Chapter 548

Li Yi's move was incredibly grand; the twelve strands of heart-fire Qi illuminated the dark night, turning it a deep red like the evening sunset, exceptionally beautiful. Moreover, this heart-fire Qi was exceptionally scorching. Just by appearing, the temperature over the entire Xinzhou City began to rise rapidly, as if it had suddenly entered the height of summer, giving people a sense of sweltering heat.

But immediately, this sky-filling heart-fire Qi retreated rapidly, and in an instant, it condensed onto his fist.

With the power of the Dragon and Tiger entwined and the heart-fire Qi providing support, Li Yi did not employ any Daoist techniques at this moment, but instead used his own physical strength to resist the two heavy hammer strikes falling from the Taiyue Mountain God.

It was hard to imagine that Li Yi, with his small physique, would dare to resist heavy hammers that were like two small mountains falling down.

Such a scene left everyone inside the Yaoxing Tower terrified.

Is this person really this brave?

Although he was wearing Daoist robes, he gave off the feeling of an invincible, battle-hardened general who never retreated, his entire body radiating a fierce aura.

Boom!

At this collision, it was as if a thunderclap had exploded between heaven and earth. Then, sparks scattered in all directions, turning into streaks of crimson light that splashed across the firmament. Subsequently, a terrifying shockwave rolled out, sweeping through the sky-filling dark clouds and cleansing the heavens and earth. In just an instant, the sky regained its clarity, the obscured moonlight spilled down once more, and the stars across the sky were dazzling and enchanting.

"Who won?"

The force of the energy turned into a gale that swept through the entire city. Prince Xin opened his eyes wide at this moment, wanting to see the outcome clearly.

The wandering knight, the fox woman, and the white ape nearby were also shocked by this power.

It was hard to imagine that the Daoist's flesh and blood body could actually achieve this level, resisting the Taiyue Mountain God's golden hammers head-on.

One had to know that those golden hammers were condensed from the incense and offerings of the masses; each strike seemed to possess the power of ten thousand people, and almost no ghost or monster could withstand even a single blow.

Yet now...

The tall Taiyue Mountain God stumbled, actually retreating continuously. His entire body was entwined with the aura of incense, and the golden hammers in his hands hummed, as if they wanted to break free from his palms and fly away.

"Not bad power. Becoming a god through incense offerings really does have some strength." Li Yi stepped on the red clouds, his face expressionless.

This strike had also revealed the true caliber of this Mountain God.

The Taiyue Mountain God was shocked and furious at this moment. He found it hard to imagine why such powerful strength could erupt from the Daoist's seemingly fragile body; his own attack not only failed to kill him, but was instead resisted head-on.

He exerted force with both arms, gripping the humming golden hammers tightly, fearing that if he didn't hold on, they would be shaken away. Then, he discovered that two deep fist prints had been left on his golden hammers, and cracks were spreading all around them.

If they clashed a few more times, the golden hammers in his hands would likely be smashed to pieces.

"You demonic Daoist, where did you get such strength?" the Taiyue Mountain God roared angrily.

"This poor Daoist possesses the art of subduing dragons and tigers, so my strength is naturally a bit greater. If you, this Mountain God, only have these few tricks, then today, let alone capturing me, it's hard to say if you can even survive in my hands," Li Yi said. "If you have reinforcements, invite them quickly. Don't be stubborn alone, or you'll lose your life for nothing."

"Demonic Daoist, you dare to repeatedly despise this god! Take this!" The Taiyue Mountain God roared at this moment. The golden hammers in his hands erupted with golden light, and countless powers of incense and belief gathered upon them, granting them immense power.

The fist prints previously smashed out by Li Yi were also recovering at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The next moment.

The two golden hammers turned into two streaks of golden light and rushed over again.

"Stubborn and unyielding."

Li Yi remained unmoved. Extreme brilliance condensed on his fist. This brilliance was not simple; it was the light of the Daoist technique of "Dividing Rivers to Create Land."

