Elsewhere in Mt. Three Blades.
A concealed stream of light was darting through the stone tunnels. Within the stream of light was a long-bearded Daoist. His black beard reached his chest and he was none other than Guangchengzi, the famous acting sect leader of the Jade Void Palace. Guangchengzi was usually quite an easygoing person, but at that moment, he wore an undeniable look of worry.
“Against Patriarch Blood Sea, Disciple-Nephew Yang has probably used his Divine Eye of Destruction. He is not the Fiend Ancestor. The power of the Divine Eye of Destruction is not something he can control. Every cast will affect his Essence Soul, eventually causing him to turn into a fiend.” Guangchengzi was anxious. “Master had to personally take action to make him regain consciousness the last time it happened. But back then, he was still very weak. If he were to turn fiendish again, even Master can’t save him.
“Quick, I need to be faster.”
Guangchengzi rushed as fast as he could. “This Mt. Three Blades’ interior is nothing but a maze! The route map that Yang Jian gave is too circuitous!”
Yang Jian had taken many detours as well, so by following Yang Jian’s map, Guangchengzi naturally had to waste a lot of time.
“Disciple-Nephew Yang, you have to hold on.” Guangchengzi was rushing over at full speed.
Jade Void Palace was sparing no cost to save Yang Jian.
“Uncle-Master, Qin Yun has appeared to help me. He’s about to help me fend off Patriarch Blood Sea,” Yang Jian said via a karmic voice transmission.
“Qin Yun?”
Guangchengzi was taken aback.
That Itinerant Immortal Qin Yun was actually willing to risk his life to save Yang Jian with Patriarch Blood Sea as an opponent? Qin Yun had redoubtable strength considering his killing of Wu Zhiqi, making him one of the Three Realms’ most powerful experts. However, against a perfected Great Dao existence… even Yang Jian was no match, so how could Qin Yun be any better?
“Green Touring Palace’s Qin Yun sure is a man who wears his heart on his sleeve!”
Guangchengzi’s impression of Qin Yun also rose sharply and favorably.
Although there was some estrangement between Jade Void Palace and Green Touring Palace, Guangchengzi was still rather grateful towards Qin Yun. Qin Yun was risking his life for his disciple.
“However, I will still take a while to reach them. Can they last that long?” Guangchengzi had little confidence in Qin Yun and Yang Jian.
…
“This Qin Yun actually went to save Yang Jian? He… He… He sure is bold.”
“It is a bit rash. Despite knowing that Patriarch Blood Sea is there, not only did he not hide, he even went over to join the fray. But to be honest, I’m quite impressed by his risking of his life to save Yang Jian.”
“It’s foolishness! If he’s not careful, not only will he fail to save Yang Jian, he might even die as well. Is this not foolishness?”
“You must do certain things at times! Sometimes, being a little foolish is indeed worthy of respect.”
“Respect? I do feel respect, but to be honest, if the two of them die, it will be a major loss for both Jade Void Palace and Green Touring Palace. It would be beneficial for all of us.”
Two ancient existences were communicating over voice transmissions.
Although Qin Yun was good at concealing his karma, there were still several in the Three Realms who could see through it and learn of his current situation.
…
“Junior Brother, how silly!”
On a cloud outside Mt. Three Blades, Old Mother of Blackfoal Mountain was still feeling quite leisurely, but news quickly reached her ears.
She was also somewhat flustered.
The person with the highest chance of a perfected Great Dao in Jade Void Palace was Yang Jian. As for Green Touring Palace, it was Qin Yun.
Qin Yun was different from Yang Jian.
Yang Jian was a descendant of a Chaos Godfiend. He had an extraordinary background and also possessed the Divine Eye of Destruction. He was one with an extremely high foundation. Heavenly Lord of Primordial Beginning thought highly of him and spared no expense at nurturing him.
Qin Yun was a mortal who cultivated step by step. Although his cultivation process was arduous, it was very robust. He did not rely on his bloodline, but on insights he gained bit by bit. When he first formed a Great Dao, it was already a pinnacle Great Dao. To gain a perfected Great Dao, Qin Yun’s path was smoother. Only the Itinerant Immortal tribulations made Qin Yun’s cultivation path fraught with danger.
Green Touring Palace hoped that Qin Yun would transcend the Itinerant Immortal tribulations.
In fact, all three Daoist lineages shared a common problem! While the Daoist Three Pure Ones remained in the Three Realms, Eight Scenic Palace, Jade Void Palace, and Green Touring Palace naturally enjoyed a supreme standing. All other factions had to bow their heads. However, all the ancient existences knew that… it would not be long before the Dao Ancestors and Fiend Ancestor would be forced to leave the Three Realms.
