Chapter 1071: Publicity Release

The Turbid Killing Mound was still a scene of desolate white bones and forbidden zones. The temples surrounding the mausoleum's void were in disarray, collapsing one after another amidst the earth-shaking tremors, leaving behind a chaotic mess.

Li Ximing traveled through the Great Void on a beam of light, his skin still faintly aching from his wounds. He absorbed some golden light and carefully sensed its properties.

‘It seems to be some kind of golden malevolent energy mixed into treasure light, tempered with fire... After all, he was once an immortal cultivator; this thing possesses considerable power.’

The pagoda had crushed him severely, and the subsequent series of magical battles had left him with significant injuries. After much deliberation, Li Ximing lifted his sleeve and took out a pill.

This pill, resembling a crystal, looked solid and smooth, flickering with an unsteady white light. It was the Divine Astral Body Pill, obtained from the Nanxiang Orthodoxy before the fall of Wanling Heaven!

Li Ximing had always been reluctant to use this elixir for such injuries, typically recovering by secluding himself with a麟光照 pill. However, uncertain of what further troubles awaited him today, he finally steeled himself and swallowed it whole.

The pill was indeed extraordinary; it melted upon entry, a refreshing warm current surging through him. The pain in his Dharma body quickly subsided, as the golden fire dispersed, continuously being driven away.

‘I wonder which path within the Earth Virtue this belongs to; the effect is truly excellent.’

He breathed a sigh of relief as his spiritual consciousness sank inward, secretly examining the Divided Spirit Anomaly Body in his sleeve.

The small statue was covered in rough, fine cracks, flickering with a faint golden light, largely consistent with the injuries on his Dharma body. However, unlike a divine ability Dharma body, this object had endured so much damage that it now appeared somewhat dim.

‘This item is very effective against many of Guang Chan's Buddhist cultivation methods, offering 30 to 40 percent resistance against special attacks. It also mitigates about 10 to 20 percent of physical injuries...’

Overall, Li Ximing's actual injuries were far from severe, not even comparable to those Chang Xiao had inflicted on him years ago, and Chang Xiao's methods were much harder to heal from.

This outcome far exceeded Li Ximing's expectations, even bringing a hint of joy to his heart:

‘If only it weren't so costly... and quite ineffective against certain specialized orthodoxies, it would truly be an excellent treasure.’

What pleased him even more was that with the end of his life-sealing technique, the connection between the Dharma body and his main body's life force was severed. The top-tier resources held within the statue's mouth were rapidly converting into surging and abundant spiritual energy, continuously nourishing it!

‘The nourishing and restorative effect of the Great Yin Moonlight Essence on the Soul-Listening Mulberry Wood... it's simply astonishing.’

Li Ximing even began to suspect that the Divided Spirit Anomaly Body would be fully restored in less than three days!

‘Three days! That's not even enough time for me to cultivate the finger used for the life-sealing technique! It'll pass in an instant!’

He quietly gathered his Dharma power and turned to look at Ting Lan, just as he was about to speak, when an earth-shattering roar erupted from the northern horizon. The layers of dark clouds above quickly dispersed, and a dense aura of Earth Virtue shot skyward!

Both Ting Lan and Sima Yuanli's expressions changed. Ting Lan showed little surprise, more a sense of bewilderment, while Sima Yuanli was purely astonished, whispering:

"Xuantu!"

This exclamation immediately put Li Ximing on alert. Xuantu, as Shetu, one of the two paths of state and grain, was not something to be trifled with. He narrowed his eyes, made a quick calculation, and asked:

"Dayuan Guangyin Mountain?"

Ting Lan nodded slightly and whispered:

"No orders have come through, so it must all be part of the senior's plan. You and I should first conquer the Small Chamber... then go to their aid!"

The two immediately understood. Sima Yuanli, feeling somewhat relieved, replied:

"Fortunately... as we headed north, I was worried Guang Chan might see Dayuan Guangyin Mountain was unreachable and set an ambush halfway!"

