Wisps of pale red sword qi flitted back and forth across the arena, dreamlike and surreal. The unmistakable, genuine immortal spiritual aura made everyone present subconsciously breathe in deeply, as though taking it in could advance their cultivation a step further.
The swordswoman fought desperately to ward it off with her blade, yet time and again, the sword qi of the immortal sword pierced straight through her. Her robe, protective Dao arts, and defensive magical treasures proved as fragile as if they did not exist at all; only the greatsword in her hands offered slight resistance, but it could never seal off the lightning-swift sword qi darting back and forth.
In merely an instant, the sword qi returned to Wei Yuan's hand, condensed once more into a pale red flower petal, and then slowly drifted away into nothingness.
A wave of lamentations and sighs instantly rose from the high platforms, the heartache on many faces plain to see. Several high-minded old ministers muttered among themselves, unaware that their hushed words were already falling clearly upon the ears of Wei Yuan, blessed as he was with divine abilities.
"How could such an immortal treasure fall into the hands of a mere child? It is truly casting pearls before swine!"
"With such paltry Dao cultivation, how is he worthy to wield an immortal relic? It must be placed in the hands of someone of high virtue and venerable renown—that is the proper way."
"He obtained this object from the Western Regions, which was originally the territory of our Great Jin. In this old man's opinion, this treasure may very well have been acquired through improper means!"
"Elder Sun speaks sense. Tomorrow we shall submit a joint memorial demanding that he surrender the immortal treasure so its origins can be verified. If it truly belongs to him, it won't be too late to return it then!"
"Prudent and mature counsel. Excellent!"
Wei Yuan suddenly looked up and cast his gaze toward them. The old men felt only that his eyes were startlingly bright, making their hearts pound in fright. Instantly, all of them straightened up in their seats, no longer whispering to one another.
Wei Yuan took note of their seating and understood; those seated on that pavilion were all officials of the third rank.
...
The swordswoman had suffered grave injuries in an instant, collapsing to the ground and unable to rise. All sensation around the wounds across her body had completely vanished. Looking down, she discovered that the flesh around the gashes had turned ash-white, devoid of any trace of life.
Yet stubborn defiance still burned in her eyes. Refusing to admit defeat, she struggled to her feet, barely raised her greatsword, and stumbled toward Wei Yuan.
Standing where he was, Wei Yuan merely stamped a foot. The martial arena trembled. The swordswoman's legs gave out, and she fell headlong before him. Straining to lift her head, she propped up her upper body with limp, trembling hands, swaying as she stood once more.
Yet before she could even raise her greatsword halfway, she could no longer bear its weight and tumbled to the ground under its momentum.
"I can still fight... I haven't lost..." she muttered to herself over and over, trying to push herself up again. Suddenly, a pair of boots appeared before her eyes. Slowly raising her head, she saw Wei Yuan.
Wei Yuan said coolly, "You were injured by an immortal treasure. These wounds cannot heal, which serves as your punishment. Keep your left arm."
The swordswoman tried to stand, only to stumble again. Finally, gripping the hilt with both hands and leaning on the blade for support, she managed to get to her feet. She bowed to Wei Yuan and dragged her sword, inching step by step toward the arena's exit.
From outside the martial arena approached a bald man with ferocious features and a savage countenance. He was exceedingly tall, standing a full head taller than Wei Yuan.
Striding into the arena, he blocked the swordswoman's path. At the sight of him, her body began to tremble uncontrollably.
"Useless trash!" The man grabbed her, swung his hand like a blade, and brought it down. Blood sprayed, and the swordswoman's left arm was severed!
With a flick of his arm, he hurled her out of the arena like a tattered rag doll.
The man kicked the severed arm, sending it flying until it landed before Wei Yuan with a wet slap. Then he declared, "One must accept the consequences of a bet. Here is the apology owed to Lord Wei. Next, I am here to challenge you!"
Wei Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly. He drew a deep breath, then slowly opened them. "I just said I didn't want her arm. Didn't you hear me?"
The man curled one corner of his mouth into a sinister sneer. "Of course I heard. But there is no joking before the King. Since your lordship asked for that arm earlier, naturally it had to be severed for you."
Wei Yuan glanced at the arm on the ground, then lifted his eyes. "What qualification do you have to challenge me?"
The man froze for a moment, and murder flashed in his eyes. "I am a mortal-realm disciple of the Great Treasure Radiance Pure Land, Shan Kai by name, having forged an immortal foundation. Is that qualification enough?"
