Seeking the Flying Sword Path

“What a pity. That old loach’s two avatars were destroyed by Numinous Treasure Dao Ancestor before he could even escape the Three Realms.” The King of Myriad Fiends, Boxun, was also watching through distant space at these two events and could not help but shake his head. “From the looks of it, although the old loach’s avatars are hiding in our fiendish dominions and in the Tenebrous Fiend Abyss, he’s frightened by Hou Yi’s delivery of his nine successive Essence Soul-burning arrows.

“It’s not a surprise that he is frightened. It’s indeed terrifying.” Even Boxun felt the pressure.

As the former supreme leader of the fiends, he had once made Buddhist Ancestor Gautama as his target.

After all, he had fought with Gautama for a very, very long period of time.

As for Qin Yun, Hou Yi, Ancestral Fiend, Zhurong, and Amita, these half-step Heavenly Dao realm existences, Boxun had thought nothing of them. He often thought of making his mark in one shot by breaking through to the Heavenly Dao realm.

But now, having seen Hou Yi’s arrows shooting into the cosmos while he burned his Essence Soul… Boxun felt the pressure.

“How terrifying. This can even pose a threat to those at the Heavenly Dao realm,” thought Boxun.

…

“How terrifying, this Hou Yi.”

“What did that lord of the Yellowbeard world do to offend Hou Yi and Sword Immortal Qin for them to attack him?”

“Hou Yi has already shot five arrows while burning his Essence Soul. Yet, all of them are shot into the cosmos. From the looks of it, he’s gathering strength. The two Yellowbeard avatars are restrained and captured alive. He’s likely trying to use a very powerful strike to kill his other avatars via karmic transmission.”

“It’s very likely to be the case.”

“What did Elder Yellowbeard do? He made Hou Yi and Sword Immortal Qin combine forces? To the point of making Hou Yi pay such a heavy price?”

…

Mighty figures in the Three Realms were discussing and guessing. All they did was watch for no one could intervene!

After all, Qin Yun and Hou Yi were in a Great World. Even the Fiend Ancestor could not descend into it, and beneath the Heavenly Dao realm, no one had the guts to face the combined forces of Qin Yun and Hou Yi!

Who had the confidence of resisting Hou Yi’s arrows?

Who had the confidence in cracking Qin Yun’s sword array?

Qin Yun’s defensive skills were unparalleled in the Three Realms. After consuming the Spirit Enlightening Fruit, his realm had increased tremendously. Furthermore, his Intrinsic Flying Sword had become a Merit Cardinal treasure, making him much stronger than when he fought Bohan Island Lord. Even without burning his Essence Soul, he was able to withstand the strike of a Heavenly Dao existence. Of course, against Hou Yi’s nine Essence Soul-burning successive arrows… Qin Yun would have to burn his Essence Soul to defend against the later arrows. Even Qin Yun had little confidence in fending off the ninth arrow.

Between the two of them, one had the strongest attack beneath the Heavenly Dao realm, archery skills complemented by Heart Force making a heaven-defying combination.

The other had the strongest defensive means. His sword array was sufficiently power and it was powered by an Intrinsic Connate Cardinal Merit Cardinal treasure.

And at that moment, they were joining forces.

“Fiend Ancestor, save me. You must save me.”

In the Tenebrous Fiend Abyss, Elder Yellowbeard’s avatar appeared before the Fiend Ancestor as he pleaded for help.

The Fiend Ancestor’s destruction body shook his head gently. “They are using karma to destroy your various avatars. Even at the Heavenly Dao realm, one can at most cloud the heavenly secrets and blur karma. There’s no way to fully isolate karma.”

If one could not be investigated, that meant their secrets had been clouded and hidden.

True isolation…

It could be done in the spatial tide and in the Chaos. That was the only known method.

“I’ll try my best to cloud the heavenly secrets, minimizing Hou Yi’s strike after it is transmitted through karma.” Fiend Ancestor looked at Yellowbeard. “Whether you can survive the blow will all depend on you.”

“Thank you, Fiend Ancestor.” Yellowbeard stopped pleading for he knew that was all the Fiend Ancestor could do.

“At this moment, you should weaken all your other avatars and ensure that this avatar of yours is sufficiently strong,” said Fiend Ancestor.

“I’ve already done it.” Yellowbeard looked at the distant Yellowbeard Great World. “The seventh arrow is coming.”

All he could do was wait silently for “judgment” to come.

If he withstood the blow, he would live!

If not, he would die!

******

Yellowbeard Great World.

