【Exquisite Temptation】【Part Four】

While Prince and Jin Qi had experience working as white-collar workers in Shenzhen, they were clearly not up to the task of leading a team today!
Only the Venerable Wuji, with unparalleled power and rich experience, having weathered a thousand years of vicissitudes, was suitable!
Therefore, although Prince never spoke ill of Daoists, they all regarded the Venerable Wuji as their leader!
Everyone guarded their primordial spirits, carefully circulating their energy, except for Ouyang Xue'er, who was full of interest, sticking her head out to observe the scenery of Kunlun!
Kunlun, the Heavenly Pillar, is the most majestic in the world, a realm of immortals since ancient times. After the creation of heaven and earth, the Ancestor Hongjun continued to travel the world, and West Kunlun was the earthly capital of the Queen Mother of the West. There, besides being guarded by the nine-tailed tiger-bodied Lu Wu, there was a beast with four horns, somewhat resembling a sheep, called Tu Lin, which could eat people; the birds on it looked like bees, but were as large as mandarin ducks. There was also a tree that bore yellow flowers and red fruit, the fruit of which tasted like plums, was seedless, and was called Sha Tang, which could prevent drowning if eaten.
Jin Qi had heard all of this from his master, and seeing Ouyang Xue'er's delighted expression, he recounted it all.
"Ah! The Nine-Tailed Tiger-Body Lu Wu God?"
Xue'er laughed. "The Sand Tang Fruit? How interesting!"
Both she and Jin Qi were visiting the majestic Western Kunlun Mountains for the first time, and were quite nervous! But after their laughter, they naturally felt much more relaxed!
The prince had known since childhood that he was the young master of the Shu Mountain sect, so going to university was merely a formality—just to avoid failing his courses! While Jin Qi was also a cultivator, he was most interested in history and geography during middle school, high school, and university. He practically devoured the entire university library, and even after starting work, he still subscribed to every issue of the American edition of *National Geographic*! Therefore, he was quite knowledgeable!
As for Ouyang Xue'er, she was even more exceptional, achieving excellent grades in almost every subject in high school and university! She skipped two grades, so although
she graduated a year earlier than Jin Qi, she was actually a year younger! She was incredibly learned!
Therefore, although the prince didn't know much about it, Jin Qi and Ouyang Xue'er both remembered the mysterious description of Kunlun in the ancient book *Huainanzi: Topographical Treatise*, which said that Kunlun had nine towering peaks, each higher than the last, reaching a height of 11,114 steps, 2 feet, and 6 inches. On top was a tree, five *xun* tall. To its west were the Pearl Tree, the Whirlwind Tree, and the Immortal Tree; to its east were the Sandalwood Tree and the Jade Tree; to its south were the Crimson Tree and the Red Jade Tree; and to its north were the Jade Tree and the Jade Tree. There were 440 gates nearby. The distance between the gates was four *li*, and each *li* had nine *chun*, each *chun* being 15 feet tall. There were nine wells nearby, with the Jade Horizontal Well being the vessel for receiving the elixir of immortality, located in the northwest corner. The north gate opened to let in the winds of Buzhou Mountain. The Inclined Palace occupied an area of one *qing*, the Rotating Chamber was a chamber decorated with jade, and the Hanging Garden, the Cool Breeze Pavilion, and the Fen Tong Pavilion were all located within the Kunlun Mountains. The pond in the sparse garden is filled with sweet, yellow water that flows around three times before returning to its original state. This is the water of the Red Elixir Seed, and drinking it grants immortality. Everything a celestial being could need is here: the Tree of Immortality, the Elixir of Immortality, the Water of Immortality, and so on. Decorations are made primarily of jade, and strange beasts have vanished; it is purely an ideal celestial realm. It is said that early immortals did not need to cultivate; they could achieve immortality simply by consuming these immortal substances.
Jin Qi had mentioned these legends to Elder Wuji that day, and Elder Wuji simply said, "You will surely have the opportunity to visit West Kunlun in the future and know for yourself!"
Ouyang Xue'er, recalling these things, laughed, "I can't wait to descend and find Sister Yue Cang, and have her take me to see if all these legendary divine objects exist on Kunlun Mountain? The Ninefold Peak of Zengjue? The Jade Tree, the Xuan Tree, the Immortal Tree? Haha!"
Jin Qi laughed, "Great! Yue Cang might be thinking of you too! The legends of the Kunlun Sect have added a lot to its fame!"
Prince said seriously, "Kunlun Mountain has been a place of flourishing incense offerings for thousands of years, maintaining its charm! Besides its stunning scenery, it is also because the Kunlun Sect resides on the summit of Jue Tian Peak, shining brightly in the martial arts and cultivation world, making the name Kunlun even more renowned!"
"Haha, the Kunlun Sect is on Jue Tian Peak, and the Shu Mountain Sect is on Cha Tian Peak, both are the pillars of the thousand-year-old cultivation sects!"
Jin Qi laughed.
A ridiculous thought suddenly popped into his head: "Since even Master, the head of the Shu Mountain Sect, the Three Beginnings Immortal, observed the world at night and knew that the divine weapon had been unearthed and that experts from various factions were coming to seize it, what if the Shu Mountain Sect and the Kunlun Sect also got into a fight? Haha, how lively that would be!" It
was like a thunderbolt hitting the earth!
Damn Jin Qi, he was clearly still a child at heart!
Kunlun and Shu Mountain, these two righteous factions, although they had a secret rivalry like Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu, how could they possibly fight?
But, what fate had in store, who knew how things would develop?
Chapter 8016 Old Friends in the South China Sea, But Not the Same
"Seventh Young Master, Prince, look?"
Ouyang Xue'er exclaimed in surprise, "Wow! In Shenzhen, it's still scorching hot, a long summer day, and the Shu Mountain is bathed in the autumn sun, but the Kunlun Mountains beneath our feet are a world of white ice and snow!"
She was exaggerating a little, but it wasn't far from reality.
Jin Qi looked down from the sky, "at will, amidst the illusions of life and death." Although it was only the seventh month of the lunar calendar, the height of summer, the Kunlun Mountains were covered in a blanket of snow, except for a slight hint of green at the foot. However, he wasn't surprised. Even the Xieyang Peak on the back of Emei Mountain had flowing water at its base and snow-covered slopes, let alone the Kunlun Mountains in the northwest. The Kunlun Mountains were clearly covered in snow accumulated over millennia, since the beginning of time! It had been like this since the separation of heaven and earth!
"It's quite ordinary! It's just that you, Xue'er, rarely see snow..."
Jin Qi said with a smile.
"I rarely see snow?"
Ouyang Xue'er laughed. "My parents told me that on the night I was born, we encountered a blizzard unlike any other in decades! It was terrifying, with howling winds and rampant violence! That's why my name is Xue'er (Snowy Girl)! My mother often says that if I hadn't been lucky, I wouldn't have been able to give birth that day, or I would have frozen to death immediately after birth! So, from a young age, I've loved snow and can withstand the cold, but now I'm still terrified by this Kunlun snow, haha! And the white robe I'm wearing is thanks to the prince for forcing me to put it on; without it, I would have been freezing!"
The prince smiled but remained silent. Ouyang Xue'er had previously been on his Sunrise Immortal Sword, so naturally he had summoned a warm current seal to warm her. And now, needless to say, it was Jin Qi protecting Xue'er again, though she didn't know it. Otherwise, how could a mere white robe withstand the chill of the Kunlun snow?
Jin Qi listened indifferently, but Elder Wuji's heart skipped a beat. The birth of a pure Yin maiden naturally caused unusual celestial phenomena! Ouyang Xue'er's birth was certainly not as simple as that of an ordinary person; it must also conceal a significant secret!
After all, whether it was the "Rebellious Heaven-Destroying Tribulation" laid down by the Tongtian Sect Master or some other great demon, they all used pure Yin maidens as one of the three blood-drawing methods for the formation. Clearly, a pure Yin maiden could not be an ordinary person!
Everyone knew that the Kunlun snowscape was unparalleled, so how could they miss it? They carefully observed it! Strangely enough, the Kunlun peaks below the mountainsides were still green, but the summits were covered in white snow. The snow-capped peaks to the west stretched to the horizon, with rolling clouds nearby, creating a magnificent scene! Even Jin Qi, the prince who had grown up amidst the unparalleled beauty of the Shu Mountains, known as the most beautiful mountains in the world, couldn't help but be captivated!
The old man Wuji, who had traveled to almost every famous mountain and river in the world over the past thousand years, seemed to be calculating something. His brows furrowed slightly, and he had no heart to admire the scenery of Kunlun!
Fan Shang Daoist, however, heard the childish voices of Ouyang Xue'er and Jin Qi, and lost interest in meditation. He smiled at the two, who were truly exquisitely beautiful! "Youth is wonderful!"
He couldn't help but sigh softly.
Jin Qi and Ouyang Xue'er were still enjoying the snowy scenery and laughing when they heard Old Man Wuji say, "We've arrived, Young Master Qi. Put down the flowers, let's go down!"
"Back then, the Eight Immortals of the mortal world arrived at the East Sea together. They saw the surging tides and the enormous waves. Pure Yang Immortal Lü Dongbin suggested that each of them throw an object into the water to display their 'supernatural powers' and cross. The other seven immortals responded to Lü Dongbin's suggestion, throwing their personal magical treasures into the water. Then, the eight of them stood on their magical treasures and rode the wind and waves to cross. Among them was Lan Caihe, who put down his flower basket, which became a large ship to cross the East Sea! I didn't expect that Young Master Qi's immortal flowers could also achieve the same effect, flying through the air!"
Prince laughed.
Jin Qi quickly interrupted Prince, saying, "Wow, let's see where we land!"
He changed the subject because he knew that his master and he themselves didn't like the Supreme Lord Laozi and the Eight Immortals, especially the Pure Yang Sect Master Lü Dongbin, whom Prince seemed to envy! He was afraid that his master would be angry, so he quickly changed the subject!
To everyone's surprise, Elder Wuji smiled faintly, completely unconcerned!
If a thousand years ago he had hated Laozi and Chunyang Zhenren with a vengeance… then five hundred years ago he was consumed by hatred, unable to sleep at night; three hundred years ago, he harbored it monthly; two hundred years ago, it was only an occasional thought; and a hundred years ago, it was merely a faint lingering feeling. Now, with his only disciple, Jin Qi, so outstanding, and himself nearing the completion of his Great Dao, protected by Hongjun and Phoenix Ancestors, he realized that everything ultimately amounted to nothing, and his heart was devoid of any hatred!
The prince, being so intelligent, knew that Jin Qi was always impeccably polite; this behavior was clearly due to a grudge between the Xuanhuang Fanyin Reincarnation Temple and Laozi, and the Eight Immortals lineage! Although puzzled, he remained silent. In truth, the Shushan Daoist sect and the Eight Immortals weren't exactly on good terms! And Ouyang Xue'er was completely oblivious to everything!
Amidst the prince's praise, "Seventh Young Master, this flower is truly a treasure!" Jin Qi descended from the clouds, putting away the "Flower of Free Will, Fate's Creation and Demise." He gently pulled Ouyang Xue'er along, and they floated down together! The "Flower of Free Will, Fate's Creation and Demise" disappeared directly into his palm.
"Eh, where is this place?"
Ouyang Xue'er asked curiously, "Prince, Seventh Young Master, is this the Nine Nether Valley of Kunlun Mountain?"
Not only Jin Qi and the prince didn't know, but even the Taoist Fan Shang shook his head, indicating that he didn't know either!
However, upon closer inspection, they saw the distant Kunlun peaks, layer upon layer of mountains, ancient trees reaching for the sky, with winding paths, broken clouds, and bridges connecting them. In the distance, deep valleys and secluded ravines were shrouded in mist, with only a sliver of sunlight reaching the horizon. Closer in, countless streams cascaded down, their murmuring waters filling the air. Birds sang and butterflies fluttered in the valleys and along the roadsides. Monkeys frolicked among the treetops, and frogs played their instruments. Even though it wasn't yet the season, countless exotic flowers, whose names they couldn't identify, carpeted the paths. Fan Shang Daoist, Prince, and Jin Qi couldn't help but sigh deeply. This western Kunlun region truly was a hidden paradise!
Ouyang Xue'er exclaimed even more, "Wow, the scenery in the valley behind us is absolutely beautiful!"
She then turned to Elder Wuji and asked, "Senior, is this barren valley in front of us the Valley of the Nine Netherworlds?"
Jin Qi also looked at his master, for the flowers were behind them, while in front of them lay the mouth of a large canyon. The scenery inside the canyon must not be as beautiful as it was outside! Only the faint sound of the wind could be heard.
The old man, Wuji, was unusually silent, seemingly oblivious to Ouyang Xue'er's question. Unbeknownst to everyone, for some reason, in his mind, a scene from that day flashed before his eyes: on the Yinshan mountain range, where the mountaintops were filled with wide ravines, and the valleys were filled with babbling brooks and blooming wildflowers, a dashing middle-aged cultivator was carefully helping a beautiful, injured woman—as lovely as a peach blossom in spring, as pure as an autumn chrysanthemum, more beautiful than a lotus in bloom, her fragrance wafting in the breeze—to her aid. He then willingly absorbed the poison to heal her wounds!
Embracing the Ice Immortal…embracing the Ice Immortal…
suddenly, “clang…bang…”
a faint sound of fighting came from the canyon! It also carried the sounds of someone in pain, someone injured! Fan Shang Daoist, Prince, and Jin Qi heard it almost simultaneously, all incredibly surprised—someone had arrived first!
“Let’s go! There’s fighting over there! The divine weapon must be over there!”
Prince hurriedly said. Fan Shang Daoist thought the same, and he, Prince, and Ouyang Xue'er rushed over!
Jin Qi, standing behind, looked at Elder Wuji and asked softly, "Master, what's wrong?"
Elder Wuji smiled slightly and said, "Strange, there's actually the aura of the former Bao Bing Shangren over there! A young girl as beautiful as a flower, yet possessing extraordinary Buddhist power... exactly the same..."
"The Putuo Mountain Sect of the South Sea?"
Jin Qi couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "Truly, one can't escape the entanglements of the mortal world anywhere! Bing Shuang and the others have come here too!"
But he asked, "Master, how could it be Senior Bao Bing Shangren? Senior is no longer a young girl, but a sect leader with hundreds of years of cultivation and boundless power! A few days ago, when we were slaying the dragon-breeding Baxia demon beast, I saw Senior Brother Bing Shuang, the eldest disciple of Bao Bing Shangren, take action, but I didn't see how high his cultivation was."
He hoped that his master wouldn't be too disappointed when he saw Bao Bing Shangren's disciples; the higher the hope...
the greater the disappointment, that's why he said that!
"Haha! Frost?"
Elder Wuji laughed, "Although he is ranked as the first disciple, how can he compare to the Holy Maiden Ruochen of the Cihangzhai Sect of Mount Putuo in the South China Sea in terms of cultivation? Baobing's favorite disciple is of course her! I didn't expect that this time he would send Holy Maiden Ruochen herself!"
Obviously, when he met with Elder Baobing, they had talked about their disciples!
"Holy Maiden Ruochen?"
Jin Qi was greatly surprised and stammered, "Master, I have never heard of her at all!"
But just hearing this name, she is definitely no ordinary person!
The old man Wuji stepped forward and laughed, "It doesn't matter if you haven't heard of her before. She's right ahead now. Let's go over there! You'll see her then!"
Jin Qi hurriedly followed, laughing, "Master, you have great supernatural powers. Can you detect internal energy auras? Which sect is fighting over there—the Cihangzhai of the South China Sea Putuo Mountain Sect?"
"You're only at the ninth level of cultivation, so it's perfectly normal that you can't discern the sects of the two fighters!"
The old man Wuji laughed, "If you were to be exposed to the power of Buddhism and Taoism for a longer time, you would understand! The ones fighting against Saintess Ruochen's group are Taoist masters from the Kongtong Sect!"
The Kongtong Sect! Jin Qi exclaimed inwardly, "Good heavens! What divine weapon has been unearthed in the Nine Nether Valley of Kunlun Mountain today that even the rarely seen masters of the Kongtong Sect have been lured here!"
Undoubtedly, it was the Cihangzhai sect of the Buddhist South China Sea Putuo Mountain School and the Kongtong sect of the Taoist School who had come to this valley and, after a disagreement, started fighting!
Haha, this is going to be exciting! Let's go see!
Anyway, why not watch?
Jin Qi is still a mischievous child who hasn't grown up!
Chapter 8017 Saintess Ruochen, Seventh Young Master's Instant Kill
The sounds of fighting continued, a constant clanging and banging. Within a few dozen feet of the canyon, Prince, Fan Shang Daoist, and Ouyang Xue'er arrived in an instant. They found seven people in the valley, five of whom stood on either side watching the battle. The fighters were a Daoist, a Buddhist, and two lay disciples. Both moved with light yet agile steps, their immortal swords gleaming with spiritual light, displaying unparalleled skill. Their swordsmanship was exceptional, rarely seen in the world. They had clearly been locked in combat for some time, both adept at each other's techniques. To bolster their momentum, they shouted incessantly, the sounds coming from them!
However, one's swordsmanship leaned more towards Zen, while the other's was characterized by ruthless incantations—they were clearly of different schools of thought, one Buddhist and the other Daoist!
Prince, being the young master of the Shu Mountain Sect, was well-traveled and recognized everyone. Among them was Bing Shuang from the Cihangzhai of the Putuo Mountain Sect in the South China Sea, whom he had only parted ways with recently. He quickly stepped forward and asked, "Senior Brother Bing Shuang, what's wrong?"
The Cihangzhai of the Putuo Mountain Sect had sent three people this time: Bing Shuang, Saintess Ruochen, and one other person who was fighting in the arena.
"Ah!"
Bing Shuang was overjoyed to see Prince, saying, "Brother Prince, you've come at the right time! You can judge this for us! Those
people from the Kongtong Sect are being unreasonable and utterly rude!" The four leaders of the Kongtong Sect, seeing Prince and his group arrive, didn't recognize Prince, the young master of the Shu Mountain Sect, and showed no intention of stopping the fight.
Elder Wuji and Jin Qi had already arrived. The fighting was fierce, but seeing no one was injured, they breathed a sigh of relief!
Fan Shang Daoren sighed, "These are all prestigious sects of Taoism and Buddhism; harmony is paramount!"
Unfortunately, no one listened to him. Even a dignified protector of the Shu Mountain Sect couldn't dissuade another sect from stopping.
Jin Qi's gaze was fixed on the peerless and independent Saintess Ruochen, thinking to himself, "Master said Saintess Ruochen has the demeanor of Senior Baobing Shangren, let me see!"
Upon seeing her sideways, he was stunned. Saintess Ruochen truly possessed the aura of a solitary young woman from the Buddhist sect. Saintess Ruochen was peerless in beauty, seemingly no more than eighteen or nineteen years old, similar in age to Dongshui Yuecang. She seemed to possess the beauty of Zhaojun, indeed surpassing Xi Shi. Her slender waist swayed slightly, her lotus steps moved lightly. Even Chang'e in the moon could not compare, how could the celestial maidens of the nine heavens be like her? Add to that her simple yet highly individualistic South Sea techniques, flying clouds and sweeping winds, and her exquisite palace makeup, truly a phoenix descended from the Thirty-Three Heavens!
She was standing there quietly, not watching the fight between the two, seemingly not worried at all, but Jin Qi knew that even with her eyes closed, she could hear and see everything around her!
Jin Qi sighed. They were all in this valley, with a distant, impenetrable peak above them, seemingly covered in snow from the mountainside up. But just a few dozen feet outside the valley, everything was lush and green. Outside, autumn chrysanthemums bloomed everywhere, filling the valley with fragrance, and streams murmured. But inside, the valley was empty and lifeless, adding to its tranquility. Although it contained three people from the Cihangzhai sect of the South China Sea Putuo Mountain Sect and four from the Kongtong Sect, in his eyes, there was only this Saintess Ruochen!
She was dressed in pure white, incomparably pristine, with long hair reaching her waist. She wore no adornments except for a white belt around her waist and a light-colored ribbon at the back of her hair, loosely binding it. She simply stood casually in this natural valley, yet possessed an indescribable charm, perfectly complementing the surrounding scenery, as if the distant flower-filled valley and the nearby empty sand and stones had been created just for her!
Seeing Jin Qi's gaze, Ouyang Xue'er couldn't help but sigh slightly, "Ah, Seventh Young Master..."
When Jin Qi saw the people fighting in the arena, he was surprised again and laughed, "Fen Yu, how come it's you?"
Now he could see clearly that the person fighting with the Kongtong Sect disciple was none other than Fen Yu, the first disciple from the South Sea he had met, whom he hadn't seen for several months!
Obviously, without much thought, he knew that it must be because Bao Bing Shangren had divined the secrets of heaven and sent the Holy Maiden Ruochen, Bing Shuang, and Fen Yu to Kunlun Nine Nether Valley!
Fen Yu was currently wielding a celestial sword and was fighting fiercely with his opponent. Hearing Jin Qi speak... he naturally recognized him, but dared not be distracted and speak. Sweat streamed down his face. He just smiled slightly at Jin Qi and didn't say anything. Then he continued to unleash his three swords. Seeing that the people who came were at least not on the other side, he was greatly encouraged and began to defend and counterattack.
"Yes, peace is paramount!"
Jin Qi, wanting to quell the fight, smiled and shook his head. He extended his right index finger, forming a flower-picking gesture, and chanted, "The chaotic energy originates from the primordial chaos; the Jade Disc of Creation allows living beings to comprehend the Dao.
One thought can lead to demonic possession, another to enlightenment; earth, wind, water, and fire are all secondary.
Rise!"
With that, the "Flower of Illusion and Destruction," appearing in his right palm, resembled a series of blooming flower buds, surrounded by colorful garlands and countless dangling beads. With a gentle push, he sent the flower between the two fighters. Caught off guard, their immortal swords struck the flower, only to be violently deflected. Their swords nearly flew from their grasp!
The flower, however, remained unharmed!
He, Jin Qi, intervened to stop the fight, acting with perfect fairness and impartiality!
"Ah!"
Fen Yu hurriedly took a large step back, reaching Jin Qi's side.
He sheathed his immortal sword, slightly out of breath, and laughed, "Thank you for intervening, Seventh Young Master! This flower is truly a treasure!" He had no intention of fighting in the first place! If his opponent hadn't been so rude, he wouldn't have intervened!
Ruo Chen's heart also trembled slightly: "I didn't expect that Elder Wuji had passed this magic weapon to him!"
The Kongtong Sect disciple over there had his face clearly seen. He appeared to be in his twenties, only about six feet tall, with a pale yellow, bony face, high cheekbones, and a pair of bright, darting eyes. His face was remarkably clean, without a single beard! Although he wasn't wearing a Daoist robe, his cultivation level was still evident!
He asked in surprise, "What kind of magic weapon is this?"
He slashed three more times, but the budding flower was completely unaffected, still having no effect! When he tried to slash again, the flower instantly swelled to three times its original size, forming an arc that pushed him off balance!
Left with no other choice, he reluctantly returned.
Only then did Saintess Ruochen come to pay her respects to Elder Wuji. She had clearly noticed his arrival earlier, and after a graceful bow, she softly said, "Junior Ruochen greets Senior Elder Wuji! My master also entrusted me to convey his greetings if I have the opportunity to meet you!"
The four from the Kongtong Sect were completely bewildered. Given Saintess Ruochen's reputation and the South Sea Sect's power, there weren't many people she would bow to! Yet, they had never heard of Elder Wuji! Could it be a mere charade?
"Where did this so-called senior come from?"
the yellow-faced youth sneered.
Elder Wuji ignored him, simply smiling at Saintess Ruochen, "Good, good child! Get up!"
Clearly, he had seen Saintess Ruochen several times before!
He then pointed at Jin Qi and said, "Ruochen, this is my little disciple Jin Qi!"
Saintess Ruochen looked over and smiled slightly, "I have often heard seniors, my master, and junior brother Fenyu mention the name of Young Master Qi. Today, seeing Young Master Qi standing tall in the wind, I truly admire his extraordinary talent!"
Jin Qi had just seen Fairy Ruochen's face, and in that instant, he truly understood what it meant to be a beauty of unparalleled grace! Fairy Ruochen smiled at him, her eyes, watery and sparkling like pearls rolling in clear water. Her figure was graceful and elegant, like a lotus flower emerging from clear water, possessing unparalleled beauty, with flowing black hair and an apricot-shaped face! He couldn't help but recall his master's description of the Ice-Bearing Man, reciting: "Her eyebrows are like the light ink of spring mountains, her eyes like the gentle waves of autumn, surpassing even the sun-kissed crabapple blossoms and the rain-drenched pear blossoms..."
Ouyang Xue'er, standing beside him, laughed loudly: "Seventh Young Master, I didn't expect you to be a poet!"
Jin Qi quickly came to his senses and apologized: "Holy Maiden, please don't take offense, I was rude! I have long admired your name, and to meet you today is my greatest honor!"
Holy Maiden Ruochen merely smiled and nodded slightly. Many men in the world were astonished by her beauty, so she didn't take this reaction to heart. However, she didn't know that Jin Qi's astonishment wasn't because of her, but because of her master, the Ice-Bearing Man.
Fen Yu also came over to thank Jin Qi, while Bing Shuang went to pay her respects to the legendary Elder Wuji, but was blocked by Jin Qi...
The yellow-faced disciple of the Kongtong Sect, unable to intervene, grew impatient and shouted, "Hmph, so the South Sea Sect has experts coming to help! But don't worry, if you're so capable, come at me all at once!"
Ouyang Xue'er laughed, "So even Taoist disciples can spout nonsense? When did we become helpers? We're just trying to mediate a fight fairly!"
Fen Yu also angrily retorted, "You yellow-faced bastard, don't make false accusations!" "
Old Man Wuji snorted coldly and said, "Such arrogance! I suppose even the Bagua Daoist wouldn't be so bold!"
The disciple Huang Jiaozi was greatly surprised. This Bagua Daoist was his master, the current head of the Kongtong Sect, an unparalleled master. He never expected this old man to be so disrespectful, casually calling him by his master's name. He angrily said, "Where did this wild old man come from, daring to directly address my master by his Daoist title!"
Jin Qi's expression remained unchanged, but he felt a surge of anger. This Kongtong Sect disciple was actually disrespectful to his master? Everyone only heard him sneer, "Huang Jiaozi? I think it would be better to change it to Jiao Huangzi!"
He had already withdrawn "Do as you please, the flower of illusion arises and vanishes" from his mouth. But as soon as he finished speaking, he raised his right hand high, and with a "clang," a sheathless, clear-glowing longsword suddenly appeared in his hand, as clear as autumn water, exuding a chilling aura!
This was clearly the "Phoenix Essence Blood, Exquisite Divine Sword," one of the Nine Treasures of Shu Mountain. Jin Qi was going to teach this Huang Jiaozi a lesson!
"Are you a disciple of Shu Mountain? This is one of the Nine Treasures of Shu Mountain..."
A steady voice came from behind Huang Jiaozi, expressionless, and asked.
Prince, Jin Qi, and Fan Shang Daoren were all slightly surprised. They didn't expect that there would be a disciple of the Kongtong Sect who could recognize the origin of this sword. Jin Qi only wanted to teach the insolent Huang Jiaozi a lesson and had no time to pay attention to the last young man who spoke. He slipped and took three steps back. The "Phoenix Essence Blood, Exquisite Divine Sword" in his hand pointed straight up to the sky, and he said loudly: "Shu Mountain for ten thousand years, the legend is supreme; like clouds and mist, the star of immortal swords!"
A thunderous sound suddenly resounded in the sky and landed in the valley. There were countless sword lights in the sky, like cloud shadows and sky light, like the ninety-nine peaks of Kunlun, slashing towards the Kongtong disciple in front of him from all directions!
Huang Jiaozi of the Kongtong Sect hastily raised his hand, seeing Jin Qi attack swiftly and decisively, he was frustrated. He could only raise his immortal sword, attempting to block Jin Qi's sword, but his magical power was far inferior to Jin Qi's, and the quality of his immortal sword was also far inferior. With a "clang," his immortal sword was directly cut in two by Jin Qi!
His face turned pale with terror, and he cried out, "Senior Brother, save me!"
He dropped his immortal sword and retreated, vainly trying to escape. Jin Qi laughed heartily, intensifying his cultivation. The "Phoenix Essence Blood, Exquisite Divine Sword" in his hand suddenly shot out several colorless sword energy beams, which rose into the air. With a spin, the sword energy changed drastically, transforming into a vast umbrella of starlight, chaotic and relentless, shooting towards the disciple's head! Rings of sharp and merciless sword energy, like a giant umbrella, had firmly trapped the disciple, leaving him at his mercy!
One move to break the sword, two moves to subdue the enemy!
"Seventh Young Master, what impressive Dao power!"
Fen Yu was genuinely impressed and praised Jin Qi for trapping the man in just two moves. Bing Shuang was indignant; Jin Qi's Dao power had increased dramatically in just a few days!
Ouyang Xue'er clapped her hands and laughed, "Utterly boring! I thought Huang Jiaozi could withstand three moves, but he's utterly pathetic!"
Even Saintess Ruochen, Prince, and Daoist Fan Shang nodded in agreement. This Huang Jiaozi of the Kongtong Sect had fought Fen Yu to a standstill for thirty rounds, but it turned out that if they were to truly fight, he would be instantly killed by Jin Qi in just two moves!
"Hmph, 'Phoenix Essence Blood, Exquisite Divine Sword' may be unparalleled in the world, but it's not a peerless divine weapon!"
Unexpectedly, a cold voice came from the remaining three members of the Kongtong Sect. Clearly, this person's knowledge and cultivation were far superior to Huang Jiaozi's!
Chapter 8018 Eight Trigrams Purple Ribbon, Concealment to Avoid Killing
Jin Qi sneered and remained silent. Fen Yu, already angry, retorted, "Don't just spout nonsense. If you're so capable, saving someone from under your sword is what truly matters! That's your junior brother!"
"Save him?"
The voice arrogantly replied, "Why save him? Mere sword energy, if it can harm my junior brother, then we'll talk!"
This ignited the nameless rage within Jin Qi. He had originally only intended to shield Huang Jiaozi without attacking. If Huang Jiaozi admitted his mistake and begged for mercy, he would let him go. But now, hearing this man's lack of pleading and continued provocation, he angrily shouted, "Huang Jiaozi, blame your senior brother! Don't blame me for being impolite!"
With that, he closed his eyes and chanted incantations. Seven colorful rays of light shot up from the "Phoenix Essence Blood, Exquisite Divine Sword" in his hand, almost refracting and connecting with the thunder and clouds in the sky. Instantly, several feet above Huang Jiaozi's head, the sky was filled with flashing lights and crisscrossing sword shadows. The massive seven-colored sword formation that had already condensed began to rotate, covering the sky and the earth.
"What sword energy!"
Prince praised, "I guess next, Seventh Young Master will activate the sword formation, with all kinds of sword energy rushing down!"
He wasn't trying to remind Huang Jiaozi, but rather, "Hmph, even if I tell you Seventh Young Master's attack moves, if you still lose, where will you put your face?"
Jin Qi nodded, Huang Jiaozi's face turned pale, but he still didn't beg for mercy from Jin Qi, only shouting, "Senior Brother, save me!"
Bing Shuang and Fen Yu were puzzled: "Why doesn't he beg for mercy from Jin Qi?"
Prince and Ru Ru understood; this Senior Brother obviously had extremely high prestige in Huang Jiaozi's heart, and his Daoist skills were naturally far superior to Huang Jiaozi's! The eldest disciple of the Kongtong Sect's leader was naturally extraordinary!
Elder Wuji's expression remained unchanged; his disciple Jin Qi's actions were measured, and he wasn't worried.
Jin Qi sneered again, saying, "Watch closely!"
He pointed his divine sword with his right hand, and the seven-colored sword energy array above Huang Jiaozi's head spun smoothly, then roared into action. Countless single-colored swords slowly turned to track Huang Jiaozi; their faint color was terrifyingly visible! Huang Jiaozi hurriedly swayed left and right, his feet never stopping, but wherever he went, the sword energy pointed. It seemed that once Jin Qi unleashed his inner force, these sword energies would possess unparalleled power, striking relentlessly, piercing his heart like a thousand swords!
"Are you convinced?"
Fen Yu asked, admiring Jin Qi while smiling and showing off.
Unexpectedly, the senior disciple of the Kongtong Sect outside still spoke calmly, "Scare people? Anyone can do that."
"Fine! You say I'm scary? Haha..."
"Jin Qi exclaimed excitedly. With this thought in mind, he soared into the air, using the wind to propel himself upwards, chanting incantations continuously: 'All gods pay homage, command thunder and lightning.
Demons and monsters tremble in fear, spirits forget their forms.
Within lies thunder, the Thunder God conceals his name.
Penetrating wisdom, the Five Plates of the Tomb of the Hell!'
A powerful 'whoosh' sound echoed through the valley, followed immediately by an overwhelming barrage of sharp, piercing sounds. Countless sword energies streaked across the sky, carrying powerful killing intent and malevolent energy, rushing towards Huang Jiaozi. Jin Qi had unleashed a volley of ten thousand swords!
In the blink of an eye, the first thirteen sword energies of the sword formation had already reached Huang Jiaozi!
How could Huang Jiaozi, with his Daoist techniques, withstand this invisible sword energy? Fear filled his eyes, his face turned deathly pale, and he could only stand there, stunned, unsure whether he was frightened by Jin Qi's myriad sword energies or simply waiting for his senior brother to come to his rescue!"
Suddenly, Elder Wuji's expression changed slightly, for he had seen a purple light drift in from beneath Jin Qi's sword formation, landing directly on Huang Jiaozi, seemingly there yet not there!
Jin Qi, Ru Ruo, Prince, and Fan Shang Dao Ren also saw it, and couldn't help but think, "What is that?"
However, Jin Qi's sword energy didn't stop at all, and had already pierced Huang Jiaozi!
Unexpectedly, the purple light on Huang Jiaozi's body flashed three times without any apparent reason; he only took three steps back, but was not injured!
"Ah!"
Fen Yu couldn't believe it and hurriedly asked, "What happened?"
With his and Bing Shuang's Daoist techniques, they couldn't see the flashing purple light! They all thought that Huang Jiaozi would at least be knocked down by the sword energy, or pierced through the heart...
but now, Huang Jiaozi was almost unharmed!
That purple light was clearly an invisibility and assassination-avoidance immortal garment!
Jin Qi was taken aback and launched three more sword energies in quick succession, their attacks booming. However, without exception, they were all blocked by the shimmering purple concealment and assassination robe!
Jin Qi was puzzled, knowing that the attacks were futile and merely a waste of his Dao power. So he simply landed on the ground, flicked his right hand, and retrieved the "Phoenix Essence Blood, Exquisite Divine Sword" into his body, withdrawing all the attacking sword energies!
"Senior, what is that?"
The prince knew that even his uncle, Fan Shang Daoist, didn't know, so he directly asked Elder Wuji. Clearly, Jin Qi didn't know either!
Huang Jiaozi was extremely pleased with himself, his face now ashen. He ran back to the Kongtong Sect members, a flash of purple light emanating from his body as his senior brother retrieved the magic weapon. Huang Jiaozi exclaimed joyfully, "Thank you for your help, Senior Brother!"
"This is an invisibility and averting-kill immortal robe, called the Eight Trigrams Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe!"
Elder Wuji said softly. "Wearing it, it is not only as light as a feather, but also has a strong defensive power against all powerful magical attacks. It can save you from swords and spears, making you impervious to blades and spears!"
Jin Qi and Prince Ru were both greatly surprised upon hearing this: "The Eight Trigrams Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe! Isn't that the protective magic robe of Guang Chengzi, the head of the Twelve Immortals of the Ancient Jade Void Palace!"
"Hmph, not bad!"
That arrogant voice rang out again: "It is indeed the Eight Trigrams Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe left behind by our ancestor!"
Everyone finally understood. No wonder the senior disciple of the Kongtong Sect was so fearless; he possessed such a magical treasure, an ancient artifact. The "Phoenix Essence Blood, Exquisite Divine Sword" was forged by a descendant of the Shu Mountain sect—how could it possibly be broken?
Jin Qi finally noticed and wanted to see who this senior disciple of the Kongtong Sect, who possessed the Eight Trigrams Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe, was!
Chapter 8019: A Hundred Years' Worth of Talents Emerges from the Wilderness.
He carefully observed the four people from the Kongtong Sect. Huang Jiaozi was talking to the remaining three. How could the knowledge of the Daoist Fan Shang be compared to that of these younger generations? Seeing that Prince, Jin Qi, and Ru Ruo didn't seem to recognize the people there, she whispered, "Huang Jiaozi is a disciple ranked outside the top twenties under the Eight Trigrams Daoist, and the disciples dressed in blue and cyan beside him are his sixth senior brothers, Lan Chen and Qing Suo!" Jin Qi
was somewhat surprised. Given Fan Shang Daoist's status as a first-generation master of the Shu Mountain Sect, he should logically know first-generation elders or masters of comparable status even if he knew members of the Kongtong Sect. How could he even know the disciples under the Eight Trigrams Daoist? Clearly, the Shu Mountain Sect had carefully investigated the people of various sects!
Bing Shuang asked softly, "Senior, who is that young man in white robes, so otherworldly?"
He was referring to the person Jin Qi was currently concerned about—the senior disciple of the Kongtong Sect, whom Huang Jiaozi had previously pleaded for help with, capable of wielding the Eight Trigrams Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe. This man appeared to be only twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, dressed in white, exuding an air of otherworldly refinement. His physique was imposing, and his appearance dignified. His eyes shone like cold stars, and his eyebrows were as dark as if painted with lacquer. His broad chest possessed an imposing aura, a power that could sway the heavens and earth, a force unmatched in the northwest; his words were bold and resolute, brimming with the ambition of wind, rain, thunder, and lightning. His heart was bold and courageous, like a lion descending from the clouds; his bones were strong and his muscles powerful, like a mythical beast shaking the earth. Like a sword drawn from its sheath, he was the leading figure of the Kongtong Sect in this era!
