Chapter 1453: Weird Techniques Display the Dao of the Firmament Once More, Yet They Also Leap to Life on Paper

"Da Ci Xiu Shu!"

Dao Qiong Cang reacted with lightning speed, his fingers sweeping across the Tianji Sinan.

Countless Dao patterns burst forth in mid-air, dazzling and magnificent.

In an instant, they sketched out an extraordinarily splendid scene in the void.

The swelling of the Tianji puppet halted.

It was like a toy, pierced and bound by the endless Tianji Dao patterns onto this canvas of the void.

Completely immobilized, unable to explode.

Utterly agonizing!

"Little one…"

After neutralizing Xu Xiao Shou's self-destruction technique with the Tianji puppet, Dao Qiong Cang's smile returned.

Outside Yu Jing City, he had already witnessed the self-explosion of a Tianji puppet’s arm once, so he was on guard.

How could he let Xu Xiao Shou escape with his spirit this time?

To prevent any more surprises, after fixing the half Tianji puppet in the void, Dao Qiong Cang manipulated the Tianji Sinan again.

"Da Gou Jin Shu!"

Starlight shot out, striking the target directly.

Xu Xiao Shou's spirit was locked inside the Tianji puppet, unable to transfer away.

Even the faint connection he had just established between his star disk and Yu Zhi Wen was forcefully severed by Dao Qiong Cang.

"Good!"

Seeing this, the surrounding white-robed figures wanted to applaud. "It truly takes Dao Hall Master to handle this!"

Xu Xiao Shou was incredibly hard to capture!

Even Sheng Di Bei Huai had tried and failed.

Rumors were already spreading among the white-robed group that the enigmatic one wasn’t just Dao Hall Master—Saint Slave Shou Ye was equally mysterious.

But today’s encounter proved it:

The old ginger is still the spiciest!

Those who thought Dao Hall Master's Tian Zu operation had completely failed now realized they had been too arrogant.

How could they dare speculate about Dao Hall Master?

"You flashy old Daoist, even if you’ve caught me, what can you do?"

In mid-air, Xu Xiao Shou’s trapped spirit showed no sign of panic.

He had already cast aside life and death when he struck Kui Lei Han with full force.

At worst, he’d lose a spirit strand. Could this flashy old Daoist trace it back to the Ran Ming ruins and strike his main body?

Even if he could…

A dead main body would just be his second true form, Jin Ren, not his original self— no big issue.

"Not much, really. After all, you’ve escaped this far in such a sorry state. Why not stick around and chat?" Dao Qiong Cang's expression was quite relaxed.

"Chat about what?"

Xu Xiao Shou had nothing to say.

If he had the strength, he'd love to land another blow on this old Daoist.

But with the Tianji puppet restrained, even if it were released now, he couldn’t fight anymore. He’d just have to play along.

Dao Qiong Cang's expression turned playful: "Let's chat about this hall’s plan."

"Oh?"

Xu Xiao Shou’s tone lifted.

He was actually quite interested in that.

After all, this flashy old Daoist hadn’t stopped at capturing Xiang Yi and now wanted to chat after seizing his spirit…

Besides showing off in front of the parties involved, Xu Xiao Shou couldn’t figure out what the old Daoist was thinking— it was truly curious.

Just then, the surrounding energy shifted.

Leaves rustled in the forest outside, and two stones flew into the battlefield.

"Heh!"

Dao Qiong Cang glanced sideways, amused.

Stones again?

Did they really think this was still Chang De Town, where a little thief could play tricks?

"Zhen!"

His eyes turned stern, and a vast aura suppressed everything. The two stones turned to dust as soon as they appeared.

But at the same time, the Tianji puppet nailed in mid-air by Da Ci Xiu Shu vanished without a trace!

Dao Qiong Cang was surprised but delighted. He stepped forward quickly, his fingertip pinching.

He seemed to pinch the intangible aura left on the powdered stones, then manipulated the Tianji Sinan to activate the Qingyuan Mountain grand array.

"Shun!"

The surrounding white-robed figures felt a blur before their eyes.

