Chapter 901: Cloud Smoke Finally Rises

Facing the Northern True Man in the midst of the downpour, Li Ximing hesitated for a moment.

The fact that Helian Wujiang could appear here indicated that Northern forces were already being mobilized southward. However, the strength of Kui Qi's forces should not be underestimated. The Sun Dao tradition had more hidden cards than their own side, and under a full-scale assault, the North might not be able to hold out…

"At the very least, they must delay," he thought. "There's no reason to retreat without even engaging."

He didn't spare a glance for True Man Luo; the swirling grey-blue aura in his spiritual sense was proof enough. Interest moved hearts; with Li Ximing standing against Helian Wujiang, the Southern Frontier demonic cultivator showed no intention of retreating.

Yet even though True Man Luo hadn't retreated, he was already looking back and forth, his eyes fixed on Li Ximing, ready to flee at any moment. If the cultivation method hadn't been truly important and if he hadn't had confidence in the Sun Dao tradition, he likely would have long since fled.

Helian Wujiang stood on the clouds, a long whip like a serpent in his hand. Before Li Ximing could react further, the cultivator gathered his qi, held two fingers together between his nose and eyes, assuming a posture of focused distant gaze.

Seizing this momentary gap, Li Ximing reacted immediately. The "Tiger that Drives Mountains and Pursues Seas" transformed into a shimmering barrier, defending him. On the other side, the "Gate of Heaven" flashed, and without much hesitation, soared into the sky.

In this critical moment, it was no longer realistic to try to kill another Lianmin. If he were to turn his attention below, his "Gate of Heaven" divine ability, which couldn't be easily split, would inevitably be exposed to the opponent's attacks. Even if the Gate of Heaven wasn't suppressing anything and its inherent defensive capability was not weak, allowing a mid-stage Purple Palace cultivator with three divine abilities to act freely would essentially force Li Ximing to flee, spitting blood. He wouldn't be able to hold out indefinitely; it was better to protect himself!

The Lianmin, once released, transformed into a stream of precious light and fled, darting through the air, manifesting itself. Before it could even react, a bone flying dagger suddenly appeared from the void, flying straight towards its glabella.

Li Ximing could no longer worry about too many things. A patch of dark lightning had already condensed between the opponent's fingers, malevolent energy swirling in his eyes as he pointed forward:

"Abyssal Fiend Thunderclap!"

Immediately, dark clouds gathered. Between heaven and earth, lightning, guided by his fingertips, turned pitch-black, descended from the sky, accompanied by booming sounds.

This thunderclap contained malevolent energy; it was pitch-black yet luminous, and its speed was astonishing.

The first to bear the brunt was the "Tiger that Drives Mountains and Pursues Seas." The bright jade bead rotated slightly, and the engraved tiger-turning-its-head pattern instantly unleashed the "Mountain-Driving Profound Screen"!

"Boom!"

The Sky Thunder was one of the three great thunders, and with the opponent's cultivation of fiendish energy, it was an extremely powerful spell. However, the Mountain-Driving Profound Screen belonged to the Earth Virtue, which could suppress surging thunder and absorb malevolent energy. It unexpectedly emitted a brilliance never seen before.

The Mountain-Driving Profound Screen had been used by Li Ximing for many years. This was the first time it had emitted such brilliance. If True Man Changxi were here, with this spiritual artifact, he might truly be able to withstand the Sky Thunder!

Even in Li Ximing's hands, the Mountain-Driving Profound Screen still paused the Sky Thunder for an instant before being forcibly pulverized into ash by the flickering fiendish thunder.

For a Purple Palace cultivator, an instant was enough to do many things: enough to wield the "Chongyang Star-Governing Treasure Disk," enough to command a spiritual artifact, and even enough to step into the Great Void.

But Li Ximing suppressed the urge to wield the Treasure Disk. Ascending to "Mingguan," he lifted his divine ability. The clear, jade-like tower-gate shimmered, and the burning heavenly light in its center pierced through the rainy night.

Instead of defending, he attacked. A mighty "Gate of Heaven" sought to suppress the opponent's Dharma Body.

The long whip had been powerful, and Li Ximing had already recognized this. His own spiritual artifacts were cumbersome, absolutely unsuitable for countering the whip. Only by attacking as a defense, forcing the opponent to engage in combat using divine abilities, would he have a chance to contend!

