Chapter 978: Repayment

This person was none other than Helian Wujiang!

The ruler of the Tiefo Kingdom, the restorer of the Helian clan, had a slightly grim expression. The escape light behind him was rapidly closing in, and Li Zhouwei's obstruction had put him in a dangerous situation.

Ironically, back then, he had followed Wei Xuanyin's orders to Caishan, and had indeed exchanged a few polite words about seeing the might of the imperial descendant. It seemed Bai Qilin had long harbored resentment over Li Ximing's injuries and had come today specifically to cause him trouble!

'This young man... though called Bai Qilin, possesses some of Hongchan's cunning. Several times by the river, I never heard him utter harsh words, yet a sudden bite from him sends a chill deep into one's bones!'

With things having come to this, Helian Wujiang simply exhaled slowly. With one hand, he raised his long whip, and with the other, he tore at the robes behind him. Malevolent energy surged, and as he lightly tapped the ground, countless dark shadows instantly rose from behind him, enveloping the area. The surroundings transformed into a demonic realm, with over a hundred peaks of malevolent energy appearing and shooting skyward.

'Rakshasa Sea''Unempty Kalpa'He knew this wouldn't end well. With pursuers behind him, he immediately unleashed his full power upon meeting Li Zhouwei. Within this demonic realm, malevolent winds surged, and black currents weaved through the energy peaks, emitting piercing shrieks. Rolling malevolent winds swirled around him as Li Zhouwei raised his halberd and charged forward.

Helian Wujiang's long whip sprang forth with extreme speed, like a venomous snake coiling in the air. Amidst the lightning-fast golden light, it keenly ensnared something, causing Li Zhouwei's arm to drop heavily. It had, astonishingly, hooked onto Dasheng!

Helian Wujiang was extremely confident in his long whip. Few spiritual artifacts used to forge such a whip could not withstand the test of sharp spiritual weapons. Binding Dasheng, he felt somewhat at ease.

However, Li Zhouwei suddenly lifted his halberd, instantly pulling the spiritual whip taut. For a moment, Helian Wujiang stiffened sluggishly, as a golden-white burst of 'Upper Luminary Hidden Light' erupted from his glabella, transforming into a beam of golden light that pierced through everything in this dark, malevolent wind-filled world!

He abruptly turned his head, and the golden-white Upper Luminary Hidden Light, like an incomparably sharp, hiltless spiritual blade, swept across, nearly cleaving the malevolent energy permeating the heavens and earth into two sections. Peaks of malevolent energy were severed horizontally, collapsing into rolling plumes that fell, emitting continuous explosions.

Helian Wujiang's expression darkened, yet he refused to release the long whip in his hand. A subtle light emanated from his glabella as he abruptly raised his head and roared:"Halt!"

This ruler of the Tiefo Kingdom was no pushover. After his roar, three swirling black circular runes appeared on his glabella, and his eyes turned deep black. Rolling black flames and white gold erupted around him, radiating intense malevolent light. Behind him, a massive malevolent shadow emerged.

This malevolent shadow drove a chariot, clad in bronze armor, wielding a long blade, with an iron pill suspended at its glabella. Wherever the chariot passed, black flames and white gold manifested, and a long river flowed in reverse. The entire sea of malevolent energy instantly boiled!

Just then, a woman descended from mid-air. Clad in gauze and with a pure face, it was Daoist Priestess Xiangchun who had been pursuing him all along. At this moment, she frowned slightly, and the spiritual pearl behind her lit up again, fixing all malevolent light and emitting a fluctuating light of Yin water.

Li Zhouwei had long discerned her movements. Clearing the sea of malevolent energy with the celestial light from his glabella was meant to provide her with an opportunity to sneak close to Helian Wujiang. Unfortunately, Helian Wujiang's Daoist magic was profound, and he likely possessed spiritual insight in his eyes, seeing through the deception instantly.

Meanwhile, the malevolent shadow spanning the sky had already descended with a rolling torrent of turbid energy. The long blade fell from the air, striking towards Li Zhouwei! Only then did Helian Wujiang release his long whip and turn to defend against the woman's Yin light.It was Ning Wuchen!

