Chapter 1821: The King Casts Off His Cloak (I)

To everyone's surprise, Tuoba Ci was the first to falter at the sight of the raging black flames that filled the sky.

The familiar aura and unmistakable signs of the same Dao lineage had left him stunned. He had heard rumors that Li Zhouwei knew an art of Boundless Essence, but he had never imagined the man possessed his family's Fundamental Dharma!

The dharma body before him might not have been refined with any rare treasures, but there was no mistaking its form! He stared in disbelief, almost at a loss.

Is that... the [Black Soul Mara Dharma Body]?

Tuoba Ci had no time to dwell on it. All the black and gold light between heaven and earth converged on him. The other dharma body charged straight at him, while flames of Boundless Essence descended from nowhere!

Boom!

The two colossal bodies collided with the force of mountains breaking apart, sending flames surging in every direction. Tuoba Ci felt his dharma body shudder violently and seethed inwardly, Why is he fighting so recklessly? What did the Song Emperor promise him?

[Boundless Essence] was one of the Twelve Essences, and belonged to the Devil Dao from its earliest beginnings. Ordinarily, its dharma light could manifest in many forms to overcome an opponent. But when both combatants wielded dharma bodies of [Boundless Essence], fighting this way would only wear away the Dao conduct sustaining each of them!

He hurriedly summoned his treasure seal back, but the dharma body before him scattered like wind. The blood-red vision faded as a point of deep crimson appeared, and the darkness overhead gave way to rolling storm clouds. What approached his head was not his prized seal, but a blaze of white and dazzling heavenly light.

[Heaven-Venerating Gate]!

Carried by the [Karma Transforming Pure Yin Light] released as [Severed Crimson Arrowhead] dispersed, the divine ability was now moments away from crashing into the head of Tuoba Ci's enormous demonic body!

Although Li Zhouwei's [Black Soul Mara Dharma Body] had improved greatly after he broke Changxiao Gate, it still could not match the dharma body of a powerful devil cultivator like Tuoba Ci, who had been nourished with rare treasures in a grotto heaven since childhood. Thus, Li Zhouwei had no intention of matching him strength for strength. The charge with the [Black Soul Mara Dharma Body] had been a feint!

Boom!

A cloud of brilliant white dust burst across the sky. Purple and blue light was driven down to the ground, striking it with a deafening crash!

The Heaven-Venerating Gate could suppress and crush demons. Caught off guard, the gigantic demonic creature coughed up blood and lay pinned to the ground, unable to move. The earth and mountains shook as waves of dark and yellow qi spread from its body, engulfing hill after hill.

Tinglan could not help glancing over. Then a low voice sounded in her ear.

Go help Zhaojing at once! Keep Guangchan pinned down.

Tinglan acted without hesitation. She formed a hand seal, and the silver mirror between her brows flew out once more. It sensed the workings of heaven and brought down a sea of gleaming silver lightning!

This spirit artifact came from the ancient Thunder Palace and possessed formidable power. Tinglan swept her sleeve, sending two streams of blue-green Boundless Water-Fire crashing into the divine abilities of the two Daoist Masters on either side of her. She slipped into the great void and stepped far away.

An instant later, a dark canopy followed the sea of lightning across the sky, drawing Changyun and Gao Fangjing into it once more!

The surroundings vanished as a desert filled with fierce winds stretched into the distance. Beneath the setting sun stood the radiant heavenly gate, still pinning the green-gray demonic creature down. Above the creature stood the young man in an ink-black robe, surrounded by light that pierced the sky.

Clang!

The young man drove his long halberd into the demonic creature's back, where dark flames rolled and surged. His golden eyes swept across the distance. As though a lingering concern had finally been dealt with, he let out a breath.

As soon as he exhaled, he vanished.

A sudden chill shot through Changyun, who was dressed in Daoist robes. Fear rose in his heart. He stepped back and began forming a hand seal, but golden light had already filled his vision!

Dong!

The spirit bell shielding him was sent flying like an arrow. Changyun’s fingers were still poised before his chest, yet the crescent-shaped golden halberd blade had somehow slipped through the gap between them!

