Chapter 457: The Invitation of the Suppressed Martial (End of Volume)

Yellow leaves turned green, old trees sprouted fresh branches.

In an instant, the heavy twilight air had been replaced by the surging vitality of all things coming to life.

Good lord...

Li Yuan's heart skipped a beat. This old Daoist had hidden himself well — until this very moment, he hadn't sensed a thing.

"The Divine Silkworm's Nine Transformations — each transformation brings birth, each brings withering."

Seeing Li Yuan's astonishment, the old Silkworm Daoist felt quite pleased. He gave a faint smile:

"Sect rules forbid it — I cannot pass the Divine Silkworm's Nine Transformations on to you. However, if you can pull out that blade, I do have some life-extending pills!"

Life-extending pills?

Li Yuan's spirit jolted. The life-extending pills of the Azure Dragon Pavilion were connected to the Divine Silkworm's Nine Transformations. "Go on!"

The Silkworm Daoist smiled, raised his hand and grabbed. True qi wove itself into a heavy hammer, which he tossed to Li Yuan, then drifted backward!

Hum— Almost at the same time, a blade-cry rang out from above the canopy. The divine edge trembled lightly, and blade-light surged like a tide, letting out a rushing sound Li Yuan knew all too well!

He looked up!

He saw the blade-light surge like a tide, cascading down like a waterfall, transforming into a tall, imposing figure shrouded in clouds and mist, gripping a long blade — features and face obscured!

Hum— The familiar pressure crashed over him, yet Li Yuan felt a stirring of eagerness. Using an enemy as a mirror, he wanted this one to reflect on whether his marrow refinement had any flaws!

"Wan Wan Zhuliu."

Watching from afar, the smile had vanished from the Silkworm Daoist's face. He gazed calmly at the figure woven from blade-light, a feeling of his gaze being pricked by needles!

With a whoosh, he turned his head to look — the scabby-headed Monk had squeezed his way into the divine realm too, staring fixedly!

"What are you doing here?"

The Silkworm Daoist glared at him. Where was the dharma-protector they had agreed on? "I want to watch!"

The scabby-headed Chan Master raised his hand and traced a few characters in the air, his gaze never leaving the blade master descending from the canopy, his expression solemn!

The Silkworm Daoist shook his head inwardly. This old monk had never been reliable, but since they were within Dragon Tiger Temple, he wasn't overly worried!

Whoosh, whoosh — wind blew, leaves stirred!

On a single green leaf, Li Yuan stood gripping his hammer, staring at the blade master striding between the leaves, slowly approaching. His brow furrowed slightly, and he turned to look at the Silkworm Daoist!

"This..."

As that blade master descended, the Silkworm Daoist's brow furrowed too. Whatever Li Yuan had noticed, he had naturally noticed as well!

At this moment, an extremely fierce blade-qi pervaded the blade master's whole body, but his aura had not exceeded Great Accomplishment of Marrow Refinement!

"Something's off."

The scabby-headed Chan Master also furrowed his brow!

Over sixty years, they had tried every method to pull out the blade — not only marrow-refining, blood-swapping martial artists, but even ordinary folk who hadn't yet nurtured internal force!

They understood Wan Wan Zhuliu's blade intent extremely well!

Wan Wan Zhuliu used the Demon-Subduing Dragon God Blade to bear his will, and the various blade intents he had generated seemed to follow the rules of the Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing trial!

Normally, when a marrow-refining martial artist came to pull the blade, the blade intent he manifested would inevitably be at Great Accomplishment of Blood-Swapping!

"Not right..."

The Silkworm Daoist's face shifted. He was about to call Li Yuan back, but before the words left his mouth, a violent blade-cry had already exploded!

Like thunder detonating, carrying howling gale!

The savage blade-light, wrapped in rolling gang-wind, was like a river of blades — from top to bottom, slicing through layer upon layer of leaves, cleaving down in a mighty chop!

Swish! The blade-light missed, leaving a vicious scar in the air!

"Something's off."

Whatever the Silkworm Daoist could see, Master Li had naturally seen too. So even though he had been gathering momentum for a long time, he still immediately withdrew!

In just an instant, he had shifted dozens of times. Before the blade-light fell, he had already flashed onto a green leaf behind the two Grand Grandmasters!

