"What did you do...?"
Bang bang bang bang...!
Before Zhenjiang Wang could finish his words, Ji Xiang's figure in front of him vanished. Immediately after, he was struck by firearms!
The rate of fire, like a torrential downpour, riddled his physical body with holes. The Huang Ting realm had not yet completed the transformation to innate, remaining a postnatal body. Therefore, it had not yet reached the stage where the physical body could withstand bombs.
Ji Xiang's two hands unleashed the Five Thunder Divine Machines. With a rate of fire that should not have appeared on such firearms as the matchlock gun, he suppressed the opponent fiercely! But Zhenjiang Wang was not to be trifled with! Though he had lost his divine general status, he was still a great cultivator, unlike the imperial guards in the Ming court who relied on their divine general status for their cultivation!
Seeing the opponent's momentum surge, he suddenly broke through the suppression of firearms and soared into the sky, flying towards him!
The Five Thunder Divine Machines began to smoke. Ji Xiang flicked them, tucked them into his waist, and then tossed the large prayer beads around his neck towards the sky. He chanted the Buddhist six-syllable mantra, and the prayer beads immediately erupted with a dazzling radiance, accompanied by a lion's roar that echoed through heaven and earth!
"Manjusri Preaching, the Fearless Lion Dharma of Mount Wutai!"
Zhenjiang Wang was greatly astonished. A Daoist priest could throw out Buddhist prayer beads and chant the six-syllable mantra to unleash the Fearless Lion Dharma?
No, this was merely the roar sealed within the prayer beads, activated by the six-syllable mantra!
The immense lion's roar locked him in place, obstructing his further advance!
However, he was only momentarily stunned by this lion's roar. This power sealed within a magic artifact could not harm him. At most, it could only cause a slight obstruction to an Earth Immortal. Moreover, he was in the Huang Ting realm. After just a moment, everything returned to normal!
The prayer beads also shattered, their light vanishing, and the lion's roar gradually faded.
After all, they were ordinary magic artifacts collected by the Milong Casino. If there had been a truly high-ranking monk, he might not have been deceived by Milong.
"You startled me! It's just an ordinary magic artifact, yet it makes such a fierce noise."
He cursed, but in that very instant, Ji Xiang's killing blow had already taken shape.
A bloody hole appeared between Zhenjiang Wang's brows, and it grew larger and larger until his entire head was pulverized!
Ji Xiang's thoughts raced, unleashing his great divine powers!
If you pause for just a moment, dozens of breaths will pass. By the time you catch your breath, the divine sword will have annihilated your form and spirit!
This physical body fell, but no primordial spirit escaped. Ji Xiang immediately realized:
"Not good, this is a clone!"
Zhenjiang Wang's voice came from the void, tinged with a hint of alarm:
"Who exactly are you, and what was that spell just now?"
"Never mind, after I kill you, I'll search your soul and find out. A mere sixth realm cultivator, yet you can contend with me, a great Huang Ting Immortal, for several rounds. You are definitely not simple!"
"And you lot, why aren't you helping yet! I think it must be this person!"
After speaking to Ji Xiang, Zhenjiang Wang transmitted his voice across heaven and earth. Amidst the river water and fierce winds, the great cultivators who had been observing Ji Xiang and had not yet acted, now made their move:
"He's getting anxious. Why are you in such a hurry? We just weren't sure. If we kill the wrong person, and some high-level diviner finds out later, wouldn't our reputations as righteous sects be ruined?"
"This person is carrying a pile of magic artifacts and is dressed like a Lu Shan sect pháp sư. Everyone knows the Lu Shan sect is a pack of mad dogs. When they attack, it's either you die or I die. Who wants to provoke them!"
These great cultivators had been observing the battle. Only now, seeing Zhenjiang Wang's clone instantly annihilated, did they realize the seriousness of the situation.
A clone in the Yuan Shen realm or above could at most be up to four. Each loss of a clone meant a loss of Nascent Soul realm cultivation, and re-condensing it took a lot of time.
In Ji Xiang's eyes, the identities and cultivation of these individuals, including the previous Zhenjiang Wang, were all described by the Inner Scenery Divine Tablet. He now had a moment to examine them.
Zhenjiang Wang possessed six dangerous spells, but Ji Xiang thought that at this moment, he wouldn't bother with spell破解. The opponent had more people, so naturally, he would open the Heavenly Gate and draw them all in to kill them in one go!
