Chapter 1288: Dirty

Void Island.

As the Sheng Shen Continent fell into chaos, the intense battle for Rao Yao Yao's Ban Sheng Wei Ge continued above the Fallen Abyss, with Shui Gui and Dao Qiong Cang clashing.

Everyone could see Shui Gui's power, but Dao Qiong Cang was not someone easily defeated. His only well-known battle in life had been his performance among the Ten Venerables. Beyond that, the world had rarely witnessed him achieving any other direct victories. Yet, who would dare underestimate the master of the main hall of Sheng Shen Hall? They were all geniuses, possessing extraordinary combat strength, and maintained their peak condition without any weaknesses. In such a scenario, the gap between a Tai Xu and a Ban Sheng was starkly evident.

"Shui Gui is in danger!"

From behind the Magic Emperor Black Dragon's horns, Xu Xiao Shou had already stepped forward. Even he could discern that Shui Gui was now struggling. Water element mysteries versus the Cang Qiong Scroll, Yuhai Divine Halberd versus Tianji Si Nan—aside from the newly acquired and poorly controlled Feng Yuan Spear, did Shui Gui possess enough trump cards to suppress Dao Qiong Cang of the Ten Venerables? Moreover, the enigmatic Dao Qiong Cang, known as "unfathomable by gods or ghosts," would he enter the fight without preparing more strategies in advance?

Within the battlefield, the contest for Rao Yao Yao's Ban Sheng Wei Ge had been momentarily halted when Dao Qiong Cang used his two "Great Separation Techniques" to force Shui Gui out and pose his question. Everyone was drawn into Dao Qiong Cang's interrogation of the situation, and even Shui Gui, after being flung away, showed a flicker of surprise on his face.

"While targeting the inner island of Void Island for a seal-breaking operation, are the Sheng Nu still plotting other schemes on the Sheng Shen Continent, taking advantage of your absence, Dao Dianzhu?"

The observers pondered this with growing dread, realizing that their thoughts had been too fixated on Void Island and had overlooked that the Sheng Shen Continent was the true main battlefield for both the Sheng Nu and Sheng Shen Hall.

Soon after Dao Qiong Cang raised the question, the Tianji Spirit Qi Hao suddenly jumped from his shoulder, flapping its wings urgently as it said:

"Lao Dao, Lao Dao, the branches of Sheng Shen Hall across the five domains of the continent are under attack!"

"It's thirty-six locations so far, but the number is still rising."

"On top of that, unexpected events have occurred in places like the Tian Meng of the North Domain, the Black Heart Fruit Clan of the South Domain, and the Dead Futu City of the Central Domain."

"Those despicable Sheng Nu are really striking at various places while you're away!"

The moment these words were spoken, shock rippled across the entire island.

Had it been predicted correctly?

Were the Sheng Nu truly making their move?

And so boldly, launching a direct assault on Sheng Shen Hall?

How many years had it been since any dark forces dared to openly challenge the authority of Sheng Shen Hall?

The Sheng Nu's Prime Seat Ba Zun An's declaration of war was no empty threat!

"It seems my guess was right..."

Before Shui Gui could respond, Dao Qiong Cang had already found his own answer, murmuring as he looked at the opposing Shui Gui. The Shui Gui, who had been thrown by the Great Separation Technique, had seized the moment in mid-air to reclaim his Yuhai Divine Halberd. He said nothing, as if afraid of revealing any more information. Likewise, he chose not to act further, his expression shifting between dark and uncertain as he pondered something.

Everyone could see that after this brief clash, Shui Gui was deeply wary of Dao Qiong Cang. His caution had reached an extreme level, a far cry from his arrogant and domineering demeanor when he first appeared.

"Lao Dao, Lao Dao, what should we do next?"

Qi Hao circled twice above Dao Qiong Cang's head, showing a sense of urgency that outpaced even the one most directly involved.

"Since I anticipated it, I have countermeasures in place. The Sheng Nu won't stir up any real trouble."

Dao Qiong Cang spoke with profound meaning.

Xu Xiao Shou stared intently at the battlefield, thinking to himself:

Was this referring to the chaos on the Sheng Shen Continent, which Dao Qiong Cang had foreseen and prepared for? Or was it about the actions against Shui Gui on Void Island, which Dao Qiong Cang also knew inside out and had a backup plan for?

