Chapter 863: Purple Pavilion Flying Snow

Golden flames poured down, spreading along the golden body. Akro’s protective aura was shattered by the destructive light of the Blazing Sun. He gasped for a moment, and the faint light that had just appeared was instantly incinerated by the scorching true fire, causing him to let out a tragic roar.

Li Ximing, meanwhile, used the Luminous Subduing Light to resist the pressing pagoda. His Gate to Heaven, however, flickered wildly as it was struck by the opponent’s spiritual artifact, forcing it to descend quickly to protect him. The other two opponents had already charged forward, about to crash into the Gate to Heaven before it could fully recover.

Just then, Li Ximing’s palm once again displayed the brilliant golden disk, inscribed with eight-directional runes!

The Three-Eyed Lianmin reacted the quickest, almost instantly abandoning his spiritual artifact and retreating a step to protect himself with his magic power. The Sword-Wielding Lianmin, however, had no time to react and could only brace himself, crashing with full force into the divine ability, creating a burst of celestial light.

The Sun-Commanding Star Disk in Li Ximing’s hand did not emit any light; he merely held it. He had no divine ability or magic power left to activate this precious spiritual artifact!

“Cough, cough…” Their very nature, clumsy and straightforward, proved both their strength and weakness, which ironically played into the Sword-Wielding Lianmin’s hands. The Gate to Heaven dissolved into celestial light, and Li Ximing’s vision momentarily blurred; his divine abilities dimmed, making him appear even weaker. Fortunately, at least one of them had held back their strength. He touched his waist, and a Profound Truth Heart Pill was already in his mouth.

Even though Li Ximing hadn't sustained any major injuries at this moment, his divine power and magic power had been drained by the Sun-Commanding Star Disk, he had forcibly used a divine ability, and was injured by an enemy’s desperate strike. His divine power and magic power were now imbalanced, and his celestial light was sparse.

Akro, on the other side, was no better off. After all, Lianmin were Lianmin; the destructive light of the Blazing Sun, the Gate to Heaven divine ability, and the Violet Manor Spirit Fire had struck him one after another. Now, over half of the runes covering his body were burned away, leaving him half-black and half-gold, looking utterly dishevelled.

Seeing his two companions in such a state, still unable to break through another's divine ability, Akro was almost moved to furious laughter. Even if one of the remaining two Lianmin had more experience, it wouldn't have come to this... If these three were replaced by a single Five-Eyed Lianmin, also a disciple of the Golden Lotus Seat, Li Ximing would already be severely wounded!

Akro had not underestimated Li Ximing previously. However, he was unaware of the Sun-Commanding Star Disk and had taken the blow almost defencelessly. Celestial light still flickered wildly, and true fire continued to roll across his body. With bloodshot eyes, he roared:

“Fools! Illuminate him with your aura!” As expected, Akro, having observed for just a moment, had already discovered the weakness of the Gen Earth Spirit Absorption. The Three-Eyed Lianmin heard this and immediately gathered white light at his brow. The Sword-Wielding Lianmin instinctively moved forward, determined not to let Li Ximing catch his breath.

Li Ximing cursed inwardly. His Mountain-Driving Profound Curtain lit up, already showing signs of fatigue. He countered with the Sun Dispersion Technique. As the Sword-Wielding Lianmin approached, the advantage of his golden body became apparent; he could still pose a threat and temporarily restrain Li Ximing. Although Li Ximing’s divine power and magic power were rapidly recovering, it was not advisable to summon a divine ability to suppress the opponent in the short term.

Seeing the white light at the brow of the Screen Spirit growing denser, Li Ximing had no choice but to shift his gaze and survey the situation on the battlefield.

He didn't know what trump card Kuiqi had used; black mist surged, and his face was obscured by heavy grey fog, having fought Vigaj to a standstill. But he wouldn't be able to spare a hand anytime soon.

Chen, however, appeared even more dishevelled under Daixi’s attacks. His Manor Water divine ability seemed to be steadily held by the Kongxi Demon-Subduing Bowl. If not for a sharp, chilling blade that inspired dread, he would likely have been injured by now.

