Chapter 1569: Order (II)
Chapter 1569: Order (II)
Great void.
The pale, gleaming blade remained motionless, yet it pointed forward like a sharpened edge, forcing the surging True Fire to part and reveal the man's cold expression. His magnificent robes, wreathed in True Fire, shimmered with flowing brilliance, making him appear exceptionally imposing.
But the golden seal in the sky had already descended once more!
Boom!
Blazing True Fire poured down as Li Ximing's [Heaven-Venerating Gate] emerged, solidly bearing the force of the spirit artifact. But he was no longer alone. The radiant blade thrust forward without hesitation, prompting Shilou Yingge to raise his sleeve and sweep it out with commanding force.
"[Heaven-Enveloping Fire]!"
In an instant, his entire robe billowed upward from below as surging flames took the form of birds, binding the halberd in place. Yet from deep within the True Fire, another blade of light sprang forth, shooting straight toward his chest.
Clang!
Shilou Yingge showed no surprise. His sleeve flared open, releasing a bead of light that burst with a thunderous crack, bringing down roaring lightning that shattered the blade into fragments. Yet he did not press the attack. Instead, he dispersed into a gout of True Fire and reappeared on the other side with a calm expression.
Li Zhouwei's words had not been pleasant, but they were not without reason.
Shilou Yingge had chosen to act at this moment precisely to declare his stance. With the grotto heaven about to open and nearly all Purple Mansion Realm cultivators gathered here, there could be no better timing.
The Gao Family needed a life-and-death clash with the Li Family!
The earlier skirmishes along the shore had been nothing more than minor clashes. Even when Murong Yan made a move, Shilou Yingge had remained still. The Gao Family did need to take a stance, but with the situation unclear, a fight carried out under the banner of the north-south conflict could not truly cost lives and was therefore meaningless.
Only by truly offending Li Zhouwei, by bringing about a life-and-death crisis, can we truly sever ties with Wei's Li!
The plan laid out back then had been missed by sheer misfortune. The Murong Family had warned him time and again. He understood how dangerous it was for the Bolie King to appear aligned with the Li, and how humiliating it had been to be forced southward back then. The stronger that memory weighed on him, the stronger his desire to make a stand. Now, the only places he could truly do so were here and now, or within the grotto heaven itself!
If the Gao Family is to avoid becoming a sacrifice in the coming tides and have any hope of advancing further, we must become a blade. Even if that means becoming a different kind of sacrifice... it is still better than total annihilation.
He could not guarantee that the two members of the Li Family would enter the grotto heaven. So he had struck decisively, intending to force Li Zhouwei to reveal himself! He had long prepared himself for the possibility that even if Li Zhouwei did not appear, he would rather forfeit the opportunity within the grotto heaven and grievously wound Li Ximing, cutting off all future prospects.
Yet the man before him had spoken a single sentence. Though it carried a hint of mockery, everything that needed to be said had already been laid out plainly.
He, Li Zhouwei, will enter the grotto heaven. Settle it there if you wish!
Wanlin Heaven was no ordinary place. It might well be the most valuable opportunity in countless years, where a single treasure could equal a century of effort. Shilou Yingge had no intention of missing such a chance. His thoughts grew complicated as the True Fire behind him gradually subsided. Meanwhile, the turbulence within the great void intensified, streaks of purple light descending as cultivators began attempting to enter.
Shilou Yingge gazed at him in silence, then said quietly, "You and I will settle this within the grotto heaven."
Purple-gold radiance gathered while the crimson glow receded like a falling tide, sinking toward the grotto heaven. The halberd spun once in the air and came to rest in the void.
Li Zhouwei withdrew his gaze and looked toward Li Ximing. "I've dragged you into this, granduncle."
Li Ximing shook his head repeatedly. No matter how much humiliation he had just suffered, the moment he saw Li Zhouwei, his spirits lifted.
He smiled and replied, "What are you talking about?"
He stepped forward and looked Li Zhouwei over from head to toe. The man before him appeared even more imposing in both bearing and presence. A faint layer of pale, iridescent light seemed to cloak his body, and most striking of all were the two strands of golden light faintly dancing around him.
Even though he had already received the news through the jade talisman, he could not help but break into a wide smile.
As expected, Li Zhouwei said with a grin, "I was fortunate enough to succeed!"
At this moment, within Li Zhouwei's Shenyang Mansion, two colors intertwined as twin streams of brilliance shimmered, gold and white converging. He now possessed two divine abilities. Apart from the gold-yellow [Heaven-Venerating Gate], there was also a second ability, pure white as snow. It was the Heavenly Radiance Ultimate Profound Dharma Body Divine Ability, known as [Sovereign In Peril].
