Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 500 Planning
The cultivator who asked the question was none other than the Golden Core protector who had come with the already deceased Shu Yuanjiang.

At this moment, the senior monk showed no sign of grief, but when he asked the question, he was extremely serious.

Upon hearing the question, Fei Dongwen, who was sitting next to Fei Yeyi, pondered for a moment and then replied in a low voice, "Fellow Daoist Shu, please don't be offended. When this official was imprisoned, it just so happened that Grand Supervisor Wei was visiting the office. He valued talent and specially ordered that his life be spared for the time being, in order to transfer him to the Liangxi Rong border later. That's why the supervisor didn't take any action."

"A mere fake cultivator, what future does he have?! What talk of treasuring talent!" The upper cultivator of the Shu family looked grim, staring at the sword-wielding cultivator on the mirage screen, his heart filled with resentment. However, once Fei Dongwen uttered the three words "Wei Dajian," he dared not utter another word.

The cultivators in the arena had been cultivating for many years and were mostly indifferent in nature. Therefore, regardless of whether they knew about the grudges between the two sides, they did not take the reaction of the Shu family cultivator to heart at the moment.

Fei Shuhe stood with her two sons in a corner of the Jade Hall. She was initially relieved to see that Kang Dabao and his two companions were gaining the upper hand in their battle against the old man with the braided hair. However, she became tense again as soon as she saw the reaction of the Shu family's Golden Core cultivator after the sword-wielding cultivator entered the arena.

Kang Changxi had complete confidence in his father, showing no sign of worry whatsoever. However, he did not expect that after only a few breaths, the scene in the mirage screen would change, startling him and Kang Changyi beside him, who almost cried out in alarm along with Fei Shuhe.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

With a resounding clang, the halberd and the blade collided heavily. As Master Kang caught Tu Quan, a tingling sensation spread through his palm. As his hand parted, crimson blood gushed forth, soaking the thick earth beneath his feet into a purplish-black color.

Kang Dabao sensed something was wrong, but remained calm. The spiritual energy from the "Mysterious Purity and Prosperity Secret Manual" within his body was once again channeled to the acupoints in his palm, and the tiger's mouth on his right hand quickly scabbed over.

The Primordial Spirit Body is indeed not an ordinary body-refining method. However, after a few more breaths, the black scab on the tiger's mouth of Master Kang was broken by new skin, and the discomfort immediately stopped.

A hint of surprise appeared on the face of the man holding Cui Wuyang's weapon.
The person who could make even Kang Dabao suffer a slight setback was someone that the clerk of the Demon-Slaying Division had emphasized beforehand. The swordsman in front of them was called Cui Wuyang, and he was indeed from a poor and lowly background.

However, after forming the Ice Leaf Dao Foundation a hundred years ago as a rogue cultivator, he gained the favor of the David's Imperial Guard.

Before he committed a crime and went to prison, he had already risen to the position of deputy general in the Qianniu Guard, commanding a battalion, and his status was only below that of the other generals.

However, no one knows which powerful figure Cui Wuyang offended, not only was the Core Formation artifact he acquired switched by someone through a trick, causing his Dao heart to be in turmoil, but he ended up only forming a fake Core.

He was later imprisoned for his crimes, going from a high-ranking official in the imperial court to a lowly convict, a truly lamentable situation.

The sect leader had no time to lament for the person before him. Seeing that the old monk with the braid had given up the idea of ​​escaping after Cui Wuyang entered, the black arrow in his hand emitted a bright light again, almost nailing into Fei Wanqing's beautiful face.

Fei Nanyi was naturally going to be saved. His lightning technique had consumed a great deal of energy, and even with the help of the Rejuvenation Pill, its power was not as great as it was at the beginning. The old cultivator with the braided hair was naturally able to control it.

The air was scorching hot from the thunderstorm. The old man with braided hair gripped the black arrow with his thin, bony fingers, easily dispersing the lightning in front of him. Then, the arrow emanated a viscous black light, corroding the surrounding gravel into dust.

