Chapter 1157: Fate Seized Back

Divine powers were in turmoil. True Lords stood above Salty Lake. The Grand Void trembled uneasily, unable to recover, as the invisible power protecting the earth's spiritual and terrestrial veins had faded. The lake water had completely evaporated, leaving a thick layer of salt crystals at the bottom. Pale green light of the Horned Wood constellation, mixed with Xun wind, covered the surface, making the entire area resemble a fertile plain when viewed from a distance.

These divine powers, some blazing brightly, others dim and pale, stood in the air like stars of varying luminosity. At the very center, an old man, with a golden-red saber on his back, wore a faint smile despite his slightly pale face.

Situ Huo felt triumphant.

In this battle, Situ Huo had initially thought he wouldn't gain much, and had even secretly prepared to defect to the North. To his surprise, Ling Mei stepped forward, meaning he didn't have to face Prince Wang Zhiya's treasure, which was said to be the bane of Golden Virtue.

His opponents were the Helian family's uncle and nephew, among whom Helian Wumeng was still recovering from severe injuries by relying on blood energy to mend his body.

Facing demonic energy with golden malevolence, augmented by the light of martial cultivation, his advance was undoubtedly unstoppable. Seeing Qi Lanyan fall and the situation change dramatically, he immediately conceived a plan. He secretly decided to claim Helian Wujiang and his nephew as his own achievements. After all, Situ Huo was there to gain destiny, and the more divine powers he cut down, the better.

It was precisely his full-force, desperate obstruction of the recently recovered Helian Wumeng that forced Helian Wujiang, the Iron-Flourishing Kingdom's ruler and a Purple Mansion mid-stage expert, to sacrifice himself by returning to cover his nephew's retreat, which ultimately led to his complete capture here!

But for Situ Huo, this was truly a double blessing:

‘What good is one Helian Wumeng? This man is not only a mid-stage Purple Mansion expert, but also the ruler of a nation. The Helian family established the Iron-Flourishing Kingdom, once controlled Monan, and still holds a significant position. Though they appear understated, the gains from this are undeniably substantial!’

Everyone was wounded in this battle. Li Zhouwei, of course, was no exception. True Lord Wen Qing was ambushed by the retreating Zhe Lu, his Dharma body almost completely shattered. Ning Wan only preserved her life thanks to the Great Snow Absolute Blade. He was the only one who truly reaped the benefits.

With Li Zhouwei severely wounded, he was the only remaining mid-stage Purple Mansion expert of significant standing. As a Military Commissioner of the Tángdāo region, it was his duty, and the subsequent recovery of Jianghuai would inevitably be under his command. How could he not be pleased? His eyes clearly showed delight as he chuckled:

“Fellow Daoist Helian! You've yielded!”

This remark was deeply sarcastic, causing Helian Wujiang to lift his head. His gaze cut through the swirling layers of light, sweeping around as if to memorize every face. His lips trembled slightly, and his voice was low:

“Situ Huo!”

The name resonated fiercely and sharply through the divine powers. All cultivators fell silent. Situ Huo's eyes gleamed as he said:

“Fellow Daoist, it is no disgrace to be captured by me. However, you have not cultivated immortal virtue; your countless killings are beyond description. When you meet our emperor, you will have your explanations!”

His words were very clever, emphasizing his achievements while also issuing a threat. He wished the man would die on the spot. Helian Wujiang scoffed, his gaze mockingly fixed on the Blood Malice Pagoda in Situ Huo's hand. Eventually, he dismissed it, and spoke faintly:

“Situ Huo, martial cultivation is easy to take up but hard to let go of. Your lifespan is short, and the day of your surrender to Buddhism is approaching. How could the Yang clan not be prepared for this?”

At these words, some cultivators turned away in silence, while others secretly sneered. Situ Huo's expression remained unchanged as he chuckled:

“My loyalty to my sovereign is clear to the heavens! I will not tolerate provocation from a dying man like you!”