Li Ximing sighed inwardly; this battle had left him deeply uneasy. He gritted his teeth and said:

"I've heard of Mingxiang of the Lotus Temple, and Pijia of the Great Desire Path... but how did Guang Chan acquire such advanced methods? Is it just because he was an immortal cultivator who changed sides?"

Ting Lan sighed, looked at Li Ximing, and said hesitantly:

"Zhao Jing misjudged him. He wasn't using his full strength because he was on the lake... If you let him return to the North, his divine abilities would be even more potent!"

Sima Yuanli sighed deeply. Seeing Li Ximing's unease, he took over the conversation, simply stating:

"He is the master of the Precious Tooth Golden Land, a fated descendant of the Victorious Name Enlightened King. He's not comparable to an ordinary Buddhist cultivator... If Sparrow Carp Fish hadn't gone south and gained that great opportunity, he would still be slightly inferior to him!"

Li Ximing at least recognized the Victorious Name Enlightened King. Although there were very few records of him in the south, Li Ximing estimated him to be a Dharma Form. He frowned and said:

"Precious Tooth Golden Land? It seems he's unique in the world."

Sima Yuanli shook his head and replied:

"Although I don't know much about Buddhist cultivators, I do know there's more than one type of Golden Land. There's another, more famous one that you might be more familiar with, called the Qinling Golden Land. It's been lost for a thousand years, but its faint connection can still sustain one or two beings devoted to compassion. Those beings are still delving into it, pursuing a futile effort like drawing water with a bamboo basket."

He seemed somewhat melancholic:

"No wonder he acts this way... If one could truly independently master a Golden Land, not be subservient to any faction, then there's also the possibility of residing high above, superior to all."

Although Sima Yuanli claimed not to know much about Buddhist cultivators, Li Ximing's understanding of him and his frequent communication with northern contacts suggested that he was likely the most knowledgeable among them.

Only Ting Lan remained silent, the light of Xuantu shooting skyward from the north seemingly making her very hesitant, even a little distracted.

Li Ximing was silent for a moment, but time did not allow him to ask more questions. The vibrations in the Great Void gradually became more pronounced. Ting Lan had already broken through the Great Void first, suddenly appearing!

The mountain range beneath their feet was enveloped in layers of golden light. Amidst the undulating mountains and dense temples, a panic had broken out. Many Buddhist cultivators gathered together, whispering as they gazed at the soaring radiance in the distance.

"Who dares invade my Small Chamber!"

Instantly, white qi traversed the sky, and streaks of light converged. A massive, radiant white golden body, filled with surprise and uncertainty, rose abruptly and shot into the sky, shaking the Great Void!

Ting Lan said nothing, merely sinking the pavilion, from which purplish-gold currents boiled. With a calm expression, she formed hand seals to cast a spell, instantly throwing out a small, greyish-white pot. From it rippled the notoriously fierce Immeasurable Water and Fire.

Li Ximing observed briefly and immediately recognized this Maha:

Yan Bai!

Guarding this place was none other than Yan Bai of the Great Admiration Dharma Realm!

This Maha, originating from the Dharma Realm, possessed considerable strength. He had once gone south to attack Lixia and later came to the lake for support, accumulating a certain animosity. Li Ximing immediately formed a hand seal with joined fingers, while Sima Yuanli subtly raised his arm, revealing a scroll from his sleeve, and urgently advised:

"Dayuan Guangyin Mountain has already been conquered, Fellow Daoist Yan Bai. If you stubbornly defend this place and wait for reinforcements, your life will be in mortal danger!"

His words resounded in the Maha's ears. Instantly, the sky shone brightly, yin water descended, and purple qi drifted. The Maha was momentarily stunned, terrified in his heart:

‘Three Purple Mansion cultivators, and two spiritual treasures?!’

