Chapter 322: Difficult Situation

Six bodhi seeds encircled Yang Qingxi and Yang Qingchan, the twin beauties. Over 800 sutras floated in the space several meters around them, rendering them completely invisible from the outside.

This set of magical artifacts had been seized from Wang Shu.

Yang Qingchan possessed immense soul power; before being suppressed by the Tianli Hall, she was a dominant female ghost-fiend in the Nether Realm of the Departed. Her current physical body could barely withstand power at the fifth heaven level of the Dao Seed Realm.

After wielding this set of magical artifacts, her combat power significantly increased, enabling her to rescue Yang Qingxi from Sikong Jingyuan and Sikong Yanlun.

The two Yangs stood side by side, gazing into the depths of the swamp at the battlefield.

Their two identical beautiful faces both showed expressions of disbelief.

“Sikong Yanlun actually had an arm severed by him. If this strength were reported back to the main altar, no one would dare question his ranking as the Fourth Divine Son again.” A subtle emotion arose in Yang Qingxi’s heart.

No matter how highly she regarded and admired Li Weiyi, she never believed that he, whose Ancestral Field had been crippled, could catch up with this generation of Dao cultivators like Long Zhong.

But in fact, Li Weiyi had never fallen behind; he continued to progress at an astonishing speed even amidst adversity.

Yang Qingchan said, “I’m certain that Yizhou Xue’s last palm strike seriously wounded him. If he has no other trump cards, he will surely die here today.”

“If he tries to escape, Yizhou Xue, Sikong Jingyuan, and Sikong Yanlun combined couldn’t stop him. Give him another year, and he will undoubtedly trample them all underfoot.” Yang Qingxi had an inexplicable confidence in Li Weiyi, always feeling that unless he was suppressed by more than ten times the power, he couldn’t be brought down.

He was more resilient than anyone else, always filled with fighting spirit.

This quality in Li Weiyi deeply fascinated Yang Qingxi. Yet, she was keenly aware that when Li Weiyi didn’t respond to her two proposals nine months ago, she should have sobered up and rationally distanced herself.

Yang Qingchan said, “Unfortunately, Li doesn’t seem like someone who would abandon everything and escape alone. And Yizhou Xue, Sikong Jingyuan, and Sikong Yanlun are certainly no fools; they are all extremely shrewd.”

Li Weiyi was about two hundred and fifty meters away from the five Phoenix-Winged Moth Sovereigns.

Yizhou Xue was at a similar distance.

However, Yizhou Xue was a Great True Disciple, whose Outer Dao Heart Manifestation had reached the profound stage, allowing him to instantly unleash Dharmic energy and attacking intent to envelop the five small creatures. Moreover, his speed was notably superior to Li Weiyi's.

Yizhou Xue realized that the five rare insects had found an extraordinary millennium-old spirit herb; that Earth Spirit Sprout was at least three thousand years old.

He shifted his stance, positioning himself to rush forward at any moment to seize the millennium-old spirit herb and capture the five rare insects.

In reality, his attention remained focused on Li Weiyi, using this as a probe to gauge the importance of the five rare insects and the millennium-old spirit herb to him. If Li Weiyi showed tension or panic, Yizhou Xue would unhesitatingly charge towards the five rare insects.

Because he always understood one principle: killing Li Weiyi was the primary goal. Acquiring treasures was merely a desired outcome.

Those who prioritize the two in reverse would not meet a good end.

If, by pursuing treasures, he allowed Li Weiyi to escape back to the main altar, not only would he inevitably be no match for Li Weiyi in three to five years, given his terrifying cultivation speed, but he would also face severe repercussions from Hall Master An and Venerable Nan.

As long as the person was dead, he would have the right to explain.

Li Weiyi diligently recuperated his injuries, not daring to expose the slightest weakness, while his mind raced.

For him, as long as he could get the five Phoenix-Winged Moth Sovereigns back to the jade boat, he could activate it to escape at high speed, ensuring that Yizhou Xue and the two Sikong brothers couldn’t stop him.

However, abandoning the five Phoenix-Winged Moth Sovereigns and escaping alone would mean losing all five of them for the rest of his life.

Even Big Phoenix and Second Phoenix would become estranged from him.

The river of light beneath the water completely dimmed.

The dark-red swamp sea suddenly fell into an eerie silence.