"Him? His Daoist name is Kuangye, and he is the eldest disciple of the Eight Trigrams Master!"
Fan Shang Daoist said softly, without any emotional embellishment.
If the Holy Maiden smiled and said, "The Kongtong Sect of Daoist cultivation is extremely mysterious. Outsiders only know that the sect leader is a Bagua Daoist, and know almost nothing else. I didn't expect you to know so much!"
This was the truth. The South Sea Sect and the Kongtong Sect were far apart, and they belonged to both Buddhism and Daoism!
Ouyang Xue'er had never heard of the Kongtong Sect before, and couldn't help but laugh and say, "I've heard of the four famous Buddhist mountains: Putuo Mountain in the South Sea, Emei Mountain in Sichuan, Jiuhua Mountain, and Wutai Mountain. But as for the famous Daoist mountains, apart from Kunlun and Wudang, I don't know anything about them. What's so mysterious about the Kongtong Sect?"
Jin Qi smiled and said, "Speaking of which, the Kongtong Sect of cultivation has a very long history. Apart from Kunlun, no other sect can compare! However, the Kongtong Sect never appears in the world. They hide in the seventy-two caves of Kongtong Mountain and cultivate diligently, just like those overseas rogue cultivators." Like immortals, they do not accept visits from fellow Daoists of other sects, making them incredibly mysterious. Over time, our Daoist sect has almost forgotten about their existence! It is also rumored that countless sorcerers have visited Kongtong over the past thousands of years, yet they cannot even find the gates of Kongtong! After
he finished speaking, Elder Wuji was unperturbed, and the prince did not seem to mind, but Daoist Fanshang's face turned cold. Hmph, although his Shushan lineage separated from the Daoist and Buddhist sects of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra in the middle, it has existed since the beginning of time. How can it be that in terms of historical origins, it is not as ancient as the Kongtong cultivation sect? Although he was not small-minded, he was not particularly magnanimous, and he couldn't help but feel unhappy! However, his main grudge was against the Kongtong sect, and he did not have much ill will towards Jin Qi.
The prince nodded, "Indeed! The founder of the Kongtong Sect was Grandmaster Guangchengzi, the head of the Twelve True Immortals of the Chan Sect. His magical power was profound, and the seventy-two Taoist grotto-heavens and blessed lands he created were incredibly wondrous and well-hidden. Even celestial beings descending to earth probably couldn't find them. This is the fundamental reason why the Kongtong Sect has been able to maintain its tranquility for so many years. Speaking of origins, although the Wudang Sect has the True Martial Emperor and the Holy Mother of Wudang, their status is still inferior to that of the head of the Twelve True Immortals of the Chan Sect!"
His words were actually a way of subtly pointing out to Daoist Fan Shang that Guangchengzi's status was above that of Puxian Zhenren. His father, Sanshi Zhenren, and he themselves naturally understood the true connection and never cared about the ranking of the Shushan Sect and the Kongtong Sect.
"If that's the case, Kongtong cultivators rarely participate in human affairs, so why have these four come today?"
Fen Yu asked, puzzled.
"It's all because of the unusual celestial phenomena. Today, a divine weapon was unearthed in the Nine Nether Valley, so the Eight Trigrams Sect Master sent his eldest disciple to lead a team of four!"
" The old man Wuji, who had been silent until now, spoke up.
Fan Shang Daoren looked at the open field three zhang away and, feeling that this man's spirit was not weak, nodded and said, "That's right. Although the Kongtong cultivators originally lived far away from the world, a hundred years ago they successively obtained the Eight Trigrams Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe, the Heaven-Turning Seal, and the Cloud-Sweeping Immortal Robe left behind by their Grandmaster Guang Chengzi! Until recently, they finally discovered a young man with innate talent for cultivation, and now he is ambitious and wants to come to the world to fight!"
Everyone had already seen the Eight Trigrams Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe; it was indeed an immortal robe!
"The Heaven-Turning Seal? Is it the Heaven-Turning Seal, the first magic weapon among the twelve disciples of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable? The bottom is engraved with the two characters 'Heaven-Turning,' and when thrown, it hits the head every time. Those hit by it die instantly?"
Bing Shuang asked in surprise.
"...And another thing! The Sweeping Clouds Immortal Robe, is that the legendary robe that can part the clouds to reveal the sun and command the wind and celestial phenomena?"
Fen Yu chattered excitedly.
Fan Shang Dao Ren stroked his beard and laughed, "You lot, why are you asking so many questions at once? I should answer them one by one! The Eight Trigrams Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe, the Heaven-Turning Seal, and the Sweeping Clouds Immortal Robe of Kongtong are all magical treasures from the Treasure Dividing Rock, but they can only be shattered with a single blow before the Four Swords of Immortal Execution. They dare not test their power!"
He raised his voice at the last sentence, making sure Kuang Ye and the others heard him!
Jin Qi was overjoyed, recalling Dong Shui Yue Cang's Immortal-Trapping Sword, and thought to himself, "If Yue Cang were to fight Kuang Ye, it would be quite a sight! Hmph, my 'Phoenix Essence Blood, Exquisite Divine Sword' is no match, but that doesn't mean this Eight Trigrams Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe can evade the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords!"
Old Man Wuji sighed. This was naturally true; the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords were the treasures guarding the Hongjun Ancestor's Treasure Distribution Rock! They could slay immortals!
"In recent years, the Kongtong Sect has sent Kuang Ye with these magical treasures, dominating the cultivation world. Naturally, they want Kongtong cultivation to surpass Kunlun, Shushan, Wudang, and others, becoming the number one Daoist sect in the world!"
Fan Shang Daoist said again. Now Jin Qi and Saintess Ruo Ruo understood why the Shushan Sect and Fan Shang Daoist were familiar with the Kongtong Sect!
The prince nodded, "Indeed! Kuangye is the first disciple of this generation in the Kongtong Cultivation Sect to reach the Nascent Soul and Out-of-Body realms! His cultivation techniques are profound and mysterious, and his attacks are the most authentic cultivation methods! Furthermore, he has consumed the Kongtong Cultivation Sect's 'Immortal Bean,' which grants the user three heads, six arms, and an extra eye, along with a small hand-cranked bell. Once shaken, it causes people to lose their senses and become unsteady! He is already famous in the cultivation world! Three years ago, he killed a three-hundred-year-old fish demon in Qinghai Lake, which is how the world came to know him!" "
How does the Kongtong Cultivation Sect compare to the Kunlun Cultivation Sect?"
Bing Shuang asked.
No one answered. Old Man Wuji thought to himself, if the Kongtong Cultivation Sect hadn't been wary of the Kunlun Cultivation Sect's God-Slaying Whip, they probably would have already tried to overwhelm Kunlun!
Fan Shang Daoren said softly, "That little bell is the magic treasure, the Soul-Sinking Bell."
Over there, Kuang Ye, Huang Jiaozi, and the other three were clearly also speculating about Jin Qi and the others' identities, whispering amongst themselves and occasionally glancing over. As for making a move, they no longer dared to!
Jin Qi, somewhat bewildered, asked with a smile, "Senior, I wonder what kind of people the current head of the Kongtong Sect, the Eight Trigrams True Man, and Kuang Ye are?"
"This can be seen from Taoist books! Grandmaster Guangchengzi was an ancient immortal. He lived in a stone chamber on Mount Kongtong. The Yellow Emperor heard of him and went to see him, saying, 'May I ask about the essentials of the ultimate Dao?' Grandmaster Guangchengzi replied, 'You govern the world, yet clouds fly without gathering, and grasses fall without turning yellow. How can you speak of the ultimate Dao?' The Yellow Emperor withdrew and lived in seclusion for three months before returning to see him. Grandmaster Guangchengzi was lying down with his head facing north. The Yellow Emperor crawled forward on his knees, bowed twice, and asked about the way to cultivate oneself. Grandmaster Guangchengzi suddenly rose and said, 'How profound! Your question is indeed profound! The essence of the ultimate Dao is subtle and mysterious, the ultimate Dao...'" "Be still and silent, without seeing or hearing, embrace the spirit in stillness, and the body will naturally become upright; one must be still and clear, without weary the body, without agitation the spirit, and thus one can achieve longevity. Be cautious of inner turmoil and outer isolation, for excessive knowledge leads to ruin. I guard the One, and dwell in harmony. Therefore, for twelve hundred years my body has never decayed. Those who attain my Way become emperors above; those who enter my Way become kings below… I will leave you, going to the land of nothingness, entering the gate of infinity, roaming the boundless wilderness, shining as brightly as the sun and moon, and becoming constant with heaven and earth. All men will perish, but I alone will remain." From this, it is evident that Grandmaster Guangchengzi is a great sage immortal!
The prince spoke first, proving that the names of the Twelve Immortals of Kunlun are truly well-deserved! Therefore, he had to address Guang Chengzi as "Grandmaster Xuan Shi." Fan Shang Dao Ren coldly said, "However, the current head of the Kongtong Cultivation Sect, Bagua Zhenren, is not of high immortal rank! Although he has reached the Return to Emptiness realm, where his primordial spirit and body are united, and he has cultivated the spirit to return to emptiness, making his primordial spirit and body as ethereal as divine thoughts, capable of transforming into countless forms and ever-changing forms, his prestige in the cultivation world is far inferior to that of the Kunlun, Shushan, and Wudang sect leaders!"
Over the past hundred years, San Shi Zhenren and Bagua Zhenren had secretly competed twice, both times accompanied by him, thus knowing this!
Jin Qi also knew that the highest level of cultivating the spirit to return to emptiness required the primordial spirit and body to be of the highest rank! However, the primordial spirit alone cannot exist for long. It is incredibly fragile; even a gentle breeze can disperse it. If the primordial spirit naturally disappears, it can be reincarnated and start anew. But if it is captured and used to craft magical artifacts, or directly refined, then reincarnation is impossible—it is a complete annihilation of body and soul!
He, the prince, Dongshui Yuecang, and the Holy Maiden Ruochen have not yet reached the Refining Spirit and Returning to Emptiness realm, and Kuangye has also not reached it. However, the leaders of the four major cultivation sects—Kunlun, Shushan, Wudang, and Kongtong—have all attained this realm!
This is the tenth realm among the thirteen levels of cultivation!
Chapter 8020 Unable to Recognize People, the Reason Speaking of
"Refining the Spirit to Return to Emptiness?"
the prince said with some envy, "I wonder when I'll be able to reach this tenth level!"
Frost glanced at the wilderness and said dejectedly, "And in legends, the wilderness is said to be as fierce as a wild horse, with a full beard, a tall stature, thick eyebrows and big eyes, riding the Kongtong Immortal Bird 'Fire Cloud Crimson Crane,' its body fiery red, flying 100,000 miles a day, which greatly enhanced its prestige! In the Western Regions, it shows no mercy to the underworld figures of Qilian Mountain, and is considered quite ruthless! It's famous! But seeing it today, it's only twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, dressed in white, elegant and otherworldly, truly extraordinary!"
After he finished speaking, he sighed again, clearly feeling somewhat ashamed as the eldest male disciple of the South Sea Sect's Ice-Embracing Master!
"Senior Fan Shang, what kind of storms has the wilderness stirred in the cultivation world?"
Jin Qi smiled and then asked.
Master Fan Shang said, "It is rumored that two years ago, the three great protectors of the Laoshan Sect were driven out of Penglai Island in the East China Sea, and had to lead nearly a hundred people of the Laoshan Sect back to Laoshan. Is this some kind of method used in the wilderness?"
Prince exclaimed "Oh!" and said in great surprise, "Strange! The Laoshan Sect has been established for hundreds of years, occupying the three islands of Laoshan, Yunmeng, and Penglai. Under the protection of the Putuo Sect of Guanyin Bodhisattva in the South China Sea, it has always dominated the East China Sea! It is quite prestigious. Although it is not a large cultivation sect, it is probably not much different from the major sects! And it is also rumored that several years ago, the Laoshan Sect was due to internal..." "Then the Kongtong Cultivation Sect took advantage of the situation and gradually encroached upon the East Sea. Back then, it was one thing for the Eight Trigrams True Man to severely injure the Laoshan Sect's leader! But now, he merely sent the leader's eldest disciple, Kuang Ye, and he immediately crippled the three great protectors of the Laoshan Sect, drove them out of Penglai Immortal Island, and seized it for himself! This shows how much the Eight Trigrams True Man values his eldest disciple, and it also shows that Kuang Ye's cultivation, skill, and cunning are truly extraordinary!"
Saintess Ruchen remained silent. She naturally knew about the Laoshan Sect's affairs. She was furious that day, and if her master hadn't stopped her, she probably would have flown there to challenge Kuang Ye!
"Hmph, after all, the Kongtong Cultivation Sect's magical treasures—the Eight Trigrams Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe, the Heaven-Turning Seal, the Cloud-Sweeping Immortal Robe, and the Fallen Soul Bell—are all magical treasures from the Treasure-Dividing Rock, possessing boundless power! The small Laoshan Sect cannot withstand them!"
" Fan Shang Daoren sighed.
Ouyang Xue'er, remembering something, couldn't help but ask in surprise, "The Kongtong Sect is a Taoist sect, while the South Sea and Laoshan are Buddhist sects. Doesn't that mean the Taoist and Buddhist sects have always been secretly fighting?"
She originally wanted to say, "As the saying goes, 'When beating a dog, you have to consider its owner.' How come the Kongtong Sect is dealing with the Laoshan Sect without giving the South Sea Putuo Mountain Sect any face at all?"
Her question made everyone lose face. Jin Qi thought to himself, "Hmph, you only just realized this now? Do you think the lineage of Taishang Laojun, Yuanshi Tianzun, and Tathagata Buddha are truly at peace?"
Wuji Laoren hurriedly stopped them, saying, "We are merely cultivators in the mortal realm. Don't presume to talk about celestial ancestors!"
He was only doing this for the sake of the common people! He didn't expect that everyone would speak without restraint and offend the celestial immortals!
Now that everyone had finished speaking, and the origins of the four from the Kongtong Sect had been clearly explained, Jin Qi turned around, bowed to Kuang Ye, and said with a smile, "So you are Senior Brother Kuang Ye, the eldest disciple of the Kongtong Sect Leader! It's an honor to meet you!"
Kuang Ye thought to himself, "Hmph, I've never seen any of these people before, yet they were able to guess who I am. They're quite something!"
Huang Jiaozi said smugly, "Hmph, now you know how powerful my eldest disciple is!"
Kuang Ye, however, was much more cautious. Looking at Fan Shang Daoist and the prince, he couldn't help but ask, "May I ask if you and Senior Brother are the protectors of the Shushan Sect, Senior Fan Shang and the young master of the Shushan Sect?" "Brother Prince? I've long admired the reputation of Mount Shu. It's an honor to meet you today!"
Prince was startled. If he could guess who others were, they obviously could too. He couldn't help but laugh and say, "Good eye! I've long admired Brother Kuangye!"
Kuangye looked at Elder Wuji, Jin Qi, and Ouyang Xue'er, and murmured, "The three of you look unfamiliar. May I ask your names?"
Jin Qi smiled and said, "We are just insignificant people. We don't have any great names. It's normal that you don't recognize us!"
Huang Jiaozi's sixth senior brother, Lan Chen, said coldly, "I originally thought you... were ordinary people too!"
"But what Senior Brother just said is that the immortal sword in your hand is the second-ranked of the Nine Treasures of Shu Mountain, the 'Phoenix Essence Blood, Exquisite Divine Sword'! How could it be an ordinary person?"
Huang Jiaozi's seventh senior brother, Qing Suo, said, "But if you were from the Shu Mountain Sect, how could we not know? The Daoist techniques are Shu Mountain Daoist techniques, but you are not from the Shu Mountain Sect. It's really surprising!"
Jin Qi was shocked, but he also realized that the wilderness did not know about the existence of the Xuanhuang Fanyin Reincarnation Temple!
Ouyang Xue'er said with a charming smile, "Anyway, you don't know who we are!"
She then asked Bing Shuang, "Brother Bing Shuang, how did you get into a fight with the Kongtong Sect?"
Fen Yu was not angry when she asked, but now that he was asked, he couldn't help but get furious and said, "It's all because of the Kongtong Sect's rudeness!"
Chapter 8021 Resolving Enmity, Entering the Valley Together
Ouyang Xue'er asked, "How were they rude just now, Brother Bing Shuang?"
She was familiar with Bing Shuang, so she asked him.
Fen Yu and Bing Shuang merely looked at Saintess Ruo Chen with awkward expressions, remaining silent; while Kuang Ye remained expressionless, Lan Chen and Qing Suo showed slight remorse, and Huang Jiao Zi fidgeted uncomfortably. Jin Qi, seeing these expressions, immediately understood: "These people from the Kongtong Sect have probably cultivated in the mountains since childhood and have hardly ever seen beautiful women. They must have offended Saintess Ruo Chen with their words!"
He recalled his own first meeting with Ouyang Xue'er, and sighed, feeling guilty towards Xue'er, who was actually a year younger than him.
Indeed! Kuang Ye
bowed deeply to Saintess Ruchen and said, "Saintess, please calm your anger! My foolish junior brothers were very rude just now! We hope you won't blame us!"
It was indeed the Kongtong Sect and the South Sea Sect who had landed in the valley one after the other on their swords. When Lan Chen and Huang Jiaozi saw Saintess Ruchen behind them, their eyes lit up, and their words were full of mockery: "I didn't expect to find such a stunning beauty in this desolate mountain! It's truly a great beauty who has fallen from the sky! If she came back to the mountain with me, it would be a wonderful thing!"
Saintess Ruchen snorted coldly, and Fen Yu said angrily, "Where did this wild dog come from? Can't you speak human language? So thirsty? Why don't you go home and serve your old mother?"
He had been in the mortal world for a long time, so his words were no longer pure and refined. In addition, seeing Huang Jiaozi's sleazy appearance, daring to mock the saintess in their hearts, he was just not happy!
"Hmph, I'm afraid you are surrounded by a great beauty every day, but you can't get to kiss her. You are really like a eunuch!"
Huang Jiaozi also said venomously, mocking Fen Yu.
So the two exchanged insults and curses, which finally provoked Fen Yu's anger to lead him to fight Huang Jiaozi with a sword!
"Hmph!"
Saintess Ruchen sneered, recalling these things. "Brother Kuangye speaks so easily! Your three junior brothers don't know we are disciples of the South Sea, but you don't? With the abilities of the eldest disciple of the Eight Trigrams True Man, how could you not see that my junior brother's swordsmanship is the South Sea Buddhist Swordsmanship? I knew the Kongtong Sect was extremely ambitious. Today they don't take my South Sea Putuo Mountain Sect seriously, and I suppose they won't take the Kunlun and Shu Mountain Sects seriously tomorrow either! Today Brother Kuangye can ridicule this young lady, so I suppose one day the Eight Trigrams Daoist will be able to trample the Kunlun Sect Leader and the Shu Mountain Sect Leader, the Three Beginnings True Man, under his feet!"
She deliberately pointed out the two major sects, Kunlun and Shu Mountain, and even mentioned the name of the Shu Mountain Sect Leader, the Three Beginnings True Man, firstly because this was Kunlun Mountain, and secondly, so that the Elder Wuji, Daoist Fanshang, Prince, and Jin Qi beside her could hear!
Old Man Wuji and Jin Qi were unfazed, but Daoist Fanshang angrily retorted, "Hmph, in my humble opinion, if the Kongtong Sect weren't wary of the Kunlun Sect's God-Slaying Whip, the Nine Nether Valley, and my Shu Mountain's Demon-Locking Tower, they would have already stormed Kunlun Mountain and Shu Mountain! Daoist Bagua, you certainly have a grand air about you!"
Prince shook his head slightly. This Saintess Ruchen was truly intelligent; with just one sentence, she had swayed the Shu Mountain people to her side, thus causing the South Sea Sect to suffer a great loss!
Even if Kuang Ye was bold, he wouldn't dare to challenge Prince and Saintess Ruchen alone, and even if the Kongtong Sect had great ambitions, they wouldn't dare to openly provoke the Kunlun Sect and Shu Mountain Sect! Moreover, he had already seen that Daoist Fanshang and Jin Qi were clearly on par with Prince and Saintess Ruchen in terms of cultivation, while Old Man Wuji, with his discerning eye, couldn't discern how high their cultivation levels were!
Such a master was clearly unfathomable, possessing Daoist techniques even surpassing those of their sect leader, the Eight Trigrams Daoist!
Therefore, he remained silent for a moment. Seeing their senior brother's silence, Lan Chen, Qing Suo, and Huang Jiaozi also slunk away in silence!
Elder Wuji, however, wouldn't stoop to the level of such a young man. Knowing when to stop, he softly asked, "Have you all come here today because the Shu Mountain, South Sea, and Kongtong sects intend to fight for fame in this valley, or for something else?"
With just a simple sentence, he brought everyone's attention back to the present. Yes, they had come to this valley today to seize the unearthed innate divine weapon, not for…
the feud between the three sects! The atmosphere of impending battle vanished completely with Elder Wuji's words!
Jin Qi hurriedly asked, "Master, could this be the Kunlun Nine Nether Valley?"
His heart was filled with anticipation and longing. This was a sacred place of the Daoist sect, even if it was a desolate valley!
This was also the matter that Wilderness, the Prince, and the Saintess Ruchen were most concerned about, and they hurriedly looked over.
"Of course not!"
The old man Wuji laughed, “Your masters from Shushan, Kongtong, and Putuo sects only know that the Nine Nether Valley is the first holy land of Taoism, but only the successive leaders of the Kunlun Sect know its exact location! Legend has it that the Nine Nether Valley is divided into an outer valley and an inner valley. The outer valley is a forbidden place in the world, called ‘Heavenly Darkness and Yin Annihilation Valley,’ which can be said to be the place with the most Yin energy in the world. When I entered this valley just now, I found that although it was morning, the sky had already become very dark, and the bone-chilling Yin wind had become even more fierce, with Yin energy soaring to the sky! If I am not mistaken, this is the outer valley of the Nine Nether Valley, Heavenly Darkness and Yin Annihilation Valley! As for the true inner valley of the Nine Nether Valley, no outsider knows where it is!”
Even Fan Shang Daoist, Prince, Jin Qi, Ru Chen, Kuang Ye, and others had never heard of these secrets about the Nine Nether Valley. However, seeing that the old man Wuji spoke so eloquently, they tacitly agreed that he was right!
Huang Jiaozi shouted, "Why should we believe you? Our sect leader told us that we came here by sword to the Nine Nether Valley, not some other 'Heavenly Darkness and Annihilation Valley'!"
Jin Qi coldly replied, "It seems only those with destiny can enter the inner valley. I wonder if you have that destiny! However, I do know one thing about you!"
"What is it?"
Ouyang Xue'er asked.
"Ignorance is bliss!"
Jin Qi said softly. Upon hearing this, Prince and Saintess Ruchen both laughed. It truly struck a chord with them!
Huang Jiaozi wanted to say something more, but seeing that his senior brother Kuang Ye remained silent in support of him, he knew he was being unreasonable and kept quiet.
Jin Qi took the lead and asked, "Master, is the Innate Divine Weapon in this Heavenly Darkness and Annihilation Valley?"
Elder Wuji nodded, remaining silent.
"Alright, we are all reputable sects, yet we're getting so worked up over such a trivial matter. It won't be good if word gets out!"
Jin Qi laughed again. "Now that the divine weapon has been unearthed, I'm afraid that besides the reputable sects, demons and evil cults will also come to try and seize it. Why don't we unite and eliminate the demons to protect the righteous path?"
He didn't know who the divine weapon would ultimately belong to, and he couldn't help but worry. If it fell into the hands of evil spirits, wouldn't it cause widespread suffering?
Kuang Ye thought about it and realized that this was the only way. He was afraid that to find the divine weapon, they would have to rely on the guidance of the old man Wuji. So he clasped his hands and said to the Holy Maiden Ruchen, the prince, and the others, "The Kongtong Sect is willing to enter the valley with you!"
Bing Shuang sneered, "Isn't it because you people from the Kongtong Sect are afraid of not being able to find the innate divine weapon?"
Huang Jiaozi retorted, "Can your South Sea Sect find it on your own?"
Clearly, even though the two sects were on the surface, they were not convinced of each other's true intentions!
Prince was too lazy to care about any of this now, as long as they didn't start fighting, that was fine. He
hurriedly turned to Elder Wuji and said, "Senior, please show me the way!" Elder Wuji's eyes stung with tears, and he sighed, "Alas, it's been three hundred years since I've been here. The Dark Yin An Netherworld Valley is still the same, the sword energy is like frost!"
He then raised his voice to the group and said, "You lot, instead of getting angry in secret, you should save your energy for what's to come. There are wonders you've never seen before!"
Jin Qi, Prince, Saintess Ruchen, Kuangye, and Ouyang Xue'er were all invigorated, their curiosity heightened by Elder Wuji's words. What were the innate divine weapons in the Dark Yin An Netherworld Valley?
Chapter 8022 The Dark and Yin-ridden Netherworld Valley
Jin Qi now saw that the Dark and Yin-ridden Netherworld Valley was indeed a vast canyon. The twelve of them were currently at the entrance of the canyon. Jin Qi and the Prince, protecting Ouyang Xue'er, walked in front, followed by Elder Wuji and Daoist Fanshang. Behind them were the South Sea Putuo Mountain Sect's Saintess Ruchen, Bing Shuang, and Fen Yu. Bringing up the rear were the Kongtong Sect's Kuang Ye, Lan Chen, Qing Suo, and Huang Jiaozi.
Fen Yu sneered, "There aren't any demons or monsters inside. Hmph, you Kongtong Sect people are so scared that you only dare to walk at the back! You say your fame is far-reaching and resounds throughout the Western Regions? What a joke!"
"If you're so capable, why don't you walk at the front? What's the use of just talking? Does it make you seem brave?"
Huang Jiaozi retorted without backing down.
Jin Qi and the Prince exchanged a smile. Sigh, even now, these two still had the mind to argue! How boring!
Meanwhile, the Holy Maiden Ruchen was either whispering with Bing Shuang or doing something else entirely.
With each step Ouyang Xue'er took, she felt a chill creeping in. Curious, she whispered, "Seventh Young Master, Prince, where are we? How much further?"
The Old Man Wuji didn't answer, simply continuing forward. Jin Qi and the Prince protected Ouyang Xue'er and followed.
However, the Prince had already set up the "Rejuvenating Warmth Barrier," a Shu Mountain Taoist technique. Otherwise, being a pure Yin maiden, she wouldn't have been able to withstand the chill of the Dark Yin Netherworld Valley. Without this barrier, every step she took would have frozen everything around her!
She was a pure Yin maiden; Bing Shuang had clearly told the Holy Maiden Ruchen, while Kuang Ye and the others from the Kongtong Sect were unaware for the time being.
Jin Qi wondered, "I wonder if the people of the Kongtong Sect, and Guang Chengzi, the number one of the Twelve Golden Immortals of Yuxu Palace, also know about the 'Rebellious Heaven-Destroying Tribulation' on the Seven Deadly Grounds of the Mortal Realm?"
It was just past the Ghost Festival and before the Mid-Autumn Festival, a time when the autumn heat should be unrestrained and the autumn sun should be shining brightly. However, in this dark and gloomy Netherworld Valley, it was cold and desolate, the mountains and fields were hazy
, and even the sky had turned twilight, like the heart of an abandoned lover, gradually sinking, becoming hazy and gray. "I finally believe that the Nine Nether Valley has nine levels. This is the outer valley, truly dark and gloomy, like the Netherworld!"
Lan Chen and Qing Suo whispered behind them.
"Senior, is the Nine Nether Valley beyond the Dark and Gloomy Netherworld Valley?"
Kuang Ye finally asked.
"No, the outer layer of the Nine Nether Valley has nine layers! This Dark Yin Nether Valley is only the first layer!"
Elder Wuji replied briefly without turning his head.
Every few hundred meters, Elder Wuji would stop to listen and calculate with his fingers. It seemed that someone was in the distance. Jin Qi hurriedly asked, "Master, what's wrong?"
Elder Wuji seemed to be talking to himself, saying, "Why are there so many experts coming today?"
Jin Qi didn't understand. After hesitating for a moment, Elder Wuji buried his head and continued on his way.
Prince, Ru Chen, Kuang Ye, and the others also heard this and were all shocked. They had already arrived at the righteous sects like Shu Mountain, Kunlun, South Sea, and Kongtong. What sect would the people coming from later be? Moreover, were they righteous or demonic? A demon who dared to steal divine weapons must be a first-rate demon!
They weren't too afraid of demons or heretics, but they were still young, and this was the first time they had encountered such an important matter without their masters by their side!
However, Elder Wuji was focused on Jin Qi. After all, he only had two days left in the world. After that, he had to be completely isolated from the human world. Jin Qi was the only successor of the Xuanhuang Fanyin Reincarnation Temple of his Phoenix lineage. Finding an unparalleled divine weapon for Jin Qi was his last wish!
Although it was a large group of twelve, Elder Wuji clearly didn't want to encounter the others and had obviously taken a detour. Jin Qi, Ouyang Xue'er, and the others remained silent, simply following behind. Unexpectedly, the canyon was surprisingly vast and boundless. The group continued to circle the cliffs within the canyon, and unexpectedly, this circle stretched for several miles. Jin Qi whispered, "Master, why don't we continue to fly across using the 'Follow Your Heart, Fate...Birth and Demise Flower'?"
It wasn't for his own sake; even if they had to travel another thousand miles, it wouldn't matter. But Ouyang Xue'er definitely couldn't take it anymore, as she was already panting heavily!
"Yes! Senior!"
Lan Chen shouted loudly from behind, "If we had known it was this far, why didn't we fly on our swords?"
This time, Fen Yu also muttered, "Yes, so tiring!"
It was rare for him to share the same opinion as the Kongtong Sect!
The old man Wuji whispered, "This is Kunlun Sect territory. They have many powerful cultivators. If we use magic to fly, they will find out! This could cause trouble for our visit today! We should have presented a visiting card and entered through the gate of Jue Tian Peak when we visited Kunlun Mountain! But the heretics obviously forced their way in on their swords. We can't be confused with them!"
Wang Ziqi asked, "We've walked three or four miles. Where are we going?"
The old man Wuji sighed, "We're going to the second level of the Nine Nether Valley, the Valley of Ten Thousand Swords, below the Jue Tian Peak, the central peak of the Kunlun Sect, which is revered by all under heaven. I'm going to take you to find a peerless divine weapon! It's the innate divine weapon that your respective masters instructed you to visit!" The
second level of the Nine Nether Valley, the Valley of Ten Thousand Swords—what a resounding name! Jin Qi trembled upon hearing it!
Although Jin Qi still had some doubts, he had admired his master immensely since childhood and knew that what his master said must be true. So he kept quiet and followed the old man Wuji on his way!
Meanwhile, the Wilderness, the Prince, and the Saintess Ruchen were secretly delighted. They had come under orders from their respective masters to search for divine weapons, but had been unable to find a way. Now, Elder Wuji was also searching for divine weapons; all they needed to do was follow him!
The twelve continued circling the canyon, which turned out to be a spiraling, layered structure, growing darker the deeper they went!
"Senior, the Heavenly Darkness and Annihilation Valley is indeed the first level of the Nine Nether Valley! Are we still inside?"
Huang Jiaozi asked again.
"We will soon have completely crossed the Heavenly Darkness and Annihilation Valley!"
Elder Wuji replied briefly.
Seeing that dusk was approaching, Jin Qi laughed, "Master, it's morning outside, the sun is rising, but I didn't expect it to be like dusk in this valley! Kunlun's geography is truly unique!"
Seeing the bottomless abyss ahead, he worriedly continued, "Master, this place must be right!"
The old man Wuji sighed, but confidently replied, "Alas, how could it be wrong? Although three hundred years have passed, this valley hasn't changed at all! Besides, I can already sense... Young Master Qi, you don't need to worry! The second level of the Nine Nether Valley, the Valley of Ten Thousand Swords, is already before us. Perhaps, the person or thing we want to see is not far away..."
Yes! It really wasn't far!
Just as the old man Wuji was speaking, Jin Qi suddenly raised his eyebrows; he seemed to have heard something! The prince, the wilderness, the Daoist of Fanshang, and the Saintess Ruchen also almost simultaneously changed their expressions. With their current cultivation levels, they were far superior to experts from ordinary sects who had cultivated for decades! They had all discovered something!
Sure enough! There was an unusual sound!
A sudden, mournful wail, like the wailing of ghosts, echoed from the darkness hundreds of feet away!
In the desolate mountains of the cold night, the sudden sound of ghostly wailing startled Jin Qi, who was encountering such a strange event for the first time. He was terrified, and Ouyang Xue'er, hearing it too, trembled even more, her heart pounding with fear. She exclaimed, "Ah... Prince... Seventh Young Master... these... cries sound so pitiful! But how can someone be crying in the middle of the night in these mountains? And it seems to me that it's not just one person crying, but many people... crying! What's going on?"
"Yes, yes!"
Fen Yu echoed, "Why is someone crying?"
Huang Jiaozi was also terrified, but seizing the opportunity to mock Fen Yu, he forced a smile and said, "Hmph, I thought the people of the South Sea Sect had exceptional composure, but they're so easily frightened!"
Bing Shuang coldly said, "Look at your own legs before you speak!"
Everyone looked over, and sure enough, Huang Jiaozi's legs were trembling uncontrollably!
"Ah, the fifty-step laugh... a hundred-step laugh!"
Jin Qi and the prince remained silent, but this was what they thought in their hearts.
Hearing their banter, Ouyang Xue'er became less afraid!
Unexpectedly, Old Man Wuji seemed to suddenly smile, as if he still had some anticipation for the sound. Jin Qi heard him say softly, "That's right, it's that crying! I haven't heard it for three hundred years! I didn't expect there to be so many more swords in the Valley of Ten Thousand Swords, the second level of the Nine Nether Valley!"
As the twelve of them spoke, their steps didn't falter, and they moved forward quickly!
Yes! The crying was becoming increasingly clear! This crying was definitely not from just one person, but from at least a hundred people, perhaps even more than a hundred, as if ten thousand people were crying!
Could it be a scene of hell? The wailing of a hundred ghosts!
Ouyang Xue'er practically leaned on the prince, who supported her step by step. Jin Qi watched this and sighed inwardly!
Lan Chen and Qing Suo's lips trembled. Only when they saw their senior brother, Kuang Ye, beside them, seemingly unharmed, did they feel reassured and struggle to move forward. They feared that if anything went wrong, they would simply fly away on their swords!
"Ah!"
said Fan Shang Dao Ren, "It's definitely not far, probably only a hundred or so feet away!"
Sure enough, just as Jin Qi was filled with doubt, Wu Ji Lao Ren suddenly quickened his pace again, heading straight for the source of the crying a hundred or so feet away.
Jin Qi, the prince, Ru Chen Sheng Nu, and Kuang Ye were even more urgent, following closely behind, protecting Ouyang Xue'er and the others. In this situation, they knew that staying by Wu Ji Lao Ren's side was their only source of strength. If Wu Ji Lao Ren left, they knew they would be even more terrified!
This was the time for experience and knowledge to shine; after all, the older the ginger, the spicier it was! Fan Shang Dao Ren? In front of Wu Ji Lao Ren, he was undoubtedly a junior!
Before long, the twelve had gradually approached the source of the crying, which was at the very bottom of the second valley. Jin Qi then realized that his earlier guesses… were all wrong!
Ahead was not hell at all! There were no wailing ghosts!
Not even a single human figure!
Since there was no human presence ahead, where did the "wailing" sound come from?
Jin Qi, the prince, the wilderness, and the Saintess Ruchen looked closely and finally understood why there had been the wailing of a hundred ghosts! It turned out that in the dark valley ahead lay the foot of a towering mountain, its summit covered in snow. This was likely the Kunlun Sect's central peak, Jue Tian Peak. At its foot, within a radius of a hundred feet, countless… various longswords were stuck in the ground!
"We have completed the first level of the outer valley of the Nine Nether Valley, the Dark Yin Absolute Nether Valley!"
Jin Qi nodded.
"Ah!"
Ouyang Xue'er exclaimed in surprise, "Swords...swords...so many longswords..."
"What's that sound of swords?"
Huang Jiaozi and Fen Yu wiped the longswords from their faces, laughing again, "We thought it was ghosts crying!"
The old man Wuji's expression was strange, as if he had seen an old friend, or as if it had triggered the most painful memories, his expression unpredictable and hard to fathom!
Jin Qi, the prince, Kuangye, Ruchen Saintess, Fanshang Daoist and others could all see clearly that these longswords were of different shapes and lengths, a motley collection, with every style imaginable, and no two swords were the same, or even identical.
There were at least ten thousand of these swords, as if they came from all over the world; all the swords had only two things in common, both were deeply embedded in the ground! And all of them were covered in rust!
The "wailing" sound just now was actually the strange sound caused by the cold wind blowing on these more than ten thousand rusty swords! These more than ten thousand embroidered swords seemed to weep in unison in the evening breeze…
But why did the swords cry out in unison? Why did their lament sound like weeping?
Perhaps only fate knows!
This is the second level of the Nine Nether Valley, the Valley of Ten Thousand Swords!
Clearly, the peerless divine weapon that everyone is looking for is inside, or at least related to this second level of the Nine Nether Valley, the Valley of Ten Thousand Swords!
Chapter 8023 The Three Friends of Winter Descend from the Sky
The group finally understood the source of the mournful cries and felt relieved. However, the thousands upon thousands of rusty swords before them, resembling the corpses of thousands of swords, and constantly emitting a "whooshing" sound, created an extremely eerie and sinister scene, quite frightening. Ouyang Xue'er, a girl with no magical powers, was even more chilled and said, "Prince, Seventh Young Master, for some reason, this place is filled with... thousands upon thousands of rusty swords. It's very eerie, even more sinister than a human tomb. We... should leave here quickly!"
At this moment, Fen Yu and Huang Jiaozi, no longer bothering to tease each other, laughed and said, "Fortunately, they are not ghosts, not ghosts! They are just swords!"
The members of the Kongtong Sect and the South China Sea Putuo Mountain Sect were also frightened, secretly thinking, "Our master sent us to this valley to search for innate divine weapons. I wonder what this has to do with the thousands of broken swords in this valley? This place is the Valley of Ten Thousand Swords, who knows?"
