Chapter 2810 - 2809: Duel of Daoist Arts Before the Battle

Chapter 2810: Chapter 2809: Duel of Daoist Arts Before the Battle

Gongsun Sheng hurriedly helped Song Gongming up, and likewise bowed to him, saying, "Elder Brother pleaded for the common folk of the realm, and thus suffered the persecution of treacherous ministers and the humiliation of a muddle?headed ruler. How could what I’ve done be mentioned in the same breath as Elder Brother? Elder Brother, you really mustn’t be so courteous."

"Master Gong Sun speaks most truly!"

Wuu Yong supported Song Gongming and said with a laugh, "We’re all brothers of one family; why fuss over these empty formalities!"

Song Gongming rose smiling, took hold of Gongsun Sheng’s arm, and laughed loudly, "Yes, yes, we’re all brothers of one family, no need for polite distance."

The three of them laid out wine on the city wall and began drinking together.

Song Yuchan and Yan Qing caught the scent of wine and came over, happily saying to their father, "Father’s drinking and doesn’t even think of his daughter!"

Her small hand snatched up a wine cup and she took a sip first.

Song Gongming scolded her with a smile, "You wild girl, Master Gong Sun is here and you still dare be so unruly!"

Song Yuchan glanced at Gongsun Sheng and said, "Uncle Gongsun isn’t an outsider. Besides, in terms of seniority, Uncle Gongsun probably ought to address me as Little Martial Aunt."

Song Gongming pulled a long face, "You child, the more you talk the more outrageous you get!"

Gongsun Sheng and Wuu Yong both smiled, and Wuu Yong introduced, "Little Martial Sister’s words aren’t wrong. Gongsun Brother’s master, the Daoist Luo Gongyuan, cultivates in the Two Immortals Cave of Nine Palaces Mountain in Ezhou. This Daoist was enlightened onto the path by the Ancestor of Earth Immortals Zhen Yuanzi, and Grand Immortal Master Zhen Yuanzi and my own master are sworn brothers. So in terms of lineage, Little Martial Sister’s seniority does indeed qualify as Martial Aunt."

Gongsun Sheng nodded, "It is indeed so; there is an order to hearing the Dao. Though the young lady’s age is small, when it comes to the arts of the Dao, we all feel ashamed before her."

"Gongsun Brother flatters us!"

Song Gongming waved a hand with a smile, tapped his daughter’s head, and said, "Your Uncle Gongsun is just being polite; don’t you go getting all smug over it. I don’t care what your seniority is—when you see Gongsun Brother you must still address him as Uncle."

"I know!"

Song Yuchan smiled and raised her cup, offering a toast to Gongsun Sheng.

Just as they were talking, they saw a ripple of Mysterious Light in the sky, which quickly fell into Yang Zhi’s encampment.

Gongsun Sheng saw it and said with a faint smile, "He’s here."

"Who?"

Song Yuchan and Yan Qing raised their brows and looked toward Yang Zhi’s encampment in the distance.

Song Gongming also peered out and thought to himself that tonight was unlikely to pass easily.

Gongsun Sheng said, "Yang Zhi’s uncle, Yang Zongbao."

"That Kunlun Disciple?"

Song Yuchan spoke with marked disdain, "Does he actually dare meddle in mundane affairs? Is he not afraid of suffering heavenly retribution for karmic entanglements?"

Gongsun Sheng said, "To kill lives wantonly does indeed incur karma. But if he merely sets a fire on the mountain, or pours out a bowl of water—let the fire burn people, let the water wash people away—then that doesn’t really count as karma."

Those of the Daoist Sect must not take life.

Once blood is stained, karma clings to the body.

With karma upon you, at the time of crossing tribulation to break through, inner demons arise, and it becomes hard ever to advance upon the righteous path.

Those who kill often end up stepping onto the Devil’s Path.

When a Cultivator wishes to punish mortals, they usually borrow the powers of water, fire, Thunder and Lightning and other forces of nature.

This is called acting through Heaven’s will, with one’s own hands not directly stained by blood.

Even Cultivators of the Demon Clan do not dare kill casually.

A demon that kills people—that one has already gone down the Devil’s Path.

Right now, as long as Song Yuchan releases Samadhi True Fire, none of Yang Zhi’s Iron Cavalry would be able to withstand it.

However, she does not dare do so.

If she dared to kill, her future path of Cultivation would be ruined.

