The Mirror Legacy

Chapter 1581: Payback (II)

Boom!

Yet just as the baleful radiance began to rise, a murky gray light swept over Helian Wujiang. [Dawnless Deceit] activated, slowing the art he had just begun to cast midway through its execution. Protected by her precious pearl, Daoist Nun Xiangchun released a gust of gray wind, while lightning gathered once more from the opposite side.

[Dawnless Deceit] was truly insidious. It appeared to have been dispelled, yet it had merely remained dormant, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Caught off guard, Helian Wujiang's plans were instantly thrown into disarray, and an intense sense of danger shot through him.

If I hesitate any longer... a great calamity is certain to follow!

The three black runes between his eyebrows lit up once more. The immense baleful winds he had accumulated there through years of cultivation erupted forth, forming a thick barrier before him. With a flick of his sleeve, two white jade boxes wrapped in brilliant light shot out upon the raging winds, each flying in a different direction.

They were the spirit items he had obtained!

Both of them immediately paused. Their factions had no deep enmity with the Helian Family. They had only come to seize the spirit items. Now that Helian Wujiang had willingly yielded, there was no reason to push matters to the point of irreconcilable hostility. They immediately moved to intercept the jade boxes. Helian Wujiang, meanwhile, did not hesitate at all. He pushed [Rakshasa Sea] to its limits and focused entirely on delaying Li Zhouwei!

His body instantly dissolved into surging black balefulness. Taking advantage of the momentary reprieve from the other two, he made a decisive escape, charging forward through the descending lightning and the torrent of Valley Water!

He had only managed to move several body lengths when heavenly light accompanied by colorful clouds descended from above. Yet Helian Wujiang had endured the lightning and Valley Water precisely so he could save his strength for this moment. Blood qi and Baleful Qi erupted together, carrying the entirety of [Rakshasa Sea] dozens of meters sideways and allowing him to narrowly evade the descending heavenly gate.

Though his face was growing paler by the moment, he moved with astonishing speed through the dim haze and was on the verge of escaping!

The technique was certainly profound, but it was much like the methods Helian Wumeng had used in the past. Just as Helian Wujiang could anticipate Bright Yang suppression arts through experience, Li Zhouwei had already encountered the Helian Family's spell arts before. How could he possibly be unprepared?

At once, countless strands of white light descended from the heavens like drifting silk threads.

[Bright Light Heavenly Surge]!

Li Zhouwei had already descended upon a stream of light and dove directly into the Baleful Qi. His golden eyes shone brilliantly as they locked onto Helian Wujiang through the dense darkness. While Helian Wujiang excelled at spell arts, his close-quarters methods of moving through Baleful Qi were far inferior to Helian Wumeng's. How could such a technique possibly evade Li Zhouwei's sight? A single glance sent a chill through Helian Wujiang's heart.

He grimaced. "This is bad!"

In order to break free from the encirclement of the other two, he had already surrendered the initiative and been forced into a passive position in every exchange. His spirit blade had only just returned to his waist, his mystics had yet to reveal their full effects, and his lateral-shifting art had already been seen through. Though trapped in an awkward situation, he showed no panic. His eyes immediately lit up with a blood-red glow.

The armor over Helian Wujiang's chest split apart, exposing a blood-red cavity beneath. Black blood churned within as his heart suddenly flipped over, revealing a distinctly black-and-white demonic eye on its reverse side.

"Freeze!"

This devil technique was one of Helian Wujiang's proudest trump cards and a major reason for his countless victories and fearsome reputation throughout Mobei. Its power was extraordinarily profound. Li Ximing had once suffered greatly from it. As the eye within his heart opened, it immediately released waves of intermittent golden light capable of freezing its target in place.

The golden light struck Li Zhouwei with incredible speed, yet the gaze within those golden eyes remained just as cold and calm as ever!

Golden scale-like patterns emerged across his cheeks, imbuing his face with boundless majesty. The torrent of golden light washed over him like nothing more than a gentle breeze. Not only did it fail to freeze him in place, it actually made the patterns on his face shine even brighter!

[Sovereign In Peril]. Seize the opportunity for transformation and return all things to their proper course.

For the first time, Helian Wujiang's unfailing devil technique had completely failed. He had considered the possibility that its effectiveness might be diminished, but he had never imagined such a profound art could become utterly useless!

In an instant, what should have been a trump card had become a reckless gamble!

Caught completely off guard, his pupils contracted violently. His lips had only just parted, and before he could unleash his devouring technique, the gleaming golden halberd was already upon him.

Boom!

Towering Baleful Qi erupted skyward as rolling black smoke billowed in every direction. Helian Wujiang's face instantly turned deathly pale, and he coughed up blood as the blade of [Da Sheng] pierced straight through his body. A golden halberd edge burst from his spine, radiating dazzling brilliance.