The two Grand Grandmasters were both somewhat stunned — they hadn't expected this kid to be so slippery. But they had no time to mind him, their gazes converging on that streak of savage blade-light: "Wan Wan Zhuliu."

Whirr, whirr!

The blade-light dispersed, the fierce wind rolled on, stirring the branches and leaves of the great tree, and also scattering the mist coiling around the blade master's body!

Black blade, black robe, silver hair, between the brows—

Dragon markings gleamed!

"A big one has come."

Li Yuan's heart jolted, and he felt his teeth go sour. This old fellow couldn't take a loss — he'd actually come himself?

After two consecutive attempts to pull the blade, he had been on guard against Wan Wan Zhuliu's reaction for a long time!

But several months had flashed by, and the assassination he had anticipated never appeared. He had even, while listening to sounds before, seen Wan Wan Zhuliu far away on the gang-wind heavens, countless thousands of li distant!

Who could have imagined he could descend his will through a wisp of blade intent...

"Now that's somewhat interesting!"

On a green leaf, Wan Wan Zhuliu stood leaning on his blade, looking down at the three below, his gaze settling on Li Yuan!

His will had descended through the Demon-Subduing Dragon God Blade and would absolutely not be detected by anyone. Yet just because the aura felt slightly off, this kid had actually withdrawn without the slightest hesitation!

"This old fellow..."

Li Yuan's heart chilled slightly. Without a flicker of expression, he swapped out the Dragon Tiger Nurturing Furnace!

Bearing two great Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing, entering someone else's divine realm might be hard, but retreating was naturally a matter of a blink!

Even without retreating, he could still communicate with the outside world — through the Dragon Tiger Nurturing Furnace, sending warning to the Old Dragon Head and the Dragon Dao Lord!

Whoosh, whoosh — the great tree swayed, as if a hurricane were sweeping through!

The Silkworm Daoist descended with lowered hands, his robes and hair both stirring. A wisp of blade intent, descending from afar — the Demon-Subduing Dragon God Blade was truly fearsome and dreadful!

A Rudao Grandmaster, qi merged with spirit, could manifest himself thousands of li away by virtue of the trait of true qi contending with heaven and earth!

A Grand Grandmaster is one whose three primordial forces have merged into one, a step further still — but it is absolutely impossible for him to descend into another person's divine realm with nothing but a wisp of saber intent!

"A Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing that bears the mandate of Heaven naturally has all manner of wondrous uses!"

Wan Wan Zhuliu raised his blade lightly; the hum of the saber drowned out the howling wind and lingered long without fading. Even with two Grand Grandmasters ahead at a great distance, Li Yuan felt a chill in his heart!

In the dim unseen, as if some invisible passage existed, the saber intent pervading this place kept climbing in intensity amid the trembling hum of the blade!

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Marrow Refining, Blood Exchange, Earth Fiend, Heavenly Gang…

Boom!

An explosion as if heaven had split and earth had cracked. Li Yuan's body shuddered and he jolted awake inside the room — the Silkworm Daoist had sent him out!

A sudden turn of events.

Wan Wan Zhuliu's descent was unexpected. Li Yuan flipped himself up, burst through the door, and saw that several leagues away a gale had suddenly risen!

Like a tornado soaring into the sky, it swept up the dust and heavy clouds within several, even a dozen or so leagues!

"Wan Wan Zhuliu."

Li Yuan took out the Health-Preserving Furnace without a second thought, and from within the night came the sound of violent rumbling!

In an instant, a pillar of qi and blood shot straight up into the heavens, blazing like the descent of a great sun, lighting up the entire night in a flash and awakening the whole Dragon-Tiger Mountain Range!

Countless people looked up and saw, borne aloft on crimson qi and blood, an azure dragon battling in the sky and a great elephant stamping its feet, letting out long, shrill cries!

When a Grand Grandmaster struck, the heavens changed in an instant. Winds rose and clouds surged among the mountains; in the night, dark clouds gathered, and there seemed to be thunder and lightning crashing!

Hum— the azure dragon in the sky, the white elephant on the ground; dragon and elephant struck together, illuminating the night!

In that instant, not only Li Yuan, but everyone inside and outside the Dragon-Tiger Mountain Range, and even in Mount Hengshan City who so much as raised their eyes to look, saw that divine edge standing tall from the earth to the heavens — no one could tell whether it was dozens of zhang or hundreds of zhang tall.

