Chapter 1290: The Inhuman Water Ghost Trench and Inhuman Bai Lian

“I knew it, I just knew it…”

Si Tu Yongren, who had been seized through the air by the Ci Mian Zhi Men and immobilized in the void, had lost the brilliant aura he once carried as the top-ranked on the Dao Bu Tian Bang. His eyes were now dim and lifeless.

He had exhausted all his efforts to survive Xu Xiaoshou’s sword attack, even sacrificing a Tian Ji Shen Shi in the process.

He had encountered Ba Zun An and Mei Si Ren, but was completely ignored by those ancient sword cultivators who prided themselves on virtue and principles. Still, after some pleading, he at least managed to keep his life.

Yet…

He could dodge the first wave, but not the fifteenth.

When the power of the Ci Mian Zhi Men erupted inside him, Si Tu Yongren had no strength to resist at all.

He was filled with hate!

He hated why he had swallowed that drop of golden water given to him by Yu Ling Di on the ruins of Zui Yi Dian!

“It was supposed to be a backup plan to save my life…”

Back then, Yu Ling Di had been so arrogant, acting as if he didn’t want to save him and looked down on him, but had no choice since they were on the same side, so he handed over that card.

Si Tu Yongren hadn’t even demanded to take it; he had just used subtle sarcasm, and Si Tu Yongren foolishly treated the poison as a treasure and drank it.

Once the shadow of the Ci Mian Zhi Men merged into his body and blood, how could it ever be removed?

It was clearly a trap set by a water ghost, and he hadn’t seen through it.

Now, thinking back, it all seemed so ridiculous. He had been like a fool, being toyed with at will.

What was the difference between the water ghost’s tactics of retreating to advance and luring him in, and the way he had urged him to die on the Luo Yuan?

But twice over, the same tricks were used, and he hadn’t noticed any of it beforehand.

“I thought all those seniors were as proud as my master, or as disdainful of acting as Ba Zun An…”

Si Tu Yongren felt like crying but had no tears.

After being ignored by Ba Zun An, he had been angry and then relieved.

Now, looking back…

“They are them, and I am Ba Zun An.”

That saying was spot on—there was only one Ba Zun An.

As for the water ghost, he even used juniors as hostages in battles among peers, with a heart smaller than a needle’s eye!

In contrast to Si Tu Yongren’s despair above the Miracle Forest, Bai Ling was still leisurely soaking in the boiling lava of Jue Jin Huo Yu.

After his last attempt to persuade his master, Mu Lin, failed, and the other insisted on going to the battlefield…

Bai Ling thought it over and realized that going himself wouldn’t help much and might even upset the balance of Sheng Gong’s stance, dragging him into the greater conflict.

So, despite the anxiety and tension in his heart, due to his status, Bai Ling quickly adjusted his mindset.

He obediently followed his master’s words, returned to Jue Jin Huo Yu, stripped off his clothes, and soaked back into the lava.

“It’s tense, sure, but it’s truly relaxing…”

Little did he expect, this pleasure didn’t last long.

As the battle raged on, the battlefield suddenly expanded from a small Luo Yuan to the entire Void Island.

Bai Ling, who was soaking in the lava, was caught off guard when a forbidden seal locked his Ling Yuan, nearly melting him into slag from the extreme heat of Jue Jin Huo Yu.

After barely enduring it with his physical body, as soon as he escaped the high temperature, he was trapped in a water sphere, with his Ling Yuan draining away rapidly.

From fire to water—it was the greatest agony of life!

What joy from soaking… If he had known, he never would have indulged in it!

But even that wasn’t the end.

As the saying goes, trouble comes from nowhere.

Before Bai Ling could start resisting, the water sphere vanished.

As he relaxed a bit, the main player in the battle, the water ghost, arrived above Jue Jin Huo Yu with Dao Qiong Cang’s gaze fixed on him, seemingly intent on achieving sainthood right there.

“What are you doing!”

Bai Ling was scared half to death and couldn’t stay in the bath any longer. He shot up, cursing as he ran.

Under a saint tribulation, being that close was as good as waiting to die.

But then he realized he was completely naked, and as one of Sheng Gong’s five great authorities, with everyone’s eyes about to turn his way…

In this world, some things were more important than life.

Dignity!