Previously, through the guidance of Xiang Xiangzi, he had condensed the Great Art of Dividing Rivers to Create Land onto his fist, granting his fists the power to split mountains and crack seas.

Moreover, Li Yi could condense the Great Art of Dividing Rivers to Create Land at most twice.

If he refined it in the future, perhaps he could circulate the Five Elements and condense five Daoist techniques, giving his fists unfathomable power.

He threw another punch.

With just one strike, the golden light covering the area was torn to shreds by a divine light in an instant. The extreme fist radiance destroyed everything in its path; nothing could stop it. In just a split second, this fist light struck the front of the Taiyue Mountain God, and the two golden hammers in his hands shattered on the spot.

"This is impossible."

The Taiyue Mountain God was terrified.

These were weapons condensed from incense, refined day and night by countless people, and had long since become sentient. Yet today, they were actually smashed to pieces by a single punch from this wild Daoist.

However, before he could react, the remaining power of the fist light did not diminish, striking him directly.

The armor on the Taiyue Mountain God's body suddenly exploded and scattered everywhere. A thick aura of incense filled the sky. Before he could react to what was happening, a hideous gash was torn into his tall body, and cracks began to appear on his surrounding physique.

Pain—it was as if a part of his soul had been destroyed.

The Taiyue Mountain God screamed, retreating all the way. The aura of incense actually began to show signs of collapsing, and this trend was becoming increasingly obvious.

His body was shrinking, and the power of incense was dissipating.

Having been a Mountain God for who knows how many years, he felt deep fear at this moment, because he understood that he might really be killed by this Daoist, and even being a legitimate god appointed by the imperial court could not save him.

"City God, come quickly to save me!" The Taiyue Mountain God could no longer care about his dignity and quickly called for help.

If he took another punch, his soul would definitely be scattered.

After he finished speaking, the next moment.

In a City God Temple in Xinzhou City, a light invisible to mortals shot into the sky. It was also filled with the aura of incense, and a middle-aged man appeared, draped in divine robes, looking exceptionally majestic. Simultaneously, with his appearance, wisps of green smoke rose up all around the city.

That green smoke quickly transformed into yakshas, ghost generals, and underworld messengers.

In just a moment, numerous gods and ghosts appeared one by one.

They turned into dark clouds and hid within them, preventing mortals from peeking.

"He is indeed a very fierce demonic Daoist. I didn't expect that even you, Mountain God, would be no match for him." The Xinzhou City God frowned deeply at this moment.

He had been watching the battle from the shadows since it began, making preparations.

If the Taiyue Mountain God could handle it, that would be best, and he, as the local City God, wouldn't need to show his face. But if he couldn't, he had to help. After all, the imperial court had already issued an Underworld Decree; tonight, no matter what, this demonic Daoist could not be allowed to live to see tomorrow's sun.

Seeing reinforcements arrive, the Taiyue Mountain God breathed a slight sigh of relief, then gritted his teeth and said, "It's not that this god is incompetent; it's just that I came in a hurry and wasn't fully prepared. Had I known he had such ability, I should have brought the Mountain-Suppressing Sword and led three hundred monsters from the mountain to encircle and annihilate this demonic Daoist. Then, even if this Daoist had heaven-reaching means, he would have had to drink hatred on the spot."

While speaking, the injuries on his body stabilized, the cracks stopped spreading, and the aura of incense gradually gathered again.

Because it was not a flesh-and-blood body, but a body of incense, the Taiyue Mountain God's recovery ability was very fast.

【System Note: No errors in the content, check it out!】

But even so, he still felt extreme pain in his chest and was filled with lingering fear.

"Taiyue Mountain God, you are truly old. You can't even handle a demonic Daoist and still need this Marquis to take action. In my opinion, you should abdicate and let a worthier person take over sooner. Don't occupy the incense of Taiyue Mountain anymore. You should know that there are quite a few people eyeing your position."

However, besides the City God, another voice came from afar at this moment.

