Chapter 500 - 15: Dharma Aspects of Various Factions

"What a fearsome demon!"

When Cangjiezi saw the nine Tier Four Resentment Celestial Demons flying toward him, he knew his opponent was not to be trifled with. He quickly waved the Duster in his hand, and a sky full of silver threads danced through the air, weaving and darting as they surged toward the nine Resentment Celestial Demons.

The silver threads manifested from the Duster were incredibly tough and possessed a miraculous demon-breaking effect, showing no fear of the Li Hen Demon Light.

In the air, the silver threads gathered and scattered, dodging and weaving. The nine Celestial Demons were wreathed in flickering, pitch-black Demonic Light. A back-and-forth struggle ensued, resulting in a stalemate.

Seeing this, Li Huan was horrified. ’If I were to go up there,’ she thought, ’I’d be defeated in moments, no matter which one I faced.’

’This old Daoist from the Xuanqing Sect is so arrogant, but he clearly has some skill to back it up.’

Fang Cheng’s expression was indifferent. He formed a Spell with his hand, and the Strong Bone Demon immediately strode forward, throwing a powerful punch at Cangjiezi.

Cangjiezi was already on guard. With a wave of his sleeve, he summoned a small, cyan mountain. Shrouded in a hazy cyan light, it abruptly swelled in size and crashed toward the Strong Bone Demon.

BOOM!

A flash of golden fist-light, and the cyan light shattered. Amidst the tremendous roar, the cyan mountain peak was blasted into pieces by the single punch.

The Strong Bone Demon, relentless in its advantage, continued to throw punches. Several terrifying golden fist-lights rained down like meteors.

This Bone Demon was refined by Fang Cheng from the Master of Ten Thousand Transformations Sect, who had been at the Peak of Dharma Phase. Its physical body possessed boundless strength and was incredibly durable, comparable to a fourth-rank top-grade magic tool. It carried a certain Dao rhythm of shattering all techniques with a single display of force.

Cangjiezi was horrified. The silver threads filling the sky retracted to his side, coiling into a sphere that protected him within.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The golden fist-lights descended, causing the silver threads to cave inward and shatter.

The nine Resentment Celestial Demons seized the opportunity to advance, forming a nine-palace formation and surrounding Cangjiezi.

Nine streams of Li Hen Demon Light instantly poured in crazily through the damaged spots on the silver sphere.

Inside the sphere of silver threads, endless, pitch-black Demon Flames rained down, layer upon layer, surging relentlessly. They emitted a dim, profound light, enveloping Cangjiezi.

A Profound Light flickered around Cangjiezi’s body. He simultaneously urged the Duster’s silver threads to repair the damage while circulating his Profound Skill to resist the invasion of the Li Hen Demon Light.

Meanwhile, the Strong Bone Demon, showing no mercy, struck out again with fierce punches, breaking through the silver sphere in several more places.

From deep within the Demonic Light, Cangjiezi suddenly sighed and said, "Enough. This old Daoist admits defeat."

Fang Cheng glanced outside the Immortal City but said nothing.

The nine Resentment Celestial Demons responded to Cangjiezi with an even more ferocious barrage of Li Hen Demon Light.

Just as the Li Hen Demon Light was about to break through Cangjiezi’s Protective Profound Light and invade his physical body and Qi Sea, the entire Immortal City trembled slightly. A treasured light suddenly shot out, enveloped Cangjiezi, and instantly teleported him outside the city.

Li Huan’s beautiful eyes shimmered. "This must be a measure left by Ascendant Qianhuan," she said softly. "He must not have wanted any killing to occur within the Immortal Mansion."

Fang Cheng nodded, and with a wave of his sleeve, he recalled the nine Resentment Celestial Demons. He then turned to head to the next Immortal Mansion with Li Huan.

...

「Outside the Immortal City.」

A flash of treasured light, and the figure of a Daoist abruptly appeared in the void.

The aura around him was in disarray, and the spiritual light of the Duster Magical Artifact in his hand had grown dim.

"What a powerful old demon. What is his background?"

A look of lingering fear appeared on Cangjiezi’s face. His gaze toward the Immortal City was filled with apprehension.

Just then, a flash of lightning lit up the horizon. A giant dragon covered in purple scales descended, weaving its way down from the clouds above.

