Chapter 860: Suppressing

“Fellow Daoists!”

As he finished speaking, a figure emerged from the Immense Void. With a head of gray hair and dressed in black robes adorned with thousands of large and small brown circular holes, like eyes, he faintly glowed with dark light within the Immense Void.

This was clearly the Master Luo mentioned earlier.

He first bowed respectfully to Kui Qi, a deferential expression on his face, and said with a smile, “Greetings, my lord!”

Kui Qi gave a cold nod, then turned to Chen, whom he clearly knew much better, and said with a smile, “After all these years, Daoist, your cultivation has advanced again!”

Chen, unlike Kui Qi, smiled amiably. It was then that Master Luo turned his face to Li Ximing. His robe, covered in eye-like patterns, rustled as he enthusiastically said, “This must be the renowned Master Zhaojing. I’ve long heard of your deeds; truly remarkable!”

As the saying goes, one doesn't hit a smiling face, so Li Ximing responded kindly. He found the clothing on Master Luo somewhat unsettling, and though he avoided looking directly at it, Kui Qi’s cold voice, transmitted through a supernatural ability, rang in his ears:

“Zhaojing, this Master Luo is also from the Yue Kingdom, but he is no good. He consorts with demons in the Southern Wilderness and rules the Witch Kingdom. Every year, the promising barbarian cultivators are refined into his clothes... Be careful.”

“There’s no need to worry about him joining the Buddhist sect. The demon kings detest him. He has also killed Enlightened Ones. Just keep your distance.”

Only then did Li Ximing understand the source of his unease. Upon closer observation, this Master Luo seemed to be a mountain Yue. ‘He has the same habits as Fu Daimu from the lake back then. Fu Daimu refined the Human Head Mountain… Chen actually dared to invite him… It seems Chen must have something on him.’

No wonder Kui Qi’s face was cold. With such a magical robe worn on him, it would be strange if Kui Qi gave him a pleasant look! Perhaps it was precisely because he used Southern Wilderness barbarians that Kui Qi wasn’t utterly disgusted… otherwise, an immediate attack would be possible. ‘This man is truly… testing the blade’s edge.’

Master Luo, though met with Kui Qi’s icy demeanor, remained smiling and impeccably enthusiastic. When Kui Qi’s divination was complete, a shimmering, hazy colored light indeed emerged from the Immense Void, as if a black cloth had been lifted, revealing a golden expanse beneath.

He glanced at it, understood, and whispered, “It’s the Great Void Demon Suppression Array. Zhelu himself is inside suppressing it. It must be held off by the Violet Seat Mulian Pavilion or the Rain-Observing Treasure Cauldron.”

“This array is primarily controlled by Maha, utilizing spiritual artifacts. It can conceal itself in the Immense Void, but its array core exists in the physical world, trapping a few individuals. We just need to shake it.”

He rattled off two treasures in one breath. Li Ximing recalled that Dinglan still possessed the Prime Minister Pot and the Immeasurable Water-Fire, and if those two items were brought out, even Maha would likely retreat, so it was no wonder the person before him seemed unconcerned.

The light in Kui Qi’s hand faded. He turned and instructed, “Those of you here are protected by my spiritual artifact. As long as you remain still, those below cannot detect anyone in the Immense Void. When the time is right, then act!”

Beneath them, the rain over Xiaoshi Mountain dissipated, revealing traces of colorful Buddhist earth. Kui Qi softly said, “I’ll go first!”

He manifested his form on Xiaoshi Mountain. The golden light subtly swayed, and before there was any significant reaction, a horse-headed Maha leaped out, his face full of smiles, revealing large, clean incisors, and called out, “Fellow Daoist Kui Qi! Who have you brought along!”

Li Ximing and the other two held their positions, unmoving in the Immense Void. Li Ximing, however, focused his gaze and mused, ‘This is Taixi… my personal blood feud.’

