The power of the Shangqing Dharma Realm descended. The six Dharma Lords, having previously used the Reflection Technique, were already severely weakened. Now, being counter-attacked by the Shangqing power, they could no longer withstand it. It was not just mental agony; their physical bodies felt as if they were being torn apart!
The Shangqing Thunder Technique could shatter souls and summon spirits. The power of the Shangqing Dharma Realm was intended to completely separate their souls, bodies, and spirits. Guanyin Dharma Lord was the first to succumb. Blood poured from his seven orifices, and he had no control over his body's state.
"The wrath of Shangqing Heaven is not something you mortals can resist. All the power you borrowed is now being returned. Having your souls shattered by the Shangqing technique should be a relatively good way to die."
"If you don't wish to die, then have Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord hand over the immortal artifact."
Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord, having just escaped the fire tribulation, was now being crushed by the power of the Shangqing Dharma Realm. He let out a pained roar and then shouted at Heisha Dharma Lord:
"Even if I betrayed them, would you really slaughter your own sect's Dharma Lords for an immortal artifact? Aren't you afraid of being suspected by other sects? Aren't you afraid that other cultivators from Xiamiao Mountain will abandon Biyou Palace?"
The Biyou Palace cultivator sneered, "I've already said all I could to you, and I'll let your betrayal slide. It's a pity you remain obstinate. Then do not blame me!"
"Immortal artifacts are things rarely seen in the mortal world. Each one possesses immense power, and don't think I don't know where these immortal artifacts came from."
"There are only five places in the mortal world where immortal artifacts can exist."
"Aren't you also willing to watch your brothers and comrades die rather than hand over this immortal artifact to protect it? You fear that Biyou Palace will tamper with your lineage. Unfortunately, the moment you accepted the power of the Shangqing Dharma Realm, your lineage was no longer your own."
"Why would we need to reveal ourselves?"
"As for those seventy-two sects whose actions are erratic and strange, they are favored by cultivators far more powerful than I. You, however, will never receive such trust, and the changes they undergo will not happen to you."
"If we were to deal with traitors, we would simply make the best use of them. You will not receive this kind of power... However, you will become something even more powerful... Heh heh."
The Biyou Palace cultivator's words were contradictory, but Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord no longer had the time to concern himself with such matters.
The power of the Shangqing Dharma Realm was tearing his soul apart. Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord decisively cried for help!
"Disciple, save me!"
And so, just as Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord's soul was about to be completely torn apart by the power of the Shangqing Dharma Realm, his human face began to disappear, replaced by a ferocious ghost face with bared fangs.
When this ghost face appeared, the power of the Shangqing Dharma Realm could no longer affect his soul, and the voice of the Biyou Palace cultivator in his mind completely vanished.
Thus, only in Heisha Dharma Lord's mind did the voice of the Biyou Palace cultivator continue to echo:
"As expected, I knew you wouldn't die so easily."
"It's just that this power is cursed. I advise you to use it sparingly... Oh, he can't hear anymore. Heisha, please pass this on for me."
Heisha Dharma Lord's pain lessened. He quickly relayed the Biyou Palace cultivator's words to Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord, whose appearance had changed.
However, Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord seemed unfazed:
"Now I am no longer controlled by the Shangqing Dharma Realm."
"If you have the guts, reveal your true form and fight me. Otherwise, I know where your Biyou Palace's mortal dojo is!"
The Biyou Palace cultivator scoffed, "To descend in your true form? With your mere Innate realm cultivation, a cultivator who has just broken free from the mortal world, you wish to contend with me?"
"Don't think that just because Biyou Palace branched off from the Shangqing Sect not long ago, we have no powerful figures. As for your dojo, you can destroy it. Those are useless dojos, meant only for you to see... We granted you six sects the right to self-governance in Dingjia City, but that was only because we were not strong enough then."
"But now, killing you is as easy as flipping a hand. You think holding an immortal artifact allows you to contend with Biyou Palace? Then let me show you what true power is!"
"And by the way, tell that prince behind you that the person he relies on is not worthy of dividing this world with our master! The world is not large enough for more than four people!"
Heisha Dharma Lord relayed the words. At the same time, the Shangqing Dharma Realm appeared above Dingjia City. A vast, radiant sky emerged, and myriad Shangqing energies descended like a waterfall. The celestial energy, transcending the mortal realm, suddenly materialized!
Sunlight blazed between heaven and earth. In the daytime sky, celestial music and divine light flickered. These were signs of an immortal's birth, the state before a Yang God's ascension. Those who reached this state, while not considered to have ascended, could at least be called half-step Celestial Immortals.
"This is impossible! How long has Biyou Palace been separated from the Shangqing Sect, and they already have a Pure Yang peak cultivator?!"
Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord was shocked. Such strength would make one a mountain-guarding ancestor in the Upper Three Mountains. In the Formed Mountains, Pure Yang was the supreme combat power. He, an Innate realm cultivator, could not deal with it!
Moreover, judging by their words, they seemed to have come prepared!