Dao Hall Master had disappeared!

"Thief of Heaven, Swap of Day!"

In the distance, Zhu Yi Ke, hidden in the tree canopy, clutched the stolen half Tianji puppet and hurriedly threw out more stones.

But before he could escape with Shou Ye, Dao Qiong Cang appeared right in front of him, Tianji Sinan in hand.

Face to face!

"Damn!"

Zhu Yi Ke was startled.

He had woken from Kui Lei Han's one-thought power, realizing his external injuries were severe but his internals weren’t badly hurt, so he’d been playing dead.

He was waiting for this moment—to escape with Shou Ye.

But he never expected Dao Qiong Cang to pinpoint his location so quickly…

Why?

Zhu Yi Ke suspected it had something to do with Dao Qiong Cang having stayed in that "Leap Upon Paper" blood cloth for a while.

But now, there was no time to think more.

The flashy old Daoist had his schemes…

And so did he!

"Bye-bye."

His body flickered.

Zhu Yi Ke made a grotesque face at the old Daoist in front of him and vanished.

He had swapped two stones into the battlefield earlier.

One to exchange for the Tianji puppet, which was destroyed on the spot.

The other slipped in silently, performing a second Thief of Heaven, Swap of Day with the first stone before it turned to dust, then blending in with the other stones.

Now, with another swap…

Zhu Yi Ke had distanced himself from Dao Qiong Cang, appearing back at the previous battlefield surrounded by white-robed figures.

At his feet lay the unconscious Yu Zhi Wen.

"Get him!"

The white-robed figures paused briefly before shouting in unison.

Everyone recognized this guy as the wanted bounty thief, one of Xu Xiao Shou's key accomplices—Zhu Yi Ke!

"Want to catch me?"

Dozens of white-robed figures and over a dozen Tai Xu cultivators.

Zhu Yi Ke remained unfazed. He kicked Yu Zhi Wen into the air.

"In three breaths, she’ll die. Believe it or not?"

The white-robed crowd hesitated at his words.

Like hell we believe it!

But at this point, whether this Southern Domain heretic was telling the truth didn’t matter.

Even if there was the slightest chance Yu Zhi Wen could die, they had to be cautious.

"Save her first!"

The leader among the white-robed figures shouted, and half of them leaped into the air.

Spiritual energy manifested as they rushed to protect the unconscious Yu Zhi Wen.

The rest unleashed their spiritual energy and weapons, eyes bloodshot, intent on shredding this insolent fool.

"Die!!!"

The surging spiritual energy fluctuations and chaotic blade lights didn’t faze Zhu Yi Ke in the least.

—This was nothing compared to Dao Qiong Cang's smile.

Zhu Yi Ke gripped the half Tianji puppet, ignoring the dozen or so Tai Xu attackers rushing at him.

He was waiting!

As their techniques and weapons were about to hit…

"Hey."

Zhu Yi Ke chuckled, stepped on the star disk on the ground to flip it up, and performed Thief of Heaven, Swap of Day.

His figure vanished instantly.

"Stop!"

"Everyone, stop!"

The lead white-robed figure saw it clearest.

His blade was swinging down to split Zhu Yi Ke in two when the person in front suddenly turned into Yu Zhi Wen!

This move shocked everyone.

The lead figure hastily withdrew his blade, not even having time to suppress the backlash, and turned to strike at his companions behind him.

—If he didn’t stop their attacks, even one misaim could kill Yu Zhi Wen!

"Boom!"

The battlefield erupted with violent spiritual energy fluctuations.

With one Thief of Heaven, Swap of Day, Zhu Yi Ke completely confused all the white-robed figures. By the time they realized Zhu was now Yu and the real person was gone, several breaths had passed.

Stuck in that moment…

In the air, the group of Zhan Dao cultivators were still focused on protection.

They had clear roles and knew that if they were even a bit weak, their goal of protecting Yu Zhi Wen would fail.

Waves of spiritual energy flowed toward her, turning into wind or rain, gentle and protective, about to shield Dao Bu Shou Zuo Yu Zhi Wen.

