Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 174 The Grand Opening Ceremony: Capturing the Dragon and Controlling the Crane
The fifth day after Liexia lay dead in the desolate mountains.

At Chenshi (7-9 AM), outside the city walls of Chengdu, the sky was a bluish-gray as if veiled by fine gauze, with light drizzle falling and a slightly damp coolness pervading the air.

Seven or eight horses galloped past on the main road in front of the city gate.

These horses were not from the first troop; on the muddy road, the hoofprints varied in depth, some new and some old.

On the right side of the main road, many江湖人 (jianghu people) who had traveled from Wenxian County in Longnan to Shu County via the Motianling Mountains gathered.

This group of people traveled the Yinping Road, the very road Deng Ai used to secretly cross Yinping and conquer Shu at the end of the Three Kingdoms period. It was extremely dangerous, and there were powerful bandits who relied on the mountains for defense, making it unsuitable for merchants and travelers. Only those with real skills would dare to take such a risk.

They had only just arrived in Chengdu when seven or eight men carrying guns and knives, suppressing their anger, smeared mud from their bodies with horses' hooves while cursing and swearing.

He greeted all the ancestors, from the eighth to the ninth generation.

"Damn it, are these people in such a hurry to be reborn?"

"Forget it, don't cause trouble on other people's turf. There have been many changes in Sichuan and Chongqing recently, so it's probably not that peaceful."

A burly man in a short shirt tightened his grip on the bundle and continued, "The Liang Emperor's son died in Duzun Fort. A while ago, I heard that a powerful clan from Hexi sent people to Shu County to seek revenge and cause trouble, but they soon disappeared."

He shook his head and said, "I think these people have lost their minds. They don't understand that they've mistaken Sichuan for Hexi."

"The Sogdian people only benefited from Li Gui's influence. Do they still want to act arrogantly here? An Xiuren's death was in vain."

"Li Zhongyan and Xi Qin joined forces, and Xue Renyue died at the hands of Grand Commander Zhou. They were defeated so thoroughly, yet they still make foolish moves. Now they want to contact Hanzhong. Do they really think the powerful families of Hanzhong are fools?"

He chuckled, and the people around him laughed too.

A very tall man chimed in:

"Yes, if I were from the Hanzhong family, I would definitely support Bashu right now. Aren't the major factions in Longnan thinking the same thing?"

"In this chaotic world, whoever has the strongest fist and the greatest power is right. If Li Gui can hold onto Hexi against this Grand Commander Zhou, he'll be lucky."

They were discussing this when they came from Yinping Road, and they felt even more moved after arriving in Chengdu.

The locals' accounts of the battle differed from the rumors; they spoke the truth, and the details were even more shocking.

In particular, the mood when mentioning "Grand Commander Zhou" was vastly different from that in Longnan.

The experts in Duzun Fortress are all top-tier figures who are rarely seen in the past.

As one of the heroes vying for supremacy, the Grand Commander actually confronted these legendary figures head-on, which earned him the admiration of these江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world) people.

"let's go."

"Find someone knowledgeable to ask around and see what's going on in Chengdu. It's one thing to get covered in mud and water, but don't cause even bigger trouble before you even get to visit the Sichuanese."

They came from the largest gang in Longnan, the Wudu Gang.

Although it can't compare to the fame of the Longxi faction next door, it is still a major local gang.

This visit to the Sichuan clique is also a signal that the major cliques in Longnan are beginning to take sides.

The setbacks suffered by Western Qin and Liang were not as significant.

It was mainly the Li clan of Guanzhong.

Among the people Li Yuanji carried to Guanzhong was Diao Ang. They were all too familiar with the willow-leaf dagger. The leader of the Longxi Sect, the number one sect in Guanzhong, had three top experts under his command, one of whom was Diao Ang. Everyone in Guanzhong knew him.

The Wudu Gang members were practically dying of joy.

The Longxi faction had already aligned itself with the Li family early on, and its influence was even greater. The Wudu gang was destined to never be able to hold their heads high again.

But this change came unexpectedly. You guys continue playing with Li Yuan, we're going to find the Grand Commander.

The group arrived at the city gate and asked around.

They actually uncovered a major issue.

The Demon Lord of the Heavenly Gate intends to build the Heavenly Lord Palace in Sichuan.

The grand opening ceremony was to take place in five days, and Xi Tianjun summoned all the major sects to attend.

With the Buddhist and demonic forces gone and the Grand Commander no longer in Sichuan, Xi Ying's rise to power at this time is clearly an opportunistic move.

When the tiger is away, the monkey becomes king.

People from Longnan would scoff at this idea when they first heard it.

But upon closer inquiry, it gave me the creeps.

In his early years, this Heavenly Ruler Xi was punished by the Heavenly Blade Song Que for using the title "Heavenly Ruler," and was chased for thousands of miles by him, almost losing his life.