Wei Yuan sneered. "You hold neither rank nor office, a mere rogue cultivator. If being a disciple of the Great Treasure Radiance Pure Land gives you the right to challenge a court official of the second rank, wouldn't disciples of the Palace of Grand Beginning be free to challenge unranked princes and dukes at will?"
The man said coldly, "Could it be that Lord Wei is afraid?"
Wei Yuan said indifferently, "No. It is that you are unworthy."
Rage surged within the man, and he bellowed, "I, too, am a figure of renown in this generation of the Great Treasure Radiance Pure Land! With the Sage King present and all these noble lords watching, as long as Lord Wei dares accept my challenge, name any condition you please—I shall accept them all!"
Wei Yuan finally turned his gaze directly toward him and said calmly, "If you lose this battle, your corpse will be chopped up and fed to the dogs."
The entire arena abruptly fell dead silent. No one had expected Wei Yuan to name such a condition.
Shan Kai burst into three loud laughs. "And if you lose?"
Wei Yuan replied flatly, "I cannot lose."
Shan Kai laughed wildly once more, his roar shaking the surrounding hills. "Good! Good! Good! What a fine 'cannot lose'! I accept!"
Wei Yuan's hand finally tightened around Spotless Pure Land. With a gentle flick, the spearhead vibrated intensely, letting out a cry like the roar of a dragon.
Shan Kai stepped back several paces, each covering dozens of feet. Then golden radiance burst from his person, revealing a golden body!
The dignitaries upon the pavilions were all men of vast experience. Upon recognizing the golden body's appearance, someone gasped in astonishment, "That is the likeness of the Immovable Wisdom King! This... this is no dharma idol, yet it surpasses one!"
Wei Yuan had not recognized the golden body at first, but upon hearing the officials on the high platforms speak, he recalled it. The Great Treasure Radiance Pure Land possessed a unique category of Dao Foundations capable of manifesting forms such as Arhats, Bodhisattvas, Vajras, Wisdom Kings, and Rakshasas, which would be attained as corresponding dharma idols when advancing in the future.
Yet only one person in the mortal world could achieve any given Dao Foundation of this kind at a time. For instance, if an Arhat dharma idol was still living, no one else could cultivate that same Arhat.
With the Immovable Wisdom King as his Dao Foundation, Shan Kai was indeed among the pinnacle disciples of the Great Treasure Radiance Pure Land.
As the golden body of the Immovable Wisdom King merged with Shan Kai, his entire frame shimmered with golden light, and every gesture shook the martial arena. Grinning savagely, he said, "Prince Wei sends his regards!"
"Prince Wei, huh..." Wei Yuan scrutinized Shan Kai, now fused with the golden body of the Immovable Wisdom King. Suddenly, with a single step, he appeared right before him, Spotless Pure Land thrusting straight toward his face!
Clang! Like the ringing of a great bronze bell, the impact sounded, and Wei Yuan and Shan Kai were forced apart.
Shan Kai had wrapped his forearms across to guard his face. By now, both sleeves had been pulverized by dissipated Dao power, baring two arms that looked as if coated in golden lacquer.
Shan Kai looked at his arm; there was only a pale white dot where the skin at the center was slightly grazed.
"Lord Wei, the force behind your spear is a bit lacking!" Shan Kai grabbed at empty air with both hands. In one appeared a vajra pestle, and in the other, a four-ridged mace.
Just as he was about to charge Wei Yuan, he saw a crimson sword suddenly appear in Wei Yuan's grasp and latch onto the tip of Spotless Pure Land with a sharp clack!
What kind of weapon was this? Though Shan Kai did not recognize the bizarre assembled weapon, he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the red blade was an authentic immortal sword! How could Wei Yuan possess a true immortal sword? No one had ever told him this!
Golden bodies like that of the Immovable Wisdom King feared nothing more than immortal swords famed for sharpness, such as Zhanxu. And in sheer sharpness alone, the Crimson Night Immortal-Slaying Sword was in no way inferior to Zhanxu!
Fear had only just taken root in Shan Kai's heart when Wei Yuan appeared at his flank, spear thrusting inward!
Shan Kai let out a cry of agony. In the nick of time, he had raised his arm to block, only for a deep gash to tear into his upper arm, nearly piercing right through it!
Shan Kai sucked in a sharp breath of cold air. The sword was unimaginably sharp, and its immortal spiritual aura was undeniably real! Thoughts of retreat blossomed within him. He intended to rely on the golden body of the Immovable Wisdom King to endure a few spear strikes, then withdraw from the arena.
