Chapter 284: Li Linglong

Time is long, earth is long, time has passed and cannot be sought, years are hard to collect for immortals.

All kinds of yesterday are like clouds and smoke vanishing.

All kinds of today are like light and shadow gathering.

In Mount Chanbao, Ye Beichen and Nian Shangxie looked at each other from a distance, with ten thousand feet

"White hair grows by the ten-thousand-mile Cang River; how many sit in the lamplight at dusk..."

"On this road, it is ultimately hard to see old friends. Ye Beichen, she has been dead for so many years, yet you still cannot let go..."

"Hehe, holding onto this thought, you are destined to have no connection with the Pure Yang!"

Nian Shangxie laughed coldly.

"Back then, beneath Long Hu Mountain, you were there too." Ye Beichen's long hair rose, and in his calm eyes, it seemed as if boundless thunder was brewing.

Once these words were spoken, even Chang Weiyang beside him could not help but reveal a strange expression.

Zhang Fan's heart jumped wildly.

From just a few words, he could tell that this person before him, known as the youngest Three Tian Shi of Mount Zhongnan, had once known his mother, and it seemed their relationship was far from ordinary.

What he spoke of was the old affair from ten years ago, beneath Long Hu Mountain.

Nian Shangxie was silent for a moment before saying indifferently: "If you want to blame someone, blame the fact that both of them had too high an aspiration and offended everyone's taboos."

"I told you back then that the woman Li Linglong could not be trusted. When she was young, she hid her form and concealed her tracks, infiltrating major mountain sects for no other reason than to search for the Three Corpses..."

"Shut up!"

Ye Beichen gave a cold, light shout, his indifferent face still showing no fluctuation.

"What kind of person she is is not for you to evaluate."

"There are too many people in this world who owe her. Zhang Lingzong deserves to die, and you deserve to die too..."

Rumble...

In an instant, the gale winds around Ye Beichen surged, like the roaring of the long heavens, like the mournful cry of a startled dragon; anger rose from his gut, and sorrow came from his heart.

"Daoist Ye!"

Chang Weiyang's brows furrowed, revealing a solemn expression. As a Three Tian Shi, one absolutely must not act rashly; the impact would be too great and would stir up many variables in the human world.

However, today, the arrow was on the string and had to be fired.

It appeared to be a grudge match between Ye Beichen and Nian Shangxie, but in fact, Nian Shangxie was here in the identity of the Tai Sui to contend for that Heaven-Born Spirit Fetus that had not yet truly been born.

Let alone Ye Beichen, even he, Chang Weiyang, could not stay out of it.

Rumble...

At this very moment, Ye Beichen's temperament changed completely. Complex emotions boiled like ten thousand thoughts, dyeing the heavens and earth the same color, changing the wind and clouds.

"The Might of a Three Tian Shi!"

Zhang Fan looked up; the churning wind and clouds were like thick ink spreading, as if to soak everything.

This was a Three Tian Shi: when no thought arises, it is like still water; when ten thousand thoughts fly, heaven and earth are one.

Rumble...

In the blink of an eye, Ye Beichen disappeared from where he stood. The surging gale, like a wall, swept across, and the terrifying power actually sent Zhang Fan and Brothers Qi Delong flying.

"No longer human..."

With sand flying and stones rolling and gale winds flowing, Zhang Fan struggled to open his eyes. Ye Beichen's afterimage became increasingly blurred; he seemed no longer to be in this rolling red dust, having transcended the human world.

"Great Burial Sword!"

In an instant, the gale winds around Ye Beichen suddenly transformed into the shape of a sword. He merged his entire being into that single sword light. Wind and fire rose suddenly, thunder and lightning intertwined; everything caught within would be smashed to pieces and annihilated like dust.

That was the Sword of Great Burial; all tangible things were dissolved, vanishing like smoke and clouds, turning into nothingness.

"Transforming the Body into a Sword!"

Brothers Qi Delong felt his scalp go numb. Only by reaching the Three Tian Shi realm, with a Golden Core in the flesh and a Saintly Soul-Aspect, could one possess such a phenomenon and command such monstrous power.

"Great Calamity Sword!"

Rumble...

Suddenly, Nian Shangxie also moved. The ground beneath his feet cracked violently, exploding into a huge, deep pit.

His figure was also like a great sword, seemingly hidden in the black night, his body dim and unclear. Wherever he passed, everything sank into it, as if trapped in a quagmire, as if lost in a thick fog, muddled and confused; the Great Calamity had descended.

