Chapter 1291: Who Dares to Touch My Disciple

“How extravagant!”

Almost everyone who witnessed Bai Ling surviving that devastating strike through various means had their eyes turn red with envy.

What was the gap between the rich and the poor, or the disparity in status? Today, they truly witnessed it.

In terms of cultivation alone, at least half the people on the island had Lian Ling realms that were not inferior to Bai Ling’s.

Yet, when facing such a strike from Dao Qiong Cang, only a few could confidently withstand it.

Bai Ling didn’t even need to exert much effort; he simply relied on his array of external treasures to block a killing blow from a Ban Sheng.

“Damn it all, those status mongers!”

“Bai Ling is finished. He’s absolutely done for. Regardless of whether he’s allied with the Sheng Nu, just from the fact that he blocked that strike for the Shui Gui, Dao Dianzhu won’t let him off.”

“Yes, even without talking about rebellion in the Sheng Gong, at least the Jin Zhao Yi Mai lineage, or Bai Ling himself, has definitely betrayed. He deserves to die.”

“He really should be killed! No matter the reason… just look at his face; it screams bad luck!”

“Hmm, what’s that sour smell? Where’s it coming from?” Li Fu Gui poked his head around, sniffing the air.

“But haven’t you noticed? The Shui Gui has already contracted a Ban Sheng position. If he truly becomes a Sheng, then Dao Dianzhu has already lost half the battle!”

Amid the chorus of sour grapes complaints, a few clear-headed individuals stood out.

Indeed, the earlier explosion from the Jin Zhao Ning Dan technique had been so massive that the Shui Gui, who was quietly contracting the Ban Sheng position in the background, seemed utterly insignificant.

But now, the Lei Jie had formed, the winds howled, and the colors changed—the process of Feng Sheng had begun.

The Sheng Jie was brewing and about to strike down.

If it were anyone else, people might think the chances of successfully becoming a Sheng were fifty-fifty, or even thirty-seventy or ten-ninety.

But this was the Shui Gui!

After orchestrating such a grand spectacle on Xu Kong Dao and as the master of water-elemental mysteries, the Shui Gui’s Sheng Jie was certainly stronger than most, but how could he fail to overcome it?

Once he became a Sheng, he would be the world’s first Ban Sheng of water-elemental mysteries, instantly claiming the pinnacle.

Dao Qiong Cang was powerful, and he had the Cang Qiong Hui Juan.

But even that was merely a forged array diagram of mysteries—a copy. How could a fake outmatch the original?

How could Dao Qiong Cang, who didn’t follow the orthodox Lian Ling path to its extreme, compare to a Ban Sheng like the Shui Gui?

The more they thought about it, the more startling it became.

Only then did the crowd realize why Dao Qiong Cang had repeatedly tried to stop the Shui Gui from becoming a Sheng.

If the Shui Gui succeeded, setting aside strategies, grand momentum, geographical advantages, and human factors…

In a direct confrontation, he would have the qualifications to challenge any Ban Sheng in the world, even the long-established Dao Qiong Cang.

“What a cunning plan!”

On the dragon’s head, Xu Xiao Shou saw through it as well.

Any scheme crumbles under absolute power. As long as Dao Qiong Cang himself acted, he could destroy everything.

But if the one laying the trap also wielded absolute power, that would be terrifying.

If you couldn’t outmaneuver them in the shadows and they’d overpower you head-on, how desperate would that be?

“But is Dao Qiong Cang really just that?” Xu Xiao Shou eyed the unflappable Dao Dianzhu, who seemed to have everything under control, and pondered silently.

Rumble!

The Sheng Jie finally took shape.

The dense dark clouds in the sky were more oppressive than any previous Feng Sheng phenomenon, shrouding over half of Xu Kong Dao.

The energy contained within the Jie Yun was unimaginably terrifying; just a glance made hearts race with fear.

A Sheng Jie of this caliber would likely obliterate even an ordinary Tai Xu in the early stages.

“What kind of Sheng Jie is this? It’s too frightening!” A Tai Xu cried out in trembling fear.

