"Attack!"
No matter what lay ahead, be it man, ghost, Buddha, or demon, if they didn't attack now, there would be no second chance! This was the sense that surged through Todo Takatora's mind. The yellow sea was calm, deathly silent. Within the blood-red mist lurked specters, with countless phantoms drifting endlessly!
The warships opened fire in unison, their great cannons and iron guns roaring, their gunpowder igniting. Divine bows loosed their arrows, all unleashed simultaneously. Streaks of divine light transformed into long rainbows, like sword qi, spear auras, or saber flashes, then shifted into the might of the Five Elements—gold, wood, water, fire—pummeling the black-robed immortal as if to cover the heavens and churn the seas!
"This person is by no means simple!"
On Todo Takatora's flagship, among the military commanders, the most powerful was Honda Tadakatsu, followed by Mogami Yoshiaki, the temporary commander of the western front. Several months prior, after a feigned defeat at Jiksan, they were supposed to retreat to Ulsan to defend. However, during an interim period, Japanese forces in many areas launched surprise counterattacks, cooperating with the Ming army to breach their occupied cities. This bizarre situation baffled them. After executing many of their own men, they were forced to flee to eastern ports to rendezvous with Todo Takatora.
In the very first battle of defense, although they had received orders to deliberately lose, Honda Tadakatsu had fought to a draw against the Ming general Liu Ting, the Black Tiger General. Relying on his treasured weapon, "Dragonfly Cutter," he had even held a slight advantage over Liu Ting in their mid-range duel.
The Dragonfly Cutter was one of Japan's "Three Great Spears Under Heaven." Its origins were closely linked to Ieyasu's cursed sword Muramasa; this divine spear was also forged by a swordsmith of the Muramasa school. During the Sengoku period over a decade ago, it had accompanied Honda Tadakatsu through countless battles, tasting blood, and had already begun to take the form of a divine weapon.
To refine a cursed spear with the blood of enemies into a divine artifact, such an act could naturally not succeed, for the one who governed all divine artifacts in the world was Emperor Jinmu. Only after being refined by Emperor Jinmu, a "pseudo-immortal" who had delved deeply into the path of immortality, could it transform into a truly complete divine artifact.
However, even a nascent divine weapon was sufficiently formidable. The ability to evolve weapons by consuming the vital essence of enemies was Honda Tadakatsu's powerful reliance for his invincibility on the battlefield.
But now, the Dragonfly Cutter, in its nascent divine weapon form, sensing the black-robed youth standing on the sea, amidst the waves, emitted an endless cry of fear, trembling uncontrollably. To the extent that when Honda Tadakatsu looked at him with his own eyes, he could see streaks of military destiny and fortune soaring towards the heavens.
If he could seize it, the Dragonfly Cutter, with so much military destiny, would be enough to evolve into a complete divine artifact. But before that could happen, he had to survive defeating the opponent.
It seemed that such a thing might only exist in his thoughts and fantasies; in the reality before him, it would not happen so easily!
The bombardment that blotted out the sky and sea—the firepower, arrows, and divine lights—collapsed abruptly before they could even touch the black-robed Daoist. Countless divine powers disintegrated and failed. The smoke from the firearms stopped several feet in front of him, unable to advance, much to Todo Takatora's astonishment!
"It's understandable that bows and arrows are ineffective, but how can firearms fail to achieve anything!"
Even gods, demons, spirits, or immortals were not said to be absolutely immune to firearms. Firearms were a crucial means for humanity to combat these strange existences, especially when attacking monstrous or malevolent beings. The power of firearms was immense. The Ming country also used a large number of firearms; a wave-like bombardment was what allowed them to hold back the vast demon armies and keep them outside the Korean defensive line.
On the Japanese warships, countless samurai, generals, and soldiers stared in stunned silence.
Ji Xiang stood still, unwavering. As the heavens and earth fell silent and the smoke gradually dispersed, he took a step onto the sea.
With this step, it was as if heaven and earth had inverted. The sea was in the sky, and the sky became the sea. Thus, all the warships were capsized, and everyone plunged into the sea of suffering!
The sea began to churn, transforming into waves. Amidst these waves, Ji Xiang walked as if on solid ground. The aura emanating from him allowed Todo Takatora, Honda Tadakatsu, and the others who had fallen into the sea of suffering to perceive him more clearly!
"This..."
Honda Tadakatsu sensed it and his expression suddenly changed drastically, his face filled with disbelief! He then pulled himself out of the churning waves of the sea of suffering, gradually manifesting a divine form. Instead of retreating, he advanced, stopping within three steps of Ji Xiang.