"It must be the incense and wishes we contributed to the Shangqing Dharma Realm that caused their power to grow so rapidly. This realm is temporary, condensed by the incense and wishes of the populace. I also have the populace's incense. If he also possesses an immortal artifact, I can hold him off for a while with the immortal artifact, but I have no chance of winning."
At this moment, the Biyou Palace cultivator descended. He emerged from the Shangqing Dharma Realm, holding a fiery wheel, wearing a golden crown, clad in a blue-gold feathered robe, and stepping on auspicious multicolored clouds. He was extraordinarily heroic.
The fiery wheel possessed immense power. As it spun, it released the Samadhi True Fire, instantly bathing the sky in a brilliant golden light, turning everything to ashes!
"No, this is a Buddhist artifact!"
Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord was greatly shocked by the vast Buddhist light! Although the Shangqing Sect had three branches, they had no connection with Buddhism. Yet, Biyou Palace, originating from Shangqing, was using a Buddhist artifact. How could this not shock Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord?
However, with a flick of his hand, a yellowish-white banner appeared. The banner swayed, holding itself against the fiery wheel. The powers of the immortal artifact and the Buddhist artifact clashed, shaking heaven and earth, and the entire Heisha Dharma Altar was pulverized!
Heisha Dharma Lord was flung away by the force. In Dingjia City, all the residential buildings around the Heisha Dharma Altar were reduced to ashes!
Even Ji Xiang, who had been possessing a statue and eavesdropping, was almost shaken by this force, threatening to reveal his form and spirit!
Fortunately, the Reflection Technique of the Xuan Tian Coffin was ultimately reliable. The treasures left by the immortal cultivators of the Jin and Tang dynasties were of a certain quality. Although his form and spirit were almost detached, neither Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord nor the Biyou Palace cultivator discovered the anomaly on the Zhenwu statue.
Ji Xiang thought to himself, it seemed the Reflection Technique could project his existence from the coffin's mountains and rivers in the Xuan Tian Coffin into the mortal world, but he himself had no aura. He could see them and even influence the mortal world, but they could not perceive his existence.
This was convenient for him. It was time for the mantis to stalk the cicada, with the oriole behind!
Countless things turned to ash, and the populace fled in panic. Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord mocked, "The immortal did not kill the common people!"
The Biyou Palace cultivator smiled, "We practice the righteous laws of the world, not crooked or evil techniques. Why would we recklessly kill living beings?"
"Killing is done by those who specialize in killing. Righteousness and evil have been irreconcilable since ancient times."
Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord seemed to hear the funniest joke: "What nonsense are you spouting? The disciples of Biyou Palace have killed so many cultivators and pilgrims, and many practice evil arts to abuse mortals. Most of the seventy-two sects of Xiamiao Mountain are not good people. You actually claim to practice righteous laws?"
"Your so-called righteousness and evil both originate from the Biyou sect?"
The Biyou Palace cultivator chuckled, "Righteousness and evil are irreconcilable, but why can't righteousness and evil originate from the same source?"
"Your vision is too limited, isn't it?"
"The righteous path practitioners are mine, and the demonic path practitioners are also mine."
"This is called opening up one's horizons."
"Anyone can learn spells, but whether they are used for good deeds or evil deeds is the choice of the cultivator."
The Biyou Palace cultivator pressed down with the fiery wheel. Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord was at a significant disadvantage in terms of magical power. Even holding an immortal or Buddhist artifact of the same level, he could not contend with his power. The yellowish-white banner in his hand vibrated continuously. He shouted:
"Retreat!"
The yellowish-white banner unleashed immense power, and a grand rule descended, commanding immortals and Buddhas to bow their heads and all beings to kneel!
Even the Samadhi True Fire emanating from the fiery wheel scattered in all directions, unable to approach the yellowish-white banner for a short time!
"What a treasure!"
The Biyou Palace cultivator's eyes lit up. As fellow immortal or Buddhist artifacts, the treasure held by his subordinate was truly not bad!
Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord questioned, "Biyou Palace is a side branch of Shangqing, yet you use Buddhist artifacts?"
The Biyou Palace cultivator smiled, "You yourself said we are a side branch. Since we are a side branch, why should we be bound by the ancestors of the Three Mountains?"
"That immortal artifact, hand it over!"
Then his form changed, and a ferocious ghost face gradually appeared on his face.
Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord was astonished because this ghost face bore a six-tenths resemblance to the ghost face he had just displayed on himself!
He raised the yellowish-white banner in his hand and shouted loudly:
"Imperial Heaven Divine Being!"
The banner exerted its power, displaying the strength befitting an immortal artifact. All the flames in the world were once again repelled, and vast primordial energy gathered on the banner. Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord shook the banner, pointing it at the Biyou Palace cultivator. In the next moment, the Biyou Palace cultivator's form and spirit were almost annihilated. His spirit flickered, and he fell from the sky!
*Buzzzzz—*
The fiery wheel enlarged and caught the falling Biyou Palace cultivator. It was only then that he recovered, feeling a splitting headache. In that instant, it had almost caused him, a peak Pure Yang cultivator, to die on the spot!
"I could almost smell the scent of death, just a little more! It's a pity your magical power is insufficient."
