Chapter 282 - 155: Immortal Body? Cause and Effect

Chapter 282: Chapter 155: Immortal Body? Cause and Effect

Xuzhuang gave no answer. With a sudden shake of his shoulders, he summoned the corporeal body of the Three Elements Residence in the World Technique. Taking half of his depleted Magical Power, it retreated behind his true body, bringing with it the Earth Element Divine Light that was pinning down the white carp.

As the corporeal body separated, the last of his three elemental powers naturally manifested. Xuzhuang gave a faint smile and suddenly began to form a Dharma Seal. Two streams of spiritual light—one cyan, one violet—appeared on two of his fingertips. He then brought the two fingers together and pointed down with casual indifference.

’This is bad.’ Not far away, the Grey-bearded Taoist was already frowning as Xuzhuang’s Magical Power climbed to its peak. The moment Xuzhuang unleashed his Daoist art, the Taoist’s expression changed drastically.

With a violent shudder, he seemed to be swallowed whole, disappearing into a Jiezhi. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared behind Shishi and slapped her on the shoulder.

She was about to summon a magical treasure to counter the attack, but the Grey-bearded Taoist’s slap instantly scattered her circulating Magical Power. A sleeve fluttered past her as the Grey-bearded Taoist formed a sword with two fingers. A dot of murky, abyssal black light appeared on their tips as he reached past her and pointed forward.

In the next instant, what seemed like a single bolt of lightning—or perhaps ten thousand—galloped forth and struck his fingertips. In an imperceptible moment, it flashed an unknowable number of times, erupting with a terrifying and pure destructive force.

"Ah!" Shishi cried out in pain. The eyes visible beneath her white veil snapped shut, her heart filled with terror.

She had specifically opened her dharma eyes to deal with Xuzhuang’s technique, but who could have known that a single glance at the lightning would injure them so instantly?

Shock filled the Grey-bearded Taoist’s eyes. He snatched his hand back as if electrocuted, tucking it into his sleeve. "Go!" he yelled, grabbing Shishi’s shoulder with his other hand. Before the lightning could annihilate them, they both vanished into a Jiezhi.

The thunderclap faded and the lightning dissipated, leaving no trace of the pair.

Xuzhuang’s brow furrowed for a moment before smoothing out. ’As expected of a Side Door True Man. With him around, killing this Demoness certainly won’t be easy.’

He had been prepared for this. Otherwise, why bother with the white carp? He would have just used his full strength to kill the Demoness from the outset.

’It’s a shame, though. My plan to force her to take a direct hit from my Shenxiao Qi Heaven-Smashing Thunder was still foiled by that Grey-bearded Taoist’s quick reaction.’

’So be it.’ With a thought, Xuzhuang recalled the Magical Power from his corporeal body. Only then did his brow truly furrow in concern.

He had no idea what this white carp actually was. Trapped in his Earth Element Divine Light, it had almost completely drained half of his Magical Power in just a few moments.

If this kept up, he wouldn’t be able to withstand such a constant drain, even with his three elemental powers at their peak.

Xuzhuang drew the white carp before him and scanned it carefully with his Spiritual Sense. His eyebrows shot up. To his Spiritual Sense, the creature’s bones and flesh were startlingly real and distinct, just like a living fish.

’But how is that possible? What kind of fish could churn up storms inside my Earth Element Divine Light, so much so that even I can’t restrain it?’

Xuzhuang frowned. With a gentle flick of his sleeve, a Divine Wood Treasure Seed floated down to his fingertips. ’I should return to the sect and ask the Book Immortal or the Sect Leader about this,’ he thought. ’That is the proper course of action.’

He placed the Divine Wood Treasure Seed under his tongue and circulated his energy. A steady stream of wood qi was immediately generated, which Xuzhuang instantly refined using the Five Elements Origin Combination Art.

He could feel his Magical Power slowly recovering, even with the continuous drain from the Earth Element Divine Light. It wasn’t nearly enough, but he still had the wonders of his Three Elements technique to fall back on. He figured he could hold out.

His business here was done. With the white carp still to suppress, Xuzhuang had no energy to spare for lingering. He casually sent a Flying Book toward the Divine Wood Dojo, then shot into the clouds without further delay.

---

「Thousands of miles away」

In a place that seemed to be nothing but empty space, two figures suddenly appeared. Shishi stumbled and fell, her eyes still sealed shut as bloody tears streamed down her face.

The Grey-bearded Taoist’s expression was grim. He lifted his sleeve and looked down. Only half a hand remained on his forearm. There was no blood, only smoke-like qi slowly dissipating from the stump.

"The younger generation is truly formidable," he said, sighing with his eyes closed. He circulated his power, and the smoky qi at his wrist condensed, weaving itself into new textures. In a flash, his hand was fully restored, appearing completely unharmed.

Shishi tried to open her eyes. She could finally make out blurry shapes through a red haze, but the moment the daylight touched them, she squeezed them shut in pain. "My dharma eyes...?"

The Grey-bearded Taoist glanced at her, frowning. "If you try to force your power again, you won’t just destroy your dharma eyes. Your physical eyes will be ruined as well."

Shishi squeezed her eyes shut again, as if forcing herself to calm down. After a long while, she spoke. "Yes. I brought this calamity upon myself by overestimating my own abilities. I will never forget the debt I owe you for saving me, Uncle."

The Grey-bearded Taoist glanced at his palm and sighed. "Taking that single blow cost me over two hundred years of cultivation. My duty to protect you is now fulfilled. I have done all I can."

Shishi’s heart trembled. It took her a long time to force out a reply. "Yes... I will never forget the debt I owe you for saving me, Uncle."

---

「In the Cloud Palace of the Tai Su Orthodox Sect」

Zhi Xing hurried to the entrance of the great hall. He straightened his robes before respectfully stepping through the main gates. Passing through cloud-like carpets and curtains of mist, he arrived before the dais. He didn’t dare raise his eyes. "This servant greets the Zhenren," he said with a respectful bow.

A powerful, majestic voice resounded from the dais. "Zhi Xing, go to the entrance of the Cloud Palace and await Daomiao."

Among the current generation of true disciples, Xuzhuang was a regular visitor to the Cloud Palace, so Zhi Xing was not surprised by the order. "Yes, I obey the Zhenren’s Decree," he replied respectfully.

Based on his many years of serving Daochen Zhenren, Zhi Xing knew that he should have been dismissed by now if there were no further orders. But he waited for a long time, and the Zhenren on the dais seemed to fall into deep thought.

Just as confusion began to stir in Zhi Xing, the Zhenren’s voice came from the dais again, "After you greet Daomiao, relay my Decree: order him to the Upper Truth Hall for an audience."