At this moment, the color drained completely from Honda Tadakatsu's face. As if he had seen something utterly inconceivable, he stood frozen.
"Tadakatsu!"
Todo Takatora noticed that Honda Tadakatsu's state was not right. The black-robed Daoist was getting close to him. Yet, this warrior, hailed as the greatest in the land, the "Eightfold Demon Slayer," the "Peerless Warrior of the East," stood on the sea like an idiot, maintaining his divine form, holding one of the three great spears under heaven, yet making no defensive or offensive move. He looked as if he had completely given up the fight!
But the opponent had done nothing!
He was merely walking towards him!
"This... this..."
Todo Takatora heard equally terrified voices from behind him. He turned his head and saw Mogami Yoshiaki appearing on the sea. But this valiant general, like Honda Tadakatsu, merely stared at the black-robed Daoist, trembling uncontrollably. Fortunately, Mogami Yoshiaki had not gotten too close, so after the color drained from his face, he retained a sliver of conscious clarity!
"It's the vital energy! His vital energy, that's not something a human can possess!"
"What do you mean?" Todo Takatora quickly pressed.
"It's too immense! That blood-red mist, the blood mist drifting in this bizarre world... it's the vital energy emanating from him!"
Upon hearing this, Todo Takatora's pupils constricted, and a great sense of foreboding instantly washed over him, accompanied by immense fear!
Mogami Yoshiaki's expression grew even more terrified. "This is bad. Firearms have the power to harm gods, demons, spirits, and even immortals. Moreover, the more malevolent the being, the greater the power of firearms. But, but!"
"I once heard someone say that if a person's vital energy is strong enough, they cannot be harmed by swords or firearms. Think about it, a ghost can kill a strong man, but a firearm might not be able to kill that strong man. However, for the ghost, that shot would be enough to turn him into dust."
"Therefore, the only thing in this world that is not affected by external forces is one's own vital energy. The person who solely relies on vital energy to reach the pinnacle of the world... I thought such talk was nonsense!"
"But I also know some immortals from my country... Since ancient times, I have never heard of anyone possessing such powerful vital energy!"
His vital energy radiated outwards, so much so that even firearms were shattered by this immense vital energy at a short distance, with neither smoke nor flame able to approach. This meant that regardless of whether the opponent was an immortal, a god, a ghost, or a demon, if firearms could not harm him, then there was no point in trying to defeat him with ordinary weapons!
Using divine artifacts... but it wouldn't be of much use either!
Todo Takatora's heart filled with dread. However, his two Dragon Pearls had lost their effect in this strange sea. At this moment, Honda Tadakatsu, who had been stunned by the vital energy, suddenly snapped back to his senses. He was drenched in sweat, his fear evident, but he did not retreat. Instead, he roared at Ji Xiang, overcoming his inner terror, and swung his great spear!
The power of this spear strike parted the sea of suffering, creating a vast water line!
*Bang!*
The spearhead fell and was caught by Ji Xiang with one hand.
At this moment, even the wind stood still. The fierce attack was neutralized. With a sound of "Pure World," the scenery before Honda Tadakatsu began to change. All things, whether the blood-red mist or the yellow seawater, vanished.
The edge of a sword appeared before him.
"You... you scoundrel!"
Honda Tadakatsu's eyes turned red. His divine form fully manifested in this critical moment!
His form was that of a Buddhist monk, clad in patched robes, with a blood-red sun behind him. His right hand held a six-ringed staff, his left hand wore prayer beads, and he held the Dragonfly Cutter. Between heaven and earth, the divine and Buddhist lights intertwined, and in an instant, hundreds, even thousands, of giant arrows appeared out of nowhere!
"Hachiman Daibosatsu!"
Honda Tadakatsu's roar echoed through the sea of suffering. As the divine sword was thrust forward, it was struck by hundreds of giant arrows, losing its trajectory. Ji Xiang's eyebrows slightly raised upon seeing this. All the arrows in the heavens and earth shot towards Ji Xiang once more!
Hachiman Daibosatsu, revered as the god of war and archery since ancient times, was widely worshipped. There were over four hundred shrines in Japan dedicated to this deity. The prosperity of its incense offerings was unmatched by any other god. This vast incense power erupted from Honda Tadakatsu!
"When I fought Liu Ting, I never unleashed this much power. I burn my blood, burn my soul, sacrifice my body, and gather the incense of all worlds into one person! Unity of gods and Buddhas, unparalleled in the world!"
"Fusion of gods and Buddhas!"
Honda Tadakatsu's appearance not only transformed into the image of Hachiman Daibosatsu. As he unleashed his divine power, divine power and Buddhist law intertwined. Behind the great deity Hachiman Daibosatsu, there was even a more blurred divine form!
