Chapter 225

“The Fei Family has surrendered. It looks like the fighting in Wushan Commandery is nearly over as well.”

Within the White Bone Dao's main camp, Fang Qing casually tossed the letter in his hand aside and looked toward the Moonlight White Dumu standing nearby.

“So Fei Wangcai really defected to the Blissful Union Sect?”

“Not quite.”

Moonlight White Dumu smiled faintly.

“He was most likely bewitched by that ‘Tanfeng Spiritual Master’ from Cloud Grazing Cliff and mistakenly believed him to be a fairy of the Blissful Union Sect.”

“After all…” she continued, “Cloud Grazing Cliff also needed Wushan Commandery to resist stubbornly and suffer heavy casualties so they could fill the Ten-Thousand-Man Pit. Even if it was all an act, they still needed a few actors on stage to manipulate.”

“I see.”

Fang Qing nodded, though another thought surfaced in his heart.

‘So the White Bone Dao and Sangji are also merely pieces on the board.’

‘At the beginning, Sangji was only a Dao Foundation Master, little more than a pawn. After advancing to Purple Mansion, he crossed the river and gained a degree of independence. Yet a single decree from the Great Snow Mountain still forces him to obey at all costs and carve a path through Ancient Shu.’

‘Or perhaps the so-called “eastward crossing of the secret monks” was never limited to Xituo Commandery in the first place. No matter which piece managed to break through to Purple Mansion in Xituo Commandery, its mission would always be the same: advance eastward without cease and smash through the Xuantu Sect and Wushan Commandery.’

‘That is precisely when the hidden nail is meant to be used.’

‘And with a single thought from those great figures above the Golden Position, even Purple Mansion Spiritual Masters become ants.’

A trace of frustration appeared in Fang Qing's heart.

He still had not figured out why the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain was so determined to attack the Blissful Union Sect.

As long as he failed to understand that crucial point, he could never fully grasp the larger situation. If he misjudged matters, even he might end up in danger.

‘Forget it...’

‘The curtain will be lifted sooner or later.’

‘At least once the war reaches the Blissful Union Sect's territory, it will no longer be a matter for the White Bone Dao alone.’

His gaze shifted toward the final section of the eight-hundred-li plank road.

...

Fang Wujiu panted heavily as he fumbled through his robes and pulled out a healing medicine, stuffing it into his mouth.

Only then did the darkness clouding his vision begin to stabilize.

He could finally see the burning plank road ahead.

And the immortal cultivators scattered across it.

Some lay sprawled on the path itself.

Many more had fallen into the abyss below, their bodies smashed beyond recognition.

“Wuu...”

Not far away, Tian Youliang knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly.

Before the battle, his cousin Tian Youdao had handed him the family's final Featherfall Talisman.

As a result, Tian Youdao himself had fallen from the cliff and died without leaving behind a complete corpse.

“Youliang... sigh...”

Fang Wujiu staggered over. He opened his mouth, only to realize he had no idea how to offer comfort.

“The fog is clearing!”

“The array has been broken!”

Suddenly, excited cheers erupted from the front.

Fang Wujiu looked up.

The dense fog that even raging winds had failed to disperse had somehow vanished completely.

In its place stood a fortress built against the mountainside.

It was the ancestral stronghold of the Fei Family.

Countless members of the Fei Family scattered in panic. Some fled directly toward the White Bone Dao forces.

“Masters! Revered Buddhas! We surrender! We surrender!”

“What are you doing?!”

A streak of light shot out from the mountain fortress.

It was Fei Wangcai.

His eyes were bloodshot red.

A Dao Foundation spiritual artifact shaped like a long saber floated beside him, radiating profound and terrifying fluctuations.

But that was all.

Several Dao Foundation cultivators rose to intercept him.

Flames exploded across the sky.

Metal qi surged.

Boulders shattered.

The battle lasted only a short while.

Soon afterward, a figure fell from the heavens.

It was Fei Wangcai.

Cracks resembling shattered clay and broken tiles spread across his body.

The fissures were dark and unfathomably deep.

Yet not a single drop of blood flowed from them.

As he approached complete Dao transformation dissipation, the old ancestor of the Fei Family showed no pain upon his face.

Instead, he looked utterly bewildered.

“Fairy... I... this old man...”

“How could I possibly gamble the lives of my entire family merely to win a beauty's smile?”

His eyes suddenly widened.