The old man appeared calm, but his tightly gripped saber hilt showed his inner rage. The smile on his face grew colder. But then he paused slightly, turning his head.

At some point, a white-robed Sword Immortal had appeared beside the Golden Body solidified by solar light. Their sword-eyes were utterly cold. Beside them, Lin Chensheng's eyes were slightly red, standing in the posture of a disciple.

Nuzi was already panic-stricken, opening his mouth with a terrified tremor:

“I am a trusted aide of Peacock! Sword Immortal, spare my life, the Great Desire Path will surely reward you handsomely!”

His words made heaven and earth tremble. The Sword Immortal, smiling in anger, caused the Pear Blossom Treasure Sword in his hand to leap up.

Heaven and earth turned white.

Sharp Duijin energy pierced through the Xun wind, making the Golden Body rumble and vibrate. The Sword Immortal's figure dissipated like smoke. Nuzi couldn't even utter a cry of pain as a surge of pink light and sand and stone, falling like a waterfall, poured into the lake.

Mahā Nuzi of the Great Desire Path, suddenly fell!

No one among the divine powers in the sky paid attention, yet no one moved. Even Situ Huo waited silently, watching Sima Yuanli descend on the wind amidst the flying sand, stone, and pink light. He stopped beside the young man in the center of the lake, respectfully inquiring:

“The Northern cultivators have been defeated. Please, King Wei, dispatch your generals.”

“Crack.”

As Li Zhouwei moved, colorful light, like shattering porcelain, fell from his body. Seeing this fierce man turn, his face covered in colorful fracture lines, his eyes blazing with fierce colorful light, True Lord Qinghu's eyelids lifted, and his heart turned cold. But then he noticed the young man beside him suddenly move.

He stepped on heavenly light, walking inch by inch towards the sky. Streaks of colorful light, like tears, continuously fell from his body. All eyes turned to him, filled with shock and confusion.

Helian Wujiang suddenly looked up, hearing a hoarse voice:

“I'll make it quick for you.”

The sound resonated. The long halberd had already returned, crashing down amidst numerous gazes!

‘He... can still make a move!’

Helian Wujiang had just endured a round of encirclement, and his condition was extremely poor, completely exhausted. However, with his body and life divine powers still active, unless the Yang clan could produce a treasure like the Clear Ya Brilliant Branch, no matter how much suppression he faced, he would always be able to end his own life with a single thought. Capturing him alive would be exceedingly difficult.

For him to surrender willingly was even more impossible.

Unlike Buddhist or rogue cultivators who have no attachments, and unlike the Tuoba or Murong families who have powerful figures as backing, allowing for potential prisoner exchanges even if captured, Helian Wujiang was already the highest combat power of the Iron-Flourishing Kingdom. Once he surrendered, the fate of the entire Iron-Flourishing Xiongnu in the North and the escaped Helian Wumeng was predictable!

‘Since he decided to stay, he must have resolved to die.’

Instantly, all eyes converged. Even Helian Wujiang, whose face had been cold beneath the swirling divine powers, now lifted his head. He understood this was Li Zhouwei granting him a final shred of dignity. He exhaled a long breath and looked up.

His lips trembled. This ruler, who had dominated Monan for a century, leading the Helian family through various challenges and bringing them back from the brink, couldn't find a single person to entrust his final words to, and ultimately fell silent.

“Boom!”

As numerous divine powers held their breath, his Rising Sun power dramatically fell. His entire body transformed into swirling demonic light. A dense surge of malevolent energy shot skyward, sweeping up all the divine powers above it, turning into a sky full of ink-wash-like malevolent energy resembling mountains and rivers!

The Horned Wood divine power filled the sky for only a few dozen breaths. Malevolent energy soared skyward, suppressing the Xun wind. A second mid-stage Purple Mansion expert fell on the same day!

“Thump!”

The entire sky had turned into an impenetrable dark green. Drops of cold malevolent rain fell. Impenetrable darkness swept across the sky, leaving only isolated streaks of divine light standing solitary in the sky.