Afterwards, he secluded himself in India to cultivate demonic arts, achieving great success. He then entered the Coffin Palace for further study, eventually perfecting his demonic arts.

Now, it is said that he has comprehended the will of many evil emperors under the Evil Emperor Temple, and his power has reached the pinnacle, a level that is unimaginable to ordinary people.

He stormed into the Great Stone Temple, seized control of the Buddhist altar, and built the Heavenly Lord Hall on the gate of his mortal enemy, the virtuous monk.

Their intention was to surpass others, dominate Sichuan and Chongqing, and push the Extinction of Emotion Path to the pinnacle of the two sects and six paths.

Judging from Xi Ying's appearance, it seems he plans to build a second "coffin palace" in Sichuan and Chongqing.

"This Demon Lord is ruthless. He took out his hatred for the previous abbot on innocent monks, not even sparing some novice monks. But his martial arts are really powerful. Several experts who came to cause trouble were unable to force him to make a second move."

"What are the attitudes of the Ba'an League, the Chuan Gang, and Duzunbao?"

An old man from Shu County said, "I heard that they were also invited to participate in the opening ceremony of the Heavenly Lord of the Demonic Sect."

"This"

The members of the Wudu Gang all looked astonished.

But after years of fighting in the martial arts world, upon careful consideration, one can understand the key to it.

Yang Zhicheng, the deputy leader of the Wudu Gang, said:
"Xi Ying was originally one of the eight great masters of the Demonic Sect. Now his power has greatly increased, and the forces in Bashu dare not offend him. Those people just now were the people sent out by the Heavenly Monarch Palace. It's fortunate that we didn't fight with them."

"The three major powers are probably just playing along. This matter will surely be reported to Grand Commander Zhou."

"There's another war going on in the Jianghuai region. It's hard to say when the Grand Commander will be able to return."

Elder Su Qiaosong stroked his mustache: "According to the martial artists of Shu County, Xi Tianjun's martial arts are unpredictable and strange. With the Grand Commander here, it is hard to say who will win or lose."

One of the gang members laughed and said, "This is going to be quite a spectacle."

"This week's Grand Commander is a Taoist Celestial Master. Xi Tianjun's name violates the taboo of the Heavenly Blade Sect. I wonder if he has violated the taboo of the Celestial Master."

A few more people gathered around:

"Since I can't waste any more time, I'll go to Dashi Temple to join in the fun and see what this Demon Lord looks like. He has three heads and six arms, which is why the forces of Bashu are so afraid of him."

"Perfect, I've never seen such a master before."

"It's a pity that Grand Commander Zhou isn't here."

As the group was talking, the deputy gang leader, Yang Zhicheng, twisted his neck and looked towards the north gate of Chengdu.

At this moment, two bamboo umbrellas floated on the road.

The young man in white walked slowly, umbrella in hand, his blue robes fluttering slightly, like a lone crane soaring through the clouds. A little later, the girl in blue tilted her oil-paper umbrella slightly, beads hanging from its edge, splashing into the crevices of the stones and making a series of tinkling sounds.

The drizzle gently nourished all things, and the two of them blended into the rain, quietly entering the beautiful depths of Sichuan.

That night, in the quietest courtyard of the Sichuan Gang headquarters, lights were lit again.

Fan Zhuo and Yan Chongxian grinned from ear to ear.

He wrote a letter and sent it to Lord Feng and Lord Jie.

Since the last great battle, many outsiders have come to Shu County. These people are not here to persuade the three major powers, but only to inquire about the details of the Battle of Chengdu and to show their willingness to align themselves with the Jianghuai region.

Of course, most people are still observing.

The Heavenly Emperor's Palace has also attracted much attention this time.

Fan Zhuo had only received news from Hou Xibai before, and he always felt that the amorous young master was unreliable. Only today did his confidence grow.

Now that the three major forces have allied and announced their support for Jianghuai, they naturally want to expand their forces.

Therefore, they are very hospitable to visitors from Hanzhong, Longnan and other places.

In the past, others advised them; now they are the ones advising others.

At this time, Fan Zhuo made arrangements with Ba Meng and Duzunbao, giving Xi Ying a huge favor and bringing his own guests to help him.

The ceremony to honor Xi Tianjun was even more lively, and a grand gift was also presented.

Fan Zhuo shared some of his ideas with Yan Chongxian, who praised him as a talented individual.

Originally, Xi Ying's matter was causing them worry, but now they are worried that Lao Xi doesn't have enough manpower and want to help organize the publicity.

If there aren't enough people to attend the feast, and the local customs can't be properly observed, it would be a huge embarrassment.
Anlong is no longer in Sichuan.

Hou Xibai gently waved his folding fan:
"He's quite cautious. That day I noticed that the butler of Duzun Fort, Xie Zhiling, was secretly contacting him. I followed the clues and found out that he was willing to give up even the liquor business."

