Chapter 550: They

As the Golden Body manifestation first appeared, spiritual energy surged wildly, its aura unmatched; its face, void of emotion, raised one finger and pointed at the terrified Holy Son.

Under that single finger, the power was astonishing.

The Holy Son's face twisted under the force, his limbs gradually snapping, his flesh and blood slowly blurring.

Yet in an instant, he was restored to perfect condition.

On his brow, the blood-red mark flared, emitting a deep, pitch-black luster.

Simultaneously, behind the Holy Son, a colossal blood-red figure emerged.

This figure resembled a blood-soaked man steeped in filth, his vital energy churning, stealing souls and seizing spirits, radiating terrifying pressure.

This was a blood-colored manifestation!

It was the Void-Dwelling Blood Shadow of a demonic patriarch.

And it was also a talisman!

A powerful life-preserving talisman, similar to the "Life-Long Talisman"!

Bai Zisheng took advantage of the Holy Son's distraction, crept close, then shattered his own Life-Long Talisman to trigger the Golden Body manifestation, intending to utterly annihilate this demonic Holy Son!

With that single finger, the Holy Son's life hung by a thread.

The Holy Son's life-preserving talisman on his brow was forced to activate, countering the Golden Body manifestation and shielding his life.

One life exchanged for one life.

One talisman shattered, another shattered.

Within Dali Mountain.

The Daoist Golden Body manifestation and the demonic blood-colored manifestation clashed finger to palm, shaking heaven and splitting earth.

Golden and blood-red spiritual energy swept across heaven and earth.

Peaks collapsed, trees and plants were uprooted, rocks and soil turned to dust; demonic beasts caught in the blast were crushed to ash.

Bai Zi Xi still stood before Mo Hua.

The residual power of the Life-Long Talisman, obeying Bai Zi Xi's will, protected Mo Hua and Xue Yi, who stood nearby.

Mo Hua was untouched.

He stood frozen, staring at the two manifestations, his heart trembling with awe.

"This is… what a true cultivator is…"

"Moving mountains, reversing seas, destroying heaven and earth…"

"This is true cultivation that reaches heaven and penetrates earth…"

"Void-Dwelling realm…"

In Mo Hua's gaze lay both shock and longing, and involuntarily he clenched his small fist.

One day, he too would wield the power to reverse heaven and earth.

With one flip, he would cover the sky; with another, level the earth!

Then no one would dare scheme against his master, no one would dare bully his junior brother and junior sister, no one would dare harm those he cherished!

…

The clash of the manifestations lasted but an instant, yet it shook heaven and earth.

Moments later, thunderclouds returned from the horizon.

The heavenly tribulation descended a second time.

Crimson tribulation lightning crashed from the heavens, carrying icy fury, erasing both the Daoist Golden Body manifestation and the demonic blood-colored manifestation!

All returned to stillness…

…

Yet before this, at the moment the first Life-Long Talisman shattered.

The celestial fate of this place had already been disturbed.

The sealing of the Underworld Heavenly Mechanism Lock was erased by the tribulation lightning; celestial fate leaked out, karmic threads now discernible.

The massive spiritual energy surge from the Golden Body manifestation also spread outward from Dali Mountain, causing shock among cultivators.

A thousand li away, Liyuan City.

A middle-aged white-robed cultivator sensed the shattering of the first Life-Long Talisman, and also felt the ripple of the Void-Dwelling manifestation; his heart trembled, and in his shock, he crushed the teacup in his hand to fragments.

"Life-Long… Talisman?"

"Shattered… shattered?!"

Even with his late Jin Dan cultivation, two centuries of high rank, and the deepest composure, his face turned instantly pale.

He was the Zhou Zhangsi of the Dao Ting Si in Liyuan City.

Liyuan City was the largest Xiancheng in the entire Dali Mountain region.

And the Dao Ting Si of Liyuan City was the largest, most numerous in cultivators, and most powerful Dao Ting Si in the entire Dali Mountain region.

As Zhou Zhangsi, he bore responsibility for the safety of the entire Dali Mountain region.

Greatest power, greatest responsibility.

Yet now, at this very moment, while sipping tea, without warning, he sensed the ripple of a Void-Dwelling manifestation.

And one Life-Long Talisman had shattered…

The white-robed cultivator's heart turned cold, his mouth bitter.

"Which little Xiaozu Sect member is playing around in Dali Mountain and shattering their own Life-Long Talisman…"

The Life-Long Talisman… is that an ordinary talisman?

