Chapter 1039: After the Battle

The Yetian Gate descended from the heavens, wreathed in rolling, colorful flames. The Maha’s expression was one of terror, his teeth gnashing, as his body simultaneously expanded rapidly in the air. His golden palms shot upward, forced to meet the assault.

“Clang!”

The Yetian Gate was undeniably ponderous, but once it struck, an incredibly terrifying force of attrition and suppression immediately emerged. His hands sank slightly as if melting, and rolling flames instantly rose around his body.

He was now unable to move.

His golden body shimmered, vast as a mountain, as it paused, engulfed in the black-gold light of Diqi. At this critical juncture, Tai Xi’s back sprouted two more hands, which pressed together at his chest, revealing flakes of pink light in his palms.

This pink light, like a lotus, fully bloomed, revealing tiny silver specks within, like stamens.

The Kuangwang Rebirth Secret Art!

Kongwu Dao was, after all, one of the Seven Phases. Even though his former Dharmakaya had suddenly disintegrated when it tried to advance further and transcend ego, leading to its violent death, and the entire Kusha Temple sect perished, the Daoist scriptures of so many years still remained. Tai Xi, having achieved enlightenment for many years, had indeed learned a thing or two.

Now, with the lotus blooming, the surging repulsive force was entirely neutralized by the Jun Daowei aspect, yet another light emanated from within, pouring forth like a mighty river.

However, the ancient Yuan’e Armor, reforged by Dingyang Zi, had already ascended to the rank of a spirit armor. It had cost an immense fortune and taken an extremely long time to create. Li Zhouwei had kept it in his hand, hesitating to deploy it, saving it precisely for this moment; how could he allow the opponent to cast his spell?

The black-gold armor instantly burst forth with infinite colorful flames. Ferocious black flames surged along his body, making his figure appear magnified several times in the air. Demonic light converged, all rushing towards the halberd!

The Black Soul Mara Dharmakaya!

Surging Sui Qi light, carrying the power to break spells, instantly diminished the flowing colors within the lotus by a third. Immediately afterward, the golden mystic patterns on the armor lit up!

‘Divine Transformation of the Core!’

Instantly, illusions arose all around Tai Xi. The setting sun shone brightly, the earth was vast, and battle cries resounded everywhere. A bright red light appeared out of nothing, descending from the void. Enveloping the black-gold radiance of Diqi Light, it suddenly struck the lotus!

Tai Xi’s expression drastically changed; he urgently summoned the Kongxi Demon-Subduing Bowl back. But the shadow of karma fire appeared for an instant. A golden afterimage had already gone and returned, and the radiance of the Qunyang Bracelet fell, striking the bowl fiercely!

Without Tai Xi’s support, how could a mere Kongxi Demon-Subduing Bowl be a match for the Qunyang Bracelet? It immediately flew backward, emitting loud wails.

Tai Xi, while resisting the Diqi Light and defending with the Kongxi Demon-Subduing Bowl, was struck so hard that his mind was jolted, and he let out a muffled groan. Still trying to maintain his spell, he was caught off guard and could no longer block the red light. The splendid lotus instantly shattered with a roar.

“Crack!”

Accompanying it was a crisp, glass-like sound. This long halberd, like a fierce venomous snake, pierced into Tai Xi’s golden body—

“Boom!”

Massive amounts of lotus powder and glass-like light gushed forth, but they were incinerated to ashes by the surging black flames. Tai Xi’s two hands immediately pressed together, clamping onto Dasheng.

But the long halberd trembled slightly, yet no one was holding it!

Tai Xi suddenly raised his eyebrows. The Black Soul Mara Dharmakaya had already condensed in the air into a six-armed demon. The profound yellow light, a manifestation of Sui Qi, filled the space above and below. Its six arms merged into one, tightly grasping an axe.

This axe was thick and deep in color, appearing brownish-gold. The Qilin patterns on it shone brilliantly. The bright white axe blade radiated an incredibly sharp and terrifying aura. It was precisely the Huayang King’s Axe!

“Clang!”

A jade skull, wandering out of the void and arriving belatedly, was the first to block its path, but it only resulted in a shattering glass-like sound. The light paused for an instant, then fell unobstructed!

The Yetian Gate suddenly trembled. The sky above the entire lakeshore brightened for an instant. Intense celestial light filled every corner. Cultivators locked in battle high above were instantly blinded. Numerous flying magical artifacts trembled, plummeting to the ground like dumplings.

