Chapter 894: Dingshan

"A pair of golden hammers, how about that!"

Li Ximing gently waved his sleeve, and from the swirling pink aura, he drew forth two golden objects: a pair of golden hammers that had belonged to the Buddhist cultivator, each nearly half his height. Though large, these golden hammers were clearly of inferior quality, far from matching the cassock he had previously confiscated. While Li Ximing didn't understand Buddhist methods, he could still distinguish quality. He then stored them away with a flick of his wrist.

"Ah, the agony!"

With Li Ximing's Heavenly Gate suppressing them and his True Fire scorching them, the two Pity cultivators below were in too much agony to worry about their seniors. They instantly felt unbearable pain. The Three Hou Xuanyan Fire was a Purple Mansion spiritual flame, and the Heavenly Gate was perfectly manifested, rendering them completely immobile.

"They are already contained," he thought, "so there's no need to rush the kill. In fact, I shouldn't let them grow too desperate. If they're pushed too hard, they might abandon their Dharma bodies and force themselves back to the Buddhist lands, which would be a less favorable outcome."

So, he deliberately applied fluctuating pressure, feigning instability in his divine power. While the flames remained potent, the power of the Heavenly Gate overhead gradually diminished, filling them with immense relief. After all, these two held low status among the Pity cultivators. Should they be forced back to the Buddhist lands without their Dharma bodies, no one would assist them; they would have to select and refine the bodies of their own subordinate monks, representing a substantial loss!

Although the Boundless Water and Fire was formidable, the Supreme Aspect Pot, having unleashed its flames, had already flown into the distant hands of True Person Tinglan. Since it wasn't directly upon them, they still had time to react.

"Should we immediately self-terminate?" they wondered. "Perhaps we should drag this out..."

This thought took hold, and even though they suspected the person above was intentionally holding back, they continued to silently strain against the Heavenly Gate, hoping for a sudden shift that might provide an opportunity to escape.

Li Ximing, meanwhile, raised an eyebrow and observed.

The entire mountain range was already enveloped in a kaleidoscope of light. True Person Kuiqi spearheaded the assault, his black rope billowing. With a bronze sword, he precisely impaled the head of one golden figure, rendering it motionless. In his other hand, he held a small, unfamiliar bell, which glowed intensely and hovered spectrally behind another Pity cultivator's head.

The strongest Pity cultivator, ringed by several golden hoops and ablaze with Boundless Water and Fire, stood awkwardly in Kuiqi's path. His once smooth and translucent golden body was now riddled with dark spots, and several feathers had even sprouted from his armpits.

"I wonder what spell he's afflicted with," he mused.

Tinglan, still recovering from her injuries, primarily used the Purple Throne Mu Ling Pavilion for containment. Ning Wan, deprived of her Great Snow Absolute Edge, was less able to fight independently. Thus, besides Kuiqi, the most formidable presence was undoubtedly Hou Fu. This Taoist's robes billowed as he held his hands high, pressing down upon a golden figure. His gray pouch-shaped spiritual artifact hung suspended high above, its wide opening unleashing torrents of hurricane-like solar radiance. The light was dazzling and captivating, draped between the mountains like a dense, luminous waterfall.

Beneath this radiance, two Pity cultivators were utterly disoriented by the solar brilliance; they could neither conjure flames nor ride the winds. Though not in immediate mortal danger, they clearly exuded an air of resigned capitulation.

Li Ximing had encountered this artifact before, in Peacock Sea, where it had even forced Yu Guang to retreat. However, his current discernment was far beyond what it once was. Observing it now, he let out a silent sigh.

"This pouch is undoubtedly a spirit treasure from the Solar Dao lineage," he mused. "How lavish! Such a powerful external artifact, one can only guess at its numerous variations."

To put it bluntly, if this single spirit treasure pouch were fully unleashed, Hou Fu might not even need to act himself; it would likely be enough to overwhelm a Purple Mansion demonic cultivator or an East Sea True Person. Its power was probably on par with Tinglan's life-preserving Purple Throne Mu Ling Pavilion. No wonder he felt confident enough to command such an area at his young age.

After observing for a moment, he saw the Supreme Aspect Pot in the sky suddenly vanish. At his side, the Grand Void Cave resonated, and True Person Tinglan, in purple robes, appeared silently beside the Heavenly Gate, giving him a slight smile.