Of course, earlier, the barrier between the inner and outer islands had nearly been breached, with ghost beasts even extending their claws. But since Dao Qiong Cang's arrival, all anomalies on the inner island had vanished completely, not even a shadow of the ghost beasts remaining.

What had Dao Qiong Cang already done?

Xu Xiao Shou only now realized this detail, feeling as though his thoughts had been influenced by some guiding force. He wondered if Dao Qiong Cang's words referred not to just one aspect, but to both.

"Do you need my help..."

Seeing Shui Gui fall into a passive position, Xu Xiao Shou felt it was time for him to step in. But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, the momentarily stalled battlefield erupted again.

"Rest!"

Shui Gui paused only for a split second. Realizing he couldn't seize Rao Yao Yao's Ban Sheng Wei Ge, he decisively retreated, raising his Yuhai Divine Halberd to summon towering water ink vortexes that surged everywhere.

Boom, boom, boom...

From all directions around Void Island, countless colossal water vortexes rose like pillars to the sky. In an instant, all the black water vortexes exploded, transforming into numerous Shui Gui figures that plummeted in various bizarre postures toward different locations across the island's nine great forbidden zones.

"What is he trying to do?"

The thought flashed through everyone's minds almost simultaneously, and in the next second, they understood.

If Shui Gui wanted to fight Dao Qiong Cang, he couldn't do so without sealing as a saint. So, this method of confusion was a precursor to sealing!

Sure enough, all the scattered, lifelike Shui Gui clones performed the same action in unison. They each pulled out a Ban Sheng Wei Ge from their robes, squeezed out a drop of blood, and attempted to fuse it in.

"Which one is the real body?"

Within Xu Xiao Shou's "perception," all the Shui Gui were fakes, including the Ban Sheng Wei Ge—none were genuine. He patted the dragon horn and said, "Long Bao, follow him! I need to watch this!"

If necessary, I still have to help Shui Gui. After all, we're all in this together now... Of course, Xu Xiao Shou didn't dare say that out loud.

The Magic Emperor Black Dragon soared instantly, piercing through the void of the Fallen Abyss and teleporting to the Blood Realm.

What Xu Xiao Shou couldn't discern, as a manifestation of the Saint Emperor's intent, it could see clearly.

"Spirit Mirror! Keep up!"

"Old brother, what are you doing? You're so slow!"

The people at the Sin One Hall ruins also shouted, urging the burly man to quickly track Shui Gui's true body.

In the Blood Realm, crimson blood water merged with inky rain, forming a vast, turbulent expanse. When Xu Xiao Shou arrived with the Magic Emperor Black Dragon, his "perception" could already detect the aura of the true Ban Sheng Wei Ge. Gazing intently, he saw that the real Shui Gui's blood hadn't yet fused into it, and somehow, Dao Qiong Cang had already caught up like a persistent shadow.

"In front of me, did you think I'd give you a chance to seal as a saint?"

Dao Qiong Cang snorted coldly, twirling the star scoop on his Tianji Si Nan. It seemed as though the entire Void Island under the storm paused for a breath.

Then, the sky brightened abruptly!

Xu Xiao Shou looked up in shock and saw the Tianji Dao principles manifesting in the heavens, forming a massive Cang Qiong Scroll that covered the whole of Void Island. From the scroll, countless Tianji pattern lights shot out, each as fine as a thread, piercing through every drop of rain in the storm, every Shui Gui clone on the island, and all the real and fake Ban Sheng Wei Ge.

"Tianji Thirty-Six Styles, Great Embroidery Technique!"

As this calm voice echoed, the void of Void Island was outlined by the Tianji pattern lights into a magnificent and grand embroidery diagram. The scattered rain became dew drops, Dao Qiong Cang like a newborn sun, and before him, purified, was the gloomy-faced Shui Gui!

"Dawn Illuminating the Rain Diagram!" Dao Qiong Cang smiled warmly. "This is my greeting gift to you."

Xu Xiao Shou felt a chill in his heart.

Wasn't this similar to the essence of textile mastery? But Dao Qiong Cang's "textile" scale was enormous! In an instant, he had turned the Tianji Dao principles into threads, weaving through every drop of rain on Void Island that belonged to Shui Gui. Now, with a single move...

Sure enough, Dao Qiong Cang flicked the star scoop on his Tianji Si Nan!

Sizzle!