Sure enough, as Taixi appeared, Kui Qi’s expression immediately turned grim. He held his Great He Kui Copper Sword upright, remaining silent.

Then, the Immense Void echoed, and four golden-bodied Enlightened Ones emerged, each wielding a magical artifact. Chen immediately rose with his sword and vanished.

Taixi’s smile below faltered, and his two horse ears immediately perked up, listening intently. A silver flash erupted, and a slender sword pierced the air, appearing from behind his head with a sharp sword light.

“Chen!”

Taixi instinctively expanded his Dharma Body rapidly in the air, no longer in a cross-legged pose. Instead, he flew up on colorful light, his purplish-black Dharma Bowl shining, attempting to block the sword.

But Chen was no ordinary opponent. His slender sword lightly tapped the bowl, and a great rush of water sound filled the world. The Empty Silence Demon Subduing Bowl vibrated violently, and white rain poured down, causing Taixi’s Dharma Body to emit strange hissing sounds.

Taixi immediately retreated, lifting his Empty Silence Demon Subduing Bowl to receive the converging water from the sky. He raised his hand to wield his staff against Chen’s sword art, wondering, ‘Isn’t Chen in the Southern Wilderness? Aren’t he and Master Zhusheng vying for spiritual artifacts, at loggerheads? The Changxiao Sect has made no move, how dare his Chen clan cross the river?!’

Kui Qi did not fear Taixi, but Taixi also had a grasp of how to deal with him.

Zhelu Maha had long said that Master Yu Shui Chen, being on good terms with Heng Zhu, should not have acted. Furthermore, he was in dispute with Master Zhusheng of the Shahuan Kingdom in the Southern Wilderness, and there was pressure from Master Luo, providing ample excuses to decline. How could he cross the river?

The Sword Gate was conservative; although the anomaly Ling Mei had appeared, it was even more difficult for them to act. Only Li Ximing held a firm stance, but he had unfortunately been banished to the East Sea, and Changxiao’s whereabouts were unknown. How could they show up?

This was why Taixi was left outside the array to face the enemy. Now, with Chen suddenly appearing, Taixi immediately felt things had gone wrong. While urgently calling for reinforcements, he pressed, “Quickly stop him!”

The four Enlightened Ones nearby faltered.

It was easy to say they could resist Zhu Gong, but how could Kui Qi and Zhu Gong be on the same level? It wasn't just a matter of two more supernatural powers… Zhu Gong’s entire fortune combined wouldn’t equal one of Kui Qi’s spiritual artifacts!

Kui Qi was also a Master of the Great Owl Sunflower Observation. His methods were not simply physical combat; the Owl Sunflower was called one of the three ancient Witch Dao, and fighting it could lead to the destruction of body and spirit!

But with Maha giving the order, how could the four refuse? They could only brace themselves and advance, yet each looked more timid than the last, as if ready to self-harm their Dharma Body and flee at any moment.

Sure enough, Kui Qi’s face showed a cold gleam. He anticipated Taixi still had backup, so he wasn’t in a hurry to summon Li Ximing and the others. Instead, he stood with the Great He Kui Copper Sword, then swung it to strike.

Simultaneously, a mighty black wind swept up, completely disheveling the colorful light on the four golden-bodied Enlightened Ones. At the same time, a black rope descended from mid-air, like a venomous snake lurking in the darkness, suddenly leaping forth.

The four men felt a chill down their necks. The leading old Enlightened One had already returned to the Buddhist earth, utterly at a loss. Only the six-armed Enlightened One, with the highest combat power, roared and took the lead, but was ensnared and lifted by the black rope, temporarily trapped in mid-air.

The bronze-like Great He Kui Copper Sword flickered in and out of sight within the gray wind, accompanied by a low growl: “Stabilize!”

A point of cold light leaped out from the black wind. The remaining three Enlightened Ones retreated faster than the last. Master Kui Qi’s form actually dispersed and re-formed, suddenly erupting.

