Chapter 506

Seizing the flicker of the incense flame, Li Yuan's arrow, charged for a long time, tore through the gloom and exploded beneath the ancient tower!

Activating the blessing of the Master of Arms Talisman, Li Yuan turned and ran, not even glancing back once!

This was not only because he was fully confident his arrow would hit, but also because he dared not look back!

Beneath the ancient tower, hundreds or even thousands of sinister beasts roamed; the weakest were at the Earth Fiend level. Not to mention him, even if a Grand Master were present, they would be terrified and pale!

Roar,

In the darkness, roars rose and fell in waves; the sound waves surged like a tide, each wave higher than the last!

Several li away, Li Yuan felt only a chill down his spine; riding the Nine Appearances of the Cloud Dragon, he dodged and shifted while sprinting away!

"Run fast,"

At his waist, the little female dragon tensed completely; she was far more nervous than Li Yuan. Borrowing the incense Li Yuan had thrown into the air, she saw everything clearly!

In the darkness, a hundred beasts roared; snakes slithered, tigers ran, and flood dragons soared into the sky. Moreover, sinister weapons rose into the air one by one, some as flying swords, some

as long spears, some as heavy hammers!

Twisting and whistling toward him, the earth trembled and roared!

"Did the sinister dragon on that ancient tower move?"

While sprinting, Li Yuan scattered incense behind him and asked the little female dragon, for he dared not distract himself to observe!

Relying on the pair of boots within the Master of Arms Talisman, his speed was no less than any Grand Master seen in the current age, yet the swarm of sinister beasts behind him included more than just Grand Masters!

What he feared most was the sinister dragon coiled upon the ancient tower; that was very likely the true spiritual form of Ying Ying Xuanpeng, the Sect Master of the Profound Whale Sect!

"It didn't move."

The little female dragon was very nervous; she focused her gaze, and her voice suddenly grew sharp: "It moved, it moved."

Roar!

Almost the instant the little female dragon gave the warning, Li Yuan also heard that earth-shattering, terrifying dragon roar!

While sprinting, he stumbled, feeling his heart and mind freeze with cold; the gaze of the sinister dragon was like a tangible divine sword piercing through him!

"So fierce."

Li Yuan felt a chill in his heart; the Mirage Dragon Belt and the Crimson Blood Pattern Dragon Armor immediately covered his body, and his already extreme speed increased violently once more!

Boom!

While sprinting, Li Yuan scattered incense and glanced back!

He saw dozens of sinister beasts soaring and scattering in all directions; the sinister dragon dove, and with a single sweep of its tail, dozens or even hundreds of sinister beasts were whipped away, crashing toward him like meteors!

Among them was the heavy hammer-style sinister weapon he had chosen!

"This is extremely ominous."

Li Yuan dared not look again; he ran with his head down. Passing Zhou Ying's small temple, he glanced inside. Beneath the old tree, Zhou Ying had actually appeared!

Seeing Li Yuan, he was stunned at first, but immediately his face changed drastically; without a word, he fled into the ancient temple!

Li Yuan did not pause even slightly; he continued sprinting with his head down!

Among those sinister beasts, some were extremely fast, such as flying swords and long spears, but he had already put several li of distance between them; the moment he fired the arrow, he withdrew immediately!

Thus, they had not yet caught up!

"Roar."

Behind him, the roar exploded again; Li Yuan's heart and mind trembled, and he felt a terrifying, strange power suddenly descend!

Even with his current stable state of mind, he was like a rabbit terrified beneath a tiger's paw, frozen in place!

"Absolutely beyond the Grand Master level."

Li Yuan's heart pounded like a drum; after a momentary stiffness, he continued sprinting, but the shrieks of the sinister beasts behind him were getting closer and closer!

If the sinister dragon roared again, a warning sign rose in Li Yuan's heart, when suddenly he heard a low voice from behind.

"I will block part of them for you; flee quickly."

This was Zhou Ying's voice!

Li Yuan turned back and saw the incense flame in the ancient temple suddenly blaze brightly, illuminating a corner of the gloomy You Jing!

The swarm of rushing sinister beasts was first startled back, then, circling the ancient temple, they emitted threatening roars!

