His figure was towering, skin bronze-like, and G’eldo seemed like half a mountain standing within the tent. With each breath, the void itself appeared to undulate, making others feel as though they were being pushed to the tent’s edges, struggling to catch their breath.
Only Han Guang remained as suave and refined as ever, a faint smile appearing on his handsome, near-divine visage: “Does the Khan truly have such unwavering confidence?”
G’eldo’s eyes blazed with battle intent, gazing afar through layers of void, seemingly clashing with the auras of Master Lu and Daoist Chonghe. He laughed heartily: “After breaking through to the Earth Immortal realm and the Heavenly Execution Axe awakened further, I originally worried there would be no one in the world capable of withstanding a single axe strike. Fortunately, my two old friends have also made breakthroughs, allowing us to jointly celebrate this grand occasion.”
“A contest among Earth Immortals hasn’t occurred for over a thousand years. Just contemplating it sends my blood boiling, making me wish to engage immediately.”
He did not directly answer Han Guang’s words, but his tone clearly revealed his pride.
Scanning the room, G’eldo solemnly said: “Several of you with Law Bodies, please enter the back tent to finalize tomorrow’s arrangements.”
Han Guang, wearing a wooden hairpin, wide sleeves, hands clasped behind his back, spine straight, followed with the casual gait of a scholar strolling in his garden. The surrounding void rippled, and an almost transparent figure stepped forth before vanishing in a flash.
Wrapped entirely in black robes, only a pair of golden eyes visible, the aged and frail Da Man entered, leaning on a strange, dark vine staff.
The prohibition enchantments were activated, sealing off the interior from the outside. Other unorthodox and heretical experts showed faint signs of displeasure, particularly the Abbot of the Temple of Joy and his associates.
Although they were all considered part of the Nine Evil Paths, as cooperative partners, they were still divided into ranks. Those without Law Body cultivators were naturally at a disadvantage!
In the slightly awkward atmosphere, a voice, aged and decayed, rang out: “Does the Khan not inquire about the matter of the Crazy Blade?”
Before the voice had even faded, the gathered demonic titans had already sensed the speaker. Likewise cloaked in black robes, he appeared shrouded in layers of dust accumulated over time—an unmistakable figure: the Chief Archivist of the Luo Sect’s Twelve Holy Envoys, ranked fifth on the Black List and twenty-sixth on the Earth List, an ancient immortal among immortals.
“Of course we must deal with it! How can I ignore the death of my pitiful nephew Six Desires in Bayan?” A monk, clean-shaven and tall, with a pale complexion, softly intoned a Buddhist chant, his voice filled with hatred.
Though he appeared to be in his early twenties, refined and handsome like a wealthy young master, his skin radiated a sacred glow, and eerie Buddhist chants echoed in his wake as he moved. He was the Abbot of the Temple of Joy, the current Joyful Buddha, wielding a Divine Weapon, ranked fourth on the Black List just below the three Half-Law Body experts, and twenty-first on the Earth List. He had ruined countless women, his reputation infamous, yet surviving until now was proof enough of his strength.
The current Joyful Buddha raised his head, his jet-black eyes seemingly swirling with vortexes, scanning the crowd: “Although the Nine-Bend Falcon, Mother Shaman, Lustful Bodhisattva, Living Dead Feilian, and Ultimate Evil Demon King may not necessarily be the ones who poisoned the Crazy Blade, they must certainly be involved. Do none of you have any thoughts? No desire for revenge? Especially Archivist and Lampbearer, the Great Luo Holy Maiden is still in Bayan, in grave danger. Yet you sit here hesitating, delaying rescue efforts—what is the meaning of this?”
At his words, the Zantra warriors, the Longevity Cult, the Pure Maiden Sect, and the masters of the Exterminate Heaven Gate all nodded slightly. Only the grandmaster of the Impermanence Sect and the Luo Sect remained the calmest. The former had two coffins placed at the edge of the tent, with red mist swirling around them, never uttering a word. The latter maintained his composure.
“The Dharma King has confirmed the Holy Maiden is safe,” Lampbearer Holy Envoy lightly coughed: “The Holy Maiden is protected by her venerable mother and guarded by the Dharma King. A little turbulence is nothing to worry about.”
