Chapter 211: White Impermanence

"Do not think of using any means, do not think of mobilizing your Primordial Spirit, and even less think of contacting anyone outside. If I am startled in the slightest, my hand will tremble."

Cheng Xinzhan said.

Ever since the two of them entered, he had been improvising, stalling for time, and creating an opportunity—an opportunity for Qin Tianzong to get close while being distracted.

The jade talisman in Qin Tianzong's hand was something Cheng Xinzhan had manifested within his body using his Inner Landscape deity the moment he saw the water cauldron in the stone chamber; he had only managed to write the first half, and the rest was just random scribbling.

Fortunately, Qin Tianzong was too greedy, allowing Cheng Xinzhan to seize the chance.

His right hand, in a sword-finger gesture, pressed against Qin Tianzong's lower abdomen. The sword light erupting from his fingertips pierced through the old demon's Huang Tinggong, emerging from the old demon's back.

Although the Jin Dan remained unharmed, the injury to the Huang Ting was still an immeasurable wound for Qin Tianzong, who was nearing death from old age. Visible essence Qi leaked from the tattered Huang Ting; it could be concluded that this sword strike would accelerate Qin Tianzong's death.

Cheng Xinzhan was, of course, worried that Qin Tianzong might lash out, and even more afraid he would detonate his Jin Dan, because at this moment, the distance between him and the old demon was even closer than when he had approached Yang Xuanla last time. He had already prepared his defenses; his other hand was held in front of his chest, with a cluster of crimson-purple flowing light pulsing like a candle flame in his palm.

However, to his surprise, yet within his expectations, the old demon's expression changed repeatedly, finally settling into a smile.

"I do not know which expert has come from afar to seize the bodies of these two useless disciples of my sect. I beg you to keep your hand steady and not damage my Jin Dan."

"Whatever we ask, you answer."

Cheng Xinzhan said.

Qin Tianzong nodded quickly and cautiously, not daring to move too much.

Shen Zhaoming then cast numerous talismans, forming a magic array to shroud them, preventing the commotion from being heard by the outside world.

"Three months ago, when the Water Gang's Chief Shi was passing through here on a trade route, did you exchange a copy of the 'Jingming Three Tribulations Finger' with him for goods?"

Cheng Xinzhan asked.

Qin Tianzong's expression was still changing; Cheng Xinzhan truly hadn't known before that a person's expression could be this spectacular.

The old demon's turbid eyes dimmed; it seemed this question hurt him more than the sword strike through his abdomen. In the end, he did not quibble or try to divert the topic, but simply nodded slowly.

"Where is the person?"

Shen Zhaoming asked.

The expression on the old demon's face was neither crying nor laughing, but his peripheral vision involuntarily drifted toward the enormous water cauldron behind him.

Now it was Cheng Xinzhan and Shen Zhaoming's turn to change expressions.

Cheng Xinzhan's hand trembled, causing Qin Tianzong to shriek,

"Steady! My lord, be steady!"

Shen Zhaoming flew onto the cauldron, and immediately, this Daoist seed of the Jingming Sect saw a scene that made him nauseous:

The thick green substance in the cauldron, whether it should be called juice or soup, had a layer of gold-stone powder floating on top, shimmering with a greasy sheen. At the bottom of the cauldron, precipitated gold-stone had formed into pill-like shapes, but besides that, there were many white, ghastly skeletons floating in the green juice—some of birds and beasts, others human.

Cheng Xinzhan saw Shen Zhaoming's expression and could naturally guess something. He looked at Qin Tianzong,

"Take out all his belongings."

Qin Tianzong honestly obeyed, shaking out a pile of items.

Shen Zhaoming walked over and collected the items on the ground. Through the Wan Shou talisman and other personal effects, he learned the identity of this disciple. Kuang Zize, two generations younger than himself, a Second-Rank disciple of the Ningjing lineage of Wan Shougong, not yet thirty years old.

Wan Shougong was vast; Shen Zhaoming did not recognize this person, only knowing he was a junior fellow disciple whose path of cultivation had just begun.

"Explain it in detail."

Shen Zhaoming's voice at this moment was colder than the water in a frigid ravine.

Qin Tianzong was actually able to laugh at this moment. He said,

"There isn't much to explain in detail. That day, I was out gathering herbs and fought with a python demon. I killed the python to take its core but was injured. That young hero from the Jingming Sect must have been lying in wait for a long time. Seeing that I was old and injured, he seized the opportunity to attack."

