Chapter 1698: Killing Formation (II)
Chapter 1698: Killing Formation (II)
Minghui fell silent for a moment, while Five-Eyed below felt his scalp go numb. That means they now have the First Incarnation Minghui of the Lotus Temple, Third Incarnation Daisi, and Fourth Incarnation Mingxiang. More importantly, there is also Gongsun Bei, who is in the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion Realm... Why did this man have to come as well? Damn it!
Five-Eyed was deeply uneasy. Those beneath the Golden Lotus Throne were each capable of tying down a single divine ability Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, while neither Daisi nor Minghui was an ordinary figure. Mingxiang was comparable to a mid-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivator as well. If only the Buddhist cultivators had taken action, he might still have held some hope, but the addition of Gongsun Bei changed everything. Their strength was no different from having three mid-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivators. Moreover, the general even possessed a spirit treasure specifically meant to counter Bright Yang!
He did not care in the slightest what happened to the White Qilin. What he feared was that the contingency left behind by that lord would require him to sacrifice himself!
Even if I truly turn against them and make a move, it will hardly affect the situation... I will probably just throw my life away for nothing. That damned Ch'i is making a mountain out of a molehill!
Lotus Temple is indeed unreliable, but this is truly strange... Ch'i Lanyan is just a rustic Daoist cultivating immortality in the mountains, completely removed from worldly affairs. His previous arrangements for the southern campaigns were practically jokes, so how does he suddenly possess such cunning? What the hell is going on?
While Five-Eyed racked his brains for a solution, realization appeared on Minghui's face even as his heart sank.
He said with a smile, "We made our arrangements for the assault on Moongaze long ago. We are truly touched by Fellow Ch'i's concern, but I fear the other fronts may be left short-handed!"
Yanbai showed Daisi no courtesy, but he held some goodwill toward Minghui because of the private agreement between their two Daos to spare as many mortals as possible. He did not show it, however, and his words remained wholly blunt.
Pressing his palms together, he said calmly, "It can hardly be called concern. After hearing the report from Great Primordial Hidden Radiance Temple, Ch'i Lanyan bluntly declared that Lotus Temple habitually resorts to underhanded compromises and cannot be entrusted with important tasks. He fears that Fellow Daoist Mingxiang is intent only on preserving himself and will obey in appearance while defying the orders in practice."
Minghui's gaze darkened, while Mingxiang's expression grew even more severe. In truth, Ch'i Lanyan had guessed correctly. The two senior and junior brothers had indeed been shirking their duties amid the confusion, but having it exposed so bluntly was still deeply embarrassing. Minghui could hardly blame the man before him for speaking frankly, so he began cursing inwardly instead, Ch'i Lanyan... Ch'i Lanyan... That son of a bitch Ch'i Lanyan!
The more he thought about it, the less sense it made. His higher status also led him to view the matter from a very different perspective.
What madness has seized Ch'i Lanyan? His Pavilion of Profound Order acts on behalf of those on the mountain, but could those on the mountain possibly want Li Zhouwei dead? How could that be?! They must want that lord to continue down this path step by step and attempt Fruition Attainment. Yet now, Ch'i Lanyan, you suddenly insist on killing or crippling him... How could that possibly serve their interests?
Minghui racked his brains but still could not make sense of it. Every cultivator involved had a motive. Why was Gongsun Bei, a cultivator of the Great Zhao court, so enthusiastic about the southern campaign? Why had he prepared so thoroughly? It was because he cultivated Radiant Essence. By reenacting how Radiant Essence had once destroyed Bright Yang, he stood to benefit from it. He also harbored a desire to pursue the Buddhist Dao, which made him even more eager to injure or destroy Bright Yang...
If one or two Buddhist cultivators of the Eighth or Ninth Incarnation wanted to kill Li Zhouwei, Minghui could fully understand their desire to seize his fate. But why was Ch'i Lanyan involving himself? After all, Wei Xuanyin had always acted under orders from those on the mountain, using Bright Yang to draw out the movements of the Buddhist cultivators!
Something must have caused him to change his mind...
Daisi, meanwhile, laughed with obvious delight at Minghui's misfortune, believing that the latter's scheme against him had fallen apart. He strolled leisurely about with his hands clasped behind his back, occasionally making a sarcastic remark, but Minghui had no attention to spare for him.
Yanbai's assignment south had completely disrupted Minghui's plans. None of the cultivators present were blind. Mingxiang's participation was bound to tip the battle overwhelmingly in their favor, making it nearly impossible to hold back without being noticed. Worse still, Mingxiang did not even understand the real problem. Once the fighting grew intense, he would certainly show no mercy!