"Boom!"Li Zhouwei inverted his halberd, and rolling black light flowed from the halberd he held. As his thoughts stirred, the Sun Responding to Separation technique also activated, and surging sunlight and separation flames enveloped him, ascending his body all the way to the tip of his halberd, illuminating everything brightly.

"Clang!"The halberd instantly flipped, changing from a parry to a sweep in an instant. Within breaths, it clashed dozens of times with the malevolent shadow, exploding with brilliant celestial light and separation flames. Li Zhouwei first took a step back, dodging the malevolent shadow's sharp edge. Dasheng then spun once, like a golden lightning bolt tearing through the air, boosted by the power of "Effect Attachment," and slammed with a resounding crash onto the malevolent shadow!

The massive body instantly shattered with a crash, light and malevolence intertwined. Li Zhouwei seized the opportunity to stand with his halberd, while his other hand was already raised to his chest, two fingers pressed together, instantly causing colorful clouds to gather in the sky, which brightened splendidly:"Paying Homage to the Heavenly Gate!"

Daoist Priestess Xiangchun, who cultivated Yin water, was skilled at self-preservation, healing, and escaping. However, her offensive capabilities were inferior to Murong Yan's. If she truly possessed restrictive methods, Helian Wujiang wouldn't have been able to retreat all the way to this location.

In just this instant, Helian Wujiang had transformed into a swirling malevolent wind, intending to escape. The "Paying Homage to the Heavenly Gate" technique immediately shone its light from above, forcing him to dispel his magical wind. His malevolent energy surged, and his form flickered in and out of existence in the air.

At this very moment, an old man suddenly appeared within the rolling malevolent wind. He looked extremely aged, yet was only at the early Zi Fu stage. He was cloaked in bright white magical light, but held a purple lightning jade bell in his hand, which looked remarkably formidable. As soon as he appeared, rolling thunderous storms descended, with eighteen bolts of lightning striking simultaneously!

"Boom!"Helian Wujiang had already shifted twice, and the lightning flashed with astonishing speed. Finally unable to evade the strike, he grunted in the rolling thunder and coughed up a mouthful of blood, causing the surrounding malevolent energy to boil.

The ruler of Tiefo Kingdom finally became enraged, his voice low:"Yuming..."

Li Zhouwei's golden eyes flickered slightly, and he immediately discerned that the person before him cultivated Jade Purity. Gazing at the surging lightning, he mused inwardly:'One early Zi Fu stage Jade Purity cultivator, one mid-Zi Fu stage Yin Water cultivator – no wonder he could arrive here so calmly...'

Before Helian Wujiang could say more, a golden light burst forth from the rolling thunder. A gleaming long blade pointed directly, and Li Zhouwei had already charged in!"Monarch's Perilous Step!"

Dense, scale-like golden patterns immediately appeared on the man's face. Under the enhancement of "Monarch's Perilous Step," the temporarily surging malevolent energy was like tattered cotton, failing to provide any obstruction.

At this critical moment, Helian Wujiang's hand finally pressed upon the short blade at his waist.

"Clang!"A dark, illusory radiance flashed across the sky. With a clang, the black short blade struck against the long blade of Dasheng. This spiritual artifact, which he had refined for many years, was truly terrifying in its power; it had nearly severed Li Ximing's Dharma body back then. Now, suddenly clashing with Dasheng, it instantly caused Dasheng to be violently thrown upwards, bending and rebounding, as dark light poured out, immobilizing the weapon.

Meanwhile, Helian Wujiang had already drawn the magical sword from his waist, causing malevolent energy to surge!

"Boom!"Just as the malevolent light began to rise, a dense, dim gray light already enveloped it. Ning Wuchen activated her ability, causing Helian Wujiang's nascent spell to stall midway. Daoist Priestess Xiangchun used her spiritual pearl for protection, blowing forth a gust of gray wind, while on the other side, the lightning gathered once more!

Ning Wuchen was truly insidious; seemingly dispelled, she had actually been silently lurking. This sudden development instantly disrupted Helian Wujiang's plans, and a strong sense of crisis rose in his heart:"Any more hesitation... will surely lead to disaster!"