Its light was black, its hue profound; all manner of dragon patterns covered its surface, and a fierce, violent ink-black azure dragon coiled around the blade!

"Demon-Slaying Dragon God Blade"

From among the mountains came cries of astonishment!

Li Yuan also leapt forth, but he could be certain this was not the Demon-Slaying Dragon God Blade, because he had not sensed any weapon-light whatsoever!

This was a spirit manifestation — a spirit manifestation as solid as the real thing.

Wan Wan Zhuliu's Demon-Slaying Dragon God Manifestation.

Li Yuan flicked his wrist lightly, and the Dragon-Tiger Health-Preserving Furnace also burst forth with dazzling light, soaring into the sky like a massive fireball and illuminating the night clouds!

Amid the raging wind, Li Yuan saw Long Long Yingchan stride forth!

He walked through the air, his robes flapping wildly, one arm raised high, gripping the Health-Preserving Furnace as if holding aloft a crimson blazing sun!

The vigorous qi-force behind him

surged like a sea; an azure dragon leapt out and ascended into midair, a Bai Hu raised its head and let out a chilling, long howl!

The great battle seemed about to erupt at any moment!

"Across thousands, even tens of thousands of li, and he can still descend?"

Li Yuan felt a shudder in his heart — that the Demon-Slaying Dragon God Blade actually possessed such a fearsome power. His footsteps slowed and he fell in behind Long Xi Xiang, who was striding over. Then he heard a whoosh and felt a weight on his shoulder!

The little tiger cub had leapt onto his shoulder like a ghost, clearly badly startled; its tiny claws gripped him so tightly they hurt!

"Old man, you've been waiting for this moment, haven't you?"

Qin Li Shixian restrained herself; she almost wanted to soar into the air and shatter his spirit manifestation!

"The blade exists while the man exists, the man exists while the blade exists — this is the wonder of the Demon-Slaying Dragon God Blade, and also Wan Wan Zhuliu's saber-Dao will!"

The old man was not surprised. The wondrous uses of the twelve Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing under heaven — he knew them all like the back of his hand, and he understood Wan Wan Zhuliu just as well!

That man was born bearing great fortune, his talent peerless, and he had his own pride. To have his blade drawn on him repeatedly without any reaction — that would be the abnormal thing!

In fact, his staying at Dragon-Tiger Temple until now was precisely for this day!

"Then him hiding his blade for so many people…"

Qin Li Shixian was startled. Over these years, the number of people injured by Wan Wan Zhuliu's saber intent — if not fifty, then at least thirty — were scattered all across the land!

"It's not that easy!"

The old man did not explain, only watched quietly as the winds and clouds shifted in the field.

Stride forth, strike!

It was the first time Li Yuan had seen Dao Master Long strike with such crisp, clean decisiveness!

He raised his hand and tossed up the Health-Preserving Furnace. The azure dragon behind him let out a long cry, caught the furnace in its mouth, and with a single shake its dragon-body straightened, piercing through ten leagues of land like a long spear!

Boom.

The violent collision lifted wave after wave of air in the night!

After that one strike, Long Long Yingchan reached out and caught the Health-Preserving Furnace, and that divine edge that had risen from the earth also shattered with a roar — but though it shattered, it did not scatter; instead, after a flash, it transformed into a human form!

"Only a spirit manifestation."

Long Long Yingchan's gaze shifted slightly, his surging momentum receding considerably, and he did not throw the Health-Preserving Furnace out again to smash anyone!

"What a fine furnace!"

The long blade in Wan Wan Zhuliu's palm hummed lightly: "A furnace for refining pills, used to smash people — Dao Master Long is being rather wasteful of a heavenly treasure!"

Using the Health-Preserving Furnace to smash people — Li Yuan's eyes lit up slightly; it seemed immensely powerful. The Martial-Suppressing King, Wan Wan Zhuliu!

The wind howled through the mountains, yet Li Yuan felt the atmosphere extremely oppressive. He swept his gaze around — aside from Dao Master Long remaining unmoved,

even those two old seniors wore rather solemn expressions — and killing intent!

The most violent, naturally, was Long Xi Xiang. Had Nie Xianshan not arrived quickly and held him back, he would likely have already thrown himself into a fierce fight!

"So it is the Martial-Suppressing King. May I ask what brings Your Highness here in the depths of the night?"