The massive Dharmakaya of Tai Xi of the Three Worlds suddenly shattered. The huge axe blade sliced into his left shoulder, emerging from beneath his ribs, completely cleaving him into two halves. Boiling white vapor rose from the ground. The enormous golden body plummeted from the sky, falling uncontrollably onto the riverbank!

The Yetian Gate was still pressing down!

The Mingxiang Maha, high in the sky, slightly lowered his brows and formed hand seals.

‘My junior brother should be satisfied now.’

Although everything happened in a flash, Mingxiang was not without the power to intervene. But as the esteemed second senior brother of the Benevolent Path of Lotus Temple, why would he need to save a Kongwu Dao Maha? Especially since this Maha seemed to hold great enmity towards his own junior brother.

Although he didn’t intervene, he wasn’t sitting idly by. He precisely seized every opportunity. The brilliant light in his hand condensed to its peak, and with a flick of his finger, it instantly shot away!

On the other side, the surging river water also abruptly broke open. The general, also wielding an axe, split open the gourd blocking his path and charged forward on the wind. His brow furrowed with menace, his gaze fixed for a long time on the Huayang King’s Axe in his hand.

A celadon jade bottle, embroidered with dazzling patterns, suddenly dropped. Gongsun Bei raised two fingers, touched his brow, reined in his magical power, and illuminated a pure radiance:

‘Supplication Night’

Bathed in light, this jade bottle underwent an even more mystical transformation. Taking advantage of Li Zhouwei’s full-force assault, it tilted and rolled out a single jade-like, emerald-green bead.

“Drip!”

The moment this bead fell, a deep, hazy wind, unseen by sun or moon, reversed cold and dryness, and the dew of elemental fire shifted and fell. The qi of the entire riverbank suddenly changed. The pervasive celestial light was instantly restrained and weakened, as if transcending the fading night, transforming into a bluish-green Shao Yang light, quietly settling upon the ground.

The glory of the magnificent, peerless Yetian Gate also suddenly diminished. Various phoenix and luan bird manifestations vanished. Golden-armored, golden-robed heavenly soldiers and generals also collapsed with a roar. Li Zhouwei had already pulled back his halberd and turned around, braving the opponent’s divine abilities, intending to step forward and engage, but he staggered back as if drunk, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

“Cough, cough…”

His glabella was persistently shrouded by a brilliant, lotus-shaped radiance. Mingxiang’s expression gradually darkened; he exerted force with one hand, as if trying to restrain a fierce beast. His calm demeanor was broken for the first time, his face slightly flushed.

Gongsun Bei was able to take a step forward, raising his red axe high, and suddenly brought it down!

Even at this point, Li Zhouwei still refused to raise the Yetian Gate.

Tai Xi was cut down, his Dharmakaya collapsed. Yet his spiritual consciousness, clinging to his remnants through the Kuangwang Rebirth Secret Art, still refused to return to the Pure Land with even a trace of his true spirit—this was because the hatred in his heart had reached its peak, and he refused to give up!

‘He wants to scheme against me... He insists on scheming against me! Hiding so many trump cards... Just one axe! Just one axe!’

His heart was filled with horror and madness:

‘You destroyed my Dharmakaya, how can I let you off easy!’

The Kuangwang Rebirth Secret Art was Kongwuxiang’s life-preserving method. It preserved the spiritual consciousness and true spirit within the remnants, connected by fate. It was originally intended to help one survive calamities and then be reborn from the remnants later, a mystical method that greatly saved on reincarnation costs. But Tai Xi understood that none of his fellow disciples in the heavens wanted him to have an easy time; otherwise, how would he have fallen to this state? Who would care for his remnants afterward?

Since reincarnation was not an option, more malice filled his heart: ‘I will now detonate these remnants with a sacred spell, damaging your divine abilities!’

But as soon as this thought arose in his mind, a great terror immediately surged within his true spirit. Faint illusions emerged, and he realized the stars in the sky were coldly watching him, only then did he awaken:

‘Two factions are fighting by the river, with mortals and minor cultivators bustling about. Li Zhouwei suppressing me right by the river is not without reason... He’s waiting for me to self-destruct my remnants, harming countless mortals, so that the Martial Star can strike me down!’

The belated fear that arose in his heart could not suppress the malice in his chest. Tai Xi, convinced he had seen through the opponent’s scheme, instead felt fortunate, watching with cold eyes:

‘He absolutely doesn’t know I possess the Kuangwang Rebirth Secret Art. Mingxiang and Gongsun Bei are fighting, so he’ll definitely have to retrieve the Yetian Gate! Then, whether to harm him or save myself, it will be entirely my decision!’

