Chapter 905: 碎玉(1+1/2)

Crimson lightning and fire descended from the sky. Helian Wuji knew that Ye Hui's appearance here meant there would be no possibility of de-escalation. Unlike the monk, he didn't open his mouth to ask. Instead, black mist flowed from his eyes as he unleashed his divine ability to resist the purple water descending from above.

Ye Hui's lineage originated from Dou Xuan. Helian Wuji had been fighting for a long time and had already lost the initiative. For a moment, he found himself in a perilous situation. The deep black Rakshasa Sea, which had originally covered the sky, was suppressed by the purple water, turning into rolling cold mist and gradually revealing the clear sky.

Li Ximing, controlling his divine ability, rested momentarily in the air. During this brief respite, the elixir he had consumed began to take effect. His mana, which had been circulating poorly and restricted by malevolent energy everywhere, now flowed freely throughout his spiritual body.

Most of the battle had passed. When Helian Wuji appeared and his spiritual blade approached, only then did True Person Luo's voice echo in his ear, stating that reinforcements had arrived.

Li Ximing didn't quite trust him. He only used the "Investigate Nether" ability to check, and then he knew the reinforcement was Ye Hui.

To be honest, if Ye Hui showed up, Li Ximing was completely unsure whether he was there to help or to kill him. Ye Hui was merely a nuisance to Helian Wuji, but for Li Ximing in his current state, he was lethal. Ye Hui was not Helian Wuji; his Daoist Guard abilities could affect the Great Void, making escape from him a completely different level of difficulty. By all accounts, he should have long since fled. The only trustworthy aspect was that this True Person quietly waited in the Great Void near Helian Wuji, rather than lurking by his side.

Now that the two were fighting together, Li Ximing assisted with his divine abilities and spells while also taking elixirs to recover. He quickly found his footing in the clouds, feeling a surprising complexity in his heart. "There really came a day... when I would face an enemy alongside Ye Hui."

Helian Wuji grew distressed.

Ye Hui's Southern Sorrow Water and Eastern Feather Mountain suppressed and sealed the area. His Daoist Guard ability, which dispelled ghosts and ignited spirits, remarkably had a miraculous effect on malevolent energy. The Southern Sorrow Water, in particular, completely countered the Rakshasa Sea, leaving no malevolent energy visible in the sky, only howling cold winds, as if snow were about to fall.

Once the Rakshasa Sea was broken, the divine power of Helian Wuji's spiritual body greatly diminished. Yet, the lightning in the sky continued ceaselessly. Furthermore, with Li Ximing assisting from the side, the Upper Radiance Hidden Light and Bright Heaven Surging Waves continuously constrained him—a celestial light here, a wave of light there—while Shichuan dispelled illusions, truly making things difficult.

After several rounds of combat, Helian Wuji suddenly entertained the thought of retreating. He conjured black mist, moving through the lightning for a long time to neutralize Ye Hui's spells, finally resting two fingers on the short blade at his waist!

"Buzz..."

Ye Hui, however, let out a chuckle. He had watched for a long time and was already quite familiar with Helian Wuji's techniques. How could he forget this move? He lightly flicked his finger, and the thunder and fire in the sky converged, from which a hazy yellow light emerged.

The Three Xuan Lights of Abandoned Simplicity!

These Three Xuan Lights of Abandoned Simplicity had been brewing for an unknown period, long hidden in the clouds. They belonged to the Dou Xuan lineage, and wherever their mystical light shone, distance was irrelevant. If used against a spiritual artifact, they possessed the divine effect of separating its power and revealing its true form.

As they emerged from Ye Hui's fingertips, seemingly far yet near, circling in the air, the target of the short blade, as if a reflection in a mirror, separated from Ye Hui and landed on this mystical light. The Three Xuan Lights of Abandoned Simplicity, like shadows under the moon, then split into three hazy light figures from a single point at their tail end, followed by a soft sound:

"Bang!"

One of the three hazy light figures vanished, and the purple water was parted by surging blade energy. Helian Wuji's expression was exceedingly grim; the pitch-black short blade had reappeared before him, its spiritual power surging, showing no damage, but clearly having returned without achieving anything.

Ye Hui, without waiting, had already arrived, treading on thunder.

Helian Wuji reacted incredibly fast; rolling black smoke billowed from beneath his feet, his escape technique already activated, ready to break free instantly! The young man before him simply raised his palm with a smile:

Western Heavenly Plain!

