Chapter 1151: Lake Scene

Light and shadow flowed in the lake water. Sima Yuanli arrived on the wind, gradually approaching the shimmering surface. He clutched the calabash in one hand and unfastened the scroll from his waist with the other, his heart filled with sorrow.

Sima Yuanli knew precisely why Yang Ruiyi had sent him here. He understood the urgency: Ziyan was a grand master of Xianyuan and beloved by Zhenwu. Moreover, a great master was secretly breaking through outside. The lives of individuals like Tinglan and Wenqing were immensely valuable.

The situation was escalating like a landslide and a tsunami, rapidly heading towards an irreversible point. In such a bloody battle, those who cultivated martial arts and mystic arts, including Lingulanying and Chengqian, were not suited for the front lines.

Aside from delivering the Huaijiang Scroll, Sima Yuanli possessed at least one more asset. Grand Master Yuanxiu was once a grand master of talismans in Yue Kingdom, and Sima Yuanli had hardly used any talismans to date, a fact the Yang clan had certainly noted. A bitter feeling welled up in him; "This is going to be difficult..."

His heart heavy with bitterness, he hurried along. The Heavenly Gate was now close; a dark-robed man sat cross-legged beneath it. Amidst the brilliant light, a long halberd stood unmoving in the surging waves.

Sima Yuanli approached, lowered his gaze, and said, "King Wei!"

The shimmering light on the water surface flickered for an instant. The green-robed man took out a jet-black stone box from his sleeve, lowered his gaze, and said, "I met Fellow Daoist Lin midway. He repeatedly urged me to give this item to King Wei."

Li Zhouwei turned his head. Sima Yuanli opened the dark box and held the disc within. It was a golden-yellow artifact, inscribed with octagonal runes surrounded by faint white incantations, with a brilliant golden glow at its center.

The Chongyang Ruling Star Treasure Plate!

This artifact was a foundational treasure of Ning Kingdom, an heirloom of the Jiangbei Su clan. Although it was forged relatively recently, its miraculous power was considerable.

When Li Ximing had borrowed this plate in the past, he used its divine power to injure Helian Wujiang, a mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivator. Now, upon seeing the White Qilin, the plate instantly grew hot and heavy, like a thousand jun, causing Sima Yuanli's hands to sink slightly.

Li Zhouwei's golden eyes flickered slightly. His spiritual sense swept over the item, revealing that it was currently without a master.

"After this battle," he said, "I will personally go and thank him."

Even an unmastered spirit artifact typically required time to refine, but he took it with a single hand, and the treasure plate immediately acknowledged him as its owner. It sank into his glabella, transforming into a slanted, pale gold pattern of the Chongyang Ruling Star, exuding a deep, faint white light.

He squinted slightly, feeling the myriad wonders surge within him, and a slight smile played on his lips. "What a treasure!"

Sima Yuanli did not stop. He immediately took a small porcelain bottle from his sleeve, held it in his palm, and after much hesitation, whispered, "While King Wei guards this place, True Master Zhaojing is exceedingly worried. For the past two days, she has sought treasures from various clans, ultimately finding her way to me."

"When the Eastern Fire fell years ago, it was handled by Senior Ning and True Master Zhang. However, the Emperor's body descended in Yufu Commandery, and my lord had an opportunity to obtain a Sub-Exalted Guangyang Treasure Pill. Today, I present it to King Wei."

Li Zhouwei lowered his gaze, glanced at it, and having examined the contents of the porcelain bottle, asked, "White Du Blood?"

"Precisely!"

Though Li Zhouwei was not versed in alchemy, he could discern the spiritual resources used in the concoction. In fact, Li Ximing had already prepared various elixirs for him, such as the Qilin Light Illumination Pill, but they were still inferior to the treasure pill refined from such potent spiritual materials.

"When the opportunity arises later," he said, "I will replenish True Master Qinghu."

With Li Zhouwei accepting it, Sima Yuanli then stepped back, holding the Huaijiang Scroll with both hands, and said gravely, "King Wei, please take this scroll!"

As soon as he spoke, the golden-eyed youth turned to look at him and chuckled, "True Master, this is merely a protective treasure. It's easy for me to accept. However, this battle is extraordinary. Are you prepared?"

Sima Yuanli respectfully replied, "My lord personally summoned me to the palace and bestowed upon me the Lingqiong Xuanwater Stone!"

Li Zhouwei nodded and asked, "What arrangements has the Great General made?"

Sima Yuanli replied, "The Great General did not inform me directly, but I heard he is personally attacking Shanjiz. Situ Huo and others are already by the lake, preparing to provide support... As for that one..."

After speaking, he looked up at the towering peak in the east, where thunder rolled and autumn dew fell, and said, "It should be done."

The instant his words fell, ten thousand rays of pink light, like a myriad of morning glows, rose in the sky, piercing through the clouds. As the auspicious clouds shifted, millions of eyes below became faintly visible!

The rosy light fell into Li Zhouwei's eyes, making him sneer. He abruptly took the scroll.

