Chapter 514: One Palm

In the dark, deep blue sea, two streaks of light, one following the other, flashed by. The leading light was brilliant and dazzling, like a long, colorful ribbon cutting through the dark water. The second streak, much plainer, resembled a large bubble rapidly pushing through the water, flying forward. Yet, its speed was far greater than the first, slowly closing the distance.

Li Xizhi sped away on the wind, his escape light veering more and more, leaving a brilliant colorful trail. The escape technique he practiced was the fourth-grade Morning Cloud Flight, known for its extreme speed. The Long Cloud Mist technique he cultivated was inherently swift. Only with multiple enhancements could he maintain a certain distance from Dongfang Heyun, who was pursuing him, preventing immediate capture.

Now, Li Xizhi gradually veered off course, allowing Dongfang Heyun to seize the opportunity and quickly close the gap. The young man raised an eyebrow, already spotting the colorful light ahead. Dongfang Heyun didn't understand why he had changed direction, but he wouldn't let this chance slip. He conjured a cerulean bead in his hand and flung it towards Li Xizhi's back.

Li Xizhi, ahead, drew out talismans, poised for defense. His severed arm had already reattached quickly; though still somewhat stiff, it was functional, which slightly surprised Dongfang Heyun. "This boy can neutralize my magical power so quickly!" Dongfang Heyun had used his palm like a blade. That strike was not merely a severance; his magical power was meant to rapidly infiltrate the wound, not only disrupting Li Xizhi's energy flow but also preventing the wound from healing. Had it not been for several golden lights hidden within the feathered robe, his severed arm would have been shattered by that strike, leaving no chance of reattachment. Yet, now, it seemed somewhat functional. "What kind of treasure medicine did he take?"

Li Xizhi merely drew out talismans to defend, not bothering to consider the golden light from the feathered robe. As for why his severed arm reattached so quickly, it was, naturally, due to the spiritual essence he had received. He possessed the Cloudy Path of Rainbows enchantment, which allowed him to neutralize others' spells. As the rainbow light circulated, the light blue magical power previously in his wound rapidly dissolved, and his flesh reconnected, glowing with vibrant, colorful light.

While he was slowly getting accustomed to his arm, Dongfang Heyun's spell approached silently, striking the talismans with several booming sounds. The water rippled, and Li Xizhi grunted, his aura faltering, and the glowing mist beneath his feet also slowed. Dongfang Heyun instantly closed the distance, only to see Li Xizhi once again forming hand seals to cast a spell. The young man watched with interest, seemingly waiting for Li Xizhi to unleash a more novel spell. Yet, the hand seals he formed looked very familiar, as if he had used them before.

In such precious time, Li Xizhi actually positioned his right hand above his left, extending one finger from each hand to touch, performing a doppelganger spell. "Is he seeking death?" Dongfang Heyun's movements remained calm and elegant; he didn't frown in confusion. Regardless of Li Xizhi's antics, he simply extended a hand towards Li Xizhi's back.

"Puff!" Li Xizhi coughed up blood, having actually endured the full force of the palm strike. A golden-blue palm print appeared on the feathered robe on his back, and powerful golden light erupted from it again, surging towards Dongfang Heyun's face. This time, Dongfang Heyun was prepared. He pushed his hand forcefully, instantly shattering the golden light. But in that brief pause, rainbow mist erupted from Li Xizhi's entire body, rapidly spreading and coloring the seawater in vibrant hues.

At the same time, Li Xizhi utilized this brief moment. Light again emanated from his feet, and his body dispersed like colorful mist, leaving three dazzling rainbow trails in the air. Golden Fall in the Clouds! His conjured doppelgangers were released in an instant, each leaping in a different direction. For a moment, brilliant colorful lights moved all around, darting in various directions, concealed by the rainbow mist.

Over ten zhang away, figures of Li Xizhi materialized in all directions, their movements perfectly synchronized. Each flung a sleeve of iridescent light, slowly dispersing in the air like smoke or wisps of cloud, riding the rainbow light into the distance. Dongfang Heyun nodded at once, a hint of admiration on his face. "First, he endured a palm strike to cast his spell, then used the golden light from the feathered robe to obscure my vision. After that, he used the rainbow mist to cover his tracks, preventing me from discerning the true body from the doppelgangers, and then scattered in all directions..."

In just a brief moment, Li Xizhi, despite his severe injuries, consecutively unleashed three spells, transforming into a dozen streaks of colorful light flying in every direction. Dongfang Heyun stood still, sweeping away a patch of rainbow mist with a wave of his sleeve, shaking his head slightly. "What a pity."

