Chapter 168: Silver Spear Shines on the White Tiger

Li Weiyi steered his small boat dozens of miles out. From the distant sea, a high-pitched tiger roar was heard, followed by a series of clashing sounds from a battle. The Dharma energy stirred up gales and waves.

He concealed his aura and advanced cautiously, soon seeing three figures fiercely battling on the sea.

Jiang Ning, clad in soft armor, stood with her sword on a rugged rocky islet. Above her was an endless sea of stars, and the battle-law intent on her back transformed into a pair of massive white wings. Feathers formed by Dharma energy covered the sea area like falling snow. She was cool, aloof, and full of fighting spirit, but she no longer possessed the peerless grace of her peak state. Her eyes were no longer bright, blood seeped from her fingers, and the sword in her hand seemed ready to drop at any moment.

"Jiang Ning, why are you so weak? Even your battle-law intent is incomplete. Has the Night Emperor Toad poison already penetrated your heart?" Miedi was a tiger-like aberrant human, with a massive tiger head, a black "king" character on his forehead, and his body enveloped in a golden tiger shadow. This golden tiger shadow was his battle-law intent, over ten meters long, indistinguishable from a moving small mountain, exceptionally magnificent, with a pair of huge tiger eyes glowing like two moons in the night.

"Boom! Boom..." It followed Miedi's steps, walking on the sea, each step creating towering waves.

On the other side, surrounding Daodi, nine immense, sacred Buddha shadows stood in various poses, a terrifying sight produced by activating the "Nine Nian Zen Beads," a hundred-character scripture artifact. These two top-tier experts from Coffin Mountain ascended the islet from two different directions, launching their attack and beginning their second round of confrontation with Jiang Ning.

"Rumble!" The three moved with lightning speed, their figures flashing, each move broad and sweeping. Wind and thunder roared in their ears, and the reefs continuously exploded.

"Do you think you can escape? There are only a few paths for your survival, but we've blocked them all. You can't go to Juzhe City, and you can't return to Fuzhou." Daodi's voice was gentle, like a Buddhist chanting, but his attacks were fierce and sharp. His jade-white Pure Immortal Body transformed into a golden form. His palm print, like a golden cloud shaped by five fingers, tore apart the wings formed by Jiang Ning's battle-law intent on her back. Although they weren't real wings, and there was no gory sight, Jiang Ning was still injured, as if an arm had been severed. Miedi seized the opportunity to strike with a claw from a distance, his golden tiger phantom extending its claw along with him. The tiger's claw, radiating a brilliant Buddha light, tore her other wing to shreds, sending her body tumbling towards the sea over ten yards away, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

She remained silent, her gaze sharp and cold, no longer diverting power to suppress the Night Emperor Toad poison within her. Her sword was as cold as frost, and she transformed into a fleeting shadow, attacking. Even if she were to die here, she would drag Coffin Mountain's Two Dhis down with her. Several miles away, Li Weiyi activated his night-walking robe for invisibility and observed the islet: "That tiger shadow manifestation must be five zhang long. Miedi must already be cultivating the Seventh Sea Ancestral Field. What exactly is the Night Emperor Toad poison?"

Li Weiyi had witnessed Jiang Ning's peak strength in the immortal realm space of Buried Immortal Town. At that time, even when fighting Long Ting, the Dragon Gate inheritor, she still had enough reserve power to suppress Miedi and Daodi and severely injure Shi Shishi. But today, just the combined interception of Miedi and Daodi had completely put her at a disadvantage, her combat power having declined too much.

Li Weiyi asked Master Guan. Zen Master Guanyun had mentioned that Master Guan was extremely knowledgeable about the Night Clan, and "Night Emperor Toad poison" immediately sounded related to the Night Emperor and the Night Clan. Furthermore, when Li Weiyi was cultivating the Qi Refinement Art, Master Guan had also intended to transmit the "Night Emperor Register" to him.