Mingxiang's inclusion greatly brightened Gongsun Bei's expression. He gave the two brothers a remarkably cordial nod and wasted no time before saying, "Please take the vanguard. I will wield the treasure from within the great void and ensure that we seize the advantage with a single strike to suppress that villain!"
Mingxiang cupped his hands in acknowledgment and took the lead, rising into the air on the wind with a trace of eagerness. Minghui, however, felt utterly overwhelmed, and even greater fear welled within him.
Moreover, once Yanbai finishes dealing with Lixia, or if he is forced to retreat from the south, he will very likely come to reinforce the assault on the lake...
————
Boom, boom, boom...
Thunderous war drums echoed above the river as countless battle cries surged into the sky. The black-robed man stood on the shore, gazing at the indistinct dharma body looming within the clouds and mist, enormous as a mountain, in the distance.
Shimmering brilliant light poured through the white mist, making the battle cries below seem all the more insignificant. A colossal figure extended its limbs from within, followed by the head of a golden body that radiated sacred brilliance.
Its enormous mouth moved with a resonant hum. "Mingxiang of Lotus Temple greets you, benefactor!"
His voice drew heavenly light down from across the sky, layer upon layer of color overlapping in the air. The black-robed man's expression grew solemn as he stood with his hands behind his back, the killing intent in his eyes intensifying.
Boom!
The two golden palms descending from the heavens were bound by surging threads of Bright Yang light. Li Zhouwei reached out, and as billowing purple flames spread around him, he drew forth a halberd!
In the next instant, an alms bowl appeared. That familiar purple-black radiance bloomed once more, and Karmic Fire swept out from within.
Li Zhouwei's gaze turned icy. "Daisi..."
Daisi met his gaze head-on and instinctively flinched away, only to recover immediately and fly into a rage. The divine ability in his hand blazed even brighter as he cursed, "Beast! You still dare resist!"
A massive umbrella of jade-green and yellow spun open behind Li Zhouwei. The radiance of the [Hundred-Ridge Profound Stone Umbrella] blocked every wisp of Karmic Fire. He flicked his halberd upward and turned abruptly, knocking a golden sword out of the great void with a metallic clang.
Boom!
Mingxiang's Buddhist artifact had been gathering power for a long time, thus it did not yield in the slightest when it collided with Li Zhouwei. Billowing purple flames spread outward as a golden body appeared on either side of Li Zhouwei. One rode a crimson tiger, while the other bore five eyes upon his body, both terrifying to behold. One seized the shaft of his halberd, while the other activated his mystics to lock down its tail.
Feeling the restraining force transmitted through the halberd, Li Zhouwei immediately knew that both of them served beneath the Lotus Seat!
The highest reaches of the sky suddenly split open, revealing Minghui, who had been gathering power for some time. He held a mirror high above his head as a thick torrent of multicolored brilliant light poured down, aimed directly between Li Zhouwei's brows!
However, Li Zhouwei showed no trace of panic. The large hand gripping the shaft of his halberd suddenly exerted its strength, and golden patterns spread across his arm, causing both Merciful Ones beside him to change expression. His gaze pierced through the churning smoke and dust and locked directly onto Minghui's eyes.
That single glance sent cold sweat breaking out across Minghui's body, though a vicious grin appeared on his face.
Before he could utter any threats, and before Daisi's cry of 'Beast! You still dare resist!' had faded from the sky, another rolling wave of sound carried by a divine ability followed immediately after it. Continuing the same thought, it spread through the great void, cold and venomous.
"With every cultivator gathered here today, how could we allow you to run rampant?!"
It was none other than the five-eyed Merciful One!
The voice carried by that divine ability delighted Minghui beyond measure, though he also found it somewhat strange. A profound tone infused his voice as he laughed sinisterly. "Exactly! With both immortals and Buddhists gathered here, we will surely make you perish upon the lake!"
Five-Eyed silently swallowed as Gongsun Bei's expression soured within the great void. He looked first at Daisi, then at Five-Eyed, and finally at Minghui. He seemed about to speak but stopped himself, his brows knitting tightly.
These people are far too arrogant... Not one of them is reliable! There was truly no need to say that.
Boom!
Brilliant light suddenly flared within the great void. Da Sheng swept outward, knocking Five-Eyed aside first, before Li Zhouwei raised his halberd and held it diagonally against the torrent of multicolored light pouring down!
He endured the immensely powerful yet highly dispersed Buddhist light head-on, his gaze icy as he calmly broke eye contact with Minghui. His Immortal Mirror had already swept forcefully through the great void and discovered Gongsun Bei lying in wait with his energy gathered!
Golden One's warning was not without reason... What an enormous force they have assembled.