero Gu, that is Master Dongjing.”

“I know he is Master Dongjing, and I can sense his aura,” Gu Mo said. “However, I can also confirm that he is the Grand Proprietor of the Seven Absolutes Tower.”

“Great Hero Gu,” Pei Yuanzhen quickly urged, “You must be mistaken. How could Master Dongjing be the Grand Proprietor? Master Dongjing was kidnapped by the Grand Proprietor just a while ago! Moreover, didn’t you just say you fought the Grand Proprietor in Yanluo County, while Master Dongjing has been here at Tongxia Post all along?”

Gu Mo shook his head slightly and said, “That incident in Linhai City is worth scrutinizing.”

Gu Mo took the Gouchen Demonic Blade from Gu Chudong and said, “Today, I fought the Grand Proprietor. While he is undeniably strong, he absolutely doesn’t possess the power to silently kill the four grandmasters of the Night Division.A few days ago, when I learned about the circumstances of the four grandmasters’ deaths, I wondered how powerful one must be to kill them simultaneously in their respective fields of expertise, leaving them no chance to even escape a courtyard.It reminded me of Silver Fox, the number one assassin in Yunzhou whom I killed years ago. At one point, I was astonished that anyone’s sword could be that fast. But it eventually proved to be fake; many unimaginable killing methods can be achieved by a sudden sneak attack from someone close by.”

Pei Yuanzhen said, “Great Hero Gu, many people personally saw the Grand Proprietor then, and at that time, Master Dongjing was in Qingfeng Inn.”

“Who truly knows who the Grand Proprietor is?” Gu Mo asked. “With a mask, anyone can be the Grand Proprietor. As long as they’ve cultivated the 'Wind Thunder Rhyme,' are fast enough, and don’t engage in direct combat, no one can verify if they are truly the Grand Proprietor. For example, Night Roamer, one of the Seven Absolutes Tower’s three Jade Token assassins, could occasionally impersonate the Grand Proprietor.”

As he spoke, Gu Mo turned to Pei Yuanzhen and said, “That night, the four grandmasters of Qingfeng Inn were killed, and Wang Mingxiu was killed in an internal conflict with the Grand Proprietor on Shuangqing Lake. In reality, no one truly knows the actual process; it was all narrated by Master Dongjing alone.Regarding the case of over ten thousand children being abducted years ago, Master Dongjing was the Prefect of Linhai Commandery at the time. If the Seven Secret Guards were to provide cover, who would be more suitable than Master Dongjing?As for just now, have any of you kept an eye on Master Dongjing? Has he remained within your sight the entire time?”

Pei Yuanzhen looked towards Master Zhu and Commander Chen You’s adjutant.

Master Zhu replied, looking troubled, “For a period, when we went to contact Master Dongjing’s two disciples, Master Dongjing waited for us here. Later, during their negotiations, we kept watch outside, but we did see Master Dongjing intermittently.”

Gu Mo stated grimly, “Are you certain the Master Dongjing you saw in between was the real Master Dongjing and not someone in disguise? Following the timeline, Master Dongjing would have already left from the moment you went to secretly contact his two disciples. The person in this room was merely a decoy.Given the Grand Proprietor’s Qinggong, it would take less than half an hour to travel from here to Yanluo County. He went there, fought me, and lost. Their plan failed, and at that point, they chose to abandon Lin Jing.Then Lin Jing cooperated, allowing you to breach Tongxia Post. As for why Lin Jing would willingly cooperate, I don’t need to explain, do I? You bureaucrats understand these intricate schemes best. If they succeeded, the person behind him would protect Lin Jing. If they failed, Lin Jing would take the blame for them, bearing all consequences, and then the person behind him would ensure Lin Jing’s family enjoyed wealth and prosperity. Such things are far too common.”

At this point, Gu Mo sighed with a click of his tongue, “Alas, before setting out on this journey, my friend repeatedly warned me not to get involved in court disputes. And what good has come of it? I’ve inadvertently gotten entangled again. Heh, the Seven Absolutes Tower and the Coastal Defense Camp… the people behind them must be of no small standing!”

Pei Yuanzhen’s expression became very solemn. He quickly said, “Great Hero Gu, mind your words!”

“As a Jianghu wanderer, I have no such constraints.”

Gu Mo pursed his lips and said nothing more. A few words from him were inconsequential, but Pei Yuanzhen and the others would be scared stiff.

A deathly silence fell over the scene; everyone was silent.