Two terrifying auras rose proudly, of the same sect and origin, yet with different energy pulses.

Great Calamity makes all things sink; Great Burial destroys everything.

Rumble...

The two sword lights collided violently, like falling stars. The waves of destruction were like a raging tide, radiating toward the surroundings. Wherever they passed, the terrain collapsed, plants were uprooted, and great stones shattered.

"Mount Zhongnan has the 【Thirty-Six Sword Chapters】; only in the Three Tian Shi realm can one comprehend their mysteries..." Brothers Qi Delong's voice was dry, his face covered in awe.

Only in the Three Tian Shi realm could such a phenomenon be produced.

Strictly speaking, they no longer belonged to the category of humans. With an internal Golden Core and an external Soul-Aspect, cultivating both life and nature, they had long since achieved a leap in life, only one step away from comprehending the Pure Yang Limitless Realm.

"You entered the Wu Wei Sect, so why do you still use the Daoist arts of Mount Zhongnan?"

Ye Beichen laughed coldly. With a wave of his hand, airflow seeped out from his pores. The sound of breaking through the air was shrill and piercing, like a flickering sharp sword, enough to cut through metal and break jade.

"Sword Qi..." Zhang Fan stared intently.

Although this was not his first time seeing a Three Tian Shi act, every time he watched, it shocked his soul.

An existence of this level was no longer common in the human world; the methods were marvelous and unimaginable.

At this moment, Ye Beichen was like a mass of Qi, a mass of Qi refined in a furnace fire. The sword followed his will; even between breaths, sword Qi would burst forth.

Rumble...

The sword shape that Nian Shangxie had transformed into vibrated violently. Dark, heavy cracks spread along the air, and in an instant, they swept away the airtight sword Qi.

"I will let you see the methods of the Wu Wei Sect."

Just at this moment, Nian Shangxie reached out a hand, his five fingers interlaced, and pressed directly toward Ye Beichen's skull.

"Five Emptiness Spirit Trap!"

Five fingers interlaced like empty mountains, restraining spirits and suppressing souls, never to return!

Rumble...

A roar sounded in Nian Shangxie's palm, like thunder rumbling, as if a mountain's weight was crushing down, imprisoning the Soul-Aspect.

Following closely, a force of trapping emptiness burst forth, actually intending to restrain and extract Ye Beichen's Soul-Aspect.

The suppression of a mountain's force, trapping emptiness and restraining spirits—such power could act directly upon a Three Tian Shi's Soul-Aspect; the level of terror was unimaginable.

Even from a thousand meters away, Zhang Fan and Brothers Qi Delong could not help but lose color, feeling as if their own Soul-Aspects were about to emerge, about to be swallowed by that great palm with interlaced fingers.

"Spirit Lake Prison!"

In a fleeting moment, a faint light appeared three inches from Ye Beichen's brow, like a lake surface becoming a mirror, rippling with light, imprisoning the Soul-Aspect that was about to emerge, as if in a cage.

That faint light was weak, but in the eyes of Zhang Fan and Brothers Qi Delong, it was as dazzling as the great sun, surpassing the light of their own Soul-Aspects, almost impossible to look at directly.

"Three Tian Shi Ye is truly worthy of being the youngest Three Tian Shi of Mount Zhongnan." Brothers Qi Delong whispered.

The Wu Wei Sect was known for harvesting and supplementing Soul-Aspects, with endless methods specifically targeting them, just like the 【Five Emptiness Spirit Trap】 that Nian Shangxie practiced.

The Daoist sects and the Wu Wei Sect had fought for thousands of years, naturally possessing many countermeasures: locking spirits and closing energy, repelling all evil.

The Spirit Lake Prison was one of the most profound spirit-locking methods of Mount Zhongnan. The Spirit Platform becomes a lake and a mirror; in a square inch of space, it suddenly becomes a cage, not only locking the Soul-Aspect but also reflecting all attacks.

Hum...

Nian Shangxie's palm vibrated, and faintly, a layer of charred black appeared, as if burned by an invisible force.

"Break!"

Just at this moment, a sharp shout resounded. Thunder and fire soared to the heavens, brilliant like river waves sweeping across mountains and rivers, vast and mighty, breaking through the air.

Chang Weiyang finally acted at this moment. The gourd in his hand was like a resurrected ferocious beast, spitting out flames of thunder and fire, releasing the power of annihilation. The dim black night seemed to be illuminated; a ray of light shone from the Toad Treasure, and Nian Shangxie's figure was swallowed by the flames of thunder and fire.

