A journey through the world of martial arts

Chapter 127 Forceful Sealing of the Gate
Seeing himself trapped, the Crimson Blood Demon Lord felt a surge of pure light surrounding him, with nameless flames rising from his body. His soul felt torn apart, and he cried out urgently, "Fellow Daoist, if I die, those who have been infected with demonic energy will perish with me!"

Now, Chi Xue can only hope that Gu Xu will take those demonic seeds to heart, otherwise he will only face certain death. Fortunately, he made the right bet.

As Qingguang's refining power suddenly decreased, before Chixue could even rejoice, a talisman suddenly struck his body. After examining it, Chixue's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Divine Commander Seal!"

This Divine Seal is also one of the Tong Clan's unique skills, specifically designed to deal with the soul. Anyone who is struck by this seal will have their life and death entirely in the hands of their master, meaning they have no control over their own fate. Moreover, once the master dies, the person struck by this seal will also have their soul scattered.

Gu Xu said calmly, "This humble Taoist will not kill you now, but you shouldn't even think about leaving this place. You'd better stay safely inside the treasure mirror."

With a flick of his finger, the Soul-Cleansing and Mind-Cleansing Mirror shone brightly. The Crimson Blood Demon Lord was powerless to resist and roared a few times before being sucked into it.

As soon as the Crimson Blood Demon Lord withdrew, the Blood Cloud Formation lost its master. Gu Xu activated his Qi, and the Radiant Sun rose from his body. Under the radiance of the golden sun, the Blood Cloud evaporated at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the wronged souls within were also converted by the Treasure Mirror. A dozen breaths later, the Blood Cloud disappeared, revealing the original appearance of the palace.

"This place has excellent natural energy flow and abundant spiritual vitality, and it borders the outer realms, making it an ideal place for cultivation."

He had done most of what needed to be done. He had done his best to deal with the power of the calamity. As for the celestial anomalies and the war, he was powerless to do anything about them and could only let nature take its course.

The remaining time should be spent cultivating oneself, perfecting one's martial arts, and cultivating the primordial spirit realm to the second level as soon as possible.

"The transition between the real and the illusory requires a large amount of spiritual energy; it's a slow and gradual process. During this time, we should still leave some methods in place to prevent trouble in Lianyun Prefecture."

With the Crimson Blood Demon Lord missing, it's hard to guarantee that those with ulterior motives from beyond the realm won't make a move. It seems I need to exert some deterrence before going into seclusion for cultivation.

Thinking of this, Gu Xu used his escape technique and left the main hall in a flash.

Outside the main hall, Elder Gu and Elder Li looked extremely grim. Just now, they had discovered that the Holy Lord's life flame was weak and could be extinguished at any moment.

"Elder Gu, the newcomer's skill is far superior to that of the Holy Monarch. What should we do?" an old man in blue asked fearfully.

Even the Holy Emperor has been defeated. What can I do? I can't escape, and I can't win a fight. There's only one path left for me.

"Surrender!"

Elder Gu kept his eyes fixed on the hall. Although this person had defeated the Holy Monarch and taken over the Crimson Blood Palace, he was still only one person. Those trivial matters still needed to be done by others. At this time, the role of them became apparent.

"submission"

Elder Wang glared at Elder Gu, flicked his sleeves, and shouted, "I will never submit! Gu Fangtian, are you betraying the Holy Emperor? And all of you, you're all a bunch of cowards who cling to life and fear death! The Holy Emperor entrusted you with such important responsibilities, and this is how you repay him?"

Upon hearing this, the faces of the people following Elder Gu turned grim. As the saying goes, a wise man submits to circumstances. If you, Wang Wen, want to be a hero, then go ahead and be one. Why drag us into this?

"Elder Wang, as long as we're alive, we can always fight again. Right now, the enemy is powerful, so we have no choice but to be patient. When a turning point comes, I will definitely not hesitate to speak up."

