Chapter 212: Personally Taking Action

The five-zhang long golden tiger apparition was a colossal presence, its massive form blocking half the street.

"Whoosh—"

Mie Di's physique was several times larger than Li Weiyi's. The spiritual energy surging from his body swept up the snow covering the street, and the resulting energy ripples spread over a hundred meters away.

Many martial artists retreated, believing Li Weiyi's cultivation was too weak. They thought his only chance to fight Mie Di to a standstill was to trigger the thunder-ice in the box.

That would be far too dangerous!

Yet, many other martial artists, mirroring Mie Di's view, believed Li Weiyi was all bark and no bite, merely bluffing and too afraid to trigger the thunder-ice.

Li Weiyi's eyes were fixed intently on the approaching giant tiger claw apparition. His thoughts remained calm and clear as he shifted his right leg back. All his spiritual energy surged into his right arm, his qi meridians flashing within his flesh, and blood flowed through his veins like a dragon's roar.

"Heaven-Overturning Palm Imprint!"

A golden divine seal apparition manifested with his palm strike, colliding head-on with the golden tiger's gigantic claw.

The seal itself was coiled by a dragon and inscribed with ancient characters, appearing profoundly mystical.

"Boom!"

Golden light erupted, transforming into blinding energy ripples that dispersed in every direction.

Mie Di was aghast, astonished that a martial artist in the Fourth Stage of the Five Seas realm could unleash such an extraordinary palm technique. Its formidable power was now on par with his own.

He immediately changed tactics, crouching down to strike Li Weiyi's abdomen with his claw.

Li Weiyi pulled back his right foot, which had been driven into the ground by the previous strike. Gathering spiritual energy and kicking up rubble, he thrust it forward as if stomping on mountains and rivers.

"Buzz!"

As his foot landed, spiritual energy interwoven to form the spectral image of an ancient jade tripod.

The tripod was massive and archaic, enveloping Li Weiyi's entire body.

Mie Di's claw strike landed on it as if hitting a real tripod, making his fingers ache and preventing him from reaching Li Weiyi's body.

"Break!"

A martial artist capable of cultivating to the Seventh Sea realm must possess at least Fifth-Order Qi within their body.

Mie Di's formidable combat prowess was evident as his claw mark tore through the ancient jade tripod. Just as he was about to follow up with a second strike to pierce Li Weiyi's abdomen...

An extremely dangerous sensation suddenly assaulted him!

Behind Li Weiyi, a female deity's battle-spirit apparition emerged, three zhang tall with flowing hair, radiating light in all directions. The peerless technique, "Guanyin Enlightenment Finger," renowned throughout Qiuzhou City, was unleashed.

The beam of light shot from her fingertip was dazzlingly bright and immensely powerful.

It was clear that any physical body, no matter how strong, would be pierced if struck.

Mie Di's heart trembled. He immediately switched from offense to defense, releasing a tiger-skin kasaya artifact from his Ancestral Field. It spun rapidly in front of him, its various ornaments clanging together as they formed a protective array.

"Boom!"

Mie Di was forced back more than ten zhang before he could completely neutralize the force of the Guanyin Enlightenment Finger.

Opposite him, Li Weiyi remained standing perfectly straight, his heroic demeanor unwavering. From start to finish, his gaze and expression remained unchanged, the tip of the Profound Ice Arrow in his left hand still resting steadily on the two invitations.

Time seemed to freeze, and the entire area fell silent.

The previously stirred-up snowflakes slowly descended, and countless onlookers stood transfixed in place.

This was true not only for the martial artists outside Qin Garden but also for the elders on Taoli Mountain.

This was far more astonishing than when Luan Sheng Lin You defeated the combined forces of Dragon Hall and Lu Cangsen.

After a long while, gasps could finally be heard from the Triple Heavens.

An elder's voice sharpened, "Isn't he in the Fourth Stage of the Five Seas realm?"

Lord Yin, aware of Li Weiyi's true strength, helped conceal it by saying, "Can't you tell he's broken through to a new realm?"

"That's it, his battle-spirit apparition is three zhang tall! He's reached the Fifth Stage of the Five Seas realm!" Zuoqiu Ling exclaimed.

The elder replied, "This is still highly unusual... Mie Di is in the Seventh Sea realm. The Aberrant Human race inherently possesses a combat advantage over ordinary humans in the same realm, plus he has the blessing of the golden tiger apparition. To contend with him across two realms? Does the concept of realms even have meaning anymore?"

Another elder commented, "Indeed, it's preposterous. Even if he broke through, he's only just entered the Fifth Stage of the Five Seas realm."

Lord Yin continued to cover up, "His physical cultivation is exceptional; he relies heavily on his physical strength. Furthermore, his martial arts comprehension is remarkably high, and the techniques he practices are ancient methods of the Jiuli tribe."