Qin Yun watched by the side as he had the Misty Rain Array conjured. He prevented any possible disturbance that might happen at a critical juncture. Hou Yi had drawn his bow fully in preparation to deliver his seventh arrow.

This time, Hou Yi did not aim his arrow into the cosmos; instead, he aimed it at one of Yellowbeard’s two avatars.

“Oh?” Yellowbeard’s two avatars glared at the same time. “He plans to kill me with the seventh arrow?”

“Hou Yi’s seventh arrow after burning his Essence Soul!”

“He’s really shooting at the lord of the Yellowbeard Great World.”

“He’s shooting at that old loach now.”

Many figures in the Three Realms were watching.

“I must fend it off. I have to.” Yellowbeard gritted his teeth.

“Swoosh!”

A blinding and resplendent arrow beam burst out, far more blinding and beautiful than even the sun in the sky.

However, the most beautiful arrow beam was also the most terrifying.

The arrow struck one of Yellowbeard’s avatars which was instantly pulverized. Meanwhile, the terrifying might traveled through the karmic connections, rapidly emanating towards the other avatars! However, under Hou Yi’s control, he deliberately avoided the Yellowbeard avatar that had been captured.

Attacking an enemy through karma involved many aspects.

First, one’s realm had to be high enough and they had to have some insights into karma. The deeper one’s insights were, the stronger one’s force could be transmitted by karma.

A secondary requirement needed an object. For instance, the magi hexes required hair or blood to deliver greater might.

To kill via karma… striking an enemy’s avatar would transmit sufficiently powerful might since two avatars had the strongest karmic connection two beings could have! For instance, Qin Yun had karmic ties with Yellowbeard, but if he were to transmit an attack through such a karmic connection, the might delivered would be less than 1%.

Against a Skyimmortal or Skyfiend, a mere thought was needed to vanquish them via karma.

But against a perfected Great Dao Yellowbeard, even Hou Yi had to ignite his Essence Soul to deal with Yellowbeard’s avatars.

“It’s approaching.”

In the fiendish dominion.

One of Yellowbeard’s avatars was sitting cross-legged in the wilderness. He immediately “saw” the arrow heading for him via the karmic connection.

“What a terrifying arrow.” Just a mere thought surfaced in his mind before the avatar was destroyed.

…

Yellowbeard’s other avatars failed to put up any resistance because he had weakened all his other avatars to make the avatar beside the Fiend Ancestor the strongest.

“Oh?” Fiend Ancestor also sensed it. However, all he could do was blur karma and use this method to reduce the force.

However, Hou Yi’s realm was just too high.

Infused with Heart Force… this arrow still maintained 30% of its strength despite the karmic delivery! All the Fiend Ancestor’s blurring of karma could do was minimize it a little.

“Pfft!”

It was as though there was an invisible arrow that had struck him.

Yellowbeard’s eyes widened suddenly as his body was obliterated silently as he dissipated.

Ancestral Fiend shook his head at this scene. “There’s no reason to regret dying under such an arrow.”

******

Yellowbeard Great World.

After Hou Yi shot his seventh arrow, he smiled and put away his ancient bow. He smiled at Qin Yun. “Brother Qin Yun, it’s a success. The loach’s other avatars are all dead. All that’s left is this captured avatar.”

“Brother Hou Yi, impressive.” Qin Yun felt extremely relieved.

“Haha, I was only planning on using my seventh arrow to test his strength. If it was still far from killing his other avatars, I’d have had to use my ninth arrow on his other avatar.” Hou Yi smiled. “Who knew that the seventh arrow would succeed?”

“Your seventh arrow is sufficiently terrifying,” said Qin Yun.

He was very aware that among Hou Yi’s nine successive arrows, the first eight arrows only experienced a gradual increase in strength; hence, the difference between the seventh and eighth arrow wasn’t huge. Only the ninth arrow experienced a sharp rise, but the price was huge. He would fall into a slumber if he did not consume a Soul Heart Fruit. Now, having only shot the seventh arrow… the injury Hou Yi received was completely within his limits. He too felt very happy.

Qin Yun looked at the last Yellowbeard avatar who had its Dharmic powers sealed.

Yellowbeard looked at Qin Yun and said calmly, “Sword Immortal Qin, I was blinded by greed and offended you. I only wish to ask… if you will be willing to spare me.”

“Spare you?” Qin Yun looked at him.

“I cherish my life,” said Yellowbeard. “As long as you are willing to spare me, I’m willing to pay any price. I can be your servant, protecting the Qin family for all eternity. I’m also willing to protect the Qin family’s bloodline. I believe you require an expert that can protect the Qin family forever. With my means, I’m confident I can protect the Qin family’s wellbeing.”