"The Night Emperor Toad was a poisonous beast raised by the Night Emperor, and it died tens of thousands of years ago. Descendants of the Night Emperor used the residual venom from its corpse to soak a batch of artifacts," Master Guan explained. "These poisoned artifacts once shone brightly in ancient times, striking fear into all martial cultivators. But after so many years, even if any poisoned artifacts remain, their toxicity would be extremely weak. Otherwise, that girl would have long turned into a pool of black blood, not be as lively as she is now and still capable of fighting." He then asked, "If you want to save her, I, Master Guan, do know the antidote. Will you save her? Will you learn it?"

Li Weiyi stared at the islet, his brows furrowed, feeling very hesitant. Finally, he shook his head gently and steered his small boat away quickly. Miedi and Daodi's cultivation levels were too high, far beyond what he could contend with currently. And asking Zen Master Guanyun to possess Li Ling's body to act was too risky. This location wasn't far from the battlefield of the Left Hill Gate House and the Young Venerable, so it was highly possible that the fighting here had already alerted them, and large numbers of people could arrive at any moment.

"Whoosh!" Seven Phoenix-wing Moth Kings burst out of the insect tube and flew towards the islet. Li Weiyi stopped his boat, speechless. He used his mental power to suppress them: "All of you, come back! With your strength, the Two Dhis of Coffin Mountain could easily suppress you. Do you really think you're invincible?"

The seven Phoenix-wing Moth Kings resisted Li Weiyi's mental power, chattering excitedly, urging him to quickly ask Zen Master Guanyun to save Jiang Ning. "I don't want to stand by and watch her die. Coming to Soldier Ancestor's Swamp, I did have the intention to rescue her, but the enemies are too strong, beyond my capability. Zen Master Guanyun is so rational; she wouldn't want to take this risk, and I don't want to force her." Li Weiyi shook his head and sighed, then forcibly recalled the seven Phoenix-wing Moth Kings using insect runes, suppressing them into the Evil Camel Bell. It was then that he discovered the Zouwu contained within the Evil Camel Bell.

Li Weiyi looked at the silver spear in his hand, and a flash of inspiration struck him. He immediately twisted out the Phoenix-wing Moth King that could release the aura of a strong expert and was skilled in bluster: "You seven really put me in a difficult position, but I can't ignore your feelings, after all, we are companions through life and death. Saving her is possible, but from now on, you must work honestly. If I point east, you cannot go west."

After Jiang Ning stopped suppressing the Night Emperor Toad poison, her combat power increased significantly, forcing Daodi and Miedi to retreat step by step, leaving them only capable of parrying. "Jiang Ning, you're at the end of your tether. Why struggle so hard?" "At the brink of death, you want to kill us? You underestimate the power of this humble monk and Miedi too much." Daodi controlled the nine Buddha beads, as if commanding nine divine Buddhas, blocking Jiang Ning's path. He could sense that Jiang Ning's combat power was weakening bit by bit, and her aura was unstable. He could at most hold her off for ten more moves. By then, she would completely lose the ability to move due to the poison attacking her heart.

"Li Ke's tasseled cap, the stars and moon bright over Qiuzhou.""Silver spear illuminates the white tiger, swift as a shooting star."A high-pitched and resonant voice came from the sea. The Zouwu beast, with its massive body, had Dharma energy manifesting as clouds around all four hooves. It trod on the sea waves, heading towards the islet battlefield. It roared, revealing sharp teeth, emitting a deafening tiger roar identical to Miedi's. Li Weiyi rode on the Zouwu's back, holding a silver spear, using the Disguise Art to transform into Cang Li's appearance. He swallowed a petal of a Core Lamp Flower, making his body radiate bright light and his skin appear identical to a Pure Immortal Body. His Disguise Art was only at the minor accomplishment stage; he couldn't directly transform into a Pure Immortal Body and required medicinal aid. However, Huo Qiankun had always viewed Cang Li as his target, and his silver spear was forged almost identically to Cang Li's. The title "Little Cang Li" was not unearned, and it now came in handy. With Cang Li's mount, the Zouwu, beneath him, it was enough to pass off the deception. After all, even a top young expert like Zuoqiu Ting, who had cultivated the Disguise Art for years, could only achieve a resemblance that was "neither fish nor fowl." Who would have thought that someone could cultivate the Disguise Art to the point of "changing bones and transforming spirit"?