If he couldn't kill them, he would die. However, he couldn't truly die; he could simply get up and revive, so he was still winning.
"Zhenjiang Wang, a divine general of the Ming court, master of the Jinshan Lower Mansion in Sanshui Prefecture, cultivation in the Huang Ting realm, has seized the yang energy of thirty-two extremely yang maidens and has fallen into the evil path..."
"Kaishan Daoist, Huang Ting realm, Grand Dharma Master of Zhongnan Mountain, one of the Ten Great Huang Ting cultivators of Chongyang Palace, skilled in hand seals and mudras, practices life-and-qi cultivation, a semi-sword immortal."
"Shen Yuanzi, Yuan Shen realm, Grand Dharma Master of the Donghua Sect, one of the Four Yuan Shen cultivators of Tianqing Temple, skilled in Yin Fu techniques, a talisman practitioner."
"Chi Yan Xian, Yuan Shen realm, Fire Dao Alchemist of the Dragon Gate Sect, one of the Four Yuan Shen cultivators of Yunchao Mountain, skilled in alchemy and cauldron techniques, fire manipulation practitioner."
"Bai Yangzi, Yuan Shen realm, High Daoist Master of the Sui Shan Sect, one of the Six Yuan Shen cultivators of Canghai Temple among the various palaces and temples of Laoshan, skilled in form refinement techniques, a master practitioner."
These were all Grand Dharma Masters from renowned sects. The Inner Scenery Divine Tablet rarely displayed their true names, unless they were disguised.
These individuals were considered prominent figures in the righteous path within this world of sun and moon light, holding significant positions among the Three Sects, Nine Dao, and Twenty-Six Schools.
If it were normal people, killing these individuals would surely be divined, and they would be framed.
Who would have thought that people from the righteous path would also associate with demons?
But unfortunately, Ji Xiang was not a normal person. Let alone killing them, he would spit on them afterward.
Whether righteous or evil, they were not good people. I have killed the clone of Emperor Shengzu of Song, and the soul of Emperor Tai Zu of Qing was lost at the Meridian Gate. There is no one in this world I dare not kill.
"All you Daoists consorting with demons is truly shameless."
Ji Xiang sighed. The great cultivators heard him. Bai Yangzi chuckled, "Esteemed sirs, this heretic outsider actually insults us and distorts the truth. It is truly laughable."
Chi Yan Xian said, "This heretic was able to break Zhenjiang Wang's divine power just now. However, we are not possessed of divine power; we are pure cultivators. We need not fear his white smoke! Also, that red command flag this heretic used to start fires looks rather good. After this heretic perishes, the flag will be mine!"
He held a small cauldron in his hand. As the lid was opened, a fierce inferno erupted from within. The river water below had just subsided, only to be covered by the raging fire. The other great cultivators dared not let Chi Yan Xian fight Ji Xiang alone, and they all attacked together!
"Kill!"
Kaishan Daoist's voice was booming. He pressed down a hand seal. The cultivation of both life and qi in the Quanzhen Dao made his blood and qi as vast as a fierce beast. At this moment, the hand seal magic technique struck down, which was a fierce sword technique!
The sword technique represented the act of holding a sword to slay evil or cut through obstacles, a fierce killing art. Although Kaishan Daoist was not a sword immortal, using the sword technique with the blood and qi of the Quanzhen Dao, its ferocity was no less than that of ancient sword immortals!
Shen Yuanzi unleashed talismans, while Bai Yangzi emitted a stream of crimson energy from his forehead. This was an ancient technique of form refinement and qi transformation. During the time of Emperor Wu of Han, this method existed. At night, crimson energy would be retained, entering the body from the heavenly gate, transforming into fire in the brain to burn the body. The body and fire would shine together. Maintaining it in this way was also called form refinement.
When it was to be used, this crimson energy would fly out, changing unpredictably, a marvelous technique in combat!
Another marvelous use of form refinement was to imitate the forms and spirits of many people. After refining them for one's own use, if one refined the form and spirit of a sword immortal, then even if one had never learned sword immortal techniques, one could use the sword immortal form to wield a sword, ride the wind, and slay enemies with flying swords!
"Your form and spirit shall belong to me!"
