Chapter 903: You Finish Singing

Dark clouds billowed, the struggle had raged for a long time, divine powers clashed, and the heavens and earth were mottled.

The Heavenly Balance Profound Cloud was originally a spiritual treasure capable of shrouding an area and making the heavens and earth glow red. Yet, it was obstructed by the Great True Man’s divine power, unable to cover the whole area. Instead, the Jueyin energy surged forth, bringing up dark-white currents that broke through several spots. There was also the radiance of Redeemed Earth, causing the sky to be a patchwork of gold here and red there, with dark clouds and white mist, painting the entire firmament with diverse colors.

When the Jueyin energy appeared, it brought with it raging winds and furious clouds, disturbing the world. It was dark-white in color, and from its darkest parts, green energy emerged, transforming into layers upon layers of clouds. These clouds supported the Great True Man’s feet and echoed the censer in his hand, pouring forth like a deluge.

Moreover, a white pearl hung in the air, floating before Wei Xuanyin’s brow. Within it, fractured fragments seemed to burst forth with dazzling white light, like blades and swords, piercing towards the True Man below, shrouded in rolling black energy.

Kui Qi stood amidst the clouds, performing incantations. His dark hair whipped in the wind, constantly dancing with the gale. Dark, rich blood dripped from his lips, rolling down to his robes, where it transformed into fleeting feathers that were immediately torn apart by the raging wind.

He had been fighting his opponent for quite some time. Their divine powers had clashed and transformed dozens of times, bringing him repeatedly close to death. Finally, he had traded injuries for an opportune moment, gaining a slight chance for a standoff.

One after another, dark black avatars emerged from his body, standing in different directions, some holding bronze swords, others wielding black ropes. Amidst the surging white light, they were blasted into black mist, yet more and more black shadows continued to appear.

Kui Qi’s lips were pale, and his figure constantly wove through his various shadow avatars. Yet, there was no hint of ease; he focused intently on the opponent’s sleeve. The Great True Man effortlessly wielded his divine power, but from his sleeve emanated a viper-like aura of danger. From time to time, it would lock onto Kui Qi’s true body among his avatars. If not for Kui Qi’s profound Daoist arts, which allowed him to resonate with divine powers and constantly move among his avatars, causing the lock to be lost, that thing would surely have struck out like a venomous snake!

The current situation was also not optimistic. The white pearl suspended in the air was emitting an increasing number of white lights, and the incantations being formed in the opponent’s hand were gradually perfecting…

‘Although I also have the Forgotten Nether and Subdued Light condensing in my hand… what the opponent holds is likely even more formidable!’

Wei Xuanyin slightly lowered the two fingers held before his lips. His somewhat gentle eyes gazed directly, and finally, he retracted his divine power, conjuring a speck of light.

“Dong…”

At the same time, the bright white pearl in the sky rotated, releasing intense, dazzling light. Hundreds and thousands of snow-white rays surged forth from it, falling densely like heavy rain, instantly sweeping away all the dark black avatars in the sky.

Kui Qi’s true body was also forced out, now swaying in the rain!

His true body was clearly in poor condition. His black hair resembled delicate feathers, each distinct. The black clouds on his body were like a flock of owls, soaring gracefully. From both his sleeves, large ravens cried out, as if in sorrow or weeping, eagerly surging outwards. Each one had a large beak and black feathers, varying in sinister charm, seemingly having long adopted his robes as their roosts, emitting terrifying wails, truly sinister.

This speck of white light, meanwhile, floated gently amidst the snow-white downpour. Its color was dim, imbued with azure and silver, light as a goose feather, yet it arrived without delay, landing directly before him.

There was no retreat!

Kui Qi finally ceased his incantations. With one hand, he drew out a bronze sword, while the fingers of his other hand pressed against the blade. His pupils dilated, and he gritted his teeth:

‘Forgotten Nether and Subdued Light!’

Within the dense white light, a speck of profound black finally emerged, like a duckweed in the rain, swaying unsteadily and drifting. However, the opponent’s cultivation was too profound, their casting speed far surpassed his. How could a hastily prepared defense possibly withstand it?

“Clang!”