“But…”
Ouyang Xue’er trembled, “It’s truly terrifying!”
Old Man Wuji turned his head slightly and said, “Oh, really? Alas, a sword is inanimate; what’s so terrifying about it? You must know that the human heart is the most terrifying thing in the world!”
Fan Shang Daoren, having cultivated for a hundred years and experienced the vicissitudes of life, could somewhat understand Old Man Wuji’s meaning, but Jin Qi, Wang Zi, Kuang Ye, and the others were only in their twenties; how could they understand this?
Old Man Wuji had just finished speaking when he suddenly frowned slightly and whispered, “Young Master Qi, everyone, be careful! A powerful figure is approaching from afar!”
Wang Zi, Ru Chen Saintess, Kuang Ye, and the others looked around but heard no footsteps. They were surprised and thought to themselves, “Could it be that Old Man Wuji’s cultivation is far beyond that of our sect leader? He can sense it, but we can’t?”
“Senior, how many are there?”
Ru Chen Saintess asked.
“This is the first batch. Alas, who knows how many more batches will follow!”
Old Man Wuji answered irrelevantly.
Jin Qi, however, had no doubt about his master's words and was relieved. Then he remembered that the owners of the ten thousand swords in this valley must have been famous before, but they had to bury their beloved swords here. His eyes revealed a sense of pity for the more than ten thousand rusty swords!
But he didn't understand how there could be ten thousand swords here when this place was the valley at the bottom of the Kunlun Mountains. These swords didn't have wings, could they all be the legendary flying swords?
Ouyang Xue'er was finally no longer afraid, and her body was no longer cold. She moved two meters away from the prince. Being a woman, she naturally felt at ease. She took the hand of the Saintess Ruchen and went to examine the thousands of swords stuck in the ground. Suddenly, she stopped in front of a sword about two zhang away and exclaimed, "Strange! There are words on that sword ! Come and see!"
The prince, Jin Qi, Bing Shuang, Fen Yu, and the others rushed over. Ouyang Xue'er's fingers trembled as she pointed at a sword, her lips quivering as she said, "Look at that sword! What are the words on it?"
Upon seeing it, Jin Qi and the prince were puzzled, but the Saintess Ruchen sneered. Her ability to understand ancient texts was none of their business!
Bing Shuang recognized it and couldn't help but laugh, "Brother Kuangye, why don't you come and take a look?"
Kuangye was puzzled, but Lan Chen and Qing Suo had already come over and seen it, their expressions changing slightly. This sword was three inches longer and three inches wider than ordinary swords. Although it was now covered in rust, it was still clear that it used to be double-edged, making it the most straightforward weapon for killing! The two of them could recognize at a glance that this was a product commonly used by swordsmiths in Xiliang. To put it simply, this sword was the immortal sword of a master from the Kongtong Sect!
Huang Jiaozi was puzzled and asked, "What's wrong, three senior brothers?"
Kuangye was then greatly surprised and said, "It really is the sword of our sect's master!"
After he finished speaking, he focused his attention on examining the characters on the sword. Although the sword had been eroded by wind and sand for hundreds of years and was rusty, the characters on the sword were still faintly discernible!
Jin Qi, Wang Zi, and the others were unconcerned and allowed the Kongtong Sect members to watch. Kuang Ye, with his superior Daoist skills and sharp eyes, recognized the name softly and read it aloud: "Hengxing... Xiyu..."
"Hengxing Xiyu?"
Fan Shang Daoist frowned and murmured, "This name sounds familiar?"...
Wang Zi, Jin Qi, Ru Chen Saintess, Bing Shuang, and the others naturally didn't know, but Elder Wuji sighed softly, "Hengxing Xiyu was the nickname of a master of the Kongtong Sect three hundred years ago. He was unparalleled in both Daoist and sword techniques. Almost no one in the cultivation world knew his real Daoist name; they all called him by this nickname, Hengxing Xiyu! He was called Hengxing Xiyu Daoist, but alas..."
Fen Yu and Ouyang Xue'er were just wondering whether what Elder Wuji said was true or false when they saw Kuang Ye shake his clothes, his face filled with sorrow, and kneel down. Lan Chen, Qing Suo, and Huang Jiaozi also hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed when they saw their sect leader kneel down!
Kuang Ye's voice trembled as he said, "This unworthy disciple of the Kongtong Sect pays homage to my grandmaster's peerless sword, the 'Sword That Roams the Western Regions'!" He
knelt three times before rising.
He was the hope of the Kongtong Sect, and the Eight Trigrams Daoist had occasionally mentioned the previous generations of Kongtong Sect masters to him, including this 'Sword That Roams the Western Regions'!
"Senior Brother, what happened to my grandmaster after that? Where did he go?"
Huang Jiaozi asked.
"Well, I'm not entirely sure! I only heard from the Sect Leader that three hundred years ago, my grandmaster came to the Kunlun Nine Nether Valley to search for a primordial divine weapon, and then he disappeared... Alas... I never imagined... that today we would find my grandmaster's peerless sword, the 'Sword That Roams the Western Regions'!"
Kuang Ye sighed.
Jin Qi thought to himself, "It seems that Kuang Ye isn't such a heartless person after all!"
Huang Jiaozi then said, "Senior Brother, should we take this sword back to the back mountain of the Kongtong Sect and build a cenotaph for my grandmaster, burying the sword in the grave? Is that alright?"
"No need!"
Kuang Ye solemnly said, "Look at these thousands of swords around us. Although they are now covered in iron marks, in their heyday, which one wasn't a renowned sword that shook the world? The Sword That Roams the Western Regions might have gotten used to being with these thousands of rusty swords. Let's not touch it! Alas, Grandmaster Uncle, I'm sorry..."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Sword That Roams the Western Regions seemed to sense the sighs of the Kongtong Sect members. It trembled inexplicably amidst the wind, and a dragon's roar filled the air.
Jin Qi was still somewhat puzzled and asked again, "Master, what kind of peerless divine sword will be born today?"
The prince interjected, "I know it must be several times more powerful than the 'Phoenix Essence Blood, Exquisite Divine Sword'!"
Saintess Ruchen also sighed, "What kind of peerless sword will be unearthed? What a grand entrance! It needs thousands upon thousands of swords to accompany it?"
Everyone was puzzled.
Bing Shuang also searched among the myriad swords, sighing, "I wonder if any of the immortal swords of our South Sea Putuo Mountain sect's masters are buried here? Many of our grandmasters and grand-uncles were also masters of swordsmanship!"
He looked around, but unfortunately, the thousands of rusted swords were already unrecognizable, and among the thousands of swords that were not rusted, there were no immortal swords of the South Sea Putuo Mountain sect's masters.
"Buried? Why do you use that word, Brother Bing Shuang? It's quite frightening. This isn't a tomb!"
Ouyang Xue'er said with a playful laugh.
But Jin Qi's eyes lit up, and he laughed, "I think the second level of the Nine Nether Valley is truly a tomb of ten thousand swords today!"
"The tomb buries the dead, and from the dead comes life!
Neither dead nor alive, early life is early death!
I just wonder what kind of peerless sword will emerge from this tomb today? I just hope it's not just an empty reputation!"
Saintess Ru Chen, a member of the South Sea Buddhist sect, was most knowledgeable about the Buddhist principles of cause and effect and retribution, and she spoke again.
She was absolutely right! Atop the distant mountaintop, a spectacular and awe-inspiring scene was unfolding—the discovery of unparalleled immortal swords! Once everyone had passed by, the climax would begin!
Ouyang Xue'er, with her naturally tender heart, thought of the thousands of immortal swords in the valley just as Jin Qi had before. The owners of these swords must have been renowned figures in the past, yet they had to bury their beloved swords here. Countless years had passed, and although these swords were now covered in iron marks, they still retained their former grandeur!
Like Jin Qi, her eyes also revealed a pity for the more than ten thousand rusty swords, devoid of any fear, and instead filled with amusement. She couldn't help but say, "Heaven has instructed us, the twelve from several sects, to come here today, and there are two distant, solitary, towering peaks facing each other. I believe that something interesting will definitely happen here..."
Ouyang Xue'er hadn't finished speaking when, suddenly, behind everyone...
a voice descended from the sky. First, a high-pitched voice rang out, "Girl! You guessed wrong!"
Then another deep voice said, "Because nothing interesting will happen here!"
His voice was extremely hoarse, as if it came from the underworld!
Jin Qi, the prince, Kuang Ye, and the Saintess Ru Chen couldn't help but exchange glances. Sure enough, someone had come. The old man Wuji had already discovered it earlier, but they had only just found out! The difference between their abilities and those of the old man Wuji was truly vast!
Kuang Ye now admired the unknown old man Wuji even more. So these two had come from the sky riding swords. No wonder he hadn't heard their voices. But hadn't the old man just said...? In the valley behind Kunlun's Absolute Peak, ordinary people would absolutely not dare to use their Daoist magic. Could it be that these two are completely unafraid of the Kunlun Sect, which has been renowned for thousands of years?
Bing Shuang hurriedly turned around and asked, "Who are you two?"
But she still couldn't see anyone!
Old Man Wuji didn't turn his head either, but simply asked softly, "Not two, but three!"
Jin Qi, the Prince, Saintess Ruchen, and Kuang Ye felt even more desperate. Although there was another person who hadn't spoken, they hadn't heard him either! This person's Daoist magic was probably the strongest among the three!
Clearly, Old Man Wuji knew who these three people were!
"Master, who are they?"
Jin Qi hurriedly asked.
"The Three Friends of Winter!"
Old Man Wuji nodded and said.
He didn't have the mind to explain the identities of these three, but at least he told everyone their names!
Daoist Fan Shang's expression changed slightly. He had heard of the Three Friends of Winter. He originally thought they were all deceased Daoist friends, but unexpectedly, they were still alive! But the others—the prince, the Saintess Ruchen, the wilderness, and others—were only in their twenties. How could they have heard of the Three Friends of Winter?
Jin Qi, being young, didn't think twice, nor did he turn around, and asked, "Won't something interesting happen? Is this some kind of special place...?"
"Haha, of course it's a special place! This is the Sword Tomb!"
the loud voice that had spoken earlier quickly replied.
"Haha, indeed, it is the Sword Tomb!"
the hoarse voice chimed in, then burst into laughter again, a laugh filled with an indescribable eeriness!
The old man Wuji, whose face had been expressionless, finally spoke with a chilling expression upon hearing the words "Sword Tomb": "That's right, the Sword Tomb! This is the Tomb of Ten Thousand Swords!"
The Sword Tomb, the Tomb of Ten Thousand Swords! So the second level of the Nine Nether Valley was the Valley of Ten Thousand Swords, and within the valley was the Tomb of Ten Thousand Swords!
As soon as the old man Wuji finished speaking, Jin Qi trembled all over. Heavens! He had only been joking before, but now that his master had said it, it was clearly true!
The trembling of the ten thousand swords grew louder and louder, all wailing in unison—a truly magnificent spectacle!
Chapter 8024 Nine Netherworld Protectors, Three Extraordinary Individuals
Amidst the wailing of the ten thousand swords, Jin Qi, the Prince, Ouyang Xue'er, Saintess Ruchen, and the others turned around, finally seeing clearly the people descending from the sky!
Indeed, there were not just two, but three! Elder Wuji's assessment was entirely correct!
Two of the three had already spoken, both possessing profound inner strength! Although one spoke with a loud and forceful voice, and the other with a soft and gentle one, it was immediately clear that both had extraordinary abilities! The Prince, Kuangye, and the others dared not underestimate them! They all knew that countless cultivation masters were hidden in the world's famous mountains and rivers, unknown yet possibly extraordinary individuals!
Jin Qi paid even closer attention to the one who had remained silent, for although this person was utterly silent, his aura was the weakest. If he was not mistaken, among the three, his Dao cultivation was the highest!
Everyone's eyes lit up when they turned around! All because the three newcomers appeared to be extraordinary individuals!
"Haha! There are so many people, twelve in total!"
The loud-voiced man spoke again; he was a tall man dressed entirely in emerald green robes! He looked to be around forty years old, with a face like jade and three wisps of beard on his chin. However, judging from the aura emanating from his robes, he resembled a spirited guardian deity, possessing great integrity. Although somewhat thin, his physique was as agile as a dragon, and he wielded a celestial sword as clear as a pool of water. The hilt of the sword was carved with an incongruous emerald green bamboo, like a green sea in a snow-capped mountain, evergreen even in old age!
Behind the tall, slender man in green robes, who exuded integrity, came another man who spoke up: "Yes, Eighth Senior Brother! Look, we didn't even know how they got here! There were men and women among them, how did they manage to avoid our notice? Could they have come from the Dark Yin Absolute Netherworld Valley of the First Heaven? Did they willingly endure the chilling aura? Did they not even use their swords to come, or did they not know the way?"
Judging from the deep voice, he appeared to be no more than thirty-five or thirty-six years old, dressed in white, and shorter than the green-robed swordsman. However, what most incongruous with his voice was his handsome face, like the Mid-Autumn Moon, a winter flower, and eyes as white as snow in December; as the Saintess of Dust, Ouyang Xue'er sighed inwardly: "Heaven's creation of man is truly wondrous! A beautiful face, yet unable to have a beautiful voice!"
Jin Qi, the Prince, and Kuang Ye were focused on the immortal sword in this man's hand, as white as snow, with a six-petaled plum blossom carved on its hilt, blooming proudly against the cold!
"Hmph!"
Jin Qi understood: "If it weren't for Master's caution, we would have come directly by riding the flowers! We didn't want to disturb you while we were walking, but you still noticed!"
Clearly, the arrival of twelve people in the valley together was unexpected by Elder Wuji. If it were just him and Jin Qi, how could they have been discovered? However, all of this was preordained by fate, and no one could change it!
The last person remained silent. He was of medium height, much more robust than the people of Cuizhu and Nufang Meihua, with bright, piercing eyes and a fierce aura. He wore a moon-white and blue martial arts outfit, looking incredibly capable! However, he made no move, simply standing behind the two, and then an inexplicable aura of profound power surged towards Jin Qi and the others. This aura and profound techniques clearly indicated that he was the most powerful of the three!
Fan Shang Dao Ren's eyes narrowed slightly, showing considerable apprehension. Clearly, he had heard of these three!
The composed man in blue robes held no sword. Prince, Jin Qi, Kuang Ye, and Saintess Ru Chen were all shocked: "I didn't expect him to have already integrated the Sword Immortal Sword into his body! This is at least the eighth level of the Transformation Realm of Cultivation!"
Ouyang Xue'er was stunned when she saw these three experts descending from the sky. She thought to herself, "What era is this? They're still wearing traditional long robes? It's like a TV drama! They must be from the Cultivation Sect!"
However, she glanced at the dozen or so people around her and couldn't help but laugh! Old Man Wuji and Daoist Fan Shang were dressed in long robes, while Saintess Ru Chen, Kuang Ye... Prince, Jin Qi, and the others wore their usual sportswear with various colorful cloaks for warmth, making them look rather mismatched!
Watching TV dramas was truly Ouyang Xue'er's hobby. A few days ago, when she saw Wang Zi again, her first words were a smile: "Wang Zi, your prediction was so accurate! The 2004 TV King and Queen awards really did go to Bowie Lam and Gigi Lai! The big winner was 'War and Beauty'!"
Because of this, Wang Zi realized that Ouyang Xue'er hadn't changed at all, and he liked her even more!
She suddenly remembered that just a few days ago, she, Jin Qi, Wang Zi, and the others were high-level white-collar workers in a large international company, but today they had become demon-slaying heroes, spying on the immortal swords. She couldn't help but sigh at how many inexplicable things there were in the world!
And the "Rebellious Heaven-Destroying Tribulation" in the Seven Deadly Lands still awaited them!
Huang Jiaozi, oblivious to the immensity of the world, assumed these three were also there to spy on the innate divine weapon, and couldn't help but ask, "Who are you?"
The tall, thin man with the green bamboo sneered, "We didn't ask you, yet you're asking us? Interesting, very interesting!"
Fen Yu, puzzled, retorted, "Why should you be the one questioning us?"
The man with the white plum blossoms sneered, "So you're just a bunch of greenhorns, not even clear on where this place is, not even knowing who my three fellow disciples are?"
Lan Chen and Qing Suo whispered among themselves; they and Kuang Ye were also unaware. Bing Shuang and Ru Chen Saintess also looked helpless, while Fan Shang Dao Ren was quietly talking to the prince; perhaps, he knew.
Jin Qi hurriedly asked Elder Wuji, "Master, who are they?"
Elder Wuji remained calm and composed, having already turned around. He merely glanced at the three of them, a slight smirk playing on his lips, and said emotionlessly, "I foresaw today would be quite lively! But I never expected that the first to arrive at the second level of the Nine Nether Valley, the Valley of Ten Thousand Swords, the Sword Tomb, would be you and your two fellow disciples!"
Jin Qi was somewhat frank; it turned out his master recognized them!
"Senior, who are these three?"
Ouyang Xue'er pressed, "Could they be the 'Three Friends of Winter' mentioned earlier?"
The man with the white plum blossoms in full bloom was stunned, his heart filled with shock: "So, even before we landed, our identities had already been discovered! How is this possible?"
Who was this handsome old man with a long, white beard? His cultivation had remained perfectly still; he couldn't discern his true nature.
Clearly, this time, not only was the tall, slender man with the verdant bamboo stunned, but even the usually silent and composed man was somewhat surprised. The three brothers carefully examined Elder Wuji, Jin Qi, and the prince again. The man with the white plum blossoms in full bloom said, "So it turns out you are ten junior disciples from the Shu Mountain Sect, the South Sea Putuo Mountain Sect, and the Kongtong Sect! Elder, we three brothers do not recognize you! You are complete strangers, yet you dare to trespass into our Kunlun Sect's Nine Nether Valley?"
He obviously assumed Jin Qi was also a disciple of the Shu Mountain Sect based solely on his Taoist magic.
"Our Kunlun Sect's Nine Nether Valley?"
Jin Qi was stunned, feeling puzzled. Could it be that these "Three Friends of Winter" were members of the Kunlun Sect?
Huang Jiaozi was both amused and annoyed. "Isn't the Kunlun Sect's Jue Tian Palace located on the summit of Jue Tian Peak? Who trespassed? We are merely exploring the legendary Jiu You Valley, a sacred site shared by all Daoist sects. Does the Kongtong Sect not have the qualifications? Jue Tian Peak is the central hub of Kunlun's Daoist temples, but Jiu You Valley is not solely the domain of your Kunlun Sect."
“Yes!”
Qing Suo chimed in, “Besides, we walked here from several miles away, dismounting from our flying swords and walking! And you? You came on your swords! If we were trespassing into the Nine Nether Valley, wouldn’t you have done the same?”
Ouyang Xue’er rarely agreed with the two from the Kongtong Sect, but in her heart she was thinking, “Senior Wuji is too cautious. If he had known that someone was flying here on their swords, why would we have bothered to dismount Seventh Young Master’s ‘Follow Your Heart, Fate Creates Illusion and Destruction’ and come here on the flowers? Wouldn’t that have been much better?”
However, Prince, Jin Qi, Saintess Ruchen, and Kuangye remained silent. With their cultivation in Daoist arts, they already knew that these three, the “Three Friends of Winter,” were from the Kunlun Sect! ...
As expected, the man with the white plum blossoms snorted coldly and said seriously, "You young lad, you're quite the chatterbox! You actually asked such a ridiculous question! You must have been away from the Northwest cultivation world for a long time!"
Lan Chen asked, puzzled, "My Kongtong Sect is from the Northwest, but I rarely venture out! How is this question ridiculous?"
The man with the white plum blossoms said, "Do you know who we are?"
"Didn't I already say? We're the 'Three Friends of Winter'! But who are the 'Three Friends of Winter'? I still don't know!"
Qing Suo said.
Bing Shuang thought to herself, "Who knows who you 'Three Friends of Winter' are?"
But she pretended to be respectful and asked, "May I ask the esteemed names of the three seniors?"
The man with the white plum blossom in full bloom immediately became arrogant, saying, "Listen up, young men! I, the Third Master, am Elder Bai Mei of the Kunlun Sect!"
He then pointed to the tall, slender man with the green bamboo and said, "This Second Master is Elder Qing Zhu of the Green Bamboo Sect!"
Finally, with a slightly admiring look in his eyes, he said, "This First Master is Elder Qing Song of the Kunlun Sect! The three of us, the Three Friends of Winter, were famous throughout the cultivation world three hundred years ago, before your grandparents were even born! For the past three hundred years, the three of us brothers have guarded this Nine Nether Valley. With our Green Bamboo Immortal Sword and White Plum Immortal Sword, we have defeated countless villains who coveted the innate divine weapons of the Nine Nether Valley!"
"Ah!"
The four from the Kongtong Sect and the three from the Putuo Mountain Sect of the South China Sea were somewhat ashamed. It turned out that these three were the three great protectors of the Kunlun Sect in the Nine Nether Valley. In that case, their group of twelve was indeed suspected of trespassing!
Jin Qi felt a surge of anger, thinking to himself, "They actually called my master, myself, the prince, Xue'er, and the others 'villains who coveted the Valley of Ten Thousand Swords'? Outrageous!" He
then said aloud, "Hmm, so you are senior masters of the Kunlun Sect. No wonder you can freely ride your swords through the air! However, what are the mysteries of this second level of the Nine Nether Valley, the Valley of Ten Thousand Swords? What's with all the talk about how for hundreds of years, many have coveted this divine weapon? I haven't seen any treasure! But aren't you all over three hundred years old? Could you be the legendary sword immortals?"
Ouyang Xue'er clapped her hands and laughed, "Wow, to see sword immortals is truly amazing! Are you really over three hundred years old? If you were in the mortal realm, wouldn't you be able to apply for a Guinness World Record?"
"Hmph, what Guinness World Record?"
Elder Bai Mei sneered, "Western stuff, I don't care!"
Clearly, he too hadn't completely detached himself from the mortal world!
Elder Qingsong, Elder Cuizhu, and Elder Baimei were both amused and exasperated. Among these twelve, there were young men and women from the Daoist and Buddhist sects who were not weak in cultivation, as well as an old man whose Daoist skills were unfathomable. There was also an innocent and invincible girl from the mortal world who was as pure as snowflakes and knew nothing about Daoist power!
Chapter 8025 Green Bamboo and White Plum: A Detailed Explanation
Kuang Ye seemed to awaken from a dream, saying, “Pine and bamboo remain evergreen through winter, and plum blossoms bloom despite the cold; hence the name ‘Three Friends of Winter.’ The three seniors have adopted ‘Three Friends of Winter’ as their Daoist title, clearly indicating they are masters of profound Daoist power, unafraid of the harsh winter!”
“The ancient pines are hidden among the intertwined bamboos, a thousand trees of jade pear blossoms—truly the Three Friends of Winter! Even more worthy of red and white camellias! After late autumn, all flowers wither, only pine, bamboo, and plum blossoms remain—the Three Friends of Winter!” Saintess Ruchen murmured, “The plum blossoms are beautiful in the cold, the bamboo is slender yet long-lived! Protector Green Bamboo and Protector White Plum truly live up to their names!”
Knowing that the other party was the first generation protector of the local Kunlun Sect, they became increasingly polite!
Elder Cuizhu sneered, "I didn't expect you two to know! Judging from your appearance, you are one of the top disciples among the younger generation of the Kongtong Sect. Could you be Kuangye? Hmph, a disciple of the Bagua Daoist, I'd like to see how capable you are!"
He first looked at Kuangye, then turned to Saintess Ruchen, "Hmph, you are refined and elegant, with extraordinary Buddhist power. Clearly, only Master Baobing could cultivate such an outstanding female disciple. You must be Saintess Ruchen of the Putuo Mountain Sect in the South Sea!"
Kuangye and Saintess Ruchen were both shocked. Although the Kunlun Sect was secluded in the Northwest, it was clear that they were well aware of the changing winds and clouds in the cultivation world! Otherwise, they wouldn't have sent Dongshui Yuecang to assist the prince!
Ouyang Xue'er also laughed, "Prince, you don't have a Daoist name yet. Why not choose one that's more elegant? Listen to this Daoist name, 'Three Friends of Winter,' it's truly incredibly elegant!"
"Yes! In the freezing cold, when flowers and trees wither, only the Three Friends of Winter thrive and bring life!"
Prince smiled helplessly, "The Daoist names of the three seniors are so grand! I admire them!"
Protector Bai Mei rarely smiled and said, "Prince? Oh! So it's you! Haha, the group from the Qilin Company who fought the dragon-breeding Baxia monster, right? You don't need to say anything, you are naturally Prince, the young master of the Shushan Sect! Haha, what does it matter that you don't have a Daoist name yet? Your father, the Three Beginnings True Man, is a learned man, what profound Daoist name could he possibly use to name himself?"
Clearly, the relationship between Shushan and Kunlun is not bad!
Elder Cuizhu also suddenly realized and said, "Yes, how could I forget it was them?"
This made Jin Qi and the others a little confused!
Jin Qi was surprised, and Ouyang Xue'er also pouted her cherry lips and laughed, "Prince, look, the three protectors only have a good impression of you!"
"Haha, not at all! And you too! Isn't this because of my junior sister?"
Protector Bai Mei laughed again, "This young lady has no magic on her body and is very weak. Just considering her sect, I can't guess her background at all! But the young lady's skin is as white as snow, exactly as my junior sister described. Who else could it be but the young lady Ouyang Xue'er that my junior sister mentioned?"
Obviously, Dong Shui Yue Cang did not tell the three protectors that Ouyang Xue'er was a pure Yin body!
Ouyang Xue'er couldn't help but giggle, "I finally understand, it's Sister Yue Cang!"
"And this young man, judging from his name, is 'Seventh Young Master.' My junior sister also mentioned you when she was talking to the sect leader!"
Protector Bai Mei had now become a polite expert, a complete 180-degree turn from her previous scolding manner, which was truly unbelievable.
Jin Qi, ever the obligatory polite maneuver, bowed and said with a smile, "Miss Yue Cang's Daoist arts are profound, and I never imagined her three senior brothers would be so devoted to guarding the most mysterious Nine Nether Valley, the most mysterious place in the Daoist sect. Their responsibility is truly immense!"
Ouyang Xue'er, however, was puzzled and asked with a smile, "Senior, Sister Yue Cang is only nineteen years old, how could she be your... junior sister..."
This question undoubtedly puzzled everyone. Protector Bai Mei smiled and said, "Well, that's a long story! I'll explain in detail later!"
His smile now revealed his fair skin and rosy lips, and even his hoarse voice sounded less unpleasant!
Seeing that Protector Qingsong hadn't spoken, Ouyang Xue'er wanted to praise him, so she smiled and said, "Bamboo is evergreen, and plum blossoms bloom magnificently in the snow! But the pine is even more extraordinary. The pine grows taller and purer than frost and snow. I've long heard of pine forests where the north wind blows, the forest roars, the valleys tremble, and the heart is moved! What a magnificent spirit! A lone pine stands alone on the mountaintop, truly a sight to behold in the twilight, calmly watching the swirling clouds! I originally thought these were just descriptions in books, but upon meeting Protector Qingsong, I realized that I was originally from a..." "You can really feel that from someone of high status!"
She was the Human Resources Manager of the international company Qilin, a seasoned elite. Her skill lay in praising people so eloquently without sounding obsequious. Even the usually solemn Protector Qingsong couldn't help but smile, sigh, and say, "Prince, Seventh Young Master, Miss Xue'er, you are our junior sister's friends, so you are naturally welcome to visit Kunlun!"
The Prince was overjoyed. He hadn't expected Ouyang Xue'er's few words to have such a wonderful effect! However, he still preferred to stay in the Nine Nether Valley, wanting to see the innate divine weapons later!
Lan Chen and Qing Suo were indeed embarrassed; the Kongtong Sect had been neglected. They didn't even consider that the Kunlun Sect and the Kongtong Sect were fierce rivals in both cultivation and martial arts, vying for supremacy in the Northwest. These three were sword immortals who had been famous for three hundred years; why should they be polite to them?
The three from the Putuo Mountain Sect in the South China Sea were clearly much more composed! They all remained silent. Bing Shuang knew her own limitations and knew that Dong Shui Yue Cang would not say much about himself.
Qing Suo turned to Kuang Ye and asked, "Senior Brother, are the 'Three Friends of Winter' protectors of the Kunlun Sect very famous? Are the treasures in the Nine Nether Valley very powerful? Why have I never heard of them?"
He knew that Kuang Ye possessed many ancient divine artifacts and magical treasures of the Kunlun Sect, and feared no one! Kuang
Ye remained silent, still deep in thought. His fame among the younger disciples was not solely due to his superior Dao power; his intellect was also unparalleled in the Kunlun Sect!
Elder Cui Zhu angrily retorted, "Hmph, ignorant! You four from the Kunlun Sect secretly entered the valley, yet you don't know about the treasures of the Nine Nether Valley, and you don't even recognize us… The Kunlun Sect, truly amusing! If you four have nothing else to do, please leave!"
He was now issuing an order to leave!
Kuang Ye hurriedly said, "My master said that today, a primordial divine weapon has been unearthed. It is destined to be obtained by those with the right fate. I urge the three protectors not to act against the will of Heaven and to avoid discrimination!"
Indeed, although Nine Nether Valley is located in Kunlun Mountain, how could it belong to the Kunlun Sect?
"Hmph!"
Elder Cuizhu snorted coldly, "Your whereabouts can be easily discovered by us. How profound can your Dao techniques be? How can you gain the favor of a primordial divine weapon? I advise you not to seek trouble for yourselves and leave first!"
Kuang Ye remained silent, secretly calculating in his heart. Yes, the four of them were secretly discovered without their knowledge. How great must the difference in their magical power be?
Elder Wuji smiled slightly, his eyes shining brightly. He said, "Hmm! What abilities could your Protectors Cuizhu and Baimei possibly have to discover our entry into the valley? You three brothers merely entered the valley on your own and happened to see us! If I wanted to avoid you, it would be incredibly easy! Today, I'm not here to protect the Kongtong Sect, but since they entered the valley with us, it's best if they come in together!"
He spoke the truth. Before the three protectors had even discovered the twelve of them, Elder Wuji had already found them. If he wanted to avoid them, it wouldn't have been difficult at all!
Elder Cuizhu was taken aback, muttering to himself that he and his two brothers had indeed accidentally discovered the group earlier! He hadn't expected Elder Wuji to be so perceptive and knowledgeable! He was momentarily stunned!
"Hmph! Even if my esteemed sect leader, the Ten Howling Sword Immortal, were here, knowing my identity, he wouldn't dare to be disrespectful to me! I remember hundreds of years ago, the Kunlun Sect's reviver, the Bloodstained Xuanyuan Sword Marquis, personally issued the sect rules: only the sect leader of the Kunlun Sect could enter this Nine Nether Valley. You could only guard the Jue Tian Peak and prevent those who entered the valley, and you yourselves were not allowed to enter! The current Kunlun Sect leader is my esteemed senior brother, the Ten Howling Sword Immortal. When did he become the 'Three Friends of Winter'—the green pine, the green bamboo, and the white plum?"
Seeing that he had already suppressed Elder Cuizhu and Elder Baimei with his aura, Elder Wuji pressed his advantage, further breaking down Elder Cuizhu's psychological defenses.
This time, even Protector Qingsong was startled and moved: "Our sect's master, Bloodstained Xuanyuan, the Sword Marquis of Xuanyuan? Senior, you seem to know everything. Who exactly are you?"
Elder Wuji naturally didn't answer. Seeing this, Jin Qi quickly laughed and said, "So the three of you senior protectors also secretly entered the valley! What a pity. You describe this Nine Nether Valley as so mysterious. You've been on Jue Tian Peak every day, yet you can't enter. For three hundred years, you've had a treasure mountain but couldn't go in. You must be really envious!"
Protectors Cuizhu and Baimei then realized that Elder Wuji was definitely not someone to be trifled with. Protector Cuizhu, however, was straightforward. Her tiger eyes narrowed, and she said, "Seventh Senior Brother, Ninth Junior Brother, they've seen through our intentions. Let's fight them!"
The three of them were ranked seventh, eighth, and ninth among the disciples of that generation!
Jin Qi hurriedly said, "Three senior protectors, we have no grudges against you in this valley. Whether you come in or not is none of our business! There is no need to fight!"
Protector Qingsong saw that Elder Wuji showed no emotion, and his cultivation was definitely no less than that of the sect leader! Even if the three of them attacked together, they would hardly have a 50% chance of winning, not to mention that there were also Kuangye and others with extraordinary Dao power cultivation beside them. He immediately stopped Protector Cuizhu, saying, "Eighth Junior Brother, don't be impulsive. The three of us brothers have come to this Sword Tomb today for serious business. Don't delay! Besides, many of them are Junior Sister's friends! It wouldn't be good if Junior Sister got into a tirade!"
Ouyang Xue'er chuckled inwardly, "Could it be that these three protectors, renowned for three hundred years, are still afraid of Sister Dongshui Yuecang? Why is that?"
Protector Cuizhu replied, "Seventh Senior Brother, Junior Sister's friends are of course fine! But these young lads from the Kongtong Sect are still so inexperienced, they don't seem to have any real skills. They even walked in instead of flying on their swords. What are we afraid of?"
He clearly disliked the people from the Kongtong Sect and wanted to teach them a lesson.
Protector Qingsong coldly said, "This Kunlun Valley is hundreds or even thousands of miles long. Look, they didn't bring any luggage. Could they have gotten here in an hour? They must have flown to the valley entrance on their swords and then walked in! For the sake of this respect, let them go for now!"
As the leader of the three, his words carried great authority. Protectors Cuizhu and Baimei, seeing that their senior brother was determined, reluctantly remained silent.
It seemed that Protector Qingsong was very measured in his actions. He then turned serious and said, "Junior brothers, don't forget what we said before we entered the valley. We are willing to bear the punishment of our sect leader to go down to the Nine Nether Valley! We must avoid causing any trouble on this trip!"
Protectors Cuizhu and Baimei nodded in agreement. Clearly, the three of them had agreed to obey Protector Qingsong after entering the valley!
The old man Wuji said calmly, "Besides, the people who have come today are far more than just the twelve of us and your three fellow disciples! If you have the energy, you should save it for later, to eliminate demons and protect the righteous path! We're not here to fight! Since you've only made this decision after three hundred years of hardship, you should go and seek the innate divine weapon!"
Protector Qingsong asked in surprise, "Senior, are you saying that there are other great demons coming to snatch the divine weapon?"
He was extremely worried, but Jin Qi, fearing nothing more than peace and quiet, shouted, "Wow, if we could plant the 'Rebellious World-Destroying Heavenly Tribulation' in the Seven Deadly Lands to lure the great demon here, how exciting that would be! We could witness a magnificent battle!"
However, he didn't consider that with his current magical power, even if he could escape using the "Flower of Destiny and Illusion of Fate," the "Eternal Calamity and Heart-Destroying Cauldron" probably wouldn't be able to subdue the great demon!
Chapter 8026 is the upper three levels, abandoning the myriad swords.
"Of course, a great demon has come!"
Elder Wuji said solemnly, "If the sect leaders of Kunlun, Shushan, Kongtong, and the South Sea Putuo Mountain sect could predict the excavation of the innate divine weapon today, how could the evil demons and heretics not predict it? Alas, I just don't know which direction the great demon who has come today is from!"
"As long as it's not a great demon who has laid down the 'Rebellious World Annihilation Tribulation', that's fine!"
Prince laughed.
The South Sea Putuo Mountain sect and the Kunlun sect, because of the matter of Bing Shuang and Dong Shui Yue Cang, Ru Chen Saintess and Fen Yu naturally knew that the "Rebellious World Annihilation Tribulation" was being initiated in the human world, but the four members of the Kongtong sect knew almost nothing about it. Lan Chen, Qing Suo, and Huang Jiaozi had never heard of the name "Rebellious World Annihilation Tribulation" and didn't know much about it! However, Kuang Ye exclaimed in shock, "Brother Prince, are you referring to the 'World-Defying Heaven-Destroying Tribulation'? The 'World-Defying Heaven-Destroying Tribulation' that can obliterate everything in the Three Realms, leaving even the Dao Ancestor and Buddha powerless?"
Saintess Ruchen was also solemn. Her sect leader, Bao Bingshangren, had ordered her to come to the Nine Nether Valley from the Immortal Mountain for the first mission, and the second mission was to investigate the "World-Defying Heaven-Destroying Tribulation." The two great protectors, Cuizhu and Baimei, were both greatly alarmed and asked softly, "We must be on guard! Senior Brother, what should we do? Should we inform Senior Brother Sect Leader and Junior Sister?"
In this world, the Qilian Mountains, Ailao Mountains, the Ten Thousand Mountains, and the Great Snow Mountains are all filled with yin and demonic energy! Furthermore, in the mountains of Guandong and Jiangnan, many powerful demons live in seclusion. The three protectors had heard of these demons and were somewhat afraid when the Ten Howling Sword Immortals spoke of them. They wondered how they would deal with them if they encountered them today.
Protector Qingsong knew that this was likely the case! However, the Kunlun Sect members, whose spirits endure for millennia, had no intention of retreating in the face of battle. He calmly declared, "Great demons, come if you will! Are we, the Kunlun Sect, cowards who fear death?"
"That's right! To slay demons is the true spirit of our immortal swords!"
Ouyang Xue'er laughed. She was unaware of the demons' powerful magic, which explained her ease, while the others showed no such composure! This might mean that in the war between good and evil, someone would be forced to sleep forever in the Nine Nether Valley!
Jin Qi, seeing the three guardians before him—the green pine, the emerald bamboo, and the white plum—knew at a glance that their eyes, stances, and auras were all first-rate sword immortals and Kunlun masters. Their reputations were certainly not undeserved; their three hundred years of secluded cultivation were no child's play. Yet even these three were somewhat alarmed, demonstrating that the world truly was a place where "the righteous are one foot high, but the demons are ten feet high." Even the three great masters of the Kunlun Sect were wary of the demons of the world!