As for the remaining True Lord Luo, he was indeed as Kuiqi had said, not someone to rely on. He was fighting three Lianmin, who didn't even have a leader like Akro, a disciple of the Golden Lotus Seat. Yet, they were exchanging blows equally with him, making no significant progress, leaving Li Ximing unsure if it was due to his insufficient divine abilities or if he was holding back.

After surveying the situation, he saw no good news. Instead, the Eight-Beam Dharma Wheel in mid-air flickered erratically, and suddenly, a golden body leaped out from it.

This golden body was exceptionally grand, even larger than Akro’s. It shone brightly, its face contorted in a ferocious expression, and in its hands were two charred, broken staffs.

“What!” Li Ximing was startled. The three opponents before him had already pushed him to a disadvantage; if another appeared, his life might be in danger. He swept his spiritual sense over it, but then frowned slightly, feeling both joy and worry.

It turned out this fellow, originally appearing to be a fierce Lianmin, was now engulfed in flames, crying out in misery. The flames swirled in layers, displaying two-toned colors of greenish-indigo and shimmering blue, floating upon his golden body.

Upon seeing these flames, Akro almost leaped from his spot, his face grim. If others could see it clearly, how could Li Ximing not? He had personally wielded these flames; they were Tinglan’s Boundless Water and Fire!

Li Ximing felt both joy and worry. He was joyful that it seemed the situation within Tinglan was not bad after the commotion caused by several individuals. He worried that with the appearance of this robust Lianmin, he would be in trouble.

This fellow's face was somewhat ashen. But after observing the surrounding situation, he suddenly saw the man in white and golden robes, and his heart skipped a beat. He then rose with the wind, transforming into a cloud of golden sand and assailing Li Ximing.

‘He actually knows movement techniques... quite different from Akro...’ A chill ran down Li Ximing’s spine. He didn’t bother to adjust his magic power. Instead, he summoned his divine ability, his gaze sharp. The Luminous Subduing Light and Violet Manor True Fire burst forth together. He reactivated his divine ability, suppressing a surge of power, and with the Blazing Sun held high, finally sat upright within it once more.

The Gate to Heaven had not yet stabilized when the aura of light had already pierced through. Although the Screen Spirit was not exceptionally strong, having cultivated into a Lianmin, he possessed keen eyesight and had been waiting for the exact moment Li Ximing raised his divine ability to launch an attack with his aura.

But the Sun-Commanding Star Disk in Li Ximing’s hand was already shining brightly. A thick ring of white runes on its edge rotated, separating into four circles, the outermost one shifting from bright to dim. The disk was held inverted, and four golden points of light separated once more. Though not as bright as before, it presented an inverted image: the Luminous above, and the Yang Extreme below!

The bright light in the sky instantly converged. The Gate to Heaven transformed into shimmering, elusive rainbow clouds that filled the sky. Four golden stars, trailing golden light, rose up. The celestial light converged and receded, and the surroundings grew dark, surprisingly giving the sensation of a night sky.

The aura of light that shot from the brow of the Three-Eyed Lianmin Screen Spirit was blocked by these four golden stars. In just a flash, these four stars trembled as if breathing, then shattered with a thunderous roar:

“Clang!” Celestial light, like water, poured down. Although far less imposing than the destructive light of the Blazing Sun, it possessed a clear, all-encompassing, binding quality. It not only forced the robust Lianmin, who had transformed into golden sand, out of mid-air but also made all four opponents pause simultaneously.

Li Ximing, meanwhile, flickered a moment not far away. Before he could summon the Gate to Heaven, he sensed something, his gaze sharpening as he quietly observed the world before him.

A small, octagonal snowflake spun in the air, gently drifting down.

He looked up slightly again, and the entire mountain range was already covered in falling snow, gradually turning a pristine white. Li Ximing was first greatly alarmed, his mind momentarily blank, but he quickly realized:

‘No pine resin! Thankfully, no pine resin...’