Long Long Yingchan stood in the air; the dragon and tiger formed from wind and cloud rapidly shrank, becoming like two streams of light that circled around his body!

"Are you here to deliver an edict again?"

Long Xi Xiang let out a cold laugh!

Wan Wan Zhuliu did not answer. His gaze swept lightly across the surroundings, passing over the Heavenly Silkworm Daoist, the Scaly-Headed Chan Master, Long Xi Xiang, and Long Long Yingchan one by one!

At last it settled on the Dragon-Tiger Nourishing Furnace: "Buried in dust for two thousand years—if the Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing truly possesses a spirit, the Nourishing Furnace must be wailing right now."

"Our Dragon-Tiger Temple has enshrined the Nourishing Furnace through the generations. We dare say our hearts are sincere and our intentions sincere. If the Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing has a spirit, it would only feel joy and delight. Rather, it should be the Demon-Slaying Dragon God Blade…"

Long Long Yingchan shook his head: "A Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing does not serve two masters. I heard the Prince intends to fuse weapons. If anything is to wail, it should be this divine blade wailing!"

The two locked horns, their invisible auras clashing, whipping up a great wind all around!

The onlookers around them either drew closer or pulled away!

The Heavenly Silkworm Daoist sat cross-legged, seemingly seizing this fine opportunity to purge the blade intent. The Scaly-Headed Chan Master, face dark, stood guard for him!

Blazing true qi radiance flickered around the two of them, so that even the hastily arriving Tianyingzi and the Great Ming Chan Master could not get close!

"This Prince comes today, first, because I have heard that Dragon-Tiger Temple has produced a peerless prodigy. Curious, I came to take a look!"

Wan Wan Zhuliu's voice was calm and clear!

Li Yuan instantly felt the gaze of a great many eyes upon him, and wisps of incense and fire rose from the place of spiritual light!

The Grand Grandmaster's will was intense, and the fluctuations of his spirit were equally staggering!

"If there is one, surely there must be a second?"

Long Long Yingchan swept a glance at the people of the Green Dragon Pavilion, the Xinyi Sect, and others, his expression calm!

"There is!"

Wan Wan Zhuliu withdrew his gaze. Long Xi Xiang had covered that young man so thoroughly that even after reaching the Out-of-Spirit Realm, he had failed to catch a clear look at the lad's face!

"The Great Sacrifice!"

Wan Wan Zhuliu spoke lightly: "Dragon Dao Master has eyes and ears everywhere; surely you know what the Great Sacrifice is. This Prince has heard you are quite interested in it, that you contacted the lords of several great Dao Sects, intending to question the Xieshen Sect?"

"Mm."

His tone was calm, yet the expressions of the Dao Sect elders present could not help but change. They had all been unaware—yet the imperial court already knew?

A mole?

Li Yuan's heart gave a jolt!

Regarding the Great Sacrifice and going down the mountain, Dragon Dao Master had been very cautious. Throughout all of Dragon-Tiger Temple, no more than the four of them knew!

The other great Dao Sects were likely much the same!

For this information to have leaked, there must be a mole in the upper ranks…

"Oh?"

Long Long Yingchan's expression did not change, as if quite surprised: "Is there such a matter?"

"Heh-heh!"

Seeing he would not admit it, Wan Wan Zhuliu did not mind much. He still spoke calmly, yet his words reached every person present with perfect clarity: "This Prince wishes to perform the Great Sacrifice, to seek audience with the Temple of the Eight Directions, hidden in the unseen!"

"The Temple of the Eight Directions."

Exclamations rose from among the mountains and quickly spread!

Li Yuan was somewhat startled and suspicious within. This Wan Wan Zhuliu—what did he intend? Wanting to lure some jianghu people as Zuo Ji Pin, he raised his guard inwardly, guessing at Wan Wan Zhuliu's thoughts. Yet what the latter said next left everyone present somewhat in an uproar!

Even the little tiger cub on Li Yuan's shoulder narrowed its eyes!

"What does he want to do?"

Qin Li Shixian felt a twinge of doubt within!

The old man said nothing, merely watching calmly!

"This Prince, with Your Majesty's permission, has come here specially to invite Dragon Dao Master, to invite the sects of every Daozhou Fu Sect, to invite all our fellow travelers of the jianghu…"