Chapter 181 - 153: Severing Karma

Chapter 181: Chapter 153: Severing Karma

"Shatter!"

As Yan Jiulin uttered a single word, his palm clenched slightly, and he crushed the sword light in his grasp.

CRACKLE~!

Spiritual Power dissipated as Yan Jiulin fully fell into his role.

"Hmph, a mere Sword Gang is nothing compared to this Immortal Divine Body, tempered through countless tribulations! Junior, allow me to show you the true power of a Body Cultivator!"

In the next instant, the Spiritual Power Field around Yan Jiulin contracted, clinging tightly to his body as he threw a punch.

’This is bad!’

Yu Kang’s expression changed drastically as he lunged at Yan Jiulin with his sword.

CLANG~!

BOOM~!

In the void, the golden sword light was directly repelled by the red radiance that was Yan Jiulin, and it was sent flying backward.

Before the golden sword light could get far, Yan Jiulin had already intercepted its path and launched another kick.

The golden sword light, under constant assault from Yan Jiulin, darted up, down, left, and right in the void. In the blink of an eye, it had been struck thousands of times.

Finally, the top-tier Tier Four Spirit Sword could no longer withstand the frenzied attacks. Cracks appeared, and the Sword Gang consequently showed weaknesses.

"Immortal Divine Fist!!"

A crimson spiritual light flared, illuminating half the sky like a meteor crashing to earth. The Spirit Sword shattered, and more than half of Yu Kang’s body was instantly blasted apart, dissipating into nothingness.

Yan Jiulin reverted to his original appearance, looking somewhat drained.

The ’skin’ of a Divinity Transformation Stage cultivator wasn’t so easy to use. Even for a cultivator like him, who had installed multiple energy-storing Dantians, the consumption was immense.

If a quick and decisive battle hadn’t been necessary, he would have never wanted to use this ’skin’.

After killing Yu Kang, Yan Jiulin briefly regulated his breathing and then quickly rushed toward the other Ascetic Order members who were still fighting.

...

On the ground, Zhang Ji, who was preparing to enter the warehouse, saw the meteor crash down, his expression turning solemn.

Without a doubt, Yan Jiulin, this ’Skin-Stealing Grand Lord,’ was truly a cut above the rest.

’That ’skin’ definitely possessed a portion of a Divinity Transformation cultivator’s power!’

He didn’t dwell on it. The grand formation was already broken, and Zhang Ji rushed into the warehouse with the injured Huo Chuan.

Behind the massive warehouse doors was a folded grotto-heaven, which was partitioned into numerous separate, independent spaces.

They were all filled with Star Sand.

The quantity was immense—enough to pave over several cities inhabited by tens of millions of people.

Kong Jue, Cui Wei, Yin Jiushu... all the Ascetic Order members were using pre-prepared Spatial Spiritual Artifacts to load the goods.

"You’re here?" Seeing Zhang Ji and Huo Chuan arrive, Cui Wei glanced at Huo Chuan’s severed left arm and said, "Quick, start loading. Take as much as you can carry."

Before coming, Zhang Ji had also been given a few Spatial Spiritual Artifacts.

He immediately activated the artifacts with his spirit particles and began loading the materials in large quantities.

The materials here hadn’t been stored in individual Spatial Artifacts.

Firstly, it would have increased costs, and secondly, it was to prevent things like theft.

Just like now, if Zhang Ji and the others wanted to steal anything, they had to load it all themselves.

Without a large enough Spatial Spiritual Artifact and a high enough cultivation level, it would be impressive to take even a minuscule fraction of it.

"These Immortal Ship Building folks are truly rich. Just a small haul would be enough for countless Foundation Establishment cultivators to live off of for several lifetimes," one of the Ascetic Order members said.

"You think they’re like you, earning money by working for it? How much can you really earn from a job?" the person next to him replied.

"Enough talk. Focus on the work. We don’t have much time," Cui Wei reminded them.

Hearing Cui Wei’s words, they instantly shut their mouths and said no more.

While loading the Star Sand, Zhang Ji also skimmed a little off the top for his [Ship of Hope]—but not much.

He just casually scooped a few dozen tons into it.

Compared to the total amount here, it was like taking a single bucket of water from a great river.