Pfft...

A tremendous force struck Changyun. The spell art forming in his hands scattered instantly, and his body flew upward. A full foot of the golden halberd’s blade protruded from his back!

Only then did his spiritual sense finally register the man before him!

Li Zhouwei was no longer wearing an ink-black robe. He had finally donned armor and a cloak. Dark golden armor covered in intricate patterns had taken the robe's place, with leaping qilin designs flashing across its vambraces. His royal cloak of pale purple feathers streamed with True Essence light as it billowed around him!

Bright white marks climbed his neck like living veins, or a dense covering of scales, reaching all the way to the corners of his eyes.

It was [Sovereign In Peril]!

How can he be so fast? Even [Sovereign In Peril] shouldn't make this possible!

Changyun was no ordinary rogue cultivator. He could scarcely believe what had happened!

Li Zhouwei, however, was not surprised. At this moment, he was stronger than he had ever been. Even he himself, just two breaths earlier, could not have evaded this thrust!

The power granted by [Yuan'e] could resonate with [Severed Crimson Arrowhead], while the [Wei King's Conquest-Court Cloak] increased his True Essence. [Sovereign In Peril] was also strengthened by [Severed Crimson Arrowhead]. Most crucially, once Tinglan left, the chaotic battle had become an attempt to surround and kill him. [Sovereign In Peril] could now finally resonate with the White Qilin's fate. Its power kept rising, with hidden currents surging beneath his dharma body!

Though he had reached the middle stage of the Purple Mansion Realm, he now faced more opponents, and stronger ones, than he had back then. The strength he gained from these three attacking him together had surpassed what he had gained against Shilou Yingge, reaching a full sixty percent!

Thus, this Daoist Master, who had ruled the roost at Chengshui Tomb and seemed inclined to heed orders only when it suited him, had no time to react. He hung helplessly from [Da Sheng], like a body run through by a cavalryman on the battlefield!

Changyun's breath caught in his throat. He had time for only one response before his divine ability transformed!

[Gold Feathered Beast]!

The Daoist seemed to shed his mortal form and ascend. A pair of wings spread from his back as he rose, his eyes bright as snow and his neck long as a crane's. He slipped free, leaving a Daoist robe hanging from the halberd, while a golden feathered beast soared upward!

However, Changyun felt no relief as another chill ran down his spine. Li Zhouwei's golden eyes had not lost him, shining in the darkness like two brilliant gems. The eclipse at the center of his brow was now complete.

The setting sun split apart once again. This time, it did not scatter into streaks of black and gold light. It became a solid pillar of black and gold radiance that descended from the sky and slammed into his body!

"Aaagh..."

The golden beast let out a piercing cry that seemed to split metal and stone. A Daoist parasol appeared, but before it could open, a faint golden shadow flashed.

[Dry Yang Bangles].

Dong!

The impact sent the parasol reeling, as expected, but its exceptional quality showed. It managed to stop the [Dry Yang Bangles] in their tracks, forcing them to return.

That is enough!

The [Imperial Divergence Light], gathering the radiance of heaven and earth, had already slammed into the golden beast's back!

Li Zhouwei drew back his gaze and narrowed his eyes. As he turned his golden halberd, its smooth surface reflected another face rapidly growing larger behind him.

Gao Fangjing was already at Li Zhouwei's back!

But Li Zhouwei stood firm. Waves of True Fire engulfed him in an instant, but only a brilliant light rose from his armor.

[Primal Shedding].

This power came from the [Qilin Crow Spirit Husk] within his armor. It was an authentic [Yang Apex Art], allowing [Severed Crimson Arrowhead] to greatly amplify it. Li Zhouwei vanished and reappeared behind Gao Fangjing. He raised a brow and brought his halberd down in a sweeping blow!

Such a petty trick!

Boom!

This Gao Family Daoist Master had only recently reached the Purple Mansion Realm. The blow, strengthened by Li Zhouwei's Body Divine Ability and their resonance with fate, shattered Gao Fangjing's divine ability. He plummeted faster than he had arrived and struck the ground with a crash!

