Chapter 418: Trapped Alone in Destiny's Siege, No Path to Life and No Return!

This sudden turn of events caught Yi Xuangong entirely off guard. He had never imagined a method that could directly banish and lower his cultivation.

Yet, it had happened right before his eyes.

Reacting with lightning speed, he thrust out the spiritual treasure in his hand. The Solar Dazzling Gold Needles abruptly flared with light, splitting into trillions of needles that shot toward Yongxiu.

Yongxiu remained perfectly calm. Sweeping open his kasaya, he retrieved a Golden Alms Bowl. He formed a hand seal, chanted an unknown mantra, and tossed it into the air. Like the maw of a cosmic abyss, the bowl instantly swallowed the entire golden waterfall of the Solar Dazzling Gold Needles, leaving not a single drop behind.

'No good. I can't beat him in a battle of spiritual treasures.'

A wave of helplessness washed over Yi Xuangong. Compared to the Wuwei Buyi Dao Field, the Brahma Nation was undeniably vast and wealthy. In terms of foundation, he held no advantage at all.

Not to mention, the Master of Secret Traces was particularly special.

His governed Brahma territory, the Northern Crimson Silk Golden Pure Land, was also known as the Willow Leaf Palace and held the unique imagery of being the "Gathering Place of the World's Wealth."

As a result, the Brahma Cultivators of this lineage were the wealthiest when it came to spiritual treasures. Trying to suppress a Buddha child under the Master of Secret Traces with spiritual treasures was naturally a fool's errand.

Realizing this, Yi Xuangong stood his ground and stopped unleashing spiritual treasures. Instead, he sharply formed a hand seal, stimulating the internal organs of his dharma body to resonate with the Radiant Universal Illumination Six Harmonies Qi. Parting his lips, he violently spewed out a scorching, resplendent beam of supreme-yang flame.

Boom!

The moment this fire appeared, the previously nonchalant Yongxiu immediately turned serious. Wherever the flames illuminated, the surrounding Ancient Chan Forest Monasteries showed signs of crumbling and collapsing.

'What a formidable true fire!'

Although qi-ingesting practitioners and Qi Refining practitioners were vastly different, strictly speaking, the gap between the two was nowhere near as massive as the gap separating them from Qi Nurturing practitioners.

Otherwise, the Great Rebellion wouldn't have possessed such overwhelming momentum back in its time.

Even if a disparity existed between the two dao lineages today, it was a change that emerged after the Great Rebellion's defeat, not because the Qi Consumption lineage was inherently inferior to the Qi Refining lineage.

For example, Yi Xuangong's supreme-yang flame was derived from two qi phenomena of the Radiant Universal Illumination Six Harmonies Qi—the "Fire of the Sun" and "Universal Illumination of the Six Harmonies." Once spread out, it was so brilliantly radiant that there was simply nowhere to hide. The target could only endure its profound might head-on; this was a method unique to the Qi Consumption lineage.

"Amitabha!"

Seeing this, Yongxiu pressed his palms together. His figure rapidly retreated while he manipulated the surrounding Ancient Chan Forest Monasteries to close in, attempting to lock down Yi Xuangong's supreme-yang flame.

The two forces clashed. The massive Zen forest was instantly breached by the streaming flames, and the ancient monasteries burst open, unable to withstand the might. The surrounding gloomy light was illuminated by the blaze.

The seal was instantly broken.

The shattered Zen forests receded at a visible speed. The previously tangible ancient monasteries turned into illusory bubbles and burst, revealing the outside scenery.

Looking out, one could see Yongxiu had retreated tens of thousands of miles to stand in the Cosmic Deep Space. Yi Xuangong glanced around, his expression turning incredibly ugly.

Although he had only been trapped by Yongxiu for a moment, on the other side, Feng, left without support, had once again been suppressed under Old Man Guangji's pagoda. Furthermore, the sect masters of the other two dao fields, Wuchenzi and Mijian, had joined the fray, beginning to pick off the dao field's qi-ingesting practitioners one by one.

They weren't even in a rush to immediately defeat the qi-ingesting practitioners of the Wuwei Buyi Dao Field. Instead, they nibbled away step by step, first focusing on trapping two qi-ingesting practitioners.

This made Yi Xuangong's heart grow even heavier.

Practitioners who had entered the Dao—whether at the Qi Nurturing, Qi Consumption, or Qi Refining stage—were fundamentally very difficult to kill without specific targeted methods. They needed to be slowly worn down over time.

The fact that the three dao fields had chosen this tactic meant they truly harbored killing intent. They wanted to slaughter all the qi-ingesting practitioners of the Wuwei Buyi Dao Field. At the very least, right now, the two qi-ingesting practitioners trapped by Wuchenzi and Mijian were in the same perilous situation as Feng.

Within a few moments, they would undoubtedly be dead!

Although the dao field possessed resurrection methods, they took time to activate. If this battle was lost, even the most powerful resurrection arts would be useless.

"Phew..."

Thinking of this, Yi Xuangong circulated his dharma body once more. His flesh and blood body turned a translucent, bright glazed color, exuding a jade-green light.

This light surged everywhere within Yi Xuangong's body like a tempestuous sea. Innumerable profound visions of majestic, towering forests could faintly be seen, carrying an endless aura of boundless vitality.

Earth Yin Wood, Heavenly Transformation Qi!

Just like Heavenly Yin Wood, this qi was also an obsolete qi that had been eradicated by the Great Rebellion. The so-called "restraint and transformation" meant restraining evil to bring about good fortune and smoothness.

Therefore, among the thirty qi of heaven and earth, this was the only one whose qi phenomena were entirely focused on "defense and healing." Although it possessed no offensive methods whatsoever, in return, it could internally suppress injuries and externally dissolve killing intent. Practitioners favored by it were reputed to be unkillable by anyone in the same realm.

Unkillable within the same realm.

Including by Dao debates!

A second later, Yi Xuangong opened his mouth and spat out that jade-green light. Instantly, his energy signature began to recover and rise.

This was the profundity of the Earth Yin Wood—it could restrain and transform all external killing intent.

At this very moment, he was using this qi in an attempt to strip away the cultivation suppression Yongxiu had previously inflicted on him with the Holy Truth Heart, restoring his peak combat strength.

'End this quickly!'

With this thought, he raised his palm. Thousands of wisps of smoke and clouds seemed to drift within it, manifesting mountain peaks and ranges. He violently hurled it toward Yongxiu.

Thousand Towering Peaks Demon-Subduing Qi.