“The supreme Sheng Jie, totaling 129,600 tribulations, starting from one Yin, with each tribulation adding one thunder. It begins with the Zi Ji Shen Lei…” Li Fu Gui shook his head and murmured to himself, stunned by this rare spectacle.

“The supreme Sheng Jie? Big brother, tell us more. How does it differ from an ordinary Sheng Jie?” A Zhan Dao approached.

“An ordinary Sheng Jie has buffer periods; the supreme one has no breaks—it’s designed purely to strike people dead.”

“It’s the pinnacle of Sheng Jie. The early stages can wipe out over 99 percent of Tai Xu, and in the middle to late stages, even ordinary Ban Sheng could be destroyed.”

Li Fu Gui took a deep breath. “In the recorded history of Sheng Shen Continent, the number of supreme Sheng Jie can be counted on two hands.”

“So does that mean the Shui Gui is doomed? Dao Dianzhu doesn’t even need to act?” More people crowded around, amazed by the unassuming Li Fu Gui’s knowledge.

“Not at all.” Li Fu Gui slowly shook his head.

“The appearance of a supreme Sheng Jie actually proves that the Shui Gui’s foundation is as astonishing as his deep sea. Others might not survive it, but for him…”

Thinking of the mysteries’ power and recalling Ban Sheng-level Lian Ling masters who hadn’t even mastered mysteries, Li Fu Gui felt a shiver down his spine.

“For him, as long as he pulls out a Sheng Di position, he might even break through to that realm!”

Did he mean…

The Sheng Di realm?

What a shocking statement!

“Big brother, you’re joking, right? How could the Shui Gui have a Sheng… that kind of position?” Someone scoffed, and many others chimed in agreement.

An Ao Yi Tai Xu who hadn’t fully mastered it would be looked down upon by any Ban Sheng.

An Ao Yi Ban Sheng at full mastery could look down on all other Ban Sheng.

But an Ao Yi Sheng Di…

That would be defying the heavens!

“Who knows?” Li Fu Gui sighed faintly.

The Shui Gui’s heart was as unfathomable as the ocean floor; his past as the Yu Mo Great Demon King made him legendary from three or four decades ago, with depths beyond measure.

Even if he pulled out a Sheng Di position at the end of his tribulation, Li Fu Gui could understand it.

Because just what the Shui Gui was doing on Xu Kong Dao was already heaven-defying.

“Rumble—”

As the Sheng Jie descended from the sky, striking the first tribulation and first thunder toward the Absolute Exhaust Fire Domain, the world shrouded in dark clouds lit up.

All discussions ceased; everyone’s hearts tightened as they held their breath from afar, avoiding being targeted by the Sheng Jie, yet focusing intently on the spectacle.

Such a Sheng Jie was a once-in-a-thousand-years event—how could they not watch with full attention?

In the skies above the Absolute Exhaust Fire Domain, Bai Ling had already seized the chance to flee, staying as far as possible from the Sheng Jie’s center.

Only the Shui Gui remained, still pushing the golden beast mask with effortless grace.

As the tribulation fell, he summoned the Feng Yuan Qiang and Yu Hai Shen Ji, one in each hand, his lips curving into a slight smile.

“Then let this grand catastrophe serve as the final curtain for the drama on Xu Kong Dao!”

Facing the Zi Ji Shen Lei, the Shui Gui charged forward with spear and halberd in hand.

But at that very moment, everyone saw Dao Qiong Cang move as well.

He actually dashed forward, positioning himself beside the Shui Gui, almost shoulder to shoulder, entering the Sheng Jie’s center.

“Boom!”

One thunderbolt struck them both.

The Shui Gui, who should have been shattered by the Zi Ji Shen Lei, transformed into ink-like rain that reformed. Dao Qiong Cang, as the intruder, was blasted into scattered ancient characters that recombined.

Both emerged unscathed!

“This…”

The crowd was dumbfounded, shocked by their strength while vaguely understanding Dao Qiong Cang’s intent.

Was he provoking the supreme Sheng Jie to make it evolve?

Sure enough, sensing that the one undergoing tribulation had “help,” the Sheng Jie erupted in fury.