The prince saw the sorrow in everyone's eyes. After all, today, whether it was the Xuanhuang Fanyin Reincarnation Temple, the Shu Mountain Sect, the Kongtong Sect, or the South Sea Putuo Mountain Sect, all were reputable sects. With a demon attacking, they naturally had to resist! He wanted to change the subject, so he asked, "Seniors, don't worry. As the saying goes, 'When soldiers come, generals will block them; when water comes, earth will dam it!' I want to ask Senior Bai Mei, what are the mysteries of this Nine Nether Valley? How many levels does it have? Wasn't it said that there would be innate divine weapons tonight? Why did we only see broken swords scattered on the ground?"
He knew that among the three protectors—Qing Song, Cui Zhu, and Bai Mei—Cui Zhu had the most fiery temper, and Qing Song rarely spoke. So he directly asked the seemingly gentlest protector, Bai Mei.
"Hmph!"
Huang Jiaozi sneered, "In my opinion, this Nine Nether Valley is nothing but a name! The first level is the gloomy and dark Netherworld Valley, where the yin energy is strongest, and the bone-chilling yin wind howls to the sky! As for the second level, the Valley of Ten Thousand Swords, it's just a place littered with broken swords. I wonder how many levels there are, and where the treasures are. Is it just a name without substance?"
Protector Bai Mei gave a bitter smile and said, "To be honest, the legendary Nine Nether Valley, which is said to suppress the three souls and seven spirits forever, with its flowing weak waters, is nowhere to be found. I really... I don't know if my sect leader knows! For hundreds of years, I only know that the first level of the Nine Nether Valley is the outer valley, the gloomy valley you came from; the second level is the Valley of Ten Thousand Swords beneath your feet; and the third and fourth levels are..."
He stopped abruptly, realizing his mistake, and didn't continue. After all, the Nine Nether
Valley was the Kunlun Sect's greatest secret. The more other sects, especially the hostile Kongtong Sect, knew about it, the worse it would be!
Everyone realized that at least four levels of the Nine Nether Valley were known to the Kunlun Sect, but what about the remaining five levels? Undoubtedly, it was a huge secret!
Lan Chen sarcastically remarked, "Wow, the Nine Nether Valley is located in the Kunlun Mountains! It's strange that the first generation of experts and elders in the Kunlun Sect didn't know its secrets! I wonder if the Nine Nether Valley really has the legendary nine levels!"
Protector Cuizhu, with a loud voice and fiery temper, immediately retorted with disdain, "What an ignorant brat! You're still wet behind the ears, what do you know? Let me tell you, we are currently in the second level of the Nine Nether Valley, the Valley of Ten Thousand Swords! And over there is a mountain peak, the one you can see a thousand feet ahead, that's the third level of the Nine Nether Valley, 'Sword Peak.' The place we're standing here is already called the 'Tomb of Ten Thousand Swords' by the martial arts world! After passing the Tomb of Ten Thousand Swords, you can ascend the third level of the Nine Nether Valley, Sword Peak, and on Sword Peak, there are thousands of years of..."
He trailed off, then fell silent.
Upon hearing this mysterious news, Prince Jin Qi frowned slightly and glanced at Old Man Wuji, who also seemed to be deep in thought.
Kuang Ye, with his exceptional intelligence, provoked him with a question: "Senior, why did you stop talking? Why are you teasing me like this? What exactly is the Tomb of Ten Thousand Swords in the Valley of Ten Thousand Swords? What does it mean?"
Seeing his ignorance, Protector Cui Zhu immediately mocked, "Haha! This kid is truly ignorant! And you call yourself the First Disciple of the Kongtong Sect? Everyone in the cultivation world, even thieves and villains, knows it! The Tomb of Ten Thousand Swords is where all the cultivation masters left their immortal swords before ascending Sword Peak! Later, the swords accumulated, forming a tomb, hence the name 'Tomb of Ten Thousand Swords' among the martial arts world!"
Jin Qi, even more curious, asked, "Why do cultivation masters ascend Sword Peak? And why do they leave their immortal swords at the foot of the mountain in the Tomb of Ten Thousand Swords before ascending?"
He knew that in the hearts of cultivators, each immortal sword was meticulously forged. Although it wasn't a matter of the sword and the person dying together, there was still a deep emotional connection between them!
Protector Bai Mei smiled and replied, "Because they are going to Sword Peak to seek a peerless divine weapon that has existed for thousands of years. To show their respect for that peerless divine weapon, they left their immortal swords here before going up the mountain."
Jin Qi didn't believe it and said, "Hey! Swordsmen and immortal swords should be inseparable! Man and sword should never be apart, and sword and man should never be apart. What kind of peerless divine weapon is on that mountain that would make all swordsmen leave their beloved swords behind before going up the mountain to obtain it?"
After he finished speaking, he looked at his master, but Old Man Wuji still looked preoccupied! However, Old Man Wuji definitely knew the inside story!
Daoist Fan Shang and Prince, protecting Ouyang Xue'er, also sighed inwardly.
Bing Shuang was also puzzled, and she and Fen Yu were guessing what kind of sword it was: "Why haven't we heard of it in the South China Sea? Could it be that it has no connection with the Buddhist sect at all? What kind of immortal sword is this?"
Huang Jiaozi, Lan Chen, and Qing Suo also whispered, "If we go up the mountain, should we also throw away the swords at our waists?"
"This immortal sword was given to me by my master, and I can't bear to throw it away!"
"I don't believe there is such a divine weapon that can drive cultivation masters crazy!"
Kuang Ye said deliberately, while looking at Elder Cui Zhu, who had the most fiery temper, clearly provoking him!
Elder Cuizhu, as expected, fell for the trap and eagerly exclaimed, "Hehe! That peerless divine weapon is certainly extraordinary! Boy! I'm afraid you'll be speechless when you hear its name! That thing on the third level of the Nine Nether Valley's sword peak is a supreme innate treasure that countless cultivators have dreamed of for thousands of years, yet no one has ever obtained..."
"Ah! Such a divine weapon? Even the leaders of the Shu Mountain Sect, the South Sea Putuo Mountain Sect, and the Kongtong Sect covet it?"
Jin Qi's interest grew even stronger, and he secretly thought, "Could it be like the Immortal-Trapping Sword in Dongshui Yuecang's hands, one of the four innate treasures of the Immortal-Slaying Swords?"
Among the innate treasures, only the four Immortal-Slaying Swords are worthy of the submission of ten thousand swords!
"That's right! Because that divine weapon is the Immortal Sword among the four swords of the Immortal-Slaying Swords!"
Protector Qingsong gazed into the distance and said slowly and resolutely.
He was the leader of the "Three Friends of Winter," a first-generation master of the Kunlun Sect, so his words were naturally true. He must have often heard the Kunlun Sect leader, the Ten Howling Sword Immortal, sigh with admiration!
The Four Swords of Zhuxian!
Upon hearing this, Jin Qi, the Prince, Saintess Ruchen, Kuangye, and others, who were familiar with the epic battle between Zhuxian and Fengshen, were all speechless with their mouths agape.
My God, it really is the Four Swords of Zhuxian! They could only stare blankly, and although they had heard the name of this sword countless times over the past twenty years, they were still incredibly excited!
Not only were all the young people bewildered and unable to control themselves, but even the Daoist Fan Shang was agitated, and even the usually silent Elder Wuji had a similar reaction! He was simultaneously marveling at Kuang Ye's true genius of cultivation and wisdom, a talent seen only once in a century in the Kongtong Sect, while trying to calm himself down! After speaking, Protector Qing Song also took a deep breath, as if only in this way could he calm down!
This wasn't the first time Jin Qi had ever heard the name 'Four Swords of Zhuxian,' but now he felt his blood boiling.
It was truly a wondrous feeling! The words 'Four Swords of Zhuxian' stirred a ripple in Jin Qi's heart, one that lingered for a long time, as if it were preordained that the words 'Four Swords of Zhuxian' would captivate him.
It seemed that the Four Swords of Zhuxian had been inextricably linked to him long ago…
However, he also thought, “Undoubtedly, those near the water get the moon first. Dongshui Yuecang’s Immortal-Trapping Sword is one of the Four Swords of Zhuxian, and it is also the source of knowledge about the Nine Nether Valley! I wonder which of the four swords was left on the mountain?”
Chapter 8027 The Four Ancient Spirits, on the Treasure-Dividing Rock
Huang Jiaozi, whose composure was the weakest, murmured, “The Four Swords of Zhuxian… The Four Swords of Zhuxian…”
He was clearly intimidated by the fame of the Four Swords of Zhuxian. Even though Fen Yu came from the Buddhist South China Sea Putuo Mountain sect, he was still astonished!
Seeing that Kuang Ye was finally lost in thought and had misunderstood, Protector Cuizhu became even more smug and continued, "Heh! Impressive, isn't it, kid! You're so engrossed in hearing about the Four Swords of Zhuxian, you'll probably be completely mesmerized when you see their true forms! I just wonder if your Kongtong Sect disciples are even qualified to see the Four Swords of Zhuxian! Hmph!"
Kuang Ye was taken aback and couldn't help but ask, "Isn't it said that the divine weapons are on the third level of the Nine Nether Valley, on Sword Peak? I can just go straight there, is there some kind of obstacle?"
"Hmph, of course there are obstacles!"
Protector Cuizhu sneered, "Otherwise, some ignorant youngsters would also dare to dream of reaching Sword Peak, wouldn't that be a disgrace to the reputation of the Four Swords of Zhuxian!"
Kuangye, Lan Chen, Qing Suo, and Huang Jiaozi were all furious, but they also thought to themselves, "Hmph, today, besides the Kunlun Sect members, there are also the three Saintess Ruchen from the South Sea Sect. I'll see how they manage to reach Sword Peak. Following behind them is a good idea! Today, my Kongtong Sect is under their roof and has no choice but to bow our heads!"
Ouyang Xue'er asked in surprise, "Protector Bai Mei, are there really Four Swords of Zhuxian in the world?"
She had loved watching TV and listening to music since she was a child, and she was always familiar with the ending theme of the mainland TV series "Investiture of the Gods" with the lyrics "A myth is just a wave... A story is just a legend..."
and the theme song "...In gathering and scattering, there is you; in gathering and scattering, there is me..."
She naturally knew the status of the Four Swords of Zhuxian as magical treasures in the Investiture of the Gods war in terms of power!
Jin Qi finally reacted and asked in a daze, "Senior, are these Four Swords of Zhuxian the legendary innate treasures forged by Ancestor Hongjun during the primordial chaos? After the creation of heaven and earth, they were given to the Tongtian Sect Master?"
Protector Bai Mei laughed, "Rare indeed, you know these things!"
Prince also said, "However, I've also heard that more than three thousand years ago, after the Investiture of the Gods, weren't the Four Swords of Zhuxian taken away by the Twelve Immortals of Kunlun under the tutelage of Yuanshi Tianzun? How come they're here?"
Elder Wuji, who hadn't spoken until now, finally said, "This is a long story! It would take days and nights to tell! After all, this is West Kunlun, an ancient immortal mountain, anything can happen here!"
Daoist Fan Shang also murmured, "Yes, when the Four Swords of Zhuxian were forged, it was truly the most shocking event in the world!"
"You also know the legend of the Four Swords of Zhuxian?"
Protector Cui Zhu raised an eyebrow and said.
"Hmph!"
Fan Shang Daoist couldn't help but scoff. As a first-generation elder and expert of the Shu Mountain Sect, how could he not know these innate legends?
"Wow!"
Ouyang Xue'er was greatly annoyed and hurriedly guessed, "In the Investiture of the Gods, only the Four Swords of Zhuxian appear directly, without explaining when they appeared! Senior Fan Shang, how exactly did the Four Swords of Zhuxian come to be?"
Kuang Ye also asked, "Could it really be something born of nature?"
Fan Shang Daoist was silent for a moment before sighing, "There is a legend behind this, about the situation on the Treasure Dividing Rock! It not only involves the owners of the Four Swords of Zhuxian, Hongjun Laozu and Tongtian Daoist, but also Yuanshi Tianzun and Taishang Laojun!"
"Actually, it wasn't just Yuanshi Tianzun and Taishang Laojun,"
Elder Wuji said softly. "On the Treasure Distribution Rock, there were also Nuwa, the Mother of the Earth and a disciple of Ancestor Hongjun, the essence of fire, the peerless Phoenix Ancestor, and the King of Sacred Beasts, the Qilin Ancestor, together!"
Jin Qi had always heard Elder Wuji mention the Treasure Distribution Rock and the names of the Phoenix Ancestor and the Qilin Ancestor before, but whenever he asked about the specific story, Elder Wuji would evade the topic. Now, seeing that his master was so eager to tell this story, he couldn't help but smile and say, "Phoenix Ancestor, Qilin Ancestor? Master, could this be related to the Four Ancient Spirits?"
The Four Ancient Spirits: Qilin, Phoenix...
Phoenix, Xuan Turtle, and Sacred Dragon!
The old man Wuji shook his head and said, "No, the Dizu Xuan Turtle and the Yuanling Sacred Dragon rank third and fourth among the Four Spirits, but they were enlightened by Grandmaster Hongjun after the creation of the world. The Phoenix Ancestor and the Qilin Ancestor, on the other hand, attained enlightenment before the creation of the world."
This was something Ouyang Xue'er didn't know. It turned out that the ancestor of the turtles was the Dizu Xuan Turtle, and the first ancestor of the dragons was the Yuanling Sacred Dragon!
As for the grudges and entanglements between the Four Spirits, the old man Wuji had no interest in discussing them for the time being!
The Treasure Distribution Rock, the Four Swords of Zhuxian, and the Four Ancient Spirits! Finally, they had traversed countless ages and were familiar with the past for Jin Qi, Ouyang Xue'er, and the others!
The three members of the South China Sea Putuo Mountain Sect—Ruchen Saintess, Bing Shuang, and Fen Yu—and the four members of the Kongtong Sect—Kuang Ye, Lan Chen, Qing Suo, and Huang Jiaozi—were also unaware of the events at the Treasure Distribution Rock. Hearing that the old man Wuji was going to preach, they listened with great interest, no longer caring that this was the Nine Nether Valley and that the Myriad Broken Swords were right beside them!
On that day, atop a solitary cliff, Hongjun Laozu suddenly rose three zhang high, accompanied by a cloud of auspiciousness. He sat cross-legged and said, "Eldest disciple, Taishang, obey my command!"
Taishang hurriedly knelt down, saying, "Disciple is here, humbly obeying Master's decree!"
"At that time, wasn't Taishang Laojun yet?"
Huang Jiaozi interjected.
Everyone paid him no heed; clearly, that was the case! Taishang Laojun was still just Baishou Taishang, the eldest disciple under Hongjun Laozu! Prince, Jin Qi, Ouyang Xue'er, and the others simply listened as Elder Wuji continued his tale.
Hongjun Patriarch solemnly asked, "Supreme One, can you see the seven-colored divine light in the Treasure Dividing Rock opposite?"
Supreme One cautiously replied, "Your disciple is dull-witted and can only see many magical treasures stuck in or hanging on the surface of the rock. As for the divine light of the magical treasures submerged within it, this disciple can hardly see it!"
Hongjun Patriarch sighed and said, "This is the will of Heaven! You cannot see it! However, your master will teach you! Supreme One, during the eighty-one years of guarding the 'Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, and the Furnace for Opening Heaven and Earth,' you should have focused on guarding the 'Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, and the Furnace for Opening Heaven and Earth' for twenty-seven years, but you only guarded it for twenty-four years. And during those twenty-four years, you spent eighteen years forging your personal magical treasures, such as the 'Heaven and Earth Profound Yellow and the Relic Exquisite Pagoda.' Do you know your crime!"
Sweating profusely, Taishang said, "Disciple is convinced, Master, please forgive me!"
In his heart, however, he thought bitterly, "This must have been betrayed by my third junior brother! How despicable! Master can naturally foresee his own actions, but even the name 'Heaven and Earth Profound Yellow, Relic Exquisite Pagoda' is exactly the same; it must be a betrayal by Tongtian!"
At this point, fearing that Jin Qi, Ouyang Xue'er, and the Prince might not understand, the old man Wuji continued, "Back then, Ancestor Hongjun ordered the three of them to each guard the 'Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, Heaven and Earth Creation Furnace' for twenty-seven years, to forge the creation of heaven and earth!"
Jin Qi and the Prince were most interested in the "Heaven and Earth Profound Yellow, Relic Exquisite Pagoda," which was said to be Taishang Laojun's number one treasure! Its defensive power was unparalleled in the Heavenly Realm!
That day, the Grandmaster Hongjun sighed again and said, "Enough! You have already received the teachings of my Taiqing Xuanqi, the Qi of the Netherworld, the Profound and Unobstructed, the Primordial White Qi, which can later transform into the Great Crimson Heaven of the Taiqing Realm, possessing supreme power. You are exceptionally gifted; from the time you reach the age of white hair, you can be called the Supreme Lord Lao! Your cultivation palace will be named Bajing, and you will be the master of the Human Teachings!" The Supreme Lord
Lao, hearing that his master had not punished him severely, was filled with gratitude and nodded repeatedly in thanks. From then on, he became the Heavenly Lord Lao, later known as the Great Crimson Heavenly Venerable of the Taiqing, the Master of the Taiqing Teachings. A poem praises him: "The Grandmaster Hongjun, with his majestic presence, governs the Five Elements in the human world.
He guides Xuanyuan to ascend to the daytime, and his magic shines ever bright at Hangu Pass.
Riding an ox, he passes far past the village, the celestial sound of his flute heard across the fields; he opens the heavens and earth as the Master, forging a magnificent universe in his furnace." "
Chaos has never counted years, I was the first to emerge from the primordial chaos.
I understand the principles of Heaven and Earth, let others look on with longing.
When I first emerged from Hangu Pass to Kunlun, I unified China and the barbarians under the Dao.
My body is as old as Heaven and Earth, even if Mount Sumeru collapses, my nature remains. In the
beginning of the primordial chaos, the Dao came first, the constant existence and the constant non-existence are naturally attained.
Purple Qi came from the east for thirty thousand miles, and five thousand years have passed since the first crossing of Hangu Pass.
Yuanshi, Tongtian, Nuwa, the peerless phoenix, and the sacred beast Qilin all came forward to offer their congratulations. Qilin, being straightforward, asked, "I wonder what the first treasure Master gave to Senior Brother was?"
Wang...
zi and Jin Qi exchanged glances, both thinking, "What has been passed down must be either the Taiji Diagram or the Qiankun Diagram, right?"
Qilin's question made everyone uneasy, unable to guess. Taishang Laojun was even more anxious, but then he heard Hongjun Laozu say, "Taishang, please get up first and demonstrate the 'Heaven and Earth, Primordial Chaos, Relic Pagoda,' let me take a look and give you some pointers on how to form your Dharma body!" As for the jade bottle you've also crafted, the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, the Immortal-Binding Rope, and the Seven-Star Sword, let's not even look at them!
Upon receiving the order, Laozi rose and silently chanted the Taiqing True Qi. Instantly, his entire body emitted a dazzling light, and a magnificent pagoda suddenly appeared atop his Baihui acupoint, appearing and disappearing. Within it, the Xuanhuang Qi of Heaven and Earth floated and drifted, shooting out a dazzling golden light that enveloped Laozi!
Tongtian, Nuwa, and the others cheered loudly. Hongjun, the Ancestor, praised, "As expected of my first disciple, you've actually managed to privately craft such a 'Xuanhuang Qi, Relic Exquisite Pagoda' for self-defense. I fear that apart from your master, no one in the world can harm you!" "
As he spoke, he secretly unleashed his profound power, and the 'Heaven and Earth Profound Yellow, Exquisite Relic Pagoda' instantly emitted ten thousand rays of seven-colored profound light. The Supreme Lord Laozi's body shone brilliantly, and yin and yang energies arose beneath his feet, transforming into the Taiji. Yuanshi, Tongtian, Nuwa, the Phoenix, and the Qilin all praised him highly; the Supreme Lord Laozi's Great Dao had been perfected!
Seeing his master complete his cultivation, the Supreme Lord Laozi was overjoyed and hurriedly came over, saying, 'Thank you for your help, Master!'
Hongjun Ancestor smiled again, 'Before you completed this pagoda, there must have been another pagoda that you failed to complete, right?'
The Supreme Lord Laozi blushed and said, 'Indeed, that was a 'Seven-Pillar, Eight-Pillar, Exquisite Golden Pagoda.' I didn't expect Master to know about it!'
Hongjun Ancestor laughed, 'What in the universe is there that I, your master, do not know?' " That 'Seven-Pillar, Eight-Pillar, Exquisite Golden Pagoda' is truly dull; it can only trap people before burning them. Although it's useless to you, me, Hunyuan, Taiyi, and Daluo Golden Immortals, you should keep it. You can pass it on to your future disciples; it will be useful!"
Laozi nodded in agreement, naturally not thinking about who it would be passed on to.
Jin Qi, the Prince, Saintess Ruchen, Kuangye, Bing Shuang, and the others understood that Laozi had passed the 'Seven-Pillar, Eight-Pillar, Exquisite Golden Pagoda' to Randeng, who then passed it on to Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King. Nezha wanted to seek revenge on Li Jing, but Li Jing could only use it to suppress Nezha, though he was thus bestowed the title of Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King!
At that time, Laozi secretly thought, "Master's magical treasures are as numerous as the stars! I wonder what treasure Master will give me as the first one!"
Chapter 8028 No Magic Weapon is Inferior, Fortune Follows Its Master
Hongjun Patriarch then said, “Old Master, the first treasure I give you is the Ruyi Wind and Fire Futon from my palace!” Qilin
asked curiously, “Master, why are you giving our eldest brother something you use for meditation?”
Tongtian and Phoenix were also puzzled, only able to listen to Hongjun Patriarch's explanation.
Nuwa said, “Master’s actions must have a reason!”
Hongjun Patriarch nodded, not answering the others, but simply said, “Old Master, as my eldest disciple, you should be cultivating your character, but in recent years your temper has grown quite a bit. A cultivator should follow their nature and heart, so I won’t force you. This Ruyi Wind and Fire Futon has been with me for many years, and it possesses some magical power and spirituality. In battle, it can be used to bind enemies, a hundred times more effective than the Immortal Binding Rope you crafted! However, what I value is your ability to often sit on it and reflect on your actions!” "I hope that after I give this to you, you can meditate and contemplate the Dao more often, just as I wish. It will greatly benefit your cultivation!"
After saying this, the Ruyi Wind and Fire Futon flew out from beneath him and directly cushioned Laozi's body!
Sweat dripped from Laozi's forehead, and indeed, a cool sensation spread throughout his body, his meridians flowed, and he immediately felt much more refreshed. He hurriedly kowtowed and said, "Thank you for reminding me, Master! This disciple will certainly obey your orders!"
Fen Yu chuckled softly, "The first magic treasure is the Ruyi Wind and Fire Futon! The second one must be the Taiji Diagram!"
He had also heard of the Taiji Diagram's fame! Jin Qi quickly signaled Fen Yu to be quieter! Of course, he remembered that during the Investiture of the Gods war, Laozi's Wind and Fire Futon had been very impressive several times! Among the disciples of the South Sea Putuo Mountain Sect, Jin Qi was most familiar with Fen Yu!
Sure enough, Hongjun Patriarch laughed and said, "Good, it's good that you understand my intentions!" "This second gift is an unparalleled treasure of earth, wind, water, and fire—the Taiji Qiankun Diagram! Take it!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a beam of green light shot into the sky from within the thick walls of the Treasure Dividing Rock, taking shape. Everyone could clearly see that it was a beautiful little diagram floating in. Laozi quickly reached out, and the diagram automatically rolled up. No one understood the use of this magical treasure. Nuwa asked, "Master, what is the wondrous use of this Taiji Qiankun Diagram?"
Hongjun Laozu laughed, "You are all at the Hunyuan Dao Fruit level, yet you don't know the wondrous use of this Taiji Qiankun Diagram? Its front is the Taiji Diagram, a treasure encompassing all things, capable of splitting the earth and opening the heavens, separating the pure from the impure, and fixing earth, water, fire, and wind, remaining unmoved by countless changes; its back is the Qiankun Diagram, capable of encompassing heaven and earth, containing all things. Separately, they are two supreme treasures; combined, they are one! Laozi, you are my eldest disciple; the heavy responsibility of controlling earth, wind, water, and fire, and fixing the Taiji Qiankun, is entrusted to you!" "
Laozi knew that his master had always favored his third junior brother, Tongtian, and that the reshaping of the earth, wind, water, and fire was all ordained by fate and Tongtian's doing. He never expected that his master would actually pass on the Taiji Qiankun Diagram to him. With this diagram, combined with the 'Heaven and Earth Profound Yellow, Relic Exquisite Pagoda,' he could say that the universe was in his hands, and anyone could break through his defenses, making him invincible. Upon realizing this, he quickly kowtowed and thanked his master, saying, 'Disciple thanks Master!'"
Hongjun Laozu waved his hand again, and another red light emerged from the cliff of the Treasure Dividing Rock. This was the Flame Banner of Lidi, drawn according to the Five Elements Treasures. He passed it to Taishang Laojun, saying, "Taishang, this banner can stop the earth from shaking. No matter how strong you are, you cannot shake this banner. It is one of the four great banners of the innate world. You should take it too!"
Taishang Laojun was overjoyed. His master was truly treating him well! Nuwa smiled and said, "Senior Brother, you have the 'Heaven and Earth Profound Yellow, Relic Exquisite Pagoda' personally instructed by your master for protection, the Taiji Qiankun Diagram to block enemies, the Lidi Flame Banner to guard the border, plus the mutton-fat jade bottle, the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, the Immortal-Binding Rope, the Seven-Star Sword, etc., which you forged yourself. You can say you are well-rounded in both offense and defense!"
Laozi smiled and said, "The Great Dao is without action; these magical treasures should be good for defense! As for offense..."
Hongjun said, "Laozi, that's enough. You yourself are skilled in crafting and have several treasures, plus these three innate supreme treasures..." "That's enough!"
Laozi bowed in gratitude and was about to leave when Hongjun...
the Ancestor suddenly remembered something and said, "Wait!"
Laozi was taken aback and asked, "Master, is there anything else you need?"
Ancestor Hongjun smiled and said, "I almost forgot. You will have a connection with those in the West in the future. Very well, I will pass on this treasure that I carry with me to you!"
After saying that, he pulled out a small fan-like object from his hairpin, blew on it, and the small fan floated into Laozi's hand, growing ten times larger in the wind! Hongjun Laozu laughed, "This is a banana leaf fan, which can grow large or small, and its power is boundless. However, you will only understand its most miraculous effect later! There is a mantra for controlling it on the banana leaf fan. After you see it, the mantra will disappear on its own, which is very convenient!"
Although Taishang Laojun was curious, he said, "Thank you, Master!"
However, he thought to himself, "In the past two years, I have been using Kun steel to forge the 'Diamond Bracelet' in my cave. The 'Diamond Bracelet' has also been refined by my elixir, and it has long been imbued with spiritual energy. It is capable of transformation, impervious to water and fire, and can also be bound by various forces." "Master, do you know how boundless your magical power is? Could it be that the Banana Leaf Fan you spoke of is specifically designed to counter the 'Diamond Bracelet'? And what does 'the destined ones in the West' mean?"
Jin Qi, Prince, Ru Chen, Kuang Ye, Ouyang Xue'er, and the others suddenly understood. This was recorded in later Buddhist and Taoist scriptures. It was because Laozi's Diamond Bracelet was so powerful that he used it to cross the Hangu Pass, ride his green ox, and transform the barbarians into Buddhas. However, it was so powerful that only the Banana Leaf Fan, personally passed down by Hongjun, could subdue it!
Speaking of the Diamond Bracelet and the Banana Leaf Fan, they truly made a name for themselves in the Journey to the West, but that's a story for another time!
Laozi couldn't understand, but he still stepped down!
After Laozi came Yuanshi Tianzun!
"Wow, so that's the origin of the innate treasures 'Heaven and Earth Profound Yellow, Relic Exquisite Pagoda,' the Banana Leaf Fan, and the Diamond Bracelet!"
Ouyang Xue'er listened with great interest and was even more confident about the appearance of the Four Swords of Zhuxian!
Jin Qi, Wang Zi, Ru Chen, Kuang Ye, and the others listened attentively to what Wu Ji had to say. They had never heard of these stories before in their sect! Now they were even more curious about what kind of magic treasure Yuanshi Tianzun had obtained at the Treasure Distribution Rock.
After resting for a while, Wu Ji secretly calculated that the outsiders who had ventured into the valley were still quite far away and had time, so he continued to tell the story in detail.
That day, Hongjun Patriarch laughed again, "Second disciple Yuanshi, step forward and receive my command!"
Yuanshi respectfully stepped forward, knelt down, and bowed in gratitude, saying, "Disciple Yuanshi is deeply grateful for Master's astonishing magical power, which has granted me life again. I dare not harbor any disloyalty towards Master's magic treasures!"
Hongjun Patriarch laughed, "How can that be? You have inherited my mantle, and your nature is inherently pure. When you went to West Kunlun to seek the Dao, even Mount Sumeru could not stop you! You are only easily influenced by external factors, but you have already received my Yuqing Xuanqi teachings, and can transform into the Qingwei Heaven of the Yuqing Realm, which is the azure energy of the Red Chaos Cave Taiwuyuan. From now on, you can be called Yuanshi Tianzun. Your cultivation palace is named Yuxu, and you will become the master of the Chan Sect in the future!"
Nuwa, Phoenix, and Qilin were all somewhat surprised. The character "Chan" is very particular about its foundation. People with fur and horns always disliked the character "Chan." Now, Master bestowed it upon his second senior brother, Yuanshi Tianzun, to establish a sect. What was his intention?
Knowing he couldn't refuse, Yuanshi hurriedly kowtowed in gratitude, thus becoming Yuanshi Tianzun, later known as Yuqing Qingwei Tian Yuanshi Tianzun, or Yuqing Jiaozhu. A poem praises him: Chaos has always been wondrous in its morality, relying entirely on profound principles to establish its mysteries.
Taiji, Yin and Yang, and the Four Symbols, Heaven opened at Zi, Ren was in charge.
Earthly Branch Chou, Human Yin, I am in charge, the two volumes of "Huangting" guide the masses.
Jade Capital and Golden Palace transmit to disciples, the Fire Seed and Golden Lotus are my doing.
Six senses purified, afflictions eliminated, the wondrous methods of the Mysterious Center known to few.
Two fingers subdue dragons and tigers, eyes move with auspicious light, heaven and earth shift. Auspicious
clouds rise thirty thousand feet above, colorful clouds surround my body.
Leisurely riding a four-legged beast, silently sitting in a sandalwood nine-dragon chariot.
Flying beasts act as my support, joyfully holding the three treasures, the jade ruyi.
White cranes and blue phoenixes lead the way, followed by red phoenixes dancing in celestial robes.
Feather fans part the clouds and mist, celestial children on either side play jade flutes, yellow-turbaned warriors obey commands, incense smoke billows, and immortals follow.
The true master of the Dao, the Primordial Heavenly Venerable, departed from the Jade Pool. His
fame arose at the dawn of creation, possessing the Five Elements of the Primordial Chaos; three flowers bloomed atop his head…
at the Northern Palace, five vital energies emanated from his chest to the Southern Palace.
The immortals gathered, calling him Primordial, recounting his origins in the mysterious gate; slowly, fragrant flowers accompanied his carriage, enduring countless eons of vicissitudes.
Tongtian, however, thought nothing of anything else, his face beaming with joy. Nuwa, Qilin, and Phoenix, having no particular thoughts, could only step forward to congratulate him, saying, “Congratulations, Second Senior Brother, on your great Dao!”
The Primordial Heavenly Venerable smiled and nodded silently. Then, Hongjun Ancestor said, “Primordial, your previous incarnation was Pangu, who rendered meritorious service in creating heaven and earth. Therefore, you can reside in the highest level of the Thirty-Six Heavens, the ‘Great Luo Heaven,’ and your immortal abode is named ‘Mysterious Capital Jade Capital,’ to commemorate your extraordinary achievements!”
The Primordial Heavenly Venerable hurriedly expressed his gratitude again and again!
Hongjun the Ancestor continued, "While you were guarding the 'Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, and the Furnace for Creating Heaven and Earth,' you were also secretly forging magical treasures, such as the Nine Dragons Divine Fire Cover, the Yin-Yang Mirror, the Six Roots Purification Bamboo,
and the Pure Glass Bottle—let's not even mention those. But show me your 'Swallowing Yin and Spitting Yang, Collecting Souls and Destroying Spirits Banner' technique!" Kuangye's face was uncertain. Yuanshi Tianzun was the master of his grandfather Guangchengzi, the founder of the Kongtong Sect, and the leader of the Chan Sect. In his heart, he held him in the highest esteem! It was likely that the magical treasures he possessed were still greatly related to Yuanshi Tianzun!
Yuanshi Tianzun kowtowed again, saying, "Please forgive me, Master. I was so focused on winning that I lost my mind and crafted this 'Swallowing Yin and Spitting Yang, Soul-Gathering and Destroying Spirit Banner.' Now I repent and have decided never to use this banner again!"
Tongtian, having seen the banner before, knew its power was still astonishing and hurriedly said, "Second Senior Brother, you mustn't destroy this treasure! As the saying goes, treasures are innocent! As long as they are used for good, they are a great merit!"
Hongjun Patriarch nodded and said, "Tongtian is right! Yuanshi, the key to a magic weapon is the cultivation and mind of the user. The 'Swallowing Yin and Spitting Yang, Soul-Gathering and Destroying Spirit Banner' is the number one magic weapon of the soul and spirit. It would be a pity to discard it. How about I rename it 'Pangu Banner' today, so that when you use it, you will always remember the benevolence of your predecessor, Pangu, who died for the sake of heaven and earth? This way, you can constantly spur yourself on in your cultivation. What do you say?"
Yuanshi Tianzun was actually very reluctant to part with the "Swallowing Yin and Spitting Yang, Soul-Gathering and Destroying Spirit Banner." Upon hearing his master's words, he hurriedly knelt down again and said, "Thank you, Master!"
Upon hearing this, Prince, Ouyang Xue'er, Ruchen, and Kuangye all secretly exclaimed, "So that's how the renowned 'Pangu Banner' got its name! I've only just learned it!"
Jin Qi thought even more, "This 'Swallowing Yin and Spitting Yang, Collecting Souls and Destroying Spirits Banner' is naturally aimed at the soul, while the 'Eternal Calamity, Worry-Free Heart-Destroying Cauldron,' the treasure of the Tongtian Sect Master's Biyou Palace, is aimed at the heart. It's said that the heart, soul, and spirit are all indispensable! I wonder which of these two magical treasures would be the most powerful if they clashed?"
Thinking of this, he suddenly realized, "So the Tongtian Sect Master's original intention in forging the 'Eternal Calamity, Worry-Free Heart-Destroying Cauldron' was to counter the 'Pangu Banner' over time..." Yuanshi Tianzun rose and withdrew, chanting incantations. Suddenly, three lights rose above his head, revealing the "Pangu Banner." The phoenix, qilin, and others felt their souls and spirits waver. They were Great Luo Golden Immortals, yet they were like this; one can only imagine how weak they were, like Taiyi Loose Immortals. They feared that upon seeing this banner, their yin and yang would be truly swallowed, their souls destroyed!
Hongjun Laozu laughed heartily, pointing a finger. The immortals saw twelve auspicious clouds appear above Yuanshi Tianzun's head, swirling and adorned with glittering pearl necklaces. Ten thousand golden flowers surrounded him, their light radiant, a scene of majestic grandeur! Tongtian, the phoenix, and the qilin stepped forward, saying, "Congratulations, Second Senior Brother, on the completion of your Dharma body and the Great Dao!"
Nuwa also covered her mouth and laughed, "Second Senior Brother and First Senior Brother's Dharma bodies are both so wonderfully embodying the Three Vehicles. The 'Pangu Banner' and the 'Heaven and Earth Profound Yellow, Exquisite Relic Pagoda' are evenly matched. Truly a cause for celebration! " "
Laozi was slightly displeased: "Hmph, I am the eldest brother, the second brother must be inferior to me!"
His temperament was not exactly magnanimous!
Chapter 8029 Jade Void Apricot Yellow, Sharing
the Glory After Yuanshi Tianzun stepped forward to thank him, Hongjun Laozu said again: "Yuanshi, look at the Treasure Dividing Rock opposite. What color of immortal energy can you see in the rock?"
Yuanshi Tianzun stared for a long time before saying: "Reporting to Master, I can only see a domineering green energy in the rock, rampaging and never stopping for a moment!"
As soon as he spoke, the rock made a loud bang, and a green energy shot into the sky. Hongjun Laozu laughed: "The Heaven-Opening Axe is indeed destined for you. This axe has been passed on to you! Its power is unparalleled in the Three Realms, extremely strong and yang, splitting mountains and splitting the earth is as easy as turning one's hand!" Before he could finish speaking ,
the azure energy had already fallen into Yuanshi's hand, transforming into a small axe about an inch long. Yuanshi was puzzled, thinking, "When I was Pangu, I didn't know what form it took when I created the world. I also don't know if I can see it now!"
As soon as this thought arose, the axe that created the world suddenly grew to two meters long, with a sharp blade and a bluish light!
Yuanshi Tianzun exclaimed with joy, "Thank you, Master! This axe is not only incredibly powerful, but it also changes size at my command!"
He shrank the axe and put it away without further ado!
Tongtian Daozhang exclaimed with joy, "Congratulations, Second Senior Brother! This treasure that created the world truly belongs to you!"
Taishang Laojun thought to himself, "This axe that created the world was the first divine weapon created when the world was first formed. Pangu, the Second Senior Brother, used it to split the world; the power of its attack is unimaginable! " "
When Hongjun saw that Yuanshi Tianzun was no longer speaking, he knew that he could no longer see the seven-colored mysterious light. He sighed and said, 'This is the will of Heaven!' With a gentle wave of his hand, a yellow light floated out from the stone wall of the Treasure Dividing Rock. He said, 'This is a Jade Void Apricot Yellow Banner, which can withstand attacks from all kinds of magic weapons. It is a perfect match for your Pangu Banner and the Heaven-Opening Axe!'" "
Tongtian and Phoenix both understood that the power of the Jade Void Apricot Yellow Banner was comparable to that of the Flame Light Banner obtained by Laozi.
