Chapter 448: Turning the Tide

The old man smiled calmly.

He looked as if he held all the cards.

It truly was a "pearl."

The "Ruyi Treasure Pearl" from the Thirteen National Treasures of the Tang Dynasty!

These so-called national divine artifacts are used during state sacrifices.

Though all can evade the Underworld or Heaven, their power varies in rank.

Just like the two divine artifacts Li Yan once obtained.

The "Yingluo Pearl" was a ritual artifact of the Liao State, usable only by earth immortals for protection.

The Thirteen National Treasures of the Tang Dynasty were far more formidable, each possessing unique abilities.

The "Xuanhuang Heaven Talisman," for instance, could enhance thunder arts—but it was too precious for Li Yan to keep, so he traded it for thunder techniques.

The "Ruyi Treasure Pearl" also had extraordinary effects: wherever its radiance reached, spiritual powers could not detect, and troops could not lock onto targets.

Even if Li Yan used the Gang Ling, he could not locate his enemies.

This was the old man's advantage.

No matter how you calculated it, Li Yan had no chance of victory.

"Young man…"

The palace-dressed woman beside him spoke: "Too many have died over this matter—it was never our intent. But if you refuse to listen, Wang Dao you will truly kill you!"

Li Yan glanced at her and ignored her.

He recognized her—the cultivator who had appeared riding a white deer, seeking to revive the Goddess of Wushan.

Her origins were mysterious; even Bai Wan did not know her background.

She carried the scent of plants and trees—no one knew her true source.

Nearby, Chongxuzi could no longer hold back: "Are you Wushan cultivators trying to make enemies of Mount Emei? What are you plotting with the Salt Guild?"

"Salt Guild?"

Wang Mengsheng's eyes flickered with mockery as he stroked his beard and shook his head: "The Salt Guild is merely a puppet. They lack the authority to command us."

"As for Mount Emei…"

The purple-faced old man's gaze turned speculative: "One tree bears five blossoms, five blossoms with eight leaves supporting them—but today's Emei is a scattered mess. Who's left to back you?"

Chongxuzi's face darkened, and he fell silent.

Wang Mengsheng spoke the truth.

Once, Mount Emei had stood alone as the supreme force in Shu.

Now the mountain split into factions, fighting for power and influence; Mount Qingcheng had long since broken away and held a reputation no weaker than Emei's.

As for the "Eight Leaves," they were mostly Jianghu lineages, scattered among local gangs—mixed with good and bad, utterly unreliable.

They maintained only a decent relationship with the "Dian Yi Sect" in Fuling, offering mutual aid and holding ground in eastern Sichuan.

Mentioning Emei now would not frighten anyone.

"Enough."

At this point, Wang Mengsheng seemed impatient, his voice low and stern: "No more talk—get out of here, now!"

"And you!"

He turned to Li Yan, voice icy: "Carrying that death warrant makes you a threat. Sever it immediately, and I'll spare your life."

As he spoke, the palace-dressed woman raised her hand, releasing a pink mist around her body.

Her jade fingers formed seals, shifting rapidly, producing illusions.

In everyone's eyes, vast blossoms appeared in the air around her—as if celestial maidens scattered flowers, filling the room with fragrance, floating beside all present.

It seemed like illusion, yet terrifyingly real.

Not only that, but chanting in Sanskrit echoed in their ears, inducing euphoria, leaving them limp and drowsy, as if standing within a cave mural of flying apsaras.

"What's happening?!"

"I… I can't move!"

Suddenly, someone snapped back to awareness, panicked.

Like under a paralysis spell, their bodies stiffened; even spirit retention could not be activated, let alone spellcasting.

"The Buddha-Devotion Incense Chant…"

Chongxuzi trembled as he gripped his sword hilt, barely able to move.

He could hardly believe it: "You're the former Saintess of the Aroma Sect? How are you still alive?"

The palace-dressed woman replied coolly: "Past matters—why bring them up?"

This display instantly silenced everyone.

They had finally witnessed true earth immortal techniques.

Though earth immortals are restrained by living yin officers, the very title "immortal" and their status as sect foundations cannot be so simple.

To become an earth immortal, the most basic requirement is reaching the Sixth Level of Dao Progress.

What does the Sixth Level mean?

Li Yan reaching the Third Level was already the absolute limit for ordinary mortals; even in orthodox Daoist sects, he was elite.

Reaching the Fourth Level allowed the yin soul to leave the body—considered top-tier in Daoist circles, capable of traveling far to spread the sect's renown.

At the Fifth Level, one was universally recognized as a top-tier spellcaster.

At the Sixth Level, the yin soul could depart the body and gain combat power; casting spells or possessing bodies became effortless.

At this level, one could dominate a region.

Above that, the Seventh Level—like Yu Chanzi, the abbot of Mount Wudang—earned the title of Supreme Master of the Dharma Sect and served as national preceptor, overseeing state sacrifices.