Helian Wujiang and the Southern cultivators had no real enmity. In past battles, he had shown restraint, trying not to offend any faction. At this moment, a sense of shared sorrow, like a fox mourning the death of a rabbit, pervaded the silence.

Situ Huo looked uncomfortable, lowered his gaze in silence, seemingly having a private realization. Sima Yuanli, meanwhile, quietly gazed at the cold rain filling the sky, but noticed that King Wei stood in the air, his back ramrod straight, showing no intention of retreating:

‘What more does he intend to do?’

King Wei stepped through the darkness in the sky, landing by the lake with heavenly light. His voice, though hoarse, was steady and powerful:

“Tinglan, Jingzhao, Qinghu.”

At his words, the three stepped forward simultaneously. Lin Chensheng acknowledged, listening as King Wei said:

“Salty Lake has been captured, and Jianghuai is next. The three of you, take Xuan and proceed to Baiye, surround the mountain gate. You don't need to conquer it immediately; just drive away their divine powers. Then, teleport to Baijiang to rescue Wangyue and assist Tangdao.”

“Yes.”

The cultivators assented. A smile appeared on Situ Huo's face. But to his surprise, Li Zhouwei's voice was steady:

“Situ Huo and Cheng Jiuwen, you two…”

The young man paused, a cold smile appearing on his face:

“Follow me to conquer Xuanniao and proceed up along the White Sea.”

At these words, everyone present was astonished.

‘For ordinary cultivators, merely surviving after being struck by the Clear Ya Brilliant Branch is rare. Many cannot emerge from seclusion for decades, and some even die violently during cultivation. Yet he... dares to continue north despite his severe injuries!’

All cultivators' expressions changed. Situ Huo was stunned in place. Unexpectedly, those iridescent eyes stared directly at him, forcing him to swallow the incredulous words he was about to speak, and say:

“Your subordinate obeys!”

He had already held suspicions in his heart, and now he suddenly realized:

‘So that's it... he, too, intends to accumulate his own destiny! That’s why he insists on going north despite his severe injuries!’

Li Zhouwei calmly stepped on heavenly light and headed north. The dark Crimson Severing Arrow flickered, isolating all sight. Only then did he quietly swallow the blood that had risen to his throat, his complexion improving slightly.

He was able to last until now thanks to another great contributor:

The Crimson Severing Arrow.

The Crimson Severing Arrow’s ability to reduce his injuries by a fraction was equally effective against this tribulation. In fact, the true extent of his injuries was even less than ninety percent of what it seemed. This bright Yang divine power actually had no fear of Wutu. Just now, riding the Crimson Severing Arrow, he had unexpectedly bypassed the surging Wuguang, even when all other divine powers were fixed on the lake by the Profound Drum Golden Hammer, thus making Qi Lanyan miscalculate!

He keenly sensed the anomaly within this:

‘It is commonly said that very few can evade Wuguang Wulou, and even fewer can suppress it. This unspoken marvel... might prove immensely useful in future battles!’

However, now was not the time to consider this matter. Feeling the successful completion of Jun Daowei and the divine power constantly feedback from the Talisman Qi, Li Zhouwei secretly made calculations.

‘Three days!’

In this battle, he mostly fought alone. The White Kylin destiny he sensed was not strong, and the feedback from the successful completion of "Daowei" was also relatively thin. Most of the benefit came from the magic power obtained by the Talisman Qi breaking through divine powers and defeating demonic Buddhist cultivators.

This magic power, combined wonderfully with the elixirs, constantly resisted the ever-increasing tribulation within him, slowly improving his condition. However, these two forces would be exhausted within three days. If he did not enter seclusion to suppress them, there would be great trouble!

‘Three days... to pacify Jianghuai.’

The colorful light in his eyes was dark, yet showed no fear:

‘With Qi Lanyan dead, control over Jianghuai will surely collapse; it will be an open road. Furthermore...’

The image of that purple talisman flashed through Li Zhouwei's mind. He raised an eyebrow and looked into the distance:

‘The Northern cultivators cannot unite their efforts. When they flee, they will surely scatter. Since Ye Gui colluded, there should still be gains to be had!’