The Great Void suddenly transformed, with snow actually falling, perilous and steep. Beside him, from nothing, an immense wind, laden with falling snow, appeared. As this wind blew closer, it appeared light green, locking him in place. Ye Hui's long hair was stirred by the green wind, and the two remaining Three Xuan Lights of Abandoned Simplicity immediately rushed in from afar, entering from behind his head. The light of thunder and fire appeared in his pupils, and his voice boomed like thunder:

"Hmph!"

This sound, seemingly unremarkable, was amplified by the Three Xuan Lights of Abandoned Simplicity. Helian Wuji's body trembled, his eyes showed confusion, his divine ability shattered, and Ye Hui, before him, had already transformed his palm into a blade, abruptly striking downwards.

In an instant, he was disemboweled, and malevolent energy surged. But Helian Wuji was no ordinary opponent; he suddenly opened his mouth, which grew to the size of a person. From his bloody maw, he swallowed the opponent's divine ability and spat out a white talisman. This white talisman expanded to more than a zhang in length, neutralizing the light and draping over him. Although Helian Wuji spat blood, and malevolent energy dispersed as he was wounded by the opponent's spell and his divine abilities scattered, he could still conjure wind to send himself several zhang away.

Helian Wuji, having retreated a step, showed no hesitation. His "Empty Calamity" technique instantly activated, transforming his body into surging malevolent energy that dispersed in all directions.

Ye Hui let out a cold laugh, and a talisman and scroll in the sky immediately began to operate. However, from the distant horizon came sounds like a collapsing mountain and a raging tsunami, thunder rumbling, and a burst of white mist that swept away all the red light covering the sky. His expression slightly changed, and the divine ability in his hand actually paused. A moment of apprehension and hesitation arose in his heart, and a name surfaced:

"Path of the Heavenly Pagoda of Contemplation and Transformation... Wei Xuanyin!"

In this brief instant, Helian Wuji, who had dispersed into black mist before him, suddenly burst forth with two golden scaled insects. These insects had twelve legs and two wings, four segments to their bodies, and were covered in fine scales. They carried colorful light and fierce winds, soaring upward like dragons breaking free from chains, emitting brilliant golden light and flying like meteors.

"Good!"

Li Ximing was overjoyed, immediately stepping forward and allowing the wind-borne scaled insect to land on half of his face. He then saw the insect gleefully roll, curl into a ball in his nasal cavity, bone emerging and flesh twitching, and those gleaming golden eyes reappeared. The other scaled insect thrashed and spat blood, dying. Its corpse attached to his severed limb, transforming into long bone, while its flesh became new skin and muscle, and his bitten-off arm reappeared. These two scaled insects were astonishingly transformed from his severed remains!

These bitten-off remains, suppressed within Helian Wuji's divine ability, had not been refined. Now that Helian Wuji had to disperse into malevolent energy and sacrifice a part of himself to escape, these remains naturally obediently sought their master. Now, Li Ximing's body was radiating pure celestial light. Although there was still a faint mark on his nose bridge, it was barely visible without close inspection. At least his spiritual body was no longer so miserable.

"Fellow Daoist Zhaojing!"

The malevolent energy receded, and the purple water dispersed. Ye Hui didn't pursue, turning back with a smile. "Long time no see."

Helian Wuji's defeat and retreat were inevitable. Ye Hui had waited on the sidelines for a long time; once he appeared, merely forcing Helian Wuji back was enough. Now, using his spell to break Helian Wuji's divine ability and release the severed remains was an act of goodwill. Despite a great deal of unease in his heart, Li Ximing still raised an eyebrow and said:

"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist..."

But before he could finish speaking, a soft sound echoed in his ear.

"Bang!"

He saw the jade talisman at his waist silently gleam, cracks appearing on its surface, black light shimmering, then instantly shattering into powder that slowly drifted down his robes.

'Oh no...' Li Ximing's heart instantly sank, and a chill rose within him.

This talisman was given by Kui Qi of Great Xiukui Monastery. Not only did he have one, True Person Luo also had one; they could sense each other, and it served as a prompt during operations. Now the jade talisman's shattering meant they were to drop everything and immediately return to prepare for defense at Tangdao Mountain.

'It seems something has happened to Kui Qi as well...'

Ever since Helian Wuji appeared, Li Ximing knew this situation would be difficult to handle and would bring trouble. The only comfort he had was that Kui Qi had sent the "Chongyang Domain Star Treasure Plate," which at least suggested Kui Qi had anticipated Helian Wuji's arrival. But now the jade talisman undoubtedly confirmed this, making him raise his eyebrows and look to the north.