"The young hero timed it well, but he didn't know I had long since known he was there. I feigned injury and pretended to be weak. When he got close, I turned my hand, captured him, and brought him back to the cave to use as a medicinal ingredient."

Shen Zhaoming closed his eyes, his chest heaving violently.

Kuang Zize, a junior fellow disciple I had never met, you were too careless! Killing a demon across realms—is that a simple matter? If it were as simple as in the storybooks and plays, why would practitioners and various sects divide people into ranks based on their cultivation realm?

For millions of years, the only immutable truth is that status is determined by cultivation realm. No family background, no character, no magic treasure is as intuitive and powerful as one's cultivation realm!

Both being at the Jin Dan stage, Shen Zhaoming asked himself if he was a genius. Cheng Xinzhan of Mount Sanqing, Song Jishu of Mount Gezao, the two from Mount Juqu, the two from Mount Bingfeng—which of them wasn't a genius? Yet, only by adding the peerless sword of Emei did they dare to surround and kill Yang Xuanla, who was three small realms higher.

Killing an enemy across realms becomes harder the higher the realm. A First-Rank killing a Second-Rank can be called a rare combat genius. A Second-Rank killing a Third-Rank is basically impossible. Whenever it happens, those people become famous for a time. Above the Third-Rank, one has truly never heard of killing an enemy across a major realm.

Cheng Xinzhan also sighed inwardly. For all these years, he had never forgotten the words "humility and caution," which was why he could walk until today. He continued to ask,

"I heard that Cao Jin of the Southern Sect intends to recruit your Ravine Master to submit to Xin Chenzi. Is there such a matter?"

Qin Tianzong looked at Cheng Xinzhan and said,

"I don't know what kind of experts you two are, to call the Eight-Armed Long Wang by his name, and also call the Nanchen Ancestor by his name?"

Cheng Xinzhan shook his hand, causing Qin Tianzong to shriek in pain again.

"I ask, you answer."

Cheng Xinzhan said coldly.

However, to his surprise, Qin Tianzong laughed out loud,

"For this question, you might as well go ask our Ravine Master and the Eight-Armed Long Wang!"

Cheng Xinzhan's expression changed drastically. His sword-finger swept from bottom to top, rapidly destroying the suddenly glowing Jin Dan. Afterward, he split the demon's physical body in two, and up to the cranium, he also cleaved open that dim, aged Primordial Spirit.

"Run!"

Cheng Xinzhan shouted.

Located deep within the great mountain, the two of them subconsciously attempted an Earth Escape, but they hadn't expected the soil here to be as hard as refined iron, making it impossible to escape.

"Stall for time for me!"

Cheng Xinzhan said quickly, taking out a compass-like object. This was the shifting magic array gifted to him by the Master of Huanzhu Tower. However, precisely because the function of this array to shift heaven and earth was so powerful, it was very troublesome to set up, requiring nearly half a quarter of an hour. Last time he used this array in the East Sea, he had specifically meditated on that reef for several hours.

"Good."

Shen Zhaoming only said one word, forming seals with his hands and offering up a magic treasure.

"Boom!"

But it was too late.

With a loud bang, the entire mountain shook. The two felt a powerful wave of magic power penetrating from outside the stone wall, as if it were about to split the mountain in two.

Cheng Xinzhan had no choice but to stop his movements, casting numerous talismans to form a spiritual array wall, blocking it in front of him.

"Bang—"

Cheng Xinzhan only felt as if a great mountain were crashing into him. Afterward, he was pushed backward by the immense force, his back slamming into the mountain wall, and he continued to be pushed backward by the incoming mountain, being ground over a hundred zhang into the mountain before stopping.

At this moment, the disciples in the Soul-Lost Ravine still didn't know what had happened, shaken into a daze by the sudden sound, thinking it was an earthquake. When the dust settled, they were astonished by the huge deep scar on the southern wall.

They were even more astonished by the two figures in front of the scar.

One was thin, wearing white mourning clothes.

One was burly, wearing a purple brocade robe.

Everyone recognized the man in white; it was the Ravine Master, Bai Wuchang. As for the man in the purple robe, some also recognized him, exclaiming that it was the Eight-Armed Long Wang.