The three black runes on his glabella lit up again. The malevolent winds he had accumulated from years of cultivation surged forth, forming a thick barrier before him. With a slight shake of his sleeve, two white-glowing jade boxes suddenly rolled out on the strong winds, each heading in a different direction:These were the spiritual artifacts he had obtained!

This instantly made the two halt their attacks. There was no pre-existing animosity between their families and the Helian clan; they were merely contending for spiritual artifacts. Now that the other party was yielding, why would they risk making a mortal enemy? They immediately soared up to retrieve the spiritual artifacts, while Helian Wujiang, without the slightest hesitation, fully activated his Rakshasa Sea, trying his utmost to delay Li Zhouwei!

His form instantly transformed into rolling black malevolence. Seizing the moment the two intentionally relaxed, he decisively charged forward, enduring the falling lightning and surging Yin water!

After only moving a few body lengths, rolling celestial light accompanied by colorful clouds had already descended from the sky. However, Helian Wujiang had endured the lightning and Yin water precisely to save strength for this moment. His vital blood and malevolent energy surged forth together, moving the entire Rakshasa Sea tens of meters horizontally, narrowly evading the descending Heavenly Gate.

Although his face gradually paled, he moved with extreme speed amidst the dimness, on the verge of escaping!

While his technique was indeed profound, it was similar to Helian Wumeng's from back then. Just as Helian Wujiang could use his experience to anticipate the Bright Sun Suppression Art, Li Zhouwei had also witnessed the Helian family's magic once before. How could he not be prepared?

Instantly, shimmering, thread-like white light descended from the sky."Bright Celestial Waves!"

Li Zhouwei had already descended on light ahead of time, crashing into the malevolent energy. His golden eyes gleamed as he met Helian Wujiang's gaze through the thick malevolence. Helian Wujiang was proficient in magic, but his method of moving through malevolent energy in close combat was inferior to Helian Wumeng's. How could he possibly hide? At a glance, a chill ran through Helian Wujiang's heart:"Not good!"

To escape the encirclement of the two, he had already lost the initiative and was being controlled every step of the way. His spiritual blade had just returned to his waist, its wondrous power not yet manifest. He had also used a horizontal shifting technique, but his malevolent light had been seen through. At this awkward moment, he showed no panic. His eyes immediately lit up, emitting a blood-red light.

Helian Wujiang's chest armor instantly parted, revealing a blood-red chest cavity. Black blood pulsed, and his heart suddenly inverted, revealing a clear black-and-white demonic eye on its reverse side:"Fixate!"

This demonic technique was Helian Wujiang's proud trump card, one of the foundations for his repeated victories and his widespread fame across the northern deserts. Its power was immensely profound. Li Ximing had suffered greatly from it back then. Now, as it suddenly flared, his inner eye immediately emitted intermittent golden light of immobilization!

This golden light struck Li Zhouwei with extreme speed, but his golden eyes remained equally cold and calm!

Golden, scale-like mystical patterns appeared on his cheeks, imbuing his face with infinite majesty. The rolling golden light that fell upon him was like a gentle breeze, not only failing to immobilize him but even making the patterns on his face brighter!"Monarch's Perilous Step — Adapting to the times, returning to the proper path."

Helian Wujiang's unfailingly effective demonic technique had finally failed. While he had considered that its effect might not be obvious, he never imagined such a profound art would become utterly useless!For a moment, it became a risky maneuver!

Caught off guard, his pupils constricted violently. His lips had just parted, and the devouring technique had not yet been unleashed, when the gleaming golden halberd pierced through.

"Boom!"Soaring malevolent energy instantly erupted, and rolling black smoke permeated the air. Helian Wujiang's face abruptly paled, and he coughed up blood. Dasheng's sharp edge pierced through his body, with the golden halberd blade emerging from his spine, emitting dazzling brilliance.His front was almost severed at the waist, and the point of entry was precisely his Qi Sea!Simultaneously, the golden Upper Luminary Hidden Light also flared!