Zhou Yi had already guessed: "No need to overthink it. If it wasn't arranged by your master, then it could only have been done by your senior brother."

"Yang Xuyan?" Hou Xibai frowned. "Why not the Great Venerable?"

“If the Great Venerable cannot find the Secluded Forest Cottage, Yang Xuyan can.”

Hou Xibai nodded: "I don't understand why Anlong would choose Yang Xuyan over Shi Shi."

Zhou Yi commented objectively:
“Your senior brother is quite talented. His assassination of Yang Guang made him famous throughout the land and resolved his inner conflict. It’s normal for Anlong to think highly of him. After all, he’s younger than Shi Zhixuan.”

When asked about "youth," Hou Xibai glanced at Zhou Yi.

You can clearly feel the changes in him.

"My senior brother Yang is already quite a genius, but the existence of Brother Zhou in this world is a tragedy for someone as talented as him."

Hou Xibai smiled and said, "He's not as good as me. I always find a way to beat Brother Zhou."

Zhou Yi gave him a look that said, "You're just trying to comfort yourself: Your drawing skills have never beaten mine."

Hou Xibai was not discouraged at all: "I just haven't met the right person yet."

Shi Qingxuan knew about their affair and came closer at this moment:

"I can offer my comments."

Shi Qingxuan was Hou Xibai's junior sister, which should have been a great advantage for him, and Hou Xibai almost agreed.

However, upon glancing at the two figures, one white and one blue, in front of him...

They stood side by side, sharing an unspoken understanding.

He waved his hands hastily and smiled gently.
"Thank you, Miss Shi, but I have already arranged with Brother Zhou to have Fairy Shi evaluate the painting, and I have already made up my mind to do so for the time being. This competition is of utmost importance, and I dare not let it affect my state of mind."

"pity."

Shi Qingxuan lowered her eyes and sighed: "I originally wanted to help you and make this undefeated Grand Commander Zhou lose last time, but Young Master Hou missed a good opportunity."

"Qingxuan, why are you treating me like this?"

Zhou Yi followed her words, a hint of resentment showing on his face.

Then, they looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh.

Hou Xibai quickly fanned himself with the beauty fan in his hand and looked away with annoyance.

You two are trying to fool me with how you're all lovey-dovey?
However, he also felt a sense of frustration.

Regardless of painting skills, Brother Zhou is definitely more suitable than me to be the successor of the Flower Pavilion.

He was lost in thought for a moment, but after regaining his composure, he told Zhou Yi about the news from Xi Ying's side.

Based on Hou Xibai's words and the HeartNet network he saw in Bayannur, Zhou Yi also became interested.

Old Demon Xi seems to have mastered some of the tricks of the trade.

Over the next four days, the weather cleared up for two days, followed by two more cloudy days.

Zhou Yi had been cultivating and stabilizing his condition, so he stayed in the Sichuan gang and didn't go anywhere else.

He was practicing meditation, but the entire Shu Prefecture was becoming increasingly restless.

On the fifth day, a large number of martial arts practitioners poured out from the area south of the city.

Everyone was heading towards the same goal: the Great Stone Temple.

Xi must have been very good at choosing a location; in midsummer, the bamboo and trees here are lush and the ancient cypress trees are verdant.

After passing through a vibrant area, several large cypress trees disappeared from view, revealing a continuous red wall behind them, with the tallest pagoda standing majestically, seemingly piercing the clouds.

It has now been named Tianjun Tower.

Dashi Temple is the largest Buddhist temple in Sichuan and Chongqing, and it naturally exudes a solemn atmosphere.

Now occupied by the Demonic Sect, it has a sinister feel of Buddhism and demons colluding. In addition, the banquet hall has been decorated, with some changes to the layout and decorations. The pillars have been blackened with pine soot ink and sprinkled with gold powder.

The window panels and the lintels of the main hall have been replaced with new plaques and black cloths and veils.

He also brought in some strangely shaped sculptures and stone statues to fill the main hall. All these additions had their eyes painted with cinnabar, so that from a distance they looked like their eyes were bleeding, which was eerie and terrifying.

The original Buddhist walls were painted with murals in pure, bright cinnabar, mostly depicting alluring beauties with veils revealing their bellies, disrupting the purity of the Buddhist temple.

People began entering the large stone temple, which had been transformed into the Heavenly Lord's Palace, around 7:00 AM.

The defeated army that escaped from Duzun Fort, as well as the people of the Great Ming Zun Sect, all became Xi Ying's subordinates.

They were actually quite convincing as they solicited guests at the entrance.

Judging from these arrangements, Xi must have been prepared in advance.

It is evident that this group harbored great ambitions, not only seizing control of the Dashi Temple but also aiming to dominate and devour Sichuan and Chongqing.