The moment the spirit treasure left the green-robed man's hands, Sima Yuanli felt a sudden emptiness before his eyes, realizing that the item had completely severed its connection with him! His heart trembled: *He had shown mercy long ago!*

Boom!

The clouds in the sky converged rapidly, and a colossal golden body descended, accompanied by a resounding Sanskrit chant: "Our hurried skirmish months ago was not satisfying. I invite King Wei to enlighten me!"

Thump!

Zhe Lu's thousand eyes moved in unison. Darkness climbed the horizon as a colossal setting sun descended at the edge of the sky. The long halberd, like a golden comet, streaked across heaven and earth, trailing a long white light as it charged forth!

Zhe Lu's initial words were fearless, but upon seeing the halberd, his expression instantly turned solemn. He formed hand seals, his thousand eyes wide open, and the massive golden mountain reappeared.

Yet, all the waters between heaven and earth stirred, and a wave of green light swept forth, heavily coiling around the golden mountain. The green calabash emitted a brilliant mystic light. Sima Yuanli's expression was grave as he unleashed his full power!

Li Zhouwei, however, merely squinted slightly.

A ripple of gray had already spread across his long halberd. The familiar power of the Yin Water gathered and swept forth, merging all colors into a somber, dull light.

Ning Wuchen! Murong Yan!

Zhe Lu in the sky was already a top-tier Maha of the Northern Regions. In an ordinary confrontation, he alone could contend with Li Zhouwei. The fact that this was merely a probe, yet it also involved Murong Yan, showed how ruthless Qi Lanyan's intentions were.

This Yin Water divine ability also influenced a specific area, surging forth from the dark, crimson-tipped arrows. The Heyuan Staff leaped from the void and plummeted abruptly. Murong Yan's physical form was hideous, full of malevolence!

Clang!

The two weapons collided. Yin Water clashed with Bright Yang, and the immense force sent the Heyuan Staff flying high, causing Murong Yan's expression to subtly change.

This was not his first encounter with Li Zhouwei... In fact, the very first battle in the North-South conflict was between them. However, back then, he had relied on superior strength to bully the weaker, but now, things were different!

Feeling the strain in his hands, he steeled himself and, as he had in the past, opened his mouth wide. A coiling, snake-like dark shadow immediately echoed within his mouth. His mouth visibly expanded, and demonic light surged forth.

However, the solemnity that had once been in those golden eyes was gone, replaced by a cold sneer.

The sign of an eclipse suddenly flared in Li Zhouwei's glabella. The usual bottomless darkness did not obscure the patterns but instead overlapped the white patterns of the Chongyang Ruling Star, erupting with intense colors.

The first to react was precisely the Chongyang Ruling Star Treasure Plate!

This plate was forged during the Wei's destruction of Ningxing and consecrated by Wei Shuo. Inheriting from ancient Wei and paving the way for true tranquility for Ning, its spiritual power was rooted in the Chongyang Ruling Star, making it perfectly attuned to the fluctuations of Bright Yang. Its foremost ability was Chongyang, a remarkably profound and wondrous technique for amplifying Yang energy!

When Li Ximing borrowed this item back then, he could only activate one or two of its lesser wonders, unable to truly benefit from the full empowerment it offered its true master. However, with Li Zhouwei wielding this plate, it was truly like adding wings to a tiger:

Emperor Qi Light!

The distant setting sun suddenly climbed higher, and dense streams of black and gold light surged forth with unprecedented speed, solidifying into a colossal pillar of light that pierced through heaven and earth, abruptly descending!

Murong Yan had not anticipated such a change. His pupils abruptly dilated as the black and gold radiance poured into his magical technique, causing his physical form to rapidly expand at a visible rate.

The setting sun shone brightly, immobilizing Murong Yan. But the King Wei of today was no longer the Li Zhouwei who had confronted him with the Upright Sun Subduing Light. The Emperor Qi Light took over the residual sun in this world, and the long halberd swayed, already thrusting forward!

Clang!

The Three Retribution World-Entering Lotus, which had rushed to his aid, was pinned aside by the brilliant light. The golden halberd danced like a dragon, smashing through layer after layer of gray Yin Water, before crashing onto Murong Yan!

Streaks of black and gold patterns emerged on his spherical belly. His Yin Water technique, cultivated for nearly a century, was instantly pushed to its limit. In just a few breaths, it violently exploded!

In this dark world of swirling sand, it was as if another sun had risen. Murong Yan's first layer of skin shattered, and his robust, newly grown arms were bathed in the celestial light, as streams of gray blood flowed down his skin.

The Yin Water, renowned for its protective and escapist properties, and Murong Yan, a direct descendant of the Murong family and a mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivator, had his technique broken and was injured in a single clash!

He staggered back, but Li Zhouwei did not pursue. Instead, he swung his halberd back, intercepting a golden spear that had flown out from the void!

Sima Yuanli was far from being able to block Zhe Lu; even a hasty defense seemed strained. The Thousand-Eyed Maha had already descended from the sky, pressing down before him.

After taking the blow, the golden spear bounced high. Zhe Lu had already summoned a vast wave of pink light to bear down, but this light seemed to have no effect on Li Zhouwei's face. The flashing halberd blade shattered the pink light, intensifying its attack, and thrust forward menacingly!