Zuoqiu Ling sighed, "Such a prodigy with such intellect, you shouldn't have allowed him to participate in the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival."

Lord Yin sighed, feeling utterly helpless, as he had advised against it many times himself.

The woman in the Taoist robe from Du'e Temple, who had appeared the previous night, stood on a tall tower a mile away and wrote: "In his unburdened state, he can contend with Coffin Mountain's Mie Di."

After the initial shock and disbelief, countless top martial artists present began to harbor killing intent, all agreeing that this young man could not be allowed to live.

Mie Di, feeling a profound sense of humiliation and loss of face, roared in rage. He wrapped the tiger-skin kasaya around himself, and with spiritual energy surging wildly within him, he charged forward once more.

Someone was even faster than him.

It was Ku Di, the leader of the Four Truths of Coffin Mountain.

Ku Di, ranked eighth among the Southern Region's top-tier cultivators and a Succession-level figure, recognized that a victory for Mie Di against Li Weiyi wouldn't come easily. Letting the fight continue would not only squander a crucial opportunity but also risk drawing ridicule from martial artists across the land.

Given the current situation, a swift resolution was imperative.

With so many of them gathered, being stalled by a single martial artist in the Fifth Stage of the Five Seas realm would be an absolute laughingstock.

"Ku Di, for a top-tier expert like you to attack a martial artist in the Fifth Stage of the Five Seas realm is utterly beneath your dignity!"

Cang Li's voice, deep and steady, resonated from within the garden.

"Whoosh!"

Dark, ink-like nether-mist surged from within the gate, instantly engulfing the entire street.

The air grew even colder, and a thick layer of white frost crystallized on the ground.

Within the nether-mist.

Behind Li Weiyi, a ten-zhang tall, armored, goat-headed ghost general materialized, towering over all the buildings in the entire street.

Fire clouds burned within its torso, emanating a domineering aura. After letting out a long roar, it swung its dozens-of-meters-long war halberd, leaving trails of energy ripples in the air.

Mie Di was utterly terrified, exclaiming, "It's... it's appeared again!"

Ku Di shoved Mie Di aside, then braced himself to face the war halberd alone.

The tin staff in his hand spun rapidly, and Buddhist chants resonated through heaven and earth.

"Bang!"

The war halberd struck the tin staff, sending Ku Di flying back into the crowd, where he crashed into a shop building.

The ghost general roared and spewed forth Duling Cold Fire.

Martial artists from more than a dozen factions, both large and small, retreated once more.

A Succession-level expert was sent flying with a single blow. If that war halberd were to sweep through the crowd of martial artists, how many lives would be reaped?

Who could have imagined that Cang Li possessed such a formidable trump card?

Many secretly felt fortunate that they hadn't attempted to force their way into Qin Garden earlier.

Ming Nian Sheng whispered into Luan Sheng Lin You's ear, "This must be the ghost general that Qi Jin mentioned, unleashed from a black flag. It appears Cang Li was indeed the one who rescued Jiang Ning from Bingzuze back then. Young Venerable, this is quite unfavorable!"

Luan Sheng Lin You understood his implication.

If Cang Li had rescued Jiang Ning, their relationship must be extraordinary. If the Jiuli tribe were completely eliminated today, Jiang Ning would likely push for cooperation between the imperial court and the Zuoqiu clan. It's possible that young man, Li, might have predicted correctly.

He had no fear of an imperial court targeted by all rebel armies.

But adding the Zuoqiu clan, and the Vermilion Gate—their sworn enemy from the far western Ash region—would change things.

That would indeed pose a significant danger!

The ghost general's appearance held all enemies at bay.

But Li Weiyi didn't believe this alone would deter Luan Sheng Lin You. To display such an imposing formation only to retreat without a fight would invite widespread ridicule, making it indistinguishable from a complete rout.

Luan Sheng Lin You was also bound by his own momentum; he had considered retreating, but could not.

Therefore, seizing this interval, Li Weiyi shouted loudly, "The Jiuli tribe suffered heavy losses in battle last night and knows it cannot retain these two invitations. However, we refuse to hand them over to our enemies. We implore the heroes hidden in the shadows to intervene and help us. If you can protect us for ten days, elixirs of immortality, dragon seeds, and dragon bones will all be offered as a reward."

Many present revealed cynical smiles.

Someone whispered, "Who would dare to rescue someone in front of Young Venerable?"

Yuwen Tuozhen laughed loudly, "You were so unyielding and fearless just now, I thought you had a backbone of steel. I never expected you to be afraid of death as well."

"Who isn't afraid of death? I'm here to fight for a path to survival, not to compete with anyone on who fears death less."