The bronze sword rapidly lost its luster amidst the white light, revealing its true color. Immediately afterward, the speck of white light pressed onto the blade, causing Kui Qi, sword and all, to sink. The Great Harmony Kui Bronze Sword slightly bent, forming an arc, and the two fingers pressed against the sword quickly melted, dissipating into rolling black mist.

Kui Qi’s expression remained unchanged. His divine power surged through his body, and the five talismans affixed to him simultaneously exploded, emitting black smoke. He took a step back, transforming into black mist and retreating.

As he retreated, another ‘Kui Qi’ remained in place, channeling all its magical power to block the descending white light.

“Boom!”

Dense black mist surged into the sky. Kui Qi spat out a mouthful of blood, his Dharma body covered in cracks. He suddenly looked back; the pink light over the plain was almost reaching the heavens, and even Tuoba Ci was vomiting blood, his arm severed, his entire body enveloped in rising profound yellow energy.

But just as he had escaped, where could Wei Xuanyin’s figure still be seen in the sky?

The white-robed man was no longer there, leaving only the bright white orb in the clouds, emitting sharp white light. Wei Xuanyin, as the Grand Zhao Imperial Preceptor, was not only known for his Four Jueyin Divine Powers but primarily for his mastery of divination and calculation arts, which allowed him to appear here unexpectedly!

As Kui Qi shattered the five talismans and escaped, the Destiny Divine Power: Owl Chasing Weasel that had enveloped him finally dissipated. The white-robed Great True Man, with his divine power circulating, suddenly appeared beside him, his sleeve wide open.

“Boom!”

It was the Grand Void that moved first. Wei Xuanyin’s sleeve swayed slightly, as if a long hook were latched onto his wrist, pulling it upwards. A speck of white light vanished, and the sky towards which his sleeve pointed transformed into a vast, invisible dark-white expanse, an empty spiritual void permeated by destructive winds.

Kui Qi narrowly escaped, but his arm was struck by the Jueyin light’s aftershock. His flesh dissipated, leaving only stark white bones, densely covered by finger-sized white jade shrews frantically gnawing on them.

“Oh?”

Wei Xuanyin subtly raised his head, a look of doubt appearing on his face. Yet, beside him, two narrow mountain ridges pressed in. Clouds and mist dispersed, and streams flowed underfoot, as if he stood on a small boat, gradually entering a narrow mountain pass, with layered, dark, and lightless rocks.

He raised a willow eyebrow, expressing surprise:

“Within the Ridge!”

Indeed, an elder stood amidst the vague clouds, holding a white jade fishing rod. He lightly raised it, locking Wei Xuanyin’s sleeve tightly from a distance, rendering his divine powers sluggish.

It was Xiao Chuting!

“You’ve intervened too…”

Wei Xuanyin seemed to be no stranger to him; he even raised an eyebrow, a hint of delight appearing on his face. His divine power instantly carried his voice to Xiao Chuting’s cloud, and he said with interest:

“You’ve repaired the Water of Kan… Fellow Daoist Xiao, you must recognize which lineage you truly belong to!”

The elder in mid-air seemed somewhat helpless, shaking his head gently. However, Wei Xuanyin didn’t believe his expression in the slightest, his eyes scrutinizing, as if pondering something…

‘They have sowed discord for years. Pure Unity Dao and Quiet Serenity Mountain already share a blood feud. Xuan Yi cannot and dares not come… And Crimson Reef Island is stirring, so Pure Unity Dao cannot make a move…’

‘I remember there are still a few rogue Purple Mansion cultivators north of the river, but they wouldn’t dare take a stand in such matters. Primordial Dao has disavowed ties for so many years and certainly wouldn’t grant authority to Peacock at this time…’

‘And we still have him… The pieces are all in place… Let’s see how the situation unfolds!’

Wei Xuanyin made no movement; merely this single glance caused the long thread drifting in the Grand Void to suddenly tighten, emitting a strained hum. Xiao Chuting calmly looked at him, transmitting his divine voice, softly replying:

“The Xiao clan once received aid from Xiukui. Although this old man resides in the North Sea, for this favor, I had no choice but to break through my seclusion and come. Forgive my offense!”

“Whoosh!”

The swirling ominous clouds instantly covered the surrounding sky. Kui Qi had already traversed away, his entire body covered in dark divine magical power, suppressing the Jueyin injury on his forearm. He only felt his entire body weary and aching.