He wasn’t the only one making such small moves; others were doing it too.

However, managers like Cui Wei mostly turned a blind eye.

’These people are risking their lives with you; how can you deny them this small, incidental benefit?’

"Let’s go, the Celestial Dao Alliance’s enforcement Spirit Puppets are here!"

Suddenly, Yan Jiulin’s Divine Sense transmission notified everyone.

"Move out!" Cui Wei made an immediate decision.

In the next moment, everyone put away their Spatial Spiritual Artifacts, no longer showing the slightest greed for the goods before them. They each used their own techniques, transforming into streaks of light and fleeing.

Streaks of light flew out of the warehouse. At the same time, they saw figures rapidly approaching in the sky outside, along with a massive enforcement shuttle.

"A grand welcome!! Split up and run!" Cui Wei shouted.

Everyone understood the situation was dire and began to scatter and flee.

Kong Jue followed Zhu Hai, an NPC Zhang Ji knew as [Blood Butcher], and the two of them fled in the same direction.

Zhang Ji hesitated for a moment before choosing to follow the two of them.

Kong Jue and Zhu Hai’s speed was already fast, but they were still no match for the enforcement Spirit Puppets who flew by riding their Spirit Swords and commanding Sword Gang.

"Illegal cultivators detected. All units are to disarm immediately! Otherwise, we will take action..."

SWOOSH~!

Ignoring the Spirit Puppet’s warning, Zhu Hai threw a hooked weapon, aiming directly for its head.

Halfway there, the hook was blocked by a Spirit Sword Drone.

"Encountering strong resistance. Preparing to neutralize with lethal force!"

In the next instant, countless sword-shaped drones swarmed out like a hive of bees, descending to annihilate the two men.

"Spin!"

Zhu Hai raised his hand, and a wheel with hooked blades spun, causing the sword-shaped drones to fall like rain.

At the same time, Kong Jue also made his move. An endless swarm of Spirit-Devouring Ants blotted out the sky, frantically gnawing at the Spirit Swords.

The two of them quickly dealt with the three enforcement Spirit Puppets.

The pair breathed a sigh of relief and quickly descended to the ground, concealing their auras with the intention of hiding their identities and leaving.

But just as they reached the ground, they saw a figure appear before them.

Zhang Ji smiled at Kong Jue and said, "Hello there!"

Kong Jue’s expression changed dramatically. He instantly realized what Zhang Ji was about to do.

’Clearly, Zhang Ji intends to kill me to eliminate any future trouble. He’s even more ruthless and cruel than I imagined.’

Zhu Hai, however, hadn’t yet realized why Kong Jue was so afraid. After all, he thought Zhang Ji was supposed to be one of them.

But in the next moment, two streams of Yuanqi finger-force shot out, one after the other, heading straight for them.

Although it wasn’t his full power, Zhang Ji had no intention of making a second move, so he was putting real force behind it.

Zhu Hai activated his Spiritual Artifact to defend himself, but it was torn apart in an instant. The finger-force then shredded the upper half of his body.

Kong Jue was protected by a massive swarm of Spirit-Devouring Ants, and he had also summoned several protective Spiritual Artifacts—a Zen Staff, a precept blade, a golden alms bowl... With all these measures combined, he actually managed to block Zhang Ji’s finger-force.

As expected of someone from a major sect with a deep foundation. However, the Spiritual Artifacts quickly began to develop cracks as they wore down against the finger-force.

"Don’t kill me! I can work for you! I know the locations of many treasures, no worse than the Bodhi Seed..."

However, he received no response.

Zhang Ji’s gaze grew even colder as he raised a hand and struck down with his palm.

BOOM~!

A massive, hundred-meter-wide palm-print crater appeared on the spot.

The paste of flesh and blood that had once been Kong Jue was faintly visible within it.

With a thought, Zhang Ji used his spirit particles to retrieve the wooden fish pendant—which he had carefully avoided destroying—and stored it in his [Ship of Hope].

Looking at the pile of gore, Zhang Ji still didn’t feel it was safe enough. A wisp of golden flame appeared on his fingertip. With a gentle puff, the flame landed on the bloody mess, burning it to ashes.

In the words of this world, only then could the karma between them be considered completely severed.