"Ha, that sounds nice, but who knows what the future holds? Gu Fangtian, let me ask you one question: are you truly determined to submit?"

Meeting Elder Wang's piercing gaze, Elder Gu said calmly, "I have decided to submit."

"Very well, since that's how it is, don't blame me for being ruthless."

A red light flashed in Elder Wang's eyes, and he raised his hand to strike Elder Gu. The latter's expression turned solemn, and just as he was about to make a move, he suddenly felt that his body could not move, and his eyes involuntarily turned to Elder Wang.

Elder Wang remained motionless, his face showing astonishment, before turning into a wisp of green smoke and dissipating in the wind, much to Elder Gu's horror.

After a few breaths, Elder Gu regained control of his body and stared blankly at Gu Xu, who was surrounded by golden light on the palace platform.

"Greetings, Your Excellency."

Elder Gu immediately bowed, and the others followed suit. They had all witnessed Elder Wang's fate.

"The Crimson Blood has been suppressed by this humble Taoist. The Crimson Blood Palace is hereby disbanded. Those who have committed grave sins may be allowed to reincarnate if they commit suicide; otherwise, this humble Taoist will have to kill them without mercy."

Upon hearing this, the faces of some elders and disciples were uncertain. Since joining the Crimson Blood Palace, they had committed many atrocities. This person wanted them to commit suicide with just a casual remark, which was really asking too much of them.

An elder in blood-red robes stood up despite the pressure, roared angrily, and his body emitted a burst of blood-red light, which condensed into a blood arrow that shot out of the mountain.

As soon as he made his move, most people rushed to transform into blood and escape. They had cultivated for many years to achieve such merit, and it would be a great waste to just throw it away like this. It would be better to fight to the death.

Gu Xu watched quietly as hundreds of streaks of blood-red light shot out in all directions. The streaks of blood-red light collided with the Spirit-Locking Net, creating bursts of blood. A trace of blood energy was not enough to damage the net, but as the streaks accumulated, with everyone's efforts, the blood energy eroded a hole, and the remaining hundred or so streaks of blood-red light immediately rushed outward.

Elder Gu coldly watched the fleeing disciples, thinking to himself that they were courting death.

Just when everyone thought they had escaped Qingcha Peak, a blazing sun suddenly rose in the sky, its brilliant light like golden rain and its intense golden radiance like sharp swords. The sun's rays spread out, and anyone who was exposed to it instantly vaporized, leaving no trace.

Elder Gu was stunned by what he saw. He looked up carefully at Gu Xu on the stage, then lowered his head. This was the kind of strong person he should be pursuing. Fortunately, he hadn't done anything heinous, so he still had a chance to turn back.

"Elder Gu, you will take over the task of appeasement. Things cannot be allowed to fall apart here in Lianyun Prefecture."

"Your subordinate obeys," Elder Gu replied, delighted to hear Gu Xu's voice. His choice had indeed been correct. As for that Crimson Blood Demon Lord, who knew who he was?

With a flash of golden light, Elder Gu watched Gu Xu leave before slowly rising, taking a deep breath, and offering a few words of comfort to the others who were still in shock. He then assigned tasks to each of them, urging them to complete the tasks assigned by Gu Xu to the best of their ability.

Leaving Qingcha Peak, Gu Xu rode his escape light through the Lianyun Mountains, speeding all the way to the outer realm. In the distance, the sky was a hazy gray, with thunder and lightning flashing incessantly, and the booming sound could be clearly heard.

"This extraterrestrial demonic Buddha lineage certainly knows how to avoid danger and seek good fortune. Do they think that by concealing their tracks, I won't be able to find them?"

The escape light accelerated, and Gu Xu traversed the mountains and plains. He focused his energy in his eyes and used the Thousand-Mile Illumination Technique to search the surrounding area for a thousand miles. After a moment, Gu Xu's mind stirred, and his figure shifted, instantly arriving on a barren mountain. When he explored this place, there were some unusual movements, which seemed to be due to an isolation formation.