Master Dongjing chuckled softly and said, “Great Hero Gu, you’ve said so much without any logic or evidence. I can only assume you’re joking.”

At once, everyone looked at Gu Mo.

Gu Mo slowly said, “A short while ago, I fought the Grand Proprietor and struck him several times. He sustained many knife wounds on his body…”

Master Dongjing said, “I wonder where these injuries Great Hero Gu speaks of are. I can prove my innocence right now, before everyone. However, I have lived an upright life, free of corruption, for decades, with a clear conscience before myself and Heaven. Must I now suffer such humiliation in my old age? Great Hero Gu, if no injuries can be found, what will you do?”

Gu Mo shook his head slightly, waving his hand, and said, “I haven’t finished speaking. Although I left wounds on the Grand Proprietor, he possesses the 'Earth Slaughter Rhyme' from the 'Abyssal Oblivion Seven Slaughter Rhyme.' This formidable art can regenerate flesh and bone, with miraculous healing effects. So, no wounds would be visible now.”

Master Dongjing chuckled, “So, Great Hero Gu, are you trying to frame me? You claim I am the Grand Proprietor, yet you have no proof. You say the Grand Proprietor was injured, but then you claim the wounds have healed. What exactly… are you trying to achieve?”

Gu Mo continued, “I haven’t finished speaking yet.”

Master Dongjing: “…”

Everyone else was speechless.

Gu Mo said, “Master Dongjing, have you not considered that with your 'Wind Thunder Rhyme' being so fast, I shouldn’t be able to catch up? Yet, why was I able to precisely locate you?It’s because I possess an item called the Star-Pattern Shadow-Pursuing Scroll, the proud creation of Old Madam Lin, the head of the Lin family, one of the seven great martial arts clans—the very person I just mentioned as the leader of the Azure Leaf Hall. That Star-Pattern Shadow-Pursuing Scroll is the number one tracking weapon in the world today.When I wounded the Grand Proprietor earlier, my blade was coated with a specially treated star-patterned stone that dissolves upon contact with water. When it wounded you, it fused into your bloodstream. So, no matter where you flee, even to the ends of the earth, I can track and precisely locate you.Attempting to dispel the tracking method with your protective true qi is useless. What I used isn’t on the outside, but inside your body; you cannot dispel it. Now, I’ll make a wager with you: if I cannot extract the star-patterned stone from your body, then I will have wronged your innocence, and I will commit suicide in public to apologize to you. How about that?”

Master Dongjing’s expression was calm, showing no discernible emotion, as he slowly said, “Very well. Then, Great Hero Gu, please demonstrate your method.”

Gu Mo nodded and said, “Then please, Master, do not resist. I only need to lightly break your skin and…”

As he spoke, Gu Mo advanced towards Master Dongjing, holding the Gouchen Demonic Blade.

However, just as the two were half a zhang apart,Master Dongjing suddenly struck Gu Mo with a palm. In an instant, crimson fire waves, carrying a burnt scent, surged skyward. The air seemed to ignite, transforming into a swirling sea of flames.

Wherever the heatwave passed, the ground tiles hissed and cracked into spiderweb patterns. A pungent smell of sulfur permeated the air. Spectators around them rapidly retreated, fearing to be scorched by the scorching heatwave.

Gu Mo’s expression was grim. He let out a cold snort as the Gouchen Demonic Blade, like a dragon emerging from the sea, slashed diagonally. The blade instantly turned fiery red, unleashing an even more intense flame-infused blade aura. That blade aura resembled a scarlet dragon, baring its fangs and claws as it lunged towards the sea of fire.

With a tremendous “boom,” the flame-infused blade aura collided violently with Master Dongjing’s palm of fire waves. Sparks flew in all directions, and the airwave expanded madly outwards. Houses within several zhang instantly charred, and leaves turned into flying ash, scattering.

However, just as the fire waves were cleaved open, Master Dongjing smiled faintly at Gu Mo, and his body instantly transformed into a wisp of green smoke, vanishing from his spot.

The moment that wisp of green smoke vanished into thin air, a cold glint suddenly flashed across the sky, and countless thin blades pierced through the air. The flying blades resembled a galaxy pouring backwards or a rainbow piercing the sun. These thin blades, colder than moonlight and sharper than frost and snow, wove an intricate silver net in mid-air. Reflected against the cold, falling moon on the horizon, it looked as if a corner of the Milky Way had been overturned, with shattered stars clattering down onto the human world. Where the blade wind passed, even clouds were sliced into fine slits, adorning the void with extreme splendor.