Earth Yang Earth!

In an instant, Yongxiu's figure was suppressed beneath the clouds and mountains. His Buddhist light and Brahma dharma were thoroughly crushed, extinguished in a flash like a blown-out candle.

Even the surrounding Tomb Stars, along with the magnificent qi phenomena created by the numerous Qi Nurturing and qi-ingesting practitioners, violently trembled and were forcefully battered down.

'Excellent!'

Seeing this, Yi Xuangong's spirits finally lifted. Murderous intent flashed in his eyes. Behind his head, three streams of qi instantly intertwined, as if he were brewing a profound technique.

However, before he could act, a soft chuckle suddenly rang in his ears. "Benefactor Yi, ah, Benefactor Yi. Although you are a senior to this little monk on the path of cultivation, and we might even share the fate of being colleagues in the future, this little monk must still say: your skills in combat are far inferior to your cultivation and Daoist attainment."

"...Hm?"

Yi Xuangong sharply turned his head, only to see a Buddhist light reignite beneath the clouds and mountains. Growing from weak to strong, it soon revealed an immensely radiant golden body.

Light-Radiating Body Mark!

This golden body possessed peerless divine strength, forcefully propping up the crushing clouds and mountains. However, Yi Xuangong sneered with disdain upon seeing it, utterly unconcerned.

Immediately after, just as the golden body lifted the mountains halfway, it found that their edges were rooted deep in space. They actually locked down the entire Cosmos enveloped by the profundity. To completely throw off the suppression of the clouds and mountains, one had to first shatter the Cosmic Deep Space in this area.

However, if he did that...

The shattered Cosmos would trigger turbulent void currents. When that happened, Yi Xuangong was one hundred percent certain he could add fuel to the fire and banish Yongxiu to a random stretch of the starry sky!

As a result, Yongxiu couldn't break the seal, but he couldn't afford not to break it either.

He was caught in a dilemma.

"A second-layer bald donkey wants to break my qi phenomenon?" Yi Xuangong sneered coldly. "How many years have you even lived to dare compare combat skills with me!"

Answering him was a sigh.

"Truly a great cultivator of the third layer."

Beneath the clouds and mountains, the golden body that Yongxiu had transformed into pressed its palms together and gave a slight nod. "However, Benefactor Yi, this little monk's previous evaluation remains unchanged."

"You are still far too unskilled in combat."

"Or rather, do you think that when people like us—True Persons, True Monarchs, Daoist Monarchs, and even direct disciples of Bodhisattvas—engage in combat, we are merely comparing the height of our cultivation?"

"There is no such thing as a guaranteed victory in combat under heaven, and the outcome is never up to us. It depends on what the great figures above our respective factions want us to do. Do it well, get it done, and you naturally win. Do it poorly, fail to accomplish it, and even a sky-high cultivation is useless."

Yi Xuangong turned a deaf ear.

Behind his head, the profundity he had been brewing for so long finally tore through the void. It rose like the morning sun, yet it contained not a shred of warmth; its majestic light was filled with a bone-piercing chill.

It was an icy, freezing sun.

The Glowing Embankment Willow.

The next second, the profundity collapsed. The extreme brilliance transformed into profound darkness, and the sun turned pitch-black, forcibly guiding all things toward their end.

Originally, the Glowing Embankment Willow didn't possess this imagery. However, ever since the Great Rebellion was destroyed and the Four Great Wisdom Kings defected, the dao field had been weathering the storm. This profound technique had perpetually been in a state of imminent collapse, yet stubbornly holding on. After countless years, this had paradoxically added this imagery to it.

'Dao-Fallen Sun-Plummeting Profound Light!'

The pitch-black sun poured forth with unparalleled might. In Yi Xuangong's eyes, even if this strike couldn't kill the opponent, it would at least be enough to inflict a severe wound.

Faced with this strike, however, Yongxiu was completely unafraid. He merely shook his head before the karmic light of the Holy Truth Heart slowly rose once more.

Instantly, Yi Xuangong realized something was wrong.

He discovered that as the Holy Truth Heart circulated, the Glowing Embankment Willow he had intended to use for the final blow suddenly spiraled out of control under the influence of this karmic merit.

Boom!

The pitch-black sun plummeted prematurely!

The scene was like a bursting dam or a collapsing weeping willow. The glowing firelight covered the heavens and the earth, yet it didn't harm Yongxiu in the slightest; instead, it swallowed Yi Xuangong whole.

A bone-piercing agony instantly tore through Yi Xuangong's dharma body, even drilling straight into his sea of consciousness. But no amount of pain could overshadow his current shock.

'How is this possible?'

The Glowing Embankment Willow had collapsed!

Yes, it wasn't a lack of strength on his part, nor a deficiency in cultivation. It was purely because the Glowing Embankment Willow, which he relied on as his foundation, had suddenly crumbled without a fight.

Why did this happen?

"There is nothing surprising about it."

In the distance, Yongxiu's voice rang out again, rumbling like thunder. Wherever it passed, Zen chants naturally manifested in the void, echoing him in a rhythmic cadence:

"My Lord converted the Brocade River Smoke, Sunken Valley Field, Divination Staff Coin, and Forest Bell Ringing. These four great profundities are no longer temporarily subjugated by the Brahma dharma; they have completely become part of the Brahma Nation's foundation. There is no possibility of turning back. My Lord used this as a karmic merit, which led to the emergence of the Holy Truth Heart."

"In front of this karmic merit, the Glowing Embankment Willow—sharing the same origin as those four great profundities—naturally suffers the same fate."

"Do you still not understand, Benefactor?"

"This battle is not between this little monk and you, Benefactor. It is a conversation between the Lord behind me and that ancient Daoist Monarch behind you!"

The Holy Truth Heart was the voice of the Master of Secret Traces.

He was telling the Xuan Gong Supreme Daoist Monarch that out of the Great Dao he had painstakingly cultivated, four profound paths had thoroughly become part of the Brahma Nation.

Even if the Daoist Monarch killed the Four Great Wisdom Kings, or killed the Master of Secret Traces who had historically introduced the four great profundities into the Brahma Nation, they would never return to his dominion.

But... why bring this up?

Yi Xuangong didn't understand.

However, he couldn't be blamed. After all, he knew absolutely nothing about the situation within the Immortal Gate. If Wang Ping were here, he would have realized it instantly:

Before this, slaying the Master of Secret Traces held a hidden benefit for the Xuan Gong Supreme Daoist Monarch: it would allow his profundities to return to their rightful place and continue his dao lineage. This was also why he had placed expectations on Earth Qi and the Protector Courtyard, believing the Protector Courtyard might assist him.