Jin Qi, Prince, Kuangye, Ruchen, Ouyang Xue'er and others nodded in envy upon hearing this, as the Jade Void Apricot Yellow Banner had also been quite prominent in the Investiture of the Gods!
Yuanshi Tianzun thanked them, and Hongjun Laozu summoned a wisp of red light from the Treasure Dividing Rock, which floated into Yuanshi Tianzun's hand. Everyone saw that it was a fan. Hongjun Laozu said, "This fan is called the Five Fires and Seven Birds Fan. This fan has fire in the air, fire in stone, fire in wood, Samadhi fire, and fire in the human world, all five fires combined; it also has phoenix wings, blue luan wings, crane wings, peacock wings, white crane wings, swan wings, and owl wings. These seven bird feathers have talismans and incantations on the front and poems on the back to suppress this strange fan. Once the spell is cast, it will release flames, and even Taiyi Sanxian cannot escape it." "
Qilin laughed from the side, "Brother Phoenix, you are known as the Great Sage of the Fire Spirits, yet this fan is the number one divine object among fire!"
Phoenix nodded, knowing Qilin was joking, and said, "Indeed, I am somewhat afraid!"
Nuwa also said, "The Five Fires and Seven Birds Fan has a very strong attack power, but I don't think it can deter us!"
Phoenix didn't answer, but he was quite surprised. Why couldn't his eldest brother, Taishang Laojun, and second brother, Yuanshi Tianzun, see the innate treasure hidden in the Treasure Dividing Rock? Those seven-colored energies were very clear, and he himself had seen quite a few colors!
Hongjun Ancestor waved again, and a silver light flashed from the Treasure Dividing Rock, landing in Yuanshi Tianzun's hand. It was a seal. Everyone heard him say, "This is the Heaven-Turning Seal. When thrown, it hits the target every time, especially the top of the head. Ordinary Taiyi Immortals are powerless to recover from being hit!"
Yuanshi Tianzun hurriedly thanked him again!
Hongjun Ancestor thought for a moment and said, "You may also step down!" In the future, you will have more disciples than your eldest brother. Later, go back to the Treasure Distribution Cliff and look for some treasures that haven't been thrown into the cliff. Whatever you find, it will be yours! Although those treasures aren't innate supreme treasures, passing them down to your descendants or even grand-disciples will be quite good!
The Primordial Heavenly Venerable was overjoyed and quickly kowtowed before withdrawing!
He thought to himself, "In the future, as the Chan Sect flourishes, the more magical treasures the better!"
Kuang Ye sighed inwardly, "The treasures I've acquired aren't the innate treasures from the Treasure Dividing Rock, but mostly just the treasures hanging on the rocks!"
Tongtian, the Phoenix smiled and said, "Congratulations, Second Senior Brother, on your new acquisition of the Pangu Banner, the Heaven-Opening Axe, the Jade Void Apricot Yellow Banner, the Five Fires and Seven Birds Fan, and the Heaven-Turning Seal—it's like adding wings to a tiger!"
Yuanshi Tianzun, deeply moved by his master's virtue, sincerely said, "To be honest, Junior Brother, seeing these innate treasures of Master today, I finally understand how utterly vulnerable my Nine Dragons Divine Fire Cover, Yin-Yang Mirror, Six Roots Pure Bamboo, and Pure Glazed Bottle were! Before Master, our magical power and cultivation are truly but a drop in the ocean!"
After speaking, Yuanshi Tianzun also withdrew! Then it's Tongtian's turn!
Ouyang Xue'er, who had always been filled with a sense of mystery about Tongtian, whispered again, "After Yuanshi Tianzun, it's Tongtian's turn! Let's listen!"
Yes, it's finally Tongtian's turn. I wonder what innate treasures Tongtian will obtain?
Chapter 8030 One by One, the Deepest Fate
Jin Qi thought to himself, "Following the previous actions of Hongjun Patriarch, he would naturally first bestow upon Tongtian the name Tongtian Sect Master, then reward him with the Great Perfection of Dharma Body, and then let him choose the visible treasures at the Treasure Distribution Rock! As for the invisible innate treasures, he would selectively give him some. I wonder if that's how it works? Master said that Hongjun Patriarch has always been most biased towards Tongtian Sect Master. Let's see if he can show it?"
He was still excited because he knew that Tongtian Sect Master's magic weapons were primarily the Four Swords of Zhuxian. Today, weren't the people from his four sects here precisely for the unearthed Four Swords of Zhuxian? Now that Tongtian Sect Master was to be conferred a title, it was clear that the main character today, the Four Swords of Zhuxian, had also appeared!
Sure enough, in mid-air, Hongjun Patriarch looked at Tongtian with affection and said loudly, "Tongtian, come here!"
Tongtian knelt down as instructed, bowed three times, and then raised his head and said, "Disciple Tongtian is here, awaiting Master's instruction!"
Hongjun the Ancestor laughed, "Tongtian, when you were crafting the four great mysteries of Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire, you were the most focused. This shows that among the mysteries of Heaven, 'The Dao gives birth to the world, and Heaven gives birth to all things,' choosing you was not a mistake! Over the past eighty-one years, your two senior brothers have diligently refined magical treasures and mastered the methods of refining. You, however, have been single-minded in upholding the Dao, thus mastering the art of reopening the furnace, transforming the world, and replacing the four great mysteries of Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire. Each has its strengths; I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing?"
Tongtian knew his master's... The father, still recalling his fearful words from years past—that if he were to privately alter the four elements of Earth, Feng, Water, and Fire, changing the new heaven and earth, he would be eternally condemned to the depths of the Nine Nether Valley, unable to be reborn for generations—hurriedly declared, "Master, please rest assured, your disciple will absolutely not privately alter the
four celestial mysteries of Earth, Feng, Water, and Fire, and recreate the world!" The prince was deeply worried. He shuddered at the thought of the "Celestial Tribulation of Reversing the World" in the mortal realm. If the pure Yang and pure Yin essences were devoured by the great demon, the Earth , Feng, Water, and Fire would be completely overturned and rebuilt! Was the great demon in the mortal realm the Tongtian Sect Leader who had been missing for a thousand years? Or was there some connection?
Phoenix, Nuwa, and Qilin finally understood. Although Hongjun Ancestor favored Tongtian, he still reluctantly entrusted the Taiji Qiankun Diagram to Taishang Laojun for safekeeping, because he had to guard against his senior brother Tongtian creating the world again! Laozi couldn't help but feel smug: "Hmph, so it turns out Master wanted me to restrain you!"
Hongjun nodded, saying, "Unfortunately, the will of Heaven was altered by my favoritism several times. This 'Dao gives birth to the world, and Heaven gives birth to all things,' which originally belonged to you, cannot be returned to you and will remain in my hall. Do you have any objections?"
In fact, it wasn't just "Dao gives birth to the world, and Heaven gives birth to all things"; the Heaven-Opening Axe was originally also excluded from Tongtian because of this. However, because Hongjun privately altered the will of Heaven, it eventually became Pangu creating the world! The Heaven-Opening Axe belonged to Yuanshi Tianzun, transformed from Pangu's primordial spirit!
Clearly, Hongjun was the first to understand that under Heaven, above the Thirty-Three Heavens, the workings of the will of Heaven are paramount! No cultivator can defy Heaven!
Tongtian declared loudly, "My life and cultivation are all thanks to Master's guidance. Forget about magic treasures; even if Master wanted my soul to be scattered and forever buried in the Nine Nether Valley, I would have no complaints!"
The wilderness, the prince, and the Saintess Ruchen listened to Elder Wuji's explanation, but they were puzzled: "We've already entered two levels of the Nine Nether Valley; it's not a particularly frightening place! Why was Master Tongtian so afraid that day?"
They were all still very young and inexperienced; of course, they didn't know!
Upon hearing this, Hongjun Patriarch was overjoyed and even more fond of Tongtian. He laughed and said, "Why do you make such a solemn oath? Back then, I passed on the Shangqing Xuanqi to you, and you were able to transform into the Yuyu Heaven of the Shangqing Realm, which is the mixed Taiwu Yuanxuanhuang Qi. Therefore, you can be called the Supreme Dao Lord. However, since your name is Tongtian, I will bestow upon you the name Tongtian Sect Master! The name bestowed upon you by your Cultivation Palace is Biyou! In the future, you will be the Master of the Jie Sect!"
"Jie Sect?"
Tongtian Sect Master's heart suddenly sank: "Jie is the fundamental principle of worldly fate. I'm afraid that if it is used for cultivation, it will not care about one's birth origin. Even those with fur and horns can cultivate! The sect is named Jie... Sect. This... isn't it destined to be opposed to my second senior brother's Chan Sect?"
However, Yuanshi Tianzun, Nuwa, Qilin, and Phoenix did not think of this point. They were just busy coming over to congratulate him. Tongtian Sect Master did not dare to think too much about it and just thanked them. Phoenix chuckled inwardly, "Master truly favors Third Senior Brother. While First and Second Senior Brothers received no special titles, Third Senior Brother is given a different name, the title 'Master of the Heavens'!"
Qilin, however, laughed, "Congratulations, Third Senior Brother! The name 'Master of the Intercepting Sect' is quite fitting!"
He was the most impulsive, and it wouldn't be convenient to change his address to Master of the Heavens. Taishang Laojun, having followed Hongjun the longest and already implicitly received the highest four-tenths of the true teachings, wondered, "Why did Master choose us three brothers to become the Human Sect, the Chan Sect, and the Intercepting Sect?" Then
he saw Master of the Heavens, dressed in white, graceful and ethereal. Later generations also called him the Lingbao Tianzun of the Yu Yu Heaven in the Shangqing Realm. A poem praises him: Hongjun's creation revealed the heavens, the earth was ugly, and man ascended the Dharma platform.
He forged a golden body through countless eons, nurturing many talents within the Biyou Palace.
The principles of opening the heavens and earth were clear, discussing scriptures and laws in the Biyou Capital; the Five Qi gathered at the origin, transmitting the wondrous secrets, the Three Flowers gathered at the crown, demonstrating the unborn.
Atop his head, golden light shone in five colors; beneath his feet, red lotuses stretched for
ten thousand miles. His celestial robes, adorned with the Eight Trigrams, exuded purple aura; his three-edged sword, named Qingping, wielded a powerful sword. He was first in subduing dragons and tigers, capturing demons and monsters with unparalleled skill. His followers numbered around three thousand, followed by countless elite saints.
Heavenly flowers rained down in endless wonder; the earth embraced golden lotuses, a symbol of enduring auspiciousness. He guided all beings to enlightenment, cultivating the righteous path silently.
Pairs of banners led the way, and music played in timely succession. The Kui Ox sat firmly as the leader of the sect, while celestial children burned incense before and after him.
A misty cloud of sandalwood rose, and a pervasive killing intent arose; the cry of the white crane shook heaven and earth, and the blue phoenix spread its wings to ascend mountains and seas.
The Tongtian Sect Leader departed the Golden Palace, gathering a million immortals.
Hongjun the Ancestor continued, "The three energies of Taiqing, Yuqing, and Shangqing are profound. The Dao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three gives birth to all things. You must all remember this!"
The Phoenix also understood and laughed, "The Three Pure Ones inherit from one ancestor; it can truly be said that 'Hongjun's Dao is passed down to three friends.' The three energies are one, born from the Dao."
Nuwa, who was also slowly attaining enlightenment, interjected, "Because 'Taiqing' comes first, our eldest brother, Taishang Laojun, is the embodiment of the Dao; one could also say that Laojun transformed one energy into the Three Pure Ones!"
The Qilin added, "Indeed, witnessing our three senior brothers attain the Primordial Dao today is truly..." "A fortunate event!"
Hongjun, the Patriarch, was pleased to see that the Phoenix, Nuwa, and Qilin all possessed profound Dao roots. He nodded and then said to Tongtian, "Tongtian, there are still many treasures on the Treasure Distribution Rock. Look behind the rock and see which seven-colored energies you can see. If you can see them, it means you are destined to have them. Take them as you please." Upon
hearing this, Nuwa, Qilin, and Phoenix understood somewhat. Although these words were similar to what Hongjun had said to Taishang Laojun and Yuanshi Tianzun, it was still clear that Hongjun truly doted on Tongtian.
Tongtian, however, was simple-minded and happily said, "Thank you, Master!"
He closed his eyes and silently circulated his profound power. Hongjun pointed, and five-colored golden light emanated from Tongtian's head. Auspicious clouds floated around him, and red lotuses sprouted beneath his feet. Ten thousand lotuses bloomed beneath his feet, creating a scene of purple and red mist, with auspicious energy rising high and piercing the heavens.
Nuwa, the Phoenix, and the Qilin, seeing the Tongtian Sect Leader's ethereal body, all cheered loudly, "Congratulations, Third Senior Brother, on achieving the Five Qi Gathering at the Origin, the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, and the indestructible body! You have attained the Great Dao!"
The Tongtian Sect Leader was overjoyed. He turned around and opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was two golden lights flashing beneath the mountain rocks in front of him. He said, "Master, the two golden lights flashing and intertwining opposite us, in my humble opinion, should be two dragons!"
He had just finished speaking, and before the Hongjun Ancestor could even smile, sure enough, two dragons burst out of the rocks, flying back and forth, arriving in front of Tongtian, landing, and transforming into a pair of gleaming golden scissors!
Hongjun Patriarch laughed, "These scissors can be called the Golden Dragon Scissors. They are destined for you. These are two dragons, drawing upon the primordial energy and essence of chaos. They rise in the air, moving up and down, protected by auspicious clouds. Their heads are joined together like scissors, and their tails intertwine like strands. Even a common Great Luo Immortal would be cut in two with a single snip, never to be resurrected!"
Taishang Laojun and Yuanshi Tianzun were quite curious. Could their junior brother truly see these seven-colored mystical lights that they couldn't see?
Phoenix, however, seemed to have a clue. These primordial
treasures were forged in the "Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, and the Furnace of Creation" using the primordial flames of chaos. She herself had bathed in them once. Could it be that she too could see the seven-colored energy on these treasures?
Overjoyed, Tongtian Jiaozhu thanked Hongjun Laozu. Looking up, he saw a faint, rotating ring among the rocks ahead and exclaimed, "Master, I see golden light behind the rocks, rotating in a circle. What is it? It seems to be barrel-shaped!" Just
as he finished speaking, the golden light burst forth from the rocks, and everyone could clearly see the golden barrel shimmering and spinning in the air!
Nuwa, unfamiliar with it, hurriedly asked, "Master, what is this?"
Hongjun Laozu laughed, "This is the wondrous treasure, the Hunyuan Golden Cauldron! Tongtian, if you possess this, even a Hunyuan Golden Immortal would have to give you some leeway! It is the nemesis of all living beings born from gestation!"
Taishang Laojun frowned; so the Hunyuan Golden Cauldron was indeed powerful! The Hunyuan Golden Cauldron, now recognizing its master, broke through the rocks and flew over, submitting itself to Tongtian Jiaozhu's feet.
Jin Qi chuckled inwardly: "So it was here that the Tongtian Sect Leader obtained the Hunyuan Golden Cauldron and the Golden Dragon Scissors. Obviously, he passed them on to the Three Immortal Maidens and others! The 'Eternal Calamity, Worry-Free Heart-Destroying Cauldron' in my hand is clearly inspired by the Hunyuan Golden Cauldron, and its appearance and handling are somewhat similar! The Tongtian Sect Leader is truly a genius. If Ancestor Hongjun could forge the Hunyuan Golden Cauldron, he could also imitate and forge the 'Eternal Calamity, Worry-Free Heart-Destroying Cauldron'!"
The Tongtian Sect Leader felt a surge of sweetness in his heart and hurriedly thanked him again: "Thank you, Master!"
Just as he looked up again, he saw what seemed to be a bead spinning in the rock and asked curiously: "Master, I see a bead, but around that bead, there seem to be twenty-four other beads surrounding it. What are those?"
Ancestor Hongjun laughed and said: "I didn't expect that the Dinghai Pearl would also be destined for you!"
As soon as he spoke, a rock shattered and broke open, revealing twenty-four beads, which gathered into a string and fell into the Tongtian Sect Leader's hands. The pearl glows and can transform into the Twenty-Four Heavenly Kings, emitting five-colored rays of light that blind people—truly formidable!
This Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, used for espionage, is arguably the most powerful of all magical treasures! Ouyang Xue'er also knew this; later, the Tongtian Sect Leader passed it on to Marshal Zhao Gongming, who then defeated the Twelve Immortals of the Chan Sect!
Nuwa was overjoyed to see that Tongtian Jiaozhu had obtained the Golden Dragon Scissors, the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, and the Primordial Golden Cauldron. She hurriedly came over to congratulate him, saying, "Senior Brother Tongtian is truly destined to be with the innate magic treasures that Master has been diligently refining. I see that the rocks over there are completely devoid of light, how come Senior Brother can see them?"
Qilin also said, "Yes, I can't see them either!"
Hongjun Laozu laughed and said, "These have nothing to do with your master, they are all your own destiny. The treasures on the Treasure Distribution Rock, you can see them, it is destined by fate that they are yours!"
Nuwa said, "Master is impartial, we all know that!"
Phoenix smiled slightly, and Hongjun Laozu glanced at it and wondered, "Could it be that Phoenix can also see these innate treasures?"
Taishang Laojun and Yuanshi Tianzun also exchanged glances. They also could not see these seven-colored divine lights. Could it be that these innate magic treasures of the sect leader level are truly only destined for Tongtian Jiaozhu?
The Tongtian Sect Leader laughed, "Thank you for your praise, Junior Sister Nuwa and Junior Brother Qilin!"
He was about to say a few more humble words when suddenly, he heard the mournful cry of ten thousand swords, accompanied by the whistling wind. He was somewhat surprised and quickly looked up. Deep within the Treasure Dividing Rock, a magnificent light rose! He asked in astonishment, "Master, I saw a magnificent light within those rocks, and in the four directions of earth, wind, water, and fire, there seemed to be four divine swords, emitting mournful cries. Is that true?"
The Hongjun Ancestor, who had remained calm and composed, was now greatly surprised and said, "What? You really saw four divine swords?"
What kind of four divine swords could surprise the First Immortal of the Primordial Chaos, the Hongjun Ancestor?
Jin Qi, Ouyang Xue'er, Wang Zi, Saintess Ruchen, Kuang Ye, and others exchanged glances: "Finally, the Four Swords of Zhuxian have appeared!"
Chapter 8031 Four Swords of Peerless Power, Slaughtering and Trapping the
Dead. Fan Shang Dao Ren couldn't help but murmur, "Senior, do you think the Tongtian Sect Master can really see the mysterious light of the Four Swords of Zhuxian?" The
"Three Friends of Winter" are the Kunlun Jade Void Palace lineage left behind by Yuanshi Tianzun. They are extremely pure and have always considered themselves the true successors of Yuanshi Tianzun. How could they possibly have a good attitude towards the Tongtian Sect Master, the mortal enemy of their ancestor, Yuanshi Tianzun? The Green Pine Protector remained composed and silent, but the White Plum Protector hesitated, saying, "That's how it's said in the legends, but we can't know the truth. After all, this is a legend from the beginning of creation, ten thousand years ago!"
The Green Bamboo Protector added in a muffled voice, "Hmph, in my opinion, the Tongtian Sect Master is definitely like our Patriarch and Grand Patriarch, unable to see the Mysterious Light. Or perhaps it was Grand Patriarch Hongjun who opened some kind of Heavenly and Earthly Mysterious Eye for him, allowing him to see it!"
They addressed the Tongtian Sect directly, omitting even the word "Patriarch" from "Tongtian Sect Master Patriarch."
Jin Qi, the Prince, Saintess Ruchen, and Kuangye exchanged glances. The three Kunlun Sect protectors' jealousy of the Tongtian Sect Master Patriarch was clearly beneath them! After all, the Tongtian Sect Master Patriarch was a direct disciple of Grand Patriarch Hongjun, and the junior brother of Grand Patriarch Laozi and Yuanshi Tianzun! He was a grandmaster and patriarch of the three sects! However, it's true that Qing Song and his group only have three hundred years of cultivation, which is negligible compared to the Tongtian Sect Master!
Huang Jiaozi, Lan Chen, Qing Suo, and other members of the Kongtong Sect were unusually not to contradict them, because they were also from the lineage of Yuanshi Tianzun. Although they had always been openly and secretly fighting with the Kunlun Sect, they had a deep-seated hatred for the Tongtian Sect Master's Jie Sect!
Ouyang Xue'er hurriedly smiled and said, "It's useless for everyone to say these things. Let's listen to what the senior has to say about the Four Swords of Zhuxian! I only know that the Four Swords of Zhuxian are a collective name for the Four Swords of Zhulu, Xianjue, and Jue! I don't know anything else..."
Obviously, since the battle on the mountain behind the Qilin Company where everyone worked together to kill the dragon-seed Baxia monster, she had been cramming on the ancient Four Spirits and Four Great Monsters and monsters after returning to her apartment. On Mount Shu, she had been pestering the people of the Mount Shu Sect to tell her about the ancient legends of the immortals for days on end.
For some reason, for the first time in over twenty years, she felt as if these mystical and ethereal tales were somehow connected to her. Upon hearing them, her body trembled involuntarily!
The pure Yin girl had finally sensed the celestial phenomena! Who could be the pure Yang person?
The old man Wuji seemed oblivious to the crowd's debate, continuing calmly.
Hearing the Tongtian Sect Leader say he saw the four-colored mystical weapons, neither Taishang Laojun nor Yuanshi Tianzun had seen them. They were astonished to see their master so surprised, something they had never experienced before. Then, hearing the Tongtian Sect Leader nod in affirmation, "Master, I truly saw them!"
Hongjun Patriarch was overjoyed, saying, "Good, good, good!"
He repeated "good" three times, then fell silent. Just
as the Tongtian Sect Leader, Nuwa, the Phoenix, and the Qilin were about to speak further, a sudden explosion erupted from the Treasure Dividing Rock, a massive explosion. A sword manual flew out from behind, fluttering and rolling up, landing in the hands of the Tongtian Sect Leader!
Furthermore, four beams of mysterious light—red, orange, yellow, and green—burst forth from the earth, swirling around the Tongtian Sect Leader. Their swords blazed with sword energy, exuding an invincible aura!
The Phoenix Fire Eye Divine Power discerned that these four swords were vaguely arranged in an east-south-west-north formation, forming a defensive array. In front of them were gates and entrances, filled with chilling killing intent and a howling wind; behind them, life and death were reversed, unpredictable and suspenseful!
The Supreme Lord Laozi, feeling indignant, wanted to test the power of these four swords. He feigned a shout: "Evil swords harm people! Junior Brother, be careful!"
Suddenly, the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi appeared in his hand, shimmering with emerald green, and he struck at the nearest sword! But it wasn't that sword!
Unexpectedly, just as the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi approached the sword, all four swords suddenly turned simultaneously. Two swords separated the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, while the other two pierced through the protective divine light of the Supreme Lord Laozi, heading straight for his heart!
The Supreme Lord Laozi was startled and hurriedly retreated three steps. In an instant, the defensive treasure "The Mysterious Yellow of the World, the Exquisite Pagoda of Relics" appeared above his head, having been completed by the Ancestor Hongjun... Who but the Ancestor Hongjun could break it? Sure enough, the Exquisite Pagoda emitted a circle of mysterious light, enveloping the Supreme Lord Laozi himself. The two swords temporarily stopped advancing, but they were not deflected either!
Phoenix had been defeated by the "Heaven and Earth, Relic Pagoda" that day. Seeing that the power of these four swords far surpassed his own, he said, "Senior Brother Tongtian, withdraw your swords! These four swords inherently possess supreme immortal-slaying power. If you fully wield them, their power will be unparalleled! They will slay immortals!"
Tongtian was looking down at the sword manual in his hand, still not believing that the four swords were under his control, so he said softly, "Come back!"
But as soon as he finished speaking, the four swords turned around and instantly rushed towards Tongtian. Tongtian hurriedly reached out to catch them, but as soon as the four swords touched Tongtian's right hand, they disappeared and merged with his body!
Seeing Tongtian Jiaozhu's stunned expression, Hongjun Laozu sighed, "These four ancient swords are the Zhuxian Sword, the Luxian Sword, the Xianxian Sword, and the Juexian Sword. They are the treasures that guard the Dividing Treasure Rock, forged by your master at Mount Xumi. They have been tempered in the 'Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, Heaven and Earth Furnace' for tens of thousands of years. I never imagined that they would be destined to be with Tongtian today. It is truly a strange event! And the Zhuxian Sword Formation manual in your hand is an astonishing masterpiece. Once you set up the Zhuxian Sword Formation with these four swords according to this formation, even a Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal will find it difficult to escape!" He paused and continued, "These four swords are not as effective as a combined sword formation when used individually. Once the sword formation is set up, the four swords will hang upside down above the gate, emitting thunder and shaking. With a flicker of sword light, even a god who has endured countless tribulations will find it difficult to escape this calamity. Truly: Neither copper nor iron nor steel, once hidden beneath Mount Xumi; forged by the primordial chaos fire for a thousand years, the Samadhi True Spirit Furnace is yellow."
Without the reversal of Yin and Yang, how could it lack the tempering of water and fire?
Slaying gods and immortals, it brings death; trapping immortals, it emits a crimson light everywhere; its transformations are infinitely wondrous, even the blood of the Great Luo Immortals stains their robes.
Seeing that Hongjun Ancestor's words seemed true, the Phoenix congratulated him, saying, "Third Senior Brother, the moment you touched the sword, the four swords became one with you! Truly an unprecedented opportunity!"
Nuwa and Qilin also congratulated him! Everyone understood that among the magical treasures on the Treasure Sharing Rock today, the Four Swords of Slaying Immortals were the most numerous!
Tongtian Sect Leader laughed heartily, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Master. I will certainly live up to your expectations and cultivate diligently!"
Wuji Elder, having reached this point, leisurely stopped speaking, and smiled, "The legend of these four divine swords—Slaying, Trapping, and Destroying—ends here!" "
Saintess Ruchen clicked her tongue in amazement. Since abandoning Taoism for Buddhism, her South Sea sect had kept many of the legends of the Primordial Chaos hidden, unable to spread them openly. Therefore, neither Bing Shuang nor she, nor Fen Yu, knew about them. The Green Pine Protector and the other "Three Friends of Winter" also benefited greatly, sighing, "Alas, these Four Swords of Zhuxian, I wonder how many immortal seniors of my Chan Sect were injured in the Investiture of the Gods!"
The prince couldn't help but feel a little contemptuous, saying, "Hmph, what a pity, in the end, wasn't it snatched away by the Primordial Heavenly Lord and given to four of the Twelve Immortals? Then, on the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, they instead slaughtered thousands of disciples of the Jie Sect, including the Twenty-Eight Constellations in the sky! Today, this divine weapon exists at the bottom of the Nine Nether Valley, naturally it is one of the four swords that remained from that day!"
Seeing that Jin Qi didn't speak, Ouyang Xue'er couldn't help but smile and say, "Seventh Young Master, what are you thinking about?" "
I..."
Jin Qi murmured, finally saying, "Master, on that day at the Treasure Distribution Rock, the three patriarchs—Taishang Laojun, Yuanshi Tianzun, and Tongtian Jiaozhu—all achieved perfected Dharma bodies and received innate treasures! Then, did Nuwa, the peerless phoenix, and the king of sacred beasts, Qilin, who were also present, also cultivate to become Great Sages and receive innate divine weapons and magic treasures bestowed by Grandmaster Hongjun?"
He was a disciple of the Xuanhuang Fanyin Reincarnation Temple, and was actually only concerned about the peerless phoenix. However, asking directly would only make things worse, so he asked about Nuwa, the phoenix, and the Qilin! They had all heard the legends, with Nuwa being mentioned the most, Qilin more, but the phoenix hadn't appeared in either the Investiture of the Gods or the Journey to the West, remaining incredibly mysterious!
Old Man Wuji paused, slightly opening his Luo Xian Eye, knowing that the approaching enemy was still a quarter of an hour away, and Jin Qi and the others couldn't sense them yet. He couldn't help but say, "Visiting... demons are about to arrive, in a quarter of an hour!" "Of course, there are legends about Nuwa, the peerless phoenix, and the Qilin, the king of sacred beasts, at the Treasure Distribution Rock. Would you like to hear more?"
Ouyang Xue'er exclaimed with delight, "Yes, senior, please tell us! I love listening to stories!"
Kuangye, Ruchen Saintess, and the Prince also smiled and said, "Thank you for your time, senior!"
Only Jin Qi and Qingsong Protector secretly groaned, "Could it be that several great demons are coming to steal the sword? Today is destined to be fraught with danger!"
Chapter 8032 Mountains and Rivers, Gourd Summons Demons
"Alright! You..."
Old Man Wuji smiled slightly and said, "First, tell us about Nuwa's situation at the Treasure Distribution Rock that day!" His only beloved disciple was Jin
Qi, but how could he not like the refined and elegant young men and women like the young master of the Shu Mountain Sect, the pure Yin maiden Ouyang Xue'er, and the girl Ru Chen from the Putuo Mountain Sect in the South China Sea? Even the eldest disciple of the Kongtong Sect, Kuang Ye, and the Bing Shuang and Fen Yu from the South China Sea Sect, though not worthy of his attention, were of no concern to him given his cultivation level, which was about to ascend to immortality!
He had almost completely forgotten the grudges and grievances of the world, except for his hatred for the reviver of the Kunlun Sect, the "Bloodstained Xuanyuan Marquis"!
Ouyang Xue... The girl laughed again, "Senior, you don't know, but I love reading 'Dream of the Red Chamber' the most. I admire the scene of Nuwa mending the sky with stones, and then there are the stones left behind, enduring a thousand lifetimes of love tribulations, which led to the tragic love between Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu..."
She didn't just watch TV; she had read the novel countless times. Unfortunately, these people were all cultivation masters, so it felt like talking to a brick wall!
The prince quickly smiled and said, "Xue'er, the story of Nuwa mending the sky takes place a thousand years after the events at the Treasure-Dividing Cliff. Let's not disturb your interest, senior! Let's continue listening to the story!"
Old Man Wuji looked at the prince and couldn't help but nod in approval. The more he looked at the prince, the more he felt that this young man not only had a masculine and loyal side, but was also extremely caring towards the young girl Xue'er, meticulous, considerate, and had leadership qualities! He suddenly felt a jolt in his heart: "Could it be? This year's Mid-Autumn Festival? The young man whom Heaven intends to show in the world is the young master of the Shu Mountain Sect, the prince?" "
A young man?"
However, he no longer thought about that matter and solemnly recounted the events that followed at the Treasure Distribution Rock that day.
Jin Qi focused his mind and heard his master say that on that day, Hongjun Patriarch nodded and waved for Tongtian Jiaozhu to step back. At this moment, he smiled and said, "Nuwa, although you are born a woman with a human head and body... your talent is far superior to that of all other spirits. In the future, you will be the Mother of the Earth, and I will also give you some treasures of the level of a sect leader!"
"Mother of the Earth?"
Qilin and Phoenix had the best relationship with Nuwa and couldn't help but laugh and say, "Master, why do you say that Senior Sister Nuwa is the Mother of the Earth? We don't know the reason!"
Hongjun Patriarch smiled and said, "This is the workings of fate. You will know in the future!"
Nuwa was overjoyed and quickly came over, knelt down and said, "Thank you, Master!" Unexpectedly, today, following Master, I not only witnessed the three senior brothers' great success in their Dharma bodies, but even those who witnessed it received a share. I was also blessed with a magic treasure by Master! "
Haha, if Senior Sister Nuwa has one, then naturally I will too!"
Qilin laughed again.
Hongjun, the Ancestor, reached out and pulled a golden gourd and a demon-summoning banner from the rock face, saying, "Nuwa, these two magic treasures are for you!" Phoenix, standing
nearby, chuckled, "Master, what are the uses of the gourd and the banner?"
"Don't underestimate this gourd," Hongjun replied, "It's called the Xuanyuan Demon Qi Gourd. It contains the energy of ten thousand demons. Once you open it, all the demons in the world will be at your command!"
He nodded and smiled. "And this demon-summoning banner is even more powerful. It can be made large or small at will. When it's large, it can be as big as a rafter, over four or five zhang tall, with five-colored light and thousands of auspicious rays. Just unfold it for a moment, and there will be a mournful wind, a misty fog, and dark clouds gathering. After several gusts of wind, all the demons in the world will come to you to await your decree!"
Nuwa, a demon saint who had attained enlightenment, knew that her master had entrusted her with the important task of managing the demon race. She quickly thanked him and accepted the banner.
Hongjun Patriarch murmured again, "How about I give you another innate treasure?"
Qilin laughed, "Master is truly good to Sister Nuwa! I'm envious! I wonder what kind of magic treasure it is?"
This was clearly because Qilin, Phoenix, Nuwa, and Tongtian Daoist had a good relationship, allowing them to joke. If it were Taishang Laojun or Yuanshi Tianzun, they would never joke like that!
Hongjun Patriarch waved his hand again, and a blue light flew out from the depths of the rocks. Everyone quickly looked over, knowing that
what flew from the depths of the rocks was also an innate treasure! However, everyone was somewhat disappointed, because it was merely a drawing three feet long and one foot wide!
Judging by its aura, it wasn't even as imposing as the Taiji Qiankun Diagram that Hongjun Patriarch bestowed upon Taishang Laojun!
Master Tongtian asked with a smile, "Master, what kind of map is this?"
Hongjun, the Ancestor, didn't answer directly, but simply said, "This is the Map of Mountains and Rivers! Nuwa, you are a righteous deity on earth. I will pass this Map of Mountains and Rivers on to you, so that you may uphold the state and enjoy the pleasures of the mortal world forever!" The Qilin laughed, "That's good! If I ever get hungry, I'll just go find Senior Sister Nuwa!"
"With your innate cultivation, you'll still go hungry?"
Nuwa laughed heartily, thanking him profusely. She took the map from the Ancestor's hand and was about to step back when Hongjun said, "Wait! Alas! You will have a great merit to perform in the future, requiring these five-colored flying stones from beyond the heavens. Come back to me then, and I will teach you the method of refining them!"
Although Nuwa didn't quite understand what the flying stones were for—she clearly didn't know about the later story of mending the heavens—she still thanked him and stepped back!
"Wow!"
Jin Qi exclaimed in surprise, "So the Xuanyuan Demon Qi Gourd and the Demon-Summoning Banner were bestowed upon Nuwa by Ancestor Hongjun! They can suppress all demons; they are truly powerful magic weapons!"
Prince sighed, "Indeed! And there's also the powerful Mountain and River Map of the Immortal Realm! It's clear that Ancestor Hongjun didn't favor anyone!"
Ouyang Xue'er excitedly added, "Haha, Ancestor Hongjun said that what he would pass on to Nuwa later must be the legend of forging the five-colored flying stones from outer space to mend the sky!"
Everyone was very interested and discussed it.
After a while, Jin Qi cautiously asked, "Master, have we finally come to the Peerless Phoenix?"
Chapter 8033 Qilin and Phoenix, King of Beasts and Birds Prince
, of course, knew why Jin Qi was so eager to know the whereabouts of the Peerless Phoenix. The Xuanhuang Brahma Reincarnation Temple was somewhat related to the legendary phoenix, but the phoenix was never seen. If it were him, he would have asked his master long ago! Jin Qi's question now clearly indicates he was unaware of this before. Could it be that the Xuanhuang Fanyin Reincarnation Temple holds a shocking secret? Did Elder Wuji not tell Jin Qi?
Even Elder Wuji only knew a little about the Phoenix Legend—something the prince couldn't have imagined!
"Seventh Young Master, look how impatient you are!"
Ouyang Xue'er laughed. "Only the Qilin and Phoenix remain on the Treasure Distribution Rock! Clearly, it's the two of them who will step forward to receive the magic treasure! Take your time, who else will come?"
She secretly envied him, thinking, "Why don't I have a magic treasure?"
She didn't consider that she currently possessed no magical power; even if she had a magic treasure, how would she control it?
As for the Pure Yin Girl gaining magical power and displaying her prowess in the demon-slaying battle, that's a story for later!
Elder Wuji nodded and continued.
Hongjun Ancestor looked at the Qilin again. The Qilin quickly stepped forward three times and knelt down. Although usually mischievous, how could he dare to be naughty at this crucial moment? He too became solemn!
"It's rare to see Junior Brother Qilin being so serious!"
Tongtian Jiaozhu laughed. Nuwa and Phoenix, on the other hand, were secretly hoping that their master would bestow a good magic weapon upon Qilin. Although the three of them were not direct disciples of Hongjun Laozu, they were Hongjun Laozu's most beloved disciples who listened to his teachings! The relationship between the three was far better than that between Taishang Laojun, Yuanshi Tianzun, and Tongtian Jiaozhu! One was a master of the Northern Demon Clan, one was a saint in the water, and one was reborn in fire. None of them were born into human form. They not only sparred and comprehended the Dao together, but also cherished each other!
Everyone saw Hongjun Laozu stretch out his right hand, and a loud sound rang out from the depths of the Treasure Dividing Rock. Then, with a "boom," a shimmering beam of mysterious light shot out from the rock wall, flew over, and landed in Hongjun Laozu's hand.
Taishang Laojun was puzzled: "Why did Master pass on the Taiji Sheji Diagram to Junior Sister Nuwa before, and now he's passing on the supreme treasure deep within the Treasure Distribution Rock to Junior Brother Qilin?"
Although he didn't recognize the treasure, he knew its power must be extraordinary! In his heart, he considered himself to be of the highest moral character and didn't think much of magical creatures with fur and horns!
"Master, what kind of magic weapon is this?"
Nuwa asked with a smile.
Hongjun Laozu raised his hand again, and the shimmering mysterious light rose into the air and landed on Qilin, but he felt nothing at all. He touched it, but could barely feel anything.
"Ah..."
The phoenix was also surprised. What a wondrous magic weapon!
