Xingjing Deyoujing was resisting the attack of Take-Mikazuchi-no-Kami when a great sense of danger surged within him. A row of talismans flew from his sleeve, transforming into a bronze wall and iron rampart. In an instant, the mountain-splitting power of the Great Sword of Amatsukami struck. From beginning to end, it cleaved Mount Yuan City in two!
As it was a Japanese divine artifact, splitting its own city required no effort whatsoever!
"Great Sword of Amatsukami!"
Such immense power could only have come from the divine sword Amatsukami no Ken, wielded by Yagyu Munenori!
Xingjing Deyoujing's heart was filled with unease!
Why would a divine sword attack a city populated by soldiers of its own nation? The only explanation was that Yagyu, the Sword Saint who had just charged out of the city, was now dead!
This was a conjecture that sent a chill of fear through him! And to be able to kill a master of Yagyu Munenori's caliber, the Ming army formations were incapable of such a feat!
Unless...
"Baka! It's that Immortal!"
Xingjing Deyoujing cursed his own slowness. When Take-Mikazuchi-no-Kami suddenly appeared and fiercely attacked Mount Yuan City, he had thought it was some sort of spell or formation manipulated by the Ming. Now, it seemed, that was not the case at all!
There was no formation, no Ming sorcerer. The person who had come was likely only one!
"All Onmyoji, gather to me immediately! Prepare the Taizan Fukun Festival!"
He flung out several talismans. The talismans burned in the air, turning to ash, carrying his voice to the surrounding Onmyoji! Even if there weren't ten Onmyoji in the Pure Yang realm here, he would gather as many as possible and unleash whatever power they could muster!
The Onmyoji, who were engaged in various ritualistic ceremonies, immediately stopped their work upon receiving the summons. They flew to Xingjing Deyoujing's side on Shikigami transformed into great birds, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and fear.
"Lord Yin-Yang Master! What in the world is going on? Why are we preparing the Taizan Fukun Festival? We don't have ten Pure Yang realm Onmyoji here!"
The Onmyoji's faces were pale. If they performed the formation without gathering ten people, the result would likely be their immediate demise, a spectacular death on the spot.
The Taizan Fukun Festival could both save and kill. This powerful curse-killing formation, which exchanged one life for another, required the sacrifice of an equivalent number of lives from their side to curse the enemy's strong practitioners.
They were all terrified of dying because of it, and they all expressed their bewilderment as to what had happened, insisting it couldn't possibly be that dire!
"Everyone! Did you see that last strike! Sword Saint Yagyu might already be dead! That was the strike from the Great Sword of Amatsukami, our nation's divine artifact, and now it's attacking us. I suspect that Ming Immortal is nearby!"
"If we don't use the Taizan Fukun Festival, we will all die here. The other great festivals of equivalent power to the Taizan Fukun Festival are beyond your current magical abilities to perform. The only option is the Taizan Fukun technique."
Japan had four major Onmyoji factions: the Tsuchimikado family, represented by Abe no Seimei; the Kamo family, inherited from the Shugendo of Kamo; the Xingjingde family, a branch of Kamo; and the "Harima-ryu" folk faction, led by Ashiya Dōman.
The right to perform the Taizan Fukun Festival in successive generations was held by the Tsuchimikado family. Xingjing Deyoujing, having been adopted into the Tsuchimikado family, had obtained some fragmented scrolls of the Taizan Fukun Festival's techniques. While the power he could unleash was inferior to that of the Tsuchimikado family, in the current situation, any usable method was acceptable.
"You all wish to survive and are unwilling to help me perform this ritual formation. However, if we perform the ritual, with luck, not everyone will die. If we don't, everyone will die."
"As long as he reveals himself, we can capture him and then perform the great ritual!"
This harsh choice, coupled with the second strike of the Great Sword of Amatsukami, completely shattered the confidence of these Onmyoji. They had no choice but to join the preparations for the Taizan Fukun Festival. At the same time, Xingjing Deyoujing once again burned a talisman, as if summoning something to aid them!
They had to force that Immortal out! Otherwise, there was no way to capture his destiny!
Mount Yuan City, with the second strike, was now completely in a state of fragmentation. Rocks, bricks, and tiles, along with the national might, collapsed and overturned in all directions. The legion commanders, who were engaged in fierce battles, also had pale faces, realizing that it was their own divine sword that was attacking!
"It must be that Ming Immortal!"
Shimazu Yoshihiro and Ukita Hideie, along with other legion commanders, spoke with a hint of shock.
Without anyone knowing, they had bypassed the mountain cities and defensive lines ahead and infiltrated the rear area of Mount Yuan City like this?
The key point was... the change of ownership of the divine sword meant that the Sword Saint was dead!
Under the dark night sky, from the vicinity of the collapsing mountains and fields of Mount Yuan City, two surges of demonic energy erupted into the sky, boiling and surging. Following the breaking of the mountains, what appeared were not people, but two great yokai who had received the blessings of a false immortal's power!