And they were all familiar with the location of the crack; it was Elder Qin's cave dwelling.

What, could it be that Elder Qin's actions over the years of oppressing low-level disciples to gather herbs and dig stones had been discovered by the Ravine Master, and this was a housecleaning?

But soon they knew they had guessed wrong.

"Who are you?"

The man in white said, his voice as calm as stagnant water.

At this moment, in the deepest part of the crack, Cheng Xinzhan and Shen Zhaoming were each circulating their profound arts, repairing their displaced internal organs and regulating the chaotic Qi and blood in their bodies.

Since things had reached this point, there was no need for concealment.

"Mount Sanqing, Cheng Xinzhan."

"Wan Shougong, Shen Zhaoming."

The two removed their respective means of concealing their aura, revealing their true forms.

Bai Wuchang's dead-man expression didn't change at all, but Cao Jin raised an eyebrow. He said,

"Was Yang Xuanla killed by you?"

"Correct."

Shen Zhaoming said.

"And the Northern and Southern Kui Stars were also you?"

"Correct."

Cheng Xinzhan said.

Cao Jin smiled and said nothing more.

"Why did you come to my Soul-Lost Ravine to kill my people?"

Bai Wuchang's tone still had no ripples.

These two demons didn't seem to be intimidated by the reputations of Mount Sanqing and Wan Shougong.

Shen Zhaoming said, "A life for a life, to punish demons and eliminate evil."

Bai Wuchang seemed to have heard a joke; the corners of his mouth twitched, and he raised his right hand, pointing his fingertips at Cheng Xinzhan and Shen Zhaoming.

At this moment, Cheng Xinzhan felt a mysterious power penetrate into his Zique, manifesting as a chain in his Inner Landscape Realm, winding toward his soul.

Cheng Xinzhan's thoughts stirred, and surging golden flames ignited within his Zique; this was his Pure Yang Intent Fire.

The chain was scorched by the Intent Fire and immediately exited Cheng Xinzhan's Zique. Bai Wuchang also let out a soft sound of surprise.

On the other side, Cheng Xinzhan saw Shen Zhaoming's brows tightly locked, knowing he must be resisting Bai Wuchang's soul-capturing technique. At this moment, he chose to take the initiative.

Cheng Xinzhan joined his right fingers, and a talisman appeared at his fingertips—it was the "Supreme Heavenly Capital Talisman." He pressed the talisman against the bridge of his nose.

In his nasal cavity, the thirty-three layers of the Bright Blue Thunder Palace, shaped like a high tower, suddenly saw the Water Thunder Xia Guan General in the highest layer open his eyes. Holding a drumstick, he stood up, took a step, and walked into the Shangqing Talisman.

The Shangqing Talisman shone brightly, then transformed into a giant god. The god felt the crack was too small, so he braced his hands and kicked his feet, causing another roll of dust and smoke, tearing a large opening in the cliff. The Water Thunder Xia Guan General walked out of the crack, and with his drumstick, he struck horizontally into the void. A phantom of a giant purple drum appeared in the void, and as the drumstick landed on the giant drum, a thunderous sound exploded.

Cheng Xinzhan chose the Water Thunder Xia Guan General for a reason. The Water Thunder Xia Guan General resides in the nasal cavity, controls thunder sounds, and uses a drum as a weapon. At this moment, beating the drum to shake the thunder, the thunder sound rolled back and forth on the cliffs on both sides of the Soul-Lost Ravine. The Water Thunder Xia Guan General pinched the rhythm of the thunder, one strike after another, and the thunder sound grew louder with each strike.

The power of the thunder sound in the Soul-Lost Ravine was stronger than any magic spell. The entire Soul-Lost Ravine was shaking. The ghosts in the green mist were crushed by the thunder sound, the ravine water underground seemed to be boiling, and giant rocks on the cliffs on both banks fell down one after another. Some low-level demons were shaken until their seven orifices bled, fleeing in a panic.

Bai Wuchang showed anger on his face, offering up a white, ghastly net. The net was thin and dense, like a spider web, covering the Thunder God.

Cheng Xinzhan naturally wouldn't let him succeed, offering up "Taodu" again, which transformed into a scorching white golden light, rushing toward Bai Wuchang. At the same time, he offered up his magic sword "Fire-Refined Chixiao," and with a wave of his hand, the long sword erupted with a wave of fire sword Qi, striking the spider web.