The sky was dim, flickering between light and dark, and the red light that illuminated the horizon was rapidly receding. No other anomalies were visible.

'It's probably covered by some treasure, so there's no towering light... That's already not a good sign...'

As soon as Helian Wuji left, the two monks also had to flee into the Great Void. True Person Luo didn't even hesitate for a moment, showing no intention of delaying or using the two's divine abilities to strike a kill. Clearly, he too was startled by the jade talisman at his waist. He immediately turned back, seeing Ye Hui standing with his hands behind his back, and True Person Luo, full of unease, simply said:

"Let's go, let's go, quickly depart!"

The two were not ambiguous. Li Ximing also had injuries and was unwilling to stay long, so he immediately fled into the Great Void, seeing Ye Hui's expression turn slightly grim.

"Depart? Where are you two Fellow Daoists going?"

This question was somewhat cruel, but it had to be faced. The main force of the Sun Daoist sect—no one knew how their battle fared. Should they return home now, or continue towards Tangdao Mountain? Although the three didn't speak, the current situation spoke for itself.

If the Sun Daoist sect had won and retreated from Luoxia, their first priority would undoubtedly be to relieve the siege. At this moment, one or two True Persons should have arrived on the wind to leave these compassionate ones behind, or at the very least, to provide support, covering their calm retreat. Now, not a single figure was seen, only the shattered jade talisman, a highest-level alert, requiring everyone to go to Tangdao Mountain for support. All signs pointed to one outcome: the Sun Daoist sect had not just drawn, but possibly suffered a minor or even a devastating defeat!

'Although Kui Qi's plan was unexpected, it was probably still countered by the enemy. Since Helian Wuji could appear here, how could there be few people in Luoxia? How could there be few people in Xiaoshi Mountain?'

If Ye Hui hadn't been here, Cailian Mountain would still have fared poorly, retreating with a minor defeat. One should know that Ye Hui didn't have a jade pendant at his waist, meaning he hadn't planned this in advance with the Sun Daoist sect. Otherwise, he should have gone to Luoxia, as Cailian Mountain was not the key to victory!

'He must have rushed back from overseas to protect his sect... perhaps he had his own hidden motives, but even so, the other two places couldn't find several Ye Huis to assist!'

Once they went to Tangdao Mountain, safety was uncertain. Li Ximing had his Immortal Mirror with him; if the Northern forces had won and set an ambush along the way, he would be able to detect it. But in any case, there would definitely be one or two fights, and his own condition was truly too poor.

'Although I've recovered two parts of my spiritual body, greatly reducing the time and effort for repair, these two remnants are full of malevolent energy, constantly unstable, and there's no time to refine them. For now, it's no different from not having recovered them at all...'

'In my current state, even if a Compassionate One arrived, I might not be able to secure a stable victory.'

Li Ximing looked up at True Person Luo, only to see his face filled with embarrassment.

"That's hard to say. Although I urgently need that cultivation technique from Fairy Ning, the Sun Daoist sect has many cultivators. It would be better if Hengzhu hadn't arrived, but there's also Chunyi Dao, who will inevitably look down on me. It's not convenient to march grandly to Tangdao..."

"I'll stay in the Great Void. I only ask that you mention it to the other Fellow Daoists for me. If there's a major battle, it would be better for me to quietly appear and assist!"

True Person Luo, being a cunning demonic cultivator from the Southern Border, immediately pushed the matter onto Li Ximing. Li Ximing's mind, however, was rapidly working.

'If Luoxia falls, they will certainly scatter. Whether all the assisting True Persons will go to Tangdao Mountain is a question...'

'If I were one of the Northern Buddhists, where would I go right now? Tangdao Mountain?'

'It would definitely be Xiaoshi Mountain!'

The grand formation of Tangdao Mountain could not cover the entire Tangdao Mountain Range. Its outlying peaks still had various ordinary formations, and directly ahead was Xiaoshi Mountain, where Tinglan resided. While cultivators were present, it was fine, but once it fell, the Northern forces could break into Baijiang Stream! How could these Buddhist and demonic cultivators choose to gnaw on hard bones?

Once Baijiang Stream was lost, all the families along its banks would be in precarious danger, their retreat routes cut off. Li Ximing himself would have to return to the North Bank!

His expression was grim as he cupped his hands and said: "Forgive me, everyone, but I must first make a trip to Xiaoshi Mountain. If Fellow Daoist Tinglan retreats... the Northern forces might very well invade Baijiang Stream, and my home will be in flames at my doorstep!"