Bai Ling, in the midst of running, hurriedly turned back to grab his clothes and threw them on, silently cursing that his master Mu Lin was the real sly fox, practically prophetic.

Earlier on the battlefield, Mu Lin hadn’t shown up, but he had left Jue Jin Huo Yu faster than a rabbit, as if he knew in advance it would become the main battlefield.

Bai Ling had no time to ponder if it was coincidence or the water ghost’s scheme.

As one of Sheng Gong’s five great authorities, his mind was sharper than most. He knew the greater danger was losing his life or dignity, so he followed the water ghost.

Thus, even in his panic, Bai Ling’s thoughts were crystal clear. As he ran, he shouted:

“Water ghost, I have no grudges with you from the past or present—why are you dragging me into this?”

“Dao Dian Zhu, Sheng Gong’s stance is clear. I, Bai, was just inspecting the Yun Lun Mountains, accidentally got pulled into Gu Yin Cliff, then into the deep sea and Void Island, and now I’m just here in Jue Jin Huo Yu… uh, cultivating. I have absolutely no intention of colluding with the Sheng Nu!”

He spoke at lightning speed, distancing both Sheng Gong and himself from the conflict in a few sentences. He didn’t dare wait for Dao Qiong Cang to appear and question him, or let the water ghost speak first.

If the water ghost spoke first, Bai Ling would have a hard time clearing his name.

If Dao Qiong Cang showed up and saw him there, he’d probably skip questions and just strike down the Jin Zhao lineage first.

After all, Dao Qiong Cang had a solid justification—Bai Ling was colluding with the Sheng Nu, and there were witnesses.

Sheng Gong and Sheng Shen Dian Tang weren’t as friendly as outsiders thought. One nurtured saints, the other maintained continental order, and they stayed out of each other’s way.

In a sense, these two forces were on equal footing, so their covert struggles for interests were endless and unspeakable.

As one of Sheng Gong’s five great authorities, Bai Ling knew exactly how many obstacles he had thrown in Sheng Shen Dian Tang’s way over the years.

If he were Dao Qiong Cang and saw this scene…

Oh boy, Sheng Gong’s people teaming up with the enemies of the dark forces? That meant they were accomplices—might as well eliminate them first and deal with explanations later.

Any compensation for the “misunderstanding” afterward…

Well, they could compensate, but it wouldn’t equate to a life for a life, so getting struck down first would be a total loss!

Faced with life and death, Bai Ling was as calm as could be, unlike the explosive masters of the Jin Zhao lineage.

By speaking first, even if he had colluded with the Sheng Nu, Dao Qiong Cang would have to investigate before acting.

And now…

It looked like Dao Qiong Cang might even have to save him!

“Bai Ling?”

When Dao Qiong Cang finished his move at Zui Yi Dian and flashed to the skies above Jue Jin Huo Yu to pursue the water ghost, seeing this person…

Honestly, he was a bit startled.

This was an absolute variable beyond his calculations!

Dao Qiong Cang had considered that Sheng Gong’s Jin Zhao lineage might collude with the Sheng Nu.

After all, Sang Qi Ye hadn’t been executed yet, largely due to pressure from Sheng Gong.

But for Sheng Gong and the Sheng Nu to collaborate so openly—Dao Qiong Cang wouldn’t even dare imagine it!

Had they lost their minds?

Bai Ling was quick-witted; he started explaining before even seeing the person.

When Dao Qiong Cang arrived, he caught these words, so he couldn’t just attack.

But that was better than attacking outright!

Dao Qiong Cang eased up a bit, realizing things might not be heading for the worst.

But his eyes were sharp!

He clearly saw the water ghost flash above Jue Jin Huo Yu and present the three choices, with a flash of genuine surprise in his eyes.

Then, the water ghost glanced down at Bai Ling, who was half-dressed, and his expression turned hilariously amused, as if he were angry:

“Still acting? He’s Dao Qiong Cang!”

In an instant, Bai Ling was struck like thunder.

Murderous intent erupted from Dao Qiong Cang.

“Coincidence?”

How could it be a coincidence!

As the master of countless “coincidences,” Dao Qiong Cang wouldn’t believe such a sensitive “encounter” was mere chance.

“You…”

Bai Ling looked up and was about to curse at the water ghost when he sensed the killing intent from Dao Qiong Cang. His face changed dramatically. “Dao Dian… damn it!”