But in the blink of an eye, the unconscious saintess had become the ugly Zhu Yi Ke!

"Surprised?"

"Unexpected?"

Everyone was stunned.

In that brief hesitation, Zhu Yi Ke grinned at them, showing his crooked teeth, and flung out a sheet of paper.

"Leap Upon Paper!"

A strange sound echoed.

The dozens of Zhan Dao cultivators rushing to protect Yu Zhi Wen were all sealed into the paper.

"Gentlemen, I’m over here. Are you blind?"

After sealing them, Zhu Yi Ke clutched the paper and taunted the white-robed Tai Xu below, who had nearly hacked Yu Zhi Wen to pieces and were still reeling in shock.

This taunt was infuriating.

"You damn thing!"

"You bastard, you’d better not turn around!"

"Come down here…"

The group of Tai Xu turned and soared into the air, charging at Zhu Yi Ke.

"Hey."

Without any visible movement from Zhu Yi Ke…

The one in the air turned back into Yu Zhi Wen.

The one below, who had been Yu Zhi Wen, became Zhu Yi Ke.

—Another Thief of Heaven, Swap of Day, foolproof as always!

Now, what remained was an elderly man holding Zhu Yi Ke, staring in bewilderment.

And the many white-robed figures with blades raised toward the air… once again Yu Zhi Wen. Everyone froze.

Qingyuan Mountain fell silent for a moment.

"Leap Upon Paper!"

Zhu Yi Ke threw out another sheet of paper, sealing all the unguarded Tai Xu with their backs turned.

Of course, he didn’t spare the doddering old man holding him.

"A bunch of middle domain old fools!"

Zhu Yi Ke grabbed the two sheets of paper, sealed everyone inside, and sneered with contempt.

The wickedness of Southern Domain techniques and Zhu Yi Ke’s audacity left even Xu Xiao Shou stunned.

It was pure mockery!

These people, unfamiliar with Jin Men stealing arts, were even more pathetic than Dao Qiong Cang, who had been sealed in the blood cloth on first sight.

Dozens of Tai Xu…

In the Five Domains, that was enough to found sects!

What’s more, they were white-robed, meaning they’d battled major dark forces across the domains and had rich combat experience.

Yet here, on Qingyuan Mountain…

They’d become a bunch of idiots, toyed with by Old Zhu.

"Run!"

Xu Xiao Shou didn’t dare dwell on it and hurriedly spoke up.

He hadn’t expected Zhu Yi Ke to carve out an escape route under the flashy old Daoist’s control.

In that instant, he saw hope and had no desire to stay and chat with Dao Qiong Cang.

"Go!"

Zhu Yi Ke flicked his fingers, sending the two sheets of paper—one south, one north—both into spatial turbulence.

He then pulled out another sheet, aiming it at the falling Yu Zhi Wen in the air…

A group of white-robed figures, unless in a death battle, weren’t his match even combined.

Old Zhu knew that.

His Jin Men stealing arts were also mysteriously powerful.

But there was still a more terrifying presence—if he didn’t have a hostage, Zhu Yi Ke felt he couldn’t escape no matter how skilled.

—Dao Qiong Cang!

To restrain Dao Qiong Cang, he needed Yu Zhi Wen as a hostage.

"Leap Upon Paper!"

With a word, she was sealed.

Yu Zhi Wen’s figure vanished into the paper.

Only then did a smile appear on Zhu Yi Ke’s face. He turned to the distant sky, pulling a small copper plate from his pocket.

"Shou Ye, as I said before…"

He flicked it with his finger, and the copper plate spun into the air with a crisp "ding," pleasant to the ear:

"Leap or not?"

Xu Xiao Shou was impressed!

Old Zhu’s move was executed flawlessly.

He was about to respond when he sensed something wrong and quickly warned: "Watch out…"

Too late!

Before Thief of Heaven, Swap of Day could form, Zhu Yi Ke felt something and looked down in shock at the paper that had sealed Yu Zhi Wen.