To possess an earth immortal body, one must master Yin Transformation, possession, resurrection, reincarnation… any method demands a powerful spirit.

Thus, she could suppress them all alone.

They had heard of the Aroma Sect.

It was a branch of the Maitreya Sect.

When the Maitreya Sect was suppressed, the court hunted its followers across the land; sect members scattered, forming hidden sects.

The Luo Sect, Eight Trigrams Sect, Aroma Sect…

All were among the strongest.

At its height, the Aroma Sect surpassed even the Maitreya Sect—until orthodox Daoist sects crushed it.

This palace-dressed woman was their former Saintess.

Their hearts sank.

They had no chance to fight back.

At that moment, Li Yan suddenly spoke: "I'm uneasy. May they leave first? I'll stay here."

Wang Mengsheng sneered: "What right do you have to make demands?"

"The right that you dare not gamble!"

Li Yan's eyes narrowed as he spoke low: "I have the Gang Ling. Dare you test whether your treasure even works?"

"Even if you can't kill me, I can still have the yin soldiers take us out of here."

"If you dare to gamble, go ahead and try!"

"Hmph! Talking big!"

The Aroma Saintess replied coolly: "You can't even move—how are you going to use the Gang Ling? Wang Dao, act."

Before she finished speaking, Li Yan gripped the death warrant and chanted: "Qing Jia! Above, black heaven; below, black earth; black heaven without light, black earth without gates…"

How is this boy still moving?!

Wang Mengsheng and the Aroma Saintess both froze in shock.

The Aroma Saintess's "Buddha-Devotion Incense Chant" was indeed tied to apsaras—an ancient Vajrayana secret technique blended with illusion.

"Apsaras," also called Gandharvas, were celestial musicians said to feed on incense, abstaining from alcohol and meat; wherever the Buddha appeared, apsaras were always present.

The Atharvaveda states there are over six thousand apsaras, who, during Buddha assemblies, fly through the air, scattering flowers, dancing, singing, and offering music, dance, and food to the Buddha.

Their movements, music, flowers, and offerings nourished the Buddhas.

When the "Buddha-Devotion Incense Chant" was cast, it felt as if paradise descended.

During the Tang Dynasty, three Indian monks—Shanwuwei, Jin Gangzhi, and Bukong—entered China and founded the Vajrayana Buddhist tradition, known as the Three Masters of Kaiyuan.

At the time, Vajrayana practices flourished and spread among the people.

Emperor Xuanzong often hosted "Paradise Banquets" at the Hua'e Xianghui Pavilion, extravagantly lavish, with illusionists from all corners performing as if heaven had descended.

This was the origin of the "Buddha-Devotion Incense Chant."

Once the secret technique was cast, even Chongxuzi, a Fourth-Level cultivator, struggled to break free—how was this boy unaffected? They did not know: Li Yan feared no incantations.

The Great Luo Body not only repaired physical damage but also healed spiritual wounds—he had long since regained full mobility.

Though strange, Wang Mengsheng reacted swiftly.

The Aroma Saintess needed to maintain the technique, so he stepped forward, his feet moving as if compressing distance into an instant, appearing before Li Yan.

He flipped his palm and pressed it against Li Yan's forehead.

It seemed gentle, yet beneath its calmness lay thunder and wind.

Boom!

Li Yan was blasted backward.

It was Mian Zhang—a palm technique with many variants, practiced by many schools; Wang Mengsheng clearly excelled in it and had reached the Hua Jing stage.

Crack!

He clearly heard the sound of Li Yan's forehead bone cracking.

!

But at the same moment, Li Yan's final incantation slipped from his lips.

"By the order of the Northern Yin Fengdu, swiftly, as the law commands!"

Hss~

Instantly, fierce winds howled around them, plunging the area into darkness.

Wang Mengsheng, terrified, scrambled backward and reached the side of the Scented Saintess, pulling out the "Ruyi Treasure Pearl."

Meanwhile, the Scented Saintess had also ceased her spellcasting.

Her eyes blazed with fury as she growled, "Wang Dao you, I told you—let them go. It's irrelevant. Why did you go out of your way?"

On the way here, they had already argued over this.

The Scented Sect's Saintess believed it was better to avoid trouble.

But Wang Mengsheng wanted to eliminate Li Yan; his earlier words were meant to force Li Yan to discard the Gou Diao and remove the threat.

The moment Li Yan destroyed the Gou Diao, it would be their end.

Now, the surroundings were howling with wind, shrouded in darkness.

The "Ruyi Treasure Pearl" emitted a moonlike glow, shielding them like a barrier, keeping the Yin Soldiers at bay.

Wang Mengsheng finally exhaled, his voice low: "I checked his background—this boy's talent is terrifying. At such a young age, he's already reached Hua Jing, third level of Dao cultivation."

"Let him go today, and he'll kill us someday!"

"Don't worry, old man has shattered his skull. Once the Yin Soldiers disperse, we'll kill the rest."