A massive hand suddenly coalesced within the black wind, grasping one golden-bodied Enlightened One by the neck. The Great He Kui Copper Sword was held in his other hand, plunging downward into the opponent’s skull, then twisted forcefully as if slaughtering a sacrifice!

No one knew what supernatural power he had used. The Enlightened One shrieked in agony, but Kui Qi’s expression remained unwavering, the whites of his eyes growing wider and wider: “An Enlightened One who has cultivated for decades, bringing three newly promoted good-for-nothings, dares to block my path! Do you really think you are all like Nu Zhiminghui, under the lotus seat?!”

Zhu Gong had no experience fighting the Northern Buddhist sect, but how could Kui Qi not? He attacked with full force from the start, simultaneously employing two spiritual artifacts and three supernatural powers!

He didn't release his Great He Kui Copper Sword, allowing the Enlightened One to howl in bone-piercing pain, while the pursuing black rope locked him, rendering him immobile. The other three were terrified, listening as Kui Qi laughed, “The smart ones have already sacrificed themselves and returned to the Buddhist earth! To avoid facing my Great He Kui Copper Sword… only you four idiots are still waiting for death!”

The power of these words was immense. Not only did they make the remaining three Enlightened Ones gasp, but even Taixi’s expression changed. The Enlightened One beneath the Great He Kui Copper Sword, hearing this, finally succumbed to fear and pain. Why wait for death when preserving one’s life was paramount? Countless golden lights and cracks immediately appeared on his golden body.

“Boom!”

The treasure light rising from the sky diffused into a colorful and beautiful spectacle amidst the smoke. Kui Qi had already used his supernatural power to retreat, coughing twice, then laughing heartily and cursing, “Fools!”

The Owl Sunflower path was peculiar; truly fatal, single-strike methods in direct combat were few. This saved Kui Qi’s trump card. The remaining three, bewildered and terrified, hesitated. He then raised his sword and struck the golden light.

“Boom!”

With this sword strike, the golden light swayed violently, as if touching something massive. A faint, descending aura of light appeared in the sky, with clouds drifting, clearly startling those within the array.

Taixi’s face was extremely grim. He could only shout, “Pijia!”

At his call, a stream of colorful light finally descended from mid-air. Vague illusions of various men and women sitting opposite each other appeared, along with the roaring sounds of jackals fighting. A golden body descended from it, one half of its face filled with hatred and jealousy, the other half with a sense of loss, inspiring awe in those who beheld it.

‘Pijia of the Great Desire Path…’

Kui Qi finally grew serious, coldly staring at the golden body before him.

Taixi, who was only of the second generation during the North-South conflict, had benefited from the Empty Nothingness Dao after the war. Now, after so many years, he had become a third-generation reincarnation, which was already quite troublesome.

He could block a middle-stage Purple Mansion cultivator, but the one before him, having undergone five reincarnations, was much stronger. Now, that half-face looked over, and a buzzing voice said, “Fellow Daoist Kui Qi! I do not wish to interfere in this matter, and we will not endanger the lives of the two Masters… this is merely to prevent supernatural powers from manipulating the north side of the river and causing unnecessary casualties… If you retreat now, it would be a virtuous and meritorious deed…”

Upon hearing this, Kui Qi's understanding grew.

Pijia clearly did not wish to get too deeply involved. Back then, Ziyan, in league with Qingchi, seized his Qi Wang Xuantian Ting. Now, it was a matter of karma. If Kui Qi were to overcome the Purple Threshold, with four supernatural powers plus all his spiritual artifacts, Pijia would undoubtedly turn and leave… but the opponent’s strength was enough to suppress him, so he had approached…

But Kui Qi merely sneered, shook his head, raised his Great He Kui Copper Sword, and casually said, “I have never tested the supernatural power of a Fifth Generation Maha! Today, I shall seek your guidance!”