"It really is an array." Gu Xu took a closer look and saw that the array was divided into three layers, and its mechanism was very ingenious. It seemed to use a special magic artifact to connect with the earth's veins to achieve the purpose of concealment.

Just as Gu Xu was observing the formation, a portal suddenly opened on the formation, and a kind-faced Buddhist cultivator stepped out, wearing a kasaya, holding prayer beads, and radiating a faint golden light.

"Amitabha Buddha, greetings, fellow practitioner."

Gu Xu glanced at him, returned the greeting, and said calmly, "Fellow Daoist, I have only one thing to say: for the next five hundred years, no Buddhist cultivator is permitted to set foot in the Nine Provinces."

Upon hearing this, Zen Master Miaozhi paused, then said in a deep voice, "Since you speak so frankly, I will not mince words. If you can break the Buddha's Three Worlds Immeasurable Formation within three days, I will accept this agreement. What do you say?"

"Alright," knowing that the other party was unwilling, Gu Xu gave him face by breaking his formation openly. If he dared to go back on his word, then he would not be polite.

"Fellow Daoist, please," Zen Master Miaozhi heard Gu Xu respond, and with a flick of his body, his figure vanished like a bubble, then reappeared on a golden lotus platform.

Dozens of monks sat below the stage, each radiating a spiritual aura. Wisps of red incense continuously poured into them, making the light even brighter.

"Zen Master"

Upon seeing Miaozhi return, the monks below bowed in greeting. Miaozhi nodded and said, "Return to your positions and complete the operation of the Three Worlds Boundless Array. The success or failure of this undertaking concerns the fate of our Buddha. I hope you will all work together to overcome this difficulty."

"Strictly obey the law."

Master Miaozhi offered up his prayer beads, which shone with golden light. He clasped his hands together and began chanting scriptures. The monks below responded in unison, and the sound of chanting filled the air, creating a cleansing atmosphere throughout the entire residence.

Outside the formation, Gu Xu began to calculate, and suddenly felt a jolt in his mind. He saw the Three Worlds Boundless Formation shimmering with light, with Buddhist patterns and mantras floating on it. Praised by the power of incense, it formed huge golden Buddha images.

"These Buddhist practitioners are quite skilled. They use incense and ritual implements, combined with the power of prayer, to infuse the earth's veins. Although it's an unorthodox approach, it has its merits."

Gu Xu praised him and accelerated his calculations. His body was enveloped in golden light, which spontaneously resisted the attacking chanting. When the Zen Master Miaozhi in the formation saw this, he changed his hand seals, and the golden light deepened, turning into a bloody light. His originally kind face became ferocious, like a demon.

"I have diligently cultivated the Sutra of Salvation from Suffering for sixty years. Combined with the power of the magic array, even Qi Feng and others would not dare to claim victory lightly. If you cannot escape after three days, you will become my guardian Vajra." Miao Zhi had previously proposed the challenge to break the array, but in fact, he had other plans. If he succeeded, all would be well; if he failed, he would benefit from both sides.

Beneath the golden lotus platform, dozens of monks shouted in unison, and a great spiritual light shone above their heads, weaving into a golden cloud that merged with the blood-red light conjured by Miaozhi and surged outwards from the formation.

Gu Xu kept calculating with his mind. This Three Lives Formation merged the past, present, and future into one place. Although its defensive power was strong, the intersection of the formation's mechanisms was clearly distinct. The dividing point between the three lives was very obvious to Gu Xu.

"Once the balance point of the Three Lives Formation is broken, the formation will naturally dissipate, but the people inside should still have a backup plan."

As he pondered, a strangely colored cloud of light surged in like a tide, causing the protective light shield around him to contract continuously.

"This is the turbid energy of the mortal world," Gu Xu said, looking at the cloud of light. He pointed a finger, and a blazing sword aura rushed into it. Although it dispersed some of the cloud of light, the sword light was quickly swallowed up.

