Receiving sweet rain after a long drought… This was probably the best description of Xu Qi’an’s current state.
Strictly speaking, he had actually already died just now. The moment the thunder spear exploded inside him, lightning and the power of the five elements raged, cutting off all vitality, and both heaven and earth souls departed from his body.
Nalan Tianlu had forced himself beyond his limits, paying a certain price, and briefly recovered to the peak of second rank. The power of that thunder spear had directly surpassed the limits a third rank martial artist could withstand.
Fortunately, in the Stupa tower, the Medicine Buddha Dharma Aspect could restore flesh to bone and raise the dead.
This was also the confidence that allowed Xu Qi’an to dare wager his life against Nalan Tianlu.
My current level is about early third rank, while the exhausted Nalan Tianlu is at the peak of second rank. The gap is even greater than a full rank. Thankfully, I used ‘One Blade from Heaven and Earth’ and the Confucian righteous qi to weaken the thunder spear.
Xu Qi’an still felt lingering fear.
After realising the breakthrough in ‘Broken Jade’, Xu Qi’an preserved his greatest trump card and instead used it to wager his life against Nalan Tianlu.
He communicated with the tower spirit, confirming that the old monk was unharmed and could provide timely help. To ensure his survival, he added two layers of protection for himself: one was ‘One Blade from Heaven and Earth’, and the other was Confucian righteous qi.
These served to weaken the power of the thunder spear.
He won the gamble and ultimately survived, or, more accurately, was successfully revived.
Such was the fortune upon him.
It’s a pity that my Broken Jade had only just made a breakthrough and couldn’t reflect all the damage back. Otherwise, Nalan Tianlu might have been reduced to ashes on the spot.
Looking at the shrieking and miserable Dongfang Wanrong, Xu Qi’an felt a pang of regret.
The damage reflected by ‘Broken Jade’ would always suffer some loss. At present, he could only return about sixty percent of the damage.
This was purely a contest to see whose life was tougher.
Dongfang Wanrong had merely been caught in the crossfire. The damage reflected by Broken Jade was aimed at Nalan Tianlu, not Dongfang Wanrong.
The reason for her misery was that Nalan Tianlu was residing in her body and so she was implicated by association.
If the damage had been returned directly to her, with her humble fourth rank strength, she would have turned to ashes long ago.
Li Lingsu hovered not far away in mid-air, neither approaching nor leaving, to prevent anyone from seizing the opportunity to strike again.
However, his gaze was not on Xu Qi’an, but remained fixed on Dongfang Wanrong, the Holy Son’s brow deeply furrowed, clearly worried about his old flame.
Miao Youfang also stopped and climbed up a withered tree, hating that he could not fly.
…
“Returning unto him by his own way?”
“The Medicine Buddha Dharma Aspect!”
Both Vajra Dufan and Vajra Du’nan spoke out at the same time, shocked and angry.
They were shocked because they completely failed to understand why Dongfang Wanrong would suffer backlash and be struck by the same attack as Xu Qi’an.
Such a technique was unheard of.
Their anger came from the fact that, now the Medicine Buddha Dharma Aspect had appeared, Xu Qi’an’s life more likely than not perfectly fine.
The nine great Dharma Aspects of Buddha were created by the Buddha himself and were supreme arts, each with miraculous, unfathomable abilities.
The Medicine Buddha Dharma Aspect was not offensive, but could raise the dead and change fate.
During the Sixty-year extermination of the Yao, the Dharmapara Bodhisattva had used the Medicine Buddha Dharma Aspect to save countless Buddhist disciples and vajras.
Save for some special methods or souls destroyed on the spot, the Medicine Buddha Dharma Aspect could revive almost anyone.
Now that the Dharma Image had manifested, even if Xu Qi’an had died just now, he would most likely be brought back.
In contrast, Master of Rain Nalan, judging by the fluctuation of his primordial spirit just now, seemed to have suffered unimaginable trauma.
Dongfang Wanrong’s clothes were scorched black, riddled with holes from the lightning, as she struggled to sit up cross-legged.
A faint blood glow rose from within her, flickering like a candle in the wind.
At this moment, the dark clouds shrouding Quanrong Mountain started to dissipate. The torrential downpour faded into a drizzle; the storm, left unsupported by the power of the Master of Rain, finally receded.
“Master of Rain Nalan, how are you?”
Vajra Du’nan strode forward.
Dongfang Wanrong did not reply, seemingly too exhausted to even speak.
Nalan Tianlu had used blood spirit arts to stimulate his disciple’s physical potential and heal wounds, but this body was already at its limit, and a blood spirit could not make something from nothing.
Thus, the healing effect was very limited.
“Big Sister!”