"Do these sinister beasts seem both attracted to the incense and afraid of it? Or are they afraid of that ancient temple?"

Li Yuan's mind turned over the thought, yet his steps slowed slightly; with Zhou Ying's distraction, he quickly increased the distance!

And he decisively summoned the Yang Dragon Hiding Yin Bow, drew an arrow, and struck the heavy hammer he had chosen earlier.

"Roar."

Li Yuan withdrew and moved far away; even from a distance, he could still hear the roar of the sinister dragon in the darkness, but this time it had no effect on him whatsoever; clearly, Zhou Ying had drawn the fire for him!

With Zhou Ying's intervention, Li Yuan's pressure dropped greatly; he sometimes ran, sometimes stopped to shoot, and soon returned to the Profound Whale Main Hall, drawing that heavy hammer close!

Outside the You Gate, dull thuds echoed; that was the sound of the heavy hammer continuously striking the ground!

"So close,"

Inside the Main Hall, Li Yuan's heart eased slightly; the You Jing was still too dangerous for him at present!

That was not a trial of the Profound Whale Sect; he dared not try dying even once!

"The swarm of sinister beasts did not follow!"

Li Yuan drew his bow; an arrow made of true qi flew out of the You Gate. Apart from that low sound of striking the ground, there were no sounds of other sinister weapons or sinister beasts!

"Next, I must test this hammer; I hope to succeed in one strike!"

Li Yuan let out a long breath, adjusted his mental state and the combination of control, and was just preparing to enter when a sudden tremor struck his heart!

Buzz!

The familiar trembling sound exploded directly in his heart; Li Yuan was slightly dazed, then heard the roar of a tiger and the chant of a dragon again!

"The Health Nourishing Furnace?"

Li Yuan's heart jolted — he had already withdrawn from the Mystic Whale Mi Jing!

The next instant, a familiar ripple spread through his heart, and a furnace, half-real and half-illusory, appeared within his room!

"Dragon Dao Master has come to Star-Plucking Tower?"

Li Yuan was a little surprised. He reached out, and the furnace landed in his palm, trembling gently, as if responding to his touch!

Hum!

The instant Li Yuan gripped the Yang Sheng Furnace, he sensed a wisp of true Qi within it. Then, as that true Qi trembled, Long Long Yingchan's blurred figure appeared in the room!

"Dao… Master, why have you come?"

Li Yuan's heart gave a start, and he hurriedly rose to bow!

"Naturally, for your sake!"

Long Long Yingchan glanced around, and through the window caught sight of that great tower, but quickly gathered his thoughts: "Last time, the Bafang Temple showed unusual activity — did you notice?"

"I did!"

Li Yuan nodded, and conversed with the Dragon Dao Master through transmitted voice!

"The imperial court's grand ritual this time is unlike anything recorded in the sect — it is unsettling… After several of us discussed it, we decided to go to the Imperial Capital together!"

Long Long Yingchan spoke concisely, directly stating the purpose of his visit!

"This old man has come, first, to pay respects to that Senior Qin Yun, and second, to return the Dragon Tiger Yang Sheng Furnace into your hands!"

This…

Li Yuan frowned: "If so, shouldn't you be even more obliged to keep the Yang Sheng Furnace with you?"

He was the master of the Dragon Tiger Yang Sheng Furnace — if he wished to summon it, the will left behind by the patriarch would simply cooperate; there was no need for the Dragon Dao Master to deliver it personally!

"This trip to the Divine Capital is truly fraught with uncertain fortune. This old man has always felt some unease in his heart, so for safety's sake, I have decided

not to bring the Yang Sheng Furnace!"

Long Long Yingchan's figure was blurred, yet he still knit his brows: "If the court's temple ritual is not a blood sacrifice, then why invite us to observe it?"

"You think the imperial court intends to gather the Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing together?"

Li Yuan caught his meaning!

"Whether it is or not, caution avoids great error. On this point, this old man has also discussed it with those few."

Long Long Yingchan shook his head. Wei Wei Tianzuo's recent precedent was not far behind — none of the others were willing to let the Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing leave their persons!