As a Body Divine Ability of the Bright Yang Dao, [Sovereign In Peril] suited Li Zhouwei perfectly in both circumstance and nature. Now that it had been achieved, it shone with overwhelming brilliance. Unlike Body Divine Abilities such as [Thousandfold Body] or [Cavern Spring's Echo], which emphasized dispersion and intangibility, this one focused on direct empowerment, overwhelming the enemy through sheer force!
By his own estimation, his footwork techniques had already reached the level of a Maha. If this Body Divine Ability were to reach full mastery, he would advance even further.
The true value of [Sovereign In Peril] lay in the very concept of peril itself!
If he were to be besieged, the more dangerous his situation and the greater the number of powerful enemies surrounding him, the more terrifying the amplification of the divine ability became. Li Zhouwei could even sense the [Fate of the White Qilin], which at its peak could grant [Sovereign In Peril] nearly a ninety percent increase in power...
For those besieging him, it was best if they could suppress him completely and kill him. If he managed to escape instead, once [Sovereign In Peril] completed its effect, the greater its accumulated power, the faster all injuries from the battle would heal!
Beyond its combat amplification, [Sovereign In Peril] also granted the ability to adapt with the moment and return to the proper path. As described in the [Scripture of the Body Guarding Tiger Pass], 'those who walk in peril think deeply, while those in safety grow careless.' Whenever he was affected by confusion or similar techniques during battle, he could instantly break free and regain clarity.
It's just a pity this divine ability is only useful in direct combat...
Aside from that, the Body Divine Ability also enhanced Li Zhouwei’s flight and movement through the great void, though not to the extent of those Body Divine Abilities that specialized in transformation. Having only just been formed, the improvement was still less than five percent.
Yet just as [Heaven-Venerating Gate] had the flaw of being cumbersome, [Sovereign In Peril] also had its weaknesses. This Dharma Body excelled at enduring sustained and entangling damage, but it fared poorly against explosive attacks such as sword intent, sharp metal, or lightning. What it feared most, however, was not direct confrontation at all, but opponents who avoided fighting and instead stalled with confinement, clones, dispersal, or illusions.
As for the many other subtle mystics and phenomena, such as the increased power of [Heavenly Radiance, Hidden Light], they were not worth detailing one by one. Most simply aided him in combat and cultivation, yet they brought Li Zhouwei countless insights and significantly advanced his Dao conduct.
The two exchanged a glance, intending to speak further, but the tremors in the great void grew more intense with each passing moment. Both of them could not help but look over.
Li Ximing hurriedly took out several pills he had obtained during this time and quickly pressed them into Li Zhouwei's hand. "Hurry and go. We can talk after you return. Just be careful inside!"
Li Zhouwei said nothing more. He cupped his hands briefly, his eyes shining as he replied, "I will go ahead first!"
He mounted the heavenly light, turning into a streak of radiance as he darted away. Li Ximing quietly let out a breath of relief, yet his gaze remained sharp with caution as he surveyed his surroundings.
"I don't know whether Tianwan has opened the Hongxue Dao lineage, but we absolutely can't let her slip away with it!"
Just then, the great void stirred again as the woman in light green stepped out once more.
Kuangyu's face showed clear displeasure as she said, "That fellow surnamed Shilou looks down on people!"
Li Ximing's eyes lit up as he asked, "Fellow Daoist, aren't you going in to seek treasures?"
A trace of temptation flickered across Kuangyu's delicate face, but she clenched her teeth and said, "The New Rain Scattered Reefs can't do without me... and I absolutely can't afford to be injured. Out here, I can still manage a bit and join in the excitement, but inside the grotto heaven, things are different."
Li Ximing fell into thought. He had already been wary of going alone and giving Tianwan an opportunity. Thinking that this woman was hardly on better terms with Crimson Reef Island, he felt a quiet sense of relief and smiled. "In that case, would you be willing to come along with me? There will be pills as compensation."
Kuangyu raised a brow. "Oh?"
Her features were somewhat different from those of Jiangnan women, carrying a hint of playful charm.
Under the shifting light, her originally dark eyes even took on a faint blue-purple hue as she said with a smile, "What is it? Does the great alchemist actually have a use for someone like me?"
"You flatter me!"
She clearly had a playful temperament. Li Ximing shook his head awkwardly and explained Tianwan's situation, deliberately leaving out any mention of the Hongxue Dao lineage. The woman's eyes lit up instantly, her reaction even more enthusiastic than his.
"Alright, alright..." Kuangyu smiled slyly. "Her family's Dao lineage is a foolish one, and she doesn't cultivate Merging Fire. She might act all high and mighty, but who knows what tricks she has? Better to be cautious... I'll stand guard for you!"