A breaking-sound split the air, and Dongfang Wanqing soared back. Seeing her sister’s wretched state, her face turned pale and her eyes filled with panic.
“Medicine…”
Nalan Tianlu’s tired voice came from within Dongfang Wanrong.
Panicked, Dongfang Wanqing took out all her healing pills, pried open Dongfang Wanrong’s mouth, and stuffed them in.
Moments later, the blood glow became a little denser.
“Not enough!”
Nalan Tianlu’s voice was hoarse and weary.
The flesh of Warlocks was far too fragile, lacking the resilience and vigorous life force of martial artists and unable to self-heal effectively.
“There’s… there’s none left…”
Dongfang Wanqing said, choking back sobs.
She was neither an arcanist nor a Daoist, where would she get so many pills?
“Masters, do you, do you have any medicine?”
Dongfang Wanqing bit her lip and pleaded with Vajra Du’nan and Vajra Dufan.
“Amitabha, this humble monk has brought no pills.”
The two vajras shook their heads.
Though vajras’ self-healing was far inferior to third rank martial artists, it was still stronger than most healing pills in the world.
Except for supreme pills refined by the Jianzheng, healing pills were little more than chicken ribs to a vajra.
Dongfang Wanqing looked up at the wind-riding boat. She knew Ji Xuan would not lack pills.
But the wind-riding boat was too high for her to fly up.
The boat was deathly silent. It seemed Ji Xuan had no intent to save Dongfang Wanrong.
A whistling sound came from behind. A small sword carrying a sachet flew over, planting itself at Dongfang Wanqing’s feet.
She glanced at the sachet, then turned her gaze to the levitating Li Lingsu in the distance.
Dongfang Wanqing opened the sachet, took out a few porcelain bottles, held them to her nose to discern their properties, and selected some healing and replenishing pills to feed to Dongfang Wanrong.
Only then was her sister’s condition stabilised.
Nalan Tianlu let out a sigh of relief and said slowly,
“I no longer have the strength to continue. Masters, do as you will.”
Forcefully raising one’s realm damaged the very foundation, and then suffering backlash from the thunder spear’s power left him now in extreme weakness.
…
A sudden twist of fate!
For the Wulin Alliance, just when the situation had hit rock bottom, things unexpectedly turned around and then soared skyward, surging ahead with unstoppable momentum.
The change was so great and so swift that their minds were left reeling.
A few seconds later, screams and cheers erupted, mixed with the sound of women weeping with joy.
Young Master Liu took a deep breath, looked around, and saw that most people still had shock and grief on their faces, yet their mouths were cheering, or emitting piercing, meaningless cries.
Just a moment before, everyone had believed that Silver Gong Xu was doomed.
In the next moment, the situation reversed, and that goddess-like woman was suddenly severely wounded, unable to continue, while Silver Gong Xu was now seated in mid-air, a Buddhist stupa above his head showering him with golden light, protecting him.
“Silver Gong Xu actually won.”
“That scared me to death…”
“So strong, truly worthy of being the most outstanding prodigy of the new generation in our Central Plains.”
“What method did he use just now? Why did the Master of Rain suddenly get seriously injured?”
After venting their emotions, everyone started discussing animatedly.
He had actually managed to take down a second-rank Master of Rain… Young Master Liu had already learned the identity of that woman from Clan Leader Cao and the other elders.
A second-rank Master of Rain of the Church of the Warlock God.
Second rank! In his eyes, this was an existence akin to a deity.
“The Tower Master was right, Silver Gong Xu has never lost, never lost…”
Young Master Liu heard Rongrong shouting and looked over at her. She was clutching her master’s hand, speaking emotionally, with tear tracks still on her cheeks.
Young Master Liu shifted his gaze towards that perfectly flawless, immortal-like figure. She stood with her back to the members of Wanhua Tower, at the edge of the cliff, her eyes never once leaving Silver Gong Xu.
Young Master Liu frowned and said:
“But aren’t there still two Vajras from the Buddhist Sect, and Silver Gong Xu seems unable to fight any longer…”
This sentence was like a bucket of cold water, abruptly dousing the crowd’s joy and excitement.
The scene instantly fell silent.
Everyone looked at him.
…
“We understand.”
The Asura Vajra glanced at Du’nan, motioning for him to be patient, and said, “Unless absolutely necessary, do not use it.”
Du’nan nodded.
The Agaruka Bodhisattva had bestowed upon them a drop of essence blood. This droplet, containing the power of the Vajra aspect, was meant as a last resort.
So-called essence blood was not ordinary blood, but rather the power of the Vajra refined into the blood itself.
What Xu Qi’an gave to Cao Qingyang was similar essence blood.
The Vajra aspect’s power was extremely overbearing, even third-rank Vajras could not wield it well.