In fact, even without this matter, they might still be willing to leave the Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing somewhere beyond the reach of their sight!

"Without the Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing, if by chance something changes in the Divine Capital, then—!"

Li Yuan frowned, somewhat worried!

He still remembered the heaven-destroying, earth-shattering scene when those sect masters fully activated the Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing. If they did not bring the Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing, once fighting began, how could they resist the others' Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing?

"Wudadao Sect, Xinyi Sect, three Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing, six Grand Masters — if all of them change, then one more Dragon Tiger Yang Sheng Furnace would be of no use!"

As he spoke, Long Long Yingchan paused briefly, recalling the master of Star-Plucking Tower: "Mm, it should be seven Grand Masters!"

"Master, is Uncle Nie going too?"

Li Yuan's heart gave a start — this was the whole nest mobilizing!

"A sect's foundation lies in the Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing, in the Grand Masters — not in the mountain gate!"

Long Long Yingchan only offered a casual explanation. Without waiting for Li Yuan's question, he bowed toward the Bafang Tower and vanished from the room!

He left the Dragon Tiger Yang Sheng Furnace here not only because Li Yuan was the Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing's master, but also because of Qin Yun!

Even if the Divine Capital changed and heaven and earth were thrown into turmoil, with the sect's foundation here, he could set his mind at ease and fight with everything he had!

"Dragon Dao Master."

Li Yuan bowed and saw him off!

Although he knew the Dragon Dao Master always valued caution above all, he could not help but feel a certain weight in his heart!

"Divine Capital, grand ritual, Bafang Temple."

Cradling the Dragon Tiger Yang Sheng Furnace, Li Yuan's face flickered between light and shadow, his heart filled with the sense of a storm about to break!

He closed his eyes, feeling only a tangle of thoughts!

The imperial court, the Dao Sects, Bafang Temple, visitors from beyond the heavens — all manner of people and matters twisted into a knot in his mind!

"It is still that one's strength is insufficient."

After a long while, a great sense of urgency rose in Li Yuan's heart!

If he could now break through the Tiangang and merge the three elements into one, then any grand ritual, imperial court, or visitors from beyond the heavens — he would dare to clash with them!

If only—!!

Li Yuan practiced his Xu Tui stance-work until the sky brightened and the sun climbed high, then at last let out a long breath and calmed his restless mind!

He put away the Dragon Tiger Yang Sheng Furnace, sat cross-legged once more in meditation, and entered the Mystic Whale Mi Jing!

At this moment, he only wanted to fully master the Mystic Whale Hammer!

Screech!

Through the sea of clouds, a great eagle swept across, stirring up rolling gang winds!

Upon the eagle's back, Nie Xianshan released his true Qi outward, forming a barrier that separated inside from outside, so that the howling gang winds could not enter!

Within, Long Long Yingchan and Nie Xianshan sat facing each other playing chess!

Snap!

At a certain moment, a wisp of cloud and mist seemed to drift over. The piece in Long Long Yingchan's hand fell, and his tightly furrowed brow smoothed:

"Junior brother, I yield!"

"Again!"

Nie Xianshan gave a cold snort, gathered up the pieces, and prepared for another—

Crash!

"No more games!"

Long Long Yingchan, however, waved his hand and stood up!

"Kee."

The grey eagle spread its wings and soared through the sea of clouds; looking down from the eagle's back, beyond the endless mountain ranges lay a boundless plain!

"Kee."

At this moment, an eagle's cry rang out from the extreme distance!

Long Long Yingchan focused his gaze; no matter how far away, he saw a dark mass — dozens, hundreds of feathered eagles spreading their wings and coming!

"Quite the grand display."

Nie Xianshan gave a cold snort; the long sword behind him trembled slightly, as if about to leap from its sheath on its own!

"Put it away — there'll be a time for your sword!"

Long Long Yingchan glanced at him. Ever since the Dragon-Tiger Pure Yang Sword had been forged, this old Daoist had been in high spirits, itching to find someone to test his sword on right away!

Hearing this, Nie Xianshan could only suppress the thought!

At this moment, a voice echoed from afar; even across dozens of li through wind and clouds, it sounded like thunder exploding, lingering long without fading:

"I am Wang Jin, come in Your Majesty's stead to welcome you all into the capital for the ceremony."

