Chapter 769: Unexpected

The golden light of the shamanic talisman flowed over Li Cheng's body. Thunder surged beneath his feet, and intense golden light rose from behind him, quickly interrupting the young man's thoughts.

"Boom!"

Situ Mo had been tricked and almost lost Li Cheng's trace. His shock and anger were immense. The excitement on his face was no longer a facade but a genuine, dark rage, like a snake catcher bitten by his prey.

The light around the Thangjin Sect Master instantly brightened. Layers of runes appeared on his diamond-patterned golden robe. When he stepped forward to grab Li Cheng, his speed was vastly different from before.

Li Cheng was enveloped in a vibrant red and purple glow, and all the purple lightning surged towards his feet. His expression was serene and fearless, cold as still water. He stepped into the air, ultimately moving one step faster than Situ Mo, barely evading the grasp.

Situ Mo felt no regret. As long as Li Cheng remained within the range of his spiritual sense, he couldn't escape. What he truly feared was Li Cheng disappearing instantly, as he had before – that would send a cold sweat down his spine.

The dark expression on his face quickly receded, replaced by a cruel chill. A golden light rose from behind his head, transforming into a gourd as white and cold as snow.

"A spell... or a magical artifact?"

Li Cheng had no time to discern. A luminous, chilly mist had already surged from the gourd, like heavenly light, breaking through the clouds from mid-air and shining upon him.

Situ Mo's own speed was not slow at all; he now closed the distance again. He pressed his two hands together, fingers joined at the middle joint, and murmured:

"Receive the true color of the West, let the vital energy manifest..."

Situ Mo, highly experienced in combat, chanted a spell with one hand while a golden needle and golden knife flew up from the other. They first searched for the Chongming Cave Profound Screen in the air, and seeing its dark green movement, successfully forced this magical screen out.

The luminous, chilly mist scattered over Li Cheng. He had long known that Situ Mo, pressured multiple times, had crossed mountains to attack him, and in most previous instances, he hadn't used his full power. He prepared lightning to counter the cold light.

Unexpectedly, a greenish-grey light shimmered on his body, and the spell's brilliance appeared. The pervasive chilly mist scattered in two directions, as if hitting a slippery, rounded stone, negating the need for him to act.

It was his first time using this talisman, and he was unfamiliar with it, but it was a pleasant surprise. Li Cheng immediately raised his lightning, hearing a sharp clang in mid-air.

"Clang!"

Directly above his head, a dark golden ruyi scepter appeared and slammed down. Li Cheng summoned lightning to resist the scepter, creating a burst of white light in mid-air that scattered shimmering sparks everywhere.

Unfortunately, metal originates from earth but separates from it, thus suppressing lightning. The ruyi scepter effortlessly shattered the lightning and struck the greenish-grey light on his body, immediately emitting a crisp sound.

"Crack!"

Li Cheng knew that the protective power of the blessing spell had reached its limit. He could only take a few more steps, capitalizing on its last glow. He formed a hand seal and said:

"Yang Zhi..."

Before he could finish forming the hand seal, a chill finally swept over him from behind. The chilling malevolence of Geng Jin surged in, striking the dark, black shamanic talisman's color on his body. This dark glow, like the ebb and flow of the tide, vanished in the blink of an eye.

The power of concealment, assailed by the chilling malevolence, shattered and disappeared!

"Puff."

Li Cheng spat out a mouthful of blood, which transformed into hot lightning and floated upwards. His cultivation was far inferior to his opponent's; he couldn't even compare in years of training, and his lightning was suppressed by the opponent. Fighting with spells was out of the question.

The young man endured the pain and continued to control the lightning. Situ Mo's eyelids twitched as he saw Li Cheng stubbornly heading east, his expression growing fiercer:

"Still unwilling to yield!"

The grey rope, like a venomous snake, climbed up his sleeve. Situ Mo had barely given Li Cheng a body's length of space before he threw the spiritual artifact.

Li Cheng's talisman was already broken. The spiritual artifact once again swam into the void, faintly locking onto him. The grey rope's light barrier, adorned with golden patterns of mountains and rivers, descended from the sky, blocking the path to the east.

Situ Mo's hatred surged within his chest. Seeing Li Cheng trapped in the light barrier like a bird in a cage, a sense of powerlessness arose in him. He sighed softly:

"You... you! How foolish! You're throwing your life away! How many people in your Li family are there for me to kill?!"

Li Cheng gripped his spear, his gaze fixed on his opponent, and said in a deep voice:

"You can kill me if you wish. Since killing me won't force anyone out, killing anyone else will be useless. Once your purpose is served, let's see who protects you!"

Situ Mo felt a painful clot of blood in his chest, unable to spit it out, his heart boiling. Everything was clear now, as if laid out on a table: Li Minggong and others were surely coming to reinforce, Ding Weizeng, without the Chongming Cave Profound Screen, would soon be defeated, and his own people were also on their way.