It was because the Protector Courtyard contained an Earth Qi True Monarch.

Positioned at the Earth Thunder Return!

This supreme pinnacle of heaven and earth prized the return of a single yang, establishing anew after destruction. They would undoubtedly be deeply interested in helping a Daoist Monarch continue a nearly destroyed dao lineage.

Yet now, the Master of Secret Traces was telling him:

"Impossible."

The Four Great Wisdom Kings were already deeply rooted in the Brahma Nation. His dao lineage wasn't nearly destroyed; it was utterly obliterated, without the slightest room for recovery.

Rumble!

Inside the Wuwei Buyi Dao Field, deep within the ruins, the corpse sitting upright upon a mountain of torches let out an imperceptible sigh.

"So that's how it is..."

His dao lineage could no longer be restored. No wonder only True Person Hanguang Danyang had acted for the Earth Qi, while the Protector Courtyard showed no intention of interfering.

As for retrieving the four great profundities and continuing his Dao path?

That route had long been sealed off!

Under these circumstances, the Glowing Embankment Willow naturally lost its value. By extension, Yi Xuangong was also useless; keeping him around no longer held any meaning.

"So, I can only pivot to cultivating reality."

At first glance, it seemed nothing had changed. In reality, the existence of the Holy Truth Heart completely inverted the Xuan Gong Supreme Daoist Monarch's motives.

Because—he no longer had a reason to kill the Master of Secret Traces.

Previously, when he joined forces with the True Monarchs of Water and Fire Qi to kill the Master of Secret Traces, cultivating reality was only one of the reasons. It was more about his own dao lineage.

In other words, the Xuan Gong Supreme Daoist Monarch back then still harbored a sliver of hope of retrieving his profundities and continuing his lineage. Only then did he agree to the Water and Fire Qi's collaboration to hunt the Master of Secret Traces. But now, the Master of Secret Traces had personally snuffed out that hope, making the situation vastly different.

After all, there were many paths one could take to cultivate reality.

Since that was the case, why would he choose to hunt the Master of Secret Traces and bear the risk of antagonizing a Bodhisattva? He could simply take other cultivation paths!

For instance—Earth Fire Darkening of the Light.

Yongxiu's Sanskrit voice echoed in the Cosmic Deep Space, carrying the profoundest Dao secrets. To others, it sounded merely like life-claiming Zen chants, but only Yi Xuangong could hear the true words:

"Benefactor Yi, do you still not understand?"

"This little monk did not come to harm you or the dao field. In fact, quite the opposite: this little monk came to assist you, Benefactor. We are actually on the same side."

At this moment, Yi Xuangong's expression wavered.

The sudden collapse of the Glowing Embankment Willow had severely damaged his dharma body, leaving him solely reliant on the healing qi phenomena of Earth Yin Wood and the Heavenly Transformation Qi to hold on.

Therefore, when Yongxiu's Sanskrit voice reached him, a thought actually blossomed in his mind: perhaps submitting to the Brahma Nation wouldn't be such a bad thing?

"...Hm? No!"

He was, after all, a third-layer qi-ingesting practitioner. Even after suffering successive heavy blows, Yi Xuangong still jolted awake from the bewilderment, recognizing the method Yongxiu had hidden in his words.

'Profoundly Resonant Sanskrit Voice Mark!'

'He's trying to convert me? No, that's wrong. It's not about converting me... It's the Master of Secret Traces behind him, using my body to extend an olive branch to the Daoist Monarch!'

Having cultivated to the third layer of Qi Consumption, Yi Xuangong's daoist attainment and light of wisdom were certainly genuine. At this moment, he finally understood the true intent behind his battle with Yongxiu:

'The collapse of the Glowing Embankment Willow was the Daoist Monarch using my body to test whether the karmic merit of the Holy Truth Heart was real, to test whether the four great profundities had truly and completely surrendered to the Brahma Nation... The result confirmed it. Otherwise, the Glowing Embankment Willow wouldn't have collapsed; at most, it would have been suppressed.'

'And now, his attempt to convert me follows the same logic.'

'If the Daoist Monarch is tempted by the Master of Secret Traces' proposal, I will definitely be converted. If the Daoist Monarch refuses, I'll have a chance to turn this peril around.'

It was exactly as Yongxiu had said earlier.

They were direct subordinates of superior cultivators, so their victories and defeats never depended on themselves. Just as a chess piece only needs to follow the will of the player.

Realizing everything, Yi Xuangong finally let out a long breath. His expression carried an indescribable loneliness. In the distance, Yongxiu pulled out a monk's robe and tossed it over.

"Benefactor, this monk's robe has been prepared especially for you!"

Hearing this, Yi Xuangong didn't dodge or evade. He allowed the robe to drape over him. His entire energy signature shifted instantly, and his surrounding qi phenomena naturally began to radiate Brahma light.

Meanwhile.

Deep within the Wuwei Buyi Dao Field, the corpse on the mountain of torches seemed to let out a hearty laugh. "Is this to let me break through to True Monarch with peace of mind?"

The Earth Fire Darkening of the Light visibly possessed hidden dangers.

Yet the Master of Secret Traces had extended an olive branch. No matter how massive the hidden dangers, as long as he joined the Brahma Nation and washed himself in the Brahma dharma, they could be uprooted completely.

Moreover, with the dignity of a True Monarch wielding a supreme pinnacle of heaven and earth, even if he converted to the Brahma Nation, he wouldn't be reduced to a mere Arhat. Instead, he would become the ninth Bodhisattva of the Brahma Nation.

The Master of Secret Traces might not know about the path of the Earth Fire Darkening of the Light. However, as long as this Daoist Monarch still wished to cultivate reality and feared being schemed against by the Water and Fire Qi, the Brahma Nation would always be an excellent choice. That was, unless he believed the True Monarchs of Water and Fire Qi were both good Samaritans who wouldn't sabotage his cultivation.

The Master of Secret Traces didn't even try to hide this recruitment.

Being so open and aboveboard meant he wasn't shying away from the True Monarchs of Water and Fire Qi, who were highly likely watching from the shadows—this display was actually meant for them as well.

It was to let the Water and Fire Qi know what lucrative options he was offering him. By doing this, wouldn't the Water and Fire Qi naturally find ways to guard against him?