Wangyue Lake.

The colors in the sky had receded, vanishing into the northern horizon. Li Ximing shook his head, feeling somewhat dizzy, and coughed up some golden blood, which instantly transformed into dissipating fireworks.

He looked up in some shock, gazing towards the east. An extremely dense bluish-black color rose straight into the sky, making Li Ximing both astonished and worried:

‘What sight is this?’

The distance between Salty Lake and Wangyue Lake spanned across the Song Kingdom. For him to see such a grand spectacle so clearly, more than one Purple Mansion expert must have fallen!

‘Minghuang... is restrained. Qi Lanyan should not dare to harm him...’

He had no time to think further. Figures rose and fell in the west, their colors sparse, before finally retreating, causing his heart to ease:

“West Shu... truly came with fierce ruthlessness.”

He had thought there would be a great battle at Wangyue Lake, and he was indeed right. However, Li Zhouwei's departure shifted the focus of the entire North-South conflict, and Qingjiufang began to stir. The main force of this battle unexpectedly became West Shu. Of the cultivators who should have come, now only Chen had arrived to guard the river.

Li Muyan and Hong Yan had come as usual. One was still recovering from severe injuries, and the other was constrained, making them not particularly noteworthy. But within the heavy, colorful clouds, there was surprisingly another person.

This person was named Shen Sou, possessed profound divine powers, and was a mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivator!

With the three of them combined, Li Ximing was instantly in mortal danger. Had it not been for the restraint of the Heaven-Nurturing Urn, putting aside whether he could block the enemy outside the Western Screen, he would have at least been severely wounded!

Now, with the Western forces suddenly retreating, Li Ximing, though not lightly wounded himself, felt no joy in his heart.

‘Jiang Qian is still guarding the river.’

Even if the North's focus was no longer on the west, the one guarding Baijiang would certainly not be a simple Purple Mansion expert, let alone with Baiye lost, Tangdao surrounded, and the Mahā of the Great Desire Path free to advance without hindrance!

Li Jiangqian guarded the river, able to observe the opposite bank. At least just before the battle broke out on both sides, there were Louyingge and Gao Fangjing at Baijiang, not to mention several waiting Merciful ones...

‘Although Louyingge might not be willing to exert much effort for Qi Lanyan, the Great Desire Path definitely has covetous intentions. If they send people south, it will certainly be to target Jiangqian!’

Li Jiangqian had not yet activated the jade talisman for aid, which brought Li Ximing a sliver of comfort. At this moment, he couldn't afford to worry much; he just looked up, moving forward while secretly activating:

Ethereal Sight!

He had just risen from the Western Screen. The scene over the surging river had already silently entered his vision, but the image transmitted back made his heart suddenly jolt.

The river surged, and divine powers intertwined above it. However, he saw raging Li Fire with rampant might... There was no sign of Louyingge, Gao Fangjing, or any Northern reinforcements. Not even a Mahā from the Great Desire Path had appeared. Only two Merciful ones were struggling to hold on under the Li Fire, in a desperate situation with no way forward or back!

Li Ximing's anxiously suspended heart finally settled. Doubt instantly surged into his mind. He rode heavenly light, his figure rising and falling, and soon reached the north bank. Fearing an ambush, he immediately stamped his foot and rushed to look at the even more northern Baijiang first.

Indeed, there was blazing True Fire and a Mahā Golden Body!

But even more striking were the flickering divine powers. Above the horizon, light shimmered, and a pervasive golden energy surged skyward, enveloping the entire sky. Several True Lords in golden robes stood in the air, stubbornly withstanding the True Fire's scorching golden might, beating the two central True Fire divine powers until they couldn't lift their heads.

‘The Golden Dao Lineage!’

Li Ximing's heart suddenly brightened, and in an instant, he understood the cause and effect: ‘It’s the Golden Feather Zhang family... they launched an early attack north and entered Jianghuai!’