Chapter 213: There is innocence outside Mount Wudang (Asking for monthly tickets at the end of the month)

Facing Cao Jin, Cheng Xinzhan naturally prepared for battle. Bai Wuchang fell into the mountain ravine, and Cheng Xinzhan didn't bother with him anymore.

The Soul-Lost Ravine's reputation in the entire Wuling mountain area of Xiangxi was extremely foul. Now that the tree had fallen and the monkeys had scattered, and Bai Wuchang was seriously injured, unless Cao Jin took him back to Mount Baiman to recuperate, there were too many enemies who didn't want him to live.

"Then I'll test your weight!"

Cao Jin sneered.

He originally didn't want to fight these two Dao seeds, but Cheng Xinzhan's words had squeezed him to this point. If he didn't make a move, he wouldn't be able to face anyone in the future.

Cao Jin stepped on the void, and his whole person instantly disappeared.

So fast!

Cheng Xinzhan's eyes suddenly widened, his pupils reflecting the afterimage of Cao Jin as he streaked through the air; in just an instant, he had closed the distance to right before him.

There was no time to perform any magic spell or mantra, and the flying sword would take time to return. Cheng Xinzhan was still holding the fire sword in his right hand and didn't have time to let go. He immediately held his left hand in a horizontal sword-cutting gesture. In just a moment, the virtual grip became a real grip, and he drew "Autumn Water" from the void, slashing toward Cao Jin's neck.

However, Cao Jin just lowered his head, shrugged his shoulders, and slammed into Cheng Xinzhan's chest. Cheng Xinzhan was like a kite with a broken string, flying backward.

The Inner Landscape Gods in his five mansions vibrated in unison, taking action to protect his internal organs.

How could he be so fast! How could there be such great force!

Cheng Xinzhan rubbed his chest, breathing with difficulty.

"Eh?"

Cao Jin was still a bit surprised. After taking his shoulder-slam, this human race's chest didn't collapse and he didn't vomit blood; this was rare.

The bamboo body was a beat slower, controlling the Yin-Yang flying sword to attack. However, Cao Jin moved horizontally in the void, dodging the Yang sword and waving his sleeve to knock away the Yin sword. At the same time, he had the leisure to twitch his nose and sniff, and then circulate his Dharma eyes, revealing vertical pupils to look at Cheng Xinzhan's physical body.

"Hmm?"

He was very surprised again, "I was wondering, how could you have scales of my Dragon clan on your chest? No wonder you could block this blow. These scales took root on you, so they weren't seized. You have Dragon blood in your body? Is it your father or your mother?"

The bamboo body saw that Cao Jin didn't take advantage of the physical body's weakness to advance further, so he didn't attack again, coming to guard in front of the physical body.

"Cough, cough, you guessed wrong. My parents are both mortals."

Cheng Xinzhan replied.

"Oh? Could it be that there is a Dragon clan member who voluntarily gave you scales? You have a favor to the Dragon clan? Tell me, and perhaps I can spare your life."

Cao Jin said to Cheng Xinzhan.

"That is my business, it has nothing to do with you."

Cheng Xinzhan didn't appreciate it. Cao Jin was forced into the demon path by Emei's pursuit, which was helpless, but since he had entered the demon path and was working for Xin Chenzi, he couldn't turn back. Cheng Xinzhan didn't want to be hypocritical with him, nor did he need his favor.

"Hehe."

Cao Jin smiled. He felt he somewhat appreciated this Daoist. His skills weren't bad, and his personality was interesting. But the principles this Daoist could understand, why couldn't he understand them himself?

He was the Dao, and he was the demon.

So he approached again.

And taking advantage of the time spent talking, Cheng Xinzhan's physical body let go of the fire sword. The bamboo body took over, offering the thunder-fire magic sword high above his head, while controlling the Yin-Yang flying sword. The physical body continued to hold Autumn Water. He didn't change hands with the Autumn Water sword; for him, there was no difference between his left and right hands. His right hand pinched a seal at this moment, pointing at the approaching Cao Jin, and chanted,

"Trap!"

Ripples suddenly appeared in the void there. Cao Jin seemed to have fallen into a mud swamp. Taking advantage of this time, both flying swords stabbed over.