A man stood on the Dragon Head. He had a tall, imposing figure with a long beard and flowing hair. A strange, one-horned snake was coiled around his left arm, and a vertical mark was etched between his brows.

Cangjiezi turned his head, his expression shifting slightly. He bowed and said, "So it is Fellow Daoist Sun of the Mixed Element Sect. It has been a long time."

The Mixed Element Sect was also one of the ten great Mystic Sects, its power no less than that of the Jade Emperor Sect or the Xuanqing Sect.

The newcomer gave Cangjiezi a cold look and asked, "Fellow Daoist Cangjiezi, were you just defeated by someone?"

Cangjiezi’s old face flushed. "The power of that old demon inside should not be underestimated," he said. "Why don’t you go have a try, Fellow Daoist Sun?"

"I’ll do just that."

The cultivator surnamed Sun stared at the Qianhuan Immortal Mansion, a flash of greed in his eyes.

The Thunder Dragon beneath his feet let out a low roar, then suddenly opened its mouth and spat out a blinding bolt of Thunder Light, which viciously struck the treasured light surrounding the Immortal City.

RUMBLE!

The treasured light was instantly blasted open, and the Thunder Dragon slithered inside.

Cangjiezi chuckled but said nothing more. He sat down leisurely on his Cyan Lotus Platform and began to silently regulate his breathing.

「Not long after.」

A dim glow drifted over from the distant horizon, arriving before them in the blink of an eye.

The dim light faded, revealing a middle-aged man dressed as a mortal Emperor.

His expression was majestic. He wore a high crown and a black Imperial Robe. He clasped his hands in a salute to Cangjiezi and said, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Cangjiezi."

Cangjiezi rose and returned the salute. "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Xia. Are you also here for the Qianhuan Immortal Mansion?"

The middle-aged man nodded and asked, "What is the situation inside?"

Cangjiezi said in a low voice, "A Demon Cultivator went into the Immortal Mansion first. He is skilled with the Li Hen Demon Light and possesses a fourth-rank top-grade demonic magical artifact. He is extremely powerful. This old Daoist was no match for him and had to temporarily retreat... Now, Fellow Daoist Sun Heyan of the Mixed Element Sect has gone inside."

The middle-aged man smiled slightly upon hearing this. "Sun Heyan’s Cultivation is similar to yours. He just has two extra Tier Four Demon Beasts as helpers. I’m afraid he won’t fare very well."

Cangjiezi merely looked thoughtful and did not reply.

The man before him was the Patriarch of the Xia Family, one of the Middle-Aged Noble Families. He was at the Late-stage Dharma Phase Realm, and his strength was tyrannical and unmatched. Cangjiezi was far from being his opponent.

’With him here, my chances of obtaining anything from the Qianhuan Immortal Mansion are gone.’

Patriarch Xia stood in the air with his hands behind his back, gazing at the Qianhuan Immortal Mansion, in no hurry to enter.

Suddenly, a flash of treasured light appeared nearby. Sun Heyan of the Mixed Element Sect tumbled wretchedly out of the void, his body wreathed in Demon Flame. The three-eyed, single-horned strange snake on his arm and the Thunder Dragon were both gone.

A gloating expression appeared on Cangjiezi’s face. He taunted leisurely, "Who would have thought that even with Fellow Daoist Sun’s abilities, you were no match for that old demon. It seems this old Daoist’s loss was not unjust."

Sun Heyan snorted angrily. He ignored Cangjiezi and sat cross-legged in the void, circulating his Profound Skill to forcefully suppress the Li Hen Demon Light on his body.

Patriarch Xia said with great interest, "It’s been quite a few years since a Divine Technique like the Li Hen Demon Light has appeared in the Mingxiao Domain. Could it be that the Hidden Demon Sect has been revived from the ashes?"

Cangjiezi shook his head. "It’s hard to say. After all, the Li Hen Demon Light is not exclusively passed down by the Hidden Demon Sect."

"So be it. I’ll go in myself. How can such a treasure be allowed to fall into the hands of the Demon Sect?"

Patriarch Xia sighed lightly and was about to enter the Immortal City.

But then, a cold sneer echoed from the distant sky. "And why can’t such a treasure fall into the hands of the Demon Sect?"

When he spoke the first word, he was still far off on the horizon.

But by the time the last word was spoken, a tall figure had already arrived before them.