Indeed, everyone silently thought to themselves that Gu Xiaosang must have received some kind of “token-like” object bestowed by the Deliverance Dharma King… Many sect masters secretly took note of this, resolving to exercise caution should any conflicts arise with the Great Luo Holy Maiden in the future.
“If the Holy Maiden is safe, what of the Crazy Blade?” The current Joyful Buddha pressed.
“The Dharma King said the Crazy Blade has not perished,” Archivist Holy Envoy replied in a hoarse, aged voice.
The current Joyful Buddha pondered briefly before clasping his palms: “Amitabha Buddha, I have an ancestral treasure passed down through many generations of our temple, called the ‘Earth-Piercing Shuttle’. It can travel from the Golden Tent to Bayan in twenty breaths. The Crazy Blade, having just fought a major battle, cannot have fled far. Fellow cultivators, who among you would like to join me in seeking revenge and, at the same time, complete the Khan’s entrusted task?”
Just as many Zantra warriors and Longevity Cult shamans were eager to volunteer, the Joyful Bodhisattva suddenly chuckled softly. Her voice was like silver bells, yet more enchanting and alluring, as if scratching the deepest parts of the heart. Regardless of gender, everyone felt their blood surge.
“Do you know how many secrets the Crazy Blade carries?” She wore an amused smile, blending seductive charm and sacredness in an oddly contradictory way.
“Bodhisattva, how much do you know?” The question came from Hasuwula, current leader of the Zantra warriors and ranked eleventh on the Black List and forty-ninth on the Earth List. With the death of the Crying Elder, their rankings had each risen one place.
The Joyful Bodhisattva shot him a sidelong glance, both flirtatious and reproachful—a look he knew all too well: “Just days ago, the Mad Saber was merely at the Sixth Heaven realm, yet now he stands as a Grandmaster. This alone speaks volumes. In under four years, he ascended two heavenly tiers, transcended the Sixth Heaven, and weathered four tribulations. He must possess at least some foundational abilities—be it mastery over secret realms, grotto-heavens, or fragments of altered spacetime. I simply cannot believe otherwise.”
“Of course, this isn’t important. If the Crazy Blade has the ability and time for another breakthrough, he will definitely wait until reaching the Eighth or Ninth Heaven before coming. So no need to worry about him suddenly becoming stronger.”
The Archivist Holy Envoy let out a hoarse chuckle: “Is the Bodhisattva urging us to pursue the Mad Blade? His treasures are indeed alluring—divine weapon materials, secret realms, grotto heavens, or fragments of time-space. They could be worth five, even ten Grandmasters. And that’s merely what’s visible on the surface.”
Not to mention possible elixirs surpassing the Eastern Longevity Pill!
Though all those present were grandmasters, the words of the Archivist Holy Envoy still stirred their blood slightly, deepening their breaths. They had long been aware of the Crazy Blade’s extraordinary fortune and numerous encounters, which allowed him to seize opportunities time and again. Yet, he had many enemies and was difficult to track down. Even with great efforts, they had to consider the possibility that his luck might turn against them.
The Joyful Bodhisattva sat on her lotus dais, yet exuded laziness from head to toe, smiling lightly: “Old Archivist, you’re so eager despite your age. Wait until I finish speaking.”
Her every glance and smile was a sight to behold, captivating as she continued: “Leaving aside the possibility of the Crazy Blade making another breakthrough in the short term, let us estimate his current strength.”
“The fact that he can stir desires and incite internal strife itself shows his strength. He must possess techniques similar to Heart Devils. The Ultimate Evil Demon King was definitely captured alive by him, allowing him to deceive the Demon Sage. Among those present, who can guarantee they could do the same?”
They exchanged glances, believing that only the enigmatic Grandmaster of the Impermanence Sect, the Netherworld Emperor, the Joyful Bodhisattva herself, and the Abbot of the Temple of Joy wielding their sect’s Divine Weapon could accomplish such a feat—and even then, it was primarily due to the Divine Weapons. Without them, the Grandmaster might still have a chance to escape from Half-Law Body experts.