"It's just that Helian Wujiang hasn't drawn his sword yet," a thought flashed through his mind, "nor has he used his full strength…"

A thought flashed through his mind. The "Shichuan" had already appeared, its blue-yellow mountain and river patterns rippling like waves, layer upon layer. In his other hand, the "Huayang King's Axe" was withdrawn, hovering above, radiating brilliant light:

Radiance!

Then, a faint sound of bells could be heard. A pale white glow rippled out, covering Li Ximing in a pure white film, which was the effect of the Radiance blessing.

But this white glow did not stop there. It spread rapidly, lightly falling upon True Man Luo, similarly imbuing his Dharma Body with a pale white light, shining brightly.

The effect of Radiance, blessing allies!

True Man Luo was briefly surprised. Black smoke was already billowing from his collar. The Bright Yang's light, though compatible with his divine abilities, was not very friendly to the strange demonic robe he wore.

Yet he showed neither worry nor alarm. Instead, his face lit up with joy. Hooking his pinky finger into his collar, he pulled and tugged, removing the "Thousand-Eyed Demonic Robe" from his body. With a strong tug of his forearm, he lightly tossed it. The demonic robe spun out, surprisingly transforming into a cloth-like artifact. Golden light shimmered from its thousand eyes, captivating the soul.

As he lightly swayed his body, receiving the Radiance blessing, he secretly rejoiced:

"This old man never misjudges! Even a dilapidated house has its foundation and pillars, let alone an imperial descendant? I knew he had plenty of good stuff! Now's his chance."

With the blessing, True Man Luo's attacks became even more ferocious. However, the Mountain-Driving Profound Screen had already shattered. The incoming Sky Thunder locked onto him, colliding with the surging divine abilities and purple flames on Li Ximing's Dharma Body, producing a harsh, grating sound.

"Boom!"

"Excellent!"

Helian Wujiang saw that Li Ximing neither fled nor avoided, but instead attacked. With the Gate of Heaven suppressing him, the spell in Helian Wujiang's hand instantly halted, and the subsequent lightning also dissipated. He instead pressed his hand to his sword to activate a divine ability. His two fingers, previously held before his nose, moved down, immediately positioning themselves before his lips, from which he exhaled a surge of malevolent energy.

This malevolent energy appeared greyish-yellow, floating and swirling in the air. Accompanied by Helian Wujiang's exhalation, it emitted shockwave-like halos. While the Sky Thunder rolled over Li Ximing, without much pause, he turned his body and similarly joined his fingers to exhale fire.

Three-Watch Obsidian Fire!

His family's Runyang Art once mentioned: "When water and fire flourish, they can be commanded; when wood and stone are solid, they can be formed into tools." Spiritual water and spiritual fire naturally have the characteristic of being commanded by people, which is why they are particularly cherished. Helian Wujiang's malevolent energy, on the other hand, was a fiendish qi spiritual substance refined into a technique, also of Purple Palace level.

Currently, both the True Fire and the fiendish qi were of Purple Palace level. Colliding together, they unleashed various brilliant flames, burning so intensely that spiritual energy recoiled and even the color of divine abilities faded. They even transformed into specks of purplish-black flame flowers, setting the entire mountain ablaze like a sea of fire.

Since acquiring the True Fire, Li Ximing had never before encountered a spiritual substance of the same level that could be commanded. Helian Wujiang exhaled the fiendish energy with ease and naturalness, seemingly empowered by a divine ability. Mixed with colorful light, it transformed into various miraculous shapes in the air, in vast quantities, instantly overwhelming the flames.

Yet Li Ximing wielded the Huayang King's Axe, its flame-exhaling ability further blessed. The True Fire was brilliantly luminous, the fierce flames raging. Its inherent quality was also high. Even though he was at a disadvantage, he still managed to block the malevolent energy.

"That's enough!"

With this brief moment of obstruction, the Gate of Heaven had already descended to suppress Helian Wujiang's head.

Helian Wujiang, however, smiled slightly. Tugging at the long robe behind him, he circulated his malevolent energy. Lightly tapping the ground, countless dark shadows surged behind him, enveloping the area, transforming into over a hundred spectacular peaks of malevolent energy, soaring into the sky.

"Unending Kalpa!"

The brightly shimmering Gate of Heaven descended upon the bizarre peaks of dark fiend energy. Its two corners sank into the energy, causing the black energy to dissipate, and smoke and flames to billow, barely maintaining a stalemate.