That fairy...

Was the fairy a man or a woman?

Unfortunately, before the old ancestor could fully comprehend what had happened, his body exploded.

Countless chunks of earth-attribute spiritual materials scattered in every direction.

The cultivators who had moments ago been fighting desperately immediately erupted into cheers and rushed forward.

“Earth Essence Stones! Qi Ingestion spiritual materials!”

“A mid-stage Dao Foundation cultivator undergoing Dao transformation might even leave behind Dao Foundation spiritual materials if you're lucky!”

“Hurry and search!”

“Any Dao Foundation treasures must be presented to the Revered Buddhas! Whoever dares hide one will be executed on the spot!”

“It's finally... over.”

The Xuanqing Dharma Sword in Yue Mingxue's hand was already on the verge of complete destruction.

Her expression was vacant as she slowly stepped forward.

Passing through the end of the long plank road and beyond the Fei Family fortress, the world before her suddenly opened up.

Ancient Shu was a land of rugged terrain, countless ravines, and towering elevations.

But farther east, the landscape transformed abruptly.

The ground flattened.

An immeasurably vast plain stretched to the horizon.

Lush greenery covered the earth.

Endless fertile fields extended as far as the eye could see.

“The Central Plains... we've arrived.”

At that moment, countless Buddhist soldiers of Ancient Shu found it impossible to suppress the emotions surging within them.

“Three years...”

“Three years of war...”

“We finally fought our way through Ancient Shu and reached the Central Plains...”

In the year 8625 of the Recent Ancient Calendar, the secret monks crossed eastward.

After traversing the entirety of Ancient Shu, they finally arrived at the territory of the Blissful Union Sect.

And at the very instant the first White Bone Dao Buddhist soldier stepped into the Central Plains.

Within the boundless void beyond heaven and earth—A voice rang out.

‘Things are becoming truly lively now.’

Fang Qing stood behind Sangji, a bronze long halberd in hand. Together with Moonlight White Dumu and Peacock Dumu, he quietly observed the figures that were appearing one after another.

Golden bodies emerged into view.

Some were hideous and terrifying, while others were solemn and majestic. Every one of them was as vast as a mountain.

Upon the shoulders, heads, and other elevated positions of these golden bodies stood figures known as Dharma Kings, Duzis, and Dumus.

‘That Golden Body radiates the light of [Nu Earth]. It must belong to the Temple of All Beings Without Form.’

At the very top stood a Great Dharma King who looked little different from a walking skeleton. It was none other than Jiumoluojie.

Besides him, Fang Qing also spotted the Dharma King Mo Luoshi, whom he had seen previously during the Great Demon Suwu's Golden Core attempt.

Behind those two Dharma Kings of the Temple of All Beings Without Form alone stood ten Duzi and Dumu, each bearing different expressions and holding different tantric implements.

And this was merely a single Temple of the Origin of All Dharmas!

Elsewhere in the void stood a Dark Golden Buddhist Dharma Body with four faces and eight arms. It displayed a wrathful Vajra expression, while black flames continuously burned around it.

Standing upon it were numerous figures as well. They were clearly the Dharma Kings and Duzi of the Great Black Heaven Temple.

The Great Black Heaven Temple worshipped the deity Mahakala, whose seat lay in [Shi Fire].

This fire was also known as "Tree-Tail Fire" and "Ember Fire." Among the various fire virtues, it stood directly opposite [Tail Fire], which was known as "Branch-Tip Fire."

Apart from the monks of the Great Black Heaven Temple, there were also many monks whose auras were deeply concealed. They belonged to the Great Treasury Temple.

The monks of the Great Treasury Temple primarily cultivated the path of [Kui Wood], their presences hidden and unfathomable.

And beyond these three Temples of the Origin of All Dharmas, there were even more esoteric cultivators from the branch temples established by various Dharma Kings.

Black Spring Temple.

Horse-Headed Vajra Temple.

And many others besides.

‘The strength of the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain truly is terrifying. The Great Snow Mountain has not even made its move yet, and these three Temples of the Origin of All Dharmas alone already possess foundations comparable to three Golden Core sects. No wonder Cloud Grazing Cliff gives them face, and even the demon race remains wary of them.’

Fang Qing thought silently to himself.

Yet despite the presence of so many Dharma Kings and Duzi, everyone was still waiting.

Before long, a blazing Great Sun appeared within the void.