But this Dragon's strength and speed were too tyrannical. After just a half-breath delay, he broke free, easily dodging the two swords. The thunder-fire sword tips erupted with Heavenly Thunder and Earth Fire, but Cao Jin wandered in the Heavenly Thunder and Earth Fire as if nothing had happened!

Cao Jin still came toward the physical body. Cheng Xinzhan used Autumn Water to defend. This time, with other means assisting, he lasted for three rounds, but afterward, he was hit in the right shoulder by Cao Jin's punch again, the collarbone breaking into two pieces, the flesh and skin sinking in.

And although the bamboo body assisted with magic spells and flying swords on the side, the bamboo body was only at the beginning of the Second Realm, and the power of these means was always insufficient, all easily resolved by Cao Jin.

But even so, Cheng Xinzhan didn't dare to let the bamboo body hold Autumn Water and get close, letting the physical body cast magic spells from afar. Otherwise, when Cao Jin knocked away the bamboo body and came to get close to the physical body, Cheng Xinzhan wouldn't even have a means of defense.

Cao Jin laughed, "You, your magic spells and magic treasures are not bad, but your escape techniques and movement techniques are not brilliant. You are always caught up by me, and your physical body is as thin as paper. So when you meet someone like me, you have no way."

Cheng Xinzhan naturally realized this problem. He had truly never fought with such a person before.

In the battle overseas, when he was besieged by those demons in the Thunderstorm Sea, although they also used this close-combat approach, at that time they were all below the Third Realm, and their speed and strength were not far superior to his own, so he could maneuver and even win with flying swords and mantras.

It was just that meeting a great cultivator like Cao Jin now truly left him somewhat helpless.

Cao Jin attacked again. Cheng Xinzhan used Autumn Water to defend, while not caring about the pain in his right shoulder, wanting to pinch a seal and chant a mantra again.

However, Cao Jin saw the timing and slashed his palm on Cheng Xinzhan's right wrist.

Cheng Xinzhan felt the pain, gritted his teeth, and groaned. He saw that his right hand had twisted to a strange angle, as if it were connected to his arm by only a layer of skin. He could no longer feel his fingers.

"I've dislocated your hand, let's see how you pinch a seal. If you dare to open your mouth, I'll dislocate your jaw, let's see how you chant a mantra."

Cao Jin said with a smile.

Shen Zhaoming saw his good friend being bullied like this and was naturally filled with hatred. He opened his Dharma eye again to shine over. It could be seen that it was somewhat strenuous for him to perform the Dharma eye in his current state, and all three eyes were bleeding.

The speed of the Dharma eye's divine light was extremely fast, and even Cao Jin couldn't dodge it, being hit in the back of the heart. However, after Cao Jin groaned, he grabbed Cheng Xinzhan's broken right shoulder and lifted him in front of himself to block the divine light.

Helpless, Shen Zhaoming had to put away his Dharma eye again.

Cheng Xinzhan was in pain all over, but his mind was still clear. The bamboo body helped up Shen Zhaoming, who was almost exhausted and about to fall from the air. The bamboo body transmitted sound,

"Zhaoming, you don't need to stay here. Go find reinforcements. I'm fine here. I have two bodies, living with a divided soul, and I have a Jin Dan backup. No matter what, I will definitely save my life. Maybe, I can even make a profit."

Shen Zhaoming widened his eyes upon hearing this, looking at the bamboo body. He understood; Xinzhan was already holding the thought of sacrificing himself to re-cultivate or self-destructing his Jin Dan.

He immediately transmitted sound, "This matter started because of me. I will go close to your physical body now and seize the opportunity to swap you out. You go, I'll stall him."

The bamboo body shook his head, "If I stay, I can live. If you stay, you will die. No need to say more."

Shen Zhaoming wanted to speak again. He naturally also had a trump card for escaping, but at this moment, a young, clear, and childish voice came from the north, interrupting the two,

"The Eight-Armed Long Wang has such great prestige, bullying the small seems to make you very proud."

Cao Jin was currently blocking Cheng Xinzhan's physical body in front of him and looking at Shen Zhaoming. The voice came from behind him. He was about to turn his head to look, but at this moment, a life-and-death crisis lingered in his heart. This was a means far faster and stronger than the Jingming Sect Dao seed's forehead Dharma eye attacking from behind.