At this moment, Kui Qi had only one option: to hold Pijia back. After all, only he could contend with this Fifth Generation Maha… He began to feel fortunate that he hadn't revealed his form too early.

If they had appeared together, the opponent would undoubtedly have had this Maha deal with Chen, allowing Taixi to block him, which would have led to even greater trouble! Fortunately, he had seized the initiative, preventing the worst-case scenario…

‘The Chen family is on good terms with Heng Zhu. Pijia, by rights, wouldn’t want to forge too great a karmic enmity… so he will only deal with me… but one must always guard against the unexpected.’

Thus, his eyes deepened, and he summoned his spiritual artifact.

Seeing this, Taixi, while retreating from Chen’s sword light and gradually gaining the upper hand, laughed and said, “So, that’s all you’ve got, Lin!”

Kui Qi remained silent. Then, a golden light flickered, and an eerie bone dagger descended from the Immense Void, striking the golden light and stirring up a wave of air.

At the same time, a man in a white-gold Daoist robe emerged, his brow shining with heavenly light. A dazzling, snow-white Upper Radiance Subduing Light, carrying intense violet fire, pierced through the Immense Void with tremendous force, striking the golden light.

“Buzz!”

The golden light immediately flickered, dimming and brightening. The three Enlightened Ones, just realizing they needed to rush closer, saw a gray-haired man in a thousand-eyed spotted black robe appear. He held a small white jade hammer, and following closely, he tapped the dagger’s hilt with a clang.

“Clang!”

Master Luo, after all, had some tricks up his sleeve. The golden light immediately began to waver, revealing its true form: an eight-beam Dharma Wheel, entirely golden, hollow in the center, and inlaid with various gemstones.

But this hammer blow seemed to stir something. A chanting sound vibrated within the Immense Void, and three golden-bodied Enlightened Ones emerged from the array. The leader, with an eye on his brow, possessed considerable might. All had serene expressions and shouted, “Good fiend!”

An old demon like Master Luo, having cultivated for years, would not suffer such a loss. He was already prepared, transforming into a swirling gray wind the moment he struck, causing the three Enlightened Ones to miss.

Li Ximing was farther away. Seeing three golden bodies suddenly appear, he immediately conjured light and fled, his body trailing violet fire, blocking the illuminating treasure light.

Taixi, having spare capacity while fighting Chen, could still observe the situation. Seeing a Mingyang cultivator emerge, he was both astonished and perplexed, exclaiming, “Li Ximing!”

‘He’s back from overseas! Where is Changxiao?!’

The gazes of the three Enlightened Ones changed almost simultaneously. Three golden bodies, seven eyes, all stared at him, filled with a mixture of strangeness and astonishment, even a hint of greed. Without a word, they abandoned the gray wind and chased in Li Ximing’s direction.

“Remnants of Wei Li, clinging to existence, yet you dare come north? Die quickly!”

Taixi, constantly monitoring the situation, was stunned by Master Luo’s appearance. A realization finally dawned on him: “Damn it! These cultivators are really good at faking it!”

Fortunately, the retreating Master Luo was intercepted by his own Enlightened Ones, which relieved the Maha. He then looked at Li Ximing, but unlike the three Enlightened Ones’ delight, Taixi felt a chill when he saw their appearance.

‘He cultivates the Heaven-Worshiping Gate… Enlightened Ones are inherently sluggish. These three fools, not even at the Wisdom Seat level… actually rush headlong at someone’s face!’

‘Never mind… even if they can’t gain the upper hand, just holding that Bright Gate is enough…’

On this side, Li Ximing, fighting Enlightened Ones for the first time, couldn’t discern the true strength of the figures behind him. He simply waved his sleeve, riding on light and flames, his brow pulsing with heavenly light as the Upper Radiance Subduing Light illuminated once more.

The shining Upper Radiance Subduing Light did not strike the central three-eyed Enlightened One, but shifted slightly, like a streak of light, to strike the slower Enlightened One, causing him to raise his sword to meet it.