With another whoosh, Fei Nanyi formed a hand seal to block it, and the lightning emanating from the talisman in his hands became even more dazzling.

However, the old man with the braided hair did not hold back in this attack either. The black arrow easily pierced through the lightning, and a large amount of black light eroded outward, suppressing the lightning in the field and making it disappear in an instant.

With a "bang," a mysterious light emanated from the single horn on Fei Nanyi's head, finally blocking the tip of the black arrow, but his magic robe was torn to shreds by the gale.

Even though his bare back was covered in bloodstains, Fei Nanyi still held onto the Thunder Incantation, refusing to retreat even a step. With his life on the line, he finally managed to knock the black arrow back.

The old man with the braided hair showed a look of surprise and doubt. He felt that the black arrow he had just picked up was also extremely hot. His palm skin tore open and blood flowed out like a thread.

After fighting for so long, his spiritual power was exhausted, and with just this one pause, Fei Nanyi seized the opportunity to exploit his weakness.

"boom--"

Fei Nanyi cleaved down with his fingers, and a blue-purple lightning bolt, like a poisonous dragon piercing the clouds, suddenly fell, but twisted abruptly three inches away from the old man with the braided hair.

The latter, of course, would not sit idly by and wait for death. The old cultivator with the braid gathered the little spiritual power he had left and channeled it into the tip of the black arrow, creating a vortex of black mist that actually twisted the violent lightning arc into tiny stars.

Gusts of wind lifted the old cultivator's braid, bringing a hint of joy to his face: "Is this all the skill they've acquired from outside? If that's the case, then I'll use this whetstone to break their blades today!"

The old man with the braided hair let out a hoarse laugh, which was accompanied by a stench of blood. He flicked his fingers into a sword shape, and with a single stroke, the black arrowhead was already aimed at Fei Nanyi's brow.

As the fierce winds swept in, the solid ground beneath Fei Nanyi's feet suddenly sank again.

Fei Nanyi frowned, and spiritual light rose beneath his feet, narrowly avoiding the attack. However, at this moment, the old cultivator with the braided hair's magic weapon arrived, and Fei Nanyi could not withstand it with just his horn and the Xuan Seal. He was knocked off the ground.

He felt a burning sensation in his throat, and as he spat out a mist of blood, his boots were covered in sticky, foul-smelling mud.

Before Fei Nanyi could react, he saw the blood mist he had vomited floating in mid-air, being scorched into crimson steam by the remaining lightning and fire.

The old monk with the braided hair changed his hand seals again, and the black arrow that had just been so fierce instantly transformed into nine phantoms that sealed off all directions. The yin and foul energy trailing behind the arrows condensed into chains, which were about to bind Fei Nanyi, who was still chanting incantations and making hand seals.

Fei Wanqing turned pale and hurriedly used her flying sword to save him. The old man with the braided hair was already confident of victory and naturally did not want to cause any further trouble.

This old man had lived for nearly sixty years and was indeed extremely decisive. He then used the tip of his left palm as a blade to slice off the knuckle of his right little finger.

With a puff of his mouth, a wisp of black smoke swept over his knuckles, which then transformed into a tall, white skeleton wielding a sword and shield, and fought alongside Fei Wanqing.

The old cultivator's use of this technique also severely damaged his vital energy, and he visibly weakened. The skeletal figure wielding the sword and shield was clearly no match for Fei Wanqing; after only a few exchanges, he was...
However, at this moment, he was somewhat excited, because if he could really capture these juniors who were sent in by the external cultivators for training, then there might be another way out.

He was already nearing the end of his life, and his lifespan was also running out, but he did not want to have his mind worn down and be forced to go to Liangxi to fight against the endless hordes of demonic beasts.

Fei Nanyi showed no fear, and the single horn on his head emitted a mysterious light again, finally stopping the old man with braided hair from using his magic weapon.