It suddenly transformed into a monk adorned with golden ornaments from head to toe, radiating dazzling brilliance.

It was none other than the direct-lineage Dharma King of the Great Snow Mountain who had previously delivered the Buddhist decree, Dharma King Pilu!

‘No mistake... absolutely no mistake. This is a Purple Mansion cultivator of the Great Sun Empowerment Secret Art!’

Fang Qing lowered his eyes slightly.

‘The Great Sun Wheel Turning Temple... Great Sun Tathagata.’

With so many Dharma Kings gathered together, even the storms of the void had been forced into stillness.

If all of them entered the mortal world at once, who knew what sort of upheaval they would unleash?

Then, at that moment, another sun appeared within the void.

It resembled the rising sun of dawn.

Threads of Fusang True Fire coiled around it, while a branch of the Fusang Divine Tree extended outward from within.

From it emerged the figure of an exquisitely beautiful woman.

A veil covered her face.

She wore only a chest wrap and a thin gauze skirt, revealing a snow-white navel adorned with a golden ring.

Four circles of divine ability radiance revolved around her body.

She was shockingly a peak Purple Mansion cultivator who had perfected four divine abilities!

‘As expected of [Fang Sun].’

Fang Qing gazed at the rising sun and the Fusang branches while silently comprehending the profundity of her Dao.

‘[Fang Sun] establishes destiny. Fang is the chamber, the residence, the place where the sun rises. Within the Four Aspects of the Great Sun, it represents the morning sun... But something feels strange.’

Though the sun shone brilliantly, there was a peculiar ripple spreading around it.

As those ripples expanded outward, soft and alluring music echoed through the void.

Anyone who heard it could not help but blush.

“So it is Spiritual Master Xinyi in person.”

Dharma King Pilu shouted.

“Heretic, will you still refuse to submit?”

His voice carried the force of divine abilities.

The faintly pink and seductive melodies immediately weakened considerably.

“Hehe...”

Spiritual Master Xinyi laughed softly.

“You great monks truly are troublesome. Why travel so far and endure such hardship simply to make things difficult for a humble woman like me?”

A trace of grievance appeared on her face.

Her delicate brows furrowed ever so slightly, instantly stirring pity in the hearts of all who beheld her. Even the most cold-hearted person would find it difficult to bear seeing such a breathtaking beauty saddened.

“This is the Buddha's decree.”

Dharma King Pilu remained entirely unmoved.

Or perhaps it was because his lineage spent its days studying methods of converting and influencing others. As a result, it possessed considerable resistance against charm-based divine abilities.

“Then I suppose there is no room for negotiation. What a pity...”

Spiritual Master Xinyi sighed softly.

“All of you great masters are so vigorous and full of vitality. Yet instead of discussing the Dao with me within the privacy of my chambers, you insist on dying upon the battlefield.”

As her words fell, the region of void behind her that represented the territory of the Blissful Union Sect suddenly underwent a dramatic transformation.

Vast stretches of void rapidly solidified.

Like crystal, they froze into place, sealing off the ability to travel through the void.

At the same time, enormous formation arrays rose into existence.

Their structures extended from the mortal world directly into the void itself, bringing with them countless dangers and hidden killing mechanisms.

The Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain had spent a very long time carving its way into Ancient Shu.

The Blissful Union Sect had certainly not spent all those years doing nothing.

On the contrary, they had made preparations beyond counting.

‘This is... a array?’

Fang Qing's eyes narrowed.

‘A grand array of terrifying scale has completely sealed the void throughout the Blissful Union Sect's territory. From now on, we can no longer rely on void travel to appear anywhere we please within their lands. This entire region has become a forbidden zone for void traversal.’

‘Of course, that is not entirely absolute.’

His thoughts moved quickly.

‘A array of this magnitude must have array foundations and array cores scattered throughout the Blissful Union Sect's territory. As long as those foundations are removed and the array cores destroyed, it can gradually be dismantled piece by piece.’

‘There is no need to destroy the whole thing. If most of it is torn down, that alone would be enough for us to appear instantly at the gates of the Blissful Union Sect's mountain stronghold.’

‘So next comes a series of offensive and defensive battles across their territory?’

‘This is how wars between Golden Core powers are fought?’

‘First, seal off the void on a massive scale. Then wage decisive battles throughout the mortal world.’

‘I've learned something today... truly learned something.’