Chapter 81: Time to Repay the Debt

Meanwhile.

That sword strike spanned heaven and earth, yet its might was no longer what it once had been.

The Sword Qi could not cross Han Hu; by the time it reached Ban Ruo, only a wisp of clear wind remained.

Lin Yutang, neither sorrowful nor joyful, raised his head to gaze afar.

The tribulation clouds were slowly dispersing; the era belonging to him seemed to have already drawn to a close.

"Sect Master, why go to such lengths?"

Mo Shouzhuo's face showed puzzlement. Burning his essence blood, he could still hold on for another hour or so—there was no need to rush into action at all.

"My remaining lifespan is short to begin with; I cannot survive this tribulation regardless. I can only seize these final moments to wipe them all out in one fell swoop."

"Shouzhuo, your temperament is upright and resolute, and your cultivation is the highest. From now on, the position of Sect Master falls to you."

The speaker's voice was hoarse, as if in a final rally before death.

Before the people of Tiankui Sect could mourn, the Golden Core pressure by Han Hu returned once more, heading straight for Mo Shouzhuo and the others.

On the ground.

Foundation Establishment cultivators in varied garb swarmed through the mountain gate.

Tiankui Sect's foundation was indeed deep—no denying that—but the eight great sects now shared a common hatred. Their number of Golden Core cultivators slightly exceeded Tiankui's, and their Foundation Establishment cultivators were even more numerous.

Now that the Golden Core cultivators had no leisure to attend to other matters, the Foundation Establishment cultivators could run rampant and wreak havoc.

……

Dan Tang, the small hut by Ling Tian.

The Spirit Medicine in the fields was utterly destroyed; scorched earth stretched everywhere.

Li Zhiwei fought five opponents to a standstill, her face frosted over.

The Geng Metal Revolving Blade circulated at her side, its edge already chipped in places.

"Third batch already—is there ever an end to this?"

She clenched her silver teeth, raised her hand, and sliced an old monk clean in two.

The spiritual power within her was more than half spent, yet the enemies came in relentless waves, singling her out for special attention, leaving her no room to flee or catch her breath.

Seeing her retreat cut off completely, Li Zhiwei flicked a finger.

A hundred-zhang iceberg plummeted straight down, crushing four of them to death on the spot!

She exhaled slightly to recover her breath, doubt rising unbidden in her heart.

Apart from Ban Ruo Men, the eight great sects were short on resources—where did so many Foundation Establishment cultivators come from?

Fully fifty percent more than Tiankui's numbers! And the Evil Cultivators hadn't even entered the fray yet!

Li Zhiwei walked to the edge of the pool and gazed deep into the sect.

The mountain gate was askew; Juxian Pavilion had been snapped clean in half, with only the lower two floors remaining; and Dan Tang Wu Shi Liu Dian was utterly destroyed, its fragments already scattered to her feet.

If Chen Zhao could see it with his own eyes, he would surely find it strikingly familiar.

This was the very scene of Tiankui's ruins!

Yet something seemed to be missing.

Li Zhiwei naturally knew none of this. She stowed her Dharma Treasure Pill Furnace, called for her Cloud-Piercing Sparrow, and prepared to make her escape.

Just kidding.

Even she had nearly been overwhelmed; the other Foundation Establishment cultivators were in even worse shape.

The sect had shown her grace, but now there wasn't the slightest chance of victory. Better to keep the green hills safe—one need never fear running out of firewood.

Climbing up into the clouds, the tragic state within the sect lay fully exposed to her view.

The once-vast Discipline Hall was reduced to half a mountain peak. Father and son Zhang were escorting the disciples in retreat, with several Foundation Establishment cultivators in pursuit behind them.

Liu Chen, Su Wanyao, Duan Yu and others were among them—only Chen Zhao and Xin Tong were nowhere to be seen.

"That boy's sly by nature—surely he hasn't died just like that?"

Li Zhiwei raised a brow.

She rather admired this junior, and at once began searching with her gaze.

But Chen Zhao had his Linglong Physique to contain his aura. Li Zhiwei glanced around twice, then stopped lingering.

That boy had run faster than her back then—he should have left long ago.

Now Foundation Establishment Dharma Battles raged everywhere; mere aftershocks alone had killed nine-tenths of the Qi Refining disciples.

Liu Chen thought much the same.

But his own situation was far more miserable—several Foundation Establishment cultivators were hot on his heels, and Zhang Chunfeng, being of lesser talent, could not hold out much longer.

"Patron, you cannot even look after yourself. Better to lay down the butcher's blade now and take refuge in my Buddha."