In the next second, the dark clouds in the sky dissipated. The storm was completely purified by the Tianji technique, and Void Island returned to light.

Hiss!

Gasps of astonishment echoed across the island. How exquisite the control and how much mental energy this required! Yet Dao Qiong Cang executed it effortlessly, without breaking a sweat.

With a bang, the Shui Gui before them exploded directly, without any hesitation or wasted words. It wasn't the Ban Sheng Wei Ge that exploded, but Shui Gui deliberately doing so.

The storm on Void Island had been purified, but the "rainwater" that had already fallen across the island still lingered! Even if Dao Qiong Cang could cleanse the external manifestations, the Shui Gui forces that had seeped into all things couldn't be eradicated by a Ban Sheng in such a short time.

"There's still a chance..."

"Shui Gui still has a chance!"

Xu Xiao Shou watched anxiously, itching to join the fight, but knowing he'd fare worse than Shui Gui, he simply fretted on the dragon's head.

—Doing nothing means no mistakes, no death.

Buzz!

The sky was the Cang Qiong Scroll, and the ground lit up with water element mystery arrays. In an instant, mist billowed, and Shui Gui had flashed from the Blood Realm to the Qing Swamp.

This swamp was his second prepared backup!

"Long Bao..."

Without waiting for urging, the Magic Emperor Black Dragon carried Xu Xiao Shou and darted to the Qing Swamp location.

"Dammit, hurry up!"

The burly man at the Sin One Hall ruins was already sweating profusely from the urging.

He had been a bit late earlier, and the crowd had only seen the final scene of Dao Qiong Cang's move in the Blood Realm. For that, he had nearly been beaten to death! Now, he didn't dare waste a second, hastily searching and quickly locking the view on the Qing Swamp.

"Dao Qiong Cang, did you anticipate this as well?"

In the Qing Swamp, Shui Gui's true body burst out from underground. Smiling, he adjusted his golden beast mask with elegant composure, squeezed out blood, and fused it into the Ban Sheng Wei Ge. The process was smooth, without any interruption or sign of obstruction.

Buzz!

The Tianji Dao principles stirred, and Dao Qiong Cang followed again, but this time, he was a fraction too slow!

Boom—

Thunder shook the nine heavens! The aura of a Saint Tribulation spread over the Qing Swamp.

This place welcomed its second Saint Tribulation.

"Has Shui Gui won?"

The spectators, including the many spirit refiners at Sin One Hall, as well as Xu Xiao Shou and the Magic Emperor Black Dragon, were all stunned by Shui Gui's elusive tactics.

How many tricks did this guy have hidden? Facing a Tai Xu against the enigmatic Ban Sheng Dao Qiong Cang, he could still turn the tables!

Wasn't he afraid of overplaying his hand and getting himself killed?

Yet, when everyone turned their gaze to Dao Qiong Cang, they saw no trace of surprise or bewilderment on his face. Instead, he wore a smile, even broader than Shui Gui's.

"Such a massive target like Qing Swamp, perfect for storing water and having undergone a sealing before—who wouldn't subconsciously overlook it? But if I were ordinary and thought that way, how could I be Dao Qiong Cang?"

As the Saint Tribulation descended, Dao Qiong Cang didn't even move his Tianji Si Nan this time. He simply arrived first, extended his hand, and snapped his fingers.

Snap!

The crisp sound cut through the thunder, making the Qing Swamp tremble as if summoned by a deity. Soon, the earth churned, and a beam of saintly light erupted from within.

"A treasure!"

"This is absolutely a Saint-level supreme treasure!"

Countless faces showed shock.

After all, their primary reason for coming to Void Island was to seek the foundation for sealing as saints. Clearly, this saintly object emerging from the Qing Swamp aligned perfectly with their goals. Obtaining it might truly provide a chance for sealing.

"This is..."

A lightning bolt seemed to flash in Xu Xiao Shou's mind. Having spent time in the Tianji Divine Envoy's inner circle, he knew about Si Wu Zhen, the nine great cores, and the role of the Zhen Xu Bei. This object was undoubtedly one of the nine great cores!

It was a treasure buried by Sheng Shen Hall to guard the island, similar to Long Xing. Had Dao Qiong Cang visited here beforehand and formed a contract with this treasure?

"Was it intentional or coincidental? Why Qing Swamp..."