After all, what if he resolved to defect to the Brahma Nation, secretly cooperated with the Master of Secret Traces, and laid a trap? Then it might not end up as the Water and Fire Qi besieging the Master of Secret Traces, but the eight Bodhisattvas of the Brahma Nation hunting down the Water and Fire Qi! Reasonably and logically, a rift had formed in the collaboration between himself and the Water and Fire Qi.

"Divide and conquer..."

The corpse on the mountain of torches praised. "He truly is someone who once cultivated Water Qi, set a trap to counter that Prime Monarch, and managed to survive to this day."

Thinking this, he made his decision.

Boom!

The originally collapsed Glowing Embankment Willow unexpectedly coalesced once more, shattering the conversion monk's robe. This made Yi Xuangong's eyes flicker as he understood the Daoist Monarch's reply:

'The Daoist Monarch is unwilling...'

Yi Xuangong wasn't surprised by this. After all, in his heart, the Daoist Monarch was an incredibly proud figure. Even if he were to submit to the Brahma Nation, he would only bow to a Living Buddha.

But submitting to the Master of Secret Traces?

Even if he converted as a True Monarch and incarnated as a Bodhisattva, he would still be a lesser Bodhisattva under the Master of Secret Traces—equivalent to the difference between a Corpse Dissolution Immortal and a Qi Refining practitioner.

What meaning would there be in that?

Seeing this scene, Yongxiu also let out a sigh. "What a pity. It seems the Lord has other plans. However, this little monk will keep this monk's robe ready for you, Benefactor. If you ever change your mind one day, there will always be a place for you in the Pure Land... Now, please step down for the time being, Benefactor."

Boom!

With a loud crash, Yi Xuangong tried to keep fighting but found he couldn't muster a single shred of qi phenomenon. The injuries caused by the collapse of the Glowing Embankment Willow were still ravaging his dharma body.

It was only then that a realization dawned on him:

'The Daoist Monarch is holding out for a better offer...'

The Daoist Monarch didn't want him to win. Indeed, he wanted to watch that Water Qi Dao Child, to see how the True Monarchs of Water and Fire Qi behind him would react.

'Therefore, I must lose.'

In an instant, the Dao fell and the star plummeted!

Yi Xuangong's figure transformed into a fiery meteor, plummeting from the Cosmos, while the corpse on the mountain of torches watched coldly.

The Master of Secret Traces had already laid out his terms and benefits.

What about the Water and Fire Qi?

"Don't try to fool me again with paths like Earth Fire Darkening of the Light and Water Fire Established. Otherwise, if driven into a corner, the Brahma Nation might not be a bad choice!"

...

Within the Wuwei Buyi Dao Field.

Wang Ping sat cross-legged, his physical body entirely empty. His dharma power, divine powers, and destiny form had all plunged into the torrent of destiny, pacing forward within the flood.

As he drew closer and closer to the source known as "Entering the Dao of Qi Refining," back in the real world, a clear qi gradually steamed up from the top of his physical body. It gathered into an auspicious cloud, hovering like a heavenly canopy. It draped down thousands of colors, stunningly beautiful, while frantically breathing in and devouring the spiritual qi of heaven and earth like a whale swallowing the ocean.

However, Wang Ping did not relax in the slightest.

On the contrary, his expression slowly grew solemn, for he found himself standing at a rather tricky threshold he had never experienced before.

'True spiritual root...'

As a cultivator, he did not possess a true spiritual root!

Although he could borrow the effects of You Xuexin's true spiritual root through the Void Joy Non-Dual Guardian Consort Talisman, not having one meant not having one. There would always be a layer missing.

That was also why he had previously severed the Consort Talisman and given it to his clone.

And now, due to lacking a true spiritual root, although he could sense the existence of Earth Yin Water and the Hidden Dragon Meridian-Circulating Nether-Penetrating Qi, it was incredibly blurred.

It was like looking at flowers through a fog.

This was even with the blessing of the Fulfilling Talisman and the fact that the qi of heaven and earth already highly recognized him, showing just how vital a true spiritual root was.

'If I had a true spiritual root, with my experience as a Corpse Dissolution Immortal, my increased daoist attainment, and my accumulation in divine powers and destiny forms, even without surviving the life tribulation, I would have a seventy percent chance of reaching Qi Refining. Adding the Fulfilling Talisman makes it one hundred percent. But without a true spiritual root, my chances instantly plummeted by seventy percent...'

What if it were other cultivators?

One must know that for other cultivators, like Kunyun, even if they survived the life tribulation, they would probably only have about a ninety percent success rate. If he didn't have a true spiritual root...

It would immediately plummet to twenty percent!

Kunyun could even be considered a genius. If it were someone slightly worse with only a seventy or eighty percent success rate, lacking a true spiritual root basically guaranteed certain death.

'A thirty percent chance...'

Standing before the final step, Wang Ping felt no fear in his heart. He was just preparing to risk it all and go for broke when he suddenly sensed a change in reality.

Clang! Clang!

A crisp, metallic ring of jade and gold echoed.

Immediately after, he saw a profound ring flowing with gloomy light, rippling like water, shatter the bonds of destiny and arrive right in front of him.

The Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring!

Wang Ping narrowed his eyes. The profound ring hung behind his head, its gloomy light rapidly fading. Gradually, a line of small text appeared on the ring:

[Left behind by True Person Shuofang Hanyou, Soul Formation Realm].

Who is this?

Wang Ping's pupils shrank. However, as the Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring slowly rotated, he immediately realized his connection to the qi of heaven and earth was gradually becoming clearer.

It was no longer the initial blur.

The role of a true spiritual root had been replaced by the profundity contained within the Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring, bringing his success rate back to a full one hundred percent!

The price, however, was that Wang Ping found the Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring seemed to have bound itself to his true spirit. Just like the Battle-Victorious Demon-Quelling Blade, from now on, this superior spiritual treasure could be resurrected alongside him. He no longer needed to worry about losing it if he died suddenly; the two were inseparable!

Was this good or bad?

'No, this was prearranged. The True Monarch bestowed this profound ring upon me back then specifically for today, to thoroughly bind me to this spiritual treasure using Qi Refining...'

Clarity dawned on Wang Ping.

That being said, he didn't feel any negative emotions. After all, truth be told, the Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring replacing the true spiritual root had undeniably done him a massive favor.

As for the hidden dangers—

'I'll leave future troubles for the future me to worry about. Regardless, the hurdle of Qi Refining can no longer hold me back. I'll cross it first and see!'