No time to explain!

Dao Qiong Cang was definitely attacking on purpose!

He said three choices, but really, it was four—Dao Qiong Cang wanted them all!

As Tian Ji Si Nan turned, a thought avatar burst from Dao Qiong Cang, instantly heading to Rao Yao Yao above Luo Yuan, blocking the Yu Hai Shen Ji’s assault on the Ban Sheng Wei Ge.

“Tian Ji Thirty-Six Styles, Great Teleportation Technique!”

At the same time, above the Miracle Forest, as the Ci Mian Zhi Men turned into countless black sword rains about to strike Si Tu Yongren, a Cang Qiong Scroll unfolded under his feet, teleporting him away on the spot.

Dao Qiong Cang’s true body, already closing in on Jue Jin Huo Yu and the water ghost, wasn’t idle.

He vanished in a flash, and as Tian Ji Si Nan’s star ladle moved again, two beams of starlight shot toward Bai Ling and the water ghost.

“Tian Ji Thirty-Six Styles, Great Extermination Technique!”

This lethal move stunned everyone.

But the water ghost laughed.

He laughed with composure.

Wanting to protect everything would cause a delay, and by then, his blood had successfully merged into the Ban Sheng Wei Ge.

Faced with Dao Qiong Cang’s attack, he didn’t even feel like resisting, as if it were made of paper.

“Dao Dian Zhu, you’ve lost your mind!”

Bai Ling let out a cry of despair, realizing both he and Dao Qiong Cang had been used as pawns, though the latter might have had some intent.

But the Ban Sheng attack was already unleashed, like an arrow from the string—it couldn’t be recalled.

He had to take it head-on!

For anyone else, this strike would mean certain death, but who was Bai Ling?

True, his realm wasn’t high.

Yet, behind him stood his master Mu Lin, his grandmaster Long Rong Zhi, and the entire Sheng Gong!

On the surface, he was on equal footing with Dao Qiong Cang—who would fear a mere Dao Dian Zhu?

He was a bit afraid…

But with all his trump cards, Bai Ling could withstand at least one strike!

With a thought, he activated his soul space, triggering the Sheng blood to consume automatically.

The Jin Zhao Sheng blood, with no side effects and no power buildup, instantly elevated Bai Ling’s aura to saint level briefly.

“Nine Dragons Incineration Ancestor, activate!”

Bai Ling, who seemed panicked, turned ice-cold the moment he knew he had to fight back.

With a shout, the heavens rumbled, and the unstable Jue Jin Huo Yu ignited instantly.

Volcanoes erupted behind him, thick lava surging into the sky and forming nine solid, massive lava dragons that scorched everything.

In this terrain, his combat power was amplified by at least tenfold or more.

“Long Rong Realm!”

As the saint image solidified, the Jin Zhao Bai Yan swirled out for miles, surging from the earth toward the sky.

Unlike Sang Lao or Xu Xiaoshou’s Long Rong Realm, it didn’t fully enclose to form a barrier.

Instead, it merged with the lava in the void, forging a massive red-and-white cauldron that trapped the two beams of “Great Extermination Technique” starlight inside.

“Heh.”

The water ghost couldn’t help but smirk wider.

He knew that at such close range, Bai Ling would maximize his output to protect himself.

But Bai Ling was so weak, his power control so crude, that it looked like he was shielding the water ghost behind him, as if declaring, “He’s mine— even you, Dao Qiong Cang, can’t touch him.”

As one of Sheng Gong’s five great authorities, Bai Ling had been thoroughly studied, and the water ghost was no exception—including his mindset, combat strength, and fighting style.

In the water ghost’s eyes, Bai Ling was already a dead man, just one he’d spared.

The water ghost could have been more devious, more ruthless:

For instance, when Bai Ling was defending and nearly succeeding, he could subtly use the Ci Mian Zhi Men to connect with the inner island’s forbidden seal.

In that instant, it would seal off all of Bai Ling’s Ling Yuan.

No one would notice, and even if they did, there’d be no evidence…

Without his refining master powers, Bai Ling would be doomed under Dao Qiong Cang’s strike.

And since Dao Qiong Cang was the one attacking, for the sake of eliminating threats, Bai Ling likely couldn’t be revived!