In the ensuing silence, Archivist Holy Envoy spoke first, his hoarse, aged voice making one’s scalp tingle: “Since the Crazy Blade has techniques similar to Heart Devils, he must have sought opportunities in advance to influence the Ultimate Evil’s mind, luring him into traps. With heavy preparations, naturally capturing him wouldn’t be difficult. If I could find a similar opportunity, I could do the same.”
With just a few words, he nearly reconstructed the scene of Meng Qi’s success. Indeed, experience was invaluable!
The top-ranked demonic masters on the Black List barely gave an imperceptible nod. In battle, victory wasn’t solely determined by comparing cultivation realms and techniques—timing, terrain, and human factors were equally crucial. If they could create opportunities or steer the situation toward favorable conditions, even they might succeed in capturing the Ultimate Evil Demon King alive.
“Alright, let’s set aside the matter of the Ultimate Evil Demon King for now. Then who could kill the Crying Elder quickly?” The Joyful Bodhisattva smiled sweetly, her fragrance lingering.
At this question, everyone fell silent. The thirty-third ranked Outer Scenery Peak expert was extremely hard to kill unless facing Law Body experts or Half-Law Body experts wielding Divine Weapons.
“If the Crying Elder had an insider nearby, who suddenly attacked at a critical moment, creating a pincer attack, it might be possible to kill him…” Huanmie Tianmo, outwardly steady as a mountain but inwardly cunning as a fox, slightly frowned. This was purely from the perspective of assassination.
But he couldn’t finish his sentence. According to the information from the Heavenly Mother Ruyi, at that time, the Weeping Elder was collaborating with Saren Gaowa, taking advantage of the Six Desires Buddha being distracted by the murderous aura of the Pitch-Black Strange Sword to successfully strike. In other words, unless Saren Gaowa was the insider, no one could assassinate the Weeping Elder.
“Could it be the Great Luo Holy Maiden used the Vacuum Order to help?” The current Joyful Buddha asked Archivist and Lampbearer Holy Envoys with a glance.
Lampbearer Holy Envoy shook his head: “The Dharma King didn’t lend his power.”
“Was it really the Crazy Blade who killed the Crying Elder in such a short time, or was it the Great Luo Holy Maiden?” A high-ranking priest of the Longevity Cult still found it hard to believe.
“The Demon Sage has clearly stated it was the Crazy Blade,” the Joyful Bodhisattva said, only one side of her face showing a dimple: “And I know the name of the slash he used to kill the Crying Elder. Only that slash could be so decisive, killing the Crying Elder like a chicken or a dog.”
“What sword technique?” the Lampbearer Holy Envoy and the other grandmasters asked in unison. Without comprehending this slash, they felt they could neither rest nor eat in ease, fearing they might one day meet the same fate as the Crying Elder. After all, he was a true master ranked thirty-third on the Earth List!
The Joyful Bodhisattva deliberately withheld the answer, eager to expose Meng Qi’s secret, and instead beamed as he said: “Although the Mad Saber also wields a sword, his sword techniques are generally inferior to his saber techniques. His saber techniques primarily follow three paths. The first is the path of absolute dominance, centered around elements of the Divine Thunder Nine Annihilations and the Tyrant’s Six Strikes, blended with his self-realized concept of yin-yang flow to avoid the brittleness of excessive force.”
Divine Thunder Nine Annihilations? Tyrant’s Six Strikes? The Pure Maiden Sect had suffered losses at the hands of the Mad Blade? No wonder they understood him so thoroughly! The Archivist Holy Envoy and the others showed no outward surprise, but their hearts were inevitably stirred. No wonder the Mad Blade’s sword techniques were so formidable—he had inherited elements of both the Divine Thunder Nine Annihilations and the Tyrant’s Six Strikes. Truly enviable and terrifying, not to be underestimated!
The Joyful Bodhisattva moistened her lips and continued, “The second is the slash he comprehended from the Wordless Stele—a strike centered on ‘speed’ and ‘invincibility.’ It appears not to be a Law Body, yet surpasses it, giving rise to countless transformations. However, all variations originate from the same root.”
“The third is the Shaolin Reverse Blade, the A-nan Precept-Breaking Blade Technique.”
These two points were well known to everyone present, who listened quietly.
“The slash he used to kill the Crying Elder was the final move of the A-nan Precept-Breaking Blade Technique, ‘Touch Karma.'” The Joyful Bodhisattva finally reached the crux.