Li Xizhi's calculations were thorough, but he didn't realize that Dongfang Heyun's magical power had already clung to the feathered robe like a persistent maggot after that palm strike. Even if he hadn't had time to discern the true body from the doppelgangers, he could still rely on his magical power to pinpoint the direction of Li Xizhi's true escape. "Since he took a palm strike from me, there's a resonance on him. Even if he disperses like scattered flowers, fleeing in all directions, it will ultimately be futile."

He closed his eyes slightly, sensing the distant magical fluctuations. He flew over ten li, skimming the sea, his form again dispersing like mist. The surrounding seawater began to freeze, creating faint crackling sounds. The seawater roared as his figure instantly transformed into mist, dispersed and then reformed, appearing before the colorful light and blocking it completely.

Dongfang Heyun lightly flicked his sleeve, reappearing before Li Xizhi. Perhaps due to his severe injuries, Li Xizhi's perception was no longer sharp, and he was still flying forward, head down. "Oh?" A change appeared in Dongfang Heyun's gentle and elegant expression. A smile surfaced on his face, and with a light flick of his sleeve, he dispersed the "Li Xizhi" in front of him into scattering colorful light.

These tiny specks of light, like gnats, scattered thickly in the air and vanished. Only a tattered feathered robe remained gently floating in the seawater, its cerulean palm print on the back still sparkling and shimmering with light. This scene made the smile on Dongfang Heyun's face grow wider and wider. "Good... good... So he deliberately took that palm strike and put the feathered robe on a doppelganger. And the rainbow mist's purpose was this... Humans are indeed cunning..."

His smile quickly faded. He extended five fingers, as white as jade, lifted the feathered robe, and examined it thoroughly twice. Finally, in a corner, he discovered a small seal script character: "Yang." This script was not contemporary; it resembled an ancient character. Dongfang Heyun, being quite old, recognized the symbol and nodded in sudden realization. "So he's a descendant of Yang Jinxin! No wonder then."

He seemed in no hurry to pursue Li Xizhi. He looked at the feathered robe gently and murmured, "To think the venerable Yang family has fallen to such a state, without even a Purple Mansion cultivator left! But they still have connections in the Underworld... Even Sui Guan wouldn't dare do much." Dongfang Heyun observed for two breaths, then put the feathered robe into his sleeve. Bringing two fingers together, with their pads facing himself, he lightly exhaled, causing a dark blue light to immediately glow. He whispered, "Heyun requests the esteemed power, to heed the mansion's accord, and traverse the great void..."

The seawater before him rippled, boiling and sinking as if a whale had opened its giant mouth, revealing a dark trace. From head to toe, he transformed into rising mist, merging into the speck of light at his fingertips, and flew into the great void.

Golden sunlight rose from the sea, leaving only gold and blue hues in the world—a rare beautiful dawn. Li Xizhi, however, had no time to appreciate it, coughing violently. All the magical power throughout his body surged frantically into the glowing mist beneath his feet. Every bit of power from his Qi Sea acupoint was also squeezed out, all used to propel his escape light.

He couldn't recall how far he had flown in that time. He just trembled as he took several pills from his storage bag, hastily shoved them into his mouth, and then affixed a few flying-aid talismans to his body—talismans that offered little help but were better than nothing. Only then did he have time to survey his surroundings. "Dongfang Heyun fell for it." Li Xizhi could tell at a glance that Dongfang Heyun was a confident person. This trick had fooled him. There were over a dozen doppelgangers created, and since Dongfang Heyun hadn't distinguished them at the outset, he no longer had a chance to. Even if he could use that traversing spell, it surely had limitations. Not only would it take a long time, but he couldn't just inexplicably appear before him without a basis. Truth be told, Li Xizhi had actually escaped danger.

Yet, Li Xizhi dared not relax, nor show any sign of triumph. He remembered clearly that this wasn't a true pursuit but merely a punishment from a Purple Mansion Great Demon; Dongfang Heyun didn't even harbor strong killing intent towards him. But if he showed any hint of pride or laughed aloud, things could very likely take a different turn. Therefore, even though he had seemingly escaped danger, he remained utterly cautious, flying with all his might into the distance. "If the Purple Mansion doesn't intervene... Dongfang Heyun is most likely to gather sea creatures to examine each doppelganger. If that happens, I probably won't last much longer. I just don't know when this will end."

He flew in silence, the colorful light beneath his feet reflecting in the blue seawater, appearing exceptionally beautiful. He coughed twice, then his pupils suddenly dilated. The dark, boundless void appeared in the air before him. The young man, adjusting his robes, stepped out from it, gazing at him gently and elegantly, then spoke softly: "Friend, your calculations are truly remarkable!"

"Traversing the great void! This... what's left to escape from?!" His heart pounded with fright. He instantly flung out five or six talismans hidden in his sleeves, which transformed into five or six massive light shields in the air. Various incantations floated within them, radiating immense power. But it was already too late.