The remnant on the ground had a hundred thoughts swirling in his mind. Li Zhouwei, enduring discomfort, merely formed hand seals in front of him. The radiance from his glabella gushed out like a flood, but it was swiftly cut open by the red axe, shielded by the Xi Qi divine ability, delaying it for only an instant!

He didn’t know what Tai Xi on the ground was up to... Under the scrutiny of the immortal artifact, every detail of the situation was revealed. This person still refused to leave his body; perhaps he was tired of living and was waiting for death.

No matter what schemes the opponent harbored, he only responded with a single word!

At this instant, a swift and majestic voice suddenly boomed in the ear of Sima Yuanli, who was being besieged by two Buddhist cultivators: “Fellow Daoist Sima! Lend me the Huaijiang Map for a moment!”

With that sound, the middle-aged man in green robes suddenly realized something. His expression hardened, and he placed a hand on the spirit treasure at his waist, unfastening it.

This subtle movement was not obvious. But how keen were the Buddhist cultivators under the divine ability? Tai Xi, clinging to his remnants, suddenly became fully aware, his heart practically collapsing and wailing:

‘Oh no! Damn it!’

What else was there to wait for?

If he waited any longer, he’d lose his life!

The lesson of Nü Xiao’s previous mistake was right before him. Tai Xi was scared out of his wits and no longer cared about anything else. This Dharmakaya couldn’t be destroyed, and no amount of hatred mattered when facing survival. He decisively dispelled the Kuangwang Rebirth Secret Art and returned to the Pure Land!

But precisely at that very instant, in a flash, Sima Yuanli unexpectedly hesitated for a fleeting moment!

He paused slightly, and the scroll at his waist finally flew up, transforming into a massive, sky-spanning fortress, radiating myriad lights, blocking the celadon jade bottle.

But by this time, Tai Xi’s distorted body had completely fallen. His true spirit flashed across the void, as if moving through a mirror, lightly disappearing into the endless darkness. On the other side, Gongsun Bei, being battle-hardened, would not allow himself to hesitate; he took a step forward, completely abandoning the celadon jade bottle in the sky. The Xi Guang Fen Yi Treasure Platform, which had been slow to act, immediately pushed forward, causing surging Xi Guang to rise across the entire battlefield!

Li Zhouwei’s face remained calm, but he sighed heavily in his heart:

‘Sima Yuanli! Too many thoughts... You’ve ruined my great plan!!’

Li Zhouwei’s exclamation carried many implications. He had even guessed Sima Yuanli’s thoughts with considerable accuracy. The Huaijiang Map was an extremely important item. But once it fell into Li Zhouwei’s hands, even if it was just borrowed, its true owner might become ambiguous through fate’s connection!

Li Zhouwei would not have privately embezzled his item. But the problem was that the situation on the field was severely deteriorating. Even if Tai Xi withdrew, they would still be at a disadvantage on the lake. Gongsun Bei held a Xi Qi suppression treasure. Even if Li Zhouwei could escape in the end, he would have to pay a price. Spirit treasures like the Huaijiang Map were excellent sacrifices for escape…

If Sima Yuanli retained control of the Huaijiang Map, he would naturally not be stingy; at worst, he could control it to withdraw first. However, combined with the possibility of Mingyang seizing control, it truly made Sima Yuanli hesitate for an instant, ultimately choosing to use the Huaijiang Map to resist the spirit artifact and aid Li Zhouwei.

This could barely be considered consistent with the request to “lend the Huaijiang Map.” However, it undoubtedly led to a further deterioration of the battlefield situation!

‘Sima Yuanli was not originally indecisive. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have rushed here without rest, not even waiting for the Song Court’s decree... He lacks magnanimity, too petty...!’

‘At least Tai Xi has been scared away, so I no longer need to guard against that matter!’

Li Zhouwei endured intense dizziness, feeling regret in his heart. He didn’t blame Sima Yuanli, but merely struggled to retreat, raising Dasheng to defend. Axe and halberd clashed, causing a sudden burst of light that quickly dimmed.

Gongsun Bei was no ordinary person. Li Zhouwei still had to resist Mingxiang, and without support, he hastily raised his halberd, facing a superior enemy in an inferior position, and finally could not parry. The red axe swept Dasheng aside and slashed into his chest!