The moment that intention to retreat surfaced, Wei Yuan sensed it immediately. The insights he had gathered from contemplating the swords over these past days rushed into his mind, and his entire reserve of Dao power drained instantly, like a cataract plunging from the highest heavens!
Countless Wei Yuans appeared all around Shan Kai, and countless crimson immortal swords stabbed simultaneously into his body. Then Wei Yuan flashed backward, coming to a halt over a hundred feet away.
Shan Kai stood frozen where he was. He slowly raised an arm to point at Wei Yuan, but suddenly, a finger fell off, followed by his entire palm detaching from his arm and dropping to the ground. Two geysers of blood violently erupted from his eyes, and his golden body shattered. A speck of light broke through the crown of his head and vanished beyond the heavens in an instant.
That was the inheritance of the Immovable Wisdom King. With Shan Kai dead, it returned beyond the heavens to await the next destined soul.
Dozens of jets of blood spurted from all across Shan Kai's body, and he pitched forward, crashing heavily onto the ground.
By now, Wei Yuan's Dao power was completely depleted. The hand gripping his spear trembled slightly, and a fine sheen of sweat broke out across his brow.
Shan Kai was also a late-stage immortal foundation cultivator. At the same realm, in the Palace of Grand Beginning, he would have been only slightly inferior to Xiaoyu, and on par with Sun Yu and Yu Zhizhuo. Furthermore, the numerous inherited dharma idols of the Great Treasure Radiance Pure Land possessed special manifestations even during the Dao Foundation stage; something like the golden body of the Immovable Wisdom King provided an immense boost to combat power. Thus, in terms of combat strength, Shan Kai was not inferior to Xiaoyu.
Relying on the sharpness of Crimson Night and at the cost of instantly expending all his Dao power, Wei Yuan had unleashed nearly a hundred spear strikes in succession, carving the golden body of the Immovable Wisdom King to pieces before slaying him on the spot.
Yet now Wei Yuan was considerably weakened, a state he could not conceal.
A heavy silence fell over the platforms. No one had imagined that someone standing among the very elite of the Great Treasure Radiance Pure Land's younger generation would die beneath Wei Yuan's spear just like that—and in such swift defeat.
Wei Yuan caught his breath, his Dao power slowly beginning to recover. Yet this very recovery made certain people unable to sit still any longer.
From the spectator platforms, a shout suddenly rang out: "Xu Wuji pays respects to Lord Wei on behalf of the Military Commissioner!"
Wei Yuan turned his head and saw a beam of azure light shining upon him. A figure seated beside Lü Wenbai, the Military Commissioner of Yunxiang, had already transformed into light, charging toward Wei Yuan along that azure ray!
This strike was swift as lightning and sudden as thunder. Moreover, having turned from substance into incorporeal form, ordinary formations and defenses were completely useless, allowing him to pass directly through heavy shields and solid walls!
Xu Wuji flickered ceaselessly between the tangible and intangible, ignoring defenses and crossing hundreds of feet in a mere breath. He was truly a formidable assassin, striking precisely to ambush Wei Yuan while he was weakened.
In Wei Yuan's eyes, a speck of radiance was hurtling along the azure line at unbelievable speed, yet he remained motionless, merely watching the light approach.
While his voice still echoed from the high platforms, the light of Xu Wuji had already arrived thirty feet before Wei Yuan! From within the radiance, the gleam of a blade had emerged.
Suddenly, a loud clang rang out like an ancient cauldron or great bell, sending a dizzying tremor through the senses.
Before Wei Yuan, a towering warrior abruptly materialized—no one could see how he had appeared—blocking Xu Wuji's path dead on. Flying at full speed, Xu Wuji slammed headfirst into the warrior, battering his head until blood flowed, and now stumbled backward like a drunken man.
Xu Wuji's flying assassination could pass through solid objects like walls, but those had to be unrefined materials. The dharma body of a dharma idol cultivator was an integrated, seamless whole inside and out; how could it possibly allow him to pass through? This collision was tantamount to Xu Wuji testing a dharma body with his own head; that his neck had not snapped on the spot was only thanks to his robust physical body.
Wiping the bloody water from his brow, he was filled with shock and fury. Yet seeing that the warrior made no further move after appearing, his figure vanished once more, and a beam of light connected to Wei Yuan again. But the moment Xu Wuji disappeared, the warrior flashed forward with a step, once again blocking the beam of light.
Chapter 316