With this thought, Wang Ping strode forward.

Boom!

The resounding hum of Dao notes, like great bronze bells, rang in his ears. As he stepped forward, Wang Ping instantly developed a profound sensation, as though all his bodily restraints had suddenly vanished.

"Hm?"

At that instant, far outside the dao field, the numerous qi-ingesting practitioners, Qi Nurturing practitioners, and even Yongxiu, who were all still fighting in the Cosmos, simultaneously sensed something.

"Who is..."

Meanwhile, Wang Ping's consciousness returned to reality.

Unlike his previous breakthroughs, no anomalous signs manifested around Wang Ping this time. All the profundity seemed to have sunk into a dark, abyssal pool.

This was exactly one of the qi phenomena of Earth Yin Water.

Hiding One's Light in Obscurity.

"The gentleman should hide his implements at the right time" and the Dormant Dragon Kun—an extremely superior divine power and destiny form—had refined this qi phenomenon for him using the profound concept of hiding first before revealing.

Beyond this, the Fulfilling Talisman had also given Wang Ping an unexpected surprise. As he formally achieved Qi Refining Entering the Dao, this karmic merit also displayed its true efficacy. It actually allowed him, while only newly stepping into Qi Refining, to refine an additional qi phenomenon from the Hidden Dragon Meridian-Circulating Nether-Penetrating Qi!

If other Qi Refining practitioners found out, their eyes would undoubtedly turn red with envy.

How difficult was it to refine a qi phenomenon? Especially after their lifespans were curtailed, the vast majority of Qi Refining practitioners might cultivate for thousands of years and only possess three to five qi phenomena.

Take Tianhan, for example.

He had cultivated for over seven thousand years, yet he had only managed to barely refine two qi phenomena from Heavenly Yang Water, the Hanging River Endlessly Circulating Qi.

While this was certainly partly due to his talent being somewhat lacking among Qi Refining practitioners, it was still enough to illustrate just how difficult the step of refining qi phenomena was.

A single Fulfilling Talisman had saved Wang Ping at least a thousand years of hard work!

Mid-thought, Wang Ping once again channeled the Earth Yin Water's Hidden Dragon Meridian-Circulating Nether-Penetrating Qi, then selected a qi phenomenon from it to claim as his own.

Commune with Ghosts and Spirits.

Straight after, he rode a beam of light and soared upward, tearing through the dome of the sky, where he coincidentally met the heavily injured and falling Yi Xuangong.

The sect master of the dao field wore an incredibly complicated expression. Looking at Wang Ping, who had "coincidentally" broken through at this very moment, he couldn't help but send a voice transmission: "This battle is no longer a combat between us. It is True Monarchs and Bodhisattvas using our bodies to converse. Victory and defeat are no longer in our hands."

"Breaking through at this time, Fellow Daoist, might not be a good thing."

By the end, a few traces of dejection uncontrollably showed on Yi Xuangong's face. After all, this feeling of having no control over oneself was unpleasant.

"...Oh?"

Hearing this, Wang Ping shot Yi Xuangong a somewhat surprised look. Was he reminding him? Were the people of the Immortal Gate this honest? He really is a decent guy, huh?

He could understand Yi Xuangong's mindset, but his own attitude was entirely different.

"Senior, you didn't pass a life tribulation back then, did you."

Wang Ping suddenly spoke.

Yi Xuangong paused. Life tribulation... He really hadn't faced one, because originally, he had entered the Dao as a Qi Nurturing practitioner before "destiny" even appeared.

Later, he followed the Daoist Monarch and pivoted to Qi Consumption—therefore, although he understood life tribulations well enough to know their dangers, he had never truly experienced one.

"No wonder."

Unsurprised, Wang Ping chuckled. "If you had passed a life tribulation back then, Senior, I believe you wouldn't be this dejected today."

"Be they True Monarchs or Bodhisattvas."

"They treat us as chess pieces, cultivating reality through falsehood. But we can also borrow their hands to elevate our cultivation. When all is said and done, each relies on their own ability!"

The next second, Wang Ping smiled faintly and reached back to spin the profound ring behind his head. As the qi phenomena circulated, a gloomy light spread beneath his feet, as though opening the ghost gates to the netherworld.

Soon after—Faji, Jinglang, Chu Tianqiu, Tao Shaobo, Fairy Supo, Luo Chang, Luo Zhen, Luo Wei, Xuanyuanzi... A full six Qi Refining Yin Gods and four Qi Nurturing Yin Gods all condensed their figures within the gloomy light and slowly stood up. A vibrant, intelligent light flickered in all of their eyes!

Yin Gods!

Moreover, unlike before, under the enhancement of Commune with Ghosts and Spirits, the ten Yin Gods were no longer stiff and rigid; they had all regained the sentience they possessed in life!

"Fellow Daoists..."

Looking at the Yin Gods lined up before him, each with differing qi phenomena, Wang Ping wasted no words. He immediately rode his beam of light and aggressively broke into the Cosmic Deep Space.

"Follow me!"

"Understood!"

The ten Yin Gods replied.

The next instant, ten beams of light shot up from the ground, following closely behind Wang Ping. Like fierce tigers released from their cages, they arrived in the Cosmic Deep Space outside the dao field in the blink of an eye.

The moment he charged into the battlefield, Wang Ping had already grasped the changes in the war situation with his divine sense. Therefore, as he moved, he ignored Yongxiu—who had just defeated Yi Xuangong—and locked his divine sense onto Old Man Guangji, who was currently grinding down Feng. With the Xiaoyao Ramble in motion, he arrived right in front of him.

"Who goes there?!"

Seeing this, Old Man Guangji paled in shock. He hurriedly grabbed Feng to use as a meat shield and shouted through voice transmission, "Stop! Otherwise, this person's life..."

"Kill!"

With a single command, the ten Yin Gods struck simultaneously. With Wang Ping harmonizing from the center, the Connate Limitless Palm Imprint—the same one that had captured Xia Qinghou in the past—manifested once more!

Rumble!

Without the slightest hesitation, Wang Ping slammed his palm down. Feng exploded on the spot, was instantly refined into a Yin God, and then exploded again without a second thought!

Old Man Guangji: "???"

This chain of attacks completely exceeded Old Man Guangji's expectations. Before he could deploy any profound techniques, he was beaten to his knees by Wang Ping's palm strike and Feng's self-detonation.

Had it not been for the spiritual treasure on his body—the Floating Light Star-Adorned Robe—propping up a protective dharma light at the critical moment, his dharma body would have likely been blasted apart by Wang Ping!

