Chapter 80

At these words, the seven were all startled.

Mo Ya, even if gifted beyond measure, was matched in strength—how could he hold off seven at once?

Clang-clang-clang.

The tin staff rang out, incense wafted in all directions, and suddenly a gray barrier formed, intending to trap Chen Zhao within.

At the same time.

The leader spurred his spiritual energy, and instantly a purple-black poison mist exploded from among the crowd. This novel is originally published on ZhuiShuShenQi, read novels every day, ttk s. tw super useful, providing you with error-free, non-disordered chapters.

Several cultivators nearby were immediately reduced to rotting flesh and lost all their cultivation, becoming piles of white bones.

Yang Xiao led the three in rapid retreat, but saw Chen Zhao unable to evade—he vanished entirely into the purple mist.

Her heart tightened; she immediately summoned the Shadow-Treader Cat, ready to rescue him.

Unexpectedly, the black cat's paw touched the poison mist and instantly became a bloody pulp—no longer daring to approach.

How utterly dominant!

Is this a Fo Men technique?

Yet Chen Zhao stood unmoved, showing no sign of poisoning; instead, with one slash of his sword, he shattered the barrier.

"This poison is now irredeemable—why is he unharmed?"

The seven's faces turned pale with shock.

Know that this pill was their greatest asset—it could poison even a Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivator to dust and bones!

Yang Xiao and the others' expressions brightened, but were barred by the poison mist, forced to hold back at a distance.

And in the next breath.

Sword light split the purple mist—the leader, unable to dodge, was cleaved in two on the spot.

How swift that sword!

The remaining few narrowed their eyes, realizing they were no match; they activated their remaining Poison Pills, forming hand seals to self-detonate.

Yet a figure moved through the purple mist as if strolling through a courtyard.

Without waiting for Elder aid or fellow sect members, several Sword Qi slashes shot out—any who touched them died instantly.

"Comrade, please—"

Before the words finished, only Chen Zhao remained in the night sky, bathed in moonlight.

Less than three breaths—he had beheaded seven!

He picked up the leader's corpse and searched it.

One tin staff, one Storage Bag—but no Black Lotus Mark.

Only then did he slightly open his eyes, his gaze startled.

"Does Fo Men secretly nurture dead soldiers?"

It looked strange in every way.

Besides, there were too many of them, their cultivation too low—apart from the Poison Pills, it was no different from suicide.

Could there be another purpose?

Chen Zhao pondered endlessly without answer, seized the spoils, and vanished into the twilight.

Leaving Yang Xiao and the other three staring at each other in silence.

Before the Chen siblings could even open their mouths to recruit him, Duan Yu stared blankly at those sword strikes, having forgotten entirely about testing his sword.

"What kind of senior brother is this?"

……

Inside the Cave Abode.

Chen Zhao breathed in and out, regaining his Qi, then suddenly opened his eyes.

Two Storage Bags lay before his knees; after a brief inventory, his expression turned peculiar.

One contained only a few Spirit Stones, its opening stained with old blood—as if already looted.

"Did he, like me, scatter his belongings, leaving one bag as a decoy?"

Too bad the man's corpse had already been handed over to the sect—his theory could no longer be verified.

"I got swindled by a fellow cultivator…"

Chen Zhao took a deep breath and opened the other Storage Bag.

The Golden Galloping Beast Leather Armor and Inner Core were both there; after a quick count, he no longer felt the sting.

"Good thing I can exchange for the Golden Thunder Pill Prescription inside Juxian Pavilion—then I can seize the chance to reach Foundation Establishment, leaving the mundane tasks to my Incarnation."

He raised his hand and traced his own form, asking Chen Qingyuan to repair the Small Shield.

"This was convenient—I teamed up with Mo Ya; I took the armor, helped him with Alchemy, and that's how the matter with Sister Yang below came about."

Chen Zhao had already prepared his excuse.

After all, many sought the armor—few would connect him to Mo Ya.

Chen Qingyuan didn't pay it much mind.

Their friendship was still shallow; this act was merely to fulfill his younger cousin's wish—he had no particular interest in Chen Zhao.

He was, however, quite intrigued by Mo Ya's sword strikes that killed enemies, repeatedly asking questions, making Chen Zhao's lips twitch downward.

"By the way, I haven't yet repaid Brother Mo for saving my life—I'll surely lend him my utmost aid when the time comes. Please, Brother Chen, convey this for me."

No need—he already knows.

Chen Zhao smiled inwardly.