That would create a rift between Dao Qiong Cang and Sheng Gong—one that would give even the Dao Dian Zhu severe headaches.

Given the Jin Zhao lineage’s protectiveness, Dao Qiong Cang would face constant targeting and obstacles.

Sheng Gong might even use this to free Wu Xiu, tipping the scales for the Sheng Nu.

It was a flawless impromptu plan, sacrificing just Bai Ling.

But the water ghost was still human…

He knew it would be harder than killing Wu Xiu.

Xu Xiaoshou, Mu Lin, Sang Qi Ye, Long Rong Zhi—they weren’t fools; they wouldn’t let him off.

So, he decided to show some mercy and spare Bai Ling’s life.

“Xu Xiaoshou, oh Xu Xiaoshou, I’m doing you another favor, but you won’t appreciate it.”

The water ghost’s eyes turned icy as he glanced at the struggling Bai Ling and sighed silently, “If only you weren’t Bai Ling.”

The saint image, Long Rong Realm, heavenly furnace…

Stepping onto the battlefield on the Mo Di Black Dragon, Xu Xiaoshou saw this familiar Jin Zhao style and almost thought Sang Lao had appeared.

Quickly focusing, he realized—it wasn’t; it was his so-called junior brother making a last-ditch effort?

Xu Xiaoshou nearly impulsively rode Long Bao to help.

But seeing the water ghost calmly shielding Bai Ling and seizing the chance to achieve sainthood, he knew Bai Ling had protection and wouldn’t die!

Besides, on Gu Yin Cliff, Bai Ling had been with Mu Lin.

Given the Jin Zhao lineage’s nature, if his disciple was in trouble, Mu Lin wouldn’t ignore it if he was around.

“Boom!”

The nine heavens shook, dark clouds gathered, ink-black rain fell, and the saint tribulation began.

At the same time, Jue Jin Huo Yu echoed with thunderous roars.

Bai Ling, as one of Sheng Gong’s five great authorities, had exceptional survival skills.

Under the constraints of Long Rong Realm and Nine Dragons Incineration Ancestor, the “Great Extermination Technique” was weakened significantly, no longer beyond human endurance.

The two starlight beams, treated as riotous spiritual medicine in Bai Ling’s heavenly furnace of a Long Rong Realm, were…

“Incineration Hand!”

Bai Ling formed a single refining hand seal, thrusting his hands forward as the nine lava dragons from Jue Jin Huo Yu pressed down from the air to aid in refining.

Xu Xiaoshou could see this was a technique from “Jin Zhao Condensation Dan Technique.”

The Great Extermination Technique wasn’t spiritual medicine and couldn’t truly form a pill.

But under Bai Ling’s temporary saint-level control, the two forces deviated from their paths, clashing into one point as if merging.

Merging was impossible; in battle, Jin Zhao Condensation Dan Technique was for explosion.

“Boom!”

The massive blast announced that Dao Qiong Cang’s Great Extermination Technique had been cracked by a refining master below saint level!

That majestic saint force, condensed in the starlight, erupted with terrifying energy upon exploding.

“Pfft…”

Even with Nine Dragons Incineration Ancestor’s protection and his robust body, Bai Ling couldn’t fully withstand it. His hands exploded, his body cracked, and blood spurted from his seven orifices as he was flung backward.

“Bang!”

A golden pearl on Bai Ling’s half-worn clothes burst.

“Bang bang!”

His Wen Long silver belt and the exquisite, valuable jade pendants on it shattered completely, turning into light.

“Buzz buzz buzz…”

The jade stones and talismans piled in Bai Ling’s sleeve pockets, which he hadn’t had time to put on, broke one by one, forming layers of Ling Yuan shields to protect him from further impact.

In his soul space, another drop of Sheng blood was triggered, fusing into his body.

Bai Ling’s nearly mangled flesh quickly restored to normal, and his pale, bloodied face rapidly regained its flush.

He was still being hurled backward from the blast.

But by the time his momentum was halted by the various defensive artifacts, he steadied himself in mid-air, straightened up, and lifted his head—his condition had recovered to about eighty or ninety percent of before the fight.

With a thick look of shock on his face, he wiped away the blood on his skin, revealing the smooth, fair complexion he had after his lava bath, and said with lingering fear:

“So this is a strike from a Ban Sheng… How powerful…”