"Fire Spirit Summoning Array..." The Nine-Devouring Mountain Master's face showed a satisfied look, even his usually stern and grumpy expression flushed with color. But in the next second, he frowned again, a flash of surprise in his eyes: "It's alchemy!"
At this moment, Wei Li pursed her lips and arrogantly raised an eyebrow, her enchanting eyes conveying a clear meaning: "The Fire Spirit Array is ultimately a basic formation, its power to deal with opponents like Cheng Hong will not pose much of a threat. If alchemy is added, at least it can be considered creating an intermediate formation with the least spiritual energy."
The browless Taoist scratched his grayish-white beard, thinking to himself, *gosh*, although he knew Dan Ya was talented and learned, being able to flexibly apply his knowledge in a constantly changing battle was not a simple matter.
Moreover, he also understood how to consider the cost between tactics and consumption. At Dan Ya's age, it was unrealistic to master every subject thoroughly. But his cleverness lay in not aiming too high. Although he learned many things, he laid a solid foundation in the first one.
Thus, as time and experience continuously grew, the time he invested earlier would eventually pay back to him manifold.
The fire spirits summoned by the "Fire Spirit Summoning Array" were random. This time, dragon snakes were summoned. They writhed and emerged from the array, their triangular heads sporting two sharp horns. Their bodies, which should have been fragile and slender, were enhanced by alchemy, their cracked red bodies overlaid with a layer of fiery red patterns, as if clad in hard shells.
The dragon snakes' hardness and spirit-gathering ability had significantly increased. The fire pillars they spewed from their red mouths possessed temperatures capable of melting gold and stone.
The dragon snakes positioned themselves in three directions, cooperating to spew flames, intertwining to trap Cheng Hong in the center. Even without direct contact, Cheng Hong's exposed skin turned red from the heat of the flames.
Cheng Hong, who had studied Buddhist scriptures for years, often exuded a serene and peaceful aura. Even when engaging in combat, his movements were graceful and solemn, like snow on a quiet mountain opening to the world, dignified and law-abiding.
His palms formed seals, his stance like an arrow released from a bow, striking out. The profound techniques of myriad sects expanded, the enlarged Buddhist seals shattering the fire pillars spewed by the fire spirits. But clearly, for every one dealt with, another appeared. Simultaneously, Dan Ya cast a lightning net from above. Cheng Hong, within its confines, twisted his wrist and flung his prayer beads, which rapidly enlarged as they spun.
They smashed through the crackling, "pattering" electric net, their momentum unabated, golden light flashing, and winds roaring. They rapidly converged like a whirlwind, striking towards Dan Ya.
This string of prayer beads was a Dharma artifact wielded by a powerful being a thousand years ago, naturally possessing considerable might. Even though Cheng Hong could not fully unleash its power now, when it was propelled by spiritual energy to attack, it was far beyond what a Golden Core stage cultivator like Dan Ya could withstand.
Fortunately, Dan Ya also sensed the unusual nature of the approaching prayer beads and felt a strong sense of crisis. Unable to resist, he used his sword as a shield. The golden light and white cold sharpness collided, creating a dazzling electric storm. He was violently repelled backward.
A suffocating pressure tightened in his chest. Dan Ya's lips turned pale, his dark, ink-like eyes chilling.
Meanwhile, Cheng Hong, having to deal with Dan Ya's successive formations, had no time to evade the fire pillars spewed by the dragon snakes. His wind-swept snow-white robes moved swiftly, but his hem was scorched black, and the flesh on his arm turned red.
His expression remained unchanged as he brushed his fingertip, glowing with faint light, over the wound to temporarily seal it.
In this exchange, neither of them gained the upper hand, and both sustained injuries – one internal, the other external.
Those who observe the overall situation never focus only on what is before them. They had not forgotten that a true opponent was waiting, so they could not entirely let loose without reservation.
Thus, though they appeared to be fighting, they were like chess players, observing ten moves ahead, with no regrets in their choices, waiting to see who had the superior "chess skill."
Cheng Hong waved his sleeve, recalling his prayer beads. They obediently returned to their original size and strung around his wrist. His robes fluttered.
"Benefactor Dan, please be careful. This humble monk is about to make his move."
He began to counterattack. Suddenly, white light flashed, his palm wind carrying unfathomable subtlety. Dan Ya's expression changed as he squinted sideways, quickly changing his move to block. In an instant, their figures became indistinguishable as they engaged in fierce combat—
"Is this the fighting style of the top three? It feels like we're not even on the same level of cultivation," a disciple who had no chance of reaching the finals swallowed, staring dumbfounded, both envious and astonished.
