Chapter 381: It's Raining

Hum~

At the peak of Upside-Down Mountain, Li Yuan pressed his hand against the divine stele as the Shan Xuan Jing's Qi came rolling in. Guided by his thoughts, it transformed into various beast-shapes and weapon-shapes, then combined into a thunder-dragon form of the Shan Xuan Jing.

"Azure Dragon in the Sky, White Elephant Falls to Earth, Dragon-Elephant Combined Strike, Heaven-Shatter—Dragon-Elephant Vajra Heaven has four killing moves. Before entering the Dao, I probably can't use them..."

Li Yuan was practicing martial arts here, relying on the Shan Xuan Jing Mi Jing to dissect this Shen Gong.

These four killing moves, like Wan Wan Zhuliu's Subduing-Demon First Blade, can only be performed based on a Ling Xiang. Normally, they cannot be unleashed before entering the Dao.

Wan Wan Zhuliu is the exception.

Li Yuan came to the Shan Xuan Jing Mi Jing precisely to try and figure out a way to unleash killing moves even before entering the Dao.

At this moment, the benefit of using the thunder-dragon as the core framework for the Shan Xuan Jing became apparent. The essence of the Hundred-Beast Thunder-Dragon is the thunder-dragon, but its core is compatibility with all forms—fusing a hundred beasts into one, naturally allowing transformation into countless shapes.

"Thunder-dragon isn't quite accurate, and Shan Xuan Jing isn't quite accurate either. My shape-changing combination—could it actually be called Long Kun?"

Hum!

As Li Yuan's thoughts wandered, the thunder-dragon-shaped Shan Xuan Jing transformed, splitting in two into an Azure Dragon and a White Elephant, roaring and trumpeting as they practiced the killing moves and techniques recorded in Dragon-Elephant Vajra Heaven.

Relying on the seemingly infinite Shan Xuan Jing Qi atop Upside-Down Mountain, Li Yuan's control over his true Qi had reached a microscopic level, no less than that of a Zhun Sect master who had cultivated for many years.

At the slightest thought, the forms shifted, the dragon and elephant cried out, evolving into all manner of exquisite martial arts.

"A complete Shen Gong inheritance is simply not something a fragmentary Bai Shen Fa can compare to..."

The more he practiced, the more Li Yuan marveled in his heart, understanding why the Old Dragon Head had waited until he cultivated Long Xiang Heliu to perfection before passing on this Shen Gong to him.

Daoist Shen Gong inheritances possess an extremely rigorous system.

The Long Xiang Heliu, Long Chan Vajra Scripture, and Dragon-Tiger Heaven-Shaking Hammer he had learned all contained parts of this Shen Gong's subtleties. Normally he couldn't detect it, but upon contact with Dragon-Elephant Vajra Heaven, he immediately sensed the difference.

That sense of familiar-yet-not allowed him to pick it up with extreme speed.

"Or perhaps these ultimate arts all originate from Dragon-Elephant Vajra Heaven?"

Li Yuan sighed in his heart, immersing himself as he dissected, familiarized himself with, and attempted to cultivate this Shen Gong inherited from the Great Dragon Gate.

Dragon-Elephant Vajra Heaven, as the name suggests, is a Shen Gong based on dragon and elephant forms. Since he used the Long Kun as his form, he naturally had to make slight adjustments to better unleash this Shen Gong's power.

Learning martial arts also requires flexible application. The same Shen Gong, when performed by different people, produces entirely different variations and flavors.

"Dragon split in two—thunder-dragon, vajra? Not quite ideal... Each time it's performed, the thunder-dragon splits into dragon and elephant? Hmm... It's not like it won't work..."

On Upside-Down Mountain, the forms shifted and combined again and again as Daoist Li muttered to himself, walking further and further down the road to becoming a puzzle-master.

When Li Yuan opened his eyes again, it was already noon. He cooked two pots of Ling Mi, ate them up, then took his hammer and headed to the Jing Tao Hall.

After his talent stacked to world-shaking levels, the increase in his martial arts speed was one aspect, but the greater benefit was that his ability to multitask had initially freed him from the tedium of complicated martial arts practice.

Even while walking, he kept visualization in his heart—the Long Kun sometimes transforming into a thunder-dragon, sometimes into a Long Chan Vajra, still cultivating Dragon-Elephant Vajra Heaven.