Is this all you're relying on?

With a thought, Gu Xu summoned a bright sun behind him, which rose into the sky and sent scorching heat rushing towards the turbid air of the mortal world. Everything that was touched by the sun's light was vaporized and dissipated. Taking advantage of the moment, Gu Xu quickly drew three golden talismans with his fingers. In just a few breaths, Gu Xu flicked his sleeve and sent them flying to the key point of the formation.

"Not good!" Miao Zhi, who was in charge of the formation, changed his expression and hurriedly increased his mental strength to activate the formation in an attempt to change the formation. At the same time, the rolling turbid air was also forcibly activated, and several monks with slightly lower power below trembled and fell to the ground.

The three golden talismans, one after the other, fixed the three key mechanisms. Although they were broken in an instant, Gu Xu was able to break them. A shocking sword light struck first after the opponent, and the three sounds rang out at the same time. The key mechanisms of the Three Worlds Formation were destroyed, and the remaining power of the sword energy still lingered. It shot up into the sky and shattered, severely damaging the main formation artifact.

The formation was disrupted, revealing a beautiful landscape of green mountains and clear waters, with pavilions and terraces on top. The highest level was a huge palace that shone with golden light, shrouded in auspicious clouds above and flowing with golden water below. Exotic fragrances filled the air, and heavenly flowers rained down. What a paradise on earth!

With the formation broken, Gu Xu urged his mind, and the intense light of Hao Ri increased its power. In just a few breaths, all the turbid air dissipated. With a wave of his sleeve, he dispersed the white mist and stepped into the camp.

The moment the formation was broken, Miaozhi was hit by the backlash of the formation's power. His golden body swayed and cracked. In shock, Miaozhi immediately transferred the damage to the monks below. Some monks who could not withstand it exploded and died on the spot, leaving the scene in a bloody mess.

"Fellow Daoist, this humble monk concedes defeat," Miaozhi sighed inwardly, rose and bowed.

"These nine golden lotuses are my compensation. Please, fellow Daoist, show mercy," Miaozhi said, and with a flick of his wrist, the nine golden lotuses landed one after another in front of Gu Xu, forming a circle.

Knowing that Gu Xu had seen through her thoughts, Miao Zhi immediately went all out, hoping that the other party would spare her life.

"Very well then. Please honor our agreement, fellow Daoist. I shall take my leave."

Gu Xu glanced at Miao Zhi, put away the golden lotus, and with a flash of light, left the camp.

"Master, from now on..."

Before Vajra Protector could finish speaking, Miaozhi stopped him with a gesture, saying, "This person's skill is beyond my reach; I am no match for him. If he hadn't held back, our lineage would have been wiped out in an instant. This outcome is already quite good."

After a pause, Miaozhi continued, "It will be no more than five hundred years. If we cannot witness the flourishing of Buddhism in this lifetime, then we will in the next. One day we will see it. Issue my decree to seal the mountain gate."

"Yes, disciple obeys," the Dharma Protector bowed and went to relay the order.

Miaozhi put away the prayer beads, only to find them covered in cracks. He was heartbroken. These incense-divine beads were the result of a hundred years of refining and cultivating the spirit-gathering realm. Now they had been reduced to their original state, and he didn't know how long it would take to repair them.

"This time, I've truly suffered a huge loss."

Half an hour later, Miaozhi received a message from the Dharma Protector Vajra that all the disciples had returned. He then put his hands together, and a rain of holy light fell, golden flowers fluttered, the formation reassembled, and golden light flashed several times. The entire encampment disappeared instantly, and to outsiders, it appeared to be a barren wasteland.

Pingshan Prefecture, Kuoyun Mountain

On a high peak, Qi Feng was enjoying tea with a scholar in a green robe. At first glance, the man seemed unremarkable, but his eyes were deep and penetrating. The longer one looked into them, the more one would be drawn in.