Dongfang Heyun's warm, jade-like palm tore through the air. Only the very first talisman that appeared managed to briefly block it in his hand; the rest were flung behind him. Dongfang Heyun gently pressed his palm onto Li Xizhi's lower abdomen, causing Li Xizhi to spurt blood, which spread out as a mist-like colorful light. Dongfang Heyun's palm pierced through Li Xizhi's lower abdomen. As he withdrew his arm, the blood on his pristine, jade-like palm surface rapidly transformed into iridescent mist.

Golden Fall in the Clouds! Fortunately, Li Xizhi was most adept at escape techniques among all his arts. Even in his dazed state, he still managed to conjure the golden light, his body dispersing like colorful mist, leaving three brilliant rainbow trails in the air, already over ten zhang away.

The dawn light in the sky grew brighter and brighter. Li Xizhi forced himself to remain conscious. A colorful light appeared in his hand, and he pressed it onto the void in his chest. From his other sleeve, he tossed out more talismans. The white light of the incantations hovered, flickering in the air, but then a cracking sound was heard. Numerous ice crystals appeared on the sea surface, and Dongfang Heyun had already passed through the barrier, arriving directly in front of him. He once again used the suffocating, oppressive spell from before. The surrounding spiritual energy became heavy, scattering the spell in Li Xizhi's hand. Dongfang Heyun then raised his arm again and clasped Li Xizhi's throat.

"Hmm?" The elegant and gentle young man suddenly paused, smiling as he blinked. His dark eyelashes were prominent in the iridescent light. Dongfang Heyun looked at the sky and replied: "The time has come."

Dongfang Heyun slowly released his grip, leaving the immobilized Li Xizhi suspended in the air. He then raised his jade-like arm and straightened Li Xizhi's robes for him. He looked at Li Xizhi closely, then had a sudden realization. He took the tattered feathered robe from his sleeve—it was already neatly folded—and gently draped it over Li Xizhi's arm. Only then did he nod contentedly. Dongfang Heyun politely stepped back, bowed, and said gently: "I was ordered by an immortal to execute you. I apologize for any offense caused, and I hope you can forgive me, fellow Daoist."

Dongfang Heyun, whose robes remained perfectly uncreased throughout, smiled and bowed again, saying gently: "I am Dongfang Heyun, formed from the Dragon Lord's first breath when he transformed into a pill. I am born of clouds and mist, and it seems I have quite a destiny with you, fellow Daoist. May I know your name?" Li Xizhi wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said hoarsely: "Li Xizhi of Qinghui Peak."

"Good." Uttering a single word, his figure drifted away like smoke, vanishing with the morning light into the distance. Li Xizhi's legs suddenly went weak, and he nearly plunged into the sea. In his hand, the feathered robe Yang Xiao'er had given him still hung. This robe held secrets he had no time to delve into. Breathing rapidly, he quickly took out several pills and swallowed them.

After several deep breaths, he was finally able to steady himself in the air. He found a small island and descended. Li Xizhi coughed out a puff of colorful mist and murmured: "My guess wasn't far off." Dongfang Heyun appearing by tearing open the great void had initially startled him greatly. But once that palm strike landed on his lower abdomen, Li Xizhi's hanging heart had already eased by sixty to seventy percent. Dongfang Heyun did not want to kill him. This person's displayed strength varied significantly from moment to moment, and he could even tear open the great void. Now, it was quite clear. If he could have killed him earlier by tearing open the great void, why drag it out until now? It was merely that Dongfang Heyun wanted to inflict enough deterrent damage within a limited time. Having been outsmarted by Li Xizhi and running out of time, he had no choice but to go all out.

That said, Dongfang Heyun had been merciless within the scope of his displayed power, which was clearly a form of screening. If Li Xizhi truly hadn't met the required standard, then his death would have been his own responsibility, and his demise would not have brought any change to Qingchi or the Dragon Lineage. "This chance at life, I had to fight for every bit of it..."

Despite this, taking a solid palm strike from Dongfang Heyun without the protection of a magical artifact was no small matter. Li Xizhi slowly sat down, feeling the internal injuries inflicted by that palm, and pondered in his heart. Dongfang Heyun's spell primarily caused magical power damage, with cerulean energy constantly eroding inside Li Xizhi. However, Li Xizhi wasn't particularly afraid of this technique, as his Cloudy Path of Rainbows could neutralize others' magical power. Nevertheless, the palm strike that pierced his abdomen, combined with his severed arm injury, had caused severe damage and should not be underestimated.

Sitting in silence, Li Xizhi finally had the chance to deduce the cause and effect and organize his thoughts. "He wants to harm me..."