Occasionally, it would also transform into human form to cultivate Bai Shen Zheng Fa.

Ever since learning visualization, he had never stopped cultivating Bai Shen Zheng Fa. Even in its incomplete state, this extraordinary Shen Gong brought extraordinary benefits.

During visualization, his Qi, blood, and true Qi circulated and shifted within his body. The four acupoints in his hands and feet pulsed like hearts, drawing in and expelling true Qi.

From time to time, the visualized spirit-self would rise to practice Xu Tui's stance work, as well as Qi Ta Wu Gong.

Manifested externally, beneath his Daoist robe, his body also seemed to be practicing martial arts, emitting faint tremors.

"Without the follow-up scriptures, the progress of Bai Shen Fa is far too slow..."

He sighed softly in his heart. He wanted to meet that Tower Master, hoping to inquire about news regarding Bai Shen Zheng Fa—after all, his incomplete scripture also came from Star-Plucking Tower.

Dragon-Tiger Temple was very lively. The preliminary selection had been open for over a month, yet beneath the Dragon-Tiger Pagoda it was still packed, with people attempting the pagoda from morning till night.

After the preliminary selection, the Dragon-Tiger Pagoda no longer restricted entry—even outer disciples could come try.

Li Yuan stopped to watch—a dense, dark mass of heads.

Focusing slightly, he could spot Ba Wan's towering frame. Since arriving at Dragon-Tiger Temple, he no longer deliberately used his bone-shrinking art. At three meters tall, he stood out like a crane among chickens wherever he went.

In a flash, nearly a month had passed. Ba Wan still hadn't reached the first floor, but he was very steady, and greatly enjoyed the feeling of battling experts while attempting the pagoda. His Wu Gong progress was very evident.

"With the same talent, the gap between those who Bairudao Sect and those who join a Fu Sect will only grow wider."

Li Yuan murmured to himself.

Ba Wan and Fang Fang Bao Luo hadn't broken into the first floor yet, but Qiu Qiu Changying had.

This Young Lady of the Qiu family of Divine Weapon Valley had spent over a year settling in before breaking through to Tongmai. Once the upcoming sect trial came, she could break into the inner sect.

There was a reason Dragon-Tiger Temple could siphon talent from the entire Mount Hengshan Dao, gathering heroes from across the Dao.

"Lady Fang's talent is a bit lacking, but she's too hardworking. If not this year, give it a few more years, and she'll probably be able to join the inner sect too?"

Scanning through the crowd, Li Yuan spotted Fang Fang Yunxiu.

Over the years, he had practiced martial arts diligently, but Fang Fang Yunxiu was even more diligent than him. Whenever she had spare time, she was practicing martial arts. Other than that, she was either taking on missions or carrying them out.

"Speaking of which, which opponent should I choose for this sect trial?"

Li Yuan muttered to himself.

The six True Inheritance slots of Dragon-Tiger Temple have remained unchanged for two thousand years. If he wants to rise, naturally someone must fall.

In fact, over these past days, quite a few families within the sect had sent him visiting cards—behind them were either Lin Lin Fangzhui, or Shan Hong, or Wang Lue.

"Hmm... When the time comes, whichever one arrives last, I'll choose that one."

Li Yuan didn't pay it much mind. Apart from Senior Brother Long and Xin Xin Wenhua, he had no real relationship with the others, and he no longer needed to worry about offending anyone's face.

Gao Tinghou: He is the true seed of the great sect.

After strolling for a while, Li Yuan took his hammer and headed to Jing Tao Hall. The Dragon-Tiger Pure Yang Sword was led by Jiang Xie and Wan Chuan's group of four; he was merely assisting, picking up some skills along the way.

Soon, the sky darkened. The mountain wind picked up, and the muffled rumble of thunder could faintly be heard from the horizon.

"It's going to rain."

Li Yuan had checked the sky earlier and wasn't surprised. He glanced at the four great smiths still buried in their work, hammering away, then turned and went back to his room.

For him, this was an ordinary day.

The sky hung heavy and gradually darkened; the night wind carried the moist scent of grass and trees.

*Slap—*

Reaching out to catch a drop of rainwater, a faint smile surfaced on Fayin Fayin Tongzi's face:

"Excellent. Heaven is cooperating — this is the perfect time to set out!"

