Song Wuji, show yourself!
As the words were spoken, a divine and immense force permeated the air. Song Wuji felt as if his mind had been struck by something, causing him to stumble back eight or nine steps. After regaining his balance, the flames on his body abruptly receded, revealing his vermilion and crimson robe.
However, he was not forced back into his original fiery form.
Song Wuji's head throbbed with pain. He suddenly realized that the divine power he had gained from his enfeoffment had been reduced by thirty percent by Ji Xiang's sudden shout, a development that greatly alarmed him!
Song Wuji's heart was filled with uncertainty, and his expression faltered slightly. He mused to himself: he had achieved his status as a righteous god by borrowing the nation's might, existing in unity with the country. He was already a righteous god, and although he lacked a divine name, his former name as a spirit should no longer have any effect on him now.
In this instant, Ji Xiang's abilities appeared unfathomably profound in Song Wuji's eyes.
But how profound could it truly be?
He was, after all, merely a young Daoist who had only achieved the Hundred Days Foundation establishment!
Song Wuji's face darkened. He assumed Ji Xiang had used some sort of sealing technique to break his divine power by thirty percent. However, he estimated that the remaining seventy percent of his divine power would still allow him to kill Ji Xiang effortlessly.
"To be able to unleash such a powerful sealing technique at the Hundred Days Foundation establishment realm, you've managed to cause me a slight disadvantage. But what of it!"
A fierce killing intent surged within Song Wuji's heart!
Ji Xiang channeled his spiritual energy, his eyes becoming exceptionally clear. He activated his Qi observation technique and saw that the divine aura of Song Wuji, the Fire God, had diminished, and his divine radiance had also considerably dimmed. He immediately opened his mouth, without hesitation, and extended his hand in a provocative gesture, taunting:
"Come, come, Song Wuji. Weren't you going to kill this Daoist? Why are you now so frightened by my words that you've retreated eight or nine steps? No way, are you that afraid of having your origins exposed?"
"Come, come, I'll stand right here. If you can make me take a single step, then I'll admit you have skill!"
Ji Xiang's mockery was blatant. Song Wuji, having just suffered a setback, could naturally not tolerate such an insult. Without a word, he surged towards the main entrance of the Longde Hall, a torrent of fire rising beneath his feet.
"Let's see how long your tough mouth lasts!"
As Song Wuji advanced, Ji Xiang stood his ground against the wind and fire. However, after merely standing for a moment, he immediately turned and entered the hall. This action stunned Luo Sigong, who, seeing Song Wuji about to enter the hall, couldn't help but exclaim in alarm:
"This thing is just coming like this? Daoist! Didn't you say you wouldn't move a single step!"
Ji Xiang responded, "I indeed didn't move a single step... because I've already started running!"
Ji Xiang had already retreated to the statues of the Three Pure Ones. He snatched the incense burner and swung it with all his might towards Song Wuji at the doorway. The incense burner cut through the air, spinning as it was thrown towards the entrance. Song Wuji raised his torch, and with a deafening clang, directly batted the incense burner towards the wall!
But just as he swung his torch to strike the incense burner, Ji Xiang suddenly waved his large sleeve. Numerous talismans on the surrounding walls were blown up by a strong wind, rustling as they swept towards Song Wuji!
佑圣咒 (Yòu Shèng Zhòu)! Seal him for me!
Although the power of talismans is linked to the cultivator's own level of cultivation, Ji Xiang knew that if his strength was insufficient, he would compensate with quantity. For a Fire God formed from a fire spirit, it would be unacceptable if he were not afraid of the incantations of the True Martial Emperor!
If the opponent were truly that formidable, Ji Xiang mused, he might as well let himself be killed once, then revive and continue fleeing.
Of course, even though his true body was immortal, any damage to his physical body was something to be avoided if possible.
The talismans that repelled water and fire, the talismans of the True Martial Emperor, could resolve water and fire calamities. Song Wuji was startled to see the yellow talismans flying towards him:
"How can you, a mere Daoist at the Foundation establishment stage, possess so much spiritual energy to draw so many 佑圣咒 (Yòu Shèng Zhòu)!"