Qilin was puzzled. Although he knew that what his master had bestowed upon him must be a supreme treasure of the sect leader level, he still smiled and asked, "Master, what is this?"
"No wonder you all don't recognize it!"
Seeing that Taishang Laojun and Yuanshi Tianzun were also shaking their heads and remaining silent, Hongjun Patriarch smiled and said, "Qilin, this is a magic robe that can withstand divine weapons, called the 'Hun Yuan Golden Scale Cover.' I bestow it upon you to ensure your safety! From now on, even if a Great Luo Immortal's magic weapon hits you, it will be ineffective!"
He could say this after seeing Taishang Laojun's many magic weapons, which clearly indicated that the defensive power of the "Hun Yuan Golden Scale Cover" was superior to that of offensive magic weapons!
Hearing this, Kuangye, the eldest disciple of the Kongtong Sect, couldn't help but change his expression drastically. So the legendary "Hun Yuan Golden Scale Cover" really existed! His own Bagua Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe could also avoid being killed by immortal swords, but compared to the "Hun Yuan Golden Scale Cover," it was like the difference in brightness between a firefly and the moon—vastly disparate!
Upon hearing this, Qilin beamed with joy and kowtowed again, saying, "Thank you, Master!" Phoenix
laughed and said, "Junior Brother Qilin! Congratulations on obtaining the 'Primordial Golden Scale Shield.' Clearly, this is the premier defensive robe for close combat! Your Master passed it on to you; you've truly made a fortune on this trip!"
Nuwa, Tongtian Daoist, and Yuanshi Tianzun also came to offer their congratulations, only to hear Taishang Laojun say sarcastically from the side, "Hehe, I wonder if Junior Brother Tongtian's Four Swords of Immortal Execution collide with the 'Primordial Golden Scale Shield,' will it be the sword's sharpness or... the scale's solidity?"
The Qilin, straightforward by nature, immediately retorted, "What do you mean by that, Senior Brother? How could Third Senior Brother and I have a duel? How could his Four Swords of Immortal Execution pierce me?"
Tongtian Daoist and the Phoenix naturally knew that just now, Tongtian Daoist's Four Swords of Immortal Execution had displayed tremendous power, deflecting Taishang Laojun's Three Treasures Jade Ruyi and breaking Taishang Laojun's protective aura. Taishang Laojun was still holding a grudge! This Qilin was merely a scapegoat!
Tongtian Daoist and the Phoenix exchanged a glance and could only manage a bitter smile.
Yuanshi Tianzun quickly intervened, laughing, "Master still has a magic treasure to bestow upon Junior Brother Qilin! Why don't you all take a look?"
Seeing this, Hongjun Laozu could only sigh. Whether the relationship between these three direct disciples and the six favored disciples—Nuwa, Phoenix, and Qilin—was good or bad was clearly beyond his control! These were all predetermined by fate; even as the number one immortal of the Primordial Chaos, he could not defy the workings of destiny!
Sure enough, Hongjun Laozu still had a magic treasure to bestow upon Qilin!
Everyone saw another flash of purple light in his hand, and from the depths of the Treasure-Dividing Rock, another object flew out, spinning in the air before landing directly in Qilin's hand. It emitted three bursts of brilliant light before settling down. Upon closer inspection, it was nothing more than a small, ancient bell, its entire surface covered in Daoist incantations.
"Master, what kind of bell is this? How powerful is it?"
Nuwa, overjoyed to have received the Map of Mountains and Rivers, asked again.
Hongjun, the Ancestor, did not answer her, but only smiled and said, "Qilin, among those who attained enlightenment in the water, you are number one! Among the 360 beasts with fur, you are also number one. I taught you the 'Four Spirits Mysterious Technique' back then, and you will be the leader of the Four Spirits! You will rule over all beasts and be called the King of Holy Beasts! Now, your master will also teach you the 'Qilin Ruyi Seal' to complement the 'Taiyi Moxuan Bell' in your hand, and you can also achieve the Hunyuan Daluo Dao Fruit!"
Qilin hurriedly thanked him repeatedly, "Thank you for your kindness, Master!"
Taishang Laojun, who had followed Hongjun the longest, was greatly surprised! He knew best that the "Taiyi Moxuan Bell" was a primordial treasure from the beginning of the universe. Hongjun had placed it in his heart to refine it, making it extremely mysterious. The bell was full of chaotic energy and was also called the "Taiyi Chaos Bell." How come Yuanshi Tianzun and Tongtian Jiaozhu had never heard of these things? He couldn't help but laugh, "Legend has it that this bell shakes the heavens and earth with a single strike, overturns mountains and seas with a second, and reverses the universe with a third! Master passed it on to Junior Brother Qilin, truly congratulations!"
Phoenix also laughed, "'The Primordial Golden Scale Shield' is a supreme innate treasure for protection! But the 'Taiyi Chaos Bell' is a powerful and destructive treasure! Congratulations, Junior Brother Qilin, that you will fear no one from now on!"
The 'anyone' he referred to was actually a veiled reference to Laozi! It was impossible for Yuanshi Tianzun and Tongtian Daoist to fight Qilin, and even if other immortal cultivators wanted to fight, how could they be Qilin's enemy?
Qilin's admiration for his master deepened, thinking to himself, "Master often says that all spiritual beings in the world who attain Dao are of one family. Now, he has passed on the 'Taiyi Ink Profound Bell' to me, someone who doesn't belong to the orthodox cultivation path. This is an immense blessing! If Master intended to appease me, he would have merely passed on a few magical treasures hanging on the mountain wall. But these two supreme treasures are renowned for a long time, and they are located deep within the Treasure Dividing Rock. This shows Master's cultivation and magnanimity, vast as the heavens, simply unfathomable!"
After verbally expressing his gratitude, Qilin withdrew.
Finally, only the peerless phoenix remained!
Jin Qi breathed a sigh of relief. The legend of the Treasure Dividing Rock was truly a series of climaxes! It greatly piqued everyone's interest! Even the Green Pine Protector, the Green Bamboo Protector, and the White Plum Protector were deeply captivated! The thought of spurring Elder Wuji and the others out of the valley? That thought had probably vanished into thin air!
Now, only the legendary phoenix, whose Yin and Yang were predetermined and could be freely transformed, remained—the one Jin Qi most wanted to explore!
Chapter 8034 The Phoenix Asks the Way, an Ancient Mystery
Undoubtedly, even Elder Wuji was extremely nervous. He was originally an outstanding talent from the Shu Mountain Sect, but was hunted down by the forces of Laozi, led by Lü Dongbin, the leader of the Chunyang Sect. Fortunately, he was enlightened by Ancestor Hongjun, found the Xuanhuang Fanyin Reincarnation Temple on Xieyue Peak, obtained the "Phoenix Essence Blood and the Exquisite Divine Sword," and became the successor of the Phoenix lineage, secretly protecting Shu Mountain for a thousand years, thus achieving immortality! However, Ancestor Hongjun almost never told the truth of the Phoenix legend from back then. These legends were only mentioned by his masters when he was in Shu Mountain!
Undoubtedly, this was the most climax of the Treasure Distribution Rock!
Ancestor Hongjun looked at the Phoenix one last time, seeing its peerless beauty and independent spirit, vaguely resembling his own former glory. Among these disciples, he and Tongtian were most similar to themselves! Seeing the phoenix's melancholy gaze, he said, "The phoenix flies, and all birds pay homage! You are the king of all birds in the south, a great sage who has attained enlightenment, so why are you so melancholy? Do you also desire a supreme innate treasure today?"
The phoenix knelt down, smiled slightly, and said, "Thank you for your concern, Master. These worldly titles are of no concern to me. However, I do have something troubling me!"
The Qilin, still basking in the joy of obtaining supreme innate treasures like the "Primordial Golden Scale Cover" and the "Taiyi Chaos Bell," laughed and said, "Brother Phoenix, you can certainly ask Master directly what's on your mind!"
Nuwa also laughed and said, "Yes, Master will surely give you many treasures!"
Hongjun Ancestor also laughed and said, "That's right." "Today, you have a seat on the Treasure-Gathering Rock, so you are a destined one. Look at those rocks over there; you might see colorful light. If you can see it, take it!"
Phoenix glanced over and indeed saw many colors, clearly all innate treasures. However, he only smiled slightly and said, "A few years ago, when I visited Senior Brother Tongtian, I walked through the Primordial Chaos Flame. I also saw many of these seven-colored lights. But I have no interest in innate treasures!"
Ancestor Hongjun was somewhat surprised and said, "You don't want treasures? Then what is on your mind?"
Phoenix sighed and said, "Alright! Master, please forgive this disciple for being so bold as to ask, may I borrow the Jade Disc of Creation?"
Jade Disc of Creation?
Jin Qi, Prince, Ouyang Xue'er, Kuang Ye, Saintess Ruchen, and others all hurriedly asked, "Senior, what is the Jade Disc of Creation?"
Elder Wuji shook his head slightly. He was himself, but he didn't say! It turned out that before heaven and earth were formed, chaos had already taken shape, permeating heaven and earth, and chaos was the uncarved block. Before creation, it was called Taiyi. In the beginning, before the separation of primordial energy, there was only chaos and oneness. Before the separation of Yin and Yang, there was only primordial chaos, without form. Heaven, earth, sun, and moon were not yet present, resembling a chicken egg, a chaotic and dark yellow. At the dawn of chaos, within the primordial chaos, the Western Kunlun Mountains rose powerfully, towering above the world. The workings of destiny began, and creation, with its boundless and wondrous powers, could create anything with spirit, thus giving rise to life. In the Nine Nether Valleys of the Western Kunlun Mountains, a fragment of the Jade Tablet of Creation was found. Sensing the mysteries of creation, it witnessed day and night the scattering of colorful mists, the wind and rain in the sky, and countless bamboo groves, their branches shrouded in mist, a deep, azure hue. It also observed craggy cliffs, moist with green moss, towering walls covered in verdant foliage. The heavens stretched far into the sky, shimmering with five-colored clouds. The heavens, deeply aware of this blessed land, felt their own spirituality arise, their primordial spirit emerged, and they finally attained enlightenment. Thus, beyond the primordial chaos, came this enlightened ancestor, who spent his days wandering beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, expounding on the Dao, giving lectures, and traveling the world, calling himself Hongjun Ancestor. Countless listeners gathered under Hongjun's tutelage to hear his teachings, and many primordial spirits cultivated themselves, many acquiring vast supernatural powers.
Therefore, the Jade Disc of Creation is the primordial spirit of Hongjun Ancestor! The primordial spirit of the ancestor of primordial chaos!
That day, Hongjun Ancestor was slightly startled and asked, "Phoenix, what use do you have for this Jade Disc of Creation?"
The phoenix sighed, "To be honest, Master! Even in the primordial era, I had already begun my cultivation; I attained enlightenment at the very beginning of the universe; yet, it is still troubling that the Jade Disc of Creation gave birth to me, but why am I destined to be alone, with no other phoenix in the world?"
This destiny and creation stirred the heart of Hongjun, the Ancestor, who also sighed and asked, "Then, what exactly do you desire from the Jade Disc of Creation?"
The phoenix remained silent for a long time before softly saying, "I only wish to find a phoenix to accompany me! The Great Dao is ruthless… In comprehending the universe, I only wish to comprehend the Great Dao of Emotion."
Hongjun pondered for a long time, knowing that the phoenix was a creature of union and its heart was already moved, which was a difficult situation!
Moreover, he already knew that the phoenix, in its yin form, Huang'er, had already developed feelings for his third disciple, Tongtian! This
further fueled Tongtian's desire to break through the barriers of yin and yang and overcome the tribulations of love!
And now, before Hongjun, Taishang Laojun, and Yuanshi Tianzun stood the yang form, Feng'er!
Even though Hongjun was a master of the laws of heaven and earth, he didn't know what love was. The feelings between Tongtian and Huang'er were something he couldn't understand, and he didn't know how to deal with it!
After a long time, he said, "Alright, you are already in your mortal form, so you can cultivate the Great Dao of Love! We'll try it in the future!" After he knew what the phoenix wanted, he said to Laozi, Yuanshi Tianzun, and Tongtian Jiaozhu, "There are still many treasures on the surface of the Treasure Distribution Rock. Although they are not as precious as the treasures I just gave you, why don't you go and find them? They will be useful to your disciples and grand-disciples in the future!"
The three of them agreed and flew over.
Laozi, however, thought, "I already have the 'Heaven and Earth Profound Yellow, Relic Exquisite Pagoda' for self-defense, the Taiji Qiankun Diagram for attacking enemies, and I've also mastered the method of forging magical treasures. The 'Diamond Bracelet' is nearing completion, and perhaps I can even steal many magical treasures, such as the Four Swords of Zhuxian! When I return to the Eight Trigrams Palace of Lihentian, I can forge more treasures myself! What kind of magical treasures are these that aren't even included in the Treasure-Gathering Rock?"
Therefore, he only took a stroll around, coldly watching Yuanshi Tianzun and Tongtian Daoist search for treasures, while he willingly returned empty-handed!
Yuanshi Tianzun, as instructed, stepped forward and retrieved the Blood-Transforming Treasure Box (during the Investiture of the Gods, Yuanshi took a box from his sleeve, opened it, and tossed it into the air, trapping Bixiao Fairy and her horse inside, which soon turned into blood). He also possessed the Taiji Talisman, capable of resisting magical attacks; the Giant Sword; the Heaven-Reaching Divine Fire Pillars (eight in total, each over three zhang tall and over one zhang in diameter, arranged according to the Eight Trigrams; each pillar containing forty-nine fire dragons); the Purple-Gold Bowl (these four treasures were later passed down to Yun Zhongzi); the Eight Trigrams Purple Ribbon Robe; the Sweeping Cloud Robe; the Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe; the Rainbow Rope; the Wind-Fixing Pearl; the Hunyuan Banner; the Immortal-Trapping Rope; and the Dragon-Escape Stake, among others. He intended to distribute
these to the disciples of the Jade Void Sect. Now, the members of the Kongtong Sect, hearing this, suddenly realized that these magical treasures were merely decorative. On the cliff face of the Treasure-Dividing Rock, not deep within the rock, the power was clearly significantly reduced! Kuang Ye felt uneasy; if the Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe encountered the Four Swords of Immortal Slaying, it would be utterly useless!
However, with the help of Nuwa and the Qilin, Tongtian and his companions found the most: the Six Soul Banner, the Blood-Transforming Divine Blade, the Heaven-Opening Pearl, the Primordial Pearl, the Earth-Splitting Pearl, and the Azure Cloud Sword (the sword bears a talisman with four characters: Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind. The wind is a black wind, containing countless spears; if one encounters this wind, one's limbs will be reduced to dust. As for the fire, golden snakes swirl in the air, and black smoke blankets the ground, obscuring vision; it burns fiercely without any protection). The Primordial Umbrella (the umbrella is made entirely of pearls, including emeralds, jade, luminous pearls, dust-repelling pearls, fire-repelling pearls, and water-repelling pearls). Cooling Pearl, Nine-Bend Pearl, Youth-Fixing Pearl, Wind-Fixing Pearl. There were also pearls strung together to form the four characters "Loading the Universe." When opened, it darkened the sky and obscured the sun and moon; a turn caused the universe to tremble; it absorbed treasures and weapons. A pipa (with four strings, corresponding to earth, water, fire, and wind; plucking the strings summoned wind and fire). A divine beast, the Flower Fox Sable (shaped like a white rat, when released into the air it appeared as a white elephant with wings, devouring all living beings). Headache-Relieving Bell, Hair-Drying Bell, Dizziness Sword, Plague-Dispelling Whip, Golden Cloud Crown, Primordial Hammer, Sun and Moon Pearl, Dragon and Tiger Ruyi, Four Symbols Pagoda, White Jade Ring, Heaven-Illuminating Seal, Five Dragon Wheel, Ten Thousand Crow Pot, Ten Thousand Miles of Rising Clouds and Smoke, Flying Smoke Sword, Ghostly Ten Thousand Bone Banner, etc.
Finally, seeing that his disciples had all returned laden with treasures, Hongjun the Ancestor dismissed everyone, leaving only one behind. Phoenix, having closed the Wuji Jiluo Xuandu Heaven, addressed Laozi, Yuanshi Tianzun, and Tongtian Jiaozhu: "You will establish the Three Teachings in the future, but remember, 'Red flowers, white lotus roots, and green lotus leaves, the Three Teachings are originally one family!' I prefer tranquility; if you are just ordinary disciples, you may not mention my name!"
Laozi and Yuanshi Tianzun accepted the order and departed, while Nuwa, Qilin, and Tongtian Jiaozhu
came to bid Phoenix a reluctant farewell.
Tongtian Jiaozhu, unwilling to part, said, "Junior Brother Phoenix, please take care..."
Nuwa said, "Junior Brother Phoenix, we have known each other for a thousand years and are most compatible. Even after a thousand years, I will surely miss you!"
Qilin also said, "Your enlightenment will likely last for a thousand years. When you emerge from seclusion, do not forget..." "Me! We brothers..."
Phoenix's heart also stirred with emotion, her phoenix eyes filled with sorrow, almost bringing tears to her eyes.
Phoenix silently looked at Tongtian, both of them feeling a pang of bitterness. Phoenix thought to herself, "Third Senior Brother Tongtian, when I have comprehended the tribulation of love, if I am still in the body of Phoenix, I will surely stay with you for ten thousand years!"
Tongtian also promised the heavens, "In this life, I swear I will not give my heart to anyone but my junior sister Phoenix!"
In Tongtian's heart, Phoenix was always Phoenix, with her ice-like skin and jade-like bones, her fair face and soft breasts. Her apricot-shaped face and peach-like cheeks exuded a captivating spring-like beauty. Her willow-leaf eyebrows and starry eyes adorned her with a spirited air. Her appearance was like a flower in the moonlight, her temperament like a fragrant orchid. She was clever and quick-witted, her figure neither too short nor too long. Her voice was like a nightingale singing in a tall forest, her body like a swallow flitting through new willows, like a crabapple blossom slumbering in the morning dew, a peony intoxicated by the spring breeze.
Finally, everyone... After their separation, Hongjun Ancestor and Phoenix remained in the Zixiao Palace to jointly comprehend the Creation Jade Disc and the Great Dao of Compassion, no longer concerning themselves with the mundane affairs of the Thirty-Three Heavens and Ninety-Nine Earths.
One day, Phoenix smiled and said, "Master, I see among your treasures are innate treasures such as the Azure Lotus Banner and the Plain Cloud Banner. Why don't you pass them on to your three senior brothers?"
Hongjun Ancestor was somewhat surprised and asked, "Can you really see those seven-colored mystical lights as well?"
Phoenix nodded and remained silent.
Hongjun Ancestor smiled and said, "These treasures are all creation, determined by fate. Your three senior brothers are not destined for them! Alas, among my three disciples, I am most worried about Tongtian!" Phoenix
replied, "My third senior brother is the one who has received the most instruction from Master. I'm afraid that passing on the Dao ..." "The greatest blessing to the world, Master, what are you worried about?"
Hongjun remained silent.
Time flies like an arrow, the sun and moon like a shuttle. Year after year, time drifted by. What is love in this world? Could the Phoenix, having comprehended love, understand the formless Great Dao?
Many years later, when the most renowned Great Luo Taiyi Hunyuan Golden Immortal among the five realms of Heaven, Earth, Gods, Humans, and Ghosts—the indestructible leader of the Human Sect, Taishang Laojun, the leader of the Chan Sect, Yuanshi Tianzun, and the leader of the Jie Sect, Tongtian Jiaozhu—visited the Zixiao Palace again, the Wuji Jiluo Xuandu Heaven remained tightly closed. No one knew where Hongjun and the Phoenix had gone.
For thousands of years afterward, no one knew the Phoenix's whereabouts. However, legend says that the Phoenix, aided by the Jade Disc of Creation, received the combined energy of Heaven and Earth and gave birth to two sons, the Peacock and the Roc.
Hongjun Laozu would occasionally appear during each calamity, but the phoenix was nowhere to be seen.
Tens of thousands of years later, during the Shang-Zhou War, Hongjun Laozu appeared again, summoning Taishang Laojun, Yuanshi Tianzun, and Tongtian Jiaozhu to jointly draft the Investiture of the Gods. Tongtian Jiaozhu asked where the phoenix was, but Hongjun Laozu only smiled and remained silent.
When Jiang Ziya finally received the decree of Yuanshi Tianzun to bestow the titles of gods, his descendants had multiplied countless times, and numerous offspring had emerged, such as the Water Qilin, Jade Qilin, and Black Qilin. When the Qilin Immortal, who had already joined the Western Buddhist sect and was enfeoffed as the Peacock King Bodhisattva, and the Great Roc, a protector of the Buddha, sought out the Peacock King, who had been appointed as the Peacock King Bodhisattva, and the Roc, a protector of the Buddha, they also did not know where the phoenix was. They only said that once they had the ability to survive, they would not know where the phoenix had gone.
Where is the Phoenix? This became the first unsolved mystery of heaven and earth since the beginning of time!
The old man Wuji was extremely excited as he spoke of this!
Jin Qi's heart was filled with boundless curiosity about the secret of the Phoenix!
Ouyang Xue'er also exclaimed, "Yes, why was the Phoenix nowhere to be seen in the two great battles of Investiture of the Gods and Journey to the West?"
Just as the three guardians, Prince, Saintess Ruchen, and Kuangye and Qingsong, were deep in thought, they suddenly heard the old man Wuji whisper, "Alas, a great demon is coming!"
The great battle began!
Chapter 8035 The Old Demons of the North and South Fly to Snatch the Sword
Hearing his master's words, Jin Qi knew they were true and quickly focused his mind. Now, dealing with the approaching great demon was the priority!
The three guardians, Qingsong, Cuizhu, and Baimei, admired the old man Wuji even more. The three of them hadn't noticed, but the old man had already discovered them. His earlier statement that many demons were coming today was true! And now, with his advance warning, the three of them still didn't know!
"A demon is coming?"
Ouyang Xue'er turned around to look behind her, but there was no one in sight. She couldn't help but ask, "How can a demon be coming? I didn't see anyone! There's no one behind me!"
The prince smiled and said, "When a demon comes, it naturally flies! We are the righteous path, so we naturally respect the Kunlun Sect and came on foot. But demons don't care about such etiquette!"
"Flying here!"
Ouyang Xue'er couldn't help but exclaim, "How come flying is as commonplace as eating a meal in your cultivation world?"
These past few days, she had grown accustomed to riding the Prince's Sunrise Immortal Sword, and today, she had also greatly enjoyed Jin Qi's "Following One's Wish, the Flower of Illusion and Demise," thinking to herself, "How wonderful it would be if I could fly around in the sky too!"
She then looked towards the sky, but there wasn't even a blurry dot in the distance, so she stuck out her tongue, "The eyesight of cultivators must be able to see even further!"
Jin Qi nodded and said, "Xue'er doesn't know! Once you reach the second level of cultivation, you can forge an immortal sword. Once the immortal sword is drawn, you can fly on it! Killing with a sword is relatively ineffective in the cultivation world! It's not as effective as the Blood Droplet hidden weapon from the Qing Dynasty three hundred years ago, which Emperor Yongzheng used to kill people thousands of miles away! However, with an immortal sword for sword-flying, only two levels of cultivation are needed! It's perfect for traveling!"
“That’s right, so if the demon is coming, he will definitely be flying on a sword!”
Fen Yu interjected.
“This time it’s different, not entirely on a sword! There might be a great demon riding a thousand-year-old crane or other extraordinary birds or mounts, flying through the air…”
Jin Qi always felt something was wrong; he couldn’t sense any sword energy in one direction!
“A great demon is coming from the southwest!”
Kuang Ye was also listening to Jin Qi, the prince, and Ouyang Xue’er’s conversation. Seeing several figures appear in the sky in the southwest, slowly approaching Sword Peak on swords, he said. Lan Chen and Qing Suo behind him quickly drew their swords, ready for battle!
Bing Shuang turned around and asked curiously, “The great demon in the southwest is flying so slowly! Why?”
Of course, no one knew!
“It turns out it’s not just them coming; there’s another group in the northeast!”
Saintess Ru Chen said softly, “Look, there’s also a great demon coming from the northeast!”
Sure enough, two figures appeared in the northeast sky, flying and flashing, flying swiftly on swords! Their flying speed was as fast as lightning!
"The Southwest Demon doesn't want to be the first to attack!"
Jin Qi guessed this and said.
Protector Cuizhu's face turned green, truly resembling the color of emerald, and she exclaimed, "What should we do? Seventh Senior Brother Qingsong? These people must know that our Sect Leader is not in Kunlun, but has gone to the Wudang Sect to discuss swordsmanship with the Wudang Sect Leader, Nine Apertures True Man. They have come to storm the mountain!"
"What? Your sect leader isn't on the mountain today?"
Kuang Ye was taken aback and asked, "But all the seniors predicted that a supreme innate treasure and divine weapon would be unearthed today. How important is that? Why isn't the Kunlun sect leader, Master Shixiao, at Jue Tian Palace? Why isn't he personally guarding it?"
He thought to himself, "Hmph, I wonder what important matter Master Shixiao has to discuss with the Wudang sect's Nine Apertures Sect Leader! I wonder if it counts as sneaking around! I wonder if my master can predict that!"
Cui Zhu's face turned cold: "Hmph, why should we tell you, a junior, about our sect leader's affairs?"
Protector Qing Song also said softly, "How can the Kunlun sect be underestimated? Even if our sect leader isn't here, we three brothers are protectors of the Nine Nether Valley. How can we let outsiders into the valley?"
Saintess Ru Chen said in a low voice, "We three from the South Sea Putuo Mountain sect will definitely help the righteous side!" With these words, she clearly indicated that she was on the side of the Kunlun sect. This was not abrupt at all, and Protector Qing Song and the other two 　　felt very comfortable
hearing it ! 　　Only Ouyang Xue'er, standing beside Prince and Jin Qi, softly asked, "Prince, Seventh Young Master, can you see who the great demon coming is? Could it be the one who planted the 'World-Defying Calamity'?" 　　Prince shook his head, simply saying, "We don't know! However, there's a dense demonic aura surrounding their swords, clearly indicating they're not righteous!" 　　Jin Qi nodded in agreement, "Indeed! Anyone who covets the Four Swords of Zhuxian and tries to take advantage of the situation is hardly a righteous person." 　　Protector Bai Mei's expression changed, "These people are fearless, disregarding the thousand-year-old decree of our Kunlun Sect that those wishing to enter the valley cannot fly on swords! We, the brothers, can only intervene to intercept them, to uphold the reputation of our Kunlun Sect!" 　　"Good!" 　　Protector Qing Song said resolutely. 　　The three protectors were filled with boundless pride. For three hundred years, they had protected the Nine Nether Valley, fighting against various demons, and had fought countless battles. Today, Kunlun was fighting for justice—truly a great joy in life! 　　So, Qingsong nodded slightly, and the head of the Cuizhu Sect and Elder Baimei exchanged a glance. Both drew their swords and raised them to the sky. The Cuizhu Immortal Sword and the Baimei Immortal Sword, one green and one white, were drawn, and two supreme energies shot straight into the heavens. A fierce wind arose, the Daoist teachings were profound and mysterious, an intangible force beyond measure! 　　"Truly three hundred years of cultivation, not weak at all!" 　　Elder Wuji said calmly. 　　The two sword lights leisurely soared into the sky. Protector Cuizhu then gathered her qi in her dantian and proclaimed in a loud voice, "My two brothers and I are protectors of the Nine Nether Valley of the Kunlun Sect! Today we guard the Ten Thousand Swords Peak in the Nine Nether Valley and await you all! We invite you all to land and have a talk!" 　　These words indeed had some effect, giving the great demon who had arrived on his sword in the sky the impression that they were the first to arrive and were the masters of this place! 　　Although Ouyang Xue'er couldn't fly on a sword, unleash her sword energy, or shout fiercely, she understood that Protector Cuizhu and Protector Baimei had already declared themselves protectors of the Kunlun Sect. If the newcomer knew the rules of the cultivation world and that one needed to pay respects to the sect before entering the Nine Nether Valley of Kunlun Mountain, they would naturally land! 　　Sure enough, several figures and objects in the northeast and southwest of the sky drew closer. The northeast demon arrived first, and seeing the green and white sword lights undulating in the sky, rushing down from the ground, and hearing Protector Cuizhu's shout, he was greatly surprised and immediately landed as instructed!

This was beside the ten thousand rusted swords of the second-level sword peak of Nine Nether Valley, a stretch of several hundred feet wide filled entirely with pebbles and gravel! The ten thousand swords on the ground seemed to sense the arrival of a demon, and trembled in unison!
"Haha!"
A rough-spoken man from the southwest laughed loudly, "So it really is Nine Nether Valley! We've finally found Nine Nether Valley! I've finally seen the Tomb of Ten Thousand Swords!"
Clearly, they had all come to search for Nine Nether Valley!
Jin Qi's heart trembled. They were so far away from his group, yet their voices carried easily, showing no weakness whatsoever. Such magical power was extraordinary!
No one paid any attention, only Ouyang Xue'er smiled and said, "Seventh Young Master, you were indeed correct. The demon from the northeast rode a giant bird!"
It turned out that it was indeed the people from the northeast, who were fast and arrived first!
Two people rode on the back of the bird, landing one after the other, while the giant bird itself did not land, but instead made a U-turn in the air and flew away far ahead!
The leader suddenly whistled, and the giant bird turned again, flying southwest. Jin Qi was startled, noticing the bird's sharp claws constantly extending and retracting, and its head frequently tilting. He thought to himself, "This bird is probably already sentient. Its precise flight indicates it's heading to meet the demons in the southwest!"
Could it be that these two demons are in cahoots? Or at least know each other?
Saintess Ruchen had already carefully examined the giant bird the two were riding, and she disliked it. The bird was cold-looking with a sharp beak and a fierce expression. As it spread its wings and flew away, it took with it a gust of cold wind, as if from the snow. It was the legendary Heavenly Pool Cold Vulture!
She couldn't help but whisper, "Brother Prince, Seventh Young Master, look, the book records that Shi Kuang said there is a bird in the north called the Vulture, which can live for a thousand years, with a yellow head and red eyes, possessing all five colors, and is ferocious! Look, the birds they ride are exactly the same! I wonder what kind of Vulture demon bird this is? Which sect does it come from?"
Prince, Jin Qi, and Kuang Ye all shook their heads, not knowing. But Fan Shang Dao Ren said, "Vulture demon birds rarely exist in the world. In the past two hundred years, I have heard that there are several Vultures in the Heavenly Pool of Changbai Mountain! They come from the northeast, so they should be from the area around Changbai Mountain. The cultivators in Guandong are led by Tiesha Jiuding Mountain! Could they be the Xuanhuang great demon cultivators lurking on Tiesha Jiuding Mountain?" With
nearly two hundred years of cultivation, Fan Shang Dao Ren's knowledge was naturally a notch above Prince, Jin Qi, and the others!
Fan Shang Dao Ren wasn't sure, and Jin Qi, Wang Zi, and the others remained silent. They were thinking, "This demon was actually able to subdue the Heavenly Pool Cold Vulture as his mount; his cultivation is clearly astonishing, and his magical power is profound! He's probably already at the eighth level of cultivation, Transformation!"
The two who landed on the bird's back saw that there were actually fifteen people on the ground. A childish voice rang out, "Master, I didn't expect there to be so many people in this valley!"
Another menacing voice rang out, "Who was releasing sword energy just now? What kind of damned Kunlun Sect Nine Nether Valley Protector is this?"
Jin Qi thought to himself, "Those who come today are not friendly; those who are friendly don't come!"
He only looked at the three great protectors: Green Pine, Green Bamboo, and White Plum!
How could Protector Cuizhu dare to show weakness? She quickly replied, neither humble nor arrogant, "Indeed! We two humble Taoists humbly invite you two down!"
"Hmph, you all don't know who my master is?"
The childish voice was full of arrogance, saying, "Why should we invite my master down? My master isn't giving you face, he's only giving face to the Ten Howling Immortals of the Kunlun Sect!"
The Ten Howling Immortals of the Kunlun Sect has been one of the grandmasters of Taoist cultivation for three hundred years, and is as famous in the cultivation world as the Nine Apertures Immortals of Wudang Sect and the Eight Trigrams Immortals of Kongtong Sect! Almost no one in the world dares to call him "Ten Howling Immortals" like that. However, this casual child dares to be so arrogant, obviously relying on the courage of his master, the great demon!
Jin Qi, Prince, Ouyang Xue'er, Saintess Ruchen, Kuang Ye, and others have all seen clearly that the person on the left, who speaks in a childish voice, looks only seventeen or eighteen years old, but Jin Qi knows that he must have been cultivating Taoist arts for decades! The first was a handsome young man with a jade-like face and blue eyes, his pupils dark and bright. He was not tall, and his black
Taoist robe, while fitting, actually ruined his image, making him appear extremely sinister! The person on the right, speaking with a menacing tone, was an old man in a yellow robe. He had an arrogant appearance, his black robe draped over his sleeves, with long black and green silk tassels. He was unarmed yet imposing, wearing black leather boots. His eyes gleamed like lightning; he was none other than the Black Wind King of the Mountains, his face fierce and ferocious. This man was clearly not a master of the righteous path; his cultivation was already unparalleled in the cultivation world!
However, the crowd still didn't know who they were! What kind of demons were they?
Jin Qi, the Prince, and Ouyang Xue'er all turned to look at the old man Wuji! In their hearts, they undoubtedly already regarded the old man Wuji as their true leader!
Chapter 8036 The Demon King Reveals His Own Lineage from the Northeast
Clearly, the crowd understood that the yellow-robed demon king and the sinister-looking boy had come with ill intentions; good intentions don't come!
"Those two sword energies just now, one emerald green and one white, were they unleashed by you?"
The effeminate boy rolled his eyes at Protectors Emerald Bamboo and White Plum, shouting sharply. This wasn't entirely the boy's fault; the colors of their sword energies were too similar to the colors of their clothes and eyes! Even Jin Qi and Ouyang Xue'er, if they were in their shoes, would first suspect Protectors Emerald Bamboo and White Plum!
However, the tone of his question was unpleasant. The effeminate boy's eyes were fixed on the immortal swords in the hands of Protectors Emerald Bamboo and White Plum, his tone utterly impolite, as if interrogating criminals!
Protector Cuizhu was immediately annoyed. Coupled with his naturally arrogant and domineering temperament, he and his two fellow disciples had made great progress in their Taoist magic over the past three hundred years and had hardly encountered any strong opponents, rarely suffering defeats in battle. Therefore, he couldn't help but sneer and say, "Little brat! Of course it's ours! If it's not ours, then what are you two, the old and the young demons?"
They had already seen that this yellow-robed demon was full of demonic energy, and the effeminate boy was definitely not a good person either, so they were too lazy to be polite!
"Ha...ha..."
The yellow-robed demon laughed loudly, "Others may not recognize you three brothers, but do you think I don't? You're just the Kunlun Sect's 'Three Friends of Winter'—Green Pine, Green Bamboo, and White Plum—three great protectors! But what's so great about you? You haven't been active in the cultivation world for three hundred years; you're long outdated! A hundred years ago, I fought your sect leader, the old Daoist Shi Xiao, and we were evenly matched. You're far inferior to your sect leader! This firefly's light dares to shine before me?"
The Green Pine Protector suddenly opened his eyes, coldly scrutinizing the yellow-robed demon, and said disdainfully, "So it's you! I heard my sect leader mention that battle a hundred years ago. You ganged up on us, yet my sect leader killed two of you and escaped unscathed. What do you mean by evenly matched? If it weren't for my sect leader showing mercy, would you, demon, be here today?" " Coming to Kunlun?"
Jin Qi, the prince, and the others, hearing Qing Song's words, realized that while the two great protectors, Cui Zhu and Bai Mei, didn't recognize the Yellow-Robed Demon, Qing Song had heard Shi Xiao Zhenren mention him. Therefore, he hurriedly asked, "Senior Qing Song, what are the origins of these two great demons?"
The effeminate boy sneered, "My name is Peach Wood Boy, it doesn't matter if you know! I've come to the Northwest to make a name for myself in the cultivation world!"
Kuang Ye mocked, "Evil cannot prevail over good! I just hope you don't lose your life here!"
Qing Song said, "The specifics... I don't know either! I only know that a hundred years ago, my sect leader encountered this great demon and his two brothers while fighting demons in Guandong! That battle was fierce, lasting three days and three nights. In the end, my sect leader killed one of them and retreated back to Kunlun Mountain on his sword!"
Jin Qi thought to himself, "Back then, if Master Shixiao still possessed considerable power and had the upper hand, he would naturally have killed all three demons. The fact that he could only kill one indicates he was severely injured! The fact that the Yellow-Robed Demon dared not pursue Kunlun shows he knew his place!"
"Could it be that the demon is here seeking revenge?"
Ouyang Xue'er asked with concern.
"No!"
the prince analyzed, "If he wanted revenge, when would be a better time? Why today of all days! Besides, Kunlun Sect is full of powerful swordsmen; he wouldn't dare come for revenge!"
This was entirely true; the Yellow-Robed Demon only dared to come today because Master Shixiao was not on Kunlun Mountain!
"Senior, is this demon from Guandong?"
Saintess Ruchen asked Protector Qingsong, "Judging from his cultivation level, he is a Daoist demon!"
Clearly, Saintess Ruchen couldn't sense any Buddhist cultivation in the Yellow-Robed Demon, thus concluding he was a Daoist cultivator!
The Kongtong Sect, a major sect with a long and rich history in Taoism, hurriedly said, "This junior has heard the sect leader mention that there is a famous mountain in Liaodong called Tiesha Jiuding Mountain, the birthplace of Taoism in Northeast China. It is not only famous for its steep mountains, towering peaks, majestic scenery, and beautiful landscapes, but also... for the Jiuding Tiesha Temple, a Taoist temple renowned throughout the world! Could this yellow-robed demon be from the Jiuding Tiesha Temple?"
The effeminate peachwood boy was slightly surprised, and the yellow-robed demon's face twitched. Jin Qi, the prince, and Ouyang Xue'er saw this and thought to themselves, "Huang... " Even if the Yellow-Robed Demon didn't originate from the Nine-Peak Iron Temple, he was at least somewhat related to it!