"Lord Qingshan, this is a chance the Daoist Master is giving you because you haven't committed too many atrocities. You must seize it. Daoist Gu Xu should have already arrived at Qingcuo Peak. If the demon race doesn't stop now, the consequences will be unpredictable."

Qi Feng blew away the tea foam, took a sip of tea, and spoke slowly.

Upon hearing this, Qingshan-jun closed his folding fan, placed it on the stone table, stood up, and looked down at the endless green mountains and rivers, a beautiful and magnificent landscape.

"Is that Daoist Gu Xu really as powerful as you say?"

"It can only be described in four words: unfathomable. His cultivation level is far beyond ours; even if the two of us joined forces, we would still be no match for him."

Qi Feng sighed deeply. After cultivating for many years, he originally thought he could break through to the upper realm with the help of dragon energy, but he could not grasp the key and was stuck at the last hurdle, unable to break through the void and leave.

"Ten years is but a blink of an eye for us. What is that person planning to leave this blank space?" Qingshan-jun asked Qifeng, puzzled.

"We can't fathom what that person is thinking. Besides, even if Master Gu Xu has some plans, can we really stop him? Since he's willing to sit down and discuss things with us, that's already the best outcome. Do we really want to oppose him?"

Upon hearing this, Lord Qingshan paused slightly, then said seriously, "Very well, the demon race should rest and recuperate for a while, until the future..."

Before he could finish speaking, Qi Feng and Qingshan Jun were both shocked, feeling a familiar aura disappear.

The two leaped into the sky at the same time, looking north. They saw that the blood cloud that had always been there was gone, and only a soaring sword aura was swirling around. As if it had sensed their gaze, the sword flashed and the two hurriedly withdrew. In the instant they dodged, a low hill was pierced by the sword aura.

"What terrifying sword intent!" Qingshan-jun looked at the hill that had turned into rubble, his heart filled with horror, and cold sweat poured down his face.

"Red Blood is dead, Lord Green Mountain. Take care of yourself. I take my leave."

Qi Feng left behind a sentence, his figure flashed, and he quickly left Kuoyun Mountain.

Watching Qi Feng depart, Lord Qingshan waved his hand and released a beam of spiritual light. Then, Lord Hu came over and bowed to Lord Qingshan.

"Aoyama-kun"

"Hu Xuan, the god-making plan needs to be brought forward. Is ten years enough time?"

Hu Xuan was taken aback upon hearing this, then said solemnly, "Ten years is all we can do."

"Do what you can. Also, bring Yingyin back to Nanling Prefecture to help Zhu Gang."

"What about Lianyunzhou?"

"That Daoist Gu Xu has already destroyed the Crimson Blood Palace. Now Lianyun Prefecture is no longer a viable option. This is for the best. We only need to focus on Pingshan Prefecture and Nanling Prefecture, and our strength can be concentrated."

"Lang Rong is currently in the Refining Spirit Pool and will need at least several months to fully recover. Once he comes out, have him help you. During these ten years, do your best. You don't need to ask for permission again for anything you need."

"Yes, I understand," Hu Xuan replied. It seems that things will change in the future, otherwise Lord Qingshan would not be in such a hurry.

"Ten years from now, no matter what the outcome, we must reclaim all the achievements and bring all the transformed demons back to Pingshan Prefecture."

After giving a few more instructions, Lord Qingshan vanished in a flash of light.

Hu Xuan bowed deeply to the place where Qingshan Jun had left, then walked down the mountain and came to a bright stone cave. In the middle stood a white jade stele with runes and cloud-like characters on it, which shone with light.

With his hand on it, Hu Xuan sent his thoughts to Zhu Gang in Nanling Prefecture and Ying Yin in Lianyun Prefecture.

After a few breaths, Hu Xuan withdrew his hand, left the cave, and walked down the mountain.

At the same time, the disciples of the Supreme Dao scattered throughout the Nine Provinces also received the message from the Dao Lord and quickened their pace.

(End of this chapter)