“Pfft!”

A sword beam tore through Yellowbeard’s body as his eyes flashed with despair, regret, and indignation before he dissipated into nothingness.

At that moment, all of Yellowbeard’s avatars were obliterated.

The perfected Great Dao expert, Elder Yellowbeard, was dead!

Qin Yun stood there calmly as he watched the scene. Immense amounts of merit descended upon him, as well as Hou Yi. They appeared to be covered in a layer of golden light. The immensity of Yellowbeard’s sins was only slightly lower than Star Destruction’s.

“Old loach, I’ll get anyone but you to protect my family,” Qin Yun said softly. “Therefore, it’s best you die.”

When it came to keeping one’s word, Qin Yun would believe Hou Yi and Ancestral Dragon’s promises.

But for the old loach… his strength was far from the half-step Heavenly Dao realm. The karma generated from going back on his promises only affected his cultivation. In the Three Realms, it was common for mighty figures to betray their masters and harm their friends. So how could Qin Yun believe Yellowbeard’s promise? As for fully controlling a perfected Great Dao expert, the Three Realms had no such means.

“Well killed.” The voice of his master, Numinous Treasure Dao Ancestor, sounded in his ears. It had a hint of satisfaction.

The Dao Ancestors and Buddhist Ancestor were also rather pleased at the turn of events.

The Daoists and Buddhists had always been trying to kill Yellowbeard, but they were simply incapable of doing so.

“Impressive.”

“He really killed Elder Yellowbeard.”

“Isn’t it said that no one beneath the Heavenly Dao realm can kill the old loach?”

“Who knew that Hou Yi’s nine successive arrows after burning his Essence Soul are that terrifying? Hou Yi has never done it before.”

“A high and mighty perfected Great Dao is dead just like that.”

“What grudge did Yellowbeard have with Sword Immortal Qin and Hou Yi? What made them join forces while sparing no expenses to deal with him?”

The Three Realms sighed at the death of a perfected Great Dao, but were also curious about the grudge between Yellowbeard and Qin Yun.

“Congratulations, Brother Qin Yun for killing that old loach.” Kong Xuan’s remote voice transmission sounded.

“Brother Kong Xuan, Brother Hou Yi will be taking my granddaughter, Yuluo, as his disciple a month from now. There will be a banquet for many friends. It will be held at Hou Yi’s cave abode in the Effulgent Great World. You must come,” said Qin Yun via a voice transmission.

“Definitely,” Kong Xuan replied.

…

“Brother Hou Yi, you are truly terrifying when burning your Essence Soul to deliver the nine successive arrows. Unfortunately, I only got to see the seventh arrow.” The Heavenly Lord of Primordial Unity and Salvation sent a voice transmission to Hou Yi. “By the way, how did that old loach offend you for you to be willing to pay such a price?”

“He threatened Brother Qin Yun with the Qin family’s lives. It enraged Brother Qin Yun who wanted Yellowbeard dead, so he requested my help.” Hou Yi said with a smile via voice transmission. “I’ll be publicly taking Qin Yun’s granddaughter, Fairy Yuluo, in as my disciple in a month in my cave abode. You must come.”

“You are taking in a disciple, and she’s Qin Yun’s granddaughter? Sure, I’ll definitely be there.” the Heavenly Lord of Primordial Unity and Salvation replied.

…

“So that’s the reason. That old loach was really courting death.” Rushou learned of the reason after communicating with Qin Yun via voice transmission.

“Brother Rushou, it’s settled then. You have to come next month.”

“Hou Yi is taking in a disciple and she’s your granddaughter. I’ll definitely be there. I’ll also prepare a gift,” Rushou responded with a laugh.

…

“Brother Qin Yun, I’ll definitely be there next month,” replied Yang Jian as well.

…

“Hou Yi helped you kill Yellowbeard and is also taking in your granddaughter as his disciple? Your relationship sure isn’t ordinary. Don’t worry. I’ll definitely be there,” replied his Eldest Senior Sister, Old Mother of Blackfoal Mountain.

…

Friends sent their congratulations as Qin Yun and Hou Yi invited them to witness the ceremony a month later.

Their social network combined included the human’s Three Sovereigns, Ancestral Dragon, Goddess Houtu, Heavenly Lord of Primordial Unity and Salvation, Kong Xuan, Queen Mother, Old Mother of Blackfoal Mountain, Myriad Treasure, Goumang, Rushou, and company. Just the perfected Great Dao existences made up a huge bunch! There was no need to mention the perfected Great Dao existences. It was destined to be a rare celebration in the Three Realms!