'Wang Jin.'

On the eagle's back, the three exchanged glances, their expressions all shifting!

They had not yet left the Dinglong Mountain Range, yet the imperial court's Forbidden Guard Commander seemed to have been waiting for some time already?

Long Long Yingchan did not respond; the golden eagle beneath him spread its wings, and dozens of li flashed past in an instant!

"Long Long Yingchan, Nie Xianshan."

Over a hundred feathered eagles formed up in formation; Wang Jin stood at the front of the formation. Separated by several li, his heart sank!

The intelligence was true — besides Long Xi Xiang, this Nie Xianshan had actually also broken through the Heavenly Sin!

Counting Long Xi Xiang, who had already reached Henglong Dao, this Dragon-Tiger Temple now had three Grand Masters!

Wang Jin felt wary in his heart, yet without changing expression he cupped his hands in reply:

"Your Majesty has been waiting for you all in the imperial city for some time!"

"Many thanks to Commander Wang for leading the way ahead!"

Long Long Yingchan returned the courtesy, and the golden eagle beneath him also slowed its pace

!

"Please, all of you!"

Wang Jin cupped his hands, and the eagle formation behind him naturally parted, letting the golden eagle pass through!

Thud!

Thud thud!

A low, heavy collision sound — even through the dark gate behind the stone statue gate it could still be heard, very persistent and bearing a grudge!

Hum!

In the great hall, Li Yuan adjusted his spirit, mainly the control combination, adding the Dragon-Tiger Nourishing Life Furnace into it as well!

With two Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing empowering his body, he felt utterly refreshed; he could clearly sense that his mind had become clearer, his thoughts turning faster!

"This feeling is still comfortable!"

Li Yuan closed his eyes and savored it!

With two Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing on his body, his talent immediately rose considerably, yet it still did not exceed the scope of the world-shaking level!

What was holding him back was his own innate talent!

"Breaking through in talent is only a little over a hundred forms away!"

After a moment, Li Yuan opened his eyes; although he had gained the empowerment of one more Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing, he remained very cautious!

The lowest-tier strange beasts and strange weapons were all Dao-level; one careless slip and he could fall within You Jing!

If it weren't for thoroughly mastering the Rift Sea Yu Xuanjing Hammer, given his temperament, he would keep a respectful distance from such danger!

"The martial world is treacherous — it ages a man!"

Raising his hand to take out that ninth-tier Yu Xuanjing Battle Hammer, Daoist Li sighed and walked slowly toward the dark gate behind the stone statue!

Arrows can wound strange beasts, but strange weapons cannot!

Whoosh.

The instant he stepped out of the dark gate, Li Yuan scattered a swath of incense ash; fighting strange beasts in You Jing, the first thing to resolve was the visibility problem!

The darkness of You Jing not only blocked sight, but blocked all perception as well; without incense ash to illuminate, there was simply no way to fight!

Boom.

The instant the incense ash's light flickered, Li Yuan shifted and dodged; where he had stood, dust flew everywhere!

That heavy hammer tore through the air, swinging as freely as one pleased, like a top-tier hammer expert — one strike missed, then immediately another!

Its momentum was tremendous; with each movement, the air within a radius of about a li was swept along, coming from all directions to restrict Li Yuan's movements!

"The hammer arts of the Yu Xuanjing Gate."

Li Yuan retreated again and again, treading on Cloud Dragon Nine Appearances to Zhou Shan Xuan, familiarizing himself with the hammer arts this hammer-weapon wielded!

"Earth-Fiend level — not as good as those thousand-year Grand Masters in the true transmission trial, but this thing can't be ambushed!"

Daoist Li muttered to himself!

Fighting a strange weapon was truly awkward; an unmanned heavy hammer — to smash it, there was one and only one way!

Hard against hard — smash it to pieces!

This was no less difficult than a life-and-death battle with a Disha Sect master, aiming to shatter the divine weapon in his hand—the difficulty was self-evident!

Boom.

The heavy hammer crashed down. Amidst the rolling dust, Li Yuan wore the Mirage Dragon Armor, one hand scattering incense ashes, the other gripping the Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing Whale Battle Hammer!