“He actually mastered this supposedly ‘unbeatable’ slash?” Even the cunning and deep Huanmie Tianmo couldn’t help exclaiming. Since Shaolin’s founding, very few monks had truly mastered the A-nan Precept-Breaking Blade Technique, mostly those who had broken precepts and then re-entered the sect. Those who mastered the final move “Touch Karma” were even rarer, countable on one’s fingers!
Many present had only heard of the “unbeatable” reputation but had never seen it.
“That’s not right,” said the eldest Archivist Holy Envoy, who pondered: “Touch Karma is indeed unbeatable, killing first and repaying karma afterward. But bearing all the karma, one definitely couldn’t withstand it, leading to mutual destruction, yet the Crazy Blade is still alive and well.”
In his youth, he was fortunate enough to witness an elderly Shaolin monk employing the Touch Karma technique to mutually annihilate a senior practitioner of the unorthodox path.
The Joyful Bodhisattva giggled: “The Precept-Breaking Blade Technique practiced by the Crazy Blade seems different from what Shaolin possesses. He had other encounters, making it even more terrifying. Only after obtaining the general outline of the Buddha’s Palm did he barely manage to master it.”
All Buddhist martial arts and divine techniques could be attributed to the Buddha’s Palm, just as “Only I Exist” was the source of “Mind Reading,” especially effective against it. The “A-nan Precept-Breaking Blade Technique” ultimately originated from the Buddha’s Palm.
She scanned the room again, her voice gentle: “The Crazy Blade’s ‘Touch Karma’ only bears the heaviest karma, not necessarily unbearable, not necessarily conclusive. And who knows if he has other encounters, allowing him to strike two or three times.”
“And among you present, who has corresponding karma techniques or treasures to resist it?”
The most similar techniques were possessed by experts in the Law Body, yet their functions were largely not intended for this purpose. Only a handful of grandmasters had a superficial understanding. However, upon reflection, none could be certain whether they could withstand the Touch of Karma—it all depended on destiny.
“So, who wants to chase him? Who dares to chase him?” The Joyful Bodhisattva asked twice, yet not a single notorious master of the unorthodox path from the Black List dared to respond.
Remember, each of them was a figure capable of stirring storms and turning tides in the present world. Whether it was the Archivist Holy Envoy or the Huanmie Tianmo, their very names alone could send countless Outer Scenery experts fleeing in retreat. Yet now, one after another, they fell into stunned silence, overwhelmed by the sheer might of a single slash.
Who would dare risk their life to test the “unbeatable” blade?
In the future, upon hearing the name “Crazy Blade,” they might avoid the path altogether unless it wasn’t a life-or-death battle, leaving room for retreat without forcing the Crazy Blade to fight to the death!
Although several experts working together could “overcome” it, who would willingly sacrifice themselves to help others?
After a long silence, a voice, authoritative and indifferent, emerged from one of the coffins: “I possess the Meng Po Technique, capable of temporarily washing away karma, unafraid of the unbeatable blade. Moreover, at his current realm, as long as I wield a Divine Weapon, I can protect myself, making it difficult for the unbeatable blade to succeed.”
“But I still need to set up a formation, unable to pursue.”
The Happy Bodhisattva chuckled and said, “Then let him go. When the great battle arrives, even with an invincible blade, how many grandmasters can he slay, and what situation can he overturn?”
Her gaze swept the room: “If not for our alliance, I wouldn’t reveal such secrets. Unless you’ve experienced a few strikes of the unbeatable blade, how could you feel satisfied?”
A curse-like coquettishness.
…
The water was clear and shallow, ripples shimmering, as Meng Qi solemnly said: “Is Saren Gao Wa related to the Nether Sea Sword?”
The Nether Sea Sword, one of the ten strongest divine weapons on the first page of the Six Realms’ Exchange Chart, was ranked alongside the Heavenly Execution Axe, Time Blade, Human Emperor Sword, Demon King Spear, Devil Emperor Claw, and Tyrant’s Final Blade.
Forged by the Heavenly Slayer Taoist, the leader of the Nine Nether Evil Gods and long-time rival of the True Martial Emperor, he crafted this divine weapon using his own essence and the deepest abyss of the Nine Nether. The Lord of the Six Realms’ Cycle hailed it as “the ultimate killer.”