This made Ji Xiang somewhat surprised, and he couldn't help but speak out.
"Most beings in this world have only one form and spirit. Even if they obtain a divine position and can manifest the appearance of a god, that is ultimately something borrowed, not their own. Your Japan has the art of ghosts and spirits, allowing you to borrow the form of ghosts and spirits onto your own body. This appearance of yours, from my perception, is different from the ghosts and spirits I have encountered."
"You are somewhat strange."
Of the divine and Buddhist dual aspects, one aspect was manifested from the original body. This was similar to the White-faced Zhenwu form and spirit within Ji Xiang's body. That was not a borrowed form and spirit from a divine position, but a divine spirit and form truly residing within his own body.
However, Xu Fu had been using the form of ghosts and spirits to extend his life. This additional divine form on Honda Tadakatsu's body was connected to Honda Tadakatsu's original body. This was the first instance Ji Xiang had seen, and he was certain it had nothing to do with Xu Fu, as he did not sense that nauseating aura of the ghost and spirit path.
This meant...
If this divine spirit's form and spirit were not accidentally obtained from the outside, then was it something he was born with?
"Forget it, it doesn't matter. Your possessions are mine!"
Ji Xiang could not figure this out in such a short time, but none of it mattered!
The Tongtian Mingyan surged out!
A large amount of white smoke engulfed Honda Tadakatsu. Before he could even unleash his techniques, he heard a sharp command!
"Heavenly retribution!"
The unleashed divine and Buddhist might was immediately interrupted. During this momentary pause, the white sea of clouds enveloped and swallowed him. After two or three breaths, it rapidly withdrew, and Honda Tadakatsu had lost his divine position, and even the divine spirit form that had appeared behind Hachiman Daibosatsu!
Lost, all lost!
"My divine power! My divine position, my...!"
Honda Tadakatsu was terrified to death. His body became detached. The moment his divine power was stripped away, a great sense of weakness washed over him. But immediately following that was a sharp sword!
Amaterasu Feather-Cutting Sword!
The divine sword drew blood and sealed his throat. A large gash appeared on Honda Tadakatsu's neck. In the next instant, the Ten-Thousand-Cloud Sword followed. Two legendary divine swords, one from the front and one from the back, one sealing his throat, the other piercing his heart!
Blood splattered. Honda Tadakatsu's primordial spirit did not escape; it plunged into the sea of suffering just like that.
There was no blood on the sea; it remained a bitter yellow. Todo Takatora, Mogami Yoshiaki, and the others felt their hands and feet turn cold. Looking ahead, a dark shadow suddenly descended.
A multitude of swords hung high, and white mist surged endlessly in all directions.
As the immense vital energy approached, Mogami Yoshiaki immediately began bleeding from all seven orifices. Todo Takatora, protected by a divine artifact, did not have his physical body shatter immediately, but he was still suppressed, unable to breathe. As the multitude of swords turned slightly, their cold glint reflected the eyes of despair!
Ji Xiang's breathing sounded like thunder, causing Todo Takatora's soul to tremble and scatter!
"Incompetent, unintelligent, useless beings."
"Hang your heads in the Eastern Sea as a warning to the enemies of Fusang!"
Todo Takatora raised his hand, his eyes filled with madness. "Impossible..."
He attempted one last desperate struggle! Since the divine artifact was useless, he would fight to the death with his sword.
But the multitude of swords swung lightly.
The weapon in his hand turned to dust. His head remained, while his physical body instantly disintegrated. As that primordial spirit manifested, Ji Xiang, after a long time, employed an immortal divine ability.
An invisible giant hand locked down this space and time. The primordial spirit could not escape, emitting a wail. Following that, the last words spoken before the soul perished were heard.
"Shatter the Void!"
————
"The sea of suffering has swallowed these people, and the divine ability has undergone a change..."
The warships had disappeared, and the Japanese generals had all perished in the sea of suffering. Even this space, absolutely controlled by Ji Xiang, had undergone changes.
The aura of fear sank to the depths of the sea of suffering. As these people died, their seven emotions and six desires, all their fears, were completed and began to sprout.
Entities that entered the sea of suffering would have their seven emotions and six desires thrown into chaos. Their effects could even suppress the cultivation and realm of the opponent, and even harm high-level immortal experts.
After all, to become an immortal, one must first sever all worldly troubles. And once all worldly troubles return, they become the nemesis of all immortals.
However, this divine ability was not yet complete. Currently, it only served to suppress enemies and amplify one's own power.
It still needed to... grow and devour.