The man had a burly build, with skin like cast bronze and forged iron. His face was ugly, half-covered by a Profound Gold Mask. His gaze was cold and profound, and a vast demonic aura emanated from him. His presence was no weaker than Patriarch Xia’s; he was, astonishingly, another Late Dharma Stage master.

Patriarch Xia smiled faintly. "And who might this be? So it’s Elder Demon Chu of the Supreme Demon Sect. What, have you also come to join the fun?"

Below, the group of Life Soul Cultivators lingering outside the Immortal City were all shocked to hear this.

The Supreme Demon Sect was a titan of the Demon Dao in the Mingxiao Domain. The sect was filled with masters as numerous as clouds, and they had committed many acts of slaughtering entire sects and clans, including some powers that possessed Tribulation Realm foundations.

Elder Demon Chu looked at Patriarch Xia and said coldly, "Xia Guming, I have long heard that your Xia Family’s Reincarnation Divine Light is second to none. Since we’ve met today, this seat would like to experience it for myself."

Patriarch Xia waved his hand and smiled. "Elder Demon Chu, let’s not be hasty. Since you’re interested in this Qianhuan Immortal Mansion, why don’t you go inside first and see if the person in there will simply hand it over?"

Elder Demon Chu’s gaze swept over Cangjiezi and Sun Heyan as he cursed Xia Guming internally for being a cunning old fox. This was a ploy to have him fight the cultivator inside the Immortal Mansion until both were badly injured, allowing Xia to play the role of the oriole stalking from behind!

’I’ll go in first and test the waters. It would be best to use Xia Guming’s threat as leverage to form a temporary alliance with the person inside... Then we can join forces to deal with Old Thief Xia later.’

As the thought spun in his mind, Elder Demon Chu let out a long laugh. He transformed into a brilliant Demonic Light and plummeted downward, crashing like a meteor onto the treasured light around the Immortal City, instantly shattering it and entering.

In the sky, Xia Guming took out two bottles of Spirit Pills and gave one each to Cangjiezi and Sun Heyan. "Fellow Daoists," he said, "these are my Xia Family’s Reincarnation Pills. Taking them will allow you to quickly recover your Cultivation and Magical Power. When we vie for the Immortal Mansion later, I hope you will both lend me your strength."

Although he was asking for help, his tone carried an air that brooked no refusal.

Cangjiezi accepted the Spirit Pill and nodded. "Just as you say, Fellow Daoist. The Qianhuan Immortal Mansion cannot be allowed to fall into the hands of someone from the Demon Sect."

Sun Heyan saluted with clasped hands, outwardly agreeing, but inwardly he sneered. ’If your Xia Family didn’t have a Tribulation Realm Great Power watching over it in this era, would you dare speak to me like that?’

Xia Guming maintained his smile and continued to gaze into the depths of the Immortal City.

But after a few breaths, his expression began to turn grave. A trace of apprehension and shock appeared in his eyes.

BOOM!

A deafening roar erupted from the depths of the Immortal City, causing the treasured light enveloping the city to shake violently.

The nearby Life Soul Cultivators felt their very souls tremble. Those with shallower Cultivation turned pale from the shockwave.

In the sky, another flash of treasured light appeared.

Elder Demon Chu was drenched in blood, and one of his arms had been severed. He was clearly gravely injured.

’Even Elder Demon Chu is no match for him?’

The three Dharma Masters in the sky all frowned at the same time.

A vicious glint flashed in Elder Demon Chu’s eyes. He shot a cold look at Xia Guming, and without another word, turned and rode a beam of Demonic Light, shattering the void as he fled. In an instant, he disappeared where the sea met the sky.

Xia Guming thought to himself, ’Could this be a trick?’

From his understanding of Elder Demon Chu, it was impossible for him to lose to an Early-stage Dharma Phase Cultivator in such a short amount of time.

’Could he have colluded with the person inside to seize the Qianhuan Immortal Mansion?’

His gaze flickered uncertainly, but then he hesitated no longer and flew directly toward the treasured light outside the Immortal City.

As his figure approached the treasured light, an Ancient Mirror quietly appeared behind him. A dim, chaotic ray of light shot out from the mirror, landing on the treasured light and instantly melting a large hole in it.

Xia Guming’s figure then disappeared into the large hole.

...