413: Chapter 22: Visitors 413: Chapter 22: Visitors Rain fell from the heavens, and Sword Qi burst forth.
The moment the umbrella sword was sheathed, Xie Xuanyi stepped forward, his body as the center, raindrops shattered around him in every direction, a circle of Sword Intent ripples rapidly spread out!
“Buzz—”
The sound of the sword and the music of the qin rose together!
Chu Man’s hands slowly pressed on the strings, an invisible fluctuation spread out, clashing with the ripples of Sword Intent.
Xie Xuanyi slightly furrowed his brows.
On Chu Man’s body, he sensed a very familiar Taoist aura.
Rain wavered and fell around the woman, being invisibly repelled by the sound waves, revealing a vague and ethereal divine form hovering right above Chu Man’s head—
The Tao was yet to condense, but the dharma image came forth first!
This was the same phenomenon as when Xie Sheng borrowed the power of the Incense Fire House to first condense the “Red Dragon Dharma Image.”
If Chu Man’s Taoist principles stabilized and she ascended to Yin God, this dharma would take this form and coagulate accordingly.
Although this dharma image had only a vague outline at present, its general demeanor and aura were very similar to Lu Yuzhen’s “Pure White Saint.”
The only difference was the color.
Lu Yuzhen’s Pure White Saint was of a pristine and solemn snowy hue.
In contrast, Chu Man’s uncongealed dharma image was a bright red color, emitting a fiery and scalding Taoist Intent.
“Xie Guest Elder, sooner or later we are all fellow practitioners.”
Chu Man spoke softly, “Why must there be life and death strife between us?”
“Who is the Guest Elder of Paperman Sect?
Who is a fellow practitioner with you?”
Xie Xuanyi spoke coldly, his eyes filled with even greater killing intent.
Whoosh!
He took another step forward, the Sword Qi surged, and the Rule of Destruction immediately condensed ninety percent!
The black small sword that had slain Wu Yin flashed and appeared right in front of Chu Man.
The qin music transformed into flowing water, cascading down layer by layer into a cover of flowing water.
Yet, this layer of qin sound shield could not stop the advance of the Rule of Destruction!
The black sword pierced directly through the shield.
The thousands of layers of flowing water shattered in an instant!
Xie Xuanyi’s Rule of Destruction was unreasonably aggressive in combat.
Fighting at the same realm.
To confront the Rule of Destruction, one needed to bring forth a force of Tao rules of the same level!
Seeing this, Chu Man’s expression did not show surprise but merely sighed lightly, retreating unhurriedly while raising her hand to touch her forehead.
The bizarre and vivid “Blood-Red Saint” dharma image behind her completely ignited at this moment!
“Clang!”
A clear resonating sound echoed across Moss Ridge.
The black sword formed by the Rule of Destruction did not successfully pierce Chu Man’s chest but instead struck the surface of a brightly colored big cauldron.
“Blood-Red Saint” dharma image briefly solidified.
An extraordinary color radiated from Chu Man’s forehead, her calm and cold eyes now covered with a red layer.
A grand cauldron was suspended above.
Above the cauldron, a familiar figure was seated.
“Brother Xie, we meet again.”
Dao Jiu sat atop the cauldron, his demeanor calm, and his tone amiable, “It has only been a few months since we last met, and your Sword Intent has progressed tremendously…
This kind of Tao rule that contains ‘destruction’ was extremely rare even a thousand years ago.”
The Sword Qi struck like a bell, manifesting at this moment.
The 90% condensed “Rule of Destruction” struck the surface of the North Sea Mausoleum’s Tao Furnace.
Dao Jiu, being the Artifact Spirit, released his Divine Thought, summoning the ancient script from the surface of the Tao Furnace, transforming it into seals containing true meanings revolving around the cauldron, blocking the yet solidified Rule of Destruction repeatedly with these seals.
This was the first time Xie Xuanyi in the Cave Heaven Realm felt the taste of obstruction from the “Rule of Destruction.”
“…Dao Jiu, is this the choice you made?”
Xie Xuanyi calmly looked at the handsome Artifact Spirit with fluttering sleeves.
After leaving the North Sea Mausoleum.