But though he had just escaped, he showed no trace of joy. Instead, he abruptly stopped, halting somewhat stiffly in mid-air.

Not far from him, a Daoist wearing a white and yellow feathered robe adorned with circular patterns stood in the air. A Dharma sword was strapped to his back, appearing exceptionally bright against the dim, dark sky.

He had a pair of willow-leaf eyes and a somewhat refined demeanor. One hand gently extended forward, holding a twelve-cornered lapis lazuli body, bronze-based bright lamp, which emitted a soft, pale yellow light.

Black-red blood was still flowing from Kui Qi’s lips. The True Man of Grand Xiukui Temple’s brief astonishment passed, and his gaze was left only with coldness:

‘Master Changxiao!’

Standing before him was none other than Changxiao, the Great True Man who had been missing for many years and had fought against Hengzhu Dao for years!

Wei Xuanyin and Xiao Chuting gazed at each other across the clouds and mist, neither showing the slightest surprise in their eyes. Only the Luoxia Plain suddenly fell silent, and even the few Mahas present were stunned.

“True Man Changxiao?!”

This brief silence lasted but an instant. From within the Grand Void, a faint voice immediately rang out:

“Snap!”

This sound was like a snapping string, seeming both distant and close. The white jade fishing rod in Xiao Chuting’s hand immediately bounced, emitting a faint white light, while the white-robed Great True Man beneath the clouds smiled brightly. His bulging, tightly bound sleeve finally opened!

In this instant, divine powers and magical energy simultaneously erupted on the field. From Wei Xuanyin’s sleeve, infinite dark-white light surged forth, connecting heaven and earth, linking to the mountains below. The perilous mountain peak that had ensnared the small boat suddenly ceased its constriction, forced to disperse by the sky-reaching white light.

“Changxiao!”

At this moment, the most furious and enraged was undoubtedly Hengli. This True Man’s pupils swept over, reflecting the figure holding the lamp in the sky. His first reaction was to abandon the Maha bleeding golden blood in his hand, step into the Grand Void, and fight Changxiao!

But the Great True Man in the yellow-white feathered robe remained expressionless. The lamp in his hand emitted boundless radiance, and the jade plate behind his head, as white as a mirror and adorned with osmanthus patterns, also transformed from its mystical concealment into a glorious manifestation.

He had been in hiding for a long time; how could he possibly fail now!

This move was poles apart from his earlier pursuit of Li Ximing, when he tested the attitudes of Luoxia and the Dragon Kin. In an instant, heaven and earth lost their color, thunder roared, and the iridescent light from the twelve-cornered lapis lazuli body, bronze-based bright lamp shone upon Kui Qi’s face, reflecting sparkling golden light in his dark pupils.

The Great Harmony Kui Bronze Sword was raised again, struggling to block the golden light. The sound of metal clashing and grinding filled the air, black mist dispersed, transforming into a sky full of gray rain.

Thunder roared in the air, and Ning Wan’s cold voice suddenly appeared in the sky:

“Yan Jianxiao! How dare you disregard… the grace of granting you land and nurturing your Dao!”

The voice echoed in the air. True Man Changxiao finally tilted his head very slightly, as if his own birth name had become unfamiliar to him. A smile played on his lips:

‘Is it not precisely to repay a favor to the Chi Clan?’

Mount Xiaoshi.

Smoke and dust billowed, and the long-awaited purple qi finally dispersed. The ground was covered in ruins, golden light darted about, and a massive golden body lay slumped on the ground, emitting a buzzing sound. Streaks of blue and green flames permeated this golden body, making it appear very withered.

Xuwang retracted his golden body, transforming into a stout, large-eared monk. He descended on a magical wind, while his fellow disciples on the ground were still wailing:

“Help us! We can’t compare to you with your protective spiritual artifacts; this woman’s flames are truly malicious!”

Xuwang casually threw down the wooden fish in his hand. It emitted bursts of white light in the air, helping his fellow disciples extinguish the flames on their bodies. Turning his head, he smiled at the True Man beside him:

“Fellow Daoist Helian! Thank you so much for your assistance. If not for you, who knows how long it would have taken to drive this woman away!”