The Heavenly King Hall, the Seven Buddhas Hall, and the Great Buddha Hall were all completely renovated by Xi Ying's men.

Further in, beside the rows of main halls, a tall tower rises amidst thousands of bamboo trees. In front of this magnificent tower, incense altars have been set up, where people from various sects can offer incense.

Those who bring gifts are entitled to a banquet in the courtyard behind the tower, and may even have a drink with Xi Tianjun.

By the end of the 9-11 AM time, a large number of onlookers had gathered in front of the tower.

During the alliance meeting at Duzunbao Town Chuanlou, many people stayed outside the building and were unable to enter.

This time, however, is different.

Xi Tianjun treated all forces, large and small, equally, allowing them all to enter the hall to witness the ceremony. If the Da Shi Temple were not so large, it would never have been able to accommodate so many fellow martial artists from Sichuan and Chongqing.

This time, the Shenquan Sect, Wan'an Gang, Suishan Sect, Longyou Sect, and other forces also came.

Many more forces came from outside after hearing the rumors about Sichuan and Chongqing.

For example, the Wudu Gang, the Changhe Gang and the Mingshui Sword Sect from Hanchuan County, and the Nanzheng Avenue Society, which makes a living as a security escort agency.
After the many martial arts practitioners gathered here, they first looked towards the center of the tower.

A tall, slender man with purple eyes was looking down.

Xi Ying abandoned his usual refined scholarly demeanor, donning a black cloak adorned with gold trim, and a golden knife was worn diagonally on a magnificent belt inlaid with three gemstones the size of pigeon eggs.

He changed out of his blue robe and into a magnificent brocade robe, embroidered with gold and colorful patterns, and wore a golden hairpin crown.

It's just that the weather wasn't cooperating; otherwise, with the sunlight shining down, he would have been radiant with golden light and become the true Buddha of the Great Stone Temple.
Looking down at the crowd of martial arts practitioners, Xi Yingsheng felt an invincible sense of superiority and looking down on all living beings.

Long-suppressed emotions welled up in his heart, and he shook his cloak and suddenly burst into laughter.

That laugh had a penetrating power that instantly silenced the cacophony of voices.

The vast bamboo forest, under Xi Ying's smile, shook off the rain, producing a dense, pattering sound.

The group of martial arts practitioners looked up.

It's impolite for Xi Laomo to make people crane their necks to see him, but his methods are ruthless and not to be trifled with. Now, with this smile, his great power is evident, and ordinary people dare not say a word.

They need someone to make an example of, and discerning onlookers won't give them the chance at this time.

This old demon dared to establish a Heavenly Monarch Palace; he truly has ability.

Everyone was stunned by him, when suddenly Xi Ying's men rushed in to report:

"Your Majesty, Lord Jie, Alliance Leader Feng, and Chief Fan have all arrived."

The messenger raised his voice, excitedly announcing, "These three guests have also brought two valuable gifts for the Heavenly Emperor."

Many people were surprised and suspicious.

The three major powers of Bashu dare not directly confront Xi Tianjun's power; are they cowards? Wasn't it said that the Ba Alliance had a deep-seated hatred for Xi Ying?

At this moment, even Xi Ying on the tower was slightly taken aback.

He stood at a distance, his authoritative voice carrying down: "What precious gift is it?"

Before the subordinates could reply, someone shouted:
"Xi Tianjun, the congratulatory gifts from Duzunbao, Bameng, and the Sichuan Gang have arrived!"

The five or six hundred people blocking the open space in front of the incense altar of the tower parted to make way.

Several burly men made "hehehe" sounds.

The dozen or so burly men were divided into two groups, one in front and one behind, carrying two objects covered with red cloth, which looked very heavy.

Carrying the load all the way from Chengdu to Dashi Temple was clearly no easy task.

Everyone was curious about what it was.

Fan Zhuo, Xie Wenlong, and Feng Zhen walked at the front, and onlookers couldn't help but feel a little disappointed when they saw the slight smiles on their faces.

The three major powers have conceded and chosen to coexist with the Heavenly Monarch Palace in Bashu, so it seems that a war is unlikely.

"Xi Tianjun, these two gifts are the result of our three families' painstaking efforts. Please accept them."

Xi Ying did not expose their fake smiles and said with a smile, "You three are too kind."

"Oh, it's just a small token of my appreciation."

When the leader of the alliance walked up to a huge gift, he lifted the red cloth covering it, and the passersby changed color and hurriedly retreated.

It was a large bell.

A temple bell, as the saying goes, is a fitting symbol of morning bells and evening drums.

But to present it like this at the opening ceremony, and to paint the bell completely black and hang paper banners on it, isn't that cursing the person in question to die?
These three guys are all smiles and daggers.

The forces of Sichuan and Chongqing are indeed not easy to deal with.

Xi Ying stared at the large black bell, his smile widening: "Good, a fine bell."

