In the Same Boat

Flash! In the dim, shadowy space, light flared from a teleportation formation. The silence shattered, replaced by the sound of heavy, ragged breathing. The avatar destroyed the teleportation formation, set down the true body, and waited until the residual glow died away. Once certain no pursuers could follow, a profound sense of relief washed over him. The true body sat cross-legged. The avatar pressed a hand against the center of his true body's back. As expected, the injuries had worsened, but it was all worth it. "Did Liuli manage to escape?" That was the part of the plan most prone to disaster. According to their plan, Liuli would create a diversion while he seized the opening to break out, drawing the demon host in pursuit. Meanwhile, Liuli and her companion could flee through the secret passage of the Metal Phase Palace. So long as her identity remained concealed from the public eye, slipping away should not be difficult. Yet in the Wuxiang Immortal Sect, any unforeseen disaster could strike. Without seeing her safe with his own eyes, he could hardly set his mind at ease. He had been teleported into a medium-sized chamber whose walls appeared to be crafted from some kind of spiritual wood, faintly humming with the fluctuations of warding restrictions. With his injuries compounded, the true body dared not move recklessly. The avatar slipped out to inspect the surroundings and discovered another nunnery similar to the one on the opposite end, though this area was far more dilapidated. It must have once been a blessed land. Judging by the scale of the surrounding architecture, the sect that once resided here had likely not been large in numbers, but their cultivation had certainly been formidable—a former glory still discernible from the lingering remnants of ancient restrictions. Evidently caught in the fallout of a colossal battle, the surrounding space hung gray and dreary, its origin Qi turbulent and chaotically disordered. The remnants of shattered walls and collapsed halls were indistinguishable from rubble. "Moon-Veiling Nunnery..." Stepping out of the nunnery, the avatar found a broken stone stele nearby. Its weathered inscription was faint, yet still legible. *Could this be... the sect Liuli joined?* the avatar mused. For Liuli to know of such a concealed passage, there had to be deep ties. He pondered for a moment, mentally scouring every renowned Buddhist sect in Zhongzhou, yet could recall nothing of any "Moon-Veiling Nunnery." If its lineage had survived, it was likely a secluded sect hidden from the secular world. There were many such reclusive sects. Those tied by myriad threads to the Wuxiang Immortal Sect, in particular, had either retreated beyond the mortal coil to escape calamity or altered their names and appearances to conceal their true origins. After a swift search around the perimeter, the avatar located an exit. Slipping quietly outside, he found himself in a deep ravine behind a picturesque spiritual mountain, not far from an active cultivation sect. Surveying the terrain, he realized with a start that this was Mount Que—guarded by a Nascent Soul Patriarch! He could not linger here! After a quick patrol to confirm that nothing was amiss, the avatar promptly returned. He took the true body out of Moon-Veiling Nunnery, fled some distance away, found a hidden recess to carve out a temporary abode, and settled the true body inside. The avatar then concealed his identity and returned to Mount Taiyue to rendezvous with Liuli. Before his true essence had fully recovered, the avatar had unleashed a blast of Nanming Primordial Fire and subsequently fled a great distance while carrying the true body. The toll on his reserves was immense. Though he had ingested medicinal pills, his recovery was painfully slow. Qin Sang had thus instructed the avatar to carry the supreme-grade spirit stone for emergencies. By this point, Mount Taiyue presented an entirely different spectacle. At the center of the mountain range, the renowned Taiyue Sect had vanished into thin air. In its place gaped an abrupt basin, and in the sky above, the gateway into the Wuxiang Immortal Sect formed an enormous rift, clearly visible from ten thousand li away. Violent collisions between the inner and outer origin Qi unleashed endless gales and rolling seas of clouds. The passage was now vastly wider and safer than when it had first opened. Cultivators swarmed like ants—few leaving, many entering—jostling and scrambling to force their way inside. *** Inside the ancient sect grounds. Liuli and the old nun had never intended to slay Bai Xiao. Their mission was accomplished simply by