Bai Wuchang was disturbed by Cheng Xinzhan's offensive, abandoning the soul-capturing technique he was using on Shen Zhaoming. Shen Zhaoming also found time. Seeing the Eight-Armed Long Wang Cao Jin just standing there with his arms crossed as if watching a show, he didn't take the initiative to attack, but instead came to help Cheng Xinzhan. With a flick of his horsetail whisk, countless white hairs wound toward Bai Wuchang like a river.

However, just as the flying sword and horsetail whisk were about to strike Bai Wuchang, the person suddenly disappeared. It was unknown what kind of escape technique it was.

Bai Wuchang appeared in another place, forming seals with his hands, and chanting urgently,

"Yaksha clears the way, Judge holds the register;

Souls return to Zi and Wu, spirits respond to Chen and Xu;

Life register canceled, death register entered into the tablet;

Impermanence demands life, Shen Zhaoming of Wan Shougong, quickly obey my command!"

After Bai Wuchang formed the seal, he pointed at Shen Zhaoming. Strange patterns appeared in the void around Shen Zhaoming, growing and spreading in the void, finally forming a pattern like a Ghost Gate Pass.

Shen Zhaoming's body was within the Ghost Gate Pass. His body paused, his eyeballs rolled up violently, revealing only the whites of his eyes. Afterward, he waved his hand, and the horsetail whisk, like a white snake, twisted and wound toward Cheng Xinzhan.

What a strange magic spell!

Cheng Xinzhan was startled, dodging to the side. However, he had seen Shen Zhaoming use the horsetail whisk magic treasure well before, but had never fought against it, not knowing it could be used so well. The horsetail whisk seemed to have spirituality, as if it knew where Cheng Xinzhan was going to dodge, so it came to grab him a step ahead, wanting to bind Cheng Xinzhan first.

Cheng Xinzhan was forced to use the "Space-Light Heavenly Yu Step" passed down to him by Ji Hehe when he went to sea, his figure appearing and disappearing in the void, one step covering over ten zhang.

At the same time, he offered up "Gao Zhen" again, the thunder sword hanging above his head. He held the fire sword in his right hand, pinched the thunder seal with his left, and chanted the thunder-summoning secret mantra he had realized from the "Supreme Hunyuan Elixir Embryo Thunder Fire Tempering Secret Method,"

"Earth Thunder Edict, Zhen Trigram opens the clouds;

Xun Wind gathers Qi, lightning shines on the Nine Underworlds;

Shenxiao pierces the earth, quickly as the law!"

The thunder-summoning talisman mantra in the "Supreme Secret Method" was of a very high grade, intended for Jin Dan thunder-summoning. But Cheng Xinzhan combined it with the thunder-summoning method he learned when he first entered the Thunder Dao to receive thunder pulp, as well as the Five Thunder Orthodox Method, creating the "Five Thunder Descent Destruction Mantra" that could be used for combat and breaking restrictions. Now, what he was using was the Earth Thunder Mantra.

The mantra echoed in the mountain ravine, and the thunder seal secret text on the "Gao Zhen" sword emitted dazzling electric light. Thunder sounds then came from outside the mountain.

"Boom!"

It was another earth-shaking event, and giant rocks fell from the top.

"Thunder, come!"

"Thunder, come!"

"Thunder, come!"

Cheng Xinzhan roared three times.

Thunder poured down like a waterfall, striking the top of the Soul-Lost Ravine.

"Dong!"

Finally, at the top of the crack, the mountain was pierced by the thunder, revealing a large hole!

Cheng Xinzhan dodged the incoming horsetail whisk again, circled behind Shen Zhaoming, pointed his finger at Shen Zhaoming, and chanted,

"Zhao!"

The bright light briefly suppressed the Ghost Gate Pass talisman pattern.

"Fix!"

Shen Zhaoming's body stiffened.

"Bind!"

Green branches grew in the void, winding around Shen Zhaoming, forming a dense green ball.

"Capture!"

Cheng Xinzhan flew toward the large hole at the top, the green ball following closely behind.

Bai Wuchang's magic spell was strange, and Cao Jin hadn't made a move yet, so Cheng Xinzhan didn't want to stay long.

"Want to leave? You're not going anywhere!"

Bai Wuchang snorted coldly. At this moment, he saw the giant storied ship deep at the top of the crack move.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 212 =====