Bai Yangzi's gaze was greedy. The crimson energy transformed into a vast expanse like the sky, covering the area around the great river, several miles in radius, leaving Ji Xiang with no escape.
The river water surged violently, and a great cultivator flew out from within. It was another Nascent Soul clone of Zhenjiang Wang. He stood firm on the river surface, and all the demons and monsters that had not died behind him gathered towards him.
The scene was grand and imposing.
Ji Xiang saw these people greedily charging towards him, laughed heartily, and took a few steps back. His expression gradually turned ferocious, and he began to transform into Marshal Tian Peng, about to open the Heavenly Gate and instantly kill all these people.
But at this moment, a vast magical power surged forth. In the river water, the immortal corpse that had been dragged into the water mansion by the surrounding water mansion demon soldiers suddenly opened its eyes in the depths of the river!
"Bang!"
A pale hand reached out from the water, grabbed Zhenjiang Wang's clone by the ankle, and then squeezed it gently.
The second Nascent Soul clone, before it could even engage in battle, was shattered into nothingness!
Immediately after, a white rainbow pierced the sky, and a sharp刀鸣 directly penetrated two of the four great cultivators!
The physical bodies of Chi Yan Xian and Shen Yuanzi were injured by a saber energy, their physical bodies greatly damaged, and their spells were interrupted. They were both filled with shock and horror. The next saber energy had already appeared. At this moment, Kaishan Daoist turned his head and struck towards the opponent with a sword finger!
The sword finger clashed with the saber energy. The sword qi on the sword finger shattered, and two bloody wounds appeared, almost severing the finger!
Kaishan Daoist was greatly astonished. He looked towards the great river. At this moment, the female immortal corpse actually appeared on the river. Although her opened eyes indicated she still had no consciousness, her physical body began to move autonomously!
"This is bad, the Corpse-Shedding Immortal is about to return to life!"
"Bai Yangzi, quickly use your form refinement technique to locate that primordial spirit. This Corpse-Shedding Immortal's primordial spirit should be very powerful and easy to find! Intercept her quickly before her spirit and flesh reunite!"
"Zhenjiang Wang, can you still fight!"
Kaishan Daoist spoke continuously. At this moment, another Nascent Soul clone rushed out from under the river!
"This is my third clone! What exactly is going on!"
Zhenjiang Wang almost spat blood. He was getting married, and inexplicably, trouble had started. Now he had lost two Nascent Soul clones, and the worst part was that this female Corpse-Shedding Immortal was about to return to life!
Was it the result of that saber strike just now?
Was the saber a positioning tool, bait for the primordial spirit to return?
At this moment, the female immortal corpse discovered Zhenjiang Wang, who had reappeared, and was about to attack again. The other great cultivators, unable to pay attention to Ji Xiang for a moment, rushed to help!
Bai Yangzi looked at them, then at Ji Xiang:
"I will first seize this小子's form and spirit, and then look for the woman's primordial spirit!"
Thus, he descended, manifesting a vast crimson energy and entangling with Ji Xiang. The crimson energy enveloped Ji Xiang, and Bai Yangzi immediately smiled:
"Your form and spirit are mine. Come!"
There was no movement. The crimson energy fluctuated, but did not return to its position, clearly indicating that the opponent's form and spirit had not been captured. This made Bai Yangzi pause. He continued to release more crimson energy from his forehead, but no matter how much he increased the crimson energy, he could not grasp the opponent's form and spirit!
This action took only two breaths.
Within the crimson energy, a white-faced martial scholar appeared, with rolling white smoke emanating from him, and purple cloud flames manifesting!
Ji Xiang emerged from within, calling out a name:
"Bai Yangzi... Bai Yangzi!"
Instantly, Bai Yangzi felt himself locked onto by a gaze, which stimulated his primordial spirit.
He clearly saw Ji Xiang's state and was greatly astonished!
Why was this white-faced martial scholar so similar to the statue of Emperor Zhenwu the Great?
But... he was too young, and had no beard. His armor was also slightly different, which was truly strange and eerie. As Bai Yangzi was thinking, thirty-three streams of killing energy suddenly surrounded him.
These killing energies fluctuated, like angry dragons coiling around him. It was only then that he realized everything around him had turned purple!
Ji Xiang manifested the white-faced Zhenwu form and spirit to resist the opponent's crimson energy, and at this moment, he called out their names:
"Bai Yangzi!"