In the void, that soon-to-dissipate wisp of green smoke was instantly pierced by the flying blades. In a flash, blood bloomed like red plum blossoms, and Master Dongjing’s figure reappeared, falling like a kite with a broken string. His moonlight-white robe was already riddled with holes, and his exposed skin was covered in tiny bloodied punctures, with poisonous blood mixing with fresh blood oozing down.

In their astonishment, everyone suddenly realized that at some point, Gu Chudong had appeared on a flying eave three zhang away, holding a black box in his arms. It was three cun wide and one chi five cun long, producing a soft mechanical click when opened and closed, like an ancient dragon stirring from its long slumber. It was precisely the legendary fifth most powerful hidden weapon in the martial arts world: the Thousand Mechanisms Box.

“Well done!”Gu Mo exclaimed in praise. He had spent all that time talking nonsense with Master Dongjing precisely to lower Master Dongjing’s guard and to create an opportunity for Gu Chudong to find the right angle and position to break Master Dongjing’s elusive Qinggong, the Wind Thunder Rhyme.

Before Gu Mo’s praise faded, he had already shot skyward like an arrow from a bowstring. The Gouchen Demonic Blade ripped through the air with a shrill shriek, radiating blood-red flames downwards.

Before the blade reached him, several streams of fiery blade aura arrived first. Wherever they passed, the void seemed to crackle with spiderweb-like fissures. Flying sand and stones along the path were pulverized, and countless tiny stone fragments were carried into the air, spinning. From a distance, it looked as if a thousand dull blades were tearing apart the air.

Master Dongjing’s pupils contracted sharply, and his vital energy shifted abruptly. He floated up as lightly as a fallen leaf in the wind, his robes fluttering without a breeze, strangely skirting the edges of the blade aura.

Gu Mo landed and spun, his blade dancing like a mad serpent. Each swing unleashed a crimson blade light, a zhang long, causing bluestones to explode and sparks to fly wherever it touched, as if an Asura from purgatory had appeared.

“Form ranks!”Just then, Commander Chen You roared like thunder, his voice shaking the surroundings. Soldiers nearby moved at the sound, their long spears gleaming coldly as they weaved and crisscrossed in intricate patterns.

In an instant, the world seemed enveloped by an invisible shackles. The air became thick as glue, and Gu Mo felt as if he had fallen into a swamp, each movement carrying the weight of a thousand jin.

The space between Heaven and Earth suddenly tightened, and an indescribable, invisible aura appeared, as if the air had solidified. Gu Mo instantly felt his body grow heavier, and even more preposterously, his blade aura suddenly weakened.

More accurately, his blade aura didn’t weaken but was restricted. What used to be dozens of blade auras extending several zhang with a casual swing now produced only three to five, reaching a mere zhang, or even less.

He also found his Qinggong restricted, feeling a gravitational pull with every leap.

Gu Mo immediately understood:This was the legendary bane of masters, the unique Battle Qi of armies.

Battle Qi was a very special phenomenon, combining formations, the laws of heaven and earth, vital energy, prevailing momentum, and various other profound elements. The more numerous and elite the army, the stronger its power. Especially in armies led by renowned generals, Battle Qi could even manifest physically.

Since the advent of battle formations a thousand years ago, an era began where imperial dynasties completely overshadowed the martial arts world. No matter how powerful a martial arts master was, if they fell onto a battlefield, they could very likely be killed.

Battle formations suppressed martial arts masters to an extreme degree.

Whether it was an internal energy master or a qi practitioner, once entangled by a battle formation, their power would be restricted to varying degrees. On a national battlefield, even a grandmaster could be suppressed to the point where their true qi could not leave their body.

Of course, Gu Mo couldn't confirm the truth of that rumor, but he was certain that Battle Qi indeed had a suppressive effect on martial arts.

Even the Battle Qi of just a few hundred ordinary county garrison soldiers made him feel very uncomfortable, let alone true national elite forces, numbering in the tens of thousands, or armored cavalry.

Fortunately, while the Battle Qi of these few hundred men did restrict him, its effect was minimal, mainly impacting his Qinggong. However, this was a good thing for him, as Master Dongjing, not him, was more reliant on Qinggong at this moment.

Furthermore, with Gu Chudong holding the Thousand Mechanisms Box and watching intensely, Master Dongjing’s limitations became even greater.

“Surround him!”At this moment, Chen You waved his longsword, issuing a command. The front ranks of spearmen advanced like a moving wall, their spear tips forming a shimmering line of cold light under the sky.