“Chirp!”

Flames burst forth. Li Ximing’s Upper Radiance Subduing Light, cultivated for many years, happened to strike the side edge of the opponent’s Dharma Sword. It deflected slightly and, instead of dissipating as usual, ricocheted back, heading for his face.

The Enlightened One only managed to close his eyes tightly, lower his head slightly, and meet the Upper Radiance Subduing Light with his cheek. The brilliant white light barely penetrated his left cheek, melting a finger-sized hole.

Li Ximing looked at this, gaining a slight grasp of the situation. ‘The one leading is hard to say, but at least the two on the side are clumsy, without the amplification of Purple Mansion supernatural powers. Their Dharma Bodies are just a bit harder, not even as good as Fu Xia who came to the lake back then!’

In Li Ximing’s view, these so-called golden bodies were only slightly stronger than Purple Mansion cultivators who specialized in esoteric techniques, akin to himself. If the Wrathful Manifestation hadn't died, Fu Xia would certainly be a top-tier Enlightened One, naturally incomparable.

Thus, his confidence greatly increased. He raised his hand, and a round bead appeared in his palm, engraved with the pattern of a tiger turning its head—it was the Mountain-Driving Sea-Rushing Tiger.

A soft, silken, earthy-yellow light immediately emerged, standing before him like a painted screen, directly meeting the three-eyed Enlightened One’s swiftly approaching short staff!

“Dong!”

The Mountain-Driving Profound Curtain was not of much use against Changxiao, but encountering this Enlightened One, it finally held firm. Although its light dimmed, it at least managed to sustain the impact.

Li Ximing seized the opportunity to place two fingers before his lips, activating his supernatural flames. Seeing his posture, how could the two allow him to unleash his full power? They swung their weapons, one after another, to strike.

The Mountain-Driving Profound Curtain resisted another sword strike, then finally shattered. The last golden hammer struck with immense force, but Li Ximing, controlling a point of heavenly light, slightly dodged. A faint yellow film seemed to cover his body, deflecting the magical artifact. His wrist merely tinged with pain, but he was remarkably unharmed!

This was precisely the second divine ability of the Mountain-Driving Sea-Rushing Tiger — Earth Element Spiritual Absorption!

Li Ximing, meanwhile, urged his flames, his lips slightly parted, and exhaled a stream of fire.

This flame was炽red on the outside, with white and gold within. It was extremely fast, rapidly expanding in the air, then transforming into gold as it spread, like a long whip of gold and red interweaving, sweeping across.

Purple Mansion Spiritual Fire, Third Watch Xu Xuan Fire!

The three immediately leaped away. The one holding the hammer, though he had touched Li Ximing, was thus a half-beat slower. The Third Watch Xu Xuan Fire first struck his great hammer, rapidly engulfing it and scattering sparks, then landed on his golden body’s arm.

“Ow!”

A howl echoed. The Enlightened One reappeared not far away, his arm burned with large and small holes by the completely golden flames. The large ones were the size of dragon eyes, the small ones like dense black dots, constantly writhing.

The three immediately understood: “Careless! Purple Mansion flame… it’s True Fire!”

True Fire, after all, was not like Blended Fire or Detached Fire; it could not corrode like gangrene, nor did it have the ability to persist long. Therefore, the injuries it caused were easier to heal. However, this flame focused on instantaneous burst damage, which was extremely considerable. Even the patterns on his golden hammer used for defense were blurred by the burning, clearly indicating a reduction in its power.

“This…”

Li Ximing was surprised, and his emotions suddenly became complex.

His few battles after reaching Purple Mansion had been against either middle-stage Purple Mansion Masters with three supernatural powers, or late-stage Grand Masters who had crossed the Purple Threshold, all of whom were inheritors of the Dou Xuan lineage. They had truly made him flee in disarray, almost unable to save his own life!