There had been some changes in Dao Jiu’s temperament.
He had changed into a red garment, his whole being still ethereal like smoke, but his eyes now carried a light-hearted smile.
“Indeed.”
Dao Jiu smiled lightly, “This is the choice I have made.”
Following Lu Yuzhen.
It was the most correct decision he had ever made.
Lu Yuzhen granted him an unprecedentedly beautiful “rebirth.”
Without using any techniques, the washing of the soul.
The strand of Divine Soul that Dao Jiu had painstakingly converged was preserved intact, and the [Tao Furnace] was even nourished with a great amount of fresh blood, improving its quality by a step.
Now, with a new master for the [Tao Furnace], Chu Man and Dao Jiu’s minds were interconnected; he now had a master as well as freedom, without the risk of the Divine Soul perishing.
Xie Xuanyi slowly turned his head, looking at Chu Man.
Chu Man had refined the [Tao Furnace] into her Lifebound Magical Artifact, which is why she had prematurely formed this “Blood-Red Saint”.
No wonder…
No wonder she dared to show herself in front of him.
“Xie Zhen, actually, you didn’t need to take action tonight.”
Chu Man said with a smile, “After the meeting with the Imperial City Department ends, I will have annihilated these evil cultivators… They won’t have the chance to return alive to the South Border.”
The moment Xie Xuanyi saw Chu Man, he understood Lu Yuzhen’s strategy.
For the Three Great Sects, it was better to cleanse the South Border sooner rather than later.
But Lu Yuzhen needed some time to prepare.
What Lu Yuzhen intended to do was, in fact, the same as himself—
Postpone the demon cleansing!
Thus, the envoy of the Three Great Sects bound northward was destined to topple and fall.
“Killing people, I prefer to do it myself.”
Xie Xuanyi spoke indifferently as he retracted the Rule of Destruction, seemingly concealing his Killing Intent.
But in the deepest part of the Sword Qi Cave Heaven, “Chen Ke” began to tremble gently.
“It should’ve been mentioned earlier.”
Chu Man said with a smile, “The Pavilion Master mentioned you particularly hate YIn Mountain Cultivators…
Had I known, I would have let you kill Huai Ting myself.”
She paused briefly.
“That’s right.”
Chu Man sincerely added, “The Pavilion Master also mentioned, ‘Xie Guest Elder harbors incredible secrets; if you meet him, be wary of flying swords.’…
I suppose the flying swords he referred to aren’t just now’s ‘Rule of Destruction,’ are they?”
They had clashed twice,
whether at North Sea Tomb or Moss Ridge.
Chu Man had never witnessed Xie Zhen’s Lifebound Flying Sword!
…
Xie Xuanyi’s Sword Qi between his brows stalled for a moment.
“To be so highly regarded by the Pavilion Master, there must be something extraordinary about you”
Chu Man sighed softly and said, “Perhaps even with Dao Jiu and me working together, we won’t escape Guest Elder Xie’s lethal moves…
but tonight at Moss Ridge is not a good opportunity to make a move.”
“You think I would fear the Imperial City Special Envoy?”
Xie Xuanyi raised an eyebrow.
He knew that tonight at Moss Ridge was a meeting between the Imperial City’s Special Enforcement Officer and the Three Sects’ Envoy.
Such issues, difficult to bring to light.
Even in the presence of the Imperial City, killing Southern Border Evil Cultivators, Great Chu laws wouldn’t possibly sanction a punishment!
“Of course not the Special Enforcement Officer.”
Chu Man declared cheerfully, “If the Special Enforcement Officer arrives right now and Guest Elder Xie doesn’t mind, I would take this opportunity to kill another deserving dead on behalf of the Pavilion Master.”
…
Xie Xuanyi narrowed his eyes.
He wanted to wield his Lifebound Flying Sword to strike an attempt on Chu Man, protected by the “Tao Furnace,” but just as this thought emerged, a foreboding feeling surged in his Heart Lake.
His Heart Lake Sensing was incredibly accurate!
Having such a premonition meant Chu Man wasn’t exaggerating.
Not the Special Enforcement Officer…
Another figure emerged within Xie Xuanyi’s Heart Lake.