The scattered bones on the ground gathered, forming a colossal skeletal monster. The lingering resentment of the dead, driven by a desire for revenge, had transformed into a great yokai. It could not come out during the day, only appearing in the world after nightfall.
The giant skeleton began to thrash wildly in the surrounding mountains, causing landslides and earth tremors. The bones on its body included those of Japanese, Korean, and Ming soldiers, a product of mixed remains from multiple sides.
The other great yokai, flying in the sky, did not possess heavy resentment. On the contrary, it radiated powerful Buddhist might. Standing on the head of the giant skeletal monster, it clasped its hands together, resembling Fudo Myoo, with fiery streamers entwined around it.
The Young Celestial Master was still immersed in the shock of Ji Xiang crushing Yagyu Munenori when he was suddenly startled by the immense demonic energy and snapped back to reality.
"Giant Skeleton Monster, Waterfall Spirit King!"
Upon seeing the two yokai, the Young Celestial Master's expression changed again, but he was no longer as panicked as before. These two great yokai were the leaders of the myriad demons and monsters in the surrounding mountains and wilds, with the Waterfall Spirit King being the most revered. This was a Buddhist yokai, while the Giant Skeleton Monster had not been this large before. It was merely a pile of corpses of Korean soldiers and civilians. Now, with the addition of Japanese and Ming soldiers' remains, it was indistinguishable from a great mountain.
"Are they trying to lure me out? It seems something is waiting. Perhaps a curse technique?"
Ji Xiang watched the two great yokai rampage around. These two were indeed top-tier great yokai in the world. Having received a portion of a false immortal's power, they could even contend with residual immortals, but they were absolutely not qualified to fight a true immortal.
Great yokai, in the end, were still mortal beings.
If one doesn't become a yokai immortal, everything else is bullshit.
"You say someone has prepared a curse technique? That must be the Onmyoji of the Xingjingde family!"
The Young Celestial Master immediately reminded him, stating that he was familiar with many of their techniques. His expression grew solemn as he pondered, "The Onmyoji of the Xingjingde family, preparing a curse to kill an Immortal, there's only one... the Taizan Fukun Festival!"
"But are there ten Pure Yang realm Onmyoji masters in Mount Yuan City?"
The Young Celestial Master frowned and muttered, seemingly disbelieving, "He wouldn't sacrifice the lives of all his Onmyoji to exchange for the Immortal's life, would he? This is a gamble, a desperate all-or-nothing bet. If it fails, they'll die without a burial place."
"Oh, an all-or-nothing bet? That is indeed something people like them would do. Japan itself loves to gamble with national destiny. A single gamble, and if it pays off, it would be incredible." Ji Xiang chuckled:
"I've also heard of the Taizan Fukun Festival. I'll go and meet them now and see if the Taizan Fukun Festival is as formidable as rumored."
The Young Celestial Master was greatly alarmed, "You know it's a curse, yet you're still going to reveal yourself?"
Ji Xiang was unconcerned, "Some tribulations are better faced sooner rather than later."
"No! Absolutely not!"
The Young Celestial Master quickly grabbed Ji Xiang, his face filled with terror. "The Taizan Fukun Festival doesn't target the physical body for harm, but poisons the soul and the primordial spirit! Those who are cursed will be forced into a life-for-life exchange. Once you reveal yourself and your fate is captured, they can use their lowly lives to exchange for your immortal and holy life!"
"This curse-killing poison, which exchanges fates, is activated through the divine position of Taizan Fukun. You also know about the three Books of Life and Death, right? It's like having your name struck off on all three books simultaneously, and it's even more potent than that!"
"Because the Books of Life and Death cannot strike down an Immortal's fate, but this ritual can!"
The Young Celestial Master explained. After all, the Books of Life and Death didn't require a great price, but this ritual involved a desperate fight for survival. A stronger effect was only natural. How could one take a skill that cost lives without consequence? Wasn't that suicidal?
"No need to worry, I have prepared the counter-curse."
"I heard that Japanese magic, especially that involving spirits and deities, apart from Taizan Fukun, mostly originates from En no Gyōja's magic, and the magic of this patriarch of spirits and deities originates from Mahamayuri Vidyārāja."
"Is that so?"
The Young Celestial Master blinked in surprise and then nodded, "Yes... yes, it is."
"Then it is settled."
Ji Xiang nodded and formed a mudra with his left hand.
Instantly, five-colored streams of light shot into the sky. Ji Xiang rode the clouds and arrived before the Waterfall Spirit King, unleashing a horizontal slash with the Great Sword of Amatsukami!
"Caught him!"
Xingjing Deyoujing's expression was filled with joy!
It was indeed the Ming Immortal! Since he had been forced out, the Taizan Fukun Festival would commence immediately!
At the same time, the other legion commanders also noticed the five-colored streams of light erupting in the distance. They were greatly alarmed, not expecting this Ming Immortal to be so close to them. Fear filled their hearts. Shimazu Yoshihiro loudly called out, telling others not to panic!
"The Taizan Fukun Festival has already begun! That Ming Immortal is doomed!"