Who could be from a family ordinary enough to implant a Life-Long Talisman?

Who could be an ordinary disciple if they were implanted with a Life-Long Talisman?

Without a life-or-death crisis, could a Life-Extending Talisman shatter?

What does this indicate?

It indicates that law and order in the Da Li Mountain Province is severely problematic!

Should any issue arise, he, as the provincial Chief Controller, will inevitably bear full responsibility!

If a black iron lump lands on your head, it's a pot whether you like it or not!

Those great clans won't listen to your explanations—if a pot must be carried, someone must bear the wrath.

This is merely the Life-Extending Talisman shattering.

What if this Xiaozu Sect child, who bore the Life-Extending Talisman, suffers further misfortune…?

The white-robed cultivator turned pale, immediately rose, and barked:

"Someone!"

An Enforcement Officer entered, bowed, and said: "Chief Controller, what are your orders?"

The white-robed cultivator glanced toward the direction of the spiritual energy fluctuation, compared it with the layout of the Da Li Mountain Province, calculated vaguely in his mind, and after a long while, recalled a name:

Lishan City…

"Send a message to the Dao Ting Si of Lishan City—find out what happened there!"

"Yes."

The Enforcement Officer departed to carry out the order, returned within a cup of tea's time, and said with a solemn expression:

"Chief Controller, there has been no reply from Lishan City…"

The white-robed cultivator frowned. "No reply?"

Anger surged in him. He cursed: "Negligence in duty? Such carelessness and sloth—how could they…"

Suddenly, the white-robed cultivator froze, a chill creeping into his heart.

No reply…

Is it that they refuse to reply—or… that no one is left to reply?

Could the Dao Ting Si of Lishan City have encountered some accident…?

Under the Dao Ting Si, under the bright heavens—could this possibly be true…?

Who would dare such a thing?

The white-robed cultivator's face turned as cold as water, then he ordered:

"Issue a command: within one incense stick's time, all Deputy Chief Controllers and Enforcement Officers of Golden Core stage within Li Yuan City, report to me immediately!"

"All of them! No excuses allowed for anyone!"

"Within one incense stick—if anyone dares not come, kick them out of the Dao Ting Si right now!"

The Enforcement Officer turned pale with shock, realizing this matter was undoubtedly extraordinary.

He had never before seen the Chief Controller, who normally concealed his emotions, display such a stern expression.

The Enforcement Officer immediately issued the command.

Within one incense stick's time, all Golden Core cultivators in the Li Yuan City Dao Ting Si gathered before the white-robed cultivator.

Their expressions were solemn, mixed with confusion.

"Chief Controller, what exactly has happened?"

The white-robed cultivator waved his hand. "Immediately follow me to Lishan City!"

"All of us?" A Deputy Chief Controller blinked in surprise.

The white-robed cultivator paused, then pointed to a Golden Core cultivator at random. "You stay behind to guard. Everyone else, come with me."

Everyone exchanged glances.

The Deputy Chief Controller couldn't help asking: "Chief Controller, what exactly has happened?"

The white-robed cultivator was agitated, but seeing their puzzled expressions, he replied succinctly:

"One Life-Extending Talisman has shattered. We're going to investigate."

"A Life-Extending Talisman?!"

Everyone was stunned, murmuring among themselves:

"What is that?"

"A talisman?"

"Is it that important?"

"Worth mobilizing everyone?"

…

The white-robed cultivator fell silent, speechless.

Li Yuan City is still relatively remote; these Golden Core cultivators, though from decent backgrounds, mostly came from minor clans and small sects, and knew little of true great lineages.

"Chief Controller, isn't this a bit of an overreaction?" someone asked cautiously.

A single talisman—how serious could it be to warrant mobilizing every top Golden Core cultivator of the largest Dao Ting Si in the entire Da Li Mountain Province?

The Deputy Chief Controller also asked in confusion:

"Chief Controller, is this Life-Extending Talisman really that critical?"

The white-robed cultivator was furious, and could only grit his teeth and snarl:

"You know nothing!"

"I'll tell you this: one Life-Extending Talisman is more valuable than my own life—more than my life—more than my life!!!"

At these words, everyone turned pale.

Only then did they realize this matter was far more serious than they had imagined.

"No more talk!" the white-robed cultivator snapped. "Put on your Dao robes, equip your magical artifacts, stock up on pills—leave now!"

"Yes!"

The others bowed their heads solemnly and replied in low voices.