But all the divine abilities on Mount Xiaoshi looked up simultaneously, their faces showing surprise. The Eight-Beam Dharma Wheel suspended in the air finally buckled under the strain, emitting a crisp creaking sound. In an instant, the entire Mount Xiaoshi grew intensely cold, and chilling winds howled.

This Eight-Beam Dharma Wheel dimmed to its extreme. White snow erupted from it, the speed of its outpouring escalating at a terrifying rate. In an instant, it became like an avalanche, transforming amidst the drifting snow into a towering pillar of white light, and a mournful cry resonated:

“Crack!” The dissipated brilliance was suppressed and scattered in all directions. A surge of chilling energy, condensed to its extreme, and a heaven-reaching murderous aura emerged from the snow. Countless rainbow clouds filled the sky, and a golden body rose, revealing a revered Dharma form covered in countless dense eyes.

“Zhelu!” This one, the foremost under the Path of Emptiness’s Dharmakaya, who had achieved the Limitless Power of the Turbid Void Maha and was seated upon the Empty Realm’s Liberated Earth with its rain of Mandarava flowers, appeared with magnificent aura, clearly unharmed. He radiated an endless rain of lotus blossoms, followed immediately by the appearance of more Lianmin golden bodies, one after another.

Beneath Zhelu’s golden body, white snow set off a small purple pavilion. A fairy figure, draped in falling snow, frowned, blood staining the corner of her mouth, holding a sword pointed at the sky.

The sword was entirely snow-white, with a long blade and a short, square hilt, extremely simple, only half a finger thicker than the blade. Its body was inscribed with patterns of Profound Snow and Lunar Ascension, and its surface depicted a scene of autumn receding and winter arriving, where heaven and earth intertwined. Its radiance flickered, and a heaven-reaching murderous aura naturally arose from it!

‘Violet Manor Spiritual Sword!’ Seeing this, how could Li Ximing not guess the sword’s origin?

‘It’s the famous Grand Snow Exalted Edge of the Azure Pond Sect! It must possess special abilities, and it seems they intend to use this sword to unexpectedly break the formation!’

When the Grand Snow Exalted Edge first displayed its might, the Li family wasn't even in Moonlit Lake, and it was unknown where any of his ancestors were. At that time, the Grand Snow Exalted Edge didn't bear this name yet, but it was already reputed to be the Azure Pond Sect Master's most treasured possession, one of the few spiritual swords in the world. It was said that after the chaos at Moonlit Lake, it gained great benefits and acquired countless mystical properties, thus earning the name Grand Snow Exalted Edge!

Even by the time the Li family rose to prominence, the Grand Snow Exalted Edge hadn't appeared in the world for countless years. Yet, its reputation still spread throughout the Wu-Yue lands, known even among rogue cultivators.

This was Li Ximing’s first time seeing this spiritual sword. Seeing its heaven-reaching murderous aura and spiritual snow, he knew this spiritual artifact was extraordinary, likely the finest he had ever seen. However, he was not a sword enthusiast and did not become engrossed. Seeing more and more Lianmin appearing around him, some in good condition, others in poor, he immediately turned his attention back to his own situation.

In the midst of the chaos, Akro's eyes indeed lit up with eagerness and fervor. This Lianmin, upon scanning with his gaze, encountered a golden body descending through the snow. It had three eyes on its face and two more on its chest, with numerous arms arranged in the shape of a lotus. Its enhancing aura was exceptionally powerful; judging by its aura, it seemed even stronger than Akro!

With shining eyes, he roared: “Five-Eyed! Quickly join me in besieging and killing the remnants of Wei Li!”

The current situation was abundantly clear. Once the Wisdom Void Demon-Subduing Grand Formation was broken, with various Violet Manors present, Tinglan and Qiuhu wielding Boundless Water and Fire, and the Buddhist Maha hesitant to push too hard, it was only a matter of time before someone used a Sun Foundation ability in a desperate situation. Once the formation was shattered, even if the two were in poor condition, escaping would likely not be difficult.