But surprise notwithstanding, Song Wuji was extremely wary of these yellow talismans. 佑圣咒 (Yòu Shèng Zhòu) was a divine incantation that repelled water and fire. As a subordinate deity who had absorbed a lot of incense offerings, he lacked a divine name and was only equivalent to the fifth realm of cultivation, "Manifesting Divinity."
Talismans were treasures that allowed the weak to defeat the strong, especially against spirits, demons, and monsters. Song Wuji thought that if he were entangled by the 佑圣咒 (Yòu Shèng Zhòu) at this moment, a large portion of his fiery energy would likely be sealed!
He quickly circulated his divine skills to avoid these yellow talismans, attempting to kill Ji Xiang with a single blow. If the talismans were left without control, they would naturally drift away.
"Chasing the Fan!"
Chasing the fan meant pursuing and striking. The saying "Five Manifestations God holds the fire gourd, Song Wuji chases the fan's red mule" referred to the Fire God's swift steps, causing the flames to expand rapidly in a short period!
Instantly, a torrent of fire appeared. Song Wuji himself flashed to Ji Xiang's side in an instant, flames rising from his feet, his steps stirring the wind. He extended his large hand to seize him!
At this very moment, it seemed the tide had turned! Ji Xiang was destined to die!
But just then, as Ji Xiang approached the brink of death, he let out a great shout. Among the Five Directions Thunder Tablets on the wall, the Eastern Thunder Tablet suddenly shook!
BOOM!
A clap of thunder startled the clay statues of the Three Pure Ones. Song Wuji felt as if his entire body had been struck by lightning, and he was sent flying!
"A single thunder command resounds, startling ghosts and gods for ten thousand miles!"
Ji Xiang spoke again, issuing three more consecutive shouts! Each shout consumed a significant amount of vital energy from his body! Daoist sorcerers, when using the Five Thunder Command, had to mix external vital energy with their internal vital energy to unleash its power.
Of course, within the Five Thunder Command, there was an even more powerful "Three Strikes Command," which guided one's own vital energy outside the body, transforming it into the heavenly might of a thunder city, capable of unleashing heavenly might and divine power three times. This usage was too advanced, consumed immense energy, and required a non-ordinary Five Thunder Command, hence Ji Xiang could not use it at the moment.
At this moment, the thunderous sounds erupted in unison!
Two commands of the Five Thunder Command, and all ghosts turn to mud and sand! Three commands, and soldiers follow the command, heavenly generals protect my body! Four commands, and all generals reveal their true forms!
Thus, the Western Thunder Tablet, the Southern Thunder Tablet, and the Northern Thunder Tablet all shook!
Several resounding booms echoed continuously within the Longde Hall, leaving Song Wuji dizzy and his fiery energy greatly dispersed. For a moment, he held his head with one hand and swung his torch with the other. The sound of whipping could be heard, as if a dozen invisible heavenly generals were wielding golden whips, ganging up on the malevolent deity!
At the same moment, Ji Xiang pursued, issuing a fifth resounding shout!
Turning defense into offense!
The surrounding yellow talismans also fell simultaneously. Song Wuji, having been beaten severely by the Five Thunder Tokens, wildly swung his torch. The 佑圣 (Yòu Shèng) yellow talismans all fell around him, sticking to his body and sealing his divine fire energy!
Whenever Song Wuji channeled his fire energy, it was all dissolved by the 佑圣 (Yòu Shèng) yellow talismans. The talismans targeted flames, not spiritual energy, so he could still use his spiritual energy. However, as a fire spirit, his spiritual energy was his fiery energy, thus his human form gradually began to lose its stability!
Ji Xiang arrived before him, his hands wielding the Taiyi Three Yuan Sword!
月孛咒 (Yuè Bó Zhòu)!
The might of the comet is fierce, severing the nine heavens!
The divine sword strikes, and ghosts are extinguished in the nine springs!
The advantage is mine!