There was no time for personal reflection. The saintly light bursting from the Qing Swamp pierced through the Saint Tribulation, revealing an ancient castle-like sacred artifact within.

"Zhen Shen Castle!"

When Shui Gui saw the form of this ancient sacred artifact, the smile on his face froze.

Under normal circumstances, even the appearance of a sacred artifact couldn't stop a Saint Tribulation. But Zhen Shen Castle was an exception! Once possessed by the Zhan Shen Official Ran Ming, it held supreme suppressive power. Its most glorious feat had even suppressed the ancestral source force released by a Ban Sheng.

How could a mere Ban Sheng Tribulation not be interrupted?

"Suppress!"

Dao Qiong Cang held his Tianji Si Nan with composure.

With that single word, the ancient Zhen Shen Castle expanded instantly, enveloping the entire Qing Swamp and slamming down directly onto Shui Gui's head.

Bang!

The void trembled with a massive roar. The sound wave exploding from the Qing Swamp direction was so clear that it reached the ears of everyone at the distant Sin One Hall ruins.

"Damn!"

"Help... save me..."

"Pfft!"

Countless people were blasted away, not from the shockwave itself, but merely from viewing the scene in the Spirit Mirror. The surging suppressive force was so overwhelming that even remote viewers were flipped over.

When the sound wave truly hit, everyone felt their ears go deaf, and their powers were briefly suppressed.

"Is he dead?"

"Was Shui Gui crushed to death by Zhen Shen Castle?"

Fortunately, they weren't at the battlefield's center, so the wave didn't injure many. As the crowd scrambled up in disarray, they found it hard to believe. The mastermind behind the entire Void Island scheme, Shui Gui, was gone just like that? It seemed a bit rushed.

"He's not dead!"

In the Qing Swamp, Xu Xiao Shou, protected by the Magic Emperor Black Dragon from the shockwave and suppressive force, had his eyes gleaming. His "perception" saw clearly that in the instant Zhen Shen Castle landed, a portal—the greatest variable, the Gate of the Secondary Plane—flashed above Shui Gui's head.

Of course, Shui Gui didn't foolishly use the Gate of the Secondary Plane to swallow Zhen Shen Castle under Dao Qiong Cang's control; instead, he swallowed himself.

"Where did he go?"

Before Xu Xiao Shou could search, he saw Dao Qiong Cang look up toward the direction of Sin One Hall.

The Magic Emperor Black Dragon also twisted its body and soared to the Sin One Hall ruins.

Their grasp of the battle, perception range, and methods far surpassed the inexperienced Xu Xiao Shou.

At Sin One Hall, Shui Gui stood with one hand on the Gate of the Secondary Plane and the other on the Yuhai Divine Halberd, raising both divine artifacts high.

He had abandoned any attempt to seal as a saint!

It was as if all his previous actions were merely a diversion to conceal his true intent.

"Dao Qiong Cang, you anticipated that Qing Swamp was my backup, but did I not anticipate your thoughts?"

"If I truly underestimated you, how would I dare to arrange this today?"

Muttering softly, the Gate of the Secondary Plane in Shui Gui's hand suddenly burst with light, manifesting an ancient shadowy gate.

"Forbidden seal barrier!"

Dao Qiong Cang had just flashed over, but before he could act, he felt his saintly power vanish suddenly.

This was...

Shui Gui had connected to the forbidden seal barrier of the inner island, drawing its power out?

Realizing this, a rare hint of surprise finally crept onto Dao Qiong Cang's face, if only for a moment.

He looked at Shui Gui.

Shui Gui was smiling, a faint smile.

"My enigmatic Dao Dianzhu, have you calculated where your burial ground will be?"

"Can you use the full power of the Gate of the Secondary Plane at the Tai Xu level?" Dao Qiong Cang couldn't help but ask.

"Who spread the 'rule' that only a Ban Sheng can fully activate the Gate of the Secondary Plane? And who demonstrated that water element mysteries could break the 'rules' and barely activate it?" Shui Gui's lips curved fully, his head tilting as he feigned sudden realization.

"Oh, it was me."

After answering himself, he gazed at the utterly changed Dao Qiong Cang and slammed down the Yuhai Divine Halberd.

With sizzling sounds, the dense water element power seized this moment when Dao Qiong Cang's abilities were sealed, flooding the entire Void Island.

"Deep Sea!"