Li Ximing paused, slightly taken aback, and swept his spiritual sense across the scene:

"Her true body is still clearly upon the Purple Throne Mu Ling Pavilion!"

"It's a Transference Talisman..."

He understood in an instant. The Heavenly Gate swayed, then abruptly lifted, revealing a narrow opening. Below, bright light flashed and fierce flames blazed. The two golden figures rejoiced and shot outwards.

Tinglan then revealed the Supreme Aspect Pot in her hand, tilting its mouth. Immediately, torrents of azure and cerulean Yin-Yang flames surged inwards.

"What a masterful technique!"

A clone created by a Transference Talisman naturally possesses no divine abilities. However, its brilliance, compared to other clones, lies in being almost equivalent to the true body, even extending a second spiritual sense coverage. Though devoid of innate powers, it can still activate spiritual artifacts! Tinglan's cultivation was also profound. He didn't know what divine power, spell, or ingenious spiritual artifact method she had employed, but this clone had appeared without a sound. Now, as the raging Boundless Water and Fire poured in, the two cultivators inside were momentarily stunned.

Li Ximing finally seized his chance, transforming into light and surging in, drawing his great axe to strike!

"Boom!"

This Pity cultivator was struck full in the face by the Boundless Water and Fire, followed by the gleaming slash of the Huayang King's Axe. This Pity cultivator's golden body was only ordinary; it might withstand typical divine powers and spells, but having already been damaged by True Fire and spiritual flames, it could not possibly endure such an assault. The entire Dharma body shattered into countless fragments, disintegrating from its hardest point, the skull, into scattered pieces of shimmering glass and metallic stone that danced in the air.

Pink light surged. The anomalous phenomenon of the cultivator's demise was obstructed by the Heavenly Gate, preventing it from ascending to the sky. Li Ximing had already turned, his gaze fixed on the other surviving Pity cultivator, who remained utterly transfixed. The bright glow of the clone flickered and faded. Tinglan did not continue her assault; instead, her clone dissipated, moving on to the next target.

There was a reason: this group of Pity cultivators were already like birds startled by a bow. As soon as a few of them consecutively fell, the one who had evaded the Boundless Water and Fire but was now ensnared would surely immediately self-terminate to escape! While destroying an opponent's Dharma body was a substantial gain, inflicting immense losses on the Void Nothingness sect, wouldn't eliminating one more cultivator remove an additional future problem?

The other three in the sky also attacked in tacit understanding. Immediately, light exploded outwards, and pink splendor filled the heavens. By the time Li Ximing retracted his divine power and ascended, the True Fire had refined the metallic stones on the ground. Evidently, these anomalous energies had been suppressed, preventing their intense diffusion, then condensed by the True Fire, melting entirely into the earth. Now, with the pressure released, pink light drifted upwards.

He advanced, riding on a bright light. In the sky, a mixture of flower petals and fine snow was falling, now at its most intense. Amidst the falling snow, three heads lay quietly, resembling low hills. Each bore an expression of surprise, rage, and resentment, with contorted eyebrows and wide, staring eyes.

"This truly is a great victory..."

Li Ximing watched, a raised eyebrow. For Li Ximing, at least, this resounding victory aligned perfectly with the interests of his Moon-Gazing Lake. As for whether it represented a true win or loss for the Solar Dao lineage or in the broader North-South dispute, and which side truly suffered, that was a matter of perspective.

True Person Kuiqi strode through the air, his expression solemn. Despite the flower petals falling from the sky, his thoughts seemed heavy, and he showed little elation. He quietly asked:

"Tinglan... I see the primordial magnetics here have stabilized."

True Person Tinglan, clad in purple, gazed at Tangdao Mountain, now blanketed in heavy snow, its slopes covered in crumbling walls, ruins, and fallen, shattered statues. She sighed:

"There's nothing more to be done," she said. "Since this place has been reclaimed, it's our duty to defend it."

Li Ximing landed near Ning Wan, listening as True Person Kuiqi spoke softly:

"Fellow Daoist Hengxing!"

The Grand Void rippled, and a brilliant red light surged forth as a woman in ancient robes appeared, holding an umbrella. Her expression was serene:

"My congratulations to you all!"