The five Phoenix-Winged Moth Sovereigns, clutching their Earth Spirit Sprouts, sensed something amiss, their ten small eyes darting around ceaselessly.

On the other side, Qi Xiao activated the jade boat, intending to rendezvous with Li Weiyi, but was intercepted by Sikong Jingyuan and Sikong Yanlun.

The two realized this jade boat was extraordinary and wouldn't allow Li Weiyi a chance to return to it.

Qi Xiao saw that Tuoba Butuo's condition was very strange, on the verge of collapsing at any moment, and felt anxious, desperately thinking of a countermeasure.

Sikong Jingyuan shouted loudly, “General Banner, how about we team up? What’s on the boat is ours; what’s below the boat is yours.”

“Haha, I was thinking the same thing! It's decided then!”

As Yizhou Xue finished speaking, a smile flickered in his eyes, and he accelerated, rushing towards the five Phoenix-Winged Moth Sovereigns.

Li Weiyi's voice rang out: “Brother Qi, activate the jade boat with full power; they won't catch you. Return to the main altar and inform Hall Master An and Venerable Nan of everything that happened today. They will surely seek justice for me and make the enemies pay the price.”

Qi Xiao had already thought of this strategy.

As long as he could lure Sikong Jingyuan and Sikong Yanlun away, Yizhou Xue alone might not be able to hold Li Weiyi.

Therefore, as soon as Li Weiyi spoke, Qi Xiao acted without hesitation, turning the bow into the stern and steering the jade boat to flee swiftly into the distance.

However, Qi Xiao couldn’t bear to abandon Li Weiyi, so he didn't activate the jade boat's full flight power to truly escape. Instead, he sailed it through the water, luring the two Fifth Divine Sons into pursuit.

Seeing Li Weiyi pursuing, Yizhou Xue's heart filled with delight, and he immediately unleashed his Outer Dao Heart Manifestation. Instantly, cold energy permeated a one-li radius, and the air became viscous, as if filled with mud.

He, however, remained unaffected, turning and moving even faster, weaving through the Dharmic energy currents of his Outer Dao Heart Manifestation, and unleashed a punch.

His fist glowed blindingly, its force felt like knives and swords cutting across the face, creating an illusion of space being dented.

Severely injured, Li Weiyi dared not face it head-on. He mobilized his liquid Dharmic power, executed the Pure Void Cicada Chase Steps, and his body transformed into a phantom, breaking free from the suppression of the Outer Dao Heart Manifestation, narrowly dodging the attack.

A thunderous punch explosion echoed in his ears, showcasing the Great True Disciple's domineering strength to crush all enemies.

“What a formidable young prodigy, a perfected movement Dao technique! But it’s only at the first layer of perfection.”

A flash of surprise flickered in Yizhou Xue’s eyes, and he executed his footwork, delivering a second punch.

The force of his punch combined with the Outer Dao Heart Manifestation, and icy energy surged from all directions, transforming into a sky full of flying snow.

The snowflakes instantly tore Li Weiyi's protective Dharmic energy and spiritual light into shreds.

With no escape, Li Weiyi's gaze deepened, and he unleashed the phantom of the Fusang Divine Tree and the Karma Burning Millstone. Fierce flames surged, all power converging on the millstone, which then collided with the punch force with a thunderous impact.

“Boom!”

It was like two mountains colliding, and the water body exploded.

Li Weiyi rapidly retreated, the injuries in his chest and abdomen worsening, his internal organs burning with pain.

Unable to suppress it any longer, he spat out a mouthful of blood. Guided by his Dharmic energy, the blood soaked into the Blood Handprint Demonic Armor.

The soft armor quickly absorbed the blood, and the blood handprint pattern over his heart became a deeper crimson.

Yizhou Xue was certain that Li Weiyi had only recently broken through to the Dao Seed Realm, but how could he withstand so many moves against him?

Was it relying on his psychic power, Dao techniques, or demonic armor?

If he couldn't capture or kill Li Weiyi today, he would know no peace thereafter.

“Swish! Swish! Swish…”

The five Phoenix-Winged Moth Sovereigns intercepted, preventing Yizhou Xue from pressing his advantage.

All five small creatures had cultivation at the second heaven of the Dao Seed Realm. Though their combat power was still not on par with a martial cultivator at the fourth heaven of the Dao Seed Realm, it was comparable to the peak of the third heaven. Moreover, their speed was extremely fast, ignoring the suppression of the Outer Dao Heart Manifestation.