Leading the "Rookie Ranking" disciples were those who had been defeated in the finals, including Ru Lan, Yan Tianjiao, Lu Ziyin, and Lang Ci.
Mu Nanxue was also among the "Rookie Ranking." Competition and comparison among peers existed everywhere, so the number of people who stayed to watch the matches was considerable. Each of them wanted to see where they fell short.
Now, looking at this… *good heavens!* What kind of monstrous prodigies were they? What were these fighting methods? What terrifying techniques had they used? Could their suffocating aura be something that "Rookie Ranking" contestants could withstand?
They were all human, all at the peak of the Golden Core stage, but the gap between them was not slight. All disciples who participated in the "Rookie Ranking" suddenly felt they were unworthy of being mentioned in the same breath as these individuals.
Mu Nanxue also hadn't expected the human cultivation world to be so terrifyingly competitive. Figures like Yan Tianjiao and Ru Lan were people she felt were beyond her reach, but compared to these top three, she felt self-conscious even admitting she was also at the Golden Core stage.
Distracted, she thought of another matter, feeling some anticipation and excitement. She had been waiting for the "Rookie Ranking" to conclude quickly and select the top ten. Since she had no chance to enter the Dragon Island secret realm, she had to return with her "sister."
However, the "sister" Gu Junshi, whom Mu Nanxue was thinking of, had changed her mind. She would not leave after the "Rookie Ranking" finals. She intended to enter the Dragon Island secret realm.
Although she did not anticipate offspring, she had been greedy for pleasure and forgotten precautions, thus being gifted with "heaven's will."
Since it had come, she thought she would give this "accident" a chance. If she could find a way for the child to survive within the Dragon Island secret realm, she would keep it. She never hesitated in her decisions and was not afraid of having an "accident."
But if everything could not be reversed, she would also be decisive, not indecisively letting this "accident" remain in her womb in a state of neither living nor dying.
If it came, she would raise it with equanimity. If it did not belong to her, why should she force it?
—
On the martial arts stage, Cheng Hong's transcendent face shone with a brilliant radiance. He spread his arms and shook his sleeves, soaring into the air. Behind him, a towering eight-foot-tall Buddha statue stood majestically. The Buddha statue's left hand hung down, forming the "wish-granting seal," signifying the fulfillment of all sentient beings' wishes. Its right hand was bent and raised, forming the "fear-dispelling seal," signifying the removal of all sentient beings' suffering.
At this moment, even those far away felt a spiritual shock.
"Amitabha, it is done," the senior brother from Maha Chan Temple clasped his hands and closed his eyes profoundly, softly reciting, "All conditioned phenomena are like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, a shadow, like dew and lightning..."
His junior nephew also put away his smile and murmured, "Why did Uncle-Master use the 'Buddha Invitation Brush' technique..."
Dan Ya, as Cheng Hong released his ultimate move, did not remain idle. His white robes flowed like a dragon, moving in four forms. From above, arm-thick bolts of lightning descended. Electricity crawled from the ground towards Cheng Hong, its fangs bared, seemingly wanting to drag him into the abyss.
The martial arts stage, made of stone and sand, naturally could not withstand such repeated bombardments and torment. It began to crumble from the edges. As Dan Ya approached Cheng Hong, the illusory yet lifelike "Buddha statue" suddenly opened its eyes. Its gaze was like a wisp of clear wind from a brush, sweeping towards him.
Dan Ya discovered that the lightning power could not stop it at all. The wisp of its form came too quickly. Before he could evade, he passed right through it. His pupils tightened slightly, but he felt no sensation of harm. Instead, his sword intent struck the mid-air Cheng Hong.
He fell from the sky, kneeling on one knee, his snow-white robes spreading on the ground. He supported himself with one palm, and a mouthful of blood surged to his throat.
Seeing this, Dan Ya landed gracefully and casually. He smiled, confident of victory, but in the next second, his smile froze. With a "clang!" his sword dropped clearly. Suddenly, a wave of powerlessness washed over him.
And from Gu Junshi's perspective, Dan Ya was unaware that the demonic power enveloping his back had been scattered. It seemed Cheng Hong had grasped Dan Ya's vital point.
What he carried was both his sin and his source of power.
But it was purified by Cheng Hong's Buddhist light, causing the power within him to become unstable.
Ultimately... Dan Ya lost.
Perhaps this battle was unfair from the start. After all, the Buddha Son's pervasive Buddhist light was precisely the counter to his wicked sect with impure intentions.