delaying him long enough for Qin Sang to break through the encirclement and cast his Thunder Escape. Without lingering in the slightest, the two retreated amid the chaos as planned. A few demon kings lacking swift movement arts had been left behind. They attempted to double back and intercept the two women, but Qin Sang had already thrown their demon array into disarray, depriving them of the initiative. Moreover, the old nun and Liuli were far more familiar with the Metal Phase Palace than Qin Sang was. With only the remaining demon kings, doing anything effective within the nearly intact mountain-protecting grand array of the Metal Phase Palace was next to impossible. Using the grand array as a screen to mislead their pursuers, the two fled into Yuyang Peak, shook off the tail via a secret passage, and changed their appearances. By this point, they dared not venture to the secret palace in search of treasures; if Bai Xiao and the other demons returned empty-handed, they would certainly fly into a rage, and the two would risk being surrounded. Slinking away from the Metal Phase Palace, the pair made straight for the gateway of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect. Before reaching the entrance, however, a streak of golden light surged like a rainbow across their path, swift as lightning—an eminent monk from Ganlu Zen Monastery. The reinforcements Saint Huiguang had summoned were finally arriving. Liuli and the old nun exchanged glances. Daring not pause, they sped onward. With the Buddhist forces descending, they could not afford to tarry! Just as they were about to fly through the mountain gates, Liuli seemed to notice something. Her expression shifted slightly, and she spoke a brief word to the old nun. The old nun nodded without pressing further and proceeded ahead. Liuli flew out alone, keeping well away from the crowds, and alighted on a deserted mountaintop. Moments later, a figure slipped in behind her. Turning around and seeing only Qin Sang's avatar, Liuli frowned. "Your true body is still nearby?" "I could hardly leave without offering my thanks to the Fairy." The avatar smiled faintly and pointed into the distance. "My true body is gravely wounded and currently hiding elsewhere to regulate his breathing. With no one to guard him, shall we speak as we travel?" *** Above the Suspended Lake. Saint King Qinghu's reckless gamble had shattered their favorable position. The demon body had nearly broken free, wiping out the hard-won advantage they had accumulated bit by bit. The situation had plummeted into a tailspin, teetering on the brink of irreparable catastrophe. Though Saint Huiguang had turned the tide through sheer force of will, the pressure bearing down upon Saint King Qinghu, Old Devil Fan, and the others had spiked tremendously. They could only curse bitterly under their breath. Weighed down by the dreadful demonic might, they tread as if on thin ice, daring not relax for an instant. Saint King Qinghu shouldered an even heavier burden. Not only had her three phantom clones been destroyed, but her true body had also sustained injuries. Daring not act recklessly any further, she had no attention to spare for Qin Sang's side, assuming that Bai Xiao, leading a troop of demon kings to trap a man practically crippled, could not possibly fail. Only when they had barely stabilized their footing and eased the worst of the strain did the group notice the dejected return of the demons and the raging fury of Bai Xiao. Saint King Qinghu's fair face darkened instantly. Old Devil Fan and the others wore varied expressions—some gloating, others astonished that the man had managed to escape under such dire circumstances. Yet wherever Qin Sang had fled, the most pressing matter remained subduing the ancient demon. Casting aside stray thoughts, they focused their full attention on contending with the ancient demon. Soon afterward, Bai Xiao joined the fray after his fruitless hunt, followed by arriving Buddhist monks. As their numbers grew, the battle array grew firmer, and the tides began turning for the better. At last, the heart fire surrounding Saint Huiguang receded. The shift in the heart fire immediately drew everyone's notice. It coalesced into an ethereal spark that drifted toward Saint Huiguang's chest; his monastic robe rippled faintly, and the heart fire vanished from sight. Saint Huiguang extended his right hand, and the Demon Sealing Stake settled into his palm. The two halves of the stake had fused into one, leaving no trace of the fracture. A dark sheen floated across its surface, its aura drastically different from before. Particularly as it resonated with