Li Weiyi continued, "I find Luan Sheng Lin You foolish and Ge Xianto devoid of strategy. I resent that the 'two pests' of the Eastern Realm were defeated by the Bright Moon Seven Star Pavilion, breaking their spirit and missing their opportunity. All true heroes of the world are now in the North."

The only power capable of contending with the imperial court and the far western Ash region is currently the Snow Sword Tang Court of the Northern Realm, which has seized control of five states. Almost all the talents of the North are now under their command.

It should be noted that the Jiuli tribe's visible strength cannot even hold a single state securely.

Even if the Snow Sword Tang Court were to dispatch only five or six young martial artists from each state, combined with the inherent strength of their myriad clans, dozens of top experts would bear down on them. Luan Sheng Lin You would have no choice but to retreat.

Li Weiyi did not believe that Tang Wanqiu, the leader of the younger generation of the Snow Sword Tang Court, would be unaware of the importance of last night's battle; she must be waiting for a specific opportunity.

Ming Nian Sheng's eyes were cold. "This child is truly exceptionally clever. Unfortunately, the Snow Sword Tang Court will absolutely not act at this moment. Neither the imperial court nor we have suffered fundamental damage yet. Tang Wanqiu will undoubtedly continue to watch the tigers fight from the mountain, awaiting a more opportune moment."

"Since he's so clever, then he must be eliminated first!"

Luan Sheng Lin You, with one hand behind his back and the other idly toying with a silver spear, personally walked towards Li Weiyi, who stood in the center of the street. Apparitions of both the Azure Luan and Kirin battle-spirits manifested, their overwhelming mental power pressing down on Li Weiyi.

Snowflakes drifted around him as the cold wind howled.

Countless martial artists revealed expressions of astonishment.

Luan Sheng Lin You made no attempt to hide the fervent praise and admiration in his eyes. "Manipulating schemes, surviving against all odds, forging a path in desperate straits—you have pushed these to their absolute limit. Against other opponents, you might very well have succeeded. But your luck has run out; your opponent is me."

"Ultimately, in this world, cultivation and strength are what truly count. Your bargaining chips are simply too meager; the Snow Sword Tang Court wouldn't value them, and neither do I."

"However, you should feel proud! Because you are truly exceptional, so much so that I cannot help but feel a murderous intent, compelled to personally eliminate you to prevent any future trouble."

Though Luan Sheng Lin You was clearly still ten zhang away, Li Weiyi already felt unsteady on his feet, like a flickering candle in the wind; it seemed a single breath from his opponent could extinguish him.

The oppressive power of the Azure Luan and Kirin battle-spirits felt like two colossal mountains pressing down on his shoulders, making it impossible for him to breathe.

If he tried to stand, he couldn't breathe.

If he wanted to breathe, he could only collapse.

"Roar!"

The ten-zhang tall ghost general erupted with power equivalent to a Dao Seed realm martial artist. Its war halberd slashed diagonally downward, tearing through the oppressive force of the battle-spirit.

"Boom!"

The ground beneath Luan Sheng Lin You's feet continuously fractured, with earth and stones heaving upward and scattering in all directions.

What sent shivers down people's spines was that he merely raised the silver spear in his hand and blocked the war halberd, his body only swaying slightly.

Li Weiyi's pupils sharply contracted. No wonder Luan Sheng Lin You appeared utterly unconcerned about the situation's unfolding; his combat power was terrifyingly potent, fully capable of tearing through every enemy in the city.

Perhaps Zuoqiu Ting was right; the mindset of the truly powerful is indeed different.

To make them compromise, one must be able to utterly dominate them.

"For a mere youth like this to die at the Young Venerable's hands, wouldn't that make him famous throughout the world? I will be the one to kill him!"

Ming Nian Sheng, with his two-meter tall, bronze-like humanoid body, shot out like an arrow. Just as he clenched his fist...

The dense whirring of flying swords echoed in his ears.

Behind Li Weiyi, on the wide street, countless golden flying swords surged forth like a tide, tearing through the nether-mist and forming a river of swords that directly assailed Ming Nian Sheng.

The stone slabs of the hundreds-of-meters-long street were entirely covered in cracks and sword marks.

At that moment, Ming Nian Sheng was still three zhang away from Li Weiyi and had no choice but to immediately release his protective spiritual energy to defend against the torrent of golden swords.

"Thud-thud!"

"Thud-thud!"

The strange beast Mawu galloped, its head held high as it let out a long howl, charging directly toward the isolated Li Weiyi.

Li Ling, clad in a red dress and barefoot, stood heroically upon Mawu's back. With one hand forming a runic finger seal and the other holding the reins, spiritual flame erupted from her brow, making her entire body appear to be ablaze. She had clearly reached the Disaster Fire realm.