"Mount Laojun..."

Ye Beichen raised an eyebrow and looked over.

"This is not a dispute of temperament, but a dispute of orthodoxy." Chang Weiyang said in a deep voice.

If it were an ordinary exchange of techniques, he naturally would not intervene, but the Wu Wei Sect and the Daoist sects had fought for thousands of years. When a Three Tian Shi acts, rising to this level means casting aside all rules and prejudices.

Not to mention, this struggle involved the ownership of the Heaven-Born Spirit Fetus.

"Tai Sui!"

In the distance, Jin Maori and Wu Qilu both changed color.

With two great Celestial Masters here, even the Tai Sui would find it hard to suppress the overall situation. Now that he was facing a death trial, they would also find it hard to escape unscathed.

"In the gourd heaven within heaven, thunder and fire live for ten thousand years..."

Just at this moment, a cold voice drifted faintly from the boiling thunder and fire.

!

"Tai Sui!"

Zhang Fan's gaze narrowed to a line. He saw that in the midst of the brilliant fire, the figure that had been swallowed appeared once again. His body seemed to be shedding a shell; the Great Calamity retreated, and auspicious signs grew in abundance.

"Whether it is Mount Zhongnan or Mount Laojun... today I will let you know that the ownership of that Heaven-Born Spirit Fetus belongs only to my Wu Wei Sect..."

Nian Shangxie's voice became increasingly vast. The next moment, a Soul-Aspect soared to the heavens. Black clouds surged from all directions, obscuring the bright moon; faintly, thunder flickered, vibrating without end.

The human heart is the heart of heaven; human anger is the anger of heaven.

This was the Marvelous Realm of the Three Tian Shi: the unity of heaven and man; every gesture possessed immense divine might.

In an instant, everyone's mind became dazed; faintly, beneath the vast heavens, a terrifying image appeared before their eyes.

That terrifying image had three heads and six arms, a red body and a green face, twelve skulls atop its head, its brow releasing golden light, fire flying beneath its feet, wrapped in leopard skin, holding a golden bell, yellow banner, halberd, fire sword, and other ritual implements.

Three heads and six arms manifest divine powers; six arms hang down with might, exerting Brahman force.

Like a demon-subduing lord descended from heaven, truly the Tai Sui God of the human world.

"Soul-Aspect Dharma Image!?" Zhang Fan recognized it at a glance.

Of the nine realms of the Daoist, only by cultivating to the eighth realm, the 【Abbot】 rank, could one cultivate a Soul-Aspect Dharma Image, manifesting various mysteries and becoming that one-in-ten-thousand anomaly.

That day, in Yujing City, the Deputy Abbot of White Crane Temple, King Huo, had appeared, manifesting a Soul-Aspect Dharma Image; his Soul-Aspect Dharma Image was the King of Correction, also marvelously extraordinary.

If not for the Master of the Wang Xuanmiao Palace and Zhang Sheng appearing at the same time, no one in the vast Yujing City could have blocked that kind of power.

A Soul-Aspect Dharma Image is like a heaven-bestowed divine power; manifesting in the human world, it would surely produce an extremely profound influence.

"Respectfully invoking the Northern Yin Tai Sui, the General of the Doukou Command, whose majestic light shines through the three realms, and whose murderous aura towers over the five clouds..."

"Shaking the golden bell, evil spirits submit; holding the halberd, ghosts and gods revere. The evil god hears the words and his heart and gallbladder shatter; the plague-bringer raises his fist and all retreat and hide..."

"Ascending to heaven to receive orders to execute fierce stars, descending to earth to hold power to behead ghosts and gods. I now offer rites and invoke your arrival; bestow great thunderous might to burn heaven and earth..."

Within heaven and earth, between mountains and rivers, it seemed as if the sound of scripture chanting arose, layer upon layer, spreading for a hundred miles.

In a trance, that mysterious Dharma Image became increasingly tall and towering. The terrifying phenomenon enveloped the entire Toad Treasure Mountain, and even radiated further away.

At this moment, everyone's Soul-Aspect was pulled by the 【Tai Sui Dharma Image】, as if they were about to be harvested in an instant.

This was the Soul-Aspect Dharma Image, towering above all Soul-Aspects, stealing the fortunes of heaven and earth, taking the mysteries of the sun and moon, tempered by water and fire, with dragon and tiger intertwined, only then could such divine might exist.

"I shouldn't have gotten involved." Brothers Qi Delong gritted his teeth, feeling somewhat regretful.