"Hengxing..."

This was none other than True Person Hengxing of the Hengzhu sect!

The Hengzhu sect and the Solar Dao lineage had drifted apart in recent years, so her sudden appearance here made the situation increasingly awkward. Li Ximing remained silent, feigning invisibility, and stood still. The moment Hengxing appeared, the cultivators visibly stiffened, finding it difficult to speak. Fortunately, the woman holding the umbrella spoke softly:

"I couldn't dissuade my senior brother," she said. "He chased the Grand True Person and those Buddhist cultivators without pause. I didn't expect to coincidentally meet you all; this is truly a grand victory."

Her words carried a distant tone, yet True Person Kuiqi remained very courteous, even somewhat apologetic, as he stated gravely:

"Hengzhu has shown great consideration for the larger picture, still willing to come to Tangdao Mountain. I, Lin, on behalf of the Xiukui Dao lineage, thank you first!"

It was rare for someone as proud and stubborn as Kuiqi to speak so politely, but Hengxing wasn't swayed. She smiled and replied:

"Of course, the greater good comes first, and right and wrong second. Haven't we always prioritized the overall situation each year? It's simply that my sect is naive, less calculating, and also at odds with Jinyu, so we don't frequent the north, to avoid bothering you all."

Li Ximing's heart pounded as he listened. Ning Wan, beside him, transmitted a message:

"I've already ordered the cultivators from Azure Pool to come over. Your Lake and the Celestial Dao... should also come to manage Baijiang Creek and Tangdao Mountain. It's more comfortable to guard here than along the riverbank!"

Li Ximing nodded subtly and crushed a jade talisman. Instantly, the heavy snowfall across the land ceased. A Taoist, a gourd tied to his waist, returned, stepping on clouds with a sword cradled in his arms. His eyes were slightly closed beneath prominent, sharp brow bones, and his attire was impeccably neat:

"Greetings, Grand True Person!"

Seeing his manifestation, Kuiqi inwardly exhaled in relief; the worry and doubt that had long clouded his mind finally vanished. The cultivators all bowed in homage, and True Person Hengxing, who had been distant before, now showed markedly more respect for an unblemished Sword Immortal like Lou Xing, performing a deep, respectful bow.

The Great Snow Absolute Edge, cradled in his arms, continuously shimmered with scenes of cosmic harmony, simultaneously emitting flecks of white light and even conveying a sense of thrilled exhilaration. Clearly, this expedition had allowed the spirit sword to demonstrate its full prowess, much to its delight. The Sword Immortal, however, showed little attachment to it. With a gentle toss, he sent the Great Snow Absolute Edge into Ning Wan's arms, then replied:

"I had expected a figure of the caliber of Jingzhan or Helian Fan," he said, "but I never imagined the north would be so squalid."

His aura showed no signs of depletion; after all, he cultivated one of the Three Witch Dao. Li Ximing couldn't even detect the slightest hint of his lifespan drawing to a close. By his appearance, he seemed to be in the vigorous prime of his middle age.

Ning Wan quickly accepted it, while Hou Fu chuckled:

"True Person, wielding the Great Snow Absolute Edge, a single strike can trace back four hundred years!"

Lou Xing took a step forward, casually deflecting the praise:

"That's a jest," he chuckled. "There are True Lords ahead; how could one claim four hundred years? I wouldn't even presume forty."

Compared to Kuiqi, who was currently the lead figure, the Grand True Person seemed more cordial with Hou Fu, his junior. While everyone else maintained a respectful demeanor, only Hou Fu dared to openly flatter him to such an extent. Despite his modest deflection, with three heads lying on the ground, the power of this sword was undeniable. Discounting the Shangyuan era, claiming this single strike could trace back four hundred years would be no exaggeration.

Lou Xing's return should have been a moment of celebration, but Hengxing simply bowed and quietly stated:

"This junior bids you farewell!"

Lou Xing did not stop her, allowing her to transform into light and depart. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back. Kuiqi, however, seemed to hesitate, on the verge of speaking, looking somewhat dejected. He then listened as the Sword Immortal said:

"Let's all return to Huyi for now!"