If Li Ximing's Gate of Heaven hadn't been perfected, the Gate would surely have been forced upward at this moment. As he made hand seals, he simultaneously gained a clear understanding:

"Although his divine ability is powerful and versatile," he realized, "Bright Yang carries the intent to break calamities and dispel evil. There is a certain advantage in suppressing it. It's just that his cultivation is higher!"

But how could Helian Wujiang allow him to seize the initiative? His free hand had been gathering power on the long sword at his waist for a long time. His eyes glowed. He inverted his grip on the long sword and instantly drew it, revealing rolling black malevolent energy rising with the sword.

"Kalpa-Wielding Light Fiend Art!"

He stepped out with his sword, indeed using a spell-sword technique. Reversing the sword tip, he used the spell-sword to draw upon the fiendish energy of heaven and earth. Instantly, the Unending Kalpa transformed from stillness to movement, changing from mountains to a sea. The fiendish energy of heaven and earth roared, rushing towards the Gate of Heaven with the sword light.

This surge of malevolent light soared into the sky, not only extinguishing the flames burning on the entire Caishan Mountain, but even dimming True Man Luo's Emerald Sea below, and freeing the Lianmin. The situation instantly changed.

"He's serious now!"

Li Ximing immediately sensed trouble. The Gate of Heaven in the sky was bound by malevolent energy, already unable to dissipate like water. With a flick of his sleeve, the bright and shining Chongyang Star-Governing Treasure Disk was also ready!

But he did not immediately activate the Treasure Disk. Instead, his figure appeared like light, descending from above the divine ability, bringing with it a flash of fire. He extended his palm, still pressing forward towards Helian Wujiang's face.

His family had been known as a swordsman family in earlier years. His clan brother, Li Xizhi, had an extremely high cultivation level and was skilled in the art of spell-swords. No matter what, spell-swords were still spells, not sword qi released from the hand; they required hand seals to cast!

Helian Wujiang's eyes calmly watched the approaching palm. A hint of a smile unexpectedly appeared.

The armor on his chest split open to the left and right, revealing a blood-red chest cavity. Black blood pulsed. His vibrant, constantly beating heart suddenly flipped over, revealing a distinct black-and-white eye on its backside.

His cultivation method was orthodox; only now did he show a hint of a demonic cultivator's aura. This eye within his heart was icy cold, containing a chilling might, and flickering with intermittent golden light.

"Immobilize!"

Li Ximing merely glanced at it and felt as if struck by lightning, a chill spreading through his entire body. Layers of golden light descended upon his Dharma Body, and, hindered by the golden light, he found himself unable to move.

"A trap!"

Helian Wujiang's expression suddenly turned cold. The long sword that had soared into the sky was unhesitatingly released, allowing the boundless malevolent energy to disperse. The Unending Kalpa divine ability no longer held him aloft. Instead, he focused completely, his eyes fixed firmly on Li Ximing.

In that instant, a slight smile appeared on the man's handsome face. His lips split open, all the way to his ears, transforming into a blood-red maw, astonishingly wide. Even the connecting flesh became a thin, membrane-like substance. He lunged forward with lightning speed, casting a deep black shadow.

He intended to swallow Li Ximing whole!

"Each step of feigned weakness was meant to lure you forward!"

The moment he was targeted by that eye, Li Ximing's mind became perfectly clear. He had already dispelled the shock, but the golden light on his body was not so easily dispelled! He could only urgently activate his divine ability, giving it his all!

Fortunately, he woke up early enough. The golden light only confined him for a fleeting moment. Bright light already shone in his eyes, and he managed to move.

Flame-Treading Movement.

"Boom!"

Instantly, a series of separated flames burst forth from his entire body. All the Bright Yang heavenly light converged, transforming into streaks of vermillion Li Fire, dissipating like smoke.

This Li Fire movement technique was not weak. Facing such a crisis, Li Ximing squeezed out almost every bit of his potential. In an instant, he transformed his body into Li Fire, but the opponent was simply too close… He watched as the blood-red maw retracted, and a burst of heavenly light erupted!

The Li Fire scattered and then reformed, manifesting Li Ximing's figure. He surprisingly moved forward again!

The upper half of the white-gold robed True Man's face was gone. Fine, dense marks of sharp teeth appeared on the bridge of his nose, as if bitten by some monstrous creature.

More than half of both ears were also gone, golden blood flowing out. His head was higher in front than behind; if one were to look down from above