Shimazu Yoshihiro recognized the grand formation being prepared by the Onmyoji. His expression was excited, like a jackal whose fur bristled at the scent of blood. In his eyes, the Ming Immortal would likely not even know how he was killed until the moment of his death!
The Fall of the Ming Immortal!
"Is it the Taizan Fukun Festival? Can Mr. Xingjingde perform such a great spell? We don't have ten Pure Yang realm Onmyoji masters here."
Ukita Hideie, wearing a mask, questioned Shimazu Yoshihiro between breaths. Before them, the roaring mountain mother goddess blocked them, preventing them from going to other battlefields.
"There's no problem. It's just a few more Onmyoji dying. No matter how many die, their judgment is correct. If the Ming Immortal doesn't die here, then our people will face mass death next."
Shimazu Yoshihiro laughed, as if he could already see the fruits of victory exchanged for the lives of those Onmyoji!
No matter what, these Onmyoji would be remembered for this battle!
Perhaps they would be!
Under their expectant gazes, the colossal image of Taizan Fukun appeared in the sky, and the power of curse-killing began to exchange. From the very beginning of the life exchange, Onmyoji in the formation suddenly collapsed. As their lives vanished, their souls were collected across thousands of miles of ocean into the divine position of Taizan Fukun, falling into the land of the underworld.
The second Onmyoji soon lost its life and fell to the ground.
The third, fourth, fifth...
Xingjing Deyoujing also saw it. The Ming Immortal had killed the Giant Skeleton Monster with a single sword strike, and the mere aftershock of the sword pressure had repelled the Waterfall Spirit King. However, he was now hovering in the sky, suspended above the clouds, his entire body beginning to turn black and filthy, his vital energy visibly draining away, dissipating outwards as countless wisps of white energy!
"He's doomed!"
The great Onmyoji thought with such certainty!
...
However, the Ming Immortal had a different perspective.
Ji Xiang looked at the "Calamity of the Red Dust" above him. Since he hadn't blocked it, the curse technique had indeed taken effect on his soul, and the effect was quite potent. His consciousness was gradually blurring, and the vital energy stored in his physical body was constantly depleting, as if he were about to return to the heavens and die in the Yellow Springs at any moment.
However, the "Calamity of the Red Dust" was continuously decreasing.
"A little more, a little more..."
"Alright, that should be enough. The Calamity of the Red Dust obtained from the deduction of the Bencao Gangmu has all been released. This method of bloodletting is quite effective."
"Next..."
Reaching the limit of his consciousness, Ji Xiang decisively hit the pause button.
Turning his gaze to the distance, Ji Xiang rode the clouds and flew to a position visible to everyone. In the areas where demons and monsters were surging, he raised his arm and swung his sword!
With a single strike that split mountains, he killed over a thousand demons and monsters.
This accumulated thousands of merit points!
The Korean kingly way seemed to react, eagerly throwing all its remaining resources to Ji Xiang, who was now killing a large number of demons, like a drowning man grasping at a life-saving straw.
Thus, twelve hundred merit points of wishes and aspirations suddenly gathered!
The Heavenly Lord's small window suddenly opened, and wisps of wishes unknowingly flew from the bodies of the Japanese soldiers, gathering towards Ji Xiang!
"Where there are more people, the more they can be witnessed. This is the meaning of a soldier's existence. Now, you should have exhausted all your tricks and have no other trump cards left."
"Then I can fight without restraint."
Ji Xiang held the Great Sword of Amatsukami in the sky, raising the divine miracle of Christ's method with his left hand and forming the secret mantra of Mahamayuri Vidyārāja with his right!
Next.
Defy heaven and act, reverse everything!
...
The weakening aura suddenly surged. At this very moment, of the ten Onmyoji, the remaining three who had barely survived suddenly perished!
Their lives were taken by Taizan Fukun, and blood gushed from the seven orifices of Xingjing Deyoujing. His soul was also backlashed, suffering immense damage. However, he ignored his injuries and watched with terrified eyes as the Ming Immortal suddenly appeared before him!
What was happening, how could this be!
"Why is the Taizan Fukun Festival ineffective against you? Is it that our lives are too lowly to exchange for yours!"
In his unwillingness and as he faced death, Xingjingde still asked the question that was severely troubling him. However, he then saw Ji Xiang extend his right hand and place it on his head.
The Immortal caresses the crown, tying the hair for longevity.
He listened dazedly as the Immortal before him seemed to recite scriptures for his transcendence, and unconsciously followed along, saying:
"Maha Mayuri Raja."
"Mahamayuri Vidyārāja Secret Mantra!"
His body disintegrated, the poison was eliminated, and the power of Taizan Fukun disappeared from him. However, Xingjingde himself was too weak to get up again. He fell within the formation, and the Great Sword of Amatsukami pierced through his head, smashing the entire Mount Yuan City from heaven to earth!
The mountain city collapsed. In the eyes of the other legion commanders, what they saw was a star-obscuring, moon-covering white mist, and a descending sword strike from within that mist!