The Sword Immortal led them back, naturally towards Huyi. Li Ximing, needing to refine his spirit embryo and seeing no reason to depart midway, accompanied them all the way to the Snowfall Courtyard on Huyi Mountain. The place was still blanketed in white snow, with cultivators bustling about.

Then, the True Person at the front clicked his tongue.

"Whoosh..."

A gust of gray wind immediately descended from the sky, sweeping all the snow cleanly from the mountain to reveal the grayish-brown brick and stone ground beneath. It even swept all the cultivators down the slopes, leaving only the empty temple, from which faint green smoke drifted.

The Sword Immortal then said:

"Be seated!"

The others took their seats one by one, watching as Lou Xing adjusted his sleeves, reined in his sharp aura, and spoke softly:

"This incident with the Northern Buddhists is merely the beginning, not the conclusion. The reason I chose to strike down Pijia instead of Zhe Lu was entirely for this purpose."

"Zhe Lu is the leader of the Void Nothingness sect. Whether by his Dharma appearance or his Wuguang, to control him, he must remain alive and contribute; he is not easily killed. If I had succeeded, it would merely have been a repeat of the Great Desire incident from back then, and I lack a True Lord's backing."

"Pijia, on the other hand, was from the Great Desire Dao, interfering to claim a share. He gambled and lost, which is hardly surprising."

He accepted the tea offered by Kuiqi and said calmly:

"They wanted to observe me," he stated. "Since I would inevitably reveal myself, acting early served as a form of damage control."

True Person Kuiqi thanked him respectfully, then listened as the Grand True Person said:

"The issue with Hengzhu... that was stirred up by Jinyu, wasn't it?"

"Reporting, Master..."

Among them, only Kuiqi dared to take responsibility and speak, stating gravely:

"That's right..." Kuiqi affirmed. "The benefits agreed upon between Azure Pool and Jinyu back then... the matter concerning a suspected True Lord, we dared not meddle. We certainly couldn't jeopardize Jinyu's crucial matters, which were already in a delicate balance. The Solar and Jinyi Dao lineages secretly assisting each other has been a long-standing arrangement."

Hearing Kuiqi's words, the Sword Immortal chuckled:

"If Yan Que were still alive," he said, "you, Qiushui, every single one of you would have been thoroughly reprimanded. He would have unleashed his divine powers and made Murong Xia spit out some true blood."

Kuiqi bowed his head in agreement. Though he felt guilt, he clearly harbored little regret:

"The Sword Gate firmly adheres to ancestral laws, and the lessons of the past are still fresh in our minds. Had we not agreed, perhaps it would have been fine. But since Azure Pool had agreed, by the time I emerged from seclusion, so many had already reaped benefits. To then drive him away would mean Azure Pool breaking its vow, Jinyu suffering immense losses, and the Buddhist cultivators merely leaving with their coffers overflowing, which would delight the North... Wouldn't that be even more muddled?"

"Now, I only hope for an opportunity to sit down and discuss, to resolve the misunderstandings..."

These words made Lou Xing chuckle. This Sword Immortal, known for his fiery temper in youth, now appeared remarkably serene. He stood up, turning his back to the others:

"Whether it's the Three Profound Four Dao or the Immortal Imperial Lineages, they will eventually diverge. The Azure Pine Solar Dao lineage will be no exception. As paths differ, so do ambitions; there's no need to force alignment. Three hundred years from now, who knows, perhaps this Great Xiukui Temple will no longer be heard of."

His voice resonated with exceptional clarity through the empty temple:

"Throughout my cultivation until now," he continued, "my efforts to comprehend the Purple have been thwarted, and my divine powers are inadequate. I no longer hold hope of attaining the Fruit Position. For the remaining two or three years of my life, I will dedicate myself entirely to the sword."

"When my time draws near, I will travel to Luoxia to meet Xue Yang, to complete the final leg of my sword path, and to revisit the ancient dispute between the Sword of Technique and the Sword of Intent... to witness his blade."

The Sword Immortal said with a gentle smile:

"Perhaps without the Great Snow Absolute Edge, my sword light might not have been as brilliant as today's single strike. But this Solar Dao lineage, I entrust it to all of you."

Everyone rose from their seats and bowed, watching him ascend gracefully, transforming into a faint, dark wisp that vanished from sight. On Huyi Mountain, white snow began to fall once more, drifting in the air.