Li Ximing, Ting Lan, and Qing Hu—Yan Bai truly recognized each one of them! He had long known about the treasures in their possession and did not underestimate their power in the slightest!

Yan Bai was not oblivious to the unusual situation at Dayuan Guangyin Mountain; he had long been apprehensive. It was because Dayang Mountain's demands were so strict this time that he had adopted a wait-and-see approach. Who knew that taking this one step slowly would immediately lead to being surrounded?

If it had only been Li Ximing and Qing Hu, Yan Bai might still have had a chance to defend. But with the addition of Ting Lan, who wielded the Immeasurable Water and Fire and the Purple Seat Mu Ling Pavilion, he certainly didn't need to sacrifice himself for Dayang Mountain!

‘Where is Guang Chan?’

A hint of gloom flashed in his eyes:

‘This fellow is truly unreliable! He caught the senior's eye by virtue of his legacy, but I suspect he has ulterior motives! No telling where he is now...’

The immortal cultivators were already upon him, leaving no time for further thought. His massive golden body trembled, casting out countless golden-white rays. Yet, Yan Bai was no incompetent; his golden body continuously expanded, and four lotus seed-like marks appeared on his smooth forehead.

‘The Dharma Realm Light Vehicle Grand Method!’

Instantly, the earth shook and mountains swayed. Heavy, jade-like light gushed forth from the four marks, converging and intertwining, causing countless illusions to emerge from the flat ground, as if one were in a Buddhist Pure Land. They clashed head-on with the purple pavilion in the sky, showing no inferiority.

Sima Yuanli couldn't tell if Yan Bai truly intended to defend or retreat. He descended with his divine ability, frowning and gritting his teeth:

‘If he truly defends this place to the death, he'll be difficult to take down. And Guang Chan and the others have probably already reached Dayuan Guangyin Mountain, wouldn't that ruin everything!’

In just a breath's time, the descending purple qi had collided countless times with the golden-white Dharma body. Li Ximing, staying behind the two, quietly condensed his Diqi Light, smiling inwardly:

‘How the tables have turned; it's finally our turn to besiege a Buddhist cultivator!’

But no sooner had this marvelous illusion appeared in the sky than a crimson radiance swept across, like the sun plummeting into the sea, igniting a golden storm. The white giant was caught off guard, letting out a long wail:

"Aow..."

It was then that layers of flames appeared high in the sky, thick as clouds, condensing into a massive, sky-piercing pillar of light with seventy-two coiling streaks of fiery patterns. It descended from the heavens, and a tall, middle-aged man in golden robes stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes indifferent.

It was True Lord Tianque of the Golden Feather Sect!

This True Lord rarely took action nowadays. At this moment, he stood in the air, riding the flames, quietly holding a golden ring. His calm expression made Yan Bai's face turn ugly below, and it took him a long moment to recover before speaking:

"Zhao and Shu agreed that there would be no invasions in the Huai region. Since the Golden Feather Sect follows Shu's command, how can you arbitrarily move east?"

Perhaps thinking that Western Shu had already broken their promise, he spoke these words very clearly. However, Li Ximing suddenly looked up, and Ting Lan slightly narrowed her eyes, both feeling a strange sensation in their hearts:

‘The Zhao-Shu agreement, no invasions in the Huai region...’

True Lord Tianque, however, showed no sign of surprise. As a figure of the Golden Dao Orthodoxy, he not only disdained Dharma Realm figures like Yan Bai but also possessed enough power to put Yan Bai to death. Standing with his hands behind his back, he said indifferently:

"Dissolve your Dharma body and accept this divine ability... or I will send you back to the Buddhist Pure Land."

Yan Bai stared fixedly at him. The Maha was not foolish; he understood instantly, a few large words flashing through his mind like lightning:

"Dayuan Guangyin Mountain!"

As soon as he spoke, the massive dark pillar in the sky suddenly plunged down, smashing into the heavy white light. An immense, earth-shattering roar instantly resounded through the night sky, and circles of exploding flames rippled outwards.