However, the very next second.

"Requesting the Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary to open its doors!"

A resplendently golden doorway emerged, shining brilliantly. It instantly stripped away Old Man Guangji's Floating Light Star-Adorned Robe, leaving him without a shred of defense.

Right on its heels, the full-powered strikes of three or four Qi Refining Yin Gods smashed down, shattering Old Man Guangji's dharma body on the spot. Subsequently, Old Man Guangji's sea of consciousness emerged, only to be followed by another barrage of full-powered strikes from three or four Qi Refining Yin Gods. Then came the qi phenomena, and this time it was the Qi Nurturing Yin Gods' turn to press the advantage...

By the time the Qi Nurturing Yin Gods finished their attacks...

...the Qi Refining Yin Gods who had struck first recovered their breath and struck again. Thus the cycle repeated endlessly, giving Old Man Guangji not a single moment to catch his breath!

"I..."

By the time he reformed his dharma body for the last time, Old Man Guangji's face still bore a look of bewilderment. It had all happened too fast, so fast he hadn't even had time to react.

What just happened? Who blew me up?

Alas, the facts were right in front of him. His Dao foundation hadn't been discovered, but there were simply too many people attacking him. They practically ground his Dao foundation to dust through sheer brute force!

Boom!

One final booming crash echoed. It was the Connate Limitless Palm Imprint again, but not to slay the opponent—rather, to quell the anomalies triggered by Old Man Guangji's destruction.

Heaven and earth fell dead silent.

Originally, due to Yi Xuangong's defeat, the momentum of the three dao fields had climbed to its peak. The crowd of Qi Nurturing practitioners were all vying to be first, intent on beating a dog that has fallen into water.

As a result, they now all froze stiff in their tracks.

Especially Wuchenzi and Mijian, who were dao field sect masters just like Old Man Guangji; they blinked in blank bewilderment, actually feeling somewhat dazed.

Old Man Guangji was dead?

A sect master of a dao field at the second layer of Qi Nurturing, carrying three spiritual treasures on his person, was beaten to death just like that? And pummeled to death through sheer brute force to boot?

What kind of joke was this!

On the other side, Wang Ping was entirely unbothered. Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, his Daoist robes snapping in the wind, his gaze didn't linger on the dao field's Qi Nurturing practitioners at all.

Instead, he looked straight at Yongxiu in the distance.

"What are you standing around for?"

Wang Ping said faintly, "Come at me together."

His words jolted them awake from their trance. Right, they had the numbers! Over twenty Qi Nurturing practitioners and quite a few spiritual treasures. If they swarmed him, could they all really be killed?

Even a war of attrition would be enough to exhaust his dharma power dry!

In a flash, almost all the Qi Nurturing practitioners from the three dao fields abandoned their previous opponents and swarmed over. However, they didn't charge straight on; instead, they flanked him from three sides.

They didn't rush in close, either. They placed their respective Tomb Stars in front of themselves as shields, then deployed their spiritual treasures from afar, striking toward Wang Ping.

All at once, the previously pitch-black deep space was instantly illuminated by resplendent treasure light. The vast majority of these were spiritual treasures, while the minority of Qi Nurturing practitioners who lacked them deployed their own profundities. The qi phenomena of various heavenly and earthly qi filled the Cosmos, covering all directions and threatening to drown Wang Ping completely.

Seeing this, Wang Ping's expression remained calm and collected.

The Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary opened behind him. Without a single exception, the many spiritual treasures all drifted lightly into the granary, disappearing without a trace.

"Is this... a Qi Refining practitioner from the Immortal Gate? Earth Yin Gold?"

"Not good!"

In an instant, the Qi Nurturing practitioners who had lost their connections to their spiritual treasures experienced drastic changes in expression. Alas, how could spiritual treasures that had entered the Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary ever be recalled?

Wang Ping couldn't help but shake his head at the sight.

The daoist attainment of these Qi Nurturing practitioners was far too low.

Or rather, they nurtured only a single qi their entire lives, and all their daoist attainment was strictly limited to their specific heaven and earth qi. The moment they stepped out of that boundary, their true colors were instantly exposed.

In short: experts at infighting, amateurs against outsiders.

At the very least, if they were Qi Refining practitioners from the Immortal Gate, they would never allow their spiritual treasures to be taken away by the Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary; they would likely whip out a countermeasure.

For example, using the imagery of stacking earth to dry up water to seal off the Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary—just as he had done previously in the Eight Trigrams Furnace—was the fastest and most effective method.

Of course, expecting this bunch of Qi Nurturing practitioners to do as he did was asking too much of them. He could only say that their dao lineage hadn't been rendered obsolete without good reason.

As for their sole numerical advantage?

It would soon be an advantage no more.

"Deep lie the Yellow Springs and the nine earthly realms; the netherworld opens its ghost gates."

Wang Ping chanted a dharma spell, and the profound ring rotated. A speck of firelight emerged from the nether gloom and coalesced into a human figure—it was none other than Old Man Guangji, who had just been beaten to pieces!

However, compared to before, Old Man Guangji's face was now filled with utmost loyalty, his eyes brimming with spiritual intelligence. His energy signature had dropped by no more than ten or twenty percent from his peak.

For a moment, an unknown number of people held their breath.

"So it's Water Qi..."

"Demonic path!"

Everyone knew that facing Water Qi, the so-called numerical advantage was only temporary. After all, Yin Gods could be resurrected endlessly, but when a living person died, they were truly dead.

Thus, Water Qi was the most adept at group battles and feared no siege. If one hadn't prepared methods to restrain Yin Gods in advance, then no matter how they fought, defeat was a certainty!

The next second, Wang Ping softly ordered:

"Kill them all!"

Before his words even faded, the ten Yin Gods—plus Feng and Old Man Guangji, who had just been reincarnated as Yin Gods—fiercely charged out in all directions!

Immediately after, Wang Ping moved.

With the Xiaoyao Ramble in motion, his figure was elegant and unbridled. The Cosmic Deep Space rushed backward beneath his feet. Traveling through the void in the blink of an eye, he arrived right in front of Yongxiu.

"Amitabha..."

Only now did Yongxiu seem to snap back to reality. Chanting a Buddhist name, he was somewhat puzzled: "Benefactor Wang's talent is truly peerless to have broken through to Qi Refining."

"But what does this have to do with the Daoist Monarch?"

He didn't understand.