He immediately let go of Cheng Xinzhan's physical body, changed a twelve-section iron mace in his hand, held it with both hands, turned around, and struck with all his might.

This strike hit a dark sword Qi.

The sword Qi collided with the iron mace, emitting a roar, erupting with Dharma-containing spiritual light. The powerful spiritual power force blew Cheng Xinzhan's physical body away, and he also took the opportunity to escape.

Cao Jin took two steps back, stood in the void, and said in a deep voice,

"Who comes?"

A figure came from the north, stepping on a mysterious pace. In a few steps, he crossed a hundred miles, the voice coming from far to near,

"Sweeping the clouds before the Mysterious Emperor, residing in the crane body within the True Martial Palace;

Refining the turtle and snake into a sword soul, there is innocence outside Mount Wudang."

When the poem was finished, the figure had already arrived in front of everyone and stood still. Everyone was astonished; the person who came was actually a Daoist child less than three feet tall, with a face that looked no more than young!

However, the person who came sang with a high and profound Daoist meaning, and the words were shallow and clear, so it was not hard for everyone to guess his identity.

"True Martial Temple Master?"

Cao Jin asked.

The Daoist child had red lips and white teeth, extremely cute, wearing a small, loose, dark blue feather garment, with turtles and snakes embroidered on the cuffs, a black wood crown on his head, and a small sword tied to his waist. He stood with his hands behind his back and said,

"It is this poor Daoist. I will protect these two."

The Daoist child beckoned to Cheng Xinzhan and Shen Zhaoming, and the two hurriedly hid behind the Daoist child.

"Ha!"

Cao Jin laughed in extreme anger, "I see the Temple Master hasn't reached the Fourth Realm yet, but this tone is bigger than a Fourth-Realm high cultivator."

The Daoist child sneered, "To kill this evil dragon, I don't need the Fourth Realm."

Cao Jin was blocked by this sentence and couldn't speak. He originally thought he was arrogant enough, but today he had seen someone even more arrogant than himself.

However, for some reason, the dragon's eyeballs rolled, and he was actually able to laugh,

"Easy to say, easy to say. Temple Master, please."

The Daoist child was also a bit surprised upon hearing this, not expecting this evil dragon to be so easy to talk to. However, he was too lazy to investigate the root cause, turned around, and left, Cheng Xinzhan and Shen Zhaoming following closely behind.

And Cao Jin truly stood in place, watching the few people leave.

"Long Wang!"

A shout attracted Cao Jin's attention. He followed the sound and looked, and it was Bai Wuchang, who was still groaning on the ground.

He landed and stood beside Bai Wuchang.

Bai Wuchang's eyes were filled with resentment and malice, and his mouth was still gushing large mouthfuls of fresh blood.

Cao Jin looked at Bai Wuchang's miserable appearance, feeling somewhat regretful in his heart.

To tell the truth, this Bai Wuchang's skills were not weak, otherwise he couldn't have dominated Xiangxi. It was just that this old ghost's cultivation was all on the paths of calling souls and refining ghosts. But today he was countered to death by that Daoist named Cheng Xinzhan. That Daoist's thunder method, fire method, pure Yang, rooster crowing, soul-fixing, transcendence, and even the magnificent Jin Dan, all kinds of things, seemed to be Bai Wuchang's destined nemesis.

Actually, there is a name for this in the cultivation world, called Dao Enemy.

This Jin Dan old ghost met his Dao Enemy and ended up in such a state. It was unjust, but also not unjust.

Not long ago, Bai Wuchang was still a sect master, negotiating conditions with the Eight-Armed Long Wang. But in the span of an hour or so, he had reached this state. Naturally, he was hateful. He wailed,

"Why did the Long Wang let them leave?! Could it be that you are truly afraid of the True Martial Temple Master?!"

Cao Jin glanced at him and smiled disdainfully. Afterward, he raised his right hand in front of his chest and spread it out.

And Bai Wuchang looked closely, and there were clearly a few long hairs in that palm!

"This is?"

Cao Jin smiled, "Killing people doesn't necessarily mean fighting and killing. Use your brain!"

After saying that, Cao Jin kicked the ground, transformed into a rainbow, rose into the sky, and left. Looking at the direction, he was returning to the Southern Wilderness.