The void boomed; what should have been just two thunders for the second tribulation turned into two hundred!

“Two hundred Hei Jin Shen Lei?”

Li Fu Gui’s eyes nearly bulged out.

A provoked Sheng Jie multiplying was impressive enough; tenfold was extreme but acceptable. But detecting an outsider’s aid and multiplying a hundredfold? Who could survive that?

The one undergoing tribulation probably wouldn’t even dare reveal the location to anyone!

“What a cunning move from Dao Qiong Cang…”

On the dragon’s head, Xu Xiao Shou’s gaze flickered.

This trick from the flashy old Daoist wasn’t particularly clever; it required him to risk himself.

After all, once locked by the Sheng Jie, he was essentially tied to the Shui Gui’s fate.

“If it were Jiang Bu Yi, he probably wouldn’t dare step in!”

“Dao Qiong Cang is too bold. Does he have some method to shield himself from the Sheng Jie?”

“After all, if it reaches the late stages and even forces out the Zu Yuan Di Jie… that would be a huge loss!”

As Xu Xiao Shou pondered, the enraged Sheng Jie unleashed hundreds of thunderbolts in quick succession.

“Boom, boom, boom!”

Without giving the one undergoing tribulation any respite, the third tribulation followed immediately.

It brought three hundred Hei Jin Shen Lei and one Bai Mo Xin Jie.

“The third tribulation already has a Xin Jie, and it’s the Bai Mo Xin Jie…” The spectators cried out in unison.

Even Li Fu Gui was speechless with shock.

Such a Xin Jie was supposed to appear only in the late stages of a Sheng Jie.

For it to come on the third? That meant every subsequent tribulation would torment both the Shui Gui and Dao Qiong Cang with Xin Jie.

And there were still over 129,500 tribulations to go—how could anyone endure that?

“Boom, boom, boom, boom…”

The heavenly thunder struck one after another.

The Lian Ling masters at the Sin One Hall ruins finally understood what Li Fu Gui meant by “no time to breathe.”

The dense thunderbolts not only engulfed the Shui Gui and Dao Qiong Cang but also reduced the entire Absolute Exhaust Fire Domain’s volcanic craters to dust.

The surging lava hadn’t even erupted before being blasted into nothingness, leaving no escape for the one undergoing tribulation or the domain itself.

The deafening thunder roared endlessly, yet the two at the Sheng Jie’s center perfectly embodied “unflinching.”

They withstood the thunder’s assault while exchanging blows.

Water-elemental mysteries and the Cang Qiong Hui Juan flashed repeatedly.

Various Ling Ji and Tian Ji techniques intertwined and exploded amid the chaos.

They traded attacks relentlessly, without mercy.

“This is insane!”

Bai Ling hovered in the air, still inching backward.

Witnessing this, he could barely contain his shock.

As someone who entered the Sheng Gong and wielded authority in the Jin Zhao Yi Mai, he was naturally a genius.

But compared to a “genius” like the ten-seated Dao Qiong Cang or the water-elemental mysteries master Yu Mo, his talents were incomparable.

These were monsters!

They were utterly unreasonable—this was a supreme Sheng Jie, not child’s play!

Yet, the gap in their realms was undeniable; a supreme Sheng Jie was still supreme.

As the thunder intensified with nonstop bombardment, both quickly weakened, and the Shui Gui showed openings.

Dao Qiong Cang seized the chance, sweeping the Tian Ji Si Nan with starlight.

“Great Extermination Technique!”

In the flickering thunder, everyone saw the Shui Gui’s defenses wide open, about to be struck by the Tian Ji starlight.

“The Shui Gui can’t hold on; he’s going to lose.”

On the dragon’s head, Xu Xiao Shou “sensed” it even more clearly, realizing Dao Qiong Cang aimed to eliminate the Shui Gui early in the Sheng Jie.

That way, the supreme Sheng Jie would lose its primary target and dissipate.

At the critical moment, the Shui Gui seemed to have a trump card, opening his mouth as if to spit something out.

But he suddenly stopped, retracting his Ling Yuan entirely, leaving only a protective spirit shield and even adjusting its position.

