Chapter 141: Eight-Armed Mingwang, Extinguishing Prison Zen Blade

Clang—

Facing this fierce and peerless palm strike from Xici, a clear, resonant metallic chime suddenly rang out from the empty space several zhang away, followed by the eruption of an extremely sharp intent from the void.

Like an invisible, peerless divine sword traversing the void, it shattered the Tathagata-like Gang Qi palm print with a hiss. Immediately after, another sharp Sword Qi, with the force to topple mountains and snap ridges, arrived with a thunderous sonic boom, causing the minds of everyone present to shake violently.

Xici, who bore the brunt of it, was particularly affected; although she saw no figure, her perception told her that a peerless swordsman was stepping on the stars and pacing the Dipper, lunging at her with a sword.

Concealed and invisible—what kind of illusion technique is this?

Facing such a bizarre situation, Xici was shocked, yet she did not dodge or evade. Instead, she clapped her palms together, and a tyrannical, boundless palm print instantly formed before her, crushing the incoming Sword Qi in one go!

Eh?

Amidst the shocking scene where the surging light of the Qi flames rippled in all directions, a soft sound of surprise suddenly came, seemingly taken aback by Xici's methods.

▲ttkдn▲￠o

Immediately following this, streaks of golden light flashed through the void like golden lightning, attacking Xici like a violent storm!

The thunderous golden light possessed the same extreme speed as real lightning. The surrounding eunuchs, palace maids, and guards had not yet reacted, still staring like wooden chickens as they watched Xici fight an invisible enemy in the garden.

The moment the golden light appeared, Xici, worthy of being the only Grandmaster of the Heavenly Dipper Realm, flashed instantly as if shifting her position. At the same time, she let out a sharp cry and pressed her palms together. A faint light began to emanate from her body, and amidst the vague sounds of Sanskrit and Zen chanting, a Gang Qi light-shadow vaguely resembling a Buddha suddenly took shape behind her, looking like the rising sun illuminating the world.

This Buddha light-shadow was nearly a zhang tall, with a compassionate face. Unlike any Buddha statue seen in temples, this Buddha had eight arms, and in its hands, it had condensed various Dharma Artifacts out of Gang Qi—some heavy, some sharp, some ancient, some light—yet all of them radiated a biting, murderous aura without exception.

Facing the golden light that followed in pursuit, the Buddha light-shadow merely shook its body, and its eight arms danced wildly, blocking all the incoming golden light as if it were a Protector deity!

This scene also caused a rather surprised voice to ring out in the area:

"Interesting. Is this a martial art, or some kind of Secret Technique?"

This voice was filled with a leisurely, unhurried air. Xici's gaze, brimming with murderous intent, swept across the surroundings like a blade:

"A Supernatural Power specifically for killing treacherous subjects!"

Boom!

Seemingly sensing the location of the voice's owner, Xici, looking like a Buddha descended to the world, struck out with all eight arms at once. Eight extremely dense Gang Qi palm prints blasted outward, crushing the air and sweeping in all directions.

As the palm prints landed, it was like a meteorite crashing into the ground. The earth and bricks shattered and collapsed amidst a deafening tremor, and the violent force erupting at the center of the impact overturned all the surrounding rubble and dust. It turned into a shockwave surging outward, shredding thousands of flower branches and leaves into powder, whistling like ocean waves carrying debris as it shot off in all directions!

Boom, boom, boom.

With airwaves rolling and sweeping the surroundings, Xici, with her eight-armed Buddha, frantically cleared the area. The swirling Gang winds whipped up flying sand and stones; in the eyes of the surrounding eunuchs, palace maids, and guards, she looked like a demon god descended to earth.

In such a scene of mountain-collapsing and earth-shattering destruction, an invisible figure could vaguely be seen revealing itself as the dust and smoke blew aside, constantly swaying and dodging while firing off streaks of golden light that shot through the air to strike Xici.

However, under the shroud of the Gang Qi-condensed Buddha light-shadow, Xici seemed to have divine protection. Although the streaks of golden light caused the Buddha light-shadow to tremble and sparks of Qi to fly, they still failed to fully break through her defense.

Yet, using such a martial art was clearly a significant burden. Xici had completely locked onto her target and could not help but sneer:

"Treacherous subject, using cheap tricks—how dare a grain of rice compete with the bright moon? Die for this Empress Dowager!"

Now that the airflow and dust were billowing and colliding within the range of the battle, she could clearly see an invisible human figure breaking through the smoke and leaving a trail; it was clearly the enemy who had used some Evil Method or strange technique to conceal their form.

Without another word, she reached out and grabbed. The Gang Qi boiled, and the Buddha's eight arms vanished. In the remaining two hands, a staff blade a zhang long had condensed at some point.