"Sizzle!"

The paper tore, and a crystalline, jade-white hand emerged, piercing straight through Zhu Yi Ke’s heart.

"Ugh!"

Zhu Yi Ke grunted, his face full of disbelief.

Yu Zhi Wen?

Impossible!

How could she break free from Leap Upon Paper?

The hand wasn’t satisfied; after piercing his chest, it tore upward viciously!

"Sizzle…"

From his heart, up to his left shoulder and neck, it nearly split his head in two.

Only because he tilted his head in time…

That hand strike could have severed his flesh entirely!

Only then did the paper fully rip, and the hand pushed against the void, revealing a figure in a star-patterned dress… Dao Qiong Cang!

The face wasn’t Yu Zhi Wen—it was the flashy old Daoist!

The old Daoist smiled, raising his eyebrows smugly at Zhu Yi Ke, his tone full of genuine admiration as he answered the question Shou Ye hadn’t:

"Leap!"

Dao Qiong Cang?!

In that moment, not just Zhu Yi Ke, even Xu Xiao Shou was dumbfounded.

Yu Zhi Wen had turned into Dao Qiong Cang?

When did that happen?

"You… how is that possible…"

Zhu Yi Ke’s mind was reeling.

He was the master of Thief of Heaven, Swap of Day, but the flashy old Daoist’s swap was even more masterful!

"Back when she fainted, for safety, this hall had already swapped her out." Dao Qiong Cang seemed to know what he was thinking and explained calmly.

"Hiss…"

The intense pain hit Zhu Yi Ke’s body, but it couldn’t suppress the shock in his mind.

He refused to believe it was a prearranged swap—Dao Qiong Cang had left a decoy and moved Yu Zhi Wen early.

"Impossible!"

Xu Xiao Shou interjected firmly.

His power was depleted, but he had seen clearly.

Yu Zhi Wen had been at his feet the whole time, and the Qingyuan Mountain array hadn’t activated.

She wasn’t swapped out early!

"Ah, you’ve seen through it…"

Dao Qiong Cang smiled awkwardly, his expression quickly turning serious as he stared at Zhu Yi Ke:

"Yes, this hall deceived you both."

"Actually, it was after you stole your Shou Ye, when even he couldn’t pay attention to me…"

"This hall completed the swap!"

Zhu Yi Ke nearly short-circuited upon hearing this.

Wasn’t that saying the flashy old Daoist had anticipated the "hostage" ploy the instant he rescued Shou Ye and left the battlefield?

Xu Xiao Shou briefly froze, recalling that his spirit had left Yu Zhi Wen for a moment.

In that instant, goosebumps covered him.

Qingyuan Mountain fell silent again…

Zhu Yi Ke’s face turned ashen.

Dao Qiong Cang, just climbing out of the paper in a dress, smiled contentedly.

"Screw you!"

Zhu Yi Ke cursed.

He swore this was the most disgusting smile he’d ever seen.

With the hostage plan failed and his injuries severe, the situation had reversed completely, seeming hopeless…

But Zhu Yi Ke hadn’t given up!

He narrowed his eyes, pressed his hand on the wound at his chest and left shoulder, and flung it toward Dao Qiong Cang.

"Reverse Style: Reverse Qian Kun!"

With a sizzle, blood sprayed from the old Daoist’s right chest to his neck.

Zhu Yi Ke’s wound mirrored onto Dao Qiong Cang’s body!

And he himself was fully healed, without a scratch!

"This…"

Dao Qiong Cang looked down in astonishment, as if shocked by the move.

Yet, despite his surprise, his actions were unhesitant. The Tianji Sinan trembled, and starlight flashed.

"Da Zhu Sha Shu!"

At such close range, this attack was instantaneous, nearly impossible to react to.

But Zhu Yi Ke leaned back, released the Tianji puppet, and reached into the void with his left hand, as if grasping the starlight.

His right hand, as the devastating light of Da Zhu Sha Shu approached, gently deflected it.

"Dou Zhuan Xing Yi!"

That was the true instant technique!