Bai Wuchang was stunned, looking at the direction Cao Jin left for a long time. Afterward, he suddenly reacted and shouted in panic,

"Long Wang! Why did the Long Wang leave?! Take me with you, I am willing to defect to the Nanchen Ancestor, I will be the youngest of the Eight Great Vajras, I am willing! The small one is willing——"

Bai Wuchang's voice echoed in the mountains, but Cao Jin, who had already left, could no longer hear it.

————

In the dense forest of Xiangxi, on a nameless mountain peak, sat a small temple.

The mountain was nameless, hidden in the Xiangxi mountains, and few people knew its specific location. The temple was a small temple, with only one hall and one courtyard, and no one offered incense.

But the reputation of this temple was extremely great, so great that everyone in the entire Wuling knew it.

It was: True Martial Temple.

Inside the small temple hall, the statue of the True Martial Emperor was enshrined. The Emperor sat with his knees pressed, his face compassionate. Under his left foot was a mysterious turtle swimming in water, and beside his right foot was a Teng snake spitting mist. In front of the statue was a treasure table and incense burner.

Cheng Xinzhan and Shen Zhaoming offered incense and bowed.

Cheng Xinzhan's right hand had already recovered. He had been refining elixirs for many years, so it was impossible for him not to carry elixirs like bone-setting and tendon-connecting pills with him.

After the two offered incense and bowed to the True Martial Emperor, they bowed to the True Martial Temple Master again,

"Many thanks to the Daoist for the grace of saving our lives."

Even though the two bowed, their fists were higher than the True Martial Temple Master's head, and the True Martial Temple Master had to raise his hands above his head to help the two up. The Temple Master said with a smile,

"We are all of the Daoist sect, connected by the same branches. Why talk about thanks?"

Cheng Xinzhan truly didn't expect that he would be saved by this Daoist he had never met before.

Before, he had learned about the True Martial Temple from the mouth of the Silver Bell Miao Village Chief, but he didn't expect to arrive at the temple so soon, and be saved by this long-famous Temple Master.

He didn't expect that this famous True Martial Temple would be so simple. The Temple Master didn't see any disciples or incense guests, only the Temple Master himself.

He didn't expect that the legendary True Martial Temple Master would be so skilled in maintaining his appearance, looking like a child.

He said,

"Daoist's grace of saving our lives, may I ask the Daoist's name, so that we can keep it in mind and recite it."

The Temple Master waved his hands, "You little Daoist are too polite, and talk about keeping it in mind and reciting it. No need at all. The name is easy to say. This poor Daoist's surname is Wen, and my name is Tianzhen."

Cheng Xinzhan bowed and reported his family name, "Mount Sanqing disciple, Cheng Xinzhan, thanks Temple Master Wen."

Shen Zhaoming followed closely, "Wan Shougong disciple, Shen Zhaoming, thanks Temple Master Wen."

Daoist Tianzhen stood with his hands behind his back, nodding with a smile, "Good, good. Both are juniors of our Daoist sect, both very good."

Afterward, the Daoist looked at Cheng Xinzhan again and said, "Your flying sword is very good, take it out and let me see it again."

Cheng Xinzhan said yes. He had two flying swords, but the one that could catch this person's eye must be "Taodu."

He handed over the Yang sword, a cluster of solid sword light.

Daoist Tianzhen took it.

It was very strange. "Taodu," which would never let anyone touch it on ordinary days, was very quiet in Daoist Tianzhen's hands. Before, anyone who dared to hold "Taodu" would definitely be burned. Don't you see, the Emei peerless female hero couldn't control it either.

At this moment, Daoist Tianzhen weighed this sword light, and "Taodu" was still humming softly.

Not only that, the "Taodu" sword spirit also manifested automatically, transforming into a miniature white-feathered rooster, standing in the sword light, tilting its head and looking at Daoist Tianzhen.

Cheng Xinzhan clicked his tongue in wonder as he watched.

Daoist Tianzhen smiled and extended a finger, pointing a grain of golden light to feed the sword spirit.

The sword spirit pecked at the golden light and crowed happily.

The Daoist returned the sword to Cheng Xinzhan. Seeing Cheng Xinzhan's curious eyes, he explained lightly,

"This poor Daoist possesses both the True Martial Demon-Sweeping and Lu Ancestor Pure Yang Daoist lineages, so I am close to this sword."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 214 =====