However, Prince Hao was quite frustrated. He said, "But our sect leader once said that although the Nine-Peak Iron Temple rarely interacts with the Central Plains cultivation world, and is neither entirely righteous nor entirely evil, it's not some heinous sect! The Nine-Peak Iron Temple's abbot, Master Shuangfei, is rumored to be the number one expert of the Guandong Dao Sect, and has never done anything heinous! On the contrary, he sometimes goes down the mountain to heal the people..."
In public, he still referred to Master Sanshi as his sect leader, not his father.
"Bah! How could Old Daoist Shuangfei be a match for my master? My master is the number one expert of the Guandong Dao Sect! The Nine-Peak Iron Temple is nothing but trash! How could it possibly be a match for us..."
Peach Wood Boy said disdainfully.
"Slap...slap..."
He was about to finish speaking when the Yellow-Robed Demon slapped him twice across the face, causing his cheeks to swell up. He dared not continue, and the Yellow-Robed Demon didn't explain why!
"Why is that?"
Ouyang Xue'er was completely confused. Why did the Yellow-Robed Demon slap her when he heard his disciple insult the Nine Peaks Iron Temple? She couldn't understand and asked Prince, Jin Qi, and the others.
Although Saintess Ruchen was from the Buddhist South China Sea Putuo Mountain Sect, she remembered that her sect leader, Master Baobing, had mentioned to her that this sacred mountain in Liaodong had five peaks: the central peak, Yuanshi Peak; the eastern peak, Yuhuang Peak; the southern peak, Lingbao Peak; the western peak, Taishang Peak; and the northern peak, Zhenwu Peak. Because three peaks could be seen from the east, south, and north, adding up to nine, it was named Nine Peaks Iron Temple Mountain. She had found it very interesting and thought she would visit it sometime, but later, upon hearing that there was a Daoist sect on the mountain, she hesitated due to the difference between Buddhism and Daoism. Kuangye,
as the eldest disciple of the Kongtong Sect's leader, was even more knowledgeable, knowing the famous Daoist mountains and major sects like the back of his hand! He knew that Jiuding Tiesha Temple was not only characterized by its towering peaks, lush forests, ancient trees, deep caves, and numerous cliff carvings and rock formations, but also by its status as a Taoist center for cultivating immortality and dominating the mountains of Guandong!
"Jiuding Mountain, Tiesha?"
Ouyang Xue'er suddenly said, "Prince, Seventh Young Master, I remember now! I saw it in the books on gods and demons a few days ago! The history and legends of Jiuding Mountain are quite ancient. It is said that during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the immortal Li Daxian with long eyebrows opened the mountain here to preach and attain immortality. The legendary novels 'The Investiture of the Gods' and 'Jinling Prefecture' both mention Jiuding Mountain. During the Investiture of the Gods, the Wind-Fixing Pearl used by Jiang Ziya's assistant, Randeng, to break the Ten Deadly Formations and defeat the Wind Howling Formation was borrowed from the 'Eight Treasures Cloud Light Cave' on this mountain, hence the famous name 'Jiuding for Two Thousand Years.'"
The Eight Treasures Cloud Light Cave is the most famous immortal cave on Jiuding Mountain, known to all! Ouyang Xue'er was clearly the last person in the valley to know this; even Huang Jiaozi and Fen Yu had known long ago!
After slaying the Baxia demon beast a few days ago, Ouyang Xue'er knew that the war between humans and demons might be related to her. So she read many fantasy novels, visited the Chatian Peak of Shu Mountain, and consulted many historical books! She even read "Journey to the West" carefully, not to mention "Investiture of the Gods." Now, she was at least well-versed in the knowledge of cultivation sects. She knew that cultivation sects were indeed incomparable to martial arts sects! Their expertise was extraordinary and extremely profound!
"Haha, you guys are somewhat knowledgeable, you even know the false name of 'Iron Fiend Two Thousand Years'!"
the yellow-robed demon said with murderous intent.
"You fiend, are you truly from the Ironclad Nine Peaks Mountain? If so, I'll spare your return for the sake of Master Shuangfei! If you are a great fiend, I'll make sure you come here alive and leave dead!"
Jin Qi was utterly perplexed; he couldn't discern anything from the yellow-robed fiend's tone.
"Haha! Ironclad Nine Peaks Mountain, Eight Treasures Cloud Light Cave! The ancestral temple of the Liaodong Daoist sect, a towering figure for two thousand years!"
the yellow-robed fiend murmured, then continued, "I... am connected to it, but there's no need to mention it to you, my descendants!"
The prince, gentle and refined, offered kind words of advice: "You were originally far away in Guandong, far from the Central Plains and the turmoil of the Northwest. Why then have you come to the Ten Thousand Swords Peak of the Nine Nether Valley today? Could it be that you also covet..."
"Hmph!"
Peach Wood Boy snorted coldly, "My master brought me here, of course, to obtain the Four Swords of Zhuxian!"
He made no attempt to conceal his intentions!
"The Four Swords of Zhuxian..."
the yellow-robed demon murmured, "Indeed, the Four Swords of Zhuxian! I must obtain them!"
The old man Wuji, who had remained silent until now, spoke up: "The world is vast, filled with divine weapons and magical treasures! The Dao is boundless, yet you still cannot comprehend it; the mysteries of creation, how dare you covet them? Alas! Ironclad Nine Peaks Mountain, the Eight Treasures Cloud Light Cave contains numerous magical artifacts left by your sect's patriarch, yet you merely guard them without studying them, and today you dare to steal the Four Swords of Zhuxian!"
The yellow-robed demon sneered: "Hmph, you old man! Your words are just like those of the Double Flying Immortal! I scolded him severely that day, and he, the number one expert in Guandong, is still stuck in his Cloud Light Cave, Heavenly Bridge Cave, Qiankun Cave, *** Cave, Suspended Stone Cave, Cloud Immortal Cave, and Guo Zu Cave! The so-called 'Eight Treasures' in those caves are nothing more than tigers crouching..." "The majestic 'Stone Tiger,' the hollow 'Stone Bell' resembling a wooden fish, ringing loudly when struck, the 'Stone Lotus Basin' like a lotus flower filled with tender lotus roots, the 'Stone Toad' like a toad about to move; the 'Stone Dragon' with its three-zhang-long relief carving along the cave wall; the flat and inviting 'Stone Bed'; the aged and wooden-faced 'Stone God of Longevity'—these are merely inanimate objects and magical artifacts, useful for self-cultivation, but I won't mention them in the face of the Immortal-Slaying Sword! Only the smooth and round 'Wind-Fixing Pearl' with a circumference of a foot is worth mentioning! You must know that there are mountains beyond mountains, so naturally, one should pursue higher goals! The Four Swords of Immortal-Slaying were treasures that the three founders of the Three Religions used to suppress the rocks thousands of years ago. They truly did not want to come and take them! I have come to take them!"
The old man Wuji closed his eyes and remained silent, his face flashing with Daoist light, silently chanting Daoist incantations, and then said nothing more.
Seeing the arrogant tone of this yellow-robed demon, who dared to retort to his master's kind advice, Jin Qi angrily retorted, "A true man doesn't change his name or surname! If you have the guts, don't sneak around like that! Old demon, how exactly are you addressed?
" The yellow-robed demon ignored Jin Qi and continued to shout at the Green Pine Protector, "What business is it of yours who I am? Tell me quickly, are the Four Swords of Zhuxian really on the mountaintop?"
The Green Bamboo Protector and the White Plum Protector were somewhat afraid, but Jin Qi, with his overwhelming yang energy and natural ability to resist force, snorted coldly and said, "Even if we know, why should we tell you, you great demon?"
At this moment, the giant bird that had flown away earlier, the Changbai Mountain Cold Vulture, returned, folded its wings, and landed behind the Yellow-Robed Ancestor and the Peach Wood Boy. Then, three more people descended from the sky!
Needless to say, these were demons who had flown in from the southwest on swords, clearly also coveting the Four Swords of Zhuxian!
"Haha!" "Old Ancestor in Yellow Robes from Qipan Mountain in Guandong, I never imagined that the Eastern Underworld King under the Great Heavenly Venerable 's
command is you!" Clearly, the demon from the south knew the yellow-robed demon, and greeted him gruffly.
Jin Qi, the prince, and Ouyang Xue'er all exclaimed in surprise! Therefore, on the eve of the Ghost Festival, when they slew the dragon-breeding demon beast Baxia, the fox demon Xiaoqian and the Baxia demon beast also called the great demon who launched the "Rebellious World Annihilation Tribulation" "Great Heavenly Venerable"!
Unexpectedly, they heard the same title again! Eastern Underworld King? Is that the yellow-robed demon's title?
"Master, could it be that these two demons from the northeast and southwest are subordinates of the great demon who launched the 'Rebellious World Annihilation Tribulation'?" "
Jin Qi hurriedly asked the old man Wuji quietly.
Chapter 8037 Eastern Underworld King Southern Ghost Messenger
The moment these three people flying from the south appeared, Jin Qi, Wang Zi, and Kuang Ye all trembled and shuddered!
Even the Saintess Ru Chen, with her extraordinary cultivation, was slightly frightened, while Ouyang Xue'er couldn't help but exclaim, "Ah!"
Therefore, the person leading the way was really too ugly! Even the cold vulture of Changbai Mountain next to him looked vicious! It would be better to say they were two birds! Although he wore a bright red gold crown, a black robe, green cloud-patterned shoes, and a yellow sash, his Dao heart was like a hidden thunder, a true Taoist master who had attained enlightenment. Although he was dressed in a refined manner, his face was like iron, his eyes like a vicious eagle, his nose was as tall as a Huihui, and his lips were like a clapper. When he spoke, he was rough and coarse, frightening those around him!
Jin Qi thought to himself, "Could it be that this person is a demon who has attained enlightenment?" "
Prince, Saintess Ruchen, and the wilderness share the same thought! The prince was reminded of the fox spirit Xiaoqian and couldn't help but sigh.
Behind the man with eyes like an eagle, there were two others: one with a black face and black eyes, like charcoal; the other with hair all over his body like thorns, each hair standing on end! The two looked to be no more than thirty years old, clearly disciples of the leader!
"Master, who are they?"
Jin Qi asked hastily, seeing that this great demon from the south seemed to be no less skilled in Taoist magic than the yellow-robed demon from the northeast.
"Yes, senior, what did you just say? The Yellow-Robed Ancestor of Qipan Mountain in the Northeast? What Eastern Underworld King? I'm completely confused!"
Ouyang Xue'er laughed, as she had no connection to cultivation and therefore knew nothing.
"Hmph! You little brats don't even know my master's name! I'm furious! My master and I have traveled from the northeast to the south, repelling three groups of Taoist masters who attempted to seize the Four Swords of Zhuxian. What kind of talent do they have that they dare to come here?" "If we come here, it would only be a defilement of the Four Swords of Zhuxian, the great-grandfather of Hongjun!"
Peachwood Boy sneered again. What was most strange was that he also addressed Hongjun as his great-grandfather.
Protector Bai Mei was quite puzzled. She noticed that the Yellow-Robed Demon and Peachwood Boy showed some respect for the Daoist sect, but also some disdain. However, when they mentioned repelling the invading demons, their tone softened. They said, "Then thank you very much! Fortunately, you stopped a group of them. There were few people coming from the east and north. Yesterday, several groups of experts attacked from the west and south, but fortunately, my three brothers, Yu San and his brother, intervened and drove them away one by one!"
The Yellow-Robed Demon laughed, "The demons from the east and north dared to come, but alas, they were all killed by me! They have only been cultivating in seclusion on the mountain for a hundred years or so, yet they still have such delusions! The Great Heavenly Venerable ordered me to guard the east. Hmph, I cannot let them be arrogant!"
Jin Qi and the prince exchanged a glance, then Jin Qi asked, "You guard the East? Are there others guarding the South, North, and West?" Kuang
Ye sneered, "Does your Great Heavenly Venerable and Great Demon Lord aspire to be like the Western Buddha, with the Four Heavenly Kings each guarding a continent? Like the Daoist legends, the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise guarding the four directions? What grand ambition!"
Jin Qi was also shocked. Judging from the fact that the Great Demon Lord could recruit these demons as assistants and plant the "Rebellious Heaven-Destroying Tribulation," he was clearly a terrifying demon!
"Alas! It's a pity you're not acting on behalf of Heaven, but rather that their inner cores aid your cultivation! Forgive me! Forgive me! You are the Eastern Underworld King, clearly a lackey of the Great Demon Lord!"
The Old Man Wuji said calmly.
Jin Qi exclaimed, "Ah! Could it be that you, this demon, actually absorb others' inner cores to aid your cultivation?" He knew that
to reach the Inner Core realm, if one's cultivation were stolen by a higher-level expert, the cultivator would lose all their power! The Yellow-Robed Demon was ruthless! Even with his superior cultivation, his methods were utterly inadequate!
The Yellow-Robed Demon chuckled, "This Yin-Yang replenishment and the transformation of a person's Inner Core are methods for improving cultivation out of thin air, why not use them? You call yourselves the righteous path, practicing asceticism and meditation, it's utterly pedantic!"
His face was extremely cruel, a stark contrast to the compassionate expression of Elder Wuji.
Clearly, this wasn't what the righteous cultivation of Nine Peaks Ironclad Mountain advocated, which was why the Yellow-Robed Demon…
although born from Nine Peaks Ironclad Mountain, ultimately hid in Qipan Mountain to cultivate!
Prince and Jin Qi were like newborn calves unafraid of tigers, but they were still young, and didn't even recognize the great demon Yellow-Robed Ancestor of Qipan Mountain in Guandong?
"Haha, I finally remember! Chessboard Mountain? The Yellow-Robed Demon who 'absorbs inner cores and destroys liver and intestines'?"
Protector Qingsong said slowly, "So it's you, you great demon!"
Jin Qi, the prince, and Ouyang Xue'er were terrified when they heard Protector Qingsong's slightly trembling voice. They were shocked and asked, "Senior, what is the background of this Yellow-Robed Demon who 'absorbs inner cores and destroys liver and intestines'?"
The Yellow-Robed Demon was somewhat surprised that his background had finally been exposed. Relying on his superior skills and boldness, he was not afraid and chuckled, "It is indeed this old man. What can you do to me?"
"His demonic name is 'Sucking Inner Cores, Expelling Liver and Intestines,' meaning he specifically devours the inner cores of righteous cultivators, then rips out their liver and intestines, causing their death! This aids his own cultivation!"
Protector Qingsong said. "The Yellow-Robed Demon was once the number one evil demon in the universe, renowned for three or four hundred years. He committed countless evil deeds in Qipan Mountain, slaughtering living beings to cultivate his demonic path! Three hundred years ago, he was defeated by our sect's founder near Tianchi Lake in Changbai Mountain, and swore never to set foot on the Great Wall! Alas! I never expected the power of the Four Swords of Zhuxian to be so great today, even such a demon is stirring!
" "Hmph, the Kunlun Sect is truly declining with each generation. Your ancestor of restoration," Bloodstained Xuanyuan, "Xuanyuan Sword Marquis, what extraordinary abilities he possesses! I was defeated by him, and for three hundred years I have been waiting for an opportunity to take revenge, only regretting that I have never had the chance! Unfortunately, even your current sect leader and senior brother cannot do anything to me! Let alone you three brothers?"
The Yellow-Robed Demon laughed loudly. Today, he had come, naturally, to covet the Four Swords of Zhuxian!
The Prince thought to himself, "It seems that all the demons in the world are moving at the mere sight of this. Good and evil are irreconcilable, how can a great battle be avoided?" Jin Qi suddenly remembered the ranking of demons in the universe that his master had mentioned. It was only because he remembered this that he disregarded everything else and shouted sharply, "Yellow-Robed Demon, you are truly audacious! You are ranked thirteenth on the list of demons in the universe, and everyone wants to kill you. How dare you come to Kunlun in the Northwest?"
"He has this kind of courage, he must have obtained some excellent swords or magical artifacts!"
Elder Wuji said calmly.
The Peachwood Boy laughed smugly, "So you guys know something! My master has already cultivated to the level of Peach and Willow Dao, achieving the transformation and fusion of countless incarnations. How could he be afraid of you?"
Everyone was shocked. Ouyang Xue'er murmured, "In the 'Investiture of the Gods,' it is said that King Zhou of Shang had two great generals, one named Gao Ming and the other Gao Jue. These two were originally peach and willow spirits from Qipan Mountain. Their peach and willow roots stretched for thirty miles, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and receiving the essence of the sun and moon, having been cultivated for many years. They were empowered by the 'Thousand-Mile Eyes, Wind-Following Ears' clay sculpture in the Xuanyuan Temple on Qipan Mountain. Their eyes could see a thousand miles, and their ears could hear a thousand miles; beyond a thousand miles, they could neither see nor hear. In the initial battles, they greatly defeated the Heavenly Dynasty's army. Even someone as powerful as Yang Jian, who had cultivated..." Even the most powerful figures skilled in the Xuan Gong technique were no match for him! Later, Jiang Taigong sent men to Qipan Mountain to dig up the peach and willow roots, burn them to ashes, and smash the clay bodies of the two demons at Xuanyuan Temple, severing their spiritual roots. Then, he used a layer of mist to constantly lock the camp, naturally killing the two demons! With their demonic roots severed, these two monsters could no longer use their supernatural powers. Jiang Taigong then raised his God-Slaying Whip, striking them until their brains splattered, and they died instantly. This yellow-robed demon came from Qipan Mountain, where the peach and willow trees were filled with demonic energy, naturally leading him to the demonic path! Now he has actually attained enlightenment through the peach and willow trees, possessing countless clones—this is definitely not easy to deal with!
The Peach Wood Boy's face changed drastically, and he said ferociously, "Haha, I am the primordial spirit of the Thousand Mile Ancestor, transformed a thousand years later! Today, I have come to Kunlun Mountain to seek revenge!"
"Haha, your name is Peach Wood Boy, so you're just a peach spirit!"
Kuang Ye sneered. "Even withered branches from the mountains can cultivate and attain enlightenment! You dare to dabble in the Four Swords of Zhuxian, lest you perish both body and soul!"
"Yellow-robed demon, what is your purpose in coming here today?"
Jin Qi extended his right hand, "Phoenix Essence Blood, Exquisite Divine Sword," already poised to strike, and asked sharply again!
He was a righteous youth, his yang energy soaring to the heavens, and even if the demon was powerful, he was not
afraid at all!
The yellow-robed demon, however, selectively ignored him, only turning back to ask, "Southern Ghost Envoy, I truly didn't expect it to be you! When will the Great Celestial Venerable arrive?"
It turned out that the southern demon was the Southern Ghost Envoy! Clearly, he was also under the Great Celestial Venerable's command! It was likely that the yellow-robed demon knew him before, but one was not the Eastern Underworld King, and the other was not the Southern Ghost Envoy!
Eastern Underworld King, Southern Ghost Envoy, I wonder what kind of demons the North and West have with what titles?
The old Taoist demon with the face of a hawk laughed, "King of the Underworld, you're confused too! How can you so easily tell us the whereabouts of the Great Celestial Venerable? Today, we, the Eastern King of the Underworld and the Southern Ghost Envoy, along with five others, have taken action . Can't we take back the Four Swords of Zhuxian that were unearthed today?
" The yellow-robed demon nodded, his eyes gleaming as he looked at everyone with a ferocious expression, his gaze like knives. He laughed, "That's right, the five of us are enough! If the righteous Kunlun, Shushan, South Sea, and Kongtong sects don't give in today, this day next year will be your death anniversary!"
Countless people throughout the world have said these words every day, and even the three great protectors—the Mortal Daoist, the Green Pine, the Emerald Bamboo, and the White Plum—have heard them countless times over the centuries. But this time, coming from the yellow-robed demon's mouth, it carried a chilling power, an innate murderous aura!
The old Taoist demon with the face of a hawk impatiently and gruffly said, "Yellow Robe, what are you babbling about? Give them to them!"
His temper was even more volatile!
Jin Qi could no longer tolerate the old demon with the face of an eagle. He shouted, "You old demon from the south, neither human nor ghost, who are you?
Chapter 8038 The Demon of Ailao, the Forgiving of the Ghost Envoy"
Prince, Kuang Ye, and the others sighed inwardly. When it came to righteousness and soaring yang energy, both of them were ashamed to be inferior to Jin Qi! Prince occasionally showed his prowess, but he was calm and composed, and won people over with virtue. He could be said to be proficient in both literature and martial arts.
Kuang Ye, on the other hand, was a rare senior disciple of the Kongtong Sect with a deep and cunning mind. Under normal circumstances, he was calm and silent! The old demon with the face of an eagle laughed loudly. The cold vulture of Changbai Mountain beside him flapped its wings, and its sharp eagle eyes looked over. Jin Qi and Ouyang Xue'er felt a chill in their hearts!
"Why do I feel that the cold vulture is similar to this demon? Logically speaking, this cold vulture was brought by the Yellow-Robed Demon. It shouldn't be familiar with this demon!" Could they be fellow vultures and eagles cultivating the Dao?
Jin Qi was secretly alarmed, thinking to himself.
The three guardians, Green Pine, Emerald Bamboo, and White Plum, also did not recognize this demon. They were simply focused on drawing their swords, paying attention to the battle. Once it came time to make a move, the Kunlun Sect's "Three Friends of Winter," as guardians of the Nine Nether Valley, bore a heavy responsibility and could not shirk their duty! Naturally, they could not fall behind others!
The Taoist Fan Shang asked again, "Since you will not reveal who you are, then don't blame us for being ruthless!"
His Shu Mountain Sect was on good terms with the Kunlun Sect. The Three Beginnings True Man and the Ten Howling Sword Immortals admired each other. Although they were secretly competing, if a fight broke out today, the Shu Mountain Sect would definitely help out out of a sense of mutual dependence. As for the misunderstanding with Green Pine and the other two when they entered the valley earlier, it had long since vanished!
"Haha, Southern Ghost Envoy, look, they don't take me, the Eastern Underworld King, and you, the Southern Ghost Envoy, seriously!" The yellow -
robed demon sneered from the side, while the old Taoist demon with a face like a hawk sneered, "They! They are not worthy to know my name. If I am displeased today and want to take their lives, I will tell them then, so that they can die in peace!"
Prince, Jin Qi, and the others were furious, but then they heard the old man Wuji say casually, "Hmph! Old hawk demon of Ailao Mountain, you have come from afar! I didn't expect that someone of your status would be willing to become someone else's lackey? What kind of Southern Ghost Envoy is this, a fraudster who steals the world, how can you stop my Heavenly Eye?"
Bing Shuang, Feng Yu, Huang Jiaozi, Lan Chen, Qing Suo, and the other juniors were not too surprised when they heard this! But Jin Qi, Prince, Saintess Ru Chen, and Kuang Ye were all shocked. Fan Shang Dao Ren and the three guardians of the Kunlun Sect, the "Three Friends of Winter", also changed their expressions. Guardian Cui Zhu shouted loudly, "Old demon, you are actually the Old hawk demon of Ailao Mountain?" "
Clearly, they've all heard of this Azure Eagle Demon!"
"Prince, Seventh Young Master, what's the Azure Eagle Demon's background? Why are you so nervous?"
Ouyang Xue'er, seeing everyone's tension, didn't think anything of it. She naturally didn't know that the Azure Eagle Demon of Ailao Mountain in the Yunnan-Guizhou region was once the number one evil demon in the world, renowned for four or five hundred years, committing countless atrocities and slaughtering countless lives in Ailao Mountain to cultivate demonic arts! However, she was also inexplicably nervous, so she asked!
"In the world's demon rankings, the Azure Eagle Demon is ranked eleventh, even above the Yellow Robe Demon!"
Jin Qi said, his eyes fixed on the Azure Eagle Demon.
The Prince also sighed, saying, "Yes! A truly wicked demon!"
Today, the Azure Eagle Demon has come, naturally for the Four Swords of Zhuxian. Good and evil are irreconcilable; a great battle is inevitable.
Therefore, upon hearing this name, the fifteen people from five sects—the Kunlun Sect's "Three Friends of Winter"—the three guardians of green pine, green bamboo, and white plum, the Shu Mountain Sect's Prince, the Taoist Fan Shang, the South Sea Putuo Mountain Sect's Saintess Ru Chen, Bing Shuang, and Fen Yu, the Kongtong Sect's Kuang Ye, Lan Chen, Qing Suo
, and Huang Jiao Zi, plus Elder Wuji, Jin Qi, and Ouyang Xue'er—simultaneously prepared to draw their swords. However, Jin Qi, knowing the situation was somewhat dangerous, took two steps closer to his master. He gently reached out and tried to pull Ouyang Xue'er closer, thinking that with his master within two meters of him and Xue'er, Ouyang Xue'er would be absolutely safe, given their combined Taoist abilities!
To his surprise, he couldn't move Ouyang Xue'er. Looking around, he saw that the Prince was already holding her tightly, and a protective barrier had been opened around them… mostly on Ouyang Xue'er's side. It seemed the Prince intended to protect Ouyang Xue'er himself! As long as the prince doesn't die, Ouyang Xue'er, who is inside the protective barrier, won't die!
The old eagle demon was somewhat surprised. He had thought his identity was very mysterious, but unexpectedly, someone had seen through his secrets!
He looked at the old man Wuji carefully for a few moments, but didn't recognize him at all!
Jin Qi finally understood why the cold vulture of Changbai Mountain was so fearless when it came to the old eagle demon. It was probably because the old eagle demon was also a hawk who had cultivated into a demon. He truly lived up to his name!
"Brother Southern Ghost Envoy, now you know that these dozen or so people are not easy to deal with, right?"
The yellow-robed demon said with a sinister smile from the side.
"Haha, so what if they're difficult to deal with?"
the old demon eagle laughed loudly. "If the Great Celestial Venerable wants the Four Swords of Immortal Slaughter, then we must break through every obstacle and kill anyone who gets in our way! We, one from the east and one from the south, are appointed as underworld messengers; are we just here to eat for nothing?"
Elder Cuizhu said sternly, "You heretics, you dare to dream of innate treasures and divine weapons? You're just a fool!"
Behind the old demon eagle were two disciples: the eldest disciple, Hei Yaolian, with a dark face, and the second disciple, Pangolin Armor, with hair standing on end. Hei Yaolian's face turned cold, and he said, "My master has been ordered by the Great Celestial Venerable to bring us to the Nine Nether Valley Sword Peak together with the Eastern Underworld King, precisely to retrieve the Four Swords of Immortal Slaughter! The old Taoist, Ten Howling Sword Immortal, the Kunlun Sect Leader, is not here today; the immortal sword among the Four Swords of Immortal Slaughter must belong to my master!"
"You're delusional!"
Protector Qingsong said solemnly. "Do you know how many of the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords exist in the Nine Nether Valley?"
Jin Qi didn't know either, but he and the Prince knew that Dongshui Yuecang possessed the Immortal-Trapping Sword, so they hurriedly asked, "Senior, how many are there?"
"Two have always been kept, but one was taken from us three years ago, so now there's only one!"
Protector Baimei said.
"Ah!"
The Yellow-Robed Demon was shocked. "What? One of the immortal swords has already been taken? Who?"
He naturally didn't know that the sword was clearly the Immortal-Trapping Sword in Dongshui Yuecang's possession!
The Old Demon Cangying was also furious. He said, "Isn't that just the last immortal sword?"
"That's right!"
Protector Qingsong said, "There's only one Immortal-Slaying Sword, currently on Sword Peak in the Nine Nether Valley! However, it's definitely not waiting for you demons!"
The Immortal-Slaying Sword! Upon hearing this, Ouyang Xue'er felt a strange sensation. After all this commotion, she finally knew that there was only one Immortal-Slaying Sword on the mountain! What is it about this mere Immortal-Slaying Sword that possesses such allure, attracting so many to covet it?
The second disciple of the Azure Eagle Demon, the Mountain-Piercing Rat Armor, chimed in, "Today, only the Immortal-Slaying Sword remains, and it must be taken by my master to present to the Great Heavenly Venerable!"
"Why?"
Kuang Ye asked calmly.
"Can you stop my master and Senior Eastern Underworld King?"
the Mountain-Piercing Rat Armor scoffed. "Senior King came from the northeast, leading all the demons of the East! My master and we were controlling the hundred demons in the south. Originally, seventeen groups of demons came, but my master slew them all. Now, my master represents the demonic path, taking this Immortal-Slaying Sword and presenting it to the Great Heavenly Venerable. From then on, the Great Heavenly Venerable will kill any god he encounters and annihilate any immortal he meets. The seven realms of the world will be in the Great Heavenly Venerable's hands, allowing him to roam freely!"
He laughed heartily, his voice echoing through the valleys!
"These are all secondary!"
the old demon eagle said softly, "If we can help the Great Celestial Venerable find the three individuals of pure Yin and pure Yang, and devour their essence and marrow, then we can fully activate the 'Reversing the World and Destroying Heaven Tribulation.' At that time, not to mention Kunlun, Shushan, the South Sea, and Kongtong, even the Three Pure Ones and all the Buddhas will be unable to withstand the Great Celestial Venerable's might!"
Jin Qi was quite confused and couldn't help but shout, "Great demon, what benefits has the Great Celestial Venerable given you? You are actually willing to risk your lives for him to obtain the Immortal-Slaying Sword?"
The yellow-robed demon king of the Eastern Underworld showed a look of great admiration on his face and snorted coldly, "The Great Celestial Venerable should be the most revered person in heaven and earth. It is truly an honor for us to work for him!"
the old demon eagle said. He nodded, "Indeed! It is a great honor for us to participate in the grand scheme of the Great Celestial Venerable! The Great Celestial Venerable's charisma will endure for millennia, how could you mere children possibly understand..."
Elder Cuizhu, though hot-tempered, was righteous at heart. He sternly said, "Old Demon Eagle, Yellow-Robed Demon! No matter what kind of Southern Ghost Messenger or Eastern Underworld King you are under the Great Celestial Venerable! You should know that Kunlun Mountain has been a celestial pillar since the beginning of time. Although we three brothers are not talented, we will not allow you, a demon, to lay a finger on the innate divine weapon, the Immortal-Slaying Sword. Get out of here!" After
he finished speaking, he raised his hand, and the Emerald Bamboo Immortal Sword rippled with green, its sword energy surging, ready to be drawn to fight!
Protector Baimei knew that her eighth senior brother was like this, so she only sighed. She stretched out her hand, and the White Plum Immortal Sword also appeared. She stood side by side with her ninth junior brother, one on the left and one on the right. The three brothers had cultivated for three hundred years and should have lived and died together!
The old demon eagle's face turned cold, and he said disdainfully, "The light of a firefly dares to compete with the sun and moon? If it's something like drawing peach talismans, we old men are no match for it; but in the face of life and death, how many years of cultivation have you cultivated? You're just throwing your lives away!"
Protector Emerald Bamboo, however, was not afraid and said, "All the sects of our Daoist sect are proficient in driving peach stakes, pressing talismans on top, laying earth nets below, and covering the sky with a net, with black mist filling the air! The Great Dao is compassionate, and the world is free! If there is a way to live, there is no fear of death! Old demon eagle, bring it on!"
Protector Green Pine remained silent, but his thoughts were the same as his two junior brothers. The three of them were destined to live and die together, so he would naturally have to take action later. If he was defeated, dying in the Nine Nether Valley would not be a bad thing!
Jin Qi also said righteously, "Yes, where the Great Dao lies, there is no shirking our duty! Old Demon Eagle, if you want to ascend Kunlun Sword Peak, you must first pass the test of the seniors of the Kunlun Sect and this young master!"
Chapter 8039 A
fierce fight breaks out, with the first three blows. Kuang Ye felt a little ashamed. He had previously thought that the three protectors, Green Pine, Green Bamboo, and White Plum, were just old fogies relying on the ancient and prestigious reputation of the Kunlun Sect. He had also thought that Jin Qi was just talking and that was it. How much magic power could he have, and how much courage could he have to contend with these two demons who had been famous for three hundred years?
But he never expected that the three protectors, Green Pine, Green Bamboo, and White Plum, could grasp the important principles and distinguish right from wrong, black from white, so clearly. Therefore, he hurriedly said sincerely, "Three protectors of the Kunlun Sect, Brother Jin Qi, Kuang Ye is ashamed!"
Lan Chen, Qing Suo, and Huang Jiaozi also blushed. Clearly, although the Kongtong Sect was aloof and rarely approached others, it was still a prestigious and righteous sect, not evil! They were prone to petty squabbles and small-mindedness, but they weren't truly wicked!
Hearing Kuang Ye's words, Elder Wuji nodded and said, "In that case, it truly lives up to the reputation of the Kongtong Sect, passed down from Grandmaster Guang Chengzi! Master Bagua was right about his disciple!"
With his thousand-year-old status, what was the current Kongtong Sect leader, Master Bagua, compared to him? Clearly, he only admired Guang Chengzi, not Master Bagua! As for Kuang Ye, it was merely a sign of the patriarch's high regard and promotion of a junior disciple!
Among the three brothers, Protector Qingsong was the most attentive. Suddenly, he took out a bamboo tube from his sleeve, forcefully tore off the seal, and a bright light shot into the sky from the tube.
"What is Senior planning to do?"
Ouyang Xue'er asked the prince, her curiosity piqued.
Protector Qingsong didn't answer, only smiled. Unexpectedly, the Old Demon Eagle sneered, "When I traveled from the northwest to the north, I used the Black Demon Lotus to seal the second level of the Nine Nether Valley, the Valley of Ten Thousand Swords, and its sword peaks. Even if the seven elders of your Kunlun Sect's Jue Tian Peak came, with my seal blocking them, they wouldn't be able to break through for half an hour! How can you three, with your mere three hundred years of cultivation, possibly stop me?"
He practically disregarded the remaining dozen or so young disciples.
Sure enough, the firecrackers that should have exploded, warning the Kunlun Sect experts on Jue Tian Peak above the Nine Nether Valley, simply fell to the ground again without setting off. Jin Qi was startled; it seemed the Old Demon Eagle's words were true!
"Prince, Seventh Young Master?"
Ouyang Xue'er exclaimed, "The demon has sealed off the entire Nine Nether Valley? How can we get out?"
Saintess Ruchen hesitated, "I'm afraid he doesn't possess such heaven-reaching power!"
Jin Qi shook his head and said hatefully, "No matter what he sealed, the great demon should be killed! We don't care what he sealed off the entire Nine Nether Valley!"
Elder Wuji said hatefully, "Impossible! The Nine Nether Valley is extremely mysterious. To this day, no one knows where the seventh, eighth, and ninth levels of the Nine Nether Valley are! How could the old demon seal the entire Nine Nether Valley? He has only sealed the second level, the Valley of Ten Thousand Swords! Hmph, this seal may be difficult to hold you back, but it is not unbreakable!"
Obviously, although the seal set up by the old demon Cang Ying seemed to be able to block the three great protectors, Green Pine, Green Bamboo, and White Plum, it was several levels weaker than the great demon's "Reversing the World and Destroying Heaven Tribulation," and was not worth mentioning in Elder Wuji's eyes!
Upon hearing this, Protector Cuizhu became even more fearless, her eyes blazing with fierce energy. She brandished her Cuizhu Immortal Sword and turned to ask, "Fellow Daoists, what do you think of today? How will each of your sects conduct themselves?"
Jin Qi didn't even blink and said loudly, "My master and I will naturally do our best for the righteous path, to eliminate demons and protect the Dao!"
Elder Wuji remained silent, but inwardly he was delighted. This disciple was becoming more and more like himself in his younger days!
The prince glanced at his uncle, Daoist Fan Shang, and Ouyang Xue'er, and laughed, "Of course, the three of us from the Shu Mountain Sect are the same!"
"Needless to say, the Putuo Mountain Sect of the South Sea also stands on the side of the righteous path!"
Saintess Ruchen didn't need to discuss with Bing Shuang and Fen Yu; she had just finished speaking when Kuang Ye of the Kongtong Sect also spoke up, "The Kongtong Sect has never feared demons! It is only right that we lend a hand!"
Only then did Elder Wuji reveal a slight smile, saying, "The Kunlun, Shu Mountain, and other Daoist sects have been united for nearly a thousand years! ... How can we stand idly by? Facing a horde of demons, we should work together!" Thus
, with Protector Qingsong, Protector Cuizhu, and Protector Baimei in front, Daoist Fan Shang and several others behind, and the prince protecting Ouyang Xue'er, Jin Qi, and Elder Wuji cautiously, a great battle was imminent!
"Hmph! Old Demon Eagle, I've heard that for nearly a hundred years you've not only been invincible in the Ailao Mountains, but you've also obtained a divine weapon. Do you think you can conquer the world now? Is that all?"
Elder Wuji asked again, clearly reminding Jin Qi, Protector Qingsong, and the others that Old Demon Eagle had indeed obtained a divine weapon. Although he lived in seclusion on the Slanting Moon Peak of Mount Shu, it didn't mean he didn't often roam the martial world; otherwise, he wouldn't have had the chance to associate with the Ice-Embracing Master of the South Sea.
"Haha! That's right, exactly!"
Old Demon Eagle laughed loudly: "Fine, you want to fight! The young ones are fine! But Qingsong, Cuizhu, and Baimei, the three great Taoist priests, I knew long ago that you entered the Xuanzhen Path. Your internal energy and profound skills have three hundred years of cultivation, and your inner cores are indeed quite good. Give them to me!"
He was utterly disgusted; they were again trying to steal others' inner cores to enhance their own magical power!
As soon as the old demon eagle uttered his words, he stretched out his hand, which, true to its eagle claw, reached out to grab the guardian of the green bamboo. His hand instantly doubled in size! Clearly, the old demon eagle had been the most furious, having shouted the loudest earlier, and thus attacked first!
The guardians of the green bamboo and white plum, facing the brunt of the attack, quickly retreated two steps upon seeing the powerful gust of wind, before attempting another strike!
As the saying goes, a master's skill is immediately apparent!
Seeing the old demon eagle's palm strike, revealing its overwhelming and profound power—a cultivation of four hundred years—the two guardians were both shocked and terrified. They thought to themselves, "Alas, we thought the three of us brothers could stop these two demons together, but now it seems that even the two of us combined are no match for the old demon! Even the three of us together can only barely hold our own against the old demon eagle!"