the Demon Subduing Array on the lotus platform, streaks of black lightning danced across the stake like writhing ghostly claws. Looking closer, one could see that the black lightning consisted of minuscule chains, remarkably similar in form to the Demon Binding Rope. Meeting the expectant gazes of the crowd, Saint Huiguang exhaled softly. "Fortunately, I have not failed my task." Then his expression hardened, his tone turning solemn. "Fellow Daoists, lend this poor monk a hand!" The moment his words fell, the Dhyana Arhat Array shifted abruptly. Old Devil Fan and the others dispersed toward the eight directions, backing almost to the outer rim of the Suspended Lake to hem the demon body into the center. At the same time, towering waves churned across the Suspended Lake, yet without the precarious instability from earlier. A crushing pressure converged madly toward the heart of the lake. The bright moon blazed with boundless brilliance, its light near-tangible. Across the entire ancient domain, one could see a colossal pillar of dazzling moonlight bearing down upon the demon body. Augmented by the combined might of Old Devil Fan and the others channeling the Dhyana Arhat Array, they struck in unison. At this moment, the pressure bearing down upon the demon body far exceeded anything prior. Sensing the mortal threat by instinct, the demon body threw back its head and roared. Five-colored radiance tore through the lake water, illuminating the heavens as it crashed directly into the combined onslaught of Saint King Qinghu and the others. In an instant, an astonishing celestial phenomenon erupted in the high heavens. Thunderous booms shook the sky and jolted the earth. Amid the chaotic, swirling light, the figures of Saint King Qinghu and the rest were lost from view. Maintaining his seated posture, Saint Huiguang rose from the lotus platform. The petals opened wide, and the entire lotus platform flattened in midair. Its Buddhist radiance gradually dimmed, suppressed by the ripples radiating from the Demon Subduing Array. Saint Huiguang hurled the Demon Sealing Stake from his hand. The stake, seemingly crafted of dark iron, hung suspended above the Demon Subduing Array, motionless, even as the black lightning dancing upon it grew increasingly violent. Gazing intently at the stake, Saint Huiguang cast an incantation gesture toward the Demon Subduing Array. The stake shuddered, blurred into a phantom, and reappeared an instant later directly above the demon body. There, it swelled immensely, transforming into a colossal iron pillar. Boom! Towering in the heights, the Demon Sealing Stake seemed to set the void trembling, and even the Suspended Lake quaked along with it. Witnessing this anomaly, the onlookers felt a surge of joyful anticipation. The black lightning expanded in kind, resolving clearly into chains. Guided by Saint Huiguang's hand, the chains came alive, pointing in unison at the demon body before snapping forward like spiritual vipers plunging into the lake's center. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The whistle of tearing air was swiftly swallowed by the demon body's shrieks. The cries were madder and more furious than ever, striking dread into all who heard them. The thick chains pulled taut, one end anchored to the Demon Sealing Stake while the other pierced through the demonic Qi encasing the creature, binding it hand and foot in tight loops. As the chains tightened, they began dragging the demon body toward the Demon Sealing Stake. Yet how could the creature submit so easily? Staring fiercely at the stake, its counterattacks remained brutal and ferocious. Daring not let down their guard, Saint King Qinghu and the others bombarded it continuously to prevent it from shattering the artifact. Clanking rattles echoed without cease. Along the original fracture line of the Demon Sealing Stake, a faint golden gleam appeared, resembling a fitted golden band that grew ever more conspicuous under the demon body's savage onslaught. The sight left their hearts in their throats. Fortunately, the Demon Sealing Stake stood firm, holding the demon body fast without any sign of cracking, and the crowd seized the opening to strike with full force. *** No one knew how much time had passed. The bright moon receded. The clouds and water dispersed. Old Devil Fan and the others stood or sat in silence, regulating their breath. Recalling the life-and-death struggle, they all felt the chilling relief of surviving a calamity. The Demon Sealing Stake stood silently at what had once been the center of the lake. Chains bound a dark silhouette tightly to its surface, from which inhuman howls