The yellow talismans on the Taiyi Three Yuan Sword suddenly ignited, incense and offerings transformed into sword energy, and with a single strike, Song Wuji was cleaved and sent flying towards the hall entrance!
Song Wuji, injured by this sword, rolled on the ground, desperately tearing at the 佑圣 (Yòu Shèng) talismans that repelled water and fire. Ji Xiang snorted as he watched his movements:
"Do you think you can tear them off so easily! Twelve Thunder Gates, suppress!"
With that, he took off the twelve flowing beads from his wrist and tossed them forward. With a wave of his long sword, the twelve beads scattered and flew out!
"The thunder city has twelve gates, following the direction of the Big Dipper. When the Big Dipper points to Chou, the body is in Wei. What it points to is auspicious, where it is located is ominous!"
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom...!
Twelve consecutive peals of thunder echoed within the Longde Hall. Even Luo Sigong, who was far away, covered his ears, almost deafened. Not to mention Song Wuji, who was surrounded by the Twelve Thunder Gates. At this moment, the twelve peals of thunder left him utterly disoriented!
Ji Xiang approached, wielding the Taiyi Three Yuan Sword, expanding his advantage. Song Wuji could only weakly block with his torch, falling into a disadvantage!
The power of that sword was immense, and even Song Wuji's face showed a look of terror!
"How can this小子 (xiǎo zi - kid) have such great strength! His vital energy is so vigorous! This is absolutely not the realm of Hundred Days Foundation establishment!"
After barely fighting for two rounds, Ji Xiang feigned a weakness. Song Wuji, eager for victory, fell for the trap. He swung his torch, and the long saber within the torch was sharp. With a single strike, it pierced Ji Xiang's waist!
"Ha...!?"
The tone shifted from surprise to shock. Ji Xiang was stabbed, but instead of blood gushing out, a faint scent of incense and offerings flowed from his waist. Moreover, Ji Xiang's movements were not affected at all. He pulled a wooden board from his pocket and smashed it down towards the stunned Song Wuji!
Under the Zhen Tan wood, all gods obey!
A brick strike to the center of his forehead left Song Wuji seeing stars. Immediately after, Ji Xiang struck again with his sword, causing Song Wuji to somersault in mid-air!
Song Wuji's anger had nowhere to vent. The yellow talismans on his body made him extremely uncomfortable. Now, he was severely injured by that sword, and his fiery energy had dissipated significantly. He was filled with both shock and rage:
"What kind of thing are you, that you don't even bleed?!"
However, Ji Xiang adhered to the principle of finishing what he started, and did not reply. He suddenly threw a small bell with three prongs!
Jingle, jingle!
The Three Pure Ones Bell!
The handle holds the Emperor's Bell, the flowing bells rush in eight directions, igniting fire for ten thousand miles!
The Three Pure Ones Bell was thrown, a powerful item in the Daoist tradition for summoning spirits and vanquishing demons!
The three prongs on the bell directly pierced Song Wuji's chest, carrying a great force that propelled him out of the hall entrance!
Song Wuji rushed into the Longde Hall with great haste.
Song Wuji flew out of the Longde Hall with great haste.
Ji Xiang then threw the Tianpeng Ruler, the wooden ruler wrapped in talismans and incense, spinning as it flew. With a fierce strike, it hit Song Wuji's forehead, leaving a red mark!
Luo Sigong, who had been in a daze inside the hall, finally came back to his senses. Ji Xiang had already strode out of the hall entrance, holding the Taiyi Three Yuan Sword, and began hacking at the fallen and unable to rise Song Wuji!
Until his fiery energy was scattered by the relentless hacking, Song Wuji finally revealed his true form, transforming into a ball of fire. Buried beneath those 佑圣咒 (Yòu Shèng Zhòu), he was extinguished.
After hacking, Ji Xiang was still uneasy. He stomped on the pile of talismans dozens of times. Seeing that nothing emerged, he finally breathed a sigh of relief:
"I almost got killed by this Fire God. Fortunately, my skills were superior!"