*Indeed... Qi Lanyan used this Nihility Dao Maha's greed for treasures to drive him forward. However, this cunning Maha of boundless strength was not so easily swayed; instead, he remained highly vigilant.* *'Was Qi Lanyan truly so benevolent? Since he sent both Murong Yan and me, he primarily valued our ability to escape... What was the South's hidden trump card? Would it be life-threatening?'*

Moreover, the majority of his unleashed power consisted of Nihility Illusion techniques. Even his myriad eyes were mostly dedicated to this art. Against Li Zhouwei, he was at a severe disadvantage, losing more than he could afford.

As soon as Jun Daowei charged, his power of disruption, a true leader among divine abilities, had already undone almost half of Zhe Lu's cultivation. Now, upon observation, this White Qilin itself possessed an astonishingly high resistance to illusionary arts!

He could only press his palms together, locking the halberd, enduring the piercing pain and shattering sounds emanating from his hands. Breaking the opponent's charging momentum, his golden lips moved, "By imperial decree!"

Amidst a cascade of golden powder, a torrent of Qi-extinguishing light whistled forth, traversing heaven and earth, scattering across Li Zhouwei's face. The White Qilin's expression finally flickered, revealing a hint of pain.

Zhe Lu's heart settled with certainty! *'Even his Dharma Body has limits. Illusionary techniques are difficult to wield effectively against him, but my long-prepared Qi-extinguishing power proves useful!'*

However, just as joy swelled in his heart, he felt the light above his head dim. A brown leather pouch with mystic patterns suddenly leaped out in mid-air!

The pouch subtly swelled, and immediately a fierce wind blew forth from it, gentle as spring sunlight, dispelling all gloom. It instantly scattered the Qi-extinguishing power swirling between heaven and earth. Zhe Lu's expression changed abruptly: "The Sun Manifesting Light Pouch!"

"The Great Xiukui Monastery!"

This wind seemed like an illusion; before it could even dissipate, sprays of light already descended from the sky, dazzlingly bright, the gold and white so concentrated it seemed to solidify.

Sun Manifesting Light!

This ray of light sliced through heaven and earth, causing the lake waters to recede. Like a gleaming golden sword, it descended with incredible speed, striking Zhe Lu.

Sizzle...

The light seemed like something utterly poisonous and evil, searing the blinking Dharma Eye, burning through golden skin and jade-like flesh, scalding Zhe Lu so fiercely that he shrieked, retreated, and felt his soul scatter!

This Maha of the Nihility Dao, a being of immeasurable strength, lost his composure like this for the first time!

This solar light seemed to be immensely famous, causing the entire Great Void to tremble. Layers of shimmering colors intertwined, and numerous greedy gazes fell upon the brown leather pouch with mystic patterns. *The Sun Manifesting Light Pouch...*

At the same time, Murong Yan also looked up. A mystic-patterned bell subtly swayed, and a man in a shaman-patterned robe stepped out of the void. The black rope in his hand slithered like a snake, reaching towards Murong Yan.

Lin Chensheng, the newly ascended True Master of the Great Xiukui Monastery.

His appearance was an extremely important signal. The Great Void fluctuated violently, and malevolent winds surged from the earth. Peaks of baleful aura rose and fell, like an ink wash painting unfurling across the land.

On the left, a scholarly middle-aged man carried a mystic sword, his gaze clear. On the right, a heavily armored youth with a fierce expression held a Shuò Blade. A shallow scar on his face became even more prominent under the heavenly light.

The two stood in the sky, like two unceasing sources of baleful aura, causing the four directions to turn cold and heavy snow to fall.

Helian Wujiang and Helian Wumeng, uncle and nephew!

The sky-obscuring baleful aura poured down. Helian Wujiang was expressionless, slowly tightening his grip on his sword. Gazing into the distance, he saw a man already standing amidst the peaks of baleful qi.

This man was eight feet tall, wearing golden boots and carrying a golden-red saber on his back. His eyes and brows were sinister. He trod upon soft, white clouds that moved like snakes, his eyes like those of a demon, emitting red light.

Helian Wujiang touched his throat. The scar, like a red line, had healed, but the chill still permeated his heart. *'Situ Huo...'*

Further away in the clouds, purple light and cold energy raced forth, seemingly intertwined with faint golden qi. The Great Void in the north vibrated ceaselessly. Imperial descendants stood with drawn halberds, and Mahas manifested.

The brilliance of divine abilities and the released earth intertwined, merging into a deep, dark expanse in the sky. This small lake seemed to have never endured so many True Masters and Mahas. The earth and fire veins shifted due to the divine powers, drilling into the ground with abnormal vitality.

A chill settled in the heart of this lord of the Tiefo Kingdom. Years of experience in the Northern Border had made him shrewd. Now, his gaze was heavy, his cultured demeanor long gone, replaced by pure ferocity: *'Today, above Xian Lake, I fear no one will hold back. Each will fight to kill, each will fight to survive... I only fear—how many divine abilities will fall, and how many families will prosper!'*