Upon hearing this, the Scented Saintess fell silent.

As Wang Mengsheng said, the outcome was now sealed.

On the other side, Li Yan was blasted backward, but as he flew through the air, his Dala Fa Shen immediately healed the skull injury.

But this blow had severely wounded him—the Dala Fa Shen now bore cracks.

Thud!

He slammed hard into the Erzhu Immortal Stone Cauldron. As he tried to rise, his face stiffened, then lit up with surprise.

Great waves of heavenly fortune surged from the stone cauldron, all absorbed by the Dala Fa Shen. Not only did the cracks vanish, but the strength of the Dala Fa Shen began to increase.

This thing is a heavenly treasure!

Li Yan was startled.

When he first entered, the Dala Fa Shen had shown no reaction—he didn't know what method Erzhu Immortal had used to conceal it.

But soon, he sensed something strange.

This place had been peculiar: the Gou Diao detected no information, gave no response, and even failed to summon Yin Soldiers.

That's why he couldn't retreat—he'd been forced to stand outside this zone, then blocked by the two Wushan Recluses.

Now, as the cauldron's spiritual aura was absorbed, the primordial Gang Qi of this blessed land grew chaotic, and once again, the Gou Diao responded.

Without hesitation, Li Yan gripped the Gou Diao and resumed chanting.

The Yin Soldiers outside, having lost track of the two Wushan Recluses, had begun to leave—but now, spurred by Li Yan, they resumed patrolling everywhere.

Wang Mengsheng and the Scented Saintess noticed something was wrong.

"Why haven't the Yin Soldiers left?"

"Is that boy still alive?"

As they wondered, Li Yan slowly rose to his feet. His Dala Fa Shen now gleamed with metallic luster, its strength further enhanced, able to endure even more damage.

The stone cauldron, meanwhile, had lost all its spiritual aura, becoming an ordinary object.

Li Yan saw this and felt a pang of regret.

This thing was no ordinary artifact. Though the Master of Qingniu Temple's plan had failed, it had temporarily suppressed the demonic qi.

Moreover, the array built around the cauldron had blocked the Gou Diao—clearly, it held deeper secrets.

Too bad, those secrets vanished with the cauldron's destruction.

He turned his head forward.

This time, his dire predicament stemmed entirely from unfavorable terrain.

First, the array set by the Master of Qingniu Temple.

Second, the Wushan Recluses' "Ruyi Treasure Pearl."

If he could seize the "Ruyi Treasure Pearl," these two would be dead men walking!

But he had only one chance.

Thinking of this, Li Yan strode forward. Two Soul-Grabbing Chains hissed out, swirling around him like celestial sashes.

Zzzz!

The stored heavenly lightning within the chains slowly surged forth, forming two ribbons of lightning that danced around him.

Sparks crackled and snapped, as if a Thunder General had been born.

This was a method he had developed himself.

Last time, in the Wushan Goddess Cave, surrounded by countless "Water Tigers," the lightning boost had dramatically increased his speed.

If fully unleashed, it became a thunderous strike.

One fast, one slow—each had different effects.

Shhh!

Li Yan suddenly accelerated, charging straight at the two Wushan Recluses.

Within the glow of the "Ruyi Treasure Pearl," the two Wushan Recluses felt their hearts pound violently—danger was upon them.

"Something's wrong—retreat!"

Wang Mengsheng clutched the "Ruyi Treasure Pearl" and retreated.

The Scented Saintess followed closely beside him.

But it was too late.

Before their eyes, lightning flashed—a figure drenched in electricity surged in, heading straight for the "Ruyi Treasure Pearl."

"Get out!"

Wang Mengsheng's hair stood on end. He opened his mouth and spat a jet of black smoke directly at Li Yan's face.

It was his secret defense technique, inspired by the Sword Immortal's methods—he had refined Yin Evil Qi and stored it in his belly, releasing it without incantation in moments of crisis.

Countless had died from this technique.

But Li Yan's state was no longer human—he swung a fist. Lightning crackled and shattered the Yin Evil Qi instantly.

The Scented Saintess struck simultaneously.

With a flick of her hands, her flowing water-sleeves lashed out like silken ribbons, powerful enough to knock him flying.

In pure martial skill, Li Yan truly couldn't match either of them—he had no chance to fight back.

But he possessed the mysterious Soul-Grabbing Thunder Chains.

Boom!

Li Yan no longer held back—he unleashed all the heavenly lightning stored in the chains. It exploded like thunder from nowhere, lightning roaring.

The two Wushan Recluses both spat blood and flew backward.

Li Yan, drenched in lightning, followed close behind. His Duan Chen Blade flashed with electricity and severed Wang Mengsheng's right arm.

Pata!

The severed hand, still clutching the "Ruyi Treasure Pearl," flew through the air.

"No!"

"Spare me! I have a great secret!"

The two Wushan Recluses screamed in near-despair.

But in an instant, they were swallowed by darkness…

(End of Chapter)