Dan Ya quickly understood where he had lost. From the very beginning, before they had even begun fighting, Cheng Hong had seen through him and devised a method to deal with him.
However, it was also good. The sooner one's weaknesses were pointed out, the better. At least he still had time to perfect himself further.
The dense, surging shadows in his eyes were forcefully suppressed. His face softened with a gentle spring breeze smile. "Master Cheng Hong, I hope you win."
With a smile hiding malice and provocation, he glanced at Liu Jiangfusheng and Cheng Hong.
He had known long ago that Cheng Hong always wanted to persuade Gu Yiduan to abandon his worldly ties and become a Buddhist cultivator. Did Liu Jiangfusheng know this? Had Gu Yi mentioned it to him?
He looked at Liu Jiangfusheng's gaze from the first stage, looking down.
It was a strange, clean yet mysteriously dim gaze, like a flower blooming for a lover. He was looking at Cheng Hong, with an expression as if he were contemplating where to strike next with interest.
It seemed he knew.
Dan Ya felt it was a pity not to have a true exchange with Liu Jiangfusheng, but he also found enjoyment in watching a good show from the sidelines.
After Cheng Hong won, he landed gracefully like a white dove taking flight onto Liu Jiangfusheng's martial arts stage.
The stage he had been on had already been shattered by the wind.
Cheng Hong was not someone with a strong desire for victory; or rather, he was very detached from the pursuit of fame and fortune. For him, first place and last place made no difference if there was no necessity.
However, he very much wanted to see firsthand what kind of person Gu Junshi had chosen to marry.
He normally had very little curiosity, but regarding matters concerning Gu Junshi, he always felt an uncontrollable urge to probe.
Liu Jiangfusheng was not like a brute who shouted and fought upon meeting. Unexpectedly, he was very kind and moral. Even with an opponent, he adhered to some clichés of righteousness. He said, "Master Cheng Hong, you should recuperate for a moment first."
Cheng Hong, serene and unstained, was somewhat surprised by this. He then looked into Liu Jiangfusheng's eyes.
Liu Jiangfusheng had a pair of clear, doe-like eyes that could captivate and deceive. As if sensing the other's confusion, he explained, "I simply do not wish to take advantage of your weakness. Master has just fought a battle and is exhausted. If you fight me now, it would be rather unfair."
Cheng Hong found it difficult to discern whether his words were sincere or feigned.
But whatever they were, he should respond: "There is no need… this humble monk is unharmed."
After saying this, his thoughts began to drift.
He was wondering, Liu Jiangfusheng… did he know about Gu Junshi's pregnancy?
He probably didn't.
Because when she was confirmed, Liu Jiangfusheng was still in the "Grand Competition." Until now, he should not have had any free time to see her.
Moreover, whether that child could be kept...
If Gu Junshi did not tell him, it meant she had made her decision.
His eyelashes gracefully fell, concealing the complexity in his eyes.
Liu Jiangfusheng and Gu Junshi were not suitable. This was not his speculation or wild talk, but their union had already yielded consequences, ultimately causing only harm.
After a moment of contemplation, he spoke, "Benefactor Liu Jiang, do you know of Benefactor Gu—"
But before he could finish, Liu Jiangfusheng seemed to suddenly recall something and interrupted him, saying in a calm tone, "Master Cheng Hong, Ah Yi will not become a Buddhist cultivator. She told me before that she intended to be my wife for life, so she will not abandon me to become a Buddhist cultivator."
The person concerned, Gu Junshi, heard it clearly: "..." Did she say that?
Cheng Hong's fingers gripping the prayer beads tightened. He said in a steady voice, "Benefactor Liu Jiang, your immortal cultivation talent is extraordinary, you will surely have a long time ahead of you. But mortals' lifespans are but a mere few decades."
Liu Jiangfusheng said, "I will make her share my lifespan. If I cannot... we will die together in the same grave."
Cheng Hong was silent for a long time after hearing this.
"Staying with you will only lead to her death, yet you persist?"
Liu Jiangfusheng quietly gazed into empty space, time seeming to stand still, everything around transforming into tenderness. "Then if she dies, she can only die by my side."
Cheng Hong suddenly looked at him.
His gaze was sharper than it had ever been.
He knew that Liu Jiangfusheng's words were telling him that he intended to never let go, even unto death.
Cheng Hong didn't quite understand. The Gu Junshi of the first life was like a meticulous machine, with no complex emotional entanglements around her. Although she occasionally teased people, her eyes never held any desire. But in this life, why had she fallen for mortal love, and her partner was someone resuming their relationship with the ex-husband she had killed to achieve enlightenment?