What lit up first were surging black flames. The intense Sui Qi colors of this Black Soul Mara Dharmakaya unexpectedly produced a miraculous effect, resisting most of the divine ability’s radiance from the axe, one by one. Only then did the light of the armor illuminate!

This Yuan’e Armor had now undergone a complete transformation. Its second mystical function after the Pivot Transformation caused his entire body to shimmer with Yang Ji light:

‘Primal Transformation!’

Li Zhouwei’s face was flushed, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. The Yang Ji light on his armor faintly shimmered, greatly dissolving the surging divine ability. His figure, furthermore, used the Yang Ji light to break free and escape, causing the Xi Guang Fen Yi Treasure Platform to fall into disarray, unable to lock onto his position!

‘Still coming?’

Gongsun Bei, however, was already prepared. He once again touched his glabella with two fingers, and the clear, cold radiance of Supplication Night suddenly shone down, instantly completely dissolving large swathes of Yang Ji light from his body.

But the instant the Primal Transformation power responded, Li Zhouwei had already charged forth, collaborating with the immediately responding Jun Daowei, breaking through all restraints around him and heading directly towards Mingxiang’s position!

Mingxiang raised his hand, but his heart subtly stirred, as if listening to something, and the hand seal of his spell naturally changed. The monk raised an eyebrow, and suddenly saw Gongsun Bei in the distance, his face calm, shaking a Peaceful Frontier Vast Night Talisman from his sleeve.

A cold, clear radiance poured down, covering everything. It was not directed at Li Zhouwei, but rather swarmed into the Xi Guang Fen Yi Treasure Platform, empowering it with infinite radiance, allowing it to firmly lock onto Li Zhouwei from afar, and then descend right after him!

Instantly, the sky erupted with light. The pale gold platform enveloped the sky. Two short halberds soared out like geese, seemingly slow but actually fast, hurrying along. They finally intercepted the long halberd at the edge of the platform!

“Clank!”

Li Zhouwei tightly gripped his long halberd, looking at the Xi Qi rapidly enveloping the sky. He finally let out a sigh. The Black Soul Mara Dharmakaya rapidly expanded, transforming into a ferocious, black demon head wreathed in dark flames. Enduring the heavy golden-yellow chains descending from above, he spoke in a low, ethereal voice:

“It’s truly troublesome that the Northern Cultivators and Northern Buddhists have gone to such lengths—Now, let this King see, just how capable is General Gongsun!”

Gongsun Bei’s gaze was calm; he said in a low voice:

“It is our mission; we had no choice but to be meticulous!”

The platform in the sky became a single, uniform color. A pale yellow light curtain enveloped all the celestial light. Both Gongsun Bei and Li Zhouwei were submerged within the light curtain. Mingxiang secretly sighed and also flew into it on a lotus. All colors and movements vanished together.

Sima Yuanli saw it with his eyes and doubted it in his heart, secretly feeling that things were going badly. His fighting style became increasingly fierce, and he deployed more and more treasures. But whether it was Minghui or Wumu, each of them was distracted. They were actually being pressed back by him alone, and for a time, dangerous situations arose repeatedly!

As the Huaijiang Map abruptly fell, Wumu suddenly regained his senses. The mystic umbrella he had been tightly suppressing in his hand abruptly loosened. It was unexpectedly bound by a rope that had appeared out of nowhere, and with a fierce tug, it instantly slipped from his grasp!

Sima Yuanli, with a pull and a drag, was drenched in cold sweat, feeling fortunate in his heart:

‘Just to make up for my oversight...’

Who knew that Lianmin, though furious on the surface, felt a similar loosening in his heart, and began to cry out:

‘Venerable Immortal above... This humble one did not do it on purpose!’

Just at this moment, white mists wove through the sky, and streaks of flowing light appeared. A white golden body unexpectedly streaked across the sky, bringing with it thousands of white lights, drawing all eyes to it simultaneously, and everyone’s heart was startled!

This Maha arrived on the wind, his expression stern and imposing, his tone cold:

“Fellow Daoists, Yan Bai has come to assist!”

But this Maha from the Great Mu Realm of Dharma glanced around. He saw Wumu gnashing his teeth at Sima Yuanli, Minghui lowering his brows and chanting scriptures, his fists clenched tight. Each of them was fully focused, seemingly with no time for him. A strange feeling suddenly arose in Yan Bai’s heart as he secretly pondered:

‘How peculiar, why is this atmosphere so strange...’