And right now, for these Lianmin, the most valuable and easiest target was undoubtedly Li Ximing!

The Five-Eyed Lianmin, whose hands were as delicate as lotuses, had just landed. Upon hearing Akro’s roar, he stared dumbfounded, his gaze falling upon Li Ximing in the distance. His heart felt as if struck by lightning, his legs turned to jelly, and he cried out in horror:

‘Oh no... that Immortal Clan member from Moonlit Lake!’

Ever since he was captured by the Immortal Lord last time, the Five-Eyed Lianmin had been living like a thief or a rat. He used to indulge freely in his own territory; hadn't it been like this for hundreds of years? Now, he couldn't even leave his gate, burying himself in the temple, not daring to collect rent from the temple tenants!

He was perfectly aware of how much mischief his disciples and grand-disciples had caused in their daily lives, and he had found various excuses to go on a killing spree. His subordinates all thought he had become temperamental... The Five-Eyed Lianmin was tossing and turning, restless:

‘Who? Li Ximing? And he wants me to kill Li Ximing?! That beast! Is it not enough for him to seek death himself; he has to drag me along too!’

He was exasperated, his heart a turmoil of emotions. On his face appeared a ferocious, wide-eyed look of fury—this was genuine rage—but Akro mistook it for a display of divine power, and delighted, thought:

“Good!” Li Ximing had noticed him early. Taking advantage of the fact that the Lianmin had just descended and hadn't yet reacted, and having used the Sun-Commanding Star Disk to protect himself and escape, his first reaction was to immediately retreat into the Void!

The threat posed by these Lianmin was no less than Akro’s. If they launched a pincer attack, Li Ximing would not only be injured but might even be targeted by Daixi and others. However, most of these Lianmin were afflicted by the Boundless Water and Fire; as long as the flames on their bodies were not suppressed, they would inevitably be repelled by the Void and could not enter it to deal with him!

But just as he retreated into the Void, before he could recover, his eyes suddenly lit up.

Standing prominently in the Void was a middle-aged man, clad in a Daoist robe, with half-white hair and beard. He held a sword in his arms, his gaze sharp as a blade, yet a dark talisman was tied to his waist, making him seem shrouded in a dark mist, difficult to discern.

‘Senior Lingmei!’ Li Ximing was instantly overjoyed, but he saw that this True Lord of the Sword Gate no longer possessed the polite and benevolent demeanor he had shown years ago. His eyes held a chilling intent as he shook his head at Li Ximing, one hand already on his sword hilt, quietly waiting.

In just that instant, a magnificent rainbow light swiftly pursued them through the Void, traversing its vast expanse and rapidly expanding, revealing a colossal golden body with a pitch-black horse-like face and eyes, appearing particularly terrifying in the Void.

It was Daixi... Judging by this speed, it was a premeditated move!

The radiant rainbow light, mixed with gold, seemed to have eyes as it headed straight for Li Ximing. Only then did a demon-subduing lotus, densely patterned, emerge from within it.

Three Retributions World-Entering Lotus!

Daixi had been patiently biding his time from start to finish, still plotting his own schemes. His mind was clearly fixed on Li Ximing, and he had long harbored intentions to eliminate him. Now that the situation had drastically changed, this Maha hadn't waited for the Lianmin to surge forth; he had already charged his spiritual artifact and was waiting for Li Ximing in the Void!

“Clang!” At the same time, Lingmei, behind Li Ximing, finally sneered and raised his wrist. Golden energy surged, and cold blades intertwined, as if echoing the white snow and purple pavilion in the real world. In the Void, a vast expanse of stark white sword light also erupted.

The Sword Gate was originally the foremost in offensive power among the Sun Dao lineage, and Lingmei was the top swordsman within the Sword Gate. Although he was bogged down by worldly affairs in his youth and didn't fully master sword intent, his sword arts, spells, and divine abilities were all top-tier. It was unknown how long he had prepared this one sword strike. Li Ximing only felt his vision turn white, and in his ears, a clear, pleasant, and melodious sword hum resonated:

“Hum…”