When that happened, there would not be any Heavenly Dao realm existences in the Three Realms.
All Jade Void Palace had was a perfected Great Dao existence, same for Green Touring Palace. How were they to maintain their current statuses? Even past grudges could become issues again as revenge was sought against the three Daoist lineages.
The ancient existences would then be afraid when the time came. With all factions in contention in the Three Realms, what would become of the three Daoist lineages? Therefore, every disciple that had a chance of attaining a perfected Great Dao was groomed.
******
While the world outside paid attention to the matter, Qin Yun and Yang Jian were resisting Patriarch Blood Sea with all their might.
“Boom!” Blood waves churned, but the Misty Rain Array managed to completely defend the blows.
“Brother Qin Yun, your array formation sure is powerful. It’s completely able to block off the Negative Karma Fire Red Lotus Array.” Yang Jian revealed a look of delight.
Qin Yun smiled. “This array formation of mine isn’t much in other aspects, but when it comes to defense, it is cream of the crop.”
Since he was weak, he developed the Misty Rain Sword Art to be good at defense. He had wandered down his Sword Dao path and had traveled an increasing distance on it. His Sword Dao was not the Dao of the Heavenly Cycles, nor was it the Limitless Heaven and Earth, but the Heaven, Earth, and Man. In fact, the Dao of the Heavenly Cycles was good at defense, and so was the Limitless Heaven and Earth. However, Heaven, Earth, and Man was even better when it came to defense. It was more stable.
Having just attained a pinnacle Great Dao, his Misty Rain Array was able to withstand Patriarch Blood Sea’s few blows. Although Patriarch Blood Sea had delivered those attacks remotely across space, it was sufficient testimony of the Misty Rain Array’s extraordinariness.
“Qin Yun, do you think that I can’t do a thing to you because I did not manage to crack your array formation the last time?” Patriarch Blood Sea laughed as his body suddenly dissipated and transformed into rich sanguine light that infused into the Negative Karma Fire Red Lotus Array.
The moment he surged in, the might of the Negative Karma Fire Red Lotus Array rose.
“Red Lotus Annihilation.” What followed was an angry bellow.
Twelve blood-colored lotus flowers fused as one.
As a gigantic blood-colored lotus flower, its petals spun and ground at the Misty Rain Array situated in the middle.
“Chi! Chi! Chi!” As the petals spun their deadly grind, it was as though the world was sinking into oblivion. This move was not used against Yang Jian since Yang Jian had an indestructible body and was impossible to kill. All he could do was think of means to capture him alive. As for Qin Yun’s Misty Rain Array, it was like a turtle shell. It was imperturbable, so he had to crack the array formation first.
“As long as this array formation is cracked, an Itinerant Immortal like Qin Yun’s body is extremely frail. I can easily kill him. That Yang Jian won’t be able to cast the Divine Eye of Destruction more than a few times. I can easily capture him alive.” Patriarch Blood Sea was filled with anticipation.
“However, all of this requires me to crack this array formation first.”
Patriarch Blood Sea knew that it was not easy doing so.
The gigantic blood-colored lotus flower constantly ground at the array as it displayed its annihilative might, but it failed to crack it.
“I can’t crack it?” Patriarch Blood Sea turned anxious. “This is my strongest frontal attack. Darn it. I didn’t bring my Connate Cardinal treasure, Negative Karma Fire Red Lotus, with me.”
Patriarch Blood Sea was a careful person. He had only sent his combat body on the expedition. Even if the combat body died, all he needed was time to recultivate it again. The Connate Cardinal treasure, Negative Karma Fire Red Lotus was his most important treasure. He could lose his combat body, but not his Connate Cardinal treasure. He naturally kept it by his blood sea’s side.
But at that moment, he was regretting that decision!
Yang Jian and Qin Yun! Just killing either one of them would be a great deed!
“His Misty Rain Array is cast with his Intrinsic Flying Sword which is also a Merit Numinous treasure. My Negative Karma Fire Red Lotus Array is unable to taint it at all,” thought Patriarch Blood Sea. “If I had brought my Cardinal treasure with me, the array formation’s might would increase several times. Perhaps, I would have been able to crack it. But now… it seems impossible.” A cold glint flashed in Patriarch Blood Sea’s eyes. “There’s only one way. Kill Qin Yun while he’s inside the array. Once he’s dead, the array formation will naturally crumble.”
…
Inside the Misty Rain Array.