"An Innate cultivator wielding an immortal artifact against a peak Pure Yang cultivator. You, Dharma Lord, have truly hidden your depths."
Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord was also not faring well. He had used the immense power of the immortal artifact, but his Innate realm cultivation was insufficient to supply the immortal artifact with ample primordial energy. Compared to a Pure Yang realm cultivator, he had virtually no advantage. He was also severely weakened, his hands and legs trembling uncontrollably.
"Now you can't escape."
The Biyou Palace cultivator saw Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord's face gradually losing its color and naturally understood his current state. He was not feeling well, but the other party was feeling even worse. An Innate realm cultivator using an immortal artifact was like a commoner using a seismic device. Without the strength, one should not use such a high-level item!
Inflicting eight hundred damage on the enemy while sustaining two thousand damage was not worth it!
Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord was at his wit's end. He truly hadn't expected to lose so miserably. He sighed:
"Ultimately, I underestimated your methods. To be able to pry into people's hearts from the Shangqing Dharma Realm, I hid for decades, yet I never anticipated such a technique."
"It's a pity that as I face death, I still don't know the true location of Biyou Palace."
The Biyou Palace cultivator chuckled, "There are many things you couldn't have anticipated."
"You certainly can't guess the true location of Biyou Palace, but even if you knew, it would be useless."
He pointed to the sky, and Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord's pupils contracted sharply.
"Could it be... within the Dharma Realm!"
The Biyou Palace cultivator replied, "Indeed, it is within the Dharma Realm. What does it matter if you know? The Dharma Realm is vast, and the Shangqing Dharma Realm is boundless. Biyou Palace exists within the Shangqing Dharma Realm, and it is as difficult as reaching the heavens for mortals to enter the Dharma Realm."
"Ordinary Nascent Soul realm cultivators can only channel some of the Dharma Realm's power. Only those with cultivation above the Yellow Court can briefly enter and exit the Dharma Realm. Only those above the Spirit Refinement realm can remain for more than the time it takes to burn an incense stick."
"Among the myriad Dharma Realms, the Shangqing Dharma Realm is also considered an upper-tier Dharma Realm. Let alone Spirit Refinement realm, only those who reach the Pure Yang realm are qualified to enter the Dharma Realm."
"A cultivator like you, in the Innate realm, cannot even touch the clouds outside the Shangqing Dharma Realm."
He stood up. Although severely injured, his Pure Yang realm recovery was very fast. A golden Vajra light, unique to Buddhism, appeared on his body.
"Deserving of offerings from heaven and earth, this protective Buddhist light of an Arhat is truly useful. It at least reduced my injuries by twenty percent."
"Samadhi Fire Wheel, turn!"
The Biyou Palace cultivator spun the Samadhi Fire Wheel, while Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord launched a desperate final attack, further consuming his life force until blood flowed from his seven orifices, and he urged the immortal artifact. The two clashed once more. This time, the Biyou Palace cultivator's aura became disordered, while Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord fell into a near-death state.
"You beast with fur and horns, struggling even as you die."
He spat out blood, but that was all. The damage sustained by the other party was more severe than his. An Innate realm cultivator daring to use an immortal artifact, and using it repeatedly, was simply courting death.
"I don't know if that Prince Lu of the Great Ming can hear my voice. I'll tell you properly."
Looking at the half-dead Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord, the Biyou Palace cultivator sneered, "Prince Lu, don't forget who gave you the ghost face mark on your body."
"You corrupt the divine generals of the Great Ming and make them your own. We don't interfere with that, but don't go too far. The one behind you is not yet qualified to be on equal footing with the other four."
"The one behind you has not yet reached the point where he can turn the tide. He is still a bit short. He calls himself the Heart of Heaven, but in reality, he has not reached that realm. He merely took advantage of a shortcut to approach the mortal world, calling himself the fifth person in the world. Yet, he cannot even manifest a partial form and spirit to descend, and he dares to call himself in the Heavenly Heart realm?"
"I am humiliating you here, what can you do to me? Hahaha..."
The Biyou Palace cultivator was arrogant for a moment, then prepared to send Daxianhuaguang Dharma Lord on his way.
"Killing you today is acting on behalf of Heaven. We are Heaven, and I am the one who acts on behalf of Heaven!"
The fiery wheel in his hand was about to turn when suddenly, the Zhenwu statue beside them stood up!
The Biyou Palace cultivator was startled. Before he could react, the statue suddenly lunged forward and punched him!
Caught off guard, he received a punch of immense power, imbued with lightning. Even a peak Pure Yang cultivator like the Biyou Palace cultivator was forced back several steps. His eyes widened in disbelief.
"The statue is fighting?"
"No, what cultivator is possessing it and causing trouble here? Are you seeking death?"
The Zhenwu statue's eyes glared fiercely, and it let out a grand voice:
"I, who first submitted to the Great Emperor Fengqian and cultivated to the position of sweeping away demons in the Nine Heavens, dared not call myself acting on behalf of Heaven. You are a bloodthirsty murderer, a dog of a person, and you call yourself a righteous cultivator!"