Chapter 250: Cease Hostilities (II)

"Huh?"

The Vajra's fist slammed into the chest of the person before him; that person flew backward, chest caved in, and was already dead upon hitting the ground.

"Master, this person felt strange just now," Vajra said, "as if a stone had blocked my fist, very similar to the 'wolf' from earlier."

"In the xianxia world, it's normal for divine spirits and qi fortune to protect the body; be careful," Tang Luo reminded, "some people may even actively use this power."

"Good." Vajra nodded.

"I see that Cao and after resting, he has recovered, and feels somewhat different," Tang Yuhan said, "perhaps the high-ranking officials of the Great You and Beiyuan tribes all possess special protective power."

The person just killed by Vajra's punch obviously held a lowly position, appearing like a minor squad leader.

"Probably so," Tang Luo said.

For those who walk as gods and demons, this is good news, and also bad news.

The good news needs no elaboration—at least we need not worry about demons and monsters invading the heart of Great You, causing blood to flow for a thousand li.

With the protection of qi fortune, even if one does not know how to use it, merely passive self-defense makes it no simple matter for demons to harm people.

The bad news is, this power is equally effective against those who walk as gods and demons.

Invisiblely, it weakens the power of those who walk as gods and demons, restricting their exertion.

Take this mission as an example: we are to guard the national fortune of Great You; if we encounter treacherous factions harming the state for private gain, what then?

For those who walk as gods and demons, the best solution is to directly kill them, lest the moths continue to plague Great You.

But if the opponent holds a high position, they possess qi fortune protection; even if they are merely an ordinary person, ordinary means may not necessarily harm them.

Great You and even Beiyuan appear to be ordinary ancient cold-weapon dynasties and tribes.

Yet under current circumstances, they can be augmented with the two words "divine spirits."

As they spoke, the scene before them suddenly "brightened" considerably.

It was the Stone Tribe's people surrounding a fairly large courtyard, launching an attack.

Those inside were fighting desperately, likely harboring some important figure, probably the chief of the Flame Tribe.

"Han Deshun! Come out now! Otherwise your son will be gone!"

Leading the Stone Tribe outside was a middle-aged man with a general's belly, a full beard, short and stocky yet solid, naturally possessing an aura.

Before him knelt a trembling young man, a gleaming curved blade gripped in his hand, pressed against the youth's neck.

A light slash, and blood seeped out, staining the blade red.

"Ha!" came a loud laugh from within the grand manor, "Bao'er Chijin! My son has over twenty! You'd better kill them all cleanly!"

The names of the Beiyuan people vary widely, differing between tribes, and are rather mixed.

But with the passage of time, they gradually unified, basically dividing into several types.

Han Deshun and Bao'er Chijin belong to different categories of names.

Culturally, there are some differences, but not significant; if the differences were too great, unification would be difficult, and they might develop designs on Great You.

Cooperation, union, even fusion necessarily require certain foundational conditions.

"Over twenty, impressive," Vajra said, stroking his chin, his voice loud, not inferior to the shouts of Han Deshun and Bao'er Chijin.

As soon as he spoke, it immediately drew the attention of the Stone Tribe people.

Originally, their focus had been entirely on the courtyard ahead, the shouts of attack and killing never ceasing, making it easy to overlook what lay behind.

In this assault on the Flame Tribe, the Stone Tribe could be said to have already completed 90%, with only part of their forces pursuing the "remnants"; as long as they take the courtyard ahead and kill Han Deshun, success would be achieved.

Who would have thought that the already-secured "rear" would see strangers appear?

A group of people immediately turned, drew their bows, and nocked arrows; should the newcomers make any move, they could shoot them into hedgehogs.

The short, stocky, solid Bao'er Chijin casually handed the curved blade to the person beside him, turned to face this stranger, his face slightly solemn.

Two men and one woman.

The one who spoke earlier was a tall, sturdy man, his stature even greater than that of the Stone Tribe's first warrior.

Though smiling on his face, his entire body exuded a bloody aura, with bloodstains still clinging, resembling a humanoid ferocious beast, inspiring dread.

The woman appeared cold and beautiful, her face pale, lips red, truly a stunning beauty.

She held a seemingly ordinary sword, with faint red light flowing upon it; at first glance, it gave the impression of impeded blood and qi circulation.

The last person was a handsome young man in white robes and white hair, one hand raised before his chest, a string of Buddhist beads hanging from his wrist, appearing to be a monk.

He seemed unremarkable, with no special aura, yet standing in this blood-soaked land, his body unstained by dust, even his shoes spotless.

Moreover, in his other hand he held a ferocious bone sword, unknown from which fierce beast's bone it was forged.

Clearly, he was not one to be trifled with.

"Who are you?"

Bao'er Chijin did not rush to order the archers to release; those beside him were all skilled. Now, not yet at full draw, maintaining the bowstring tension, he could easily sustain it for the time it takes to burn an incense stick.

"Amitabha," Tang Luo intoned a Buddhist name, "this humble monk's dharma name is Xuanzang, come to cease hostilities."