He knew that the person who currently despised him the most in the Imperial City was Dao Jiu, the Tai Shang House Pavilion Master.
After the Northern Hunting, members of the Yuqing Pavilion had all returned to the Taoist sect.
However, Li Chen, with Tai Shang House disciples, stayed in the Imperial City, settling in an inn.
Clearly.
He was waiting for him to leave the city.
However, Pavilion Master Li Chen’s intentions were too apparent, and before leaving Chen Mansion, Xie Xuanyi had made arrangements…
Huang Su waited outside the Imperial City, tasked with intercepting the Pavilion Master; should Li Chen truly be able to cross the “Brushing Clouds” Sword Array, Huang Su would immediately send news to him.
So…
The source of danger sensed by his Heart Lake was not Li Chen.
“The demon cleansing isn’t just being carried out by the Great Chu Dynasty.”
Chu Man smiled lightly, revealing a corner of Lu Yuzhen’s plan, “Guest Elder Xie should know that there is a group from the Da Li Dynasty who also take a stance of killing upon encountering demons and slashing on sighting evil…
The meeting tonight at Moss Ridge is, in fact, to invent a plausible excuse to have these Southern Border demons die within the borders of Great Chu.”
“…Buddhist.”
Xie Xuanyi’s eyes lit up slightly.
He vaguely understood Lu Yuzhen’s arrangement.
This negotiation was, after all, instigated by the Great Chu Royal Family, the news of demon cleansing had been released, and no Holy Land Family would send experts to kill the Southern Border Evil Cultivators, thus deliberately stopping the demon cleansing…
But if those from the Da Li Dynasty intervened, it would be a reasonable act.
[“A message came from Fangyuan Square stating that the Buddhist of this generation, following the commandment of the Zen Master, has already departed from the Da Li and will soon arrive in Great Chu, to teach Buddhist doctrines at the Great Pudu Temple, and at the same time, to recover the Buddha Bone remains of a monk who had passed away in Nirvana.”]
Xie Xuanyi suddenly recalled what Chen Jingxuan had mentioned.
Recently, a mission group from the Da Li Dynasty’s Zen disciples, preparing to proceed to the Great Chu Imperial City to welcome the Buddha Bone from the Great Pudu Temple.
The leader of this East Crossing mission was the current “appointed” Buddha’s son, “Miao Zhen.”
“Guest Elder Xie, the leader of this Buddhist East Crossing mission is named ‘Miao Zhen.'”
Chu Man lowered her voice and said slowly, “This guy is not to be compared with the likes of Wu Yin Huai Ting…
He is arriving soon, and if you deploy such a treasure, you’re unlikely to kill me and may instead draw other troubles.”
At this point,
Xie Xuanyi understood the source of unease in his Heart Lake.
Should he deploy “Chen Ke,” even if Chu Man was protected by the “Tao Furnace,” Xie Xuanyi was confident in exterminating her.
But how long it would take was unknown…
Xie Xuanyi was unclear to what extent the “Tao Furnace” had been refined by Lu Yuzhen.
“There’s one more thing I need to clarify with you.”
Chu Man spoke gravely, “This monk Miao Zhen is not easy to deal with; the report from the Fangyuan Square by the Da Li Dynasty states that Miao Zhen has a Bodhisattva heart yet possesses thunderous methods.
Just before the East Crossing, he ventured alone into the South Border and with a Cave Heaven Body, engaged and killed a Yin Mountain Venerable who had just ascended to Yin God!”
Xie Xuanyi furrowed his brows.
Engaging a Yin God Venerable with a Cave Heaven Body?
“The Pavilion Master said, this guy is likely the reincarnation of a Bodhisattva; it’s unknown how many of the Six Divine Powers the reincarnated body retains now.”
Chu Man stepped back, the Blood-red Saint and Tao Furnace quivering behind her, drawing a vivid gateway.
She didn’t leave immediately but spoke with profound implications, “The martial fortune of Da Li is fading, while the spirit of fortune at North Sea Tomb reverses, heralding the grand epoch… Miao Zhen’s East Crossing this time is certainly to snatch the top spot on the Heavenly Pride List.”
…
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(Thanks to lialon for the alliance master reward!
I’ll stabilize the updates for now…)