Fan Zhuo went to another gift, tore off the red cloth, and everyone gasped and retreated further away. The timid ones retreated directly into the bamboo forest.

It was a large black coffin, decorated with white flowers, covered with a layer of paper money, with an upside-down mourning money basin, and two banners hanging on it.

There's no shortage of people willing to sell their services illegally.

Fan Zhuo smiled and pointed to the coffin: "I heard that the Heavenly Emperor stayed in the Coffin Palace for some time. This coffin was made in the style of the Coffin Palace. Are you satisfied?"

"satisfy."

A purple light flashed in Xi Ying's eyes: "It's just that this coffin isn't deep enough. We'll have to divide the three of you into small, even pieces so that they don't take up too much space, so that you can fit in."

Xie Wenlong was completely unfazed by his threat: "It's more than enough to hold you alone."

"Who gave you the audacity?"

The purple light in Xi Ying's eyes spread out in circles, seeing through the three people. Then he said loudly, "Since the Celestial Master has entered my palace, why hide your face? Show yourself."

The Celestial Master is here too?!
The Longyou Sect, Suishan Sect, and others were all startled. At this moment, the three major forces parted the road and saw a figure in white walking slowly towards them.

Those who have never seen him before may even doubt whether they are seeing things.

He only needed to glance at the person beside him to see a beautiful young woman in blue standing gracefully, and he immediately became certain of his identity.

In an instant, the gazes of people both inside and outside Sichuan took on a different hue.

Those who wanted to watch the spectacle were now incredibly excited.

Their eyes followed the man in white as he walked forward.
Zhou Yi showed no mercy to Xi Ying, stopping in front of the bell: "You seem quite at ease with yourself, but is this Great Stone Temple your property?"

"It wasn't before, but it is now."

Xi Ying stared at Zhou Yi: "I didn't expect you to still be in Sichuan."

"What, is Xi Tianjun afraid?"

Hahaha~~!

He let out a long laugh, and then unleashed a powerful burst of spiritual energy.

"Clang!"

Zhou Yi raised his hand and pointed lightly. The large black bell received a powerful force and emitted a long, resonant sound.

The onlookers, who were originally affected by Xi Ying's sound power, instantly woke up. The sound of the bell shattered Xi Ying's laughter.

The two had already clashed upon meeting.

Xi Ying seemed to be at a disadvantage, but he smiled mysteriously: "You have some skill, worthy of my attention."

He pointed to the coffin:

“Now I think this coffin is the right size, it’s perfect for you.”

Zhou Yi smiled and said to the onlookers around him:

"Today, Xi Tianjun has prepared a banquet, so don't rush off. After he dies, we will hold a funeral and a banquet as usual. If we can't hold the grand opening ceremony, we will hold a coffin opening ceremony so that everyone doesn't make a wasted trip."

Those around him, who were already in awe of the Heavenly Lord of the Demonic Sect, felt that these words were extremely mocking, and many of them couldn't help but laugh.

Xi Ying could no longer keep up the act, his face turning gloomy.

Within the fiery purple eyes, a white figure gradually approached.

Zhou Yi walked very slowly, but no matter who was in Xi Ying's position at that moment, they would feel as if a mountain was about to collapse and crash down in front of them.

Every step he took made your heart pound.

Once one falls into this mental state, one may not even be able to unleash half of their full potential.

It may seem like there was no physical contact, but it was actually a powerful and forceful collision of energy!
"Kakaka~"

The plaque in the center of the tower, bearing the gilded characters "Tianjun Tower," is broken in the middle.

Xi Ying stood with his hands behind his back, his black and gold cloak billowing in the strong wind, his entire eye sockets shrouded in a thick, almost eerie purple aura.

A cold smile played on his lips, his eyes looking down at Zhou Yi, seemingly unaffected by Zhou Yi's imposing presence.

Do you really think you're invincible?

Zhou Yi focused his mind, his eyes deep as an ancient well, reflecting the gloomy sky, devoid of sorrow or joy.

"No, but killing you is enough."

"Arrogant, but that's fine too. Today I'll use you to prove the ultimate level of my 'Purple Qi Heavenly Net'. No matter how high your lightness skill is, you won't be able to escape my net."

Before the words were finished, a white figure flashed past like a startled swan, soaring straight up the tower.

Everyone stared intently as Xi Ying's purple aura suddenly erupted!

No longer wisps and strands, but like a bursting purple torrent, it surged and spread in all directions from his body in an instant.

The air hissed under the strain, as if being cut and filled by countless invisible, tough purple threads.

A massive, impenetrable purple gas net suddenly formed, covering the entire tower platform in layers!
No wonder Xi Ying dared to speak so arrogantly; his net had become like a force field, and no one could escape the passage of his true energy.

Being caught in the net, Zhou Yi also felt a tightness all over his body.