echoed in fits and bursts. Listening to the frantic wails and taking in the creature's current state, a shiver ran down their spines. The demon body still retained a humanoid outline—limbs, head, and torso could be discerned—yet it resembled less a person than an amorphous mass of grotesque flesh. The iridescent Five Elements Crown was embedded deep within this flesh, appearing utterly jarring no matter how one looked at it. Saint Huiguang sat cross-legged before the Demon Sealing Stake. Surrounding the stake, the other monks chanted scriptures and mantras, their hand seals shifting rapidly as Demon Restraining Incantations flared forth in waves of golden light, descending upon the demon body to steadily suppress its ferocity. Just then, an eminent monk landed beside Saint Huiguang and whispered a few words. Both men then turned to look toward Saint King Qinghu. Saint King Qinghu had been resting with closed eyes, but sensing their gaze, she opened them and looked back. Saint Huiguang rose and strode across the air to stand before her. Waving a hand to seal off all sound, he said in a low voice, "This poor monk believed that since we are both trapped beasts, we ought to pull together in the same boat!" "You were indisposed, so I stepped in on your behalf to eliminate that man. Does that not align with your wishes, removing a lingering threat for Ganlu Zen Monastery? Aside from yourself, how many in your monastery are a match for him?" Saint King Qinghu raised a delicate hand to smooth a stray lock of hair from her brow, a faint smile playing on her lips. Saint Huiguang's eyes flashed with imposing authority, completely ignoring her mockery as he demanded, "Had you obtained the Spirit Calming Incense, how did the Saint King intend to coerce this poor monk?" Dropping her coy pretense, Saint King Qinghu's expression cooled, her smile turning into a sneer. "With great disaster looming, you waste heart and soul paving the path for your sect—is that not self-interest as well? What does the survival of your decrepit temple have to do with me? If so, what is wrong with me scheming for myself? Once you can abandon worldly attachments and dedicate yourself entirely to preparing for the Eastern Crossing and Ascension, then you may come question me!" Saint Huiguang remained unmoved. Saint King Qinghu had her schemes, and he had his own convictions. *This old bald donkey!* Saint King Qinghu cursed inwardly, snorting, "Not only does that man possess Spirit Calming Incense, but he was willing to trade it away. He likely holds its formula. Even if he does not have the formula, he must have more than one stick, or he would never squander it so casually! Unlike other spirit medicines, Spirit Calming Incense is tempered from a harmony of diverse medicinal properties. Whoever created it was a genius of exceptional caliber, yet the incense still has room for refinement. If we obtain the formula and deduce further along their path, incorporating compatible, rarer, and far more potent spiritual herbs, we could refine an even superior Spirit Calming Incense—a method far more dependable than anything else. Whatever else happens, that formula must be ours!" Saint Huiguang naturally understood the reasoning. Saint King Qinghu had learned of the Spirit Calming Incense from the rat demon. Earlier, seeing Saint King Qinghu insist on targeting Qin Sang, Saint Huiguang had grown suspicious. No matter how exceptional the man's treasures were, for Saint King Qinghu to disregard the risk of the demon body breaking free, and then order her demon kings to pursue Qin Sang rather than reinforce the sealing array, was foolishly trading the vital for the trivial. Fearing that word of the demonic sound of the Heavenly Dao would shake his disciples' Dao hearts, Saint Huiguang had kept the matter concealed. His mind had been set on using the Zhongyuan Dharma Assembly to purge the emerging fiends in one sweep and clear obstacles for his sect. Consumed by gathering resources and investigating the movements of various factions, his disciples had neglected to report the details of that small trade exchange. Only upon later inquiry did he discover that Nanming Primordial Fire had surfaced in Zhongzhou against one of Saint King Qinghu's subordinate demon kings. Coincidentally, the Spirit Calming Incense had appeared at that very gathering, allowing him to piece together the truth. Yet even knowing Saint King Qinghu harbored treacherous designs, he could not turn against her openly at this juncture. After a moment of silence, Saint Huiguang said, "So long as the Saint King can restrain her greed, there is still hope for the situation."