However, the latter seemed to have a do-or-die mentality. The old man with the braided hair strode closer, stepping through the cracks in the ground. With each step, the ground was turned into mud by the black light.

The yin and foul energy emanating from the tail of the black arrow seemed inexhaustible, tearing at Fei Nanyi's protective aura, which was already showing signs of collapse.

However, the latter still showed no sign of panic. In terms of ability, he was no match for the top-tier pseudo-core cultivator, the old man with the braided hair. But after all, the latter had been locked in the Xie Zhi Xuan Prison for nearly twenty years. Even if his strength was still there, he had lost all his foundation and did not even have a single Rejuvenation Pill, so it was difficult for him to last.

Fei Nanyi had thought it through clearly. If he and his nephew could withstand the old man's fiercest three blows, there might be a chance to turn the tide and win—provided that nothing unexpected happened with Kang Dabao.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Master Kang clearly saw the situation on the field. The old man with the braid was shrewd, and it was already remarkable that the Fei family uncle and nephew could hold on alone. The key to breaking the deadlock was not elsewhere, but between himself and Cui Wuyang.

Cui Wuyang stood with his knife in hand, his face calm and composed, the blade gleaming with spiritual light, the swirling winds cutting through the cracked earth with a rustling sound.

Kang Dabao's expression turned serious. He knew that Cui Wuyang had been taught a high-grade sword technique called "Tanhua Nimie Sword" when he was in the Imperial Guard. Like Jiang Qing, he often discussed techniques with Golden Core cultivators and was considered a genius of his time.

What's even more remarkable is that, according to the clerk of the Demon-Slaying Division, Cui Wuyang has already grasped the true meaning of it and touched the edge of the sword essence.

The sword technique "Ephemeral Sword of the Ephemeral Flower" is favored by high-ranking members of the David's Imperial Guard, which must be due to its unique qualities. This sword technique emphasizes the three realms of "true sword, like a sword, and no sword".

When you first start out, you only learn the form of the sword technique and understand the profound mystery of the moves. You use various swords to fight enemies. Although the power of the sword technique is still sharp and amazing, it is still inferior.

Once one reaches the state of "like a sword," everything becomes like a sword. At first, one uses knives, halberds, clubs, and other weapons as swords. When one reaches a deeper level, even flying flowers and falling leaves can become swords, and their power remains undiminished.

Once one cultivates to the state of "no sword," that is the great perfection of sword essence. Even a true master would be invited to sit down and discuss the Dharma with one another.

However, while this sword manual is tempting and considered an excellent ingredient for cultivating sword essence, few scions of wealthy families study it. This is because the "Ephemeral Sword of the Flourishing Flower" is known for emphasizing comprehension over material resources; to master it requires much more hard work than other techniques.

Therefore, even though this sword technique is relatively easy to obtain, those who practice it are mostly poor children like Cui Wuyang, who have some talent and perseverance. Without the help of resources or the support of elders, they can only rely on hard work and dedication to earn a bright future.

At this moment, Cui Wuyang wielded his saber as a sword, indicating that he had already glimpsed the threshold of sword essence, just like Jiang Qing back then, and could become a distinguished guest among those cultivating to the Golden Core stage. Given the cautious nature of Headmaster Kang, he naturally dared not underestimate him in the slightest.

As the halberd clashed with the blade, Master Kang staggered back several steps, deep cracks appearing beneath his feet, once again proving that Cui Wuyang was no ordinary man.

What's even more remarkable is that even when he had the upper hand, he didn't make any rash moves. Instead, he stood there very cautiously with his knife, revealing an unusually cautious nature.

Kang Dabao was naturally familiar with this; indeed, people like him, who rose from humble beginnings, were used to this when engaging in magical duels. The saying "thinking of defeat before victory, and of loss before gain" perfectly encapsulates the shrewdness and poverty that is hard to conceal in such people, and it is quite glaring and offensive.

Moreover, regardless of how skilled these people are, they rarely make mistakes, which is why Master Kang doesn't particularly like fighting against such opponents.