After dodging the heavy hammer's strike once more, Li Yuan steeled his heart.

He decisively activated two Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing.

Hum.

In an instant, Li Yuan felt as if the body formed by the Mystic Whale true qi was about to burst apart!

The power of Star Shift, wielded simultaneously by the Star Dragon and Star Tiger—even for him as he was now, was hard to sustain for long!

But the burst of that instant, he could control down to the finest detail!

"Come on."

After dodging for a long time, Li Yuan suddenly erupted. He chose precisely the brief pause after this heavy hammer's strike missed!

From top to bottom, he smashed down heavily!

Rumble rumble rumble.

With one hammer strike, Li Yuan felt a tremendous force crash back like a giant wave. In an instant, the arm holding the hammer exploded apart. "This hard?"

"

The Mirage Dragon Armor also burst open in a patch, and the little female dragon immediately let out a wail!

"After all, it's formed from Mystic Whale true qi, far inferior to my own body!"

With one arm shattered, Li Yuan withdrew. His left arm grabbed the Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing Whale Battle Hammer, reversed his grip, and struck another hammer blow, smashing toward the very center where dust rolled and energy surged!

If one hammer won't do it, then another.

Boom.

The second hammer fell, and Li Yuan's left arm shattered along with it, but at the same time he heard the harsh clang of weapons clashing!

Even with the darkness blocking his view, Li Yuan could be certain that this heavy hammer had surely been grievously wounded!

Those two hammer strikes of his could no longer be described as ten thousand or a hundred thousand jin—even a small mountain could be smashed to pieces by them!

A body of flesh and blood could never withstand it; even a divine weapon or sharp blade would be battered into deformation and bending.

Boom.

A tremendous explosion burst out from within the dust!

Li Yuan decisively flashed back to the Mystic Whale Hall, mobilized Mystic Whale true qi to reshape both arms, then once more gripped his hammer and charged out!

In the light cast by the scattered incense ashes, Li Yuan saw that this heavy hammer had already deformed, like a pumpkin smashed flat, but still not broken!

It only seemed to have been stunned, wobbling in the air as if it had lost its bearings!

"This hard."

Li Yuan felt a twinge of dismay, yet did not hesitate. He threw himself forward again, surging his true qi, activating Palm Control, and with two thuds struck two more hammer blows!

"Still not broken?"

Li Yuan, whose arms had once more been shattered by the tremendous force, twitched his eyelids wildly, and once again returned to the Mystic Whale Hall to reshape his arms!

This time, that heavy hammer finally shattered, and from within the darkness, a burst of light and shadow immediately exploded forth!

"Finally.

"

Li Yuan, with only one arm remaining, lowered the giant hammer in his hand. The light and shadow in his eyes likewise burst forth, unable to be blocked by the darkness!

【Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing Whale Battle Hammer (Ninth-Tier)】

【... A supreme-grade heavy hammer forged from the essence of a thousand metals and irons, nurtured and grown within a weapon-nurturing ground! Later invaded and corrupted by Hou Bei You Jing, transforming into a Cursed Weapon!】

【Palm Control Requirement: Weapon-Nurturing Scripture Third Layer, Mystic Whale True Qi!】

【Palm Control Effect: Ninth-Tier (Red): Weapon-Nurturing Scripture Fifth Layer!】

This shattered cursed weapon could no longer be counted as a weapon, but the light bursting from its remnants made Li Yuan's heart pound like a war drum!

"Daoist Master's luck is too good!"

A faint smile appeared on Li Yuan's face. He reached out, grabbed the remnants of the battle hammer, turned, and returned to the Mystic Whale Hall!

Exiting the Mystic Whale Mi Jing, without any hesitation, Li Yuan tossed the three Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing Whale Battle Hammers with Palm Control effects of 'Weapon-Nurturing Scripture Second Layer', 'Weapon-Nurturing Scripture Third Layer',

and 'Weapon-Nurturing Scripture Fifth Layer' into the Soldier Controlling Register!

At this point, all the conditions to completely master the Splitting Sea Mystic Whale Hammer were fully satisfied.