The white-robed cultivator nodded, about to speak—when suddenly he sensed a presence, his heart jolted, eyes widening in terror.

The deputy Zhou Zhangsi hesitated, pointing far off, stammering:

"Zhou Zhangsi, the Longevity Talisman has shattered—is it that shape…?"

The white-robed cultivator whirled around, took one look, and his legs went weak, nearly collapsing.

Far away, golden light flooded the sky, its aura terrifying.

"Another… shattered?"

No, not just one…

The white-robed cultivator fixed his gaze.

On the distant horizon, one golden light, one crimson light, stood in equal opposition.

Though distant and indistinct, the profound aura—clearly two Law Phantoms?

And among them, that blood-shadow… a demonic Void-Transcending?

The demonic…

Immortal Death Talisman?!

In such a short time, two ancestral Longevity Talismans shattered—and one demonic Immortal Death Talisman?

"What… what has happened?"

The white-robed cultivator's gaze was filled with horror.

…

And farther still, Daozhou, the Central Dao Court.

Tian Shu Pavilion.

The Pavilion Elder and the Supervisor were playing Go.

The Pavilion Elder's hair was entirely white, his face aged, yet his gaze deep; the Supervisor's hair was half-white, his face like a jade crown, his gaze humble.

They took turns placing stones.

In a moment, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door.

A Tian Shu Pavilion disciple rushed to the door, then abruptly halted, suppressing his anxiety, and respectfully knocked.

The Pavilion Elder pretended not to hear, continuing to play.

The disciple outside burned with urgency, yet could only wait respectfully.

The Supervisor could no longer bear it, and whispered: "Pavilion Elder…"

Only then did the Pavilion Elder snap back to awareness, sigh softly, lift his gaze from the board, and slowly say: "Enter."

The disciple, as if hearing an imperial decree, though frantic, stepped in with light, measured steps, making no sound.

He bowed low, presenting a jade slip to the Pavilion Elder, and said respectfully:

"Pavilion Elder, the calculation is complete—in the third-grade Dali Mountain State, near Shancheng…"

"Mm."

The Pavilion Elder gave a slight nod, but offered no further instruction.

The disciple was at a loss.

The Supervisor, helplessly, shook his head, took the jade slip, and said to the disciple:

"The Pavilion Elder knows. Relay the order: this plan has been long in motion, with established procedures—do as prescribed…"

The disciple exhaled in relief, bowed respectfully, and withdrew.

The Supervisor hesitated, glanced at the jade slip's contents, and was visibly moved: "Mingdao Heaven's Lock…"

"Blood banners sealing the city, demonic sword hanging over fate?"

"Ancestral Longevity Talisman… shattered…"

"Immortal Death Talisman… demonic Holy Heir?"

…

The Supervisor murmured silently, his expression shifting, and suddenly called out: "Pavilion Elder…"

"Mm." The Pavilion Elder replied coolly.

The Supervisor looked at him, startled: "You knew already?"

The Pavilion Elder stared fixedly at the board, eyes unwavering, saying nothing.

The Supervisor ventured cautiously:

"The Shang family, Yun family, Daoxuan Sect… recently, they asked you to divine their fates, and you said you couldn't—were you just placating them?"

"Did you already know about Shancheng?"

"You…"

The Pavilion Elder lifted his head, displeased: "How can you play Go with such distraction?"

The Supervisor froze, then smiled wryly.

Winds rose, clouds churned, celestial fate ebbed and flowed.

Is now the time to play Go…?

The Pavilion Elder shook his head and sighed: "You're no good like this—restless, unfocused, you'll never improve at Go in a thousand lifetimes…"

The Supervisor silently glanced at the board.

On the board, the Pavilion Elder's stones had already been mostly captured.

This was still because he considered the Elder's face and couldn't bring himself to strike, hence he gave the Elder many stones.

Although saying so is not very respectful.

But everyone knows the Elder of the Tianshu Pavilion is the well-known "bad player."

Now the Elder says he "will never improve in chess his whole life," and he truly doesn't know what to say…

The Supervisor felt weary, but still asked helplessly, "Aren't you at all worried?"

"Worried about what?" The Elder looked unconcerned.

"Of course… Daoxuan Sect and the others…"

A flash of coldness suddenly passed through the Elder's aged gaze.

"Worried about making them die faster?"

The Supervisor froze, his gaze gradually solemn, "Have you foreseen something?"

