Free Web NovelChapter 367: Chapter 207: The Art We Use Is Universal Equality
The Da Xingzi, addressed as General Zheng, gave a bitter laugh and muttered, "That man Gu started with nothing but a begging bowl, clawing his way up from monk and beggar to become the Emperor. One day he’s killing his old comrades, the next his former allies. We cannot rest in peace!"
"General Zheng, you were once so full of spirit, yet now you’ve come to this," the Observatory Master of Guyang Temple gently persuaded. "Are you truly content to be a lonely, wandering soul? It is time to let it go!"
"You’re the ones who set up this Daoist Field of Death, chanting scriptures to deliver souls. You’re the ones who summoned me here. So now that I’ve come, I’ll just flatten your Guyang Temple," the Da Xingzi declared arrogantly.
Lu Yuan, having studied the history of the Ming Dynasty, immediately understood what was going on.
’This Da Xingzi has to be one of the Emperor’s generals, one who followed that man Gu and lived a dangerous life on the edge of a blade.’
’Once that man Gu became the Emperor, he was absolutely capable of doing something like discarding those who helped him.’
Lu Yuan frantically searched his memory for a Ming Dynasty general with the surname Zheng. ’It can’t be... Zheng Yuchun, one of the Twenty-four Generals of Huai West!’
’Chang Yuchun and Zheng Yuchun were two different people. One was the Duke E, the other was one of the Twenty-four Generals of Huai West.’
’If this Da Xingzi really is Zheng Yuchun, then they’re in for some serious trouble today.’
’You couldn’t measure this Da Xingzi’s power by centuries of cultivation; after all, he’s only been dead for seven or eight years.’
’The main reason this Da Xingzi is so powerful is because he was formidable in life.’
In the first few years after the Divine Ling Empire’s founding, the Emperor himself had visited Guyang Temple, accompanied by the Huai West Nobles.
It was no wonder, then, that Guyang Temple’s Observatory Master recognized this Da Xingzi.
The draconic providence within the Imperial Capital was currently at its peak. Only officially sanctioned Xingzi could enter and leave the Imperial City; all others, no matter how powerful, were unable to get within ten kilometers of it.
’After careful consideration, it was clear the Da Xingzi could only vent his anger on Guyang Temple.’
’To put it bluntly, Guyang Temple was just a punching bag, the fall guy.’
Guyang Temple’s Observatory Master flicked his duster and declared, "If that’s how it is, General Zheng, then I will defend Guyang Temple today, even if it means my death!"
The Da Xingzi hurled several Thunderballs over. They were clearly smaller than the first one.
The Da Xingzi had expended a great deal of Soul Power to create that massive, one-meter-diameter Thunderball; he wouldn’t be able to launch another one so soon.
If Lu Yuan hadn’t intervened just now, that huge Thunderball would have wiped out most of Guyang Temple’s fighting force. From the General’s perspective, expending so much Soul Power would have been worth it.
The duster in the hands of Guyang Temple’s Observatory Master spun rapidly, forming a small shield.
The duster deflected the Thunderballs one by one, sending them back to explode amongst the Xingzi and injure quite a few of them.
The Da Xingzi teleported directly in front of the Observatory Master. The Grand Celestial Masters flanking him hastily used Techniques to block the point-blank assault.
His surprise attack foiled, the Da Xingzi leaped back several meters and sneered, "A pack of stinking Daoists, so good at ganging up on one person. All troops, on my command! Charge! Leave none alive!"
The Da Xingzi had wanted a one-on-one duel, but seeing that these stinking Daoists had no sense of martial honor, he stopped holding his troops back and led them in a devastating charge.
With many of the Grand Celestial Masters and Celestial Masters injured, the Double Five Elements Sword Array was broken. The Daoists now faced an army of Xingzi that vastly outnumbered them.
The exhausted Daoists could barely muster the will to fight. In a matter of moments, several Celestial Masters were swarmed by Xingzi, pinned to the ground, and killed.
The Observatory Master of Guyang Temple had the will to slay the Xingzi but lacked the power to turn the tide. He could only watch helplessly as the Daoists around him fell one by one.
"You dare lose focus while fighting me? You’re asking to die!" the Da Xingzi roared. He lunged, instantly appearing before Guyang Temple’s Observatory Master, and his sharp fingertips raked across the man’s chest.
The Observatory Master was sent tumbling to the ground by the blow, rolling several times over.
A Grand Celestial Master rushed to help him to his feet.
Leaning on his subordinate for support, the Observatory Master ripped open his robes to check the injury. There were five deep gashes, already oozing with pus.
The Observatory Master grabbed a handful of sticky rice from a cloth pouch at his waist and pressed it against the wound. It was the only remedy he had on hand.
The Grand Celestial Master supporting him flew into a rage. Shouting a string of colorful curses, he charged forward and tangled with the Da Xingzi.
Seeing this, Lu Yuan knew Guyang Temple’s defeat was inevitable. It was only a matter of when.
Lu Yuan stopped Su Liyan. "Liyan, stay here and don’t move," he said. "The townspeople are behind us. They need someone to guard this mountain path. You hold this position while I go help that old Daoist."
Su Liyan nodded. "Be careful, Lu Yuan," she said. "I’ll stand guard right here and cover you. If any of these Xingzi dare to hurt you, I’ll crush them!"
Su Liyan clenched and unclenched her right fist a few times. Her hands could shatter the Void Bodies of Xingzi.
Lu Yuan patted her shoulder. "Don’t worry," he said. "I’ll be fine."
Lu Yuan leaped down from a high perch nearby. Using the momentum from his descent, he swung the Celestial Master Sword down at the Da Xingzi.
Lu Yuan’s arrival forced the Grand Celestial Master and the Da Xingzi apart. "Daoist," Lu Yuan said, "look after your master. Leave this Da Xingzi to me."
"Benefactor, be careful!"
"Where did this kid come from, courting death?!" the Da Xingzi sneered.
"Zheng Yuchun. General Zheng," Lu Yuan said, drawing his Celestial Master Sword and bracing for a fight.
"Oh? So the little brat knows who I am," Zheng Yuchun said. "I thought the world had long since forgotten me."
Lu Yuan swept his hand along the blade of the Celestial Master Sword. It flashed with a blue light, and an eerie blue Flame wreathed the weapon.
Lu Yuan spun in the air five or six times, then unleashed his Chain Slash.
The attack was so fierce that Zheng Yuchun could only block with his forearms, forced to retreat step by step.
