Free Web NovelChapter 328: Chapter 57: Wrapping Up
CLANG!
The clang of metal echoed across the sky. Jiangcun spat a Dragon Pearl from his mouth to block one Gold Cultivator, then his hands flashed through a Spell. His body transformed into a giant flood dragon, intercepting the other Gold Cultivator.
"If you want a contest of strength, I don’t mind giving it a try!"
A draconic aura erupted from Jiangcun, his eyes filled with savage fury. As a member of the Dragon Race who had cultivated the "Hundred Waters Secret Technique" to the third volume, holding back two Gold Cultivators for a short time was no problem at all.
Wang Ping, however, was naturally countered by Gold Cultivators. If they ganged up on him, he feared his foundation would be damaged in an instant.
Wang Ping’s Primordial Spirit Consciousness swept rapidly across the battlefield. In the collapsed part of the Upper City District, the auras of the two initial attackers had weakened to the point of being no different from ordinary people. This meant they were no longer a threat. Meanwhile, the Taiyan Cultivator’s twisted body had already been cleared away by more than a dozen priests.
Guan Xi was currently standing behind Wang Ping, providing support.
Down in the city below, the Daoist Scripture Hall had at least seven Third Realm Cultivators. They seemed to be caught in a stalemate with each other, unable to intervene in this battle or exert any pressure on Wang Ping.
Deep within the Imperial Palace, several other people were also in a standoff. It seemed there were differing opinions within the Imperial Family.
As for Cultivators above the Third Realm, only His Majesty the Emperor had made a move so far. But for the Emperor, with his mortal body, using such a powerful Divine Technique was tantamount to burning his own lifespan. Unless it was an absolute last resort, the Emperor would not act again.
In that brief moment of thought, Wang Ping fixed his gaze on the Fire Cultivator who was charging over alone, wreathed in flames. ’He’s not cultivating the Three Yang True Inheritance,’ Wang Ping realized. ’His flame transformation relies on a massive Spirit Vein in his Qi Sea, not the True Flame one obtains upon reaching the Third Realm!’
Wang Ping immediately summoned hundreds of incorporeal Golden Armor Soldiers to meet the charge, then deployed a "killing array." Furthermore, this "killing array" was laced with a virulent poison that corroded spiritual energy.
As the Golden Armor Soldiers intercepted the Fire Cultivator’s assault, the "killing array" trapped him in place. The flames from his transformation were being rapidly devoured. At the critical moment, he activated a pre-refined Array and snatched a red Vermilion Fruit, swallowing it whole.
WHOOSH!
The flames, which had been about to die out, surged a hundred zhang high once more. The surrounding Golden Armor Soldiers were instantly engulfed in the intense heat, and Wang Ping’s connection to them was severed. They reverted to useless Talismans before dissipating into nothingness.
At the same time, the virulent poison from the "killing array" was incinerated completely.
Wang Ping decisively recalled his "Iron Bamboo Sword" to circle in front of him. At the same time, his Armor Talisman formed a protective shield that expanded outward, pushing back the encroaching flames.
Simultaneously, Wang Ping used Yu Lian’s Qi Sea to manifest Water Spirit Qi within the Wood Spirit Qi he controlled, neutralizing some of the burning Spiritual Qi. The opposing Fire Cultivator sensed the Water Spirit Qi and seemed to grow even more frantic. The Array that had appeared within his flames stretched continuously. In the Inspiration Realm, a bizarre, magma-like liquid began to flow from the surface of the Fire Cultivator’s Primordial Spirit.
’He’s actually using the Array to sacrifice the Fire Spirit Vein in his Spirit Body’s Sea of Qi for a temporary boost in power!’
Wang Ping was startled by this suicidal tactic, but a moment later, his expression turned to one of delight. ’This is the perfect opportunity to use my fire-attribute True Spirit!’ He once again swept his Primordial Spirit Consciousness across the entire battlefield.
Then, he decisively brought out the Pocket World Mirror. To the Fire Cultivator’s astonishment, he used a Transfer Talisman from within the mirror’s surface, sticking it right in front of the Fire Cultivator’s Primordial Spirit in the Inspiration Realm.
The next moment, Wang Ping’s hands formed a Spell, activating the Spirit Control Array within the red crystal.