However, at this moment, there was no way to avoid it. Kang Dabao's hands did not hesitate. With a flick of his wrist, a large area of ​​black flames roared out again. The rolling heat wave completely eroded everything in the flames, but it was suddenly cut in two by a bright light.

"Truly impressive!"

Kang Dabao neither dodged nor evaded, but instead went against the grain, facing the light with his halberd in hand. However, as he took a step, his golden pupils shone brightly, and two golden rays collided directly with the incoming sword light, holding their own. After a few breaths, Kang even gained the upper hand. Kang, the Grand Master, could already see the sudden surprise in Cui Wuyang's eyes, but his spiritual light didn't stop for a moment. He stepped forward and brought his halberd down towards Cui Wuyang's head.

The latter remained calm and made no surprising moves, simply raising his knife to block.

The weapon, though a knife, contained the intent of a sword, causing Kang Dabao's hand to tremble. A burning sensation spread through half of his body's meridians, indicating that he had already suffered damage. The pain came suddenly and intensely, almost causing the butcher to drop his hand.

However, this also stirred up the ruthlessness in Kang Da's bones. He simply ignored his injuries and let Tu Gui fall to the ground, causing Cui Wuyang, who had been calm on the other side, to raise an eyebrow in surprise.

Then, an unstoppable force shot out from Kang Dabao's fists. Before Cui Wuyang could react, he saw that Kang Dabao's fists were already close to his eyebrows.

"What is this fellow's background? How come he comes out with such a ruthless and desperate approach, risking his life for another? Where is the slightest trace of noble pride?!"

In an instant, Cui Wuyang abandoned his offensive strategy. He valued his own life and chose to temporarily avoid the attack. He used his footwork to its fullest extent to barely evade the ferocious blow of the Eight Desolations Mountain Suppressor.

When Master Kang's fists landed on empty air, a huge crater was created in the ground. As dust billowed and visibility was reduced, the two of them simultaneously attacked again.

Kang Dabao's eyes shone brightly with golden light. Cui Wuyang's weapon was sharp and unstoppable. After one strike, the battle ended in a draw.

Cui Wuyang, who had already distanced himself from the attack, looked even more surprised and thought to himself, "This fellow's methods are no less than those of that little bald monk from Benying Temple."

In truth, he might be even more cunning than that little bald monk, and perhaps a Golden Core seed from some major sect? In that case, he might be more valuable than the two from the Fei family. If we could capture him safely, we could use him as leverage.”

The moment the thought crossed Cui Wuyang's mind, a hand seal formed in his hand. At this crucial moment in the battle, he, who was usually taciturn, finally uttered the first word: "Break!"

Kang Dabao heard a sound like metal clashing, seemingly coming from the throat of the person in front of him, before he spun around and unleashed a hundred sharp beams of light.

This strike was clearly extremely strenuous. Fine sweat beaded on Cui Wuyang's forehead, and his knuckles were also broken open. As his skin and flesh tore open, several drops of blood splattered out. The pain made his face turn solemn, and he let out a long breath.

The swordsmanship that could cause such depletion of the fake pills accumulated over the years must be extraordinary. Kang Dabao felt as if the sharp light was accompanied by the weeping of ghosts and gods when it struck. If his spiritual sense had not been far stronger than that of others of the same level, his spiritual platform might have been damaged at this moment.

Faced with the sharp light, Sect Leader Kang didn't hesitate and immediately summoned the secondhand talisman he had just acquired. The azure light shield had only just taken shape and could only withstand the light for a few breaths before it was shattered by the beams of sharp light.

Kang Dabao seemed to have anticipated this, but he remained calm, simply unleashing several more golden rays to block. Cui Wuyang's methods had already been somewhat weakened by the talisman, so Kang Dabao was able to barely manage to block them.

The former had foreseen that the young master from a prominent family would possess a protective treasure, but he had not anticipated that the young master's pupil technique would be so astonishing.