Qin Yun and Yang Jian were extremely wary. They did not have the extravagant hopes of counterattacking. All they wanted was to stall for time so that Jade Void Palace’s Guangchengzi would arrive. That would mean success.
“Since he can’t crack it open with a frontal assault, he will be using a shady blow,” said Yang Jian.
“Don’t worry. I’ve had a taste of his attacks the last time,” said Qin Yun with a smile. The Qingping Sword in his sleeve was ready to fly out at any time.
“The last time was only an ordinary blow. He will likely risk his life this time.” Just as Yang Jian finished his sentence, a blast seeped into the Misty Rain Array forcibly. Yang Jian’s expression immediately changed as he charged forward. Augmented by the mystical charms of Samsara, his three-pointed, doubled-edged lance completely fended of the blast.
Qin Yun said, “Don’t worry. The might that seeps in will be less than ten percent. It would not pose a threat.”
“Your body is far weaker than mine, so don’t be careless.” As Yang Jian said, he took the initiative to fend off the blows. Yang Jian was naturally able to deal with the weakened blows, so there was no need for Qin Yun’s additional help.
“Chi! Chi! Chi!”
Suddenly, there was a sizzling sound amid the blood waves of the Negative Karma Fire Red Lotus Array as the waves gradually thinned.
“He’s going to risk it and burn his entire combat body.” Yang Jian’s expression changed and immediately sent a voice transmission solemnly. “Patriarch Blood Sea’s combat body is a condensation of his blood sea’s purest energies. Once he burns it, the explosive might released would surge outwards. It would even take him some time to recover.”
“Karma, obliterate.”
Patriarch Blood Sea attacked.
He burned his combat body to deliver an explosive blow, sending it down the karmic lines at Qin Yun.
“Oh?” Qin Yun’s expression changed slightly. The Misty Rain Array was a combination of Heaven, Earth, and Man, and had long formed a realm of its own. A killing blow delivered from an external realm via karma would still be obstructed by the realm.
However, blocking karma was the hardest.
Patriarch Blood Sea was also one of the existences who knew karma best in the Three Realms. This strike still had 20% strength after the karmic transmission and was nearly halved in strength by the Misty Rain Array!
Yang Jian wished to help Qin Yun, but he was unable to help against the killing blow via karma.
“Heaven and Earth Seal!” A wisp of green light shot out from Qin Yun’s hand, instantly producing a blurry sword flash that enveloped their surroundings, blocking off everything. It was as though the Heaven and Earth themselves were sealing everything. It was one of the defensive moves that Qin Yun had figured out from the Qingping Sword. This move could similarly intercept karma, drastically reducing its might.
“Pfft!”
The remaining strength was like a needle that stabbed at his Essence Soul.
Qin Yun’s Essence Soul was made up of innumerable sharp Sword Dao Dharmic powers. They were sufficiently powerful, so only a little damage was inflicted.
“His array formation is also that sturdy when it comes to blocking karma?” Patriarch Blood Sea lost his zeal when he saw this. The Misty Rain Array was indeed very comprehensive. Not only was it good at defending against frontal attacks, but it was also good at resisting corruption. Even its defense against karmic blows far exceeded Patriarch Blood Sea’s expectations. “My burning of my combat body can only deliver three attacks. Even by risking my life, all I can do is injure Qin Yun.
“Forget it.
“Since it’s impossible, I should leave as soon as possible. If not, once Guangchengzi arrives, this combat body of mine might not be able to leave.”
Whoosh—
The endless blood waves abruptly transformed into a blood-colored stream of light.
With a flash, it rapidly departed through the stone passageways, vanishing from Qin Yun’s and Yang Jian’s sight.
Qin Yun and Yang Jian were both shocked.
“He’s gone?” Qin Yun exclaimed in surprise.
“He left without any scruples,” said Yang Jian with a smile. “He likely knows that there’s no hope so he did not hesitate to leave immediately! Brother Qin Yun, you made Patriarch Blood Sea powerless against you. When word of this battle spreads, you will probably leave all the mighty figures of the Three Realms astounded.”
“Hahaha…”
Accompanied by laugher, a figure flew over.
“Uncle-Master.” Yang Jian immediately went over to receive the figure.
Qin Yun also dispelled the Misty Rain Array and went over. He recognized the person to be none other than the famous Guangchengzi at a glance.
“This Disciple-Nephew of mine is right,” said Guangchengzi with a laugh. “Qin Yun, you sure have shocked many during this battle of yours. I wouldn’t dare make any bold claims about your defensive array formation, but it’s absolutely the best defensive array among pinnacle Golden Immortals.”