The omnipresent, viscous energy was like millions of tiny hands, gripping every inch of his skin and every strand of his clothes, even attempting to invade his meridians and slow down the flow of his true energy.

Even more terrifying was the invisible spatial compression force, surging in from all directions, threatening to crush people to pieces in the center of the net.

"Master Zhou, how does it taste?" Xi Ying stood at the center of the web, like a spider controlling life and death, his eyes cold, his right hand slightly spread, grasping from afar.

The entire purple net suddenly contracted inward, causing the air to explode and the powerful spatial pressure to increase instantly.

With a loud "boom," all the pillars of the entire tower split open.

At this critical moment, a piercing light suddenly shot out from Zhou Yi's eyes.

With a single finger, he struck out an attack that was not a Buddhist martial art, yet it produced the effect of the Unmoving Fundamental Seal, overpowering the howling wind and the hissing purple aura.

At this moment, his true energy burst forth again. Within a three-foot radius around him, the viscous, sluggish, and oppressive power of the Purple Qi Heavenly Net seemed to collide with an invisible barrier of true energy, producing a "sizzling" friction sound.

They were forcibly excluded, creating a vacuum zone!
The two energies collided, and a shockwave spread outwards, causing more and more cracks to appear on the tower.

"Hmm?!" Xi Ying's pupils contracted slightly, and for the first time, a serious expression appeared on his face.

He could feel that when his purple energy net touched the barrier of true energy, it was like ice and snow meeting the scorching sun, showing a tendency to melt and disintegrate.

This kid's skill is more refined than anyone could imagine; he can actually withstand the Heavenly Net Domain, which can divide the true energy of others.

The purple light in Xi Ying's eyes intensified, and his ferocity was fully unleashed.

His figure swayed, purple energy surged, and he was like a purple lightning bolt that merged into the net, instantly crossing several meters and punching straight at the center.

Wherever his fist passed, countless strands of energy coiled around it, forming a terrifying purple light that spiraled out of the air and was powerful enough to pierce through metal and stone. This was one of his killing moves, the Heavenly Net Break.

Before the fist even arrived, the penetrating and binding force, concentrated to the extreme, already rushed towards us.

Zhou Yi's expression remained unchanged, but his pace quickened.

With the five fingers of the right hand spread wide and the palm facing outward, the Cloud-Pushing Palm moves as if pushing away mountains, meeting the upper fist's edge with a single palm strike.

Their fists clashed, unleashing a deafening roar, a muffled, thunderous "boom" that echoed all around.

The violent purple light clashed violently with a colorless energy wave, causing the tower to shake!
The powerful recoil caused Xi Ying's body to sway violently.

In that split second, Zhou Yi's left hand silently pointed towards Xi Ying's ribs.

This seemingly casual gesture actually contained the ultimate concentration of true power at the fingertip, directly targeting a subtle point in the circulation of the purple qi!
A warning bell rang in Xi Ying's heart, and the Purple Qi Heavenly Net spontaneously protected his body, instantly condensing into a shield beneath his ribs.

"Boom!"

A soft popping sound, like a bubble bursting.

The seemingly resilient purple aura was pierced as easily as paper by a spatial tremor.

A stream of extremely pure true energy, like a red-hot steel needle, pierced deeply into Xi Ying's meridians!

"Ugh!" Xi Ying groaned in pain, his face turned pale, and he staggered back several steps.

His brocade robe was torn at the side, leaving a finger mark. Strands of Xuanmen true energy were seeping into his meridians, damaging his purple qi foundation.

The next instant, a white shadow flashed before my eyes.

The two exchanged blows with such speed that onlookers couldn't keep up.

Zhou Yi was somewhat surprised; this guy was so fast too?

Little did he know that Xi Ying was like Spider-Man, using his web-like energy to capture enemies in the air and anticipate their movements.

Such a fighting method is beyond imagination.

However, Xi Ying did not gain any advantage and instead felt very strange.

'Could it be that this kid was holding back inside the Supreme Fortress?!'

"Boom~!"

After exchanging ten blows, Xi Ying shattered the central tower level with a single kick and disappeared into the next level.

Another loud bang, and Zhou Yi gave chase.

The two fought from the central tower floor all the way down to the first floor. Xi Ying had seven or eight wounds on his body, and he always managed to escape first, showing that he was at a disadvantage.

No one dared to blink, their eyes glued to this astonishing battle.

Following the outer eaves of the first floor of the tower, the two climbed upwards while exchanging blows.

Xi Ying is under increasing pressure and is no longer holding back.

Several purple circles appeared in his eyes, his spiritual apertures were fully opened, and a substantial spiritual force merged into the purple energy net, immediately causing a wondrous change.

At this moment, his mental state seemed to have changed completely.

His hands moved in strange motions, not the hand seals of Taoism or Buddhism, but rather intertwined with threads of true energy to dismantle the net, using the spirit as the framework to unleash profound martial arts techniques.