Gu Mo felt as if a giant boulder was pressing down on his shoulders with every zhang he approached; even his breathing seemed to become suppressed.

Master Dongjing was already heavily wounded. Now, as the encirclement tightened, he felt the pressure intensify.

As Gu Mo’s blade came slashing, Master Dongjing’s eyes hardened. He suddenly erupted, his palms clamping onto the body of the Gouchen Demonic Blade like iron pincers.

The demonic blade shockingly shattered inch by inch in his grasp. Shards of the blade rained down like bullets, striking the 'Mountain Slaughter Rhyme' protective true qi flowing around him, producing a rapid, metallic clinking sound and scattering tiny sparks.

“Roar!”Master Dongjing suddenly let out a roar, his white hair streaked with blood, fluttering in the wind.

He was in a sorry state, his body oozing poisonous blood. Yet, the effects of the 'Mountain Slaughter Rhyme' made him impervious to blades and spears. He allowed the fragments of the Gouchen Demonic Blade to strike him fiercely, but they failed to breach his true qi. His eyes calm, he said, “Gu Mo, today I am disgraced and caught in a deadly trap. But whether this is only my demise remains to be seen…”

As he spoke, a faint smile actually appeared on his face, and he added, “Let’s see if your fate dictates your end!”

As soon as he finished speaking,Master Dongjing allowed the Gouchen Demonic Blade’s fragments to break through his 'Mountain Slaughter Rhyme' true qi and slice his skin. He spread his hands, and streams of energy shot skyward. He roared towards the heavens:“Lord of Thunder, assist me!”

Before his words fully echoed, a fierce wind howled, carrying sand and dust that obscured the sky.Lightning flashed intensely from Master Dongjing’s palms, rapidly merging into a sphere of light that shot skyward. It remarkably broke through the restraint of the Battle Qi, soaring into the clouds, and transformed into a thunderous pillar of light, as thick as a bowl, descending from the void, tearing apart the Battle Qi shackles that enveloped the battlefield.

The moment the lightning vanished into the clouds, the world instantly turned as dark as night, as if an inkwell had been overturned. Dark clouds surged angrily, and large raindrops loudly hammered on the armored soldiers’ iron helmets. The rain dripping from Gu Mo’s hair, mixed with blood beads, actually converged on the ground to form a winding crimson stream.

“Hahahahaha…”Master Dongjing threw his head back, letting the torrential rain wash the blood from his face. Suddenly, he burst into loud laughter, a sound filled with madness and exhilaration.

He raised his withered hand towards the sky, and the large raindrops abruptly halted in mid-air, gleaming with an icy crystalline light. In a flash, the suspended raindrops exploded, transforming into monstrous waves. The crests of these waves, imbued with the power of thunder, surged forward like ancient beasts opening their massive jaws, crashing towards the surrounding soldiers.

Wherever the colossal waves passed, the air shrieked piercingly, and the ground trembled violently.

The front-line spearmen had not yet reacted when they were violently struck by the wave crests. They were sent flying backwards, armor and all, like kites with broken strings, crashing heavily against the city wall with dull thuds. The battle formation was instantly shattered, and the soldiers desperately struggled in the tumultuous waves, but they were as insignificant as ants, swallowed by the surging torrents in the blink of an eye.

Concurrently, several water spouts, as thick as buckets, erupted from the ground, coiling around Master Dongjing and rising skyward. Lightning flashed within the water spouts, accompanied by whistling wind, resembling several water dragons ascending into the air, their momentum utterly terrifying. Master Dongjing stood atop the water spouts, his robes flapping wildly, looking like a demon god controlling wind and rain.

Gu Mo roared in anger, wildly brandishing the Gouchen Demonic Blade. His blade aura, like a long rainbow piercing the sun, slashed towards the water spouts. However, when the blade aura struck the swirling water curtain, it vanished like a clay ox entering the sea, merely splashing a large amount of water before dissipating into nothingness in the blink of an eye.

Inside the water spouts, Master Dongjing’s face gradually became calm. The dark clouds in the sky grew thicker, and lightning danced like silver serpents. He spoke calmly, “Gu Mo, honestly, to fulfill my mission, I have lived as half-human, half-ghost for my entire life. I was so close to success.I never imagined that after overcoming so many great calamities, a small task like this would expose me. I was struck by the Thousand Mechanisms Box, and the poisonous qi has already attacked my heart. I am certainly going to die. I also wished to die with a bit more dignity.But…”

He pointed at the sky and said, “Heaven wants me to drag you down with me… to die together!”