Sure enough, after a while, a Daoist voice came from the foot of the mountain: "You rebels do not respect the August Emperor’s mandate—raising revolt, plunging the realm into chaos and harming the world. Withdraw now from Green Wind Pass and I may spare your lives. You have only one quarter of an hour; after a quarter hour, I will set the mountain ablaze. At that time, none of you will escape."

Gongsun Sheng called down from the mountain, "May I ask if that is Daoist friend Yang Zongbao?"

Yang Zongbao answered with a light shout from below, "It is indeed I. Who are you?"

He realized there was someone on the other side who knew him, and could not help knitting his brows, feeling that matters had grown troublesome.

Gongsun Sheng said with a smile, "I am the Cloud Piercer, Gongsun Sheng. Daoist friend, instead of cultivating in Kunlun, why have you come here, before the battle lines, to meddle in mundane affairs? Do you not fear karma clinging to your body, ruining your Cultivation?"

"So it is Master Gong Sun!"

Yang Zongbao had heard of Gongsun Sheng’s name; a spark lit in his eyes as he said, "Does Master Gong Sun not fear incurring karma? Are you not likewise here on the front lines?"

Gongsun Sheng laughed loudly, "I cultivate in the world from the outset, different from Daoist friend. If Daoist friend withdraws now, you can still preserve a spotless body!"

Yang Zongbao thought he was stalling for time and said bluntly, "Enough nonsense. The paths differ; we cannot scheme together. Since Master Gong Sun wants to block me, then let us compare our Daoist arts!"

"Since it’s so, then by all means, please!"

Gongsun Sheng knew that without crossing hands this once, Yang Zongbao would not let matters rest.

Yang Zhi and Suo Chao listened behind him, their expressions taut; originally they had planned a surprise attack to catch Song Gongming unprepared.

Who would have thought their uncle would be so straightforward.

Before setting the fire he first notified the enemy, and moreover the other side also had a Daoist present.

Yang Zongbao took out a Wind Fire furnace, flame glimmering inside, and cradled it in his palms.

Yang Zhi watched in curiosity, "Uncle, what Magical Treasure is this?"

Yang Zongbao smiled, "This is called the Yin-Yang Wind-Fire Furnace; it can draw Yin Yang Qi into it and roll up wind and fire. Usually it’s used for Alchemy—using it to burn a mountain rather disgraces such a Magical Treasure."

Yang Zhi said in shame, "For this one time, in future we will not trouble Uncle again."

Yang Zongbao nodded, then sent the Wind Fire Furnace up toward the mountain.

At the furnace’s wind?mouth, a fierce gale was instantly drawn inside, like some wind?swallowing engine; Yin wind entered the furnace, and the flames within grew ever more vigorous, then suddenly a Fire Dragon spewed out from the mouth, howling as it swept up the mountain.

"Fine Magical Treasure!"

Fire surged across the sky, in an instant wrapping the woods below Green Stone Pass.

The fierce blaze roared and spread.

In just a short time, it had engulfed the whole mountain slope.

The soldiers on the mountain cried out in alarm and all fell back further up the heights.

Gongsun Sheng watched and shouted, "Fine Magical Treasure!"

He took out a bottle and tossed it into his mouth, formed a hand seal, and gave a soft cry, "Let the rain come!"

In the porcelain bottle, water?qi surged.

In an instant it spouted forth a sky?full of spray, dispersing over the mountain slope like a heavy rain, falling into the flames.

Wuu Yong watched from the side, cheering, "This water is Taiyi True Water; encountering fire it extinguishes it—truly the perfect counter to that Wind Fire Furnace!"

Gongsun Sheng nodded, "This was gifted by your revered master. He has an island at the river’s mouth; on the island there is a sea eye, and what it nurtures within is precisely Lunar True Fire. Without this water, the flames down below could not be doused."

Wuu Yong flattered him, laughing, "My master must have foreseen all of this long ago."

Gongsun Sheng did not deny it, for this water had been proactively offered for him to take by a Liangshan Island Disciple; he had merely taken it in passing at the time, thinking it might come in handy.

The blaze that had just risen was instantly smothered by the Lunar Water.

The scorching firelight and smoke simultaneously dissipated, and layers of mist rose into the air.

Yang Zongbao’s Wind Fire Furnace was also splashed by this Taiyi True Water, and the flames inside were instantly extinguished.

"My fire!"

He cried out in surprise, hurriedly recalled the furnace, and felt heartbroken to death.