"Boom!"

The once majestic, massive white-gold Dharma body instantly disintegrated. Rolling glazes, sand, and dust fell from it, and a streak of white light, like a bird with broken wings, stumbled and rushed towards the north. True Lord Tianque showed not the slightest hesitation, sweeping his gaze across the three and saying:

"Ting Lan, guard this mountain. The two of you, follow me to Dayuan Guangyin Mountain."

Hearing those five words, Li Ximing's heart thumped:

‘It really is Dayuan Guangyin Mountain!’

How could Yang Ruiyi have gained the Golden Feather Sect's support? He must be at Dayuan Guangyin Mountain! Back then, for Wanling Heaven, the Golden Feather Sect had to sacrifice their subordinate, the Tangjin Gate, turning Tangdao Mountain into a Primal Magnetism region. Now that Wanling Heaven has fallen, how could True Monarch Taiyuan tolerate a thorn in his side remaining unchecked in the Huai region?

As long as Yang Ruiyi's goal was to resolve the Primal Magnetism, the Golden Dao Orthodoxy would surely lend its full support!

‘Making Yan Bai endure that divine ability was to prevent him from quickly returning to attack the Small Chamber or rushing to aid Dayuan Guangyin Mountain! With just a single word, these True Lords and Mahas had already understood the stakes.’

Most of his doubts were suddenly resolved at this moment; only minor details remained unclear. Sima Yuanli, exchanging a glance with him, clearly understood the situation as well, and immediately followed the True Lord, saying with a smile:

"It seems the Great General has resolved the Golden One's predicament!"

With the situation suddenly reversed, Sima Yuanli immediately became more attentive. No longer willing to call it 'Dayuan Guangyin Mountain', he whispered a reminder:

"With the Great True Lord present, the situation at Tangdao Mountain is already settled. However, Qi Lanyan has many forces, and we still need to worry about him ruining Golden One's important affair!"

Tianque was still polite to them, shaking his head slightly as he galloped forward, saying softly:

"Seeing Xuantu, Qi Lanyan won't come. After all, he's from the Zhixuan lineage, well-versed in classics, and knows what will happen in the mountains."

Sima Yuanli looked pensive, while Tianque turned to Li Ximing, his fiery form gleaming brightly, and raised an eyebrow as he spoke:

"Transformation in Metal is called Geng; in Wood, Geng; in Water, Lu; in Fire, Deng; and in Earth, Xuan. Xuan means not allowing obstruction or stagnation at the bottom; it is the surging transformation of earth and stone. It causes metal to emerge from malevolence, and malevolence to depart into the earth, deconstructing Primal Magnetism—a truly immense achievement."

"Since Yang Ruiyi has brought Xuantu forth, there's naturally no reason for our Dao not to assist. Otherwise, if all the Buddhist cultivators return and interrupt Xuantu's surging manifestation, and Dayuan Guangyin Mountain's autumn dew falls, the Primal Magnetism will regenerate, becoming a chronic problem."

His eyes were deep and faint, seemingly without much surprise at the removal of a chronic problem from his heart. Li Ximing understood clearly, a thoughtful expression gradually appearing on his face, remaining silent for a long time:

‘Whether it's Qi Lanyan, Yang Ruiyi, or even Tianque, each is taking what they need. This North-South magical combat is targeting the Buddhist cultivators of Dayang Mountain! What they want to resolve is the Primal Magnetism of Dayuan Guangyin Mountain!’

He glanced at Tianque, and a growing suspicion emerged in his heart:

‘But from the very beginning... was it truly calculated this way? Perhaps each party harbored their own ulterior motives, and Yang Ruiyi was the one who pushed the situation to its current state. Only then did each side seize the opportunity to enter, ensuring that Dayang Mountain—disunited in thought and lacking senior support in the Jiangbei-Huai region—would suffer a complete loss!’