If a Heaven-Born Spirit Fetus were to be born, how could there be no trials?

Even though that Daoist back then used the corpse-mound of the Jingguan to divide the trials, it was still dangerous. Now, it had indeed attracted Celestial Masters to fight.

Such a phenomenon could not be detected by the naked eyes of ordinary people; they only felt the wind and clouds changing, earthquakes and mountain collapses.

But in the eyes of cultivators like Zhang Fan, that Soul-Aspect Dharma Image was the true Great Calamity. Under the shroud of its aura, no living being's Soul-Aspect could escape.

"Tai Sui Dharma Image!?"

Ye Beichen whispered coldly. He was in the center, yet he stood firm. With a pat on his brow, his Soul-Aspect soared to the heavens, the profound void changed, and a Dharma Image was instantly born.

"This is..."

Ye Beichen's Dharma Image was actually a huge sword, spanning north and south, cutting across east and west, supporting the heavens and standing firm, manifesting profound might.

A ray of sword light pierced the heavens and covered the sun and moon; the Taiyi is clear and proves the Wang Xuanmiao Gate.

"Taiyi Sword Image!"

Zhang Fan was dazed, a trace of obsession appearing in his eyes.

Soul-Aspect Dharma Images are not all human-shaped, just like Jiang Yunxian's Dharma Image that day was the Crimson Palace descending to the mortal world.

Rumble...

The Tai Sui Dharma Image waved its six arms, and mysterious ritual implements stirred up layers of ripples, smashing toward the front.

Just at this moment, the Taiyi Sword Image shook gently, splashing sword light like a reversed Milky Way, covering the Tai Sui Dharma Image.

The two great Soul-Aspect Dharma Images collided in the void, the terrifying waves extending for a hundred miles, covering the entire Toad Treasure Mountain.

At this moment, everyone felt as if they were suffering a great calamity.

Zhang Fan, Brothers Qi Delong, Jin Maori, Wu Qilu, Chen Zhuo... and even Qin Ergou further away, all looked in the same direction.

In front of such behemoths, they were as small as ants.

This was the ultimate of cultivation; this was the realm of a Three Tian Shi.

"It's too fierce, let's retreat." Brothers Qi Delong gritted his teeth.

At this moment, distance could no longer guarantee their safety; only by leaving Toad Treasure Mountain could they avoid being affected.

Bang bang bang...

The earth shook, and the place where the Heaven-Born Spirit Fetus was located shook even more violently. Water vapor boiled, and magma actually erupted.

"That thing is about to be born." Zhang Fan's eyes suddenly lit up.

Just at this moment, Chang Weiyang's figure flickered, actually rushing toward the Heaven-Born Spirit Fetus.

While the two great Celestial Masters were fighting, this expert from Mount Laojun finally seized that glimmer of heavenly opportunity, intending to take the Heaven-Born Spirit Fetus into his possession.

Hum...

Almost at the same moment, Nian Shangxie's Soul-Aspect returned to his physical body, his aura like a bursting dam, vibrating in all directions, and he also lunged over.

Ye Beichen followed like a shadow, rushing to seize it.

In the end, the reason such a desolate place could attract three Celestial Masters was because of that Heaven-Born Spirit Fetus.

"Who will it ultimately fall to?" Zhang Fan's eyes were wide open; the dust was finally about to settle.

"No one can take it."

Just at this moment, a soft and familiar voice actually echoed faintly in Zhang Fan's mind.

The next moment, his eyes were dazed, and he saw a strange figure appear eerily, actually blocking the path in front of the three Celestial Masters.

It seemed to be a woman, tall and graceful, but her face, and even her entire being, appeared extremely blurred, as if she did not exist in this void, appearing and disappearing, flickering in and out...

Like the vacuum manifesting marvelous existence, like refining the true form from emptiness!

"This is... Vacuum Refining Form!!?"

Zhang Fan's eyes were wide open; he simply could not believe it.

He had not seen the Vacuum Refining Form, one of the nine great internal alchemy methods, for the first time.

That day in Yujing City, it was this mysterious expert who had blocked Li Linlang's assassination attempt.

What shocked Zhang Fan was not just the reappearance of this mysterious expert, but the voice that had just appeared in his mind...

As time passed, that familiar voice gradually overlapped with certain fragments in his sealed memories, and that figure who had once been closest to him actually became vivid.

"Mom!?" Zhang Fan's eyes trembled, revealing deep shock.

(End of this chapter)