Clang!

Only then did golden blood pouring from the sky like a waterfall reach Li Zhouwei. The golden beast gave a mournful cry as it crashed into the desert. Gold and fire struck the ground at the same time!

Boom!

The golden-eyed man turned away almost provocatively. He returned to the heavenly gate, and stamped one foot down!

The fiend trapped beneath had just straightened enough to lift the gate, but the impact forced to buckle at once.

Boom!

Tuoba Ci was slammed into the dust once more with a deafening crash. Li Zhouwei felt the fiend trembling furiously beneath his foot, but did not spare him a glance.

He stared into the distance and spoke coldly, "The Gold Feathered Beast can rise but cannot descend. Once brought down, it falls to earth and is often trapped and slain by earthly baleful qi."

Li Zhouwei had read about the [Gold Feathered Beast] divine ability Changyun used. Though the account came from a Dao lineage other than Changyun's own, its flaws and weaknesses were the same. If the beast was knocked down in a single assault, the divine ability would lose much of its potency for a long time. He might even be unable to invoke it at all!

That was one reason Li Zhouwei had chosen to strike Changyun!

Tuoba Ci was undoubtedly the strongest of the three. This descendant of Liang and nephew of the King of Dai ranked highly even among those at the middle stage of the Purple Mansion Realm. An earlier misstep had left him trapped, but with the [Great Pass Azure Soul Dharma Body] protecting him, injuring him would be no easy task.

As for Gao Fangjing, he was a member of the Gao Family after all. Li Zhouwei had held back partly because he did not want to kill him. Besides, keeping Gao Fangjing in the fight would help [Sovereign In Peril] resonate with fate and serve his next move far better than driving him off with a grave injury!

That left Changyun. He had little appetite for battle, and for all his skill with arts, he struggled in close combat!

Besides, Tuoba Ci and Changyun are both proud men. How could they suffer this humiliation without growing furious?

As if to prove him right, golden light fierce enough to pierce the sky rose from deep within the desert. Changyun's cold laughter rang overhead, though whether it was genuine was hard to tell!

"Then let me see what the White Qilin can do!"

The golden light wheeled around. The man in Daoist robes soared high into the air, golden blood dripping from his mouth. Between his brows, the light became an immense beam that swept across the sky and came crashing down.

Li Zhouwei smiled back. "Gladly!"

He stood with his halberd in hand and did not retreat an inch. Brilliant light shot from the center of his brow, piercing heaven and earth.

[Heavenly Radiance, Hidden Light]!

The golden beam struck the heavenly light overhead, filling the dark sky with countless colored halos. Golden blood kept spilling from Changyun's mouth, but his expression grew more exultant.

His divine ability is powerful enough, but its grade is too low!

Sure enough, although the golden beam faltered briefly, it pushed the opposing light back step by step, gradually gaining momentum with every moment!

At the same time, brilliant flames surged forth. As though stirred by the two men's fighting spirit, True Fire burst from the depths of the desert without hesitation, rising from below toward the golden-eyed man's chest!

What Purple Mansion Realm cultivator would fail to seize such an opening?

The demonic qi forming Tuoba Ci's dharma body broke apart, revealing his true form. Bracing himself against the heavenly gate, he coughed a few drops of amber blood into his sleeve. His face was pale, but as the setting sun shone upon it, his expression changed and a smile touched his lips.

"Great Baleful Heavenly Radiance Secret Art!"

The heavenly gate shook. An overwhelming force surged up from the ground, as though thousands of people had joined together to overturn it!

Three beams surged toward Li Zhouwei at once, broke through [Heavenly Radiance, Hidden Light], and struck the man in dark armor!

Li Zhouwei smiled. He caught one corner of his royal cloak and drew it across his body.

Boom!

The desert domain finally shattered with a roar. The setting sun vanished, and the scenery of Baixiang Valley came back into view. [Severed Crimson Arrowhead] had finally been broken!

The Great Song’s King of Wei plummeted from the sky and struck the ground!