"Human heads as wine cups, drinking barbarian thief's blood.""Slaying one in ten paces, traveling a thousand li without a trace."Soon, the Zouwu carried Li Weiyi to within a mile of the islet. Beneath his robe, the Phoenix-wing Moth King released an aura comparable to a Dao Seed Realm expert. In the night wind, his long hair billowed, his posture was like a mountain, and his entire being exuded immense presence.

The three battling on the islet had stopped and separated. Li Weiyi mimicked Cang Li's arrogant demeanor, his spine straight, his eyes cold and disdainful: "She might not kill you, but I just might."

Miedi and Daodi both looked wary, slowly retreating across the sea, trying to put as much distance as possible between themselves and "Cang Li." Seeing that they didn't retort or even dare to utter a single harsh word, Li Weiyi understood. It seemed Cang Li truly had the ability to kill them.

Li Weiyi's face remained stern, staring at the two as if they were ants: "You two are just two thieves, 'Miedi,' 'Daodi' – what nonsense, truly a disgrace to Buddhist teachings." Miedi could no longer tolerate it: "Cang Li! You're too arrogant! She's someone the Young Venerable wants..." "Luan Sheng Lin You, right?" Li Weiyi roared coldly, "Tell him to clean his neck! I, Cang Li, will slaughter him like a pig or a dog."

Miedi sneered. Seeing the Zouwu had already reached the islet and was getting closer to Jiang Ning, he tried to move forward to block it, but Daodi pulled him back. The Zouwu walked to Jiang Ning's side.

Li Weiyi looked at the two arrogantly, paying special attention to Miedi: "You seem unconvinced. Come, if I can't take your life within ten moves, I, Cang Li, will sever my own arms. Get on!" The latter sentence was directed at Jiang Ning. Miedi's tiger eyes were fierce, his teeth nearly grinding. If the power gap hadn't been so vast, he truly would have wanted to try. Watching Jiang Ning sit on the Zouwu's back, Daodi's tone softened, and he clasped his hands together: "Cang Li, you represent the Nine Li tribe. Aren't you afraid of all the righteous armies in the world uniting against you by siding with people from the imperial court?"

"Do I need you to teach me how to act? Are you two fighting or not? If you want to fight, then make your move. I'd like to see if I can kill both of you within ten moves," Li Weiyi said.

Miedi took a deep breath and looked at Daodi: "I don't believe that even together, we can't withstand ten moves from him. He has to protect Jiang Ning, so he'll be distracted, and his combat power will be greatly reduced." "Don't fall for it, it's a provocation. We're a mile away from him now; no matter how strong he is, he can't kill us. But if we charge forward..." Daodi was very rational. He shook his head slightly. The Nine Li tribe's greatest genius in a thousand years still carried significant weight.

Miedi said, "I understand! We just need to stall him until Lord Qi and Lord Ming arrive. Then I'd like to see if he can still be as arrogant as he is now." "You two spineless cowards, from now on, when you see me, Cang Li, lower your heads and act like proper people." Li Weiyi snorted, then steered the Zouwu rapidly across the water towards Juzhe City.

After turning his back on the Two Dhis of Coffin Mountain, the smile vanished from Li Weiyi's face. His heart pounded like thunder, and he secretly took deep breaths. What he had just done was like dancing on a knife's edge. Luckily, Daodi had a cautious nature; otherwise, if Miedi had charged forward, his deception would have been exposed instantly.

Behind him, Jiang Ning softly said, "You're not Cang Li!" At close range, she could sense that the aura, comparable to a Dao Seed Realm martial cultivator, was not emanating from Li Weiyi himself. The Phoenix-wing Moth King poked its small head out from under Li Weiyi's robe, blinking at her. Realization dawned in Jiang Ning's eyes, and her taut nerves finally relaxed. A bitter smile appeared on her stern, pale face, and then her gaze shifted to Li Weiyi's broad back as she whispered, "Thank you... but it was too risky. I'm already a dying person..."