Chapter 380
The sky over Jiu Shan Jie shifted unpredictably as the three engaged in battle—
Golden light and blood-red hues intertwined, the conflict rising and falling like waves.
The mist above Jiu Dao was stained with these two colors.
Spiritual energy flickered between the Ri Yue Zhong (Sun and Moon Bell) and the flying sword, dissipating and reconstituting, as if a typhoon had swept through the medicinal garden, leaving it withered and desolate.
The elder Yuan and the other Yuanying (Nascent Soul) cultivators could not help but retreat, not daring to linger.
Only Senior Sister Zhang stood suspended in the air, holding the Shan He Yin (Mountains and Rivers Seal) in her hand. A vast symbol of true form enveloped the flying sword of the Blood River Ancestor like a net.
Zheng Fa and Senior Sister Zhang were both at the transformation stage, having previously suppressed this flying sword.
Now, within Jiu Shan Jie, the Blood River Ancestor was already injured, and the disparity in strength was evident.
In just the time it took for three incense sticks to burn, only the brilliant golden light of the Ri Yue Zhong and the ethereal figure of Senior Sister Zhang remained in the sky.
The flying sword of the Blood River Ancestor was left with only a thin layer of blood light surrounding it, powerless to contend with the Ri Yue Zhong.
Yet that blood light was like a membrane, protecting the sword body, unyielding, remaining steadfast against the attacks of the Ri Yue Zhong and the Shan He Yin.
Zheng Fa and Senior Sister Zhang exchanged a glance, both frowning slightly.
Behind them, Uncle Pang, his legs a bit shaky, leaned in and asked, “Can’t we kill him?”
It was clear he was anxious—after all, they had seriously offended the Blood River Ancestor.
Zheng Fa remained silent. Before coming here, they had discussed:
The best way to deal with the Blood River Ancestor was to eliminate him directly.
If in the future, Cheng Kong (the Celestial Master) needed the Jiu Shan Sect’s assistance, presenting this immortal sword would demonstrate that the sect had made its due contribution.
Other matters were secondary.
Of course, the main reason was that they couldn’t feel secure with a transformation stage cultivator like him in Jiu Shan Jie.
Especially with a sect like the Da Zizai Mo Jiao (Great Freedom Demon Sect), which had a strong grip on lower-level cultivators, Zheng Fa felt quite apprehensive—
If the Da Zizai Mo Zu (Great Freedom Demon Ancestor) used the Blood River Ancestor to make some sort of descent into Jiu Shan Jie…
That would be a serious problem.
Zheng Fa pondered for a moment, his spiritual energy surging forth, rushing into the Ri Yue Zhong.
The bell’s chime grew urgent, the golden light intensified, illuminating Jiu Shan Jie from the heavens to the earth, leaving no place untouched.
Not only the people of the heavenly palace on Jiu Dao, but even the common folk of Jiu Shan Jie looked up, gazing at the blinding golden light in the sky.
Uncle Pang and the others understood that Zheng Fa was using all his strength, attempting to annihilate the Blood River Ancestor.
They watched as the blood-colored membrane on the flying sword grew smaller and fainter, the sword body trembling lightly, as if it were lamenting and begging for mercy. They exchanged glances, joy evident in their eyes—
It seemed that Zheng Fa might truly be able to kill the Blood River Ancestor and eliminate the future threat.
But after a moment, the golden light of the Ri Yue Zhong suddenly dimmed, even the bell’s sound became somewhat soft.
Uncle Pang and the others looked at Zheng Fa, only to see his face pale, tinged with helplessness.
He pointed at the Ri Yue Zhong and said, “This thing consumes too much spiritual energy…”
They all sighed in silence:
Zheng Fa, the sect leader, was great in many ways, but he just didn’t have the stamina…
Looking again at the flying sword of the Blood River Ancestor, everyone frowned.
Though the sword’s body was dimmer than before, it was still intact.
Sure enough, the Blood River Ancestor’s phantom slowly emerged again, sneering at the crowd, as if reveling in his own triumph.
“I’ll take care of this!”
Senior Sister Zhang raised the Shan He Yin, ready to strike.
Zheng Fa grabbed her arm, shaking his head.
Senior Sister Zhang was different from him; her attacks consumed spiritual energy, while she had been injured the last time she went all out, taking nearly a year to recover.
If she were to exert herself fully again now, it was unlikely she could kill the Blood River Ancestor—after all, no matter how powerful the Shan He Yin was, it couldn’t compare to the Ri Yue Zhong in Jiu Shan Jie.
Given that, letting Senior Sister Zhang act again would only lead to more losses if she were injured.
…
Zheng Fa and the others frowned as they looked at the Blood River Ancestor.
The cold smile on the Blood River Ancestor’s face remained.
“Why don’t we go invite the West Heaven… uh, Cheng Kong?”
Seeing him so smug, Zheng Fa spoke up.
Indeed, the smile on the Blood River Ancestor’s face stiffened slightly.
He seemed to be somewhat afraid.
“I’ll go ask!”