Li Cheng absolutely refused to return to the lake; now, the only option was to kill him.

Situ Mo, still unwilling to give up, asked:

"Zhao Jing's miscalculation, how far can Li Zhouwei hide? What good will your pointless death do?"

Li Cheng fell silent. He stared at his opponent, his striking eyes appearing to hold nothing. He replied:

"If you want to kill me, then do so. When my family's forces arrive, they will kill you."

"Boom!"

The light barrier of the Mountain Misting Moving Mountain Rope began to waver; it seemed someone had arrived nearby. Situ Mo finally gave up. He cast one last glance at Li Cheng and said:

"Whether I live is uncertain, but you must die first."

As the golden barrier in the sky pressed down, Situ Mo drew his saber. He saw the silver-armored, black-robed youth spit out a bright white, bloody speck of light. Blood slowly seeped from Li Cheng's face. Situ Mo's eyes lit up, and two laughs escaped his throat.

After all, he harbored a grudge against the Li family, and seeing such a scene, his heart was finally gladdened.

Li Cheng's eyes burst from their sockets, turning into specks of light amidst the pervasive lightning. Next, a layer of flesh ripped away, turning into bloody lightning pulp. Suffocating lightning permeated the glow, and six Thunder Punishment Orders condensed, frantically absorbing all the magical power from his entire being.

Situ Mo unhesitatingly took a step back. The Mountain Misting Moving Mountain Rope, enveloping all the lightning, was heavily thrown by him into the distance. He clutched the Purple Mansion talisman in his hand and took flight.

"Boom!"

Regardless of how formidable this segment of lightning was, against a true Purple Mansion spiritual artifact—specifically, a Purple Mansion spiritual artifact imbued with Earth and Metal virtues—it ultimately transformed into a long, dull thud. The lightning, clawing and reaching to strike Situ Mo, was entirely imprisoned within the rope, unable to move an inch.

As the brilliance of the Mountain Misting Moving Mountain Rope faded, all the pale golden light retracted into the air. Situ Mo raised an eyebrow, taking in everything before him.

To the west were his Thangjin Sect cultivators, Situ Biao and others, standing by in full readiness. One or two were wounded, but not severely. He didn't know what had become of Ding Weizeng.

On the other side was a woman in a red dress, holding a hexagonal lantern. Red and white flames flickered faintly within it. Her bright eyes were full of tears, and behind her were presumably members of the Li family.

Should they continue fighting?

Situ Mo had his answer almost instantly.

"The Li family possesses talismans that evade Purple Mansion divination. It's not difficult for Li Zhouwei to escape the Purple Mansion's gaze. If it were me, I would also leave secretly. Li Cheng was right; killing everyone is useless!"

Situ Mo immediately took a step back, and Situ Biao came forward to meet him. The Sect Master of the Situ family took a purple talisman from his sleeve and immediately pressed it into the elderly Situ Biao's hand.

"Boom!"

The lightning in the sky suddenly flared. Despite the heavy suppression from the Mountain Misting Moving Mountain Rope, Li Cheng's life-forged lightning still turned the world white. Everyone closed their eyes and retreated, defending against the thunderous light.

This was precisely why Situ Mo had thrown the spiritual artifact. He seized the opportunity to catch the Mountain Misting Moving Mountain Rope as it traversed the void, took a black brocade pouch from it, and then, with a backhand motion, placed the rope into Situ Biao's hand. He transmitted a cold message:

"Kill them all! I'm going to the lake to find Li Zhouwei!"

"Boom."

The lightning ceased, and Situ Mo's figure transformed into a pale golden stream of light and vanished.

Situ Biao could only activate the spiritual artifact where he stood. A barrage of spells had already pierced through the lightning towards them—intertwined flames, golden rings of congealed water. The old man gripped the Purple Mansion talisman in his hand, feeling vaguely uneasy:

"Why give this thing to me..."

But he had no time to ponder. Li Minggong, witnessing Li Cheng's death, nearly vomited blood. Tears streamed down her face, and her inner fury was immense. The old man could only activate the Mountain Misting Moving Mountain Rope.

However, he had not received the Sect Master's legacy. Although he knew of several marvelous aspects of the Mountain Misting Moving Mountain Rope, he was unaware of its intricacies. He simply unleashed waves of yellow light to defend against the incoming spells.

Situ Mo traveled south for a while. Once the others could no longer see him, and the roaring river flowed beneath his feet, he immediately changed direction and headed towards the East Sea.

This was the most probable path to survival he could conceive in that instant.

He left the Mountain Misting Moving Mountain Rope and the Purple Mansion talisman with Situ Biao. This prevented him from being greedy for Purple Mansion artifacts and attracting unwanted attention. Meanwhile, Situ Biao, relying on the rope and the talisman as trump cards, could not only continue to fulfill the Purple Mansion's orders and draw attention but also kill one or two members of the Li family, making it more significant.