The Elder completely lost interest in the game, placed a stone, and "sacrificed" a large group of his own pieces, speaking coldly:

"Not foreseen. It's for their own good."

"Not foreseen, and they won't die."

"Foreseen slower, and they'll die slower."

The Elder's words carried deep meaning.

The Supervisor's gaze sharpened, "Is it truly this dangerous?"

The Elder gave no answer.

The Supervisor asked doubtfully, "Have you told this to the Shanggu family and Daoxuan Sect as well?"

"No need…"

The Elder shook his head, idly fiddling with the chess pieces on the board, "If I told them, they wouldn't believe me. They'd probably think I'm exaggerating, suspecting I have ulterior motives, and blame me instead."

"So I just delay as long as I can…"

The Elder sighed, "I'm old, senile—how could I calculate quickly or accurately anymore?"

"Then what of them…"

"Life and death are fate. Let nature take its course," the Elder said calmly, then glanced at the Supervisor and added slowly, "Even moths don't think they'll die before they fly into the flame."

"Can you stop moths from flying into the flame?"

The Supervisor frowned, "Is this danger truly this great?"

The Elder silently gathered the pieces and returned the board to its place, "Chess isn't for just anyone to play. This board isn't for just anyone to join…"

The Supervisor's gaze was solemn as he nodded.

The Elder meant this matter stirred heavenly fate, involved too much—don't wade into this murky water lightly.

But the Supervisor also vaguely felt the Elder's words carried a double meaning, implying him too.

That he disdained the Supervisor for being unworthy to play chess with him.

Yet you yourself, Elder, are terrible at chess…

The Supervisor shook his head, thought for a moment, then said, "The Dao Court has countless capable people, geniuses emerging constantly—how could it possibly…"

"Geniuses?"

The Elder's gaze grew slightly cold, "What is a genius?"

This left the Supervisor speechless.

He had wanted to say, "Perfect spiritual roots, supreme intelligence, extraordinary talent, dazzling brilliance," but the words stuck in his throat—he felt they were too shallow.

This clearly wasn't the meaning behind the Elder's words.

The Elder didn't seem to expect an answer; his gaze drifted far away as he murmured softly:

"To seize the world's benefits for selfish ends—what use is even the greatest genius?"

"The more 'geniuses,' the more corrupt the Dao Court, the more the cultivation world decays…"

The Supervisor didn't understand, but the Elder said no more.

Silence settled over the pavilion.

The Supervisor thought again, then asked, "Elder, I still don't understand—if we truly wade into this murky water, where's the danger?"

The Elder's gaze was obscure as he asked in return, "Who are we scheming against?"

The Supervisor hesitated, "Mr. Zhuang?"

"Do you think this young Zhuang is so easy to scheme against?"

The Supervisor stared, then frowned, "Even if he was extraordinary back then, after all these years, his Dao foundation shattered—could he still be this troublesome?"

The Elder sneered, "He's reached his end, heavenly fate exhausted, beyond saving—otherwise he'd never be cornered. And…"

A solemn glint flashed in the Elder's eyes.

"The most terrifying isn't him—it's his senior brother…"

The Supervisor's heart tightened, "You mean the…?"

He held back, still didn't speak the name, then shook his head, "Just a Dao Heart Seed Demon technique—hardly a top-tier demonic lineage…"

The Elder glanced at him, "When will you stop talking so big, and spare me some peace?"

The Supervisor felt disgruntled.

The Elder sighed, as if recalling the past, his deep eyes hiding a tremor:

"That sect is full of monsters."

"This young Zhuang is one. His senior brother, naturally, is too."

"One thought, two methods—heavenly fate, uncanny calculation…"

"If you're about 'calculating,' you can't match young Zhuang. If you're about 'playing,' you can't match his senior brother."

"You're scheming against that Zhu kid—he'll hold back out of courtesy and won't kill you…"

"But his senior brother? He won't be so reasonable…"

"If you truly cross paths, nine out of ten times, you'll all be crushed…"

The Elder Statesman's gaze was obscure.

The Supervisor's expression also grew solemn…

…

In Dali Mountain.

After the heavenly tribulation, Jin Guang and bloodlight both vanished.

The Holy Son's face was filled with disbelief:

"My Immortality Talisman… shattered?!"

That damn Bai kid traded one life for one life—and outright destroyed my life-bound Immortality Talisman?!

What kind of people are these?!

Is this how you use a life-bound Immortality Talisman, you bitch?!

This is an Immortality Talisman!

It's a life!