No wonder even a slight injury nearly led to my death.
“Yes, the Heavenly Execution Axe changed because it sensed the Nether Sea Sword’s imminent emergence, which is why G’eldo obtained it. There’s no further connection between them,” Gu Xiaosang replied with a straight face.
“But in the Six Realms’ records, the Nether Sea Sword can be exchanged,” Meng Qi was puzzled, recalling the matter of the Ruan family’s Salvation Zither.
Gu Xiaosang’s dimples were shallow and charming: “Perhaps the Six Realms considers anything it can reclaim at any time as not truly lacking.”
Implying something… Meng Qi pondered her meaning while hurriedly asking: “So, the rumor that Saren Gao Wa is connected to the Heavenly Execution Axe’s secret was deliberately spread by G’eldo to facilitate his other plans and observe the alliance’s internal situation?”
Gu Xiaosang nodded like a chick pecking rice before saying: “Except for a few with no way back, most secretly attached or surrendered families and sects are merely fence-sitters. If the situation turns unfavorable, they might revert.”
She explained in detail, showing no guilt about revealing secrets, seemingly delighted at the prospect of ruining the Luo Sect.
“Hmm,” Meng Qi nodded slightly, only reminding the sects and families that were not problematic to be cautious, not taking action for now, first uniting all forces that could be united.
Bear in mind, the covert inclination toward the grasslands involved the four major clans of Northern Zhou: the Pei Jing Cao, Ge Zhou Cui, Lu Long Xiahou, and Ju Yuan Shangguan, along with numerous minor families and sects. Even the foremost sect, the Taiyue Sect, maintained an ambiguous position. If we acted recklessly without prioritizing our actions, Northern Zhou could collapse instantly under the combined pressure from within and without!
To them, it made little difference who ruled the land, naturally preferring balance of power as the primary concern.
Gu Xiaosang smiled: “They’re just swaying grass, unable to achieve much without momentum. More importantly, there are infiltrators within the top sects, like the Faceless Demon King.”
“Who is he? Who is his contact?” Meng Qi immediately asked.
“If I had known, the Extermination Heaven Sect would have already collapsed,” Gu Xiaosang laughed softly. “But the ‘Faceless Demon King’ is likely not a direct disciple of the Extermination Heaven Sect. Instead, he was probably a corrupted member who gradually infiltrated and was swayed. He might now be a high-ranking or core member of another sect. Only such an infiltrator could play a crucial role.”
“But the Faceless Demon King acts quite frequently?” Meng Qi felt puzzled.
The Faceless Demon King was currently ranked sixth on the Black List and thirtieth on the Earth List, with many achievements.
Gu Xiaosang smiled: “Saying it’s him, who really knows who it is? In fact, our investigation found that some actions were deliberately staged by Huanmie Tianmo impersonating the Faceless Demon King. That is, the Exterminate Heaven Gate likely rotates different Tianmos, even the Demon Sage, to create an active ‘Faceless Demon King,’ concealing the real one.”
“Who could it be…” Meng Qi felt this matter was urgent.
Gu Xiaosang’s robe fluttered in the wind, as if soaring to the heavens, her expression half-smiling and half-serious: “Looking further back, there was a case where an entire sect was annihilated, which might have been the true ‘Faceless Demon King’s’ initiation offering. Both the Dharma King and I suspect he is from the Hidden Sword Tower.”
Hidden Sword Tower… Meng Qi pondered silently.
Gu Xiaosang glanced at the sky: “Husband, you should leave quickly. Perhaps a Law Body expert is pursuing.”
She smiled slightly, teasing yet sincere: “Next time we meet, perhaps I will take your head.”
Meng Qi looked at her once, turned, and fled. As he neared the edge of Dolasu Hai, he couldn’t help looking back. Gu Xiaosang was walking on the shimmering water, her white dress pure and holy, her voice melodious, humming a lingering tune:
“The night is dark and the road perilous~ the path long and arduous~ life and death uncertain~ unable to see tomorrow~”
“Let my body burn~ let my spirit ignite~ brilliant for a moment~ rivaling sun and moon~”
Her voice faded into the distance as Meng Qi sped away.
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