“What’s he doing? Not fighting back is suicide!” Xu Xiao Shou was baffled.

Even in the midst of battle under the Sheng Jie, Dao Qiong Cang hesitated briefly, but his attack was already committed.

Soon, Dao Qiong Cang understood the Shui Gui’s ploy.

With a bang, the Great Extermination Technique was partially shattered by the thunder mid-flight.

Yet, its residual power still blasted through the Shui Gui’s protective shield, wounding his body.

The Shui Gui didn’t even elementalize himself; he let his body go out of control, hurtling toward the distance.

In the distance, Bai Ling could only muster a confused question mark in his mind.

In a flash, before he could react, the flying Shui Gui slammed into him, nearly shattering his spine.

The two hurtled like severed kites into the distant sky.

As the Sheng Jie thundered, another twist unfolded!

—Bai Ling was too close and had even made contact with the one undergoing tribulation, so the Sheng Jie now targeted him as an interferer or helper!

“Shui Gui! Dao Qiong Cang!” With his body torn apart by the Great Extermination Technique’s indirect hit, Bai Ling sensed the Sheng Jie locking onto him and nearly broke down, roaring in fury.

“…” Back in the thunder’s embrace, Dao Qiong Cang’s eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of light within.

Earlier, when his strike hadn’t killed Bai Ling, he had let it go, planning to settle it later, as further action would be beneath him.

Bai Ling had wisely stayed out, not rushing back in.

But the Shui Gui’s self-sacrificial gambit to frame him was unexpected.

“Hah.” With a massive bloody hole in his chest, the Shui Gui steadied his golden beast mask, his lips curling as blood sprayed from his mouth.

“Striking me is one thing, but was that intentional?”

Following his gaze, everyone saw Bai Ling, a terrified bloodied figure under the Sheng Jie’s lightning.

He was merely a Zhan Dao…

He should be facing the Nine Deaths Lei Jie…

This turn of events shocked everyone.

The battle under the Sheng Jie had been chaotic enough, with Dao Qiong Cang and the Shui Gui moving too fast.

Those who couldn’t keep up hadn’t even seen their moves clearly.

The only clear outcome…

Dao Dianzhu’s final attack had sent the Shui Gui flying and deliberately positioned it to hit Bai Ling, dragging him into the Sheng Jie.

Borrowing the tribulation to kill?

On the dragon’s head, one of the few who could follow the action, Xu Xiao Shou, felt a moment of daze.

Was Dao Qiong Cang attacking the Shui Gui with mutual consent?

And then his junior brother Bai Ling got pulled into the vortex?

Though he had no real attachment to the Jin Zhao Yi Mai—having never even met his ancestor Long Rong—Xu Xiao Shou had consumed quite a bit of Sheng blood.

Moreover, Mu Ling had crossed paths with him once, leaving a good impression.

Bai Ling was even younger, probably around Xiao Kong Dong’s age, and had a great personality.

To lose such a promising life so senselessly?

The Shui Gui and Dao Qiong Cang treated the supreme Sheng Jie like nothing; a few more hits, and Bai Ling’s life would be over!

His defensive treasures were limited, after all!

“Is this a Sheng war?”

“Is this the struggle for the great Dao?”

Xu Xiao Shou could hardly stand steady.

The Shui Gui and Dao Qiong Cang regarded lives as worthless; he couldn’t abandon Bai Ling.

But how to save him?

The Sheng Jie…

If he could slash it with a sword, that would be different.

But rushing in now would only trigger more changes, and he couldn’t save anyone.

“Who dares touch my disciple!”

In his mounting anxiety, a thunderous roar echoed from beyond the Absolute Exhaust Fire Domain, laden with boundless rage.

Flap, flap.

A faint sound came from the distant sky.

A speck of black flame streaked through, carrying a white crane.

Atop the crane’s head, Mu Ling in billowing black robes and without eyebrows had deep-set eyes brimming with surging killing intent.

Upon appearing, he saw Bai Ling submerged in the Sheng Jie, unable even to cry for help, and his heart nearly shattered.

“Dao Qiong Cang! Are you seeking death?!”