Working together, the five unleashed an unending stream of innate Dao techniques, forcing Yizhou Xue to constantly struggle in response.

“These rare insects are significantly stronger than nine months ago; each has advanced to the rank of master. If they continue to grow, won’t they truly be comparable to several Longevity Realm giants in the future?”

The pressure in Yizhou Xue's heart was no less than Li Weiyi's.

A sword hum echoed in his ears, and he caught a glimpse of Li Weiyi swinging his sword to strike. Yizhou Xue opened his mouth, and a dazzling magical artifact longsword shot out, transforming into a fleeting ray of light that struck Li Weiyi's chest.

“Boom!”

On Li Weiyi's body, a blood handprint larger than his own appeared, clashing directly with Yizhou Xue's magical artifact longsword.

Thousands of sword qi were scattered by the impact of the blood handprint.

From Yizhou Xue's Ancestral Field, Dharmic energy erupted like rivers and seas. He unleashed both fists simultaneously, and immediately, numerous fist shadows struck in all directions.

Li Weiyi and the five Phoenix-Winged Moth Sovereigns retreated, then converged and fled at high speed.

Yizhou Xue, his killing intent thick, recalled his magical artifact longsword and pursued.

Li Weiyi could feel the resistance from Yizhou Xue’s Outer Dao Heart Manifestation, like moving through a swamp. Only by relying on the Blood Handprint Demonic Armor and the Pure Void Cicada Chase Steps did he avoid being instantly caught by his opponent.

The distance between the two grew shorter and shorter.

It was impossible to escape unless he used the Evil Camel Bell or the Governor’s Robe.

A chilling wind blew towards him.

In the wind, Li Weiyi caught a familiar scent, immediately suppressing the thought of using the Evil Camel Bell, and called out melodiously, “Qingxi, lend me a hand!”

Behind him, Yizhou Xue's expression tightened, and he looked around.

He wasn't afraid of Yang Qingxi hiding in the dark; what he feared was the exposure of today's events, which would lead to endless trouble.

Yizhou Xue slapped his armor, and the armor's soul light flared intensely. A seven-meter-long gigantic soul beast with a chicken head and tiger body appeared beneath him. If Yang Qingxi truly revealed herself, he would eliminate her as well.

Yang Qingxi’s voice softly echoed: “When in danger, you call for Qingxi. Once the danger passes, you call me Miss Yang. And when you turn hostile, you simply call out my full name.”

“Yang Qingxi, since you’ve appeared, you must be thinking of taking action. How about we split the benefits?” Li Weiyi urged, feeling that Miss Yang had become somewhat overly sentimental.

Yang Qingxi and Yang Qingchan appeared simultaneously, standing on the water's surface.

The former held two swords.

The latter controlled six bodhi seeds that circled around her, with over 800 sutras manifesting in the surrounding space.

Yang Qingxi sneered, “What makes you think I came to help you? Teaming up with them to kill you would be far more beneficial.”

Sikong Yanlun abandoned the pursuit of the jade boat and went to help Yizhou Xue intercept Li Weiyi: “Haha, Qingxi is right! Let’s work together to kill this human. Then, you can choose his treasures first.”

“Very well! Since Miss Yang is so heartless, I can only accept my fate. Then let’s fight! I’d like to see if any of you can truly stop me.”

Li Weiyi's eyes were resolute. He had never truly placed his hopes on Yang Qingxi, knowing well that their relationship was one of mutual exploitation.

They had shared experiences of life and death, but no true bond of life-and-death friendship.

Li Weiyi roared, engaging Sikong Yanlun who was blocking his path. He swung his sword, and the bright sword energy tore through Sikong Yanlun’s Outer Dao Heart Manifestation.

“Bang!”

Sikong Yanlun sneered, raising his single arm. He mobilized the power of a hundred ghost generals and unleashed a ghost-fire palm print.

The palm print, like a copper wall and iron barrier in the shape of five fingers, shattered Li Weiyi's sword momentum and psychic attack.

Empowered by the strength of a hundred ghosts, Sikong Yanlun was confident he could contend with a martial cultivator at the fifth heaven.

However, even with a clear advantage in combat power, Sikong Yanlun did not risk a desperate fight with Li Weiyi. After delivering a palm strike, he swiftly retreated. As long as he could restrain and delay Li Weiyi until Yizhou Xue caught up, the two of them working together could easily kill him.