This staff blade was peerlessly sharp. The moment it formed, it left sharp traces in the air. The surrounding eunuchs and palace maids, upon seeing it, immediately had the illusion that all things in heaven and earth had vanished, leaving only themselves and that staff blade. It felt as if a single movement would cause both their souls and bodies to be completely dismembered by this blade, falling into eternal hell, never to be liberated.

Eight-Armed Mingwang and Extinguishing Prison Zen Blade—this was the highest achievement and Martial Arts Supernatural Power that Xici could only cultivate after entering the Eighth Realm Heavenly Gang in the "Immovable Mingwang Technique".

The "Immovable Mingwang Technique" was the ultimate sect-protecting art of the Mingwang Sect, a top-tier sect from over a thousand years ago before the Jing Dynasty. Once cultivated to the highest achievement, one could have the Mingwang protecting the body, an indestructible golden body, impervious to water and fire, and immune to lightning.

Before its destruction, this sect was the number one sect in the world, and even Grandmasters of the Eighth Realm Heavenly Gang were born from time to time. This led to the "Eight-Armed Mingwang Technique" becoming world-renowned, dominating the era, and once being called the world's number one martial art.

This technique had long been lost. It was only after the Jin Dynasty destroyed the mountains and temples that they accidentally discovered this inheritance in the secret chamber of a fallen sect. Subsequently, the Great Shaman of Shamanism studied it day and night, and with Xici's diligent practice following the empowerment, supported by the resources of the entire imperial court, she had already practiced it to the Great Completion realm.

Now, facing this enemy of a bizarre realm, she did not hesitate to use her full strength, unleashing her strongest means.

Zing—

The next instant, the Extinguishing Prison Zen Blade, purely condensed from Gang Qi, slashed toward the figure flickering within the smoke and airwaves with the force of splitting heaven and earth.

This slash seemed fast yet slow, both forward and backward. The void itself seemed to be sliced open by the sword. The blade light surged forward with a murderous nature that destroyed everything, boundless and tyrannical. For a moment, one could only see blade Qi sweeping like a hurricane, filled with a cold, sharp, murderous, and destructive flavor. To the onlookers, even a single glance felt as if their souls were about to shatter!

However, facing this blade.

The figure revealed within the smoke and airwaves let out a low chuckle:

"Freeze!"

The word "freeze" fell.

In an instant, whether it was Xici herself, the Mingwang manifestation she had condensed, or even the staff blade in her hand, all were frozen in place!

What!?

What kind of sorcery is this?!

Clearly feeling the flow of True Gang Qi within her body being instantly frozen by an indescribable, bizarre power, Xici, who had never experienced such a strange situation, was terrified.

Because at the same instant she was frozen, a sword light erupted from the void with a clang. The piercing whistle it stirred up was deafening. The wild Sword Qi, like a white rainbow piercing the sun, came surging through the air with heaven-shaking, rolling murderous intent. Everywhere it passed, all things snapped and collapsed, and even the light seemed to break for a moment, becoming bizarre and kaleidoscopic.

The erupting sword light was like a gale, like an angry thunder. In this moment, the frozen Xici felt as if she had fallen into an incomparably sharp, raging torrent, and the countless flesh and blood on her body were about to collapse and wither under this sword light!

"Shout!"

Fortunately, her True Gang Qi, accumulated over more than a hundred years, was incomparably vast. In her shock, Xici erupted with all her might, breaking through the suppression of that inexplicable power in just an instant. Then, before the Sword Qi could reach her, she danced the staff blade wildly, blocking that streak of sword light in the blink of an eye.

Clang—!

The collision of blade light and sword light was like sparks hitting the earth. The dazzling brilliance that erupted made even the clear sun in the sky look dim. A violent, sharp impact accompanied by a whistling wind swept out, and the subsequent sonic boom, along with a shockwave that could shatter one's liver and intestines, exploded outward!

Within a radius of more than ten zhang, the atmosphere wailed, the ground cracked inch by inch, and thousands of flower fragments along with the soil from the flower beds turned into waves and swept in all directions. The tsunami of sharp energy, enough to slice through flesh and blood, surged like a tide. Some guards who were closer were immediately covered in bloodstains and flew off screaming.

Under such an astonishing situation, the condensed Gang Qi staff blade was also snapped in half, light and flames flying everywhere. The Immovable Mingwang manifestation, entirely condensed from Xici's own Gang Qi, also trembled violently, with a deep crack slashed into its chest and abdomen, nearly striking her body!

Although she was unharmed, the immense danger she had just encountered and the enemy's bizarre methods made Xici feel terrified and furious, with no further thought of fighting. She immediately borrowed the force to retreat rapidly, while screaming sharply:

"Protect the Emperor, protect the Emperor—!"

"Be careful, this person knows an invisibility sorcery!"

Amidst the sharp cries, the surrounding guards, and even a large number of the Imperial Guard who had arrived upon hearing the commotion, rushed forward to block Xici. A few experts at the level of Martial Arts Master of the Sixth Realm vaguely spotted the target in the smoke and let out sharp shouts:

"Protect the Old Buddha!"