From the front, he looked as though he had nearly been cut in half at the waist. [Da Sheng] had been aimed straight at his qihai! At the same moment, the golden [Heavenly Radiance, Hidden Light] erupted as well!

The concentrated radiant light exploded at point-blank range. It struck him head-on and detonated a burst of Bright Yang light across his forehead. Flesh melted away in an instant, exposing stark white bone beneath. More than half the flesh on his face dissolved and dispersed into rising streams of Baleful Qi.

Bang!

Surging Baleful Qi immediately shot into the sky, engulfing everything within a dark and boundless sea of balefulness. Blood-red light gathered amid layers of darkness. When Li Zhouwei looked again, the body around the halberd had disappeared empty. Only streams of baleful wind formed from Purple Mansion Realm blood continued to circle around the weapon, howling and shrieking endlessly.

Amidst the darkness, a streak of white light suddenly burst free and sped away in the opposite direction.

Li Zhouwei made no attempt to pursue. He casually flipped his halberd and hooked the object into his grasp before the two approaching streams of dharma light could seize it. He casually dispersed the Baleful Essence divine ability attached to it and tucked it into his sleeve.

He really is a decisive man. He willingly endured all my strikes without hesitation while keeping his mind steady enough to maintain his escape spell. He even calmly threw out the spirit items to divide the attention of all three of us...

There was no way Helian Wujiang had escaped unscathed. [Da Sheng] had pierced through his body and shattered his qihai. On top of that, he had suffered the enhanced power of Heavenly Radiance, Hidden Light, which had nearly destroyed half his face. Li Zhouwei silently assessed the damage.

That should be enough to repay the injuries he inflicted on granduncle back then... It's a pity Heavenly Radiance, Hidden Light isn't of a high enough grade. Otherwise, I could have blown his entire head apart. The Helian Family's dharma bodies really are something else. He got off lightly...

Cultivators of the [Baleful Essence] Dao lineage did not possess especially powerful dharma bodies. Their strength lay in their ability to freely gather and disperse their dharma forms, reshaping them at will. As a result, their injuries were easier to heal than most. Even so, no matter how effective their recovery methods were, there was no way Helian Wujiang could restore his strength in a short period of time. Recovery would be even more difficult with the suppressive powers of the grotto heaven sealing and restricting him.

He'll have little share in any of the gains that follow.

As Li Zhouwei pondered this, the [Illuminating Sun and Moon] within him shone brilliantly, steadily releasing divine ability mana.

Though the battle had been brief, he had employed one art after another, along with his divine abilities, which had consumed nearly twenty percent of his mana. Yet with Purple Mansion Realm divine abilities residing within him, he only needed a moment of respite before his mana began recovering. Combined with the effects of [Illuminating Sun and Moon], his reserves rapidly surged upward.

More importantly, [Illuminating Sun and Moon] was gradually advancing his Dao conduct. Visions of Bright Yang Profound Scenery continuously surfaced within Li Zhouwei's mind, momentarily drawing him into contemplation.

Not wishing to appear distracted, he promptly turned and smiled. "Fellow Daoists!"

The two Purple Mansion Realm cultivators emerged together. Daoist Nun Xiangchun had recognized him long ago. Compared to the indifference she usually displayed toward other cultivators, her attitude toward him was noticeably gentler.

Even so, traces of shock still lingered in her eyes as she gave a slight nod. "Many thanks for your assistance, Fellow Daoist... It seems we've all gained something from this encounter."

Xiangchun naturally understood Helian Wujiang's strength. She had pursued him this far mostly because he had taken all the spoils for himself. She had merely been considering whether to use one of her trump cards to force a compromise and secure a share of the benefits. Never had she imagined the situation would develop to this extent.

Suppressing the unusual emotions in her eyes, she turned slightly and introduced the person beside her. "This is Daoist Master Yuming of the Shen Family from Jiangbei."

Li Zhouwei had long heard of this Dao title. Yuming was an elderly Daoist Master and an alchemist of the previous generation. It was obvious that his lifespan was nearing its limit. He had clearly come here in hopes of finding a final opportunity.

Li Zhouwei therefore offered a respectful salute and replied, "The Shen Family has longstanding ties with my family. I've heard your name for many years."

Jiangbei had remained a turbulent region for many years ever since the Yue Cultivating Sect closed their mountain. The Shen Family's ability to preserve itself until today was proof enough of its capabilities.

Daoist Master Yuming replied with a smile, while Daoist Nun Xiangchun smiled faintly and asked, "I've heard quite a few reports. Far to the east, there's a grand formation stretching across the sky, and many Purple Mansion Realm cultivators have already gathered there... Fellow Daoist, would you have any interest in taking a look?"