"Yaaah—"
A piercing shriek that challenged the limits of Wang Ping’s hearing erupted in an instant. Within the Inspiration Realm, a humanoid True Spirit, even more bizarre than the Fire Cultivator’s Primordial Spirit, manifested. The heatwave it generated was so intense it even affected the physical world.
"You..."
The Fire Cultivator managed one horrified word before his Primordial Spirit was entangled by the True Spirit.
It all happened in a flash. From Wang Ping’s perspective, the Fire Cultivator’s Primordial Spirit and the True Spirit converged like two magnets. The next instant, they merged into one, fitting together like precise mechanical parts.
"How disgusting!"
Yu Lian’s emotions were filled with revulsion.
Wang Ping, however, sensed the joy in the True Spirit’s thoughts. Its power was continuously growing. At the same time, the hidden Spirit Vein Consciousness within the Fire Cultivator’s Spirit Body was awakening.
’But this is good stuff!’
The thought instinctively surfaced in Wang Ping’s mind. He quickly changed the Spell in his hands, absorbing the energy from a pre-prepared "fire crystal" to activate the Void Spirit Formation inside the red crystal, yanking back the Fire Spirit that was still celebrating its freedom.
He glanced at the two enraged Gold Cultivators nearby. Using his Primordial Spirit Consciousness, he forcefully suppressed the consciousness of the Fire Cultivator’s Spirit Vein and decisively collected the man’s Spirit Body.
All of this happened within a few breaths. Guan Xi, who was providing support from behind, watched, dumbfounded. By the time the two distant Gold Cultivators reacted, it was already too late.
And then, the battlefield, which had been a scene of life-and-death struggle, suddenly fell quiet.
The opposing forces on the battlefield had now reached a state of equilibrium. In such a situation, one side would have to fight to the death to claim victory, and it seemed the other side was unwilling to do so.
If it turned into a battle of attrition, Wang Ping would be the guaranteed winner, because he was a Wood Cultivator.
"Fellow Daoist, what a brilliant move!"
Jiangcun’s enormous dragon form reverted to his human shape. He landed in front of Wang Ping and said with a suggestive wink, "The other side suffered a heavy loss this time!" Then, he looked toward Guan Xi in the distance with a regretful expression. "It’s a shame it ended so quickly. A lot of people haven’t even shown themselves yet."
"That’s easy enough!"
As Guan Xi spoke, he took a step forward. By the time his words faded, he had appeared above the ruins of the Upper City District. He stared down at the two people below who were tending to their injuries, a rather chilling smile on his face.
"Haha!"
Jiangcun didn’t question how Guan Xi had appeared so suddenly. He gave a thumbs-up and said, "Great idea!"
Then, he looked up at the two Gold Cultivators and one Earth Cultivator gathered in the sky and asked, "I know you three couldn’t have organized this assassination on your own. Are you going to hand over your master willingly, or should I force the issue?"
In the ruins below were none other than Le Xin and Leng Zhixing, the ones who had tried to assassinate Wang Ping earlier. Le Xin’s public identity was that of a Direct Disciple of the Rongyang Monarch. As for why Leng Zhixing had appeared alongside Le Xin, that was a matter worth considering.
Wang Ping turned toward the Daoist Scripture Hall and cupped his hands. "Fellow Daoists, you’ve been watching for so long. Do you truly intend to disregard the rules of the Daoist Scripture Hall?" He suddenly had no desire to complicate matters further, realizing it would be of no benefit to him.
Just as he asked, a figure indeed flew out from a pavilion of the Daoist Scripture Hall in the Upper City District. It was the Huode Taoist, one of the five elders of the three seats. He first clasped his fist to Wang Ping in a gesture of respect, then sighed and said, "We will naturally give you an explanation, Fellow Daoist."
With that, he looked at the three cultivators hovering in the distance and said politely, "The three of you, Fellow Daoists, would you care to join me in the Daoist Scripture Hall for a discussion?"
The three of them remained expressionless. The Earth Cultivator stepped forward and said, "Since Senior Huode has extended the invitation, we juniors would not dare to refuse." With that, he led the two Gold Cultivators down toward the Daoist Scripture Hall.
Then, the Huode Taoist turned to Guan Xi. "I don’t believe we’ve met, Fellow Daoist. However, since you were invited by Fellow Daoist Changqing, you are a friend of the Daoist Scripture Hall. Would you be so kind as to spare them and hand them over to us for handling? What do you say?"