As for Situ Mo, he had specifically taken Li Cheng's storage bag to give Li Ximing a way to find him, acting as a "Purple Mansion's fishhook." This way, even if a certain Purple Mansion wanted to kill him, other Purple Mansions would be unwilling...

As for the idea of heading east to find Li Zhouwei, it was merely a tactic to appease Situ Biao and make him willingly act as a scapegoat.

"It's a pity about the Chongming Cave Profound Screen; it's truly a treasure. With Li Minggong present, I couldn't possibly take it. If she had held me back, the outcome would have been uncertain..."

Having abandoned even the Mountain Misting Moving Mountain Rope, he certainly wouldn't be greedy for the Chongming Cave Profound Screen. He traveled with the wind, filled with trepidation and treading on thin ice.

The sky slowly darkened before his eyes. Situ Mo's heart ached with anxiety, and his hands and feet were cold. The entire river surface reflected the setting sun. His gaze swept from south to north, as if a Purple Mansion cultivator might suddenly appear from anywhere and shatter him with a single palm strike.

He flew for a while. To the south, dark mists hung heavy, and he gradually left the wilderness behind. There was no one on either side, not even a passing cultivator. The river surface was calm as a mirror, with no trace of demonic beasts.

Situ Mo's heart gradually calmed down. A cold sweat broke out on his back, and the Thangjin Sect Master's mind grew increasingly clear:

"It worked... The Purple Mansions' stances will only become clearer as they push things forward. They are coercing others to conspire against Li Zhouwei. With every passing hour, their thoughts, in silence, will lean more towards eliminating Li Zhouwei, and even Li Ximing."

"After all... even if no one knows, it's better for those I've harmed to die sooner rather than later!"

His thoughts became increasingly restrained, burying everything deep within his mind. Situ Mo understood that he was on the path to survival. Li Cheng's blood-soaked, resolute face flickered in his mind for an instant, then quickly vanished.

After leaving the wilderness, Situ Mo alternated between flying in the sky and diving to the bottom of the river, constantly changing his whereabouts. Li Cheng's black storage bag was clutched in his hand like a life-saving talisman, and he never opened it.

At this moment, his magical power was running low. He had used spiritual artifacts to chase all the way, and even his spiritual sense was somewhat overtaxed. His tension, sustained throughout the entire day, finally began to ease.

"Splash!"

He burst out from beneath the river surface, sending water splashing in all directions. The water cascaded back onto the surface. The world had reached its darkest hour; the surroundings were astonishingly black, and a faint whistling wind rustled through the trees.

As the water settled, the river surface regained its mirror-like calm. Situ Mo's eyebrows lowered, his gaze fixed on the water.

Reflected on the river surface was a man in golden-white armor. His black long robe billowed in the night wind, and a bright, radiant sunlight flowed down from his armor, rolling across the water.

His black hair fell loosely. Two arms of black flame extended from his back, each holding a dark halberd, pointing towards the river on either side. The white-patterned mystic armor plate on his left hand was slightly longer, and two fingers were pressed together, clutching a golden talisman that was gradually transforming into a black light in the wind.

The young man's other hand held a slender magical halberd horizontally. Dazzling heavenly light surged frantically from the center of the great halberd, and its sharp, long branches rapidly expanded before Situ Mo's eyes. He vaguely saw a glimmer of light rising from the opponent's glabella. Immediately after, an endless white light engulfed his vision.

"Clang!"

The Grand Ascendant Halberd, like a streak of light, slammed against his magical robe. The Thangjin Sect's top-tier magical robe groaned under the immense strain. Situ Mo felt as if his internal organs were on fire.

"Boom!"

Immediately after, the Upward-Shining Hidden Light, like a sharp sword, simultaneously struck his face. A shattering roar, mixed with splintering, creaking sounds, echoed through the night sky.

Situ Mo felt a mouthful of flame burn into his lungs, scalding him into convulsions. He was not surprised by his opponent's strength after coming out of seclusion; Situ Mo's heart was filled only with icy dread:

"How is this possible! How could he be here at this time!"

"The vast river! How could he block me!"

It all happened too suddenly. Situ Mo had never imagined that a direct descendant of the Purple Mansion would appear right in front of him. And his capital for arrogance on the lake—the Purple Mansion talisman and the Mountain Misting Moving Mountain Rope—had all been discarded by him in Funan.

Moreover, the one facing him was a Purple Mansion seed like Li Zhouwei!

His golden robe, on which he relied for his life, finally gave way. The next moment, it dimmed in mid-air as brilliant light shone through. Two fierce, black flame arms emerged from either side. The golden talisman light shield that had just flared around Situ Mo had no time to fully envelop him before these spell-breaking arms brutally tore at it, eroding and dissolving it, preventing it from closing.

"Puff!"

One arm suddenly locked around his throat. Situ Mo felt a dizzying sensation; stars and moon blurred before his eyes. He was lifted into mid-air, meeting a pair of golden eyes.

A pair of golden pupils filled with hatred, seemingly ready to drip blood.