If Anlong's Heavenly Lotus Ring is a lotus energy, then Xi Ying's true energy at this moment is a crane energy.

Zhou Yi sensed the spiritual traces of the Great Ming Zunjiao.

But to everyone's surprise, Xi Ying had this trick up his sleeve.

The purple true energy transformed into the silhouette of a crane, and everyone heard a clear crane's cry, their spirits lifted. A raging wind, centered on Xi Ying, sent wood chips flying everywhere.

At this moment, he truly exuded the aura of a Demonic Heavenly Lord.

A white crane shadow flashed by, incredibly fast. Zhou Yi suddenly unleashed his power, pulling at the spatial fluctuations to bind the white crane. His eyes were fixed on this true energy, and he grabbed the crane's neck, which was as thick as an infant's arm, with one claw.

If it's a live crane, it will die if you squeeze it.

This thing is an alternative combination of Qi and spirit evolved from the Purple Qi Heavenly Net; it doesn't dissipate when squeezed.

Moreover, Zhou Yi had an impression of the crane shape.

These are clearly stone statues from the underground palace of the Evil Emperor Temple.

Xi Ying was preparing his next move, and if he encountered an ordinary opponent, he might really suffer a great loss.

However, Zhou Yi was well-versed in the secret techniques of the Great Ming Venerable Sect, and he instantly changed the world, using spiritual power that surpassed his previous strength to strike the Purple Qi Crane with his true energy.

Xi Ying's mental strength was extremely refined; if Zhou Yi hadn't broken through, he would never have been able to do it so decisively.

The crane let out a whimper and was crushed, turning into a gust of true energy that swept outwards.

Xi Ying looked horrified. He gritted his teeth and used his spirit as a framework to let the purple energy adhere to it, transforming it into a dragon from the underground of the Evil Extreme Sect.

Those around them were stunned.

Even Hou Xibai, a disciple of the Flower Sect, never expected that Xi Ying could develop the Extinction of Emotion Path martial arts to this extent.

This guy is ruthless and vicious, but his martial arts talent is astonishing. He not only created the Purple Qi Heavenly Net and mastered it, but now he can even ride cranes and dragons, which is unbelievable.

Hou Xibai didn't blink, his romantic feelings from the Flower School rising within him, and he couldn't help but feel sorrow for the Heavenly Lord of the Demonic Sect.

Simply because he had an even more unimaginable opponent.

Zhou Yi had just captured a crane, and then with a clench of his fists, he captured a dragon.

Xi Ying rubbed faster and faster, as if he had gone mad.

Zhou Yi pushed the True Qi Purple Dragon towards the foot of the tower, then drew his sword. The True Qi Purple Dragon crashed into the incense altar, and the two tall altars instantly exploded and scattered.

Smoke and dust billowed up, and experts from all directions worked together to suppress it.

With clear vision, I saw the two masters fighting back to the center of the tower.

The battle intensified at this point. As they ascended, the sword energy clashed with the true energy stone statues formed by the Purple Heavenly Net, producing a chilling, sharp sound.

Xi Ying's aura was cut off by Zhou Yi's sword energy, but it was like a rotten spider web stuck to his sword, forcing him to circulate his Li Huo sword energy to burn the purple aura.

At this critical juncture, Xi Ying's moves have been consistently countered.

But he has a wide variety of moves, and each move is different.

Not only did he see the stone statues underground in the Evil Emperor Temple, but he also learned various martial arts techniques from the Western Regions.

Therefore, even when at a disadvantage, they can still maintain the situation.

The two fought all the way to the nineteenth floor of the Heavenly Monarch Tower!

Their fighting spirit not only did not diminish, but instead soared to its peak.

“Master Zhou, this move is one that I left for Song Que.”

"bring it on."

Zhou Yi's longsword was filled with fire color, and as true energy was continuously poured in, the fire color turned black, and the air began to distort violently.

Xi Ying gritted his teeth, clasped his hands together, and the veins on his temples bulged like tree roots. His face shrunk, and he no longer had the refined and gentle appearance he once had.

His spiritual essence condensed throughout his body, forming a substantial spiritual framework, like bones, based on the principle of transformation between emptiness and reality taught by the Great Ming Venerable Teaching.

The purple net of energy became the flesh and blood, draped over this spiritual skeleton.

Xi Ying was at the center of this storm of primordial spirit and primordial energy, and with all his life's work, he revealed the four characters of the Demonic Sect Heavenly Lord.

At that moment, he drew the golden knife from his waist.

"With this strike, I will first kill you, then I will kill Song Que."

Xi Ying's words shocked everyone; his extremely confident words made it difficult for people to estimate the power of his strike.

and also
Was that terrifying thing around him made of true qi?

"If you face me first, you'll never have another chance to see Song Que again."