"Demonic outer path, ghosts and spirits, see me as blood, transform into purple dust!"
A golden light emanated from his waist. The white-faced Zhenwu merely pointed a finger, and then a heavy blow struck Bai Yangzi's crown of the head!
His physical body instantly exploded, flesh and blood flying. His primordial spirit escaped, but was caught by Ji Xiang's hand. Before Bai Yangzi could react, he was completely crushed into void and utterly annihilated!
A great shock resounded through the void, making the other great cultivators startled. They quickly looked back, only to see a white-faced Zhenwu by the river, while Bai Yangzi had disappeared!
From his physical body to his primordial spirit, everything had vanished into nothingness, as if he had never appeared here before!
"Wh-what's going on?"
Kaishan Daoist was also astonished at this moment. Bai Yangzi's aura had been extremely strong just now, and then suddenly disappeared!
In an instant, his perception of magical power seemed to be isolated, and even his aura could not be detected!
"Where did you take Bai Yangzi?"
Kaishan Daoist, unable to attend to both matters, gave Zhenjiang Wang a look to handle the female corpse himself, and immediately questioned Ji Xiang. His expression darkened. He formed a hand seal, then spread his five fingers towards a mountain peak. The aura of heaven and earth converged, forming a great mountain of vital energy that moved towards them!
Mountain Moving Seal!
However, if this vital energy of heaven and earth were dispersed, Ji Xiang would have no way to deal with it. But if it were concentrated into something formless, it would be perfect!
Ji Xiang reached out his hand.
Shattering the void!
The formless mountain was immediately struck back into the vital energy of heaven and earth, returning to the various corners of the world's mountains. Kaishan Daoist was instantly startled. This was a spell he had never seen before. Just as he was about to make another move, a supremely powerful Dao cultivation entered his sensory range!
Heaven and earth, descending from the mysterious Dharma realm, a wisp of green smoke fell from the nine heavens, plunging into the immortal corpse!
Then, with a flash of white light, the saber edge split the sky for ten thousand feet, accompanied by a unrestrained and hearty laugh!
Merely the residual saber energy that spread out annihilated all the demons and monsters gathered around. Zhenjiang Wang's third Nascent Soul clone quickly dodged. Chi Yan Xian was injured by the saber energy, letting out a scream. The fire energy on his body was constantly being worn away by the saber energy, and the speed was extremely fast!
Then, he saw the woman raise her finger towards him, her eyes clear!
"Stop, fellow Daoist, wait! I am from Yunchao Mountain, Dragon Gate Sect..."
Before he could finish speaking, his form and spirit had already disintegrated. From his meridians to his blood to his primordial spirit, all were pulverized. He transformed into a Nascent Soul clone and tried to escape by fire遁, but the saber energy relentlessly pursued, extinguishing the flames one by one!
"Dragon Gate Sect Yunchao Mountain?"
"Never heard of it!"
This woman killed a Yuan Shen cultivator with a wave of her hand, without even blinking. Her cultivation was heaven-piercing and earth-shattering, reaching the pinnacle of creation, her radiance like the sun and moon!
Ascension Realm!
"You, you found my physical body earlier, thank you. If you hadn't wanted to absorb my yang energy, I wouldn't have succeeded in Corpse-Shedding so quickly... The Bai Yang Saber is lost, forget it...!"
"What era is this? And which Emperor of Han is the emperor of the world? I should not have slept for too long. According to my estimation, I only took sixty years to achieve Corpse-Shedding, right!"
Zhenjiang Wang was caught by this woman, unable to escape. At this moment, the Ascension aura pressed down, making him tremble with fear!
"You... what are you talking about? The Great Han Dynasty is ancient history! If you're talking about the end of the Han Dynasty, it's been fourteen hundred years since now!"
The woman was stunned for a moment, then stood there blankly, letting Zhenjiang Wang leave. She looked around. The gazes of several cultivators in the surroundings were now focused on her.
And the woman recalled the names of the cultivators she had just killed. She had never heard of them before, and had thought they were some insignificant rogue cultivators or temples...
Her expression became somewhat unsightly. She forced a stiff smile, then looked at her body, and finally fell silent, letting out a long sigh:
"A day in the mountains, a thousand years in the world. So that's what Liu Chen and Ruan Zhao meant. Once you shed your corpse, you don't know when you'll wake up..."