In his eyes, Wang Ping's breakthrough was undoubtedly the response of the Water and Fire Qi True Monarchs to the Xuan Gong Supreme Daoist Monarch. But what was the true intent behind it?

The Master of Secret Traces had sent him to display the karmic merit of the Holy Truth Heart, severing the Xuan Gong Supreme Daoist Monarch's hopes of continuing his Dao path, and extending an olive branch. Yet the Water and Fire Qi letting Wang Ping break through to Qi Refining—what were they trying to display? What terms were they offering? He actually couldn't figure it out.

For a moment, he actually fell into deep thought.

As he kept thinking, he completely forgot about Wang Ping's presence.

Pfft!

It wasn't until a blade pierced his chest, tearing through his dharma body, that Yongxiu abruptly awoke with a jolt. "Earth Yin Water... His qi phenomena regarding concealment are actually this profound?"

Heavenly Martial Conquering the Profound First Blade!

The blazing blade light, like a surging torrent, seeped straight into Yongxiu's internal organs, carving through his dharma body and forcing a grunt of pain from his lips.

Following that, Wang Ping calmly withdrew his hand. As he pulled out the Battle-Victorious Demon-Quelling Blade, his figure was once again coated in a thin layer of gloomy light. Like a clay ox entering the sea, he dissolved into nothingness in an instant, leaving Yongxiu, who had just been preparing to counterattack, frozen in place once more.

"I was just... No!"

Yongxiu instantly sobered up.

The next second, boundless radiance bloomed from his body. The Light-Radiating Body Mark purged all gloom, making him remember Wang Ping's existence.

However, this played perfectly into Wang Ping's qi phenomenon.

Because he had been discovered, shifting from "hidden" to "revealed," his entire body of qi phenomena skyrocketed in an instant. Reaching back, he plucked the profound ring from behind his head.

The Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring!

In a flash, this spiritual treasure ring radiated a brilliant light. It actually shed its dark luster, transforming into a blazing white steel bracelet as it smashed down right on Yongxiu's head!

Clang—!

A crystal-clear ringing echoed within Yongxiu's mind. But what stunned him even more was the line of small text he saw engraved on the inside of that blazing white bracelet:

[Left behind by True Person Shuofang Hanyou, Soul Formation Realm]

True Person Shuofang Hanyou?

'It's the Bodhisattva!!!'

Boom!

As a Buddha child of the Master of Secret Traces, Yongxiu's Dao foundation naturally aligned with this Bodhisattva's imagery, and the crux of it was "keeping secrets" for the Bodhisattva.

And the deepest secret he guarded for the Master of Secret Traces was the secular Daoist name the Master of Secret Traces had used back when he was a Water Qi True Person, before becoming a Bodhisattva. That Daoist name was precisely "True Person Shuofang Hanyou." Now, it was glaringly exposed, manifesting word for word right in front of Yongxiu.

Thus, this strike hit his Dao foundation dead center!

'Not good...'

The Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring struck him right in the face. A bone-chilling cold pierced from the top of his head down into his sea of consciousness and throughout his limbs and bones. In his heart, he finally understood all the changes.

'Wrong, I was wrong!'

'The Water and Fire Qi helping this Xuan Yi Dao Child break through to Qi Refining wasn't meant for the Xuan Gong Supreme Daoist Monarch to see; it was meant for the Bodhisattva!'

'The Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring, the Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring... So that's how it is. This is the real reason Uncle-Master Shasheng took the risk of stepping into the Immortal Gate to kill this person. This is the final strand of karma the Bodhisattva left in the Immortal Gate before attaining his Dao. He couldn't destroy it in time back then, and it has remained in the hands of that True Monarch ever since.'

An incomplete severance was no severance at all.

Hence, as long as this object existed, the Master of Secret Traces could never be considered a pure Brahma Cultivator. This hurdle had become a critical obstacle holding back his cultivation.

If, previously, this obstacle was still barely acceptable...

'Then right now, this treasure has a new master.'

Yongxiu could sense that the connection between Wang Ping and the Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring was incredibly tight at this moment; one could almost call them inseparable!

'If he were still a Corpse Dissolution Immortal, breaking the Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring would be enough. But now, they both likely have to be killed together.'

Within the Wuwei Buyi Dao Field.

On the mountain of torches, the corpse similarly opened its eyes, manifesting thousands of profound visions. Staring intently at Wang Ping, it suddenly let out a sigh:

"It doesn't end there!"

"It would be one thing if a karmic spiritual treasure like this remained masterless. But with a new master, the higher the new master's cultivation, the heavier this karma becomes."

"And the heavier the karma, the more the Master of Secret Traces' status as a Bodhisattva is shaken!"

"If he were simply refining qi normally, there would still be thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of years to scheme, since Qi Refining cultivation is theoretically a slow, grinding process."

"But he just had to emulate the Human Emperor and break through to Qi Refining during his life tribulation."

"Replicating the Human Emperor's past deeds under the 'Theft of Destiny,' his growth rate will only get faster and faster."

"How long did it take the Human Emperor to ascend to the True Monarch Pinnacle Station? Thirty years! Even if this boy is inferior to the Human Emperor and takes a hundred years, for a Bodhisattva, that is still far, far too fast!"

By the end, this Xuan Gong Supreme Daoist Monarch practically couldn't resist clapping his hands. "As such, the Master of Secret Traces is left with no other choice but to use this boy's life tribulation to swiftly kill him. And the faster, the better! Otherwise, for every bit of cultivation this boy gains, he is using him as nourishment!"

Reaching this stage, the killing trap was already fully formed.

The Master of Secret Traces had no choice but to enter the board. He could no longer continue hiding in the Brahma Nation as before; otherwise, the outcome would be like a dull knife sawing through flesh, bleeding him out until he died.

Boom!

The Cosmos shook, and a rain of blood washed across the sky.

Yongxiu was struck solidly by Wang Ping's Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring. His body full of Brahma light was nearly shattered, actually repeating the exact same disaster Yi Xuangong had just suffered.

His cultivation plummeted!

It was all because that profound ring bore the secular Daoist name of the superior cultivator above him, the Master of Secret Traces—which was also the very secret he had guarded for the Master of Secret Traces.

Hence, facing this profound ring, there was absolutely nowhere for him to strike back.

'This person... is not someone I can kill. Only the Bodhisattva can do it personally, shattering both the man and the treasure together. Only then will the karma truly be severed.'