Rash use might cause the manifested power to burst their own bodies, or leave behind difficult to heal internal injuries.
Moreover, if they could deal with the Buddha Son and the Wulin Alliance without using the Bodhisattva’s essence blood, then this droplet could be kept for their own use, to slowly absorb and comprehend the Vajra’s form within.
Once the Agaruka Bodhisattva had handed over the blood, it would not be requested back.
“Let the Master of Rain focus on healing. Leave him to us.”
The Asura Vajra strode towards Xu Qi’an. He quickly reached the edge of the cliff, then stepped into the air as though walking on flat ground.
“Xu Qi’an, the patience of the Buddhist sect is limited. Time and again, you have opposed us. You even joined forces with Luo Yuheng to capture Arhat Duqing.
“As a Protector Vajra, it is our duty to kill the traitors of Buddhism.”
He seemed to walk slowly, but was actually bracing himself to strike, his attention locked firmly on Xu Qi’an.
The Buddhist Sect’s target was also Xu Qi’an, whether to kill him or convert him.
By comparison, aside from the people of Qianlong City who were intent on destroying the Wulin Alliance, Nalan Tianlu and the two Vajras prioritised as follows:
Xu Qi’an, Dragon Qi, Wulin Alliance!
If Xu Qi’an did not appear, they would seize the Dragon Qi and wipe out the Wulin Alliance.
Once Xu Qi’an supported the Wulin Alliance, he became the number one target for both sides.
At this moment, Xu Qi’an’s injuries had stabilised. Under his charred skin, new tender skin was growing, and his vitality was slowly reviving.
He calmly gazed at the menacing Asura Vajra and said with a smile:
“A quarter of an hour has already passed.”
What? The Asura Vajra frowned, not understanding what he meant.
“Boom!”
Suddenly, the stone gate buried by falling rocks exploded without warning, sending countless pieces of stone flying.
A shining, sharp sabre light, full of a cold killing intent, swept out from the stone gate, slashing toward the Asura Vajra.
That old bastard from the Wulin Alliance? With his danger sense flaring, the Asura Vajra dodged in advance, evading the dazzling sabre light.
The sabre light missed, immediately burrowing into the void.
The Asura Vajra suddenly rolled aside, and in the next instant, another sabre light cleaved out from the sky above, shaving past him.
It then slipped into the void again.
If it does not hit, it doesn’t dissipate?
The Asura Vajra’s thick eyebrows twitched, sensing danger on his left. This time, he did not dodge. His fist burst forth with brilliant golden light, punching out fiercely.
He met the incoming sabre light from the left head-on.
In the booming thunderclap of collision, the Asura Vajra was sent tumbling backwards, flying through the air. He looked down in astonishment at his right fist, which was bloody and mangled.
That sabre’s intent had actually pierced his Vajra body?
Suddenly, nearly everyone looked towards the cave. From its darkness, a figure quietly emerged.
Most eye-catching was his long white hair, hanging like a rug over his back, trailing on the ground.
His eyebrows draped along each cheek, and his beard reached his chest.
He was bare-chested, with no clothing at all. Years away from the sun had left his body like lustrous white jade, muscles corded, physique tall and burly.
On the surface, he looked to be around fifty, with a few wrinkles on his face, yet he did not appear senile.
His facial features were chiseled, suggesting that in his youth he had been a strikingly imposing man.
“Old ancestor?!”
Cao Qingyang muttered.
The Wulin Alliance warriors behind him were equally bewildered and pleasantly surprised, yet also worried.
“Is this the old ancestor of our Wulin Alliance?”
“Yes, it’s him. He does resemble the portrait somewhat.”
After a brief moment of confusion, they gradually recognised this self-sealed elder, matching the portrait hanging in the Ancestral Hall.
“Why did the old ancestor break through at this moment? Isn’t his condition quite poor?”
Fu Jingmen’s expression changed slightly as he spoke:
“Don’t tell me he forced a breakthrough because Silver Gong Xu was in danger?”
He did not continue.
Everyone’s expression shifted drastically as well. If so, then the cost of the ancestor forcibly breaking through could be imagined.
After this battle, the pillar of the Wulin Alliance would fall. That was a loss they could not bear.
“Thi- this…” someone stammered, unable to speak.
Only Clan Leader Cao Qingyang knew about the nine-coloured lotus root, and just as he was about to explain, Xu Qi’an laughed heartily:
“Senior, you finally made it out! If you hadn’t come out soon, I would’ve turned around and left.”
He meant hiding inside the Stupa Tower.
The old bastard laughed heartily:
“Many thanks to Silver Gong Xu’s nine-coloured lotus root for helping me break through. This old man has advanced to second rank, fortune at its lowest turns anew!”
His voice rolled like thunder, loud and hearty.
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