With that, and without waiting for their replies, Li Ximing hastily transformed into light and departed. True Person Luo wanted to speak but refrained, looking repeatedly in the direction he left, his expression somewhat puzzled.

"If Zhaojing returns in that state, what if someone really does attack Wangyue Lake? Wouldn't he just be throwing his life away for nothing? In my opinion, he should be in a corner healing his wounds right now. Both places are dangerous, how can he walk into a trap!"

He then glanced at Ye Hui, finding that the young man's expression was also not much better.

'...Baijiang Stream is at the Li clan's doorstep, isn't it at his sect's doorstep too?'

True Person Luo suddenly realized, and immediately said: "Brother, would you like to go there?"

Ye Hui, however, narrowed his eyes and shook his head. He, Ye Hui, was not Li Ximing. Frankly, other than caring for the Gongxiao siblings, he didn't care about anyone else, much less the casualties among the common people or cultivators in his territory. He merely waved his hand and said:

"How can you concern yourself with so much! My sect's gate has a Grand Purple Mansion Formation; it won't be broken in a short while, merely that the population and spiritual resources will be plundered. The siblings are still at Tangdao Mountain, so I'll accompany you there. At the very least, I must pick them up."

The demonic cultivator sighed, conjuring a wind of azure-black, and rode his divine ability south towards Tangdao Mountain, asking: "These past years you've been out, have you gained anything good or bad?"

Ye Hui, whose relationship with him was unexpectedly close, waved his hand and said: "It's nothing. To seize the Dou Xuan treasure, I clashed with Changxiao and spent a few years recovering. Now that I'm back, I expect he'll seek refuge with the Northern forces."

True Person Luo savored the words, then replied: "I think this time is extraordinary. Wei Xuanyin is not someone easily outmaneuvered; he will definitely come this time. If the Benevolent Path also fully assists, people are certainly going to die."

Ye Hui's expression was calm, and True Person Luo chuckled, replying: "It's just none of my concern... Who cares? As long as I can get the cultivation technique, it's fine. If the situation becomes a drawn-out struggle, and the fighting lasts a long time, it wouldn't hurt to acquire a few more things... That would naturally be a good thing."

"Look, the North plays the villain and carves out their flesh, but aren't we playing the good guys also carving out their flesh? Someone always has to give up something to feed the rest. Look at Zhaojing here, his lineage is more orthodox, and see how much he has already consumed... It's also a matter of aligning interests; the Sun Sect is more generous."

"Now, it's rare that I, a demonic cultivator, can get a few scraps, and you also come running to share!"

True Person Luo pointed at him, laughing. Ye Hui, hands behind his back, didn't show much anger and chuckled. "You devil!"

True Person Luo scoffed, replying: "Devil? I might be a devil, but at least I don't scheme against my own disciples or children. Even when I draw vital energy, I use the uncivilized peasants and landlords from remote valleys, people of no consequence. If I'm a devil, what are those like Sumian and Qulei? They might as well be called beasts."

This word 'beasts' made Ye Hui lower his head slightly, his lips moved, his cheeks lowered, and he murmured: "What is called seeking survival, seeking strength, seeking unimpededness, is fundamentally not a matter of morality or conscience."

"Hmph!"

True Person Luo spat, having been called a demonic cultivator by people from Jiangnan and further north for so many years. Although he didn't say it aloud, he clearly harbored resentment. With a mocking expression, he retorted: "Tell me, besides conscience itself, what else is judged by conscience? How bright the Sun Daoist sect is, I think Li Jiangqun knows best! The play being staged today was already performed on the lake five hundred years ago!"

Baijiang Stream.

Lush vegetation swayed in the fierce wind, having long since bent low. Few human figures were visible, only a stretch of sky-darkening gale, rising and falling among the clouds... Sounds like rolling thunder rumbled from the horizon, and the shattering of formations echoed continuously. Streaks of golden light darted across the sky, stirring up flying leaves, as a figure, clad in the biting wind, soared close to the ground.

It was a one-armed man, disheveled and bloodied. Though handsome, he appeared incredibly haggard due to his flight and injuries. Periodically, blood welled up in his mouth, which he dared not let turn into frost and reveal his presence, so he could only swallow it down.

'Xiaoshi Mountain is finished... Outside Tangdao Mountain's main formation, it's also a sea of blood... Mages everywhere, but no True Persons...'

Deep fear still lingered in his pupils.

