Chapter 204: Confucian Master's Jade Pendant?

Wang Ping'an's eyes instantly saw through the battle's Qi ripples, the hidden silhouettes, and saw Xuanqing Daozhang likewise as a mad demon.

Although he was hard‑hitting the blood‑stained generals and soldiers, he never was foolish enough to engage in close melee; instead, around the generals and soldiers he cast one powerful spell after another, inflicting very serious damage on them.

Dodging forward, backward, left and right, he grappled!

The general fared better; wielding a long spear, he could not only hard‑resist the artifacts Xuanqing Daozhang unleashed, but also strike down the spells attacking him with his spear.

The soldiers trailing him, however, were badly wounded, yet under the combined assault they were not easily slain by Xuanqing Daozhang's incoming spells.

From time to time they repelled and even shattered one spell after another; during this, some soldiers still suffered injuries, and two or three, even more successive spell attacks would, to varying degrees, wipe out one or two soldiers.

The losses were heavy!

Of course.

Whether the generals who attacked Xuanqing Daozhang or the ranks of soldiers, none are ostriches who would stare blankly at his assaults without any response; they likewise unleash fierce killing techniques.

Spear after spear, from every cunning angle they stabbed toward Xuanqing Daozhang.

However.

Xuanqing Daozhang seemed to have learned a formidable body technique, evading the generals' and soldiers' lethal attacks, weaving left and right, always finding an opening to cast one or several powerful spells.

Only.

But he still runs into danger upon danger; if he fails to dodge in time, he may meet his end, and Wang Ping'an even just watching makes his hands sweat.

Through the Dharma Eye, Wang Ping'an could clearly discern that his master appeared to be deploying his entire skill set, with no holding back.

Besides his master hoping to use this life‑or‑death duel to break years of bottleneck, Shu Mu's General's Ode is also formidable, leaving him unwilling to show any mercy.

"I hope my master can have his wish this time, using this duel to break the years‑long bottleneck, advancing from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core!"

Wang Ping'an prayed silently.

Whether Daoist cultivators or other cultivators, once a breakthrough occurs, there are countless benefits; even in terms of lifespan, there will be earth‑shaking changes.

He hasn't forgotten that his master, to bring honor to their family, went to the Chancellor's mansion and returned having sacrificed twenty years of yang lifespan.

A breakthrough cannot restore the diminished yang lifespan, but the added years not only compensate for the loss but also grant an unknown additional span of yang years.

How could he not hope his own master achieves a breakthrough?

"No wonder a Ziyang Gong Disciple, indeed has some skill!"

Hu Meiniang's beautiful eyes glittered, as if able to pierce the battle's Qi wave concealment, and she praised.

"Meiniang, you mean Xuanqing Daozhang has no danger?"

Dai Zhishang instinctively spoke, his face full of unmistakable surprise, and couldn't help saying:

"Meiniang, look again carefully—can Xuanqing Daozhang use this life‑or‑death duel to achieve a breakthrough?"

He is a scholar, not a Daoist cultivator, lacking talent in Daoist arts, but from some famous biographies and historical novels he has gleaned, to some extent, how Daoist cultivators fight and duel.

Just now.

Facing Shu Mu, who like a mad demon burned his essence blood to cast the General's Ode, Xuanqing Daozhang neither dodged nor grappled, but rushed straight at him.

A thought flashed through his mind: has Xuanqing Daozhang's brain been kicked by a donkey?

How could one use his own shortcoming to attack another's strength? Even after hearing Hu Meiniang's explanation, he roughly understood why Xuanqing Daozhang acted so, but regarding Xuanqing Daozhang, not even a hope that this life‑or‑death crisis could grant a breakthrough, nor even whether Xuanqing Daozhang could survive.

He holds no hope at all!

Because Shu Mu at this moment, like a mad demon, this condition was caused by Xuanqing Daozhang; if given a chance, he wouldn't even need to think to know that Shu Mu will definitely kill Xuanqing Daozhang.

How could he possibly spare him?

Seeing Xuanqing Daozhang as if his head were caught in a door, Shu Mu charged against the generals and soldiers; the mad demon still displayed a trace of excitement on his face.

And.

When confronting Xuanqing Daozhang and the blood‑stained generals and soldiers in a life‑or‑death clash, Shu Mu did not pause to watch the battle, but continued to loudly recite the General's Ode, again employing it to bind the generals and soldiers.

Seeing it about to solidify, he again lunged at Xuanqing Daozhang amid the battle.

It can be seen that Shu Mu clearly developed a murderous intent.

"No danger?"

This novel you to

Hu Meiniang shook her head, though she admired Xuanqing Daozhang's performance in the battle, but after glancing at Shu Mu and seeing he still bore the signs of a mad demon, she said:

"It depends on how long this Shu Ju Ren can endure; if he continues to cast the General's Ode a few more times, even if Xuanqing Daozhang can fight, he cannot be Shu Ju Ren's opponent.

Not to mention breaking years of bottleneck; not throwing his life here already counts as his good luck!"

Dai Zhishang frowned and said, "I've heard of the General's Ode, but unfortunately I lack the qualification to study it; even a juren may not be able to cast the General's Ode. How can this Shu Ju Ren cast it repeatedly?"

Confucian texts are not precious items; anyone can access and learn them, which is why Confucianism has become a prominent school of the age.

However, advanced Confucian texts, unless one possesses extremely strong innate talent and insight to self‑study, require a master to teach hand‑by‑hand.

Without talent or a master's guidance, forcibly tackling advanced Confucian texts only wastes time.

"Who made our Shu Ju Ren, who doesn't even care about his life, cast the General's Ode, and to give it greater combat power, even dares to burn his essence blood!"

At this point, Hu Meiniang paused, looked up, and glanced at the simple jade pendant worn at Shu Mu's waist, which seemed to be engraved with numerous characters, and said:

"Of course, his ability to cast your Confucian text the General's Ode repeatedly is because he carries a treasure with him!"

With her excellent eyesight, even though the characters on Shu Mu's jade pendant were tiny and densely packed, not even ant-sized, she could still see clearly; inside was a text, precisely the General's Ode that Shu Mu loudly recited.

At a glance one can tell it originates from a Confucian master, even a grand master!

"Treasure?"

Dai Zhishang was first startled, then recovered, and following Hu Meiniang's gaze, he immediately noticed the jade pendant worn at Shu Mu's waist.

Upon closer inspection.

But still could not discern clearly what jade pendant Shu Mu was wearing.

Dai Zhishang quickly infused his eyes with righteous qi, looked up again, and this time clearly saw what jade pendant Shu Mu wore, exclaiming:

"This, this, this is the General's Ode jade pendant; such a treasure, how could he have it?"

Seeing this jade pendant, he finally understood why Shu Mu could unleash the General's Ode again and again, even three times; otherwise, not to mention burning refined blood, even if he burned all the refined blood in his body empty, he could not achieve such a level.

(End of chapter)