Translator: Dj22031
Editor: Dj22031
Advance chapters available for patrons on Patreon. And a chapter can be sponsored by buying me a ko-fi.
Previously, because Tan Qing had fallen to the ground, the darkness gradually dissipated, and the sounds of bustling traffic and the music from square dancing in the distance brought everyone back to the human world.
However, at this moment, everyone’s joyful smiles froze on their faces, making them look particularly ridiculous.
Xie Lingya even heard his father calling him from upstairs.
For those outside, the time it took for them to enter the illusion was imperceptible, and the battle of magic just now had been extremely fast. Father Xie, seeing the people in the courtyard disappear in the blink of an eye, called for a while, intending to call Song Jing to go down and check, when suddenly a torrential downpour began. A moment later, the figures reappeared, but the situation was extremely tragic.
Xie Lingya looked up, only muttering blankly, “Don’t come down…”
His voice was very soft, but Father Xie seemed to understand, his hands holding the child trembling slightly, with tears streaming down his face.
Tan Qing stood up somewhat unsteadily, and only then did everyone notice that he was wearing a blue Taoist robe, somewhat old, and upon closer inspection, one could discern the character “集” (ji) on the hem. His long, jet-black hair was tied up on top of his head with a wooden hairpin.
—For the true Son of Youdu, from birth to his imprisonment in the underworld, he had only ever seen Wang Yuji; therefore, his true form was entirely an imitation of Wang Yuji’s appearance.
Tan Qing raised his hand, and the black curtain rose again, even thicker than before.
Before the curtain closed in the sky, Xie Lingya only heard Sisi’s loud cries. He seemed to gain some strength from it, and, supporting himself on the ground, he and Shi Changxuan stood up. His scalded hands burned as he pressed them against the ground, and the muddy water dripped onto the ground, almost turning the dazed little snake into a mudfish.
Following Xie Lingya’s movements, those who still had the strength to move also stood up, supporting themselves against the walls and the ground.
Xiao Dian picked up the Three Treasures Sword that had fallen to the ground, stroking the cracks on the hilt. “Although you are not afraid of death, the immortal path values life and aims to save all beings. The path you have taken goes against Heaven and is not tolerated by the world. There will only be one end for you.”
Xiao Dian was usually clumsy with words, but at this moment he was the first to think of how to respond to Tan Qing’s words. The others were shaken and too heavy-hearted to speak.
The way he held his sword with his head held high made Xie Lingya extremely gratified, and his fighting spirit was rekindled. He couldn’t give up yet. He still had a family to protect, a junior brother to teach, and…
Xie Lingya looked at Shi Changxuan. He still had a love affair to finish.
Tan Qing looked at Xiao Dian carefully, and said with a hint of disappointment, “I know you. You are Wang Yuji’s disciple. Although we are not called fellow disciples, we are fellow disciples in reality.”
Not only his understanding of Taoist arts, but also his initial understanding of “humanity” all came from Wang Yuji.
Xiao Dian glanced at Tan Qing’s senior brother, Tan Xing, now utterly wretched with weakness in his hands, and thought to himself that becoming his fellow disciple was out of the question.
Xiao Dian saw Tan Qing approaching step by step, his eyes filled with wariness, and he gripped his Three Treasures Sword tightly…
“Wu Liang,” Xie Lingya called Xiao Dian’s full name, “Come here.”
Xiao Dian hesitated, “Teacher Xie…”
“Come here!” Xie Lingya called again, and Xiao Dian finally retreated to his side, his sword taken away. He knew Xiao Dian’s plan; it was nothing more than another “Wu Liang Saves People” technique, using his lifespan to draw his sword.
However, this sword strike might not be effective against Tan Qing, and… Xie Lingya said, “If we’re going to fight to the death, I should be first. You stand further away.”
Xiao Dian’s eyes turned red, and he looked at Shi Changxuan, only to see that the Daoist Shi had no intention of stopping Teacher Xie.
“You’re not afraid of death, but you fear life, right?” Xie Lingya looked at Tan Qing. “So, the reason my uncle was able to seal you back then was because of his own life force.”
Tan Qing raised an eyebrow, neither afraid nor surprised that Xie Lingya had hit the nail on the head and nodded indifferently.
“Just suppressing you, but not killing you?” Xie Lingya sighed. “Although it’s not worth it, it’s the only way.”
At this moment, his emotions didn’t fluctuate greatly, unlike when he first used the sword, when he only felt a faint helplessness, a helplessness but a firm resolve. Even if it meant paying the price with his life, he couldn’t let Tan Qing leave this place.
Tan Qing shook his head: “Mr. Xie, it’s not like that. Back then, I didn’t know anything, and I hadn’t learned enough magic. Now, your life force can’t seal me.”