"Cease hostilities?" Bao'er Chijin startled, then revealed a cruel smile, "Master, do you wish us to stop fighting?"

"Yes," Tang Luo nodded, "Heaven possesses the virtue of cherishing life; why must you benefactors slaughter each other? Better to sit down and talk properly, resolve your grudges."

"I would like to talk, but the people inside refuse," Bao'er Chijin said with a laugh.

"No matter, as long as you benefactors lay down your weapons, those inside will naturally come out," Tang Luo said.

As they spoke, the Stone Tribe gradually eased their assault, and the "scattered" forces throughout this "half-city" also began to arrive in succession.

Forming a not-so-tight encirclement, they surrounded Tang Luo and his two companions.

Bao'er Chijin furrowed his brows, "How come there are so few people now?"

The dying struggle of the Flame Tribe should not have been this fierce.

But for now, the priority is dealing with these three uninvited guests; this is not the time to think about those matters.

"Lay down your weapons, and those inside will come out?" Bao'er Chijin laughed loudly, shouting, "Han Deshun, did you hear that? Outside is an enlightened high monk willing to mediate for us—come out!"

"Get lost!"

Han Deshun spoke fiercely, refusing to yield, yet his heart was filled with anxiety.

Unable to find a way to break through the siege, he could only rely on the terrain to hold his ground—but for how long?

"This Daoist priest, you heard it—he's unwilling." Baor Chi Jin said mockingly.

For a moment, it was unclear whether this monk was truly naive or not.

"Since the patrons have not laid down their weapons, how could those inside be willing to come out?" Tang Luo said with a smile.

"If the Daoist priest can make them come out, we will naturally lay down our weapons." Baor Chi Jin yawned, his patience gradually fading.

"So, the patrons are unwilling to cease hostilities voluntarily?" Tang Luo said in a deep, lingering tone.

Baor Chi Jin's face darkened: "Monk, if you want to die, just say so." His tone was icy and ruthless; as he spoke, he waved his hand.

"Crash!"

The sound of numerous bowstrings vibrating came from afar; in an instant, Tang Luo and his companions were engulfed by a dense hail of arrows.

Dodging was no easy feat.

The Diamond Warrior made no attempt to evade—he curled his body, muscles tensed; the arrows struck him, leaving only faint white traces.

They merely tore his clothes.

After the previous encounter, the Diamond Warrior had taken precautions; now, exerting his full strength, he resembled a block of steel—these arrows could not harm him in the slightest.

Tang Yuhan's wings reappeared behind her; she swept them forward, shielding her entire body.

This was true steel—she effortlessly blocked all the arrows.

Raising his left hand before his chest, fingers splayed, Tang Luo employed a defensive maneuver, barely managing to deflect all the arrows.

After a single volley, the three remained unharmed.

Before the second volley could be loosed, the Diamond Warrior roared and charged forward into the crowd, using himself as a weapon, crashing into the throng.

Sweeping his arms wide like two massive pillars, he grazed and wounded, struck and killed.

His ferocity reached its peak—truly worthy of the name Diamond Warrior.

Tang Yuhan then shot into the sky and swiftly descended, directly employing her steel wings as a weapon, sweeping past the stone-tribe people surging up from behind.

Blood sprayed in all directions, the carnage surpassing even that of the Diamond Warrior.

Yet Tang Yuhan remained unstained by a single drop of blood; only her lips grew ever more "vivid," giving the impression they might drip blood.

"Great Void Immortal Master?" Baor Chi Jin's face turned to shock.

Like shamans, cultivators wandering the Great Void Realm likewise bear the honorary title "Immortal Master."

Over time, as people carried each other in flowered bridal sedans, the titles "Immortal Master" and "Shaman" became established.

Baor Chi Jin glanced sideways.

There stood a man burdened with a heap of miscellaneous items, not an elder, but quite young.

Yet he appeared aged and weary, clutching a wooden staff, giving off a strange aura.

Without Baor Chi Jin needing to say more, the priest took action.

He tugged at something on his person—unknown what—threw it into his mouth, chewed it twice, then spat it out.

A burst of foul-smelling black smoke erupted from his mouth, shooting forward with speed comparable to an arrow.

The target of this black smoke was none other than Tang Luo, who had not yet acted.

The priest saw clearly: though the burly man was astonishingly fierce and the woman formidable,

the two seemed to regard this white-haired monk as their leader—naturally, to capture the bandits, one must first seize their chief.

As the black smoke neared, the Heaven-Opening Dog perched on Tang Luo's shoulder opened its eyes, a red flash flared, and it raised its paw—

Without even touching it, the black smoke instantly vanished.

The priest's face instantly changed: "Can a mere beast really dispel my black smoke?"

"Rend!"

As his expression shifted, the priest slammed his wooden staff heavily onto the ground; the earth trembled slightly.

He raised his other hand, extended his little finger—blood burst forth.

He used his finger as a weapon, "flicking" it outward; in midair it shattered again, forming nearly invisible blood mist and bone fragments, drifting toward Tang Luo.