"Over there!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Following the sharp shouts, at least a dozen experts reacted instantly, unleashing hidden weapons, crossbows, and even Firearm fire, blanketing that patch of space.

Amidst the shattering bricks and stones, their storm-like offensive was naturally futile, failing to hit any target at all.

Yet Xici, even while guarded by hundreds of bodyguards, felt little sense of security; her face livid, she scanned the area with her gaze, searching for the target's tracks.

However, the next moment, amidst the whistling of the hail of bullets and the simultaneous firing of crossbows, a chuckle rang out clearly in the ears of Xici and everyone else:

"Old Buddha, I have to say, I underestimated you a little."

"Consider yourself lucky today; keep your head for now. The day we meet again will be the day you lose your life."

"No need to see me out, hahahaha."

As the voice drifted into her ears, Xici suddenly felt something and looked up at the sky above the garden in disbelief:

"In the sky!"

The sky, in the sky?

Yet, despite her sharp shout, the hundreds of surrounding guards and imperial troops all looked up in confusion, seeing neither person nor object.

However, Xici's aged face was livid, her teeth clenched, and her eyes were filled with shock and suspicion:

"Walking on air, flying through the void? Scoundrel, how is this possible?"

The surrounding guards and imperial troops did not know what Xici had sensed; they could only look at each other, maintaining their human-shield formation in front of Xici, not daring to lower their guard.

"Old Buddha!"

Just then, thunderous shouts rolled in, and suddenly two figures stepped over the wall and flew over.

The two who arrived were none other than the only two Grandmaster-level powerhouses currently stationed in the palace: Cang Jige and Bu Tiansuo.

As soon as they arrived, their gazes swept the area in shock and anger, their True Gang surging violently, their pressure sweeping out like a tsunami:

"Old Buddha, are you unharmed?"

"Where is the assassin!?"

Protected by the meat-shield-like guards, Xici, seeing the arrival of the two Grandmasters Cang Jige and Bu Tiansuo, finally felt a little safer. With a twisted expression and lingering fear, she said:

"You two are late; that rebel must have already escaped."

"Escaped?"

Cang Jige was startled and said in disbelief:

"Old Buddha, how did this person sneak into Wanhua Garden, and who in this world could escape from your hands?"

"What on earth is going on?"

Ever since the assassination attempt in the bedchamber not long ago, the palace had fully tightened its security. No matter where Xici went, she was guarded by a large number of experts; let alone an assassin, even a fly or a mosquito would find it hard to fly in front of Xici easily.

And more importantly, Xici herself was the only Heavenly Dipper Grandmaster in the Jin Dynasty, and could even be called the number one expert in Shenzhou. Ordinary Grandmasters were no match for her, and even these two Great Shamans of Shamanism combined would find it hard to defeat her.

Then, who on earth could sneak up to Xici to carry out an assassination and even retreat calmly!?

Recalling the dangerous scene just now, Xici's mood still hadn't settled. She took a deep breath and said:

"You two do not know, today Li Liansheng returned from Jinjin, but it seems this person's mind was twisted by some Daoist Arts practitioner using evil arts, and he actually dared to poison the soup he presented to me! Fortunately, I have True Gang protecting my body, and I detected it in time before drinking it, so I did not fall for it.

However, just as I captured Li Liansheng and prepared to interrogate him, I did not expect an assassin to have seemingly performed some kind of invisible, formless sorcery, making everyone unable to see them. They followed Li Liansheng into Wanhua Garden, and just as I was about to interrogate him, they suddenly struck to kill him and silence him. It was precisely because of this that I was alerted to this person's existence!"

Invisible, formless sorcery?

The two Great Shamans' eyes narrowed:

"Old Buddha means that this person can completely hide their figure and aura, making them invisible to others?"

"Forgive our limited knowledge, we have never heard of such a strange art in this world."

Xici said angrily:

"I experienced it myself, and so many palace maids, eunuchs, and guards present witnessed it with their own eyes; how could it be fake? That person's figure was indeed formless and shapeless, and even at a distance of only a few feet, one could not detect them. If it weren't for this person striking with golden light to silence the witness, I would have almost been deceived!"

Cang Jige and Bu Tiansuo looked at each other, their eyes full of shock:

"To be completely invisible and even almost deceive your eyes—this is no longer something that can be explained by Martial Arts or Daoist Arts."

"We remember that after the two surviving experts from the Niangan Office returned, they reported that on that night, they snuck into Guangwu Hall and encountered an invisible enemy who killed with golden light. Could it be..."

"Exactly!"

Xici's eyes were ferocious, and she gritted her teeth as she interrupted them:

"Who else could it be but this number one rebel in the world who dares to come to this palace to assassinate me!?"

(End of chapter)