If anyone wanted to kill the Blood River Ancestor the most, Zheng Fa didn’t know about others, but within Jiu Shan Jie, it was definitely Uncle Pang!
Upon hearing him say this, the Blood River Ancestor’s expression darkened, glaring at Uncle Pang, as if he were memorizing his face.
It was clear—he truly feared Cheng Kong, and at this moment, he wore an expression of anger mixed with anxiety.
“Wait!”
As Uncle Pang was about to send a message, Zheng Fa suddenly raised his hand, stopping Uncle Pang’s action.
Uncle Pang turned to look at Zheng Fa, his face puzzled.
“Do you… really want Jiang Cheng Kong to come?”
Zheng Fa suddenly asked the Blood River Ancestor.
Everyone exchanged glances, unsure of Zheng Fa’s question.
But the Blood River Ancestor’s expression stiffened slightly.
“What did you say?”
He finally spoke, seemingly unable to comprehend Zheng Fa’s words.
Zheng Fa nodded, affirming, “So, this flying sword… is your prison? What was resisting us just now wasn’t you, but the sword’s spiritual intelligence?”
“…”
Senior Sister Zhang and the others were taken aback, their gazes shifting to the Blood River Ancestor with doubt.
They thought for a moment and understood—
Regardless of whether the Blood River Ancestor truly feared Jiang Cheng Kong, such an obvious change in expression was indeed too deliberate.
After all, the Blood River Ancestor was a transformation stage cultivator, having lived for over ten thousand years.
If he were truly that unstable…
It was indeed unexpected.
But it wasn’t that Senior Sister Zhang and the others couldn’t see the oddity… it was just that who could have imagined that the Blood River Ancestor’s life-bound flying sword had developed a rift with him and had become his own prison?
If Zheng Fa hadn’t said it, they would never have believed it.
Yet looking at the Blood River Ancestor’s astonished and furious expression, they had no choice but to believe that Zheng Fa had indeed hit the nail on the head.
“How did you know?”
Zheng Fa didn’t explain. When he had used the Reverse and Forward Five Elements Divine Light earlier, he had an unprecedented sensation—the life-bound flying sword seemed to possess its own will…
It was expected for a spiritual treasure to have will.
But the will of this life-bound flying sword was different from that of the Blood River Ancestor, even showing signs of opposition.
This realization, if not for Zheng Fa having the Reverse and Forward Five Elements Divine Light, would not have been understood without reaching the transformation stage.
The Blood River Ancestor looked at Zheng Fa, his expression shifting between gloom and brightness.
Zheng Fa’s thoughts raced like lightning.
He recalled many things…
Previously, they had known that a cultivator’s life-bound spiritual treasure, to some extent, was a form of artificial intelligence constructed from spiritual energy circuits.
Through Senior Sister Zhang’s research on the Jiu Shan Patriarch, they could say they had verified this theory.
But conversely—this was Tian He Fa (Heavenly River Method).
Whether the methods of the demon sect were the same remained a question mark.
Moreover, the Blood River Ancestor had lost another flying sword; was this spiritual energy circuit still intact?
Artificial intelligence might also risk becoming an artificial idiot…
Senior Sister Zhang furrowed her brow, her eyes glowing with洞虚灵眼 (洞虚灵眼, "Void Insight"), gazing at the flying sword.
After a long while, she nodded at Zheng Fa, clearly indicating that this flying sword aligned with their calculations—meaning it also had a rich spiritual energy circuit capable of forming intelligence.
The Blood River Ancestor’s expression settled from shock, looking at Zheng Fa with a tone full of certainty: “I’ve always wondered why the Demon Ancestor wanted to pass down the decree for us to lead you into the fold…”
“Now I understand.”
His tone held no trace of fear; instead, he seemed to be appraising Zheng Fa, as if looking down from a great height.
The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor cared about himself?
This fellow had already chosen his path to death!
Although Zheng Fa didn’t know why the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor valued him, he wanted to avoid even the slightest association with the more reputable Taishang Dao (Supreme Way).
Then the Blood River Ancestor continued:
“Since you’ve seen through it… now, what can you do to me?”
Uncle Pang and the others’ faces turned grim.
At this point, they could see clearly.
The Blood River Ancestor not only feared death but likely wanted to die…
“So, your consciousness entering this flying sword isn’t voluntary…”
Zheng Fa realized.
“Ha, if it weren’t for that Qing Jing Zhu (Pure Bamboo) extinguishing my Wang Sheng Jian (Rebirth Sword), would I have fallen into this prison?”
It was evident that the Blood River Ancestor truly did not want to be attached to this flying sword.
He was even less willing to remain in Jiu Shan Jie…
“...If this flying sword is destroyed, you could instead escape?”
Zheng Fa asked again.
The Blood River Ancestor fell silent.
But it was almost equivalent to an admission. Zheng Fa nodded, saying, “So, you think we can’t do anything to you, and if we invite Cheng Kong to destroy this flying sword, you could escape our control…”
The Blood River Ancestor looked at Zheng Fa, his gaze calm yet laced with a hint of mockery.
Uncle Pang and the others’ faces were all quite grim.
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