What puzzled everyone most was that the moment the old demon eagle made his move, his eldest disciple, the black demon lotus, vanished instantly!
"Ah!"
Ouyang Xue'er exclaimed upon seeing this, "Where did that person go?"
Jin Qi and the prince were also greatly surprised. Upon closer inspection, the weapon held by the old demon eagle was none other than a strange, vibrant black lotus flower. It turned out that his eldest disciple was a black demonic lotus flower, forged into a weapon!
"His eldest disciple is merely a divine weapon in the hands of the old demon eagle!"
Jin Qi said, but he found it very strange. If the divine weapon his master had obtained was truly a lotus flower, how could it be so powerful? Clearly, Jin Qi knew very little about the power of lotus flowers!
The pangolin armor sneered and said, "Let me show you the power of my master! My eldest brother was originally a lotus flower, which my master forged into a divine weapon. It's incredibly powerful!"
Protector Cuizhu and Protector Baimei, seeing the lotus bloom and the black aura spreading around it, dared not approach. Forced back, they hurriedly drew their swords to protect themselves, and the three began to fight!
Fen Yu, disgusted by the Pangolin Armor's arrogant demeanor, sneered, "Your senior brother is nothing but a black demonic lotus. Birds of a feather flock together. You, with your head full of thorns, who knows what you are!" The
Pangolin Armor roared in fury, "You're courting death!"
He hated being called a demon. With that, he suddenly lowered his head and charged forward!
Fen Yu thought to himself, "Why is he charging at me?"
He quickly retreated three steps, swiftly drawing his sword and pointing it directly at the Pangolin Armor's head, thinking, "No matter how hard your head is, it's not as sharp as my sword!"
However, when the Pangolin Armor's head was still two meters from Fen Yu's sword, countless barbs, each over two feet long, suddenly sprouted from it. Fen Yu had only one sword, while the Pangolin Armor had thousands of barbs. Upon contact, the Pangolin Armor clearly had the upper hand!
"Ah..."
Forced to retreat, Fen Yu turned and quickly took two steps back, losing the initiative!
"Hmph!"
Lan Chen of the Kongtong Sect, with his green cloak behind him, sneered, "Didn't you say you were from the prestigious Putuo Mountain Sect of the South Sea? How come you can't even handle a demon rat?"
The pangolin-like creature stretched out its hand again, its arms now covered in sharp spikes—truly terrifying! Fen Yu retreated again!
"A demon rat?"
Jin Qi was taken aback,
thinking to himself, "The pangolin-like creature is definitely not just a rat turned demon!"
But what its true form was, Jin Qi couldn't discern at the moment.
The pangolin-like creature rammed into Fen Yu three times, but Fen Yu merely dodged each time, not daring to take the blows head-on!
He couldn't help but feel smug, saying, "What South China Sea Putuo Mountain Sect? What Kongtong Sect? In my heart, they're nothing but trash from the righteous path!"
This statement was rather broad, including the Kongtong Sect, which also implicated Jin Qi. Lan Chen and Qing Suo were both furious, shouting, "You monster rats! How dare you spout such nonsense!"
Huang Jiaozi also retorted angrily, "How could our Kongtong Sect be as easily defeated as the South China Sea Putuo Mountain Sect?"
Fen Yu was only focused on drawing his sword and had no time to speak; otherwise, he would naturally have had a huge argument with Huang Jiaozi!
Seeing this as a good opportunity for the Kongtong Sect and the South China Sea Putuo Mountain Sect to resolve their differences, Kuang Ye hurriedly said, "Junior brothers, step forward and help Junior Brother Fen Yu of the South China Sea Sect!"
Huang Jiaozi was quite indignant. Why should their senior brother ask them to help Fen Yu, who had been making things difficult for the Kongtong Sect? However, under Kuang Ye's influence, the three of them had no choice but to obey their senior brother's words. Seeing that Fen Yu was indeed at a great disadvantage, they quickly drew their immortal swords and stepped forward to help!
Now, the scene was one of the four—Emerald Bamboo Protector and White Plum Protector—fighting the Azure Eagle Demon and the Black Demon Lotus, while Fen Yu, Lan Chen, Qing Suo, and Fen Yu were fighting against the Mountain-Piercing Rat Armor!
"Hmph!"
The yellow-robed demon, not to be outdone, sneered, "Southern Ghost Envoy, you're being ganged up on, how can I, the Eastern Underworld King, miss this opportunity?"
Peach Wood Boy couldn't hold back either, saying, "Master, we must make our move too!"
Chapter 8040 Yin and Yang, Transforming the Three Powers The
yellow-robed demon looked up at the Eagle Demon and the Green Bamboo Protector, and the White Plum Protector, who were ganging up on each other. His expression wasn't as optimistic as Peach Wood Boy's. He had certainly heard of the Kunlun Sect's "Three Friends of Winter," and knew that these three were famous in the cultivation world, mostly because of their leader, Green Pine Protector! Even when he was ganging up on the Kunlun Sect's leader, Ten Howling True Man, he vaguely heard Ten Howling True Man angrily say, "If my junior brother Green Pine were here, what would I fear from you three demon brothers?"
Now that Green Pine Protector hadn't made a move, even if the Eagle Demon had the upper hand, what then? In the end, the situation might be reversed, and the world might be turned upside down! In truth, the Yellow-Robed Demon was titled the King of the East, and he had always been secretly vying for supremacy with the Southern Ghost Envoy and the two great protectors of the North and West. When he flew in from the Northeast, he was secretly pleased to see that his bird-riding speed far surpassed that of the Southern Ghost Envoy. However, upon hearing that the Southern Ghost Envoy's slow arrival was due to the Black Lotus Seal he had laid in the Nine Nether Valley, he was disheartened. He hadn't even considered setting up a defensive seal! His heart was conflicted; he hoped the Eagle Demon would win, yet he also secretly hoped for his defeat! The minds of demons are truly unpredictable and cannot be measured by ordinary standards! Even within the same faction, they scheme and plot!
Meanwhile, the Mountain-Panther Armor, with its bizarre moves and body covered in long thorns, was practically impervious to blades and spears. Its demonic power spread, and it actually fought to a standstill with Fen Yu, Lan Chen, Qing Suo, and Huang Jiaozi! This can't be blamed on the Pangolin Armor. It's just that Fen Yu, Lan Chen, Qing Suo, and Huang Jiaozi's cultivation levels are low, and besides their immortal swords, they have no other effective magical treasures to subdue the demon! They simply can't find an effective way to counter the Pangolin Armor in a short time!
Old Man Wuji thought to himself, "Alas, the difference in cultivation between the sect leader's eldest disciple and the other disciples in these sects is too vast! Fortunately, each generation of our Phoenix lineage can only have one person, and Young Master Qi is clearly stronger than their sect leader's eldest disciple!"
He clearly saw that Kuang Ye and Ru Chen's cultivation levels were far above the four disciples, and Bing Shuang was also superior to the four! Moreover, with strong confidence, Jin Qi had now obtained two sect leader-level innate treasures, the "Follow Your Heart's Desire, Flower of Illusion and Annihilation" and the "Eternal Calamity, Cauldron of Heartless Destruction," and his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds, advancing two major levels!
Therefore, Jin Qi, the Prince, Kuang Ye, Saintess Ru Chen, and the others focused their attention on the battle between the Azure Eagle Demon, the Green Bamboo Protector, and the White Plum Protector!
"Heaven and earth give birth to one, which then transforms into two; Yin and Yang, the two polarities, inherit and initiate the three realms! The immortal sword is like the wind, riding the momentum to the west!"
Protector Qingsong suddenly murmured, his hands also forming sword gestures, and his Taoist robe suddenly shone, faintly revealing Taoist incantations. He did not participate in the fight, but his mind was also in it.
Everyone was naturally confused. Jin Qi, seeing his master nod slightly, couldn't help but ask, "Master, what did Senior Protector Qingsong mean by that?"
Ouyang Xue'er also joined in the fun, asking, "What do you mean by 'Heaven and Earth give birth to one,' could it be Taiji? What about Yin and Yang? Or the
Three Powers?" Wang Zi's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Could it be that Senior Protector Qingsong is instructing Seniors Cuizhu and Baimei? Are they going to use the Yin-Yang Formation or the Three Powers Formation?"
Jin Qi smiled and said, "However, I know that the Three Powers Sword Technique requires three people to master. These two protectors can only use the Yin-Yang Sword Formation at most! But isn't the Yin-Yang Sword Formation a legendary Wudang Sect secret technique? How come the Kunlun Sect also knows it?"
"The laws of the world, all streams return to the same source, and in the end, they all originate from the same lineage. The Hongjun Ancestor passed down the Three Streams and Nine Teachings, which cannot be divided! Why distinguish between Wudang and Kunlun?"
Elder Wuji said softly, undoubtedly enlightening Jin Qi that all laws of the world share the same root and origin!
As expected, Elder Cuizhu and Protector Baimei had solemn expressions and were completely unpredictable. The immortal sword seemed to be only trying to defend itself. In an instant, the black demonic lotus in the hand of the old demon eagle transformed into the Thousand Black Lotus, which floated over and wrapped around the immortal sword. However, the position of the two under their feet had already changed in secret.
The prince sensed the air currents accelerating, a colorless, mysterious wind rising, swirling around the green bamboo, white plum blossoms…
and the protectors. He couldn't help but think, "I've heard that the Kunlun Sect has many extraordinary formations, including the legendary Kunlun Chaos Sword Formation! It's said to be incredibly powerful, no less so than the Shaolin Arhat Formation, which is considered the greatest formation in the world. I wonder how this Yin-Yang Two Elements Sword Formation will perform today?"
Although Ouyang Xue'er didn't understand Taoist magic, she asked, "Prince, Seventh Young Master, do you think it's because the Three Talents Formation requires three people, plus Protector Qingsong, that's enough, but now there are only two of us, so they're only using the Yin-Yang Two Elements Formation?"
Old Man Wuji nodded and smiled, "Although Xue'er doesn't understand Taoist magic, she's very intelligent, and this is also…" "It's obvious! They're weaving the Yin-Yang Two Elements Formation into the Three Talents Formation!"
Ouyang Xue'er giggled, even Elder Wuji praised her, which delighted her. Elder Wuji's heart stirred, and he thought to himself, "Today, there's only one Immortal-Slaying Sword on Ten Thousand Swords Peak, but judging from their aptitudes—Seventh Young Master, Prince, Ouyang Xue'er, even Ru Chen and Kuang Ye—they all possess astonishing talent. I wonder if Seventh Young Master will ultimately obtain the Immortal-Slaying Sword?"
He then realized, "Never mind who gets it. As long as things are set right, it's a blessing for the Dao Sect. Who cares who the owner of the Immortal-Slaying Sword is?"
This realization brought him a sense of exhilaration, an unprecedented ease. All along the way, he had been thinking about finding the Immortal-Slaying Sword for Jin Qi, but now that burden was lifted.
How could the Old Demon Cang Ying not know this? However, he was not worried at all about the attack from Protector Cuizhu and Protector Baimei. He thought to himself, "My first priority is to stall them and be careful of Protector Qingsong! My second priority is to investigate the progress of Kunlun Sect's Taoist practices over the past three hundred years. Therefore, I will not rush to kill Cuizhu and Baimei!"
Saintess Ruchen, Kuangye, and the others remained silent. They knew that the Kunlun Daoist method was the central hub of cultivation for all Daoist sects in the world, and dared not underestimate it. They quickly focused on studying it, memorizing each detail and comparing it with the formations of their own sect, the Putuo Mountain Sect of the South China Sea and the Kongtong Sect!
Sure enough, suddenly, after dodging two black demonic lotuses, the Green Bamboo Guardian and the White Plum Guardian moved to the left and right respectively. The Green Bamboo Immortal Sword and the White Plum Immortal Sword were separated, and their footwork changed accordingly. The Green Bamboo Guardian walked a semi-circle from the outside in, her face a vibrant green that shimmered; while the White Plum Guardian walked a semi-circle from the inside out, her face completely bloodless! Their footsteps were as if they were brand new, and their tracks were clear and distinct. This was the standard Yin-Yang Sword Formation footwork.
"The Book of Changes states that from the Taiji comes the Yin and Yang, one Yin and one Yang, which counteract each other, mutually generating and restraining each other, making them invincible!"
Protector Qingsong nodded and gently activated the formation outside. In this way, it was actually the three protectors working together to fight against the old demon Cangying!
Jin Qi could not hear any sword sounds, and only then did he understand that the footwork of Cuizhu and Baimei was completely canceling each other out. When the two of them drew their swords, they were also silent, one in front and one behind, making it impossible for the old demon Cangying to pay attention to both. Three times, by the time the old demon Cangying noticed the sword sounds behind him, the swords had already broken free from the black lotus's entanglement and were almost on his back!
"It's rumored that the Wudang Sect's leader, the Nine Apertures True Man, possesses extraordinary Daoist power, capable of traversing the Four Symbols Formation alone!"
Jin Qi murmured. "Unexpectedly, the two Kunlun Sect's senior protectors are doing the same thing, also able to create a Yin-Yang Two Elements Formation with the Three Talents Formation within their own two-person formation, transforming two into three!"
Protector Cuizhu and Daoist Baimei dared not be distracted. Their swords were entangled with the old eagle demon's black lotus, while their feet moved in a Yin-Yang pattern, surrounding the old demon from both sides. Only by fighting two against one could they possibly avoid defeat. Protector Baimei manifested Yin energy, her form ethereal and dangerous, resembling a tortoise and snake, profoundly mysterious; while Protector Cuizhu, with her soaring Yang energy, roamed the nine earths, commanding all spirits, approaching from the right, striding forward, already within ten feet of the old eagle demon. Any closer and it would be close combat!
"Their advancing air currents cancel each other out, flowing gently and effortlessly! The Tai Chi Yin-Yang principle truly embodies both softness and strength, like smooth water, calm and undisturbed!"
Even Saintess Ruchen couldn't help but praise. Bing Shuang, hearing this, didn't understand the mystery and simply said, "However, our sect's various formations are no less powerful than this one!"
"Haha! The Yin-Yang Yin-Yang Sword Formation is indeed impressive, but what can it do to me?"
The Azure Eagle Demon
suddenly laughed loudly, "Your Yin-Yang Yin-Yang Sword Formation is complete! Watch me break it!"
As he finished speaking, a hissing sound suddenly arose from his hands. Within the thousand black lotuses, everyone sensed a gust of wind, and a thunderous sword aura shot directly towards the two figures where Yin and Yang met!
Strike the snake at its vital point!
Clearly, the Azure Eagle Demon and the black lotus demon had found the fatal point of the Yin-Yang Sword Formation set up by Protector Cuizhu and Protector Baimei—the point where Yin and Yang met!
With just this one strike! Elder Cuizhu and Elder Baimei dared not face the thunderbolt head-on and hastily retreated two feet! The Jade Bamboo Guardian's Jade Bamboo Immortal Sword became a single Yang, and the White Plum Guardian's White Plum Immortal
Sword became a solitary Yin, unable to combine Yin and Yang! Their power was reduced to one-third! However, neither of them wanted to give up, and they each struggled to advance another foot. The swords trembled violently, and several sword energies flew out simultaneously, only to encounter the black demonic lotus. Both their faces turned blood red, but they circulated their profound arts and urged their primordial spirits to control the swords! But no matter what, the two immortal swords could no longer merge, indicating that the Yin-Yang Two Elements Sword Formation had been broken!
The Azure Eagle Demon secretly watched the Green Pine Guardian's actions, but laughed loudly: "A mere trick, you dare to show off? Watch me trap your primordial spirits!"
He released another burst of internal energy, and with a flick of his hand, two large black lotus flowers, each about ten feet long, bloomed from the black demonic lotus, directly engulfing the Jade Bamboo and White Plum Immortal Swords!
The Green Bamboo Guardian and the White Plum Guardian were greatly alarmed. They hurriedly flicked their swords, attempting to pry their two immortal swords out of the lotus's embrace, but to no avail. The more they channeled their energy, the more magnificently the lotus bloomed, its eerie light flowing endlessly! In no time, only a sliver of emerald green and a sliver of snow-white could be seen peeking through the black, alluring lotus, almost completely enveloped.
"Not good!"
Jin Qi exclaimed, "Master, what should we do?" "What's wrong?"
Ouyang Xue'er asked.
Prince hurriedly said, "From the outside, it seems that the Green Bamboo Immortal Sword and the White Plum Immortal Sword can only move left and right within the black demonic lotus flowers with their sword energy. Elders Green Bamboo and White Plum are already drenched in sweat! They have exhausted all their primordial spirit power to drive their immortal swords to resist these two large lotus flowers. If their immortal swords are entangled and killed, the two of them will also lose their primordial spirits and die!"
Ouyang Xue'er hurriedly said, "Prince, Seventh Young Master, quickly save them!"
Old Man Wuji said softly, "No rush, the Yin-Yang Two Elements Sword Formation has not yet become the Three Talents Sword Formation!"
Jin Qi and Prince instantly understood that Old Man Wuji had guessed that Protector Qingsong was about to make a move!
Protector Qingsong, the leader of the "Three Friends of Winter," the incarnation of the Kunlun Sect Master Shixiao Zhenren in the Nine Nether Valley, would definitely have extraordinary power when he made a move!
Chapter 8041 Wind Rises Out of the Sky, Snow Flies in June
Sure enough, Protector Qingsong could no longer stand idly by and not make a move!
Everyone awoke at his shout, "Rise!"
The younger generation, including Prince, Saintess Ruchen, and Kuangye, wondered, "Let's see if Protector Qingsong, as the leader of the 'Three Friends of Winter,' possesses power far surpassing that of Green Bamboo and White Plum." Fan Shang,
however, felt a slight dissatisfaction, thinking, "My senior brother, the sect leader, admires the Ten Howling Sword Immortals of Kunlun Sect. I wonder how Protector Qingsong, who claims to possess three-tenths of their style, fares?"
The Yellow-Robed Demon inwardly chuckled, "Hmph, Southern Ghost Envoy, even the Great Heavenly Venerable values you highly. You've been rampant in Ailao Mountain, dominating your own territory! Now, let's see how you fare against the 'Three Friends of Winter' coming at you. If you can manage to weaken them all, I'll step in and help you defeat them all. Wouldn't that greatly enhance the prestige of my Yellow-Robed Ancestor of Qipan Mountain? Today, although we're completing the mission together, the prestige of the Eastern Underworld King will surely surpass that of the Southern Ghost Envoy." "Above!"
But despite his thoughts, he outwardly warned the old eagle demon, "Ghost Messenger, be careful! Protector Green Pine is a ruthless character!"
The old eagle demon, now in a dominant position, disregarded Protector Green Pine, saying scornfully, "'The Three Friends of Winter,' green bamboo and white plum are nothing special! What can Green Pine do alone?"
Upon hearing this, Protector Green Pine did not refute, but was even more agitated and frustrated, his potential surging. After a loud shout, he leaped into the air. As he ascended, his hair and clothes moved without wind, fluttering backward like green pine trees. His face flickered, his eyes gleaming brightly, sharp and poignant. Under the eerie light of the old eagle demon's black demonic lotus, the emerald green bamboo immortal sword, and the snow-white white plum immortal sword, his expression was strange, his inner strength rapidly gathering, his inner energy circulating in his dantian!
Jin Qi said softly, "Indeed! Protector Qingsong's immortal sword has not been unleashed yet. I wonder how powerful it is? I'm afraid it will be earth-shattering when it is unleashed!"
Elder Wuji shook his head slightly and said, "Protector Qingsong doesn't have any immortal sword on him right now."
Prince and Ouyang Xue'er were very surprised, and Saintess Ruchen was also extremely puzzled. She asked, "Senior, the Kunlun Sect reveres the sword. Every senior master has an immortal sword. Protector Cuizhu and Protector Baimei both have extraordinary immortal swords. Why doesn't Protector Qingsong have one?"
Kuang Ye asserted even more confidently, "That's right, the Kunlun Sect Leader, the Ten Howling Sword Immortals, and the fourteen masters of the Qingsong Guardian generation were all renowned for their swordsmanship, but in legends, the name Qingsong Immortal Sword has never been heard of!"
"Qingsong Immortal Sword?"
Elder Wuji smiled mysteriously and said, "I mean he doesn't have an immortal sword on him...that's all!"
Clearly, with his cultivation level, he could easily see whether the Qingsong Guardian possessed a hidden immortal sword! After speaking, he glanced again at the thousands of broken swords behind him!
The others, unaware of the details and seeing Elder Wuji's mysterious manner, didn't bother to think about it further! Jin Qi, who had followed Elder Wuji the longest, thought to himself, "Could it be that he has an immortal sword, but it's not with the Qingsong Guardian? But where is it?"
He looked around again, but besides the broken swords scattered on the ground, he couldn't think of any other immortal sword.
Where was the Qingsong Guardian's immortal sword? They had all forgotten one thing!
Seeing their senior brother draw his sword, the two guardians, Cuizhu and Baimei, relaxed slightly, but dared not relax. They hurriedly used their primordial spirits to control their immortal swords and struggle within the black demonic lotus. Guardian Qingsong, on the other hand, was triumphant. Now, facing the great demon Cangying Old Demon with hundreds of years of cultivation, it was naturally important to borrow the power of heaven and earth, draw upon the Xuanhuang Daoist techniques, and use his energy to rescue his two junior brothers!
Cangying Old Demon coldly snorted, "Without an immortal sword in hand, you dare to dream of rescuing people? You don't take me seriously? You'll suffer!"
He spread his hand, and four-tenths of his power transformed into a black lotus to surround Cuizhu and Baimei, while he used six-tenths of his true energy to entangle Qingsong! It seemed that he also knew that Guardian Qingsong's Daoist techniques were the most powerful!
"Be careful!"
Jin Qi shouted as a huge black lotus suddenly engulfed Guardian Qingsong.
The Pine Protector's hands formed a series of hand seals, pointing straight to the sky. He roared fiercely, "Wind from the universe, snow from the west;... Kunlun spreads its teachings, righteous energy vanquishes demons!"
His roar exploded like thunder, and within the thunder, the heavens and earth seemed to shift, as if a gust of wind had risen, withered leaves drooped with frost, and frozen bells hung from ancient pines. The old fisherman was nowhere to be seen, the monks were nowhere to be found in the mountain temple. The woodcutter lamented the lack of firewood, the prince rejoiced at the abundance of charcoal. The traveler's beard was as strong as iron, the poet's pen as sharp as a diamond. Even a fur coat felt too thin, a sable coat too light. The old monk sat stiffly on his prayer mat, his traveler's soul trembled in the paper tent. The embroidered quilt and heavy blankets trembled all over! A hurricane raged, facing the attack of the old eagle demon, instead of retreating, it advanced, vainly attempting to envelop the old eagle demon's black demonic lotus!
The prince laughed, "A good idea! Even with its immense size and transformations, the black demonic lotus still retains its form, while heaven and earth are formless, with the wind within, allowing it to drift aimlessly! Using the invisible wind to disperse the illusory demonic lotus is indeed a good idea!"
Ouyang Xue'er, only three zhang away from the wind, could feel the cold wind blowing against her face. If it weren't for the prince's protective barrier, she would probably be shivering uncontrollably. She couldn't help but say, "The heavy quilt offers no warmth, my sleeves feel like they're filled with ice. The earth cracks due to the extreme cold, the pond freezes. This wind truly can withstand it!"
The pangolin armor showed no concern for the old eagle demon, while... While fighting with Fen Yu and the others, Bian couldn't help but sneer, "Our Ailao Mountain is the Yin Mountain of the South, where the Yin winds howl all year round, and the Yin springs within are even more eerie and cold. Why should we be afraid of the winds of Kunlun Mountain?"
Sure enough, the old demon Cang Ying laughed loudly, "Well done, Qing Song! This is the 'Wind-Rising Sword Technique' of the Kunlun Sect's Seventeen Techniques. But I have seen Yin winds before, what can they do to me?"
The Kunlun Sect has seventeen powerful techniques. Prince, Jin Qi, Saintess Ru Chen, Kuang Ye, and others have all heard of them, but they don't know all the specific names. However, they know that this "Wind-Rising Sword Technique" is the Wind-Chasing Sword Technique among them!
With a slight wave of his right hand, the old demon eagle summoned a large lotus flower that floated towards him. The black lotus bloomed, its eerie flow sheltering the old demon eagle from the onslaught of the yin wind. The black lotus even spoke, saying, "As a protector of the Nine Nether Valley, you only possess a mere Yin Wind Sword Technique, a disgrace!"
"Who is that..."
Ouyang Xue'er asked, puzzled.
"That is the primordial spirit of the old demon eagle's eldest disciple, the Black Demon Lotus!"
Jin Qi said softly, "Alas, it seems that Protector Qingsong's Kunlun Sect's 'Wind-Rising-from-Void Sword Technique' is ineffective against the Black Demon Lotus!"
The prince remained silent, agreeing without speaking.
Sure enough, the black demon lotus merely closed its petals slightly, deflecting the gale! The wind gently blew away from the black lotus, unable to harm anyone!
"Senior brother, what should we do?"
Protectors Cuizhu and Baimei, entangled by the old demon eagle, panicked upon seeing the "Wind-Rising-from-Void Sword Technique" ineffective and cried out loudly.
The Green Pine Protector was not in a hurry. He coldly snorted in the air, "Demon, do not be so arrogant!"
Then he gritted his teeth and roared, "The world is all white, auspicious snow aids me! Slaying demons and eliminating evil begins today!"
The power summoned by the leader of the "Three Friends of Winter" was extraordinary. Jin Qi thought to himself, "It is often said that wind and snow are inseparable. Obviously, the Green Pine Protector is going to summon snowflakes!"
The prince also coldly snorted, "Ailao Mountain is in the south, so it is normal to see cold winds! But the south certainly does not often see heavy snow, while Kunlun and Shu Mountain often have heavy snow. The snow is weak and far away from the wind. Let's see how the old eagle demon can resist?"
Ouyang Xue'er's eyes flashed, and her vision blurred. She seemed to see dark clouds covering the sky and a heavy fog. Dark clouds covered the sky, and the north wind howled in the air; then, in just an instant, the heavy fog covered the entire Wanjian Peak, and snow covered the ground. It was truly like six-petaled flowers, each one flying like jade; a thousand trees, each one adorned with jade. In a moment, it accumulates into powder; in an instant, it turns to salt. The white parrot's song loses its purity; the white crane's feathers are the same. It adds to the waters of a thousand rivers in Wu and Chu, overshadowing several plum trees in the southeast. It's as if three million jade dragons have been defeated, truly like broken scales and tattered armor flying everywhere. Where can one find Dong Guo's shoes, Yuan An's reclining posture, or Sun Kang's reading? Nor can one see Ziyou's boat, Wang Gong's coins, or Su Wu's felt mat. Only a few village houses remain, like silver-paved walls, and the vast landscape like a jade ball. Good snow! Willow catkins cover the bridge, pear blossoms cover the houses. Willow catkins cover the bridge, a fisherman hangs a raincoat by the bridge; pear blossoms cover the houses, a rustic old man warms his bones beneath them? A weary old man, burdened by a carriage, desperately searches for plum blossoms. Scattered and fluttering, it cuts the butterfly's feathers; drifting and swaying, it trims the goose's coat. Rolling and swirling with the wind,
layer upon layer, the roads are obscured. A chilling aura pierces the small curtain, a cold draft seeps into the secluded chamber. A bountiful year and auspicious omens descend from heaven, a cause for celebration for all things good!
That white light was the light of snow, descending from the sky in an instant, enveloping the black demon lotus's primordial spirit along with the old eagle demon!
She couldn't help but exclaim with delight, "Wow, those snowflakes are huge over there!"
She reached out her hand, letting the delicate snowflakes fall into her palm; the feeling was so smooth and comfortable!
As a pure Yin maiden, she had been escorted by wind and snow since her birth, so naturally she had the deepest affection for snowflakes. Of course, Elder Wuji knew this best!
The Green Bamboo Guardian and the White Plum Guardian felt a sudden sense of relief. Their respective Green Bamboo and White Plum Immortal Swords no longer hindered them. They quickly leaped out and arrived at the Green Pine Guardian's side: "Thank you for saving us, Senior Brother!"
Within a nine-zhang radius of the fighting area, snow instantly filled the sky, falling on the unfolding black lotus blossoms. In a moment, a thick layer had accumulated. Ouyang Xue'er exclaimed joyfully, "So it was snow falling from the sky, completely sealing the Azure Eagle Demon and the Black Lotus! Haha!"
The Mortal of Mortal Injury nodded as well. He knew that this was the Kunlun Sect's "June Flying Snow Dao Technique," no small feat!
The Yellow-Robed Demon was also alarmed. Today, he and the Eastern Underworld King and the Southern Ghost Messenger had come. If either of them were to suffer any mishap, they would be utterly defeated before the Great Celestial Venerable.
He hurriedly shouted, "Ghost Messenger? What happened?" The Peach Wood Boy beside him was also anxious. Meanwhile, the Changbai Mountain Cold Vulture flapped its wings and flew into the snow, rushing towards the Azure Eagle Demon!
It has cultivated in the icy and snowy Changbai Mountain for a hundred years. What is this little bit of wind and snow to it?
However, the Green Bamboo Guardian and the White Plum Guardian were not going to stand idly by. With their swords drawn, they moved like rainbows, slashing at the vulture's wings. The cold vulture could not get close for a moment, and the two people and the bird fought each other in the wind and snow!
In the sword fight between Pangolin Armor and Fen Yu, Lan Chen, Qing Suo, and Huang Jiaozi, Pangolin Armor, taking advantage of their lack of teamwork and the fact that their cultivation was not very high, while Pangolin Armor possessed a strange hedgehog-like armor for defense, surprisingly gained the upper hand. Worried, Pangolin Armor looked over and called out, "Master..."
"Haha!"
Suddenly, amidst the wind and snow, the old demon eagle's loud laughter rang out again: "A mere Kunlun Sect eleventh Dao technique, 'June Flying Snow Dao Technique'? Even if it's incredibly powerful against others, what can it do to me? You all completely underestimate the power of this South Sea Golden Lotus in my hand!" "
South Sea Golden Lotus?"
Upon hearing this, Frost's expression changed drastically, and she was shocked: "This black demonic lotus is actually the South Sea Golden Lotus? Old demon eagle! So it was you who stole the Golden Lotus from Guanyin Bodhisattva's Tide Sound Immortal Pool!"
What happened?
Chapter 8042 The Golden Lotus of the South Sea, Stolen and Mysterious
The old demon eagle accidentally let slip a secret and quickly fell silent, only intensifying his cultivation. The petals of the surrounding black demonic lotus slowly changed color, shedding their black hue. The pangolin-armored creature laughed loudly, "Why should I tell you rats about the origin of my master's magic weapon? Just remember its power and run away! Remember the prestige of the Southern Ghost Envoy under the Great Heavenly Venerable, and flee at the mere sight of his name!"
"Hmph, wishful thinking! Who are the rats? Don't think the pangolin isn't a rat!"
The old man Wuji suddenly said softly, abruptly.
But the pangolin-armored creature's expression changed drastically. It hadn't expected that the old man Wuji, who had remained silent and unresponsive, had seen through its true form!
It was… a cultivator who had become a demon after being human!
Saintess Ruchen and Frost whispered to each other, clearly discussing matters concerning the Putuo Mountain Sect of the South Sea. Neither of them had expected that the primordial spirit of the Black Demon Lotus might be the long-lost Golden Lotus of the South Sea. Jin Qi secretly wondered, what exactly was the Golden Lotus of the South Sea? What power did it possess?
Seeing the Old Demon Eagle amidst the swirling snowflakes, speaking with a strong voice, the Yellow-Robed Demon assumed he could escape and feigned concern, saying, "Brother Ghost Envoy of the South? Would you like me to help you shield yourself from the snowflakes?"
Peach Wood Boy also laughed, "Once Master and Uncle Ghost Envoy join forces, what fear is there of mere snowflakes?"
"No need!"
The old demon eagle wasn't stupid; he naturally understood the gloating of the yellow-robed demon earlier. He thought to himself, "Once we reach the Great Celestial Venerable, I must report to him for handling!"
He coldly said, "No need to trouble the Eastern Underworld King; I have my own methods!"
As he spoke, he chanted, "Lotus blossoms, listening to scriptures for a thousand years; Buddhist ascension, transforming into the Dao!
If not now, when?
Golden light radiates, gathering all the snowflakes!"
As soon as he finished chanting, his magical power manifested. Jin Qi, the prince, Ouyang Xue'er, and the others saw the black demon lotus's black aura vanish, instantly transforming into a fully blooming lotus flower. Counting the petals, there were nine. It turned out that the black demon lotus's primordial spirit was a nine-petaled lotus! Most incredibly, at this moment, golden light radiated from the lotus's mouth, forming a light curtain that instantly gathered all the snowflakes in the sky!
That radiant golden light was definitely not something a demon could cultivate; it was the most authentic Buddhist golden light! It was exactly the same as the golden lotus light of the Buddha and Guanyin, who sat high on lotus thrones! Could it be that this nine-petaled lotus was indeed from the Golden Lotus of the South Sea, as Bing Shuang had said?
Prince, Jin Qi, Kuang Ye, and the others were very puzzled! How could the Old Demon Eagle possess such a powerful and authentic Buddhist magic weapon?
What exactly is the primordial spirit of the black demon lotus?
At this moment, seeing that Fei Xue had been eliminated, the Old Demon Eagle pointed his finger, and the nine-petaled golden lotus tilted towards the pangolin armor, covering it completely. No matter how hard Fen Yu, Lan Chen, Qing Suo, and Huang Jiaozi drew their swords, they could not harm the pangolin armor in the slightest!
"Three junior brothers, come back quickly!"
Kuang Ye knew that with the power of Lan Chen, Qing Suo, and Huang Jiaozi, plus Fen Yu, the weakest member of the South Sea Sect, they could not make things difficult for this golden light of the purest Buddhist sect, so he could only helplessly call for a halt.
Fen Yu also recognized the meaning behind Kuang Ye's words, and immediately retreated to defend. Lan Chen, Qing Suo, and Huang Jiaozi also sheathed their swords and returned to their positions, ceasing the fight.
The Pangolin Armor retreated to the side of the Azure Eagle Demon and said to the Nine-Petaled Golden Lotus, "Thank you, Senior Brother!"
The Nine-Petaled Golden Lotus simply turned around and reverted to its previous appearance as a young man, only now with a dark face, making it impossible to discern the golden light it had previously radiated!
Ouyang Xue'er spoke her mind, asking, "Saintess Ruchen, Kunlun, Shushan, and Kongtong are all Daoist sects here. You say this golden light is the orthodox cultivation of the Buddhist sect, while Mount Putuo in the South China Sea is one of the four major Buddhist sects. Does the Saintess know that this golden lotus truly comes from the South China Sea?"
Bing Shuang, her expression agitated, drew her newly refined "Midnight Mandarin Duck Staff" and pointed it at the black demonic lotus, angrily saying, "How could I not know? It was originally the nine-petaled golden lotus in the Tide Sound Immortal Pool of our sect's founder, Guanyin Bodhisattva! ... Three hundred years ago, it disappeared without a trace. Guanyin Bodhisattva, with her all-seeing eyes, searched the entire land but failed to notice it. I never expected to see it today! Nine-petaled golden lotus, how have you been? I never imagined you would fall into the demonic path!"
The nine-petaled golden lotus remained silent, coldly watching everyone.
The goddess Ruchen was much calmer, saying, "When the old demon Cangying revealed the lotus, I had my doubts. But firstly, it was a strange black color, different from the golden light; secondly, it came from the path of demons, how could it be related to the nine-petaled golden lotus in my ancestral pool that listened to the Dharma? If it hadn't activated its nine petals, radiating golden light and absorbing all the snowflakes falling from the Kunlun Sect, I still wouldn't have been sure!"
"Then, did Guanyin Bodhisattva deduce who stole the nine-petaled golden lotus back then?"
Jin Qi asked, "Or did the nine-petaled golden lotus secretly descend to the mortal realm itself?"
"No, the nine-petaled golden lotus has listened to the Dharma for a long time, it would never descend to the mortal realm on its own, someone must have stolen it!"
Saintess Ruchen said in a deep voice, then asked the nine-petaled golden lotus, "Lotus, won't you admit your mistake and go back to the South Sea?"
She was a young girl at heart, and if she were to speak of kindness, her heart would certainly be filled with compassion.
Unexpectedly, the nine-petaled golden lotus sneered, "To hear the Dao under the Great Celestial Venerable is ten times more effective than to hear the Buddha under Guanyin! Before, I could only transform into a nine-petaled copper hammer, but now, after only three hundred years, I can transform into a young human form. Why would I go back? Now I eat and drink with my own spirit, ten times happier than in the South Sea!"
Upon hearing the "nine-petaled copper hammer," Ouyang Xue'er suddenly recalled the Journey to the West, where a bright, golden fish monster lurked in the Tongtian River, devouring people and livestock. Fortunately, Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong, along with their disciples, passed through Chen Family Village. After Tang Sanzang was captured by the fish monster, Sun Wukong summoned Guanyin, who appeared in the form of the Fish-Blue Guanyin, and subdued the monster. The monster wore a gleaming golden helmet, golden armor that seemed to shimmer like rainbows, a jeweled belt around its waist, and strangely shaped yellow boots. Its nose was high and prominent, and its forehead broad and majestic. Its eyes gleamed, round and fierce; its teeth were sharp and even, like steel. Its short, tousled hair flared like flames; its long beard was elegant and held like a golden cone. It held a tender green algae in its mouth and a nine-petaled red copper hammer in its hand. With a creaking sound, the door opened, its roar like the thunder of spring's awakening. Such a creature, rarely seen in the mortal world, dared to call itself the Great King of Manifestations, the Golden Fish Demon!
And in the hands of this Spirit Manifestation King Goldfish Demon is a nine-petaled copper hammer that can rival Pigsy's nine-toothed rake and Sandy's demon-subduing staff, and not be at a disadvantage!

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