The Holy Son, rage surging into his heart, choked on a mouthful of blood—could not spit it out, could not swallow it.

The forest was overturned, the surroundings in utter ruin.

Bai Zisheng was deeply disappointed he hadn't killed the Holy Son.

He now realized this damn Holy Son also had some kind of life-saving talisman like an Immortality Talisman.

But we're even—no loss, no gain.

Bai Zisheng retreated back to Mo Hua and Bai Zi Xi's side.

The Holy Son glared venomously at the three, fury rising, "Damn it! You shattered my 'Immortality Talisman'—I won't let you go!"

Bai Zisheng snorted coldly, "Your dog servants are dead—what can you possibly do to us?"

Bai Zi Xi's Immortality Talisman shattered; his Golden Body manifestation killed five Jin Dan demonic cultivators.

Bai Zisheng activated his Immortality Talisman; though he didn't deliberately kill, the manifestation's spiritual power was immense—any Jin Dan demonic cultivator swept up by it either died or was crippled.

The remaining few demonic cultivators were killed by the Holy Son's own 'Immortality Talisman''s backlash.

More than a dozen Jin Dan demonic cultivators were nearly wiped out.

Only two or three remained, lying on the ground, alive or dead, unknown.

When Bai Zisheng approached the Holy Son, he sensed his spiritual energy fluctuation was only at Foundation Establishment late stage—not yet Jin Dan.

Without his demonic dog servants, he's just a lone Holy Son—what can he possibly do?

Thus Bai Zisheng was utterly unafraid, even wanting to curse the Holy Son some more.

But Mo Hua immediately said, "Leave now!"

Bai Zisheng froze, then understood—now was not the time for empty words.

Bai Zi Xi also nodded.

The three exchanged glances, just as they prepared to move—when they heard the Holy Son's cold laugh:

"Want to run? Do you think you can get away?"

Before the Holy Son's words ended, the forest's aura abruptly shifted.

Powerful demonic energies suddenly descended, surrounding the Holy Son.

The demonic energy dissipated, revealing a variety of demonic cultivators, their gazes fierce and cruel.

And all of them—were Jin Dan demonic cultivators!

They wore identical blood-red Dao robes, as if from the same demonic sect.

At their head stood an old demon, Jin Dan late stage, his face wrinkled, hunched over, bowing to the Holy Son:

"Your humble servant arrives too late—please, Holy Son, forgive me!"

Dali Mountain was sealed off by demonic cultivators.

The massive disturbance from the manifestation had drawn reinforcements.

More than twenty Jin Dan great demonic cultivators stood behind the Holy Son, awaiting his command.

The Holy Son sneered, then turned cold eyes upon Mo Hua and the others:

"Today, none of you will leave!"

"You shattered my Immortality Talisman—I will make you pay!"

The Holy Son glanced at Bai Zisheng and Bai Zi Xi, sneering, "Earlier, I gave your Bai family face—I let you go. But you insisted on overreaching, defying me…"

"Now your Immortality Talismans are shattered—you've lost your self-protection. You're all fish on my chopping block!"

"Tell me—how will you escape now?"

In his gaze burned anger, envy, and a hint of hidden greed.

The demonic lords' expressions were grotesque, eyes locked like tigers on prey.

Xue Yi clenched her teeth, shielding the three children behind her.

But her figure was painfully frail, her beautiful eyes betraying utter despair.

Before the Jin Dan demonic cultivators, Mo Hua also clenched his lips, feeling utterly powerless.

The cultivation gap was too vast!

He furrowed his brow deeply, struggling to think—when suddenly he froze, slowly turning his head toward the western path, his gaze trembling, every hair on his body standing on end.

Bai Zi Xi noticed Mo Hua's odd reaction and turned to look too—but the path was empty, desolate, nothing there.

The Holy Son sneered, about to speak, when the blood-robed elder demon behind him looked solemn and warned:

"Holy Son, someone is coming…"

The Holy Son's expression hardened, his gaze darkening.

All around was deathly silent.

After several more breaths, the other Jin Dan demon cultivators finally sensed something amiss and turned their heads toward the western path.

The path was empty.

Soon, footsteps arrived—heavy and light, as if one step sank deep while the other was shallow.

A figure gradually appeared at the path.

He was disheveled, caked in mud and filth, his face expressionless, wearing a robe that looked like it had been stripped from a corpse—ill-fitting and ragged!

This chapter is six thousand characters; round it off, and it's roughly equivalent to an extra update, hehe~

(End of chapter)