This intense bright light instantly erupted, striking him directly in the face. It precisely detonated a burst of Bright Sun light on his forehead, instantly dissolving flesh, exposing stark white bone. It melted away most of the flesh on his face, turning it into rising malevolent energy that drifted away.

"Bang!"Rolling malevolent energy instantly surged skyward, shrouding everything in a dark, oppressive sea of malevolence. Blood light converged, interwoven with gloom. Li Zhouwei's halberd was suddenly empty, save for streams of malevolent wind formed from Zi Fu blood, swirling around the halberd, wailing and roaring.

Amidst this darkness, a white light leaped out and sped away in the opposite direction.

Li Zhouwei did not pursue. He subtly extended his hand, flipping his halberd, and hooked the item into his grasp before the two magical lights could seize it. He casually dispelled the malevolent energy art on it and put it into his sleeve.

'He's quite a decisive individual, willing to endure all my attacks without regard, yet still maintaining his composure to activate his escape technique... He even calmly threw out spiritual artifacts to distract the three of us...'

Helian Wujiang would certainly not be feeling well after taking that halberd strike. Dasheng had pierced through his body, destroying his Qi Sea, and then he was further injured by the enhanced Upper Luminary Hidden Light, which melted away most of his face... Li Zhouwei calculated coolly:'This also more or less repays the injuries Uncle-Grandfather suffered back then... It's just a pity that the Upper Luminary Hidden Light's grade isn't high enough to completely blow apart his head. And the Dharma bodies of our two families aren't comparable, so he got off easy...'

While the Dharma bodies of cultivators from the Malevolent Qi lineage were not exceptionally strong, their advantage lay in their ability to coalesce and disperse at will. Even when injured, they were easier to heal. However, no matter how easily healed, their strength would absolutely not recover in the short term, especially with the sealing and suppressing power within the grotto-heaven making healing even more difficult.

'His share of the subsequent gains will be negligible.'

As he pondered, the "Bright Manifestation of Sun and Moon" within Li Zhouwei's body was radiating intensely, slowly releasing its divine power.

Although the fierce battle was brief, spells and divine abilities were used consecutively, consuming nearly twenty percent of his magic power. With his Zi Fu divine ability active, his own magic power immediately began to recover after just a moment's respite, working in conjunction with the "Bright Manifestation of Sun and Moon" to rapidly replenish itself.

More importantly, the "Bright Manifestation of Sun and Moon" was incrementally advancing his cultivation, causing various profound visions of Bright Yang to appear in Li Zhouwei's mind, making him momentarily lost in thought. To avoid appearing unusual, he immediately turned his head and smiled:"Fellow Daoists!"

The two Zi Fu cultivators appeared simultaneously. Daoist Priestess Xiangchun had naturally recognized him earlier. Compared to her cold demeanor towards other cultivators, her attitude towards him was relatively gentle, though there was still a hint of shock in her eyes. She nodded slightly:"Thank you, fellow Daoist, for your assistance... We have all gained something."

Xiangchun certainly knew Helian Wujiang's strength. Her earlier pursuit was mostly out of annoyance that he was monopolizing the gains, and she had been considering whether to use a trump card to intimidate him into exchanging benefits. She hadn't expected things to reach this point. Suppressing the unusual look in her eyes, she slightly turned her head and introduced:"This is True Monarch Yuming of the Jiangbei Shen clan."

Li Zhouwei had long heard of his Daoist title. He was a very old True Monarch, an alchemist from the previous generation, clearly at the end of his lifespan and seeking a chance here. Li Zhouwei bowed respectfully and replied:"The Shen clan has ties with my family. I have long heard of your great reputation."

Since the Xiu Yue mountain was sealed, Jiangbei had been an unstable region for many years. The Shen clan's ability to protect itself until now clearly indicated their capabilities. True Monarch Yuming replied with a smile, while Daoist Priestess Xiangchun offered a slight smile and asked:"I've heard quite a bit of news. Continuing eastward from here, there's a large formation spanning the sky, where many Zi Fu cultivators are gathered... May I ask, fellow Daoist... are you interested in joining them?"