As Zhou Yi spoke, he also unleashed a terrifying mental force.

Especially at the moment of earth-shattering change, it was as if a thunderous roar resounded in everyone's mind.

"Hahaha!"

The Demon Lord let out a trembling laugh, with a piercing metallic echo. With each laugh, waves of energy surged and spread outward.

"Do you know that this strike of mine is a slash that approaches the innate primordial spirit? No one can stop it. When I strike down, you can hear the primordial spirit in every acupoint of your body emitting a childlike whimpering cry."

He raised the golden knife with both hands, exuding boundless confidence.

Zhou Yi raised his longsword and also gathered his strength to compress the scorching heat to its limit.

Unaffected by Xi Ying's words, Youyou responded:
"It's a pity that even an innate primordial spirit can be slain by my sword. Once the primordial energy and primordial spirit are ignited, they are nothing but remnants and ashes."

Xi Ying's purple eyes flashed, while Zhou Yi's eyes seemed to electrify.

Without any unnecessary movements, the two combined their terrifying Yuan Qi and Yuan Shen attacks, colliding violently in a tenth of a breath.

The entire tower, from top to bottom, trembled and shook as if it had been pierced through.

Xi Ying's strike was a complete display of his power, even draining his spirit. Whether this strike severely injured or killed Zhou Yi, his first instinct was to escape.

But to his utter dismay, the slash was blocked halfway through!

He gritted his teeth, having no strength left to fight.

While emptying oneself out completely is impressive, the flaws of this method were exposed when facing Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi's Lesser Yang and Lesser Yin alternate, Yongquan enters Jing, one Qi extinguishes and another Qi is born.

Xi Ying lacks new talent, but he does!

The scorching fiery sword energy was blocked by Xi Ying's strike, which carried the spiritual storm of the Purple Qi Heavenly Net. As the two fought, a fierce wind howled, and under the dark sky, the two colors of light, one fire and one purple, shone brightly for a moment.

After a brief stalemate, the purple aura gradually faded.

For the first time, a look of horror appeared on Xi Ying's face.

And the look of horror on their faces grew stronger.

He had given it his all, but Zhou Yi only grew stronger with each battle.

How can it be!

Finally, he reached a certain limit and his spirit collapsed; he could no longer resist.

The fiery sword aura shone brightly, the mental storm dissipated, the golden blade light vanished, and the purple aura net around him, the substantial mental skeleton, and the Mind Net Insight all crumbled in that instant!

The sword light was dazzling. Many people closed their eyes slightly to see the line. The arrogant and tyrannical Demon Lord was cut down by the sword light!
At that moment, his golden knife shattered.

The black and gold cloak burst into flames, the fire raging as the strong wind whipped it around.

Spirit and vitality, all turned to ashes.

The purple light dimmed in his eyes, his face grew thin and bony, and his body swayed.

Xi Ying stared at Zhou Yi and said with his last breath, "I was just a little short."

"No, you're far from it."

"you!"

Zhou Yi said calmly, "Losers are nothing but ashes; what are they trying to say?"

Upon hearing this, Xi Tianjun's fiery purple eyes and intense resentment completely vanished, and his body tilted backward and fell downward.

Zhou Yi reached out and grabbed his corpse, pulling him down from the tower.

The moment he landed, the tower behind him collapsed with a loud crash.

The thousands of onlookers remained silent, their attention solely focused on Zhou Yi.

This great battle must have had a tremendous impact on them.

Perhaps this Demonic Lord doesn't possess the level of a Grandmaster, but his ability to unleash his full combat power is truly terrifying.

Therefore, those around him had a shocking sense of disbelief that a grandmaster had fallen in battle before their very eyes.

I have never heard of any grandmaster being killed, let alone seen one.

The Taoist Celestial Master has slain the Demonic Heavenly Lord!

Recalling the scenes of capturing the dragon and controlling the crane, and slicing through the purple aura with their swords, they gained a completely new understanding of martial arts.

In a daze, he saw Zhou Yi throw out Xi Ying's corpse.

"Open the coffin!" Xie Wenlong shouted.

Alliance Leader Feng opened the coffin lid, and Gang Leader Fan lifted Xi Yingchao and threw him into the coffin. The two closed the coffin, and Xie Wenlong sprinkled a handful of paper money.

This is not only a way to expose the evil forces of the Demonic Sect Heavenly Lord, but also a powerful deterrent.

This also makes the surrounding forces that came to Sichuan and Chongqing think clearly about who they should support.

Offending the Celestial Master will lead to an immediate and severe punishment.

The coffin-opening ceremony officially began.

The three major powers of Sichuan and Chongqing were well prepared and immediately began their feast. Tongtian Shenmu, as expected of an old spiritual medium, was very particular. She not only brought congratulatory gifts but also gave two hundred copper coins.
……

(End of this chapter)