The direction reversed…

The target switched…

The lock erred…

Dao Qiong Cang felt as if he had swapped places with Zhu Yi Ke, or perhaps the Da Zhu Sha Shu had simply turned around.

In any case, when he looked down, the beam that should have hit Zhu Yi Ke had pierced through his own chest!

"Ugh!"

Dao Qiong Cang grunted, blood spilling from his lips, his eyes even more shocked.

"Leap?"

Zhu Yi Ke grinned, his crooked teeth gleaming white under the silver moonlight.

"I’ll make you leap!"

He reached back and grabbed the Tianji puppet.

The copper plate stuck in his palm seam flipped again with a flick.

"Ding!"

Crisp and pleasant.

Seizing the moment, Zhu Yi Ke didn’t get carried away.

He knew the flashy old Daoist had underestimated him and hadn’t unleashed his full semi-saint power right away.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t stand a chance.

But the result was the result, reality was reality—this round, he had won, and Dao Qiong Cang had lost.

If they fought again, Zhu Yi Ke believed the old Daoist wouldn’t dare underestimate him.

Sadly, there were no ifs…

"Thief of Heaven, Swap of Day!"

He shouted, a smile spreading across his face.

Yet reality wasn’t following his script…

The technique had activated, but he was still in place?

"Pfft…"

Pain hit his abdomen.

Zhu Yi Ke spat blood and looked down in horror.

The paper that had sealed Yu Zhi Wen—actually sealing Dao Qiong Cang—and should have scattered in the wind after it tore…

One fragment!

Somehow, it had stuck to his clothes.

And now, from it emerged another jade-white arm, piercing through his dantian!

"Impossible…"

Zhu Yi Ke struggled to raise his hand, trying to cover the dantian wound and transfer it away.

The arm lifted upward forcefully, stabbing into his chest and pulling back, grabbing something.

"Thump-thump…"

"Thump-thump…"

A rapidly beating heart!

Dao Qiong Cang crawled out from the last paper fragment.

He looked at the pale-faced Zhu Yi Ke and smiled:

"But I did leap!"

"You’ve really impressed this hall!"

Zhu Yi Ke’s lips twitched, unable to speak.

Not just him—even Xu Xiao Shou’s consciousness in the Tianji puppet was stunned, looking at the skirt-wearing Dao Qiong Cang nearby, then at the second Dao Qiong Cang emerging from Zhu Yi Ke’s body…

He was baffled!

Two Dao Qiong Cangs?

Two semi-saint avatars?

To deal with him, was it necessary?

"Screw you…"

Zhu Yi Ke struggled to speak, flicking his thumb joint.

But Dao Qiong Cang acted first, grabbing Zhu Yi Ke’s fist and covering the joint.

He shook his head at the man in his arms with a smile:

"Not proper."

With a gentle squeeze of the heart…

Zhu Yi Ke grunted, his dantian’s spiritual energy collapsing, and the technique dissipated.

"Screw…"

"Ugh."

Dao Qiong Cang pulled back his hand and stuffed the heart into the foul mouth, cutting off the rest.

He fished out a Jin Wu Order and slapped it on Zhu Yi Ke.

The dust settled.

Zhu Yi Ke’s eyes rolled back, and his body went limp.

Dao Qiong Cang stepped on the troublesome fellow as he descended from the air.

"Thud!"

Dust flew up.

The flashy old Daoist no longer needed to worry about Jin Men stealing arts. He smiled casually and looked toward the Tianji puppet:

"Chat?"

Xu Xiao Shou’s spirit in the puppet glanced at the proper flashy old Daoist, then at the improper one in the skirt in mid-air.

He was suddenly speechless, not knowing what to say.

"Pop."

In the air, the skirted Dao Qiong Cang transformed into a chubby Tianji spirit.

It descended, pouting, circled Dao Qiong Cang once, then waved at the Tianji puppet:

"Little Shou, long time no see. I’m Xiao Qi. Do you remember me?"

Dao Qiong Cang leaned in, calm as ever:

"Chat?" (End of chapter)