Within a dark cloud, a man in brocade robes and fine attire, carrying over a hundred monsters and minor gods, arrived from afar.

Clearly, he was also here under orders to encircle and annihilate the demonic Daoist Taiyi.

"Marquis Zhongwu."

Seeing this, the Taiyue Mountain God's face sank immediately: "You certainly know how to choose your timing. Why didn't you come out after I was dead?"

Of course, he knew that many people were eyeing his position, so he had immediately obeyed the order to capture the demonic Daoist, all to perform a meritorious deed and preserve his position as Mountain God.

"Greetings, Marquis Zhongwu." The Xinzhou City God bowed and saluted to show respect.

This Marquis Zhongwu was a great general of the imperial court during his lifetime, with brilliant military achievements. He had shrines built for him, and after his death, he was posthumously titled Marquis Zhongwu, enjoying the incense offerings of ten thousand families, and thus became a god.

Marquis Zhongwu nodded slightly, then glanced at the Taiyue Mountain God: "You have disgraced the face of the imperial court. If Prince Xin of this region suffers any mishap because of your incompetence, let's see if the current Emperor will issue a decree to strip you of your Taiyue Mountain God position and demote you to a lonely ghost! And you still dare to clamor in front of this Marquis."

"You..."

The Taiyue Mountain God was furious, but then he clutched his chest and swallowed this anger.

This demonic Daoist was not yet dead, and the situation was undecided; now was not the time to fall out with this Marquis Zhongwu.

Let's join forces to solve this demonic Daoist first.

"You are the demonic Daoist Taiyi?"

Marquis Zhongwu looked at Li Yi on the red auspicious clouds, his eyes moving slightly: "Truly extraordinary. A wild Daoist actually possesses the aura of a dragon and tiger. However, your dragon aura seems impure; it doesn't look like the aura of an emperor, but rather like the aura of a wicked dragon or an evil dragon. Hehe, this Marquis was just saying, in this time of peace under heaven, how could someone with the aura of a Son of Heaven be born? It must be that someone didn't recognize the true dragon and misjudged."

"Today, this Marquis takes a look, and it is indeed so."

He saw that although the silver tiger on Li Yi's body had a pure and terrifying aura, the dragon aura had an incorrect form. Although it had a dragon head and sharp claws, it had wings on its back; it should be of the dragon species, not a true dragon. After all, he, Marquis Zhongwu, had met the Son of Heaven and experienced the true aura of the Son of Heaven.

But even so.

This person's dragon-tiger phenomenon had already formed. If he wasn't removed early, he would likely split the world in the future and proclaim himself a false emperor.

"Nattering on and on. I've waited for you for so long. Are these the only three incense gods that came today? If there are others, this poor Daoist can wait a bit longer. After all, when we hit the road later, it's better to be neat and tidy." Li Yi stood with his hands behind his back, his red-feathered Daoist robes moving with the wind. His eyes swept over them casually, and a hint of killing intent emerged.

"Do you think the three of us gods cannot handle you, a demonic Daoist? It seems that the mountains are high and the emperor is far away, and a demonic Daoist dares not to put the legitimate gods of the imperial court in his eyes. Someone, bring this Marquis's weapon. Today, this Marquis will behead this demonic Daoist." Marquis Zhongwu smiled coldly and gestured with his hand.

Soon.

A team of ghost soldier personal guards behind him walked over slowly with heavy steps, carrying a large spear.

That large spear was a zhang long and as thick as a bowl. Although it was cast from refined iron, a line of large gold-lacquered characters was engraved on it: "Imperial Gift, Nation-Stabilizing Spear."

Just having the two words "Imperial Gift" meant it carried the power of the incense and belief of more than ten thousand people.

No wonder it required a team of ghost personal guards to carry it.

If this weight were borne by one person, it could easily crush a ghost monster to death.

From this, it could be seen that this weapon was indeed extraordinary and could not be compared to the golden hammers in the hands of the Taiyue Mountain God.

(End of chapter)