He had served in the Imperial Guard and guarded the Imperial Palace, so his experience was certainly not shallow. But in terms of pupil techniques alone, he felt that the skill of this tall and imposing man in front of him was probably comparable to that of some of the top-ranking instructors in the Imperial Guard.

You should know that they were all highly skilled cultivators who had reached the middle to late stages of cultivation. Even within the Imperial Guard, they were considered among the top figures, far beyond the reach of ordinary people.

“This man’s background is probably unusual, perhaps comparable to that little bald monk from Benying Temple.” Cui Wuyang’s eyes suddenly became visibly burning.

Even if he were framed and his path cut off, he is not yet two hundred years old. If he could gain freedom, he would truly be willing to give up anything.

He had just had a hasty battle with Fu Neng, and after hearing the latter mention his background and origins, he felt a bit more at ease. He could only muster seventy percent of his true strength, and after only a few exchanges, they tacitly parted ways.

But now that he had made up his mind and understood the situation, he naturally wanted to capture the younger generation in the arena to find a way out. However, just as this thought arose, Cui Wuyang saw that the Great Master Kang had taken several Rejuvenation Pills.

Even someone as powerful as Master Kang, after a fierce battle with someone like Cui Wuyang, would find his spiritual energy insufficient in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. It was nothing like fighting someone of the same level, which was as easy as killing a chicken or a dog.

After witnessing this scene, Cui Wuyang checked his own spiritual energy and found it to be completely depleted. The Bingliu prison was truly a dead end; even a trace of spiritual energy had to be captured from the air for a long time before it could be absorbed.

The imposing man before him was no ordinary opponent. Cui Wuyang's cautious mind came into play again. After weighing the pros and cons, he realized that continuing the fight would be difficult to sustain, and the eagerness in his eyes gradually faded.

"It's best to return to the central area of ​​the prison and plan carefully before we have a better chance of winning."

However, Cui Wuyang did not make any move, but instead looked at the old man with the braid.

The battlefield had also changed. The white bone puppet formed from the braided old man's finger joints was no match for Fei Wanqing's flying sword and had now been reduced to dust by the Azure Heart Sword.

Having already revealed all his cards and finding it difficult to continue, the old man with the braided hair had no choice but to abandon Fei Nanyi, who was on the verge of collapse under the weight of the filthy chains, and divert his attention to deal with Fei Wanqing.

"You stubborn brute, I told you long ago to come and join us, so you wouldn't end up like Tong He and his ilk, picked off one by one and having your souls taken away. But this fool, because of some minor squabble in this godforsaken place, refused to listen to me. In that case, it's truly your fate to suffer this calamity today!"

Cui Wuyang was indeed decisive. He only regretted arriving a step too late and failing to join forces with the old monk with the braided hair. Since a complete victory was hard-won, he no longer lingered. He simply launched another attack, blocking the Great Master Kang in place, and then walked away with a gentle breeze.

However, this commotion could not be kept secret from the other cultivators present, including the old cultivator with the braided hair.

Knowing he was being treated as a scapegoat, the old man with the braided hair gave a bitter smile, showing no surprise. But in that bitter smile, he suddenly pulled the black arrow away from Fei Nanyi's protective aura and turned it towards Fei Wanqing's vital points, who was being vigorously attacked.

"Haha, this girl, she thinks she's worthy of sharpening my knife?! I'll take her down with me, she'll be perfect for warming my bed!!"

However, the old man with the braided hair did not expect that the two golden lights were faster than his black arrow. Just as the black arrow struck Fei Wanqing's flying sword, the arrow tail was also grazed by the golden light.

Not only did all the filth and evil energy dissipate, but the black arrow also became so tired that it went astray.

In addition, Fei Wanqing was quick and skilled in footwork, having been taught by Shangxiu since childhood, which allowed her to barely survive.

However, the spiritual restraints on her chest robes were easily torn by the arrows. When Master Kang arrived quickly, he heard the sound of brocade tearing. Without even looking closely, he could see a plump, snow-white body breaking free.