Now, having gained spiritual flames, advanced his cultivation, and prepared his trump cards, he was back to fighting these Enlightened Ones who were not even as good as early-stage Purple Mansion. He was utterly astonished, and it instantly bolstered his confidence, his eyes glowing.

‘If Third Watch Xu Xuan Fire is already like this, what about Complete Reversion into Flame? What about the From-Desire Blended Fire that the Jiuchu Daoist Sect wanted back then?’

Li Ximing watched, slightly dazed, but he couldn’t miss the opportunity. He stepped forward, his brow shining again!

The three-eyed Enlightened One frowned slightly, clearly finding him somewhat troublesome. The eye on his brow, which had been squinting, suddenly opened, also emitting a beam of golden light to meet the heavenly light on Li Ximing’s brow. At the same time, his other two hands swung their short staffs, shouting, “Form the array!”

The remaining two quickly exhaled, stepping onto colorful clouds, each taking a position. Li Ximing still had the Rushing Yang Controlling Star Treasure Plate unused, so he felt very secure. Both his hands simultaneously lit up with intertwining purple and gold flames.

Solar Response Departure Art!

This was a technique inherited from Li Jiangqian. The Li family truly had few better techniques than this. Ximing himself had learned it. He now unleashed departure light from his hands, blocking the techniques of the others, while the earthy-yellow Mountain-Driving Profound Curtain glowed again on his body.

But the three-eyed Enlightened One showed no panic. All three simultaneously opened their mouths, spitting out a sky full of flying golden sand.

How could Li Ximing fear this move? Spiritual flames refined gold. Unless these monks could spit out Purple Mansion-grade golden substances, which one could withstand True Fire? Third Watch Xu Xuan Fire bloomed again, forming a circle in front, repelling the golden sand.

Li Ximing controlled the heavenly light and violet fire, striking the hammer-wielding Enlightened One again.

Unexpectedly, treasure light erupted from the Enlightened One’s body. Although it was dissolved by the heavenly light, and the violet fire struck, burning him full of golden blood, he remained unwavering, still spitting golden sand.

Li Ximing immediately became alert. His spiritual sense swept out, realizing that the golden sand from these few people was indeed growing stronger. Looking up, strands of colorful light descended from the sky, extending deep into the Immense Void… it seemed that with their array established, they were drawing the glory of the Buddhist earth through the Immense Void!

“Heh!”

Li Ximing was not polite. He even seemed momentarily stunned, then sneered, ‘Form an array? Good, good, good! You dare to form such an array in front of me! You seek death!’

His mind stirred, and his eyes glowed with golden light. A roaring wind arose, and a brilliantly white Heaven-Worshiping Gate with intricate patterns, accompanied by colorful clouds, emerged from the Immense Void. Banners fluttered, and golden-armored, golden-robed soldiers descended from the Immense Void, illuminating the entire mountain range and making everyone around them involuntarily raise their eyebrows.

Heaven-Worshiping Gate!

The Heaven-Worshiping Gate supernatural power was immensely powerful. It burst forth from the colorful clouds like an ever-expanding mountain, directly soaring to the sky, grinding down and suppressing, severing the operation of supernatural powers. The colorful light above the three men’s heads was instantly suppressed.

Before three breaths passed, a burst sounded. The colorful light connection between the three was instantly blown apart, and the three grim-faced Enlightened Ones all took a step back. The two weaker ones even coughed up golden dust.

“Boom!”

Colorful clouds floated, and soldiers roared. The Heaven-Worshiping Gate stood majestically in the clouds, with the Master in golden-white robes standing atop the gate. Two massive, intricately patterned, pristine white gate legs pressed down, actually pinning the three men like ants beneath the Heaven-Worshiping Gate!

In an instant, offense and defense completely reversed!

“In all my cultivation of this path, it has always been I who suppresses others! Is this Heaven-Worshiping Gate cultivated by me, Li Ximing, or by you three monks? You dare to suppress me?!”