The Water Ink Incarnation appears before others as a hero; the true body profits and cultivates, untouched by karmic ties—this is the Immortal way.

Yet upon reflection.

The situation changes by the moment; Buddhist cultivators now dare to strike at the foot of the mountain, aided by the Wusheng Sect's Poison Pills.

A great battle is imminent.

And the heavens and earth continue to transform.

His cultivation far surpasses what it was in years past, yet his Linglong Body can no longer drain the Spirit Qi from the room—as if the Spirit Pulse has revived.

"Lin Yutang has little time left; he may seize this opportunity to attempt Nascent Soul formation. If he fails, Tiankui Sect will collapse."

The three-way struggle will be decided within a few decades.

We must hurry to achieve Foundation Establishment—only then will there be a chance to survive.

With this thought, Chen Zhao released his Pill Furnace and immediately began refining the Golden Thunder Pill.

……

Another five years passed.

Dark storm clouds rolled above Tiankui Sect, spreading instantly.

The harbor, Han Hu, Lintai County… within moments, Ban Ruo Men was plunged into darkness, thunder roaring.

Inside Dalei Yin Temple.

The Abbot stood with his hands behind his back, gazing far off, his thick eyebrows furrowed.

Behind him stood the Hall Masters and all the Elders—every senior figure present.

"Times are no longer as they were; Spirit Qi grows ever stronger. This man may truly have a sliver of a chance to break through."

"I have already alerted several Incense Masters to act in unison and force him to break his cultivation barrier."

The Abbot's expression was solemn and resolute.

That single sword strike from years past still burned in his memory—even after centuries of cultivation, he could not withstand even a fraction of its power.

He and several old friends had little time left; this journey is for the sake of future generations, and none shall return.

All the monks and nuns beneath him were filled with sorrow.

Had not those two Arhats chosen to remain in seclusion, how could they have let the Abbot go to his death?

"Tiankui holds great fortune—but alas, you must go in my stead to witness it."

No sooner had he spoken.

The Abbot dissolved into countless Bodhi leaves, flying outward through the door.

Simultaneously, from surrounding sects, ten beams of teleportation light shot forth!

In less than a few breaths, eleven figures gathered before Tiankui's protective Great Array, each with snow-white hair and beard.

"A Three-grade Great Array—let me break it with sheer force."

The Abbot had reached full Golden Core cultivation, the highest among them; though his strength fell far short of Lin Yutang's, he stood alone as second only to him.

He formed a hand seal and pointed—one, and incense smoke surged like an ocean from across Han Hu, pouring entirely into his body!

Instantly, a Golden Buddhist Kingdom appeared behind him—countless Buddhas of the Ten Directions and Three Lifetimes, vivid and alive, each radiating the power of Golden Core!

Han City was instantly crushed beneath half the weight of the Buddhist Kingdom; even before he struck, the residual force shook the Great Array violently.

"Old villain, dare not be so arrogant!"

From within Tiankui, ten beams of teleportation light shot out—besides the four Hall Masters, six Elders, all Golden Core cultivators, joined them.

Leading them was a thin-faced man, wearing a Confucian scholar's headband, exuding the gentle demeanor of a scholar—he was Mo Shouzhuo, Hall Master of Dan Tang.

Yet it was his voice that had roared that warning.

The ten of them advanced together, their domains manifesting—but were immediately blocked by the ten figures behind the Abbot.

That single moment of delay allowed the Buddhas to chant sacred mantras; sutra characters surged forth, transforming into a sky-filling radiance that struck the Great Array.

Mo Shouzhuo's gaze darkened—he instantly understood the enemy's intent.

Are they willing to die just to force the Sect Master to emerge?

A surge of blood rushed to his head; he formed a seal and summoned a Tripod-shaped True Treasure, ready to sacrifice himself to slay the enemy.

"Shouzhuo, preserve your useful body."

No sooner had the words been spoken than several mountain peaks hummed and trembled in unison; all looked up to see a thatched hut slowly open its door.

Inside, darkness reigned—even the Golden Core cultivators could not make out his face, only that he held a sword in one hand and a talisman in the other.

Yet as the wind rustled through the trees, the storm clouds above reversed direction, and every heart tightened slightly.

Zeng!

From the wooden door blazed a brilliant light—a torrent of radiant starlight poured forth, sword qi surging like a tidal wave, instantly engulfing the Abbot and his companions.

The Abbot suddenly burst into loud laughter, his body swelling, then exploding spontaneously.

Boom!

The Buddhist Kingdom collapsed, and the protective Great Array shattered in response.