Unfortunately, this identity was not right at the time. Despite her stunning beauty, Kang Dabao had no time to pay attention to her and joined Fei Nanyi, who had broken free of the filthy chains and was pale-faced.

From the moment that old man with the braided hair chose to switch his magic weapon, he had no chance of winning. The Great Sect Leader Kang coveted his flesh and blood, but he suddenly made his move before Fei Nanyi could unleash his fury again.

His halberd technique has indeed grasped some of the true essence of "The Halberd Master's Military Strategy" from the Wood Palace Star Lord. While he may not have reached the pinnacle of mastery, he can certainly control it with ease.

The halberd flashed out, splitting into two, each targeting one of the braided old cultivator's ears. The latter's spiritual power was insufficient even to maintain his magic weapon. He lightly made a hand seal, but his body, which should have fled, remained motionless. He could only manage a bitter laugh as he watched helplessly as the halberd flash entered his ear, turning the yellow and white inside his skull into a pulp.

It is truly lamentable that three hundred years of cultivation have turned to dust.

Afterwards, Master Kang abandoned his humble and subservient attitude from when he was away, and directly hooked the soul of the old cultivator with the braided hair into the purple jade bowl. As for the latter's remains, he took them along with all his belongings into his pocket for future use.

Even when facing Fei Nanyi, an elder of his wife's family, Kang Dabao showed no humility whatsoever. The latter was slightly surprised, but did not show much concern. He simply pulled Fei Wanqing, who had just finished tidying up, over to thank her as well.

Given Master Kang's personality, he naturally declined repeatedly, not daring to show the slightest hint of seeking favor in return.

"In my opinion, the prisoners in these cells are likely to cause some trouble!" After thanking him, Fei Nanyi spoke again. Headmaster Kang, filled with suspicion, suppressed even the slight joy he felt at obtaining the barbarian cultivator's bloodline and asked:
"What does Uncle mean?"

"This Cui Wuyang has always acted alone, and even his fellow imperial guards find it difficult to get close to him. Why would he come to help a barbarian cultivator of unknown origin for no reason?"

As soon as Fei Nanyi said this, Kang Dabao also felt something was wrong. In addition, as the days went by, the prisoners in the jail became increasingly rare, which was quite strange.

"Don't worry too much about Da Bao. Those clowns can't do anything respectable." Seeing that Master Kang frowned, Fei Nanyi comforted him again.

The three of them didn't say much, each taking a pill to heal their injuries in preparation for the next move.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Cui Wuyang hurried to the central area of ​​the prison. There was a magnetic mountain there, which naturally formed a barrier that was safe from outside cultivators. It was the only safe place in the C6 prison and Cui Wuyang regarded it as his own lair.

He was the most accomplished cultivator in the sixth cell of the Bing class. In the past, apart from the old monk with the braided hair, no one had ever tried to compete with him for this seemingly special but actually useless place.

When Cui Wuyang arrived, Cishan was much more lively than usual. It was crowded with prisoners, each of whom was of questionable skill, but all of them looked gloomy and full of hatred.

The Taoist priest had no intention of exchanging a single word with these lackeys. He passed through the crowd of people and arrived at a quiet room.

Inside was a grotesque young man with an ugly face and a large belly. His face was painted with runes from the three schools of Taoism, Demonism, and Buddhism. He sat upright in front of a long black curtain and in a boiling pool of blood, looking extremely eerie.

"Senior Cui is back? Did you manage to save that old man Wu Baofu?" The pot-bellied youth spoke in a childlike voice, which was quite eerie.

Seeing that Cui Wuyang's face was ashen and he did not agree, the pot-bellied youth did not bother to ask any further questions. He simply lifted the long curtain behind him, revealing a person hanging upside down inside, and said with a faint smile, "Senior Cui, don't be impatient. If we can gather a few more people of this caliber, after I form my core here, we will be able to gain a sliver of hope."

(End of this chapter)