Shi Changxuan also placed his hand on the Three Treasures Sword and said calmly, “Not just one life.”
Xie Lingya didn’t turn to look at Shi Changxuan, but at this moment, their hearts seemed to be connected, just like long ago, when they were together at the altar in the wilderness to worship the lonely souls.
Tan Qing looked at them for a long time before raising his hand.
Fang Zhe seemed to be pulled forward, stumbling and limping. His body tilted, and the wooden box in his arms fell out, shattering on the ground. A wisp of black energy escaped from it, transforming into a black leopard.
The leopard leaped and affectionately circled Tan Qing’s legs twice.
Tan Qing said, “What should we do?”
The leopard’s body expanded, one becoming two, two becoming three, until finally there were sixty-four identical leopards. Faced with so many leopards, what should they do?
Fang Zhe paled, pulling Xiao Dian behind him, sweat beading on his forehead. He gritted his teeth, tied Xiao Dian’s fingers with a red thread, and, using the Yu Step, wrapped his feet around the others, performing the reverse Golden Lock Encirclement Formation!
“Today, an iron wall is erected, invisible from all sides. A rope eight zhang deep, with iron chains and copper ropes at the center. Golden knives and jade scissors cannot touch the rope, and no magic can harm its body!”
His movements were ultimately slower than the black leopards; he was bitten on the leg, blood flowing freely, but he gritted his teeth and finished chanting the incantation, then reversed the Golden Lock Wall formation, blocking the black leopards outside the red line!
The black leopards circled the red line, trying to rush forward, but they couldn’t break through the invisible high wall.
Seeing that Fang Zhe had protected most of the people, the remaining people also used their own spells. Two more black leopards pounced on Xie Lingya, or rather, on the Three Treasures Sword in his hand, tearing the ancestral wooden sword to shreds, sending wood chips flying everywhere.
Tan Qing reached out, and the plum wood staff flew into his hand. He threw the staff, and it seemed to have its own will, thrusting straight at Xie Lingya.
Shi Changxuan still held the peach wood sword in his hand. He raised it to parry, deflecting the plum wood staff and the black leopard. In his haste, he glanced back at Xie Lingya and nodded slightly.
Xie Lingya sat down on the ground, his hands empty. He flipped his palm, his slender fingers forming a sword incantation, “The Dao is transmitted through the heart; where the heart is, the sword is.”
His two fingers immediately emitted a faint golden light, their movement resembling the blade of the Three Treasures Sword.
Xie Lingya said firmly, “My ancestor left me the Three Treasures Sword, to prove the three principles with my heart. Compassion leads to courage; frugality leads to abundance; not daring to be the first in the world, one can achieve lasting power!”
Inside the small golden lock siege formation, tears welled up uncontrollably.
Fang Zhe gripped his shoulders tightly, preventing him from leaving. Xie Lingya raised his hand, the sword finger light growing stronger, and fell forward—
“Clang.”
Like the sound of gold and jade clashing, Xie Lingya’s sword could not fall. His breath froze. He looked up and saw a black seal floating above him.
From Xie Lingya’s perspective, he could see the four characters printed on it: “Daoist Scripture Master Treasure” (道经师宝).
Xie Lingya had just said that the Dao is transmitted through the heart, and Tan Qing demonstrated this.
He too possessed a seal imprinted in his heart, formed from the condensed energy of Youdu into the Daoist Scripture Master Treasure Seal.
There were many kinds of Three Treasures; Compassion, Frugality, and Humility were among them. Taoism also had the Daoist Scripture Master Three Treasures: the Dao Treasure, the Supreme Scripture Treasure, and the Great Master Treasure. These three treasures represented the most fundamental requirements of Taoism, yet also its greatest divine power. The Daoist Scripture Master Treasure Seal could be considered one of the most important seals of Taoism.
These three treasures were the foundation of all methods and chapters. When Tan Qing formed this seal, Xie Lingya’s Taoist arts were completely restrained, rendered utterly useless! Xie Lingya’s face paled. He had originally been willing to risk his life, but who knew that Tan Qing’s techniques were so terrifying? Not only was his life useless, but even Shi Changxuan’s was; Tan Qing could ensure they wouldn’t die!
When exactly did he comprehend this seal? Was it before, or just now?
Either way, it filled Xie Lingya with despair.
Guys, ads are my only source of revenue, so please do not turn on the AdBlock when you are accessing this website…. Thank you, this would be a great help…
You can buy me a ko-fi and sponsor a chapter on: https://ko-fi.com/midnightrambles
Or become a Patron or access advance chapters on: https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=45665005
If you support me, I would be able to provide more chapters….
Previous • Table of Contents• Next