Reaching this realization, Yongxiu let out a long sigh:

'So it's not just me. Any Brahma Cultivator under the Bodhisattva's rule who fights this man as he is now will undoubtedly lose. And the Bodhisattva wouldn't allow us to win anyway.'

Just as Yongxiu had said, as a direct disciple of the Bodhisattva, he could do as he pleased in normal times. However, once truly stepping onto the Bodhisattva's game board, where the Bodhisattva's interests were concerned, he had absolutely no autonomy. If he was meant to win, he won; if he was meant to lose, he lost. Everything hinged entirely on his superior's whims.

Realizing this, Yongxiu immediately pulled back and retreated.

He was planning to withdraw!

As things stood, he had successfully delivered the message the Bodhisattva wanted him to bring, and he had made sure the Bodhisattva heard what others wanted him to hear. His task was already complete.

That being the case, it was only proper to leave...

But the next second, Yongxiu froze in his tracks—because he found that he unexpectedly couldn't muster his dharma power. He was unable to gather any of his profound abilities.

'That's impossible!'

True, the Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring directly targeted his Dao foundation and possessed extraordinary might. Yet he was, after all, a second-layer Zen-participating monk, a minor realm higher than Wang Ping.

Just like the second layer of Qi Refining, as a second-layer Zen-participating monk, he already had his own understanding and definition of the Brahma dharma and the thirty-two marks. His Dao foundation had transformed accordingly.

So even if one of his core Dao secrets had been exposed, it was absolutely impossible for it to strip him of all resistance. If it weren't for the fact that it involved the Bodhisattva's karma, which forbade any subject Brahma Cultivator from killing this man, he would even have a seventy percent chance of killing Wang Ping. After all, he was familiar with the qi phenomena changes of Water Qi, too.

But why?

Yongxiu looked within himself and finally spotted the culprit causing his inability to muster his dharma power or move his many profundities—it was exactly the karmic merit on his body.

The Holy Truth Heart!

'The Bodhisattva wants me dead...'

Understanding dawned on Yongxiu.

'Of course, of course. The Holy Truth Heart is the great karmic merit of the Bodhisattva converting the Wisdom Kings. And passing from Immortal to Brahma was inherently a process of killing the physical body first before achieving realization.'

'Therefore, this karmic merit can be inherited and transformed through life and death. If I am killed by this man, the karmic merit won't dissipate; instead, it will transfer onto his body. This is also a form of conversion. And for the Bodhisattva, having the karmic merit on him means he can lock onto him at all times, preventing him from ever escaping his sight.'

The Bodhisattva had anticipated this long ago.

After all, this Water Qi Dao Child had a miraculous resurrection method that had allowed him to escape from True Persons. Without a tracking method, completely killing him would be very difficult.

'So that's how it is. It's my turn to die.'

At this moment, Yongxiu actually calmed down. He allowed the Profound One Misfortune-Crossing Ring to strike his face, shattering his Dao foundation, sea of consciousness, and soul all at once.

Boom!

In a flash, the second-layer Zen-participating ascetic monk perished. All the Sanskrit notes and Zen chants that had resonated because of his presence came to a screeching halt, leaving behind only a faint sigh:

"Respectfully obeying the Bodhisattva's dharma decree."

"Excellent, excellent."

Yongxiu was dead!

Meanwhile, Wang Ping stood quietly in place, his expression peaceful as he watched a beam of karmic merit emerge from where Yongxiu had fallen and shine down onto his own body.

The Holy Truth Heart?

No. This karmic merit, which originally symbolized the Brahma Nation's conversion of the Wisdom Kings, underwent a glaring change in imagery after being tainted by the blood of a Brahma Cultivator and following the Bodhisattva's will.

Now, it was called:

Heaven Mourns Me!

Unlike others, this karmic merit provided no profound enhancements. It carried only the purest killing intent, symbolizing the gaze of a Brahma Nation Bodhisattva descending upon him.

'The Master of Secret Traces will definitely kill me...'

Intuition told Wang Ping that this karmic merit would follow him forever. As long as the Master of Secret Traces lived, even if he committed suicide and reincarnated using the Taiping Sutra, he wouldn't be able to shake it off!

"What an honor."

Wang Ping couldn't help but sigh in marvel. Then, the corners of his mouth ticked up slightly. Immediately after, he turned his head and glanced in the direction of the Wuwei Buyi Dao Field.

Regarding the third party that this Xuan Gong Supreme Daoist Monarch might have contacted, he actually already had a guess. Ruling out Water and Fire Qi, and ruling out Earth Qi, all that was left were Gold and Wood Qi. But on the Wood Qi side, the Immortal Prescription Courtyard might not even have the capability to participate in a True Monarch's grand scheme anymore.

Then there was only one answer.

'Gold Qi, the Divine Weapon Courtyard.'

'The supporting evidence is... the key to Tianxing and Mingyou cultivating reality, which they told me about before. It is also located in the Heaven Defiance Palace, perfectly mirroring this grand scheme of the True Monarch!'

This was absolutely no coincidence.

Thus, Wang Ping was almost certain that the third party behind that Xuan Gong Supreme Daoist Monarch was the Divine Weapon Courtyard—the True Monarch standing behind Tianxing!

Furthermore—

'The Water and Fire Qi most likely don't know this. At the very least, they don't know which one it is.'

When Tianxing came to see him, the cultivation secrets he spoke of must have been covered up by the Gold Qi True Monarch. Otherwise, if he could guess it, the Water and Fire Qi could, too.

And if the Water and Fire Qi had the answer beforehand, they wouldn't have needed to use him to test whether the Xuan Gong Supreme Daoist Monarch had a third party backing him.

So Wang Ping could say for sure.

'It's not just the True Monarchs of Water and Fire Qi who have placed pieces on me. There's also the Gold Qi True Monarch behind Tianxing. He is probably plotting something in the shadows as well.'

At this thought, Wang Ping smiled happily.

This was an information gap.

Others didn't know, only he did. Every piece of asymmetric information might be the key to breaking the stalemate—he believed the chance of surviving his life tribulation undoubtedly lay within!

Gathering his thoughts, Wang Ping raised his head.

With Yongxiu's death, the three great dao fields naturally collapsed without a fight. One Tomb Star after another crashed down, manifesting a field of falling meteorites.

Witnessing this scene, Wang Ping softly chanted:

"A thousand mountains wail with ghosts as stars plummet down; a single blade's chilling light breaks both sun and moon."

"Trapped alone in destiny's siege without a path to life; though death is certain, I still shall not return!"