The man before him held a long, halberd-like blade that was neither spear nor halberd. His face was handsome, his feathered robe snow-white, and eighteen lapis lazuli pearls adorned his waist, making him look formidable. It was indeed Helian Wumeng!

However, this True Man of the Helian clan, a great general of the Tiefo Kingdom, wore a placid expression, even one of distinct displeasure. His handsome eyes held a cold glint as he said frostily:

“Stop all this dragging and pulling! No matter what, Tinglan belongs to the Three Profound Daoist Traditions, the orthodox Daoist Gate. What are you lot? If not for the Imperial Preceptor’s command, your deaths would mean nothing to me!”

The Helian clan had once been on good terms with the Kongwu Dao, but had long since fallen out over certain incidents. Their current relationship was far from good, even considered hostile until today. Naturally, there was no goodwill between them; they simply happened to receive the same orders.

As orthodox demonic cultivators of the Heavenly Embryo Demonic Dao, the Helian clan considered themselves inherently superior. Their anomalous realm resided in the Grand Void, and they aligned themselves with the Solar Daoist Lineage of the Purple Gold Demonic Dao. They viewed blood-drinking Purple Gold demonic cultivators as a laughable deviation, and naturally, with such pride, how could they hold Xuwang in high regard?

The monk, despite being rebuked, showed no anger, merely smiling and saying:

“Fellow Daoist Helian has a good temperament!”

Helian Wumeng enjoyed considerable fame in both the northern and southern deserts. As the Helian clan’s prodigy, he was highly regarded by Helian Wujiang. Both his cultivation and divine powers were far superior to the other Helian clan Purple Mansion cultivator currently stationed in Hetao, and also higher than Xuwang. Naturally, the monk held no grudges and leaned closer, whispering:

“May I ask, General, what orders have you received? Are you perhaps tasked with attacking Dayuan Guangyin Mountain with us?”

Although Tangdao Mountain had a grand formation, a hastily constructed Purple Mansion array naturally couldn’t cover the entire mountain range. There were numerous smaller formations, undoubtedly a lucrative target. Five Compassionate Ones were required to guard this place, and Xuwang, with his stronger background, naturally had a claim to this bounty. However, being cautious by nature, he hoped to bring Helian Wumeng, a reliable combat force, along.

Helian Wumeng, however, eyed him coldly, responding with a sarcastic smile:

“Stupid monk, Dayuan Guangyin Mountain will be ours sooner or later! What good things could there be in a hastily erected place? At most, an array disc, and even that won’t fall into your or my hands, will it? My lord has already set out from Caishan, one from the west, one from the east, coming south with me. We will bypass Dayuan Guangyin Mountain and converge in the Three Rivers Region! Those empty Purple Mansion forces along the river are where the real gains are!”

Xuwang nodded repeatedly, smiling silently. It wasn’t truly a matter of right or wrong; he was aiming to defeat enemies for the North-South conflict and the Immortal-Buddhist struggle, to expand Buddhist territory. This naturally differed from the demonic cultivator’s pursuit of resources. He merely chuckled and said:

“I’ll just remind you, fellow Daoist: don’t forget that Tinglan and the others merely retreated…”

Helian Wumeng scoffed,

“Did Tinglan retreat directly into Purple Smoke Blessed Land, or is she going to link up with the Dayuan Guangyin Mountain array? Do you think this True Man would be foolish enough to attack Purple Smoke Blessed Land? Take your group of useless fools and get lost!”

Having finished his words, he rose on the wind and crossed the mountain, leaving Xuwang standing in place, still smiling faintly. His expression then faded, growing cold:

‘A bunch of Northern Di barbarians… If not for the Qi Emperor’s patronage, they’d still be herding horses in some forgotten corner. And yet they dare to be so arrogant before my Seven Phases…’

It was common for Northern Purple Mansion cultivators to look down on the Compassionate Ones. These True Men often considered themselves on par only with Mahas. There were quite a few as direct as Helian Wumeng. He could only curse in his heart, then turned and asked:

“What are you still dithering for? Fortune favors the swift! If we can intercept a fleeing Purple Mansion cultivator, that would be an even greater gain!”

His status was clearly higher. With such a question, his tone held a hint of command. Immediately, two of the remaining four people rose and followed behind him, simply saying:

“Please command us, Junior Brother!”