In the courtyard of a commoner's house stood a ritual altar, surrounded by rows of grey, dust-covered stone steles and wooden tablets. Blood Vajra, missing one arm, stood atop the altar and tilted his head up slightly:

"The clouds are thick and black, with only a light breeze. Tonight is sure to bring a downpour — truly fine weather."

"Brother Blood is quite the expert as well."

Fayin Fayin Tongzi glanced at him.

"Likewise, likewise."

Blood Vajra's voice was hoarse: "That Long Long Yingchan really has come down the mountain?"

"Confirmed."

The smile on Fayin Fayin Tongzi's face faded: "However, it likely wasn't some Dharma Lord who made a move, but rather because of that Zhenwu King—"

"Wan Wan Zhuliu has come?"

A look of shock flashed across Blood Vajra's withered old face.

"He hasn't, but he sent Mo Long!"

"Mo Long?"

Expression solemn, Blood Vajra said: "Legend has it that Wan Wan Zhuliu obtained a great fortune from the Eight Directions Temple. Not only did the Sea-Suppressing Mystic Tortoise Shell acknowledge him as its master, he also obtained the Mi Fa of splitting his spirit manifestation..."

"It's true."

Fayin Fayin Tongzi was also somewhat wary: "Over forty years ago, there was still that old fellow from Star-Plucking Tower who could keep him in check. Now, with that old fellow's life and death unknown—"

"This Zhenwu King, I'm afraid, can no longer be restrained by anyone."

"Two pieces of Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing — even if that old fellow doesn't die, I'm afraid it would be useless. But ancient lore says Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing cannot be dual-wielded; they would clash with each other. How did he manage it?"

Blood Vajra was somewhat puzzled, but upon hearing the muffled thunder rolling in from the night, he came back to his senses:

"Since it's Wan Wan Zhuliu's spirit manifestation, then containing Long Long Yingchan should be no problem..."

"Find the Thousand Spirits Salvation Stele. As for the Sea-Rending Mystic Whale Hammer, let Yan Yan Tianxiong worry about that."

Fayin Fayin Tongzi lowered his voice, both vexed and savage:

"Find that beast — this god will make him suffer both in life and death!"

*Sizzle—*

Blood Vajra was even more decisive. He casually tore off the remaining half of his severed arm as well, and a great spray of fresh blood gushed onto the altar, staining the surrounding stone steles and wooden tablets red.

"Damn it..."

Fayin Fayin Tongzi cursed inwardly. The previous ritual had nearly killed this incarnation of his, yet they still hadn't managed to locate the Thousand Spirits Stele.

With no choice, after scheming for many days, he prepared for the second ritual.

*Hum—*

In the night sky, the rain came pouring down in torrents. A faint blood light rose in the small courtyard — unlike the previous time's grand display, this time the blood light was very weak, confined only to the ritual altar.

"Dharma Lord, aid me!"

At a certain moment, Blood Vajra glared with fury. Then, with a *crack*, one of his eyeballs burst open, spraying fresh blood onto the altar. The blood then reversed course, flowing back and transforming into an eyeball with red veins and a black pupil.

"Thousand Spirits Dharma Eye!"

After just one glance, Fayin Fayin Tongzi lowered his head. This was a ritual of the Thousand Spirits lineage — this eye came from the Thousand-Eyed Bodhisattva, possessing the power to shatter illusion and pierce the void.

"Go!"

After only attempting to blink twice, Blood Vajra had already leapt up. Fayin Fayin Tongzi let out a long breath and quickly followed.

One behind the other, the two vanished at great speed into the rainy night.

*Whoosh—*

After the two had left, a figure slowly stepped out from the shadows in the distance. It was Yingxin. He glanced at the commoner's house in the distance, somewhat curious:

"Thousand Spirits Dharma Eye? They say this eye can see through illusion. Shadow Tiger — they say you came from the Xieshen Sect. Have you ever heard of it?"

"If it's an eyeball from the Thousand-Eyed Bodhisattva himself, then probably yes. But an eyeball obtained through a ritual like this is naturally impossible — otherwise, you and I would have been caught long ago."

From the shadows stepped out another tall, imposing figure. He held a short blade in his hand, his voice low:

"The sacrificial pawns have set out. We shouldn't delay any longer either!"