Xu Jing's expression was sorrowful, yet his hands showed no mercy.

The Merit Wheel manifested behind his head, Buddha-light crowned his brow, and he smiled with a flower-picking gesture.

Once the Dao Foundation was established, one could outwardly manifest a Dao Foundation image—Fang Zhang's was the sun, Li Zhiwei's was ice, and Fo Men typically manifested Buddhist forms.

"Heh, they all say the Buddha is formless. For you lot to manifest like this—isn't that blasphemy?"

Zhang Chunfeng's face was drenched in sweat, yet he still found the breath to jest.

"Sincerity of heart brings it forth; to see all sentient beings is to see the Buddha."

The moment the words fell, faint Buddhist chants seemed to linger at his ear, as if a multitude spoke in unison, making Zhang Chunfeng's heart sink.

This old bald donkey—years since they last met, and his skill has only grown beyond his prime. What Secret Technique has he been using?!

But the old man had assigned him to escort the disciples—how could he possibly abandon them?

Though he spoke disrespectfully of the Sect Master, he had received the master's grace; where in his heart was the slightest frivolity?

"Sifan, your legs are quick. Listen to your father—get your junior brothers and sisters to Shanlian City. There will be people there to meet you."

As the Buddha light drew near, Zhang Chunfeng swiftly transmitted a voice message.

With a surge of Spirit Qi, he sent the group straight onto the flying boat.

This boat belonged to the sect, the only one of its kind, and he had left it to his son.

Zhang Sifan was about to lend aid when his father glared at him; he gritted his teeth and immediately turned to activate the flying boat.

"Good—quick thinking!"

Zhang Chunfeng laughed heartily, his tone brimming with pride.

And in the next instant.

A drop of thick, viscous blood condensed at his third eye, which he smeared onto a small bell.

Several Foundation Establishment cultivators rapidly retreated; Xu Jing's face twisted in shock as he cried out:

"You're merely Foundation Establishment—how do you possess a True Treasure?!"

Zhang Chunfeng sneered, his hand forming a seal; the bronze bell slowly rotated, aligning itself with the group.

DONG!

The bell's tone rang clear and resonant, jolting their spirits—suddenly forgetting how to cast spells, the Buddha light vanished instantly.

Zhang Chunfeng changed his seal; his hair and beard turned instantly white.

"Subdue!"

With a soft command, the small bell swelled rapidly, spinning as it grew.

Xu Jing immediately bit his tongue, snapping out of his shock, and activated his evasion technique, vanishing ten li away in an instant.

Yet the bronze bell crashed down, engulfing the entire peak, then shrank swiftly and flew back into Zhang Chunfeng's hand.

All his companions vanished; the peak had abruptly become a gorge!

Another bell ring—several Storage Bags flew backward, their owners reduced to dust and bones.

ZOOM!

Xu Jing spat out a mouthful of old blood; with that sound, Zhang Chunfeng's aura plummeted, and he tumbled from the sky.

Zhang Sifan's eyes reddened, but remembering his father's request, he wrenched his head away and pushed the flying boat to its limit.

The storm clouds above had thinned considerably; no thunder had been heard for a long while.

The flying boat climbed cautiously, and soon passed over a mountain peak.

Liu Chen and the others, having survived the ordeal, were about to relax when someone suddenly shouted:

"Why is there more tribulation lightning ahead?!"

Zhang Sifan had no time to grieve—he rushed to the bow and stared out.

Strange.

This tribulation lightning was far weaker than before—it seemed like...

Someone was undergoing Foundation Establishment?

The disciples gradually realized it too, their faces filled with astonishment.

With the great calamity imminent and the sect on the verge of collapse—who among the senior disciples would dare to undergo tribulation now?

BOOM!

The tribulation lightning shattered the Cave Abode; from the dust, a figure sat cross-legged inside, his aura surging violently, radiating waves of Spirit Pressure.

Everyone felt the aura was familiar.

The Chen siblings cried out in unison.

"Senior Brother Mo Ya?!"

From near to far, all Foundation Establishment experts froze, turning their gazes toward him.

The power of this tribulation was far stronger than what they had faced during their own breakthroughs—was this man trying to die?

Li Zhiwei, with the sharpest vision, saw that Chen Zhao was inside, with Xin Tong standing guard beside him, utterly motionless.

Could these two really be so bold?

Though stronger tribulation lightning forges a sturdier Dao foundation, any interference would mean utter ruin—death and the annihilation of the Dao.

And right now.

Halfway up the mountain, Liu Yicheng grinned, drawing his blade and advancing.

"Little thief, today I've reached Foundation Establishment—it's time to settle the score!"