Fei Qingyi had actually not been stationed at Tangdao Mountain for long. The first batch of Li family cultivators had entered Baijiang Stream with Li Jiangxia, reorganized, left a few detachments, and then proceeded to Tangdao Mountain with the Immortal Daoist Guard. It wasn't until the Buddhist cultivators became increasingly active that the second batch of Li family cultivators arrived as reinforcements, led by Fei Qingyi. Administrator Wen, who was in charge of assigning personnel, heard his name and assigned him to the relatively quiet southern side... Unexpectedly, Xiaoshi Mountain was conquered, and three Compassionate Ones attacked... Not only did no True Persons emerge from the main formation, but even the troops were in distress. Fortunately, the formation Fei Qingyi guarded was remote, allowing him to still hear news. He had no intention of putting in any effort for the Sun Daoist sect. Seeing the various formations, large and small, successively shattered, he immediately abandoned the formation, deserted the cultivators, and fled.

Unexpectedly, several mages pursued him along the way, gathering in increasing numbers and creating a formidable presence. He dared not engage them, only fleeing with his injuries. He continued to flee until he reached the vicinity of Baijiang Stream, where the group of mages seemed to have some apprehension and finally dispersed. He barely survived to this point, utterly exhausted. Looking at the terrain, it was Manghuazi Mountain, still a good distance from the lake. Suddenly, violent winds stirred around him, and dark clouds blotted out the sky, as if he had entered a demonic realm!

This made his limbs go even weaker, and he turned to leave. After walking for a while, he suddenly noticed a demonic light descending from the sky, striking the cold wind beneath his feet with a loud bang, causing cold energy to surge and making him cough up blood. This demonic light then leaped and wrapped around his chest and back, and his vision suddenly darkened. He only felt the wind whistling in his ears, and his vision, after darkening, returned to light.

"Thud!"

For a moment, he didn't know how high he had flown, rolling down among the clouds, with black malevolent energy beneath his feet. He immediately knew things were bad in his heart, quickly rolled over and got up, not daring to look up, only catching a glimpse of a line of cultivators standing at either end with his peripheral vision. He then kowtowed and cried out:

"Greetings, Lord, greetings, Lord!"

"Oh?"

The one at the head seemed to be a young man, his voice sounding very youthful. However, a person on his left spoke with a trembling voice: "Reporting... Reporting, Lord... This subordinate was negligent... I let an immortal cultivator through..."

"Hahahahaha!"

A hearty laugh came from above, with a casual tone: "What's this? My forces have been distributed to several counties, plundering everywhere. How could they pay attention to what's behind them?"

Fei Qingyi was sweating profusely, only seeing a pair of silver-white boots pacing before him, and a condescending voice reached his ears: "Even if your defenses were tight, you couldn't have stopped this person. He was specifically sent down by Xuwang, a person from Wangyue Lake, and he's useful right now. If he makes a contribution, Xuwang will want him back! If he had fallen into your hands and died in vain, who would he complain to?"

Fei Qingyi was chilled to the bone and couldn't move. He was, after all, a Foundation Establishment cultivator now, and had heard much about the affairs of both the North and the South. How could he not understand the meaning behind the other party's words? For a moment, he didn't know how to respond, but then he felt his throat constrict, and he was powerfully lifted into the air, suspended.

The Purple Mansion True Person before him wore armor beneath a feathered robe, with a handsome countenance. One hand rested on a long-handled oar-blade, while the other lifted him close to his face, his eyes cold.

"Don't play dead with me. Li Ximing is still in Cailian Mountain and can't come here now... Even if he escapes with his life, he'll only be hiding in some corner. Even if he does come, he'll likely be severely wounded and on the verge of death..."

"I can't breach the Grand Purple Mansion Formation right away, but I can't let such a plump target remain untouched before me!"

He saw the man before him smile brightly and say softly: "I know your Fei clan is on the North Bank... You don't need to worry. Even if this matter fails, you will naturally lose your life. The mere North Bank is nothing but a matter of snapping fingers to take. The Fei family will be able to leave this place and go to Monan... If you succeed, Northern Buddhism will definitely give you a good position."

Fei Qingyi, held captive in his hand, felt his will to survive erupt. In an instant, he calmed down, staring directly into the other's eyes, and replied: "I only hope Your Lord keeps his word..."

"Hahahahaha!"

The silver-armored man, with a good-natured smile, set him down. His long-handled weapon stood on the ground. He clapped his hands and laughed. "You needn't worry about that. I am Helian Wumeng, royalty of the Tiefu Kingdom. Naturally, there's no reason for me to go back on my word!"