Situ Mo had already regained his composure. Drawing his blade, he said coldly, “Seize them at once!”
The six Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, led by Situ Biao, immediately surrounded Ding Weizeng while one split off to block An Siwei. Situ Biao even took out a golden command token that radiated brilliant light that formed a net of energy over Ding Weizeng.
Though Ding Weizeng was skilled in combat, he was only in the mid-stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm and could not possibly withstand the combined assault of six opponents, especially with Situ Biao, whose cultivation was on par with his own, among them. He was quickly forced onto the defensive, gritting his teeth as he struggled to hold his ground.
While Ding Weizeng was caught in a perilous struggle, Li Minggong fared no better against Situ Mo. His blade techniques had overwhelmed her from the beginning, and the golden qi he unleashed spread like a chilling mist that bit into her skin.
Li Minggong had only been in the Foundation Establishment Realm for a few years and was no match for Situ Mo. Fortunately, True Fire refined metal, and her fire barely managed to hold back the golden qi with the aid of the Six-Cornered Scarlet Flame Lamp. Situ Mo’s blade qi could only be blocked by her dharma artifact directly. Resounding dong-dong impacts rang out.
The Six-Cornered Scarlet Flame Lamp is a gift from the Golden Feather Sect... it’s sturdy enough... it shouldn’t fail immediately...
Li Minggong no longer had the luxury of worrying whether her dharma artifact had sustained damage. The golden blade in midair had already curved back and was now thrusting straight at her back.
A chill spread across Li Minggong’s back before the golden blade even reached her. She spat out a stream of flame from her crimson lips, barely forcing back the blade before her, then turned her lamp to block the incoming strike.
Clang!
A crisp sound rang out as sparks exploded in midair. The golden light retreated swiftly. Li Minggong let out a muffled groan, a deep gash now carved into her arm, revealing bone.
Though the Golden Tang Gate had declined in talent, their spell arts remained formidable. This Golden Blaze Saber strike was blindingly fast. Even though she had used her dharma artifact to block in time, she had only managed to catch the edge of it with the artifact’s body. The golden blade had been deflected but still slashed her arm.
The chilling poison of metal immediately sought to invade her body, but her True Fire Dao foundation surged and effortlessly dissolved it. Lifting her gaze, she saw Situ Mo forming seals once more, brilliant golden light shining in his palm.
He is no ordinary cultivator... thought Li Minggong.
Li Minggong had already been wounded after only a few exchanges with Situ Mo. If not for her True Fire restraining metal, her condition would have been far worse. Realizing the vast gap between herself and these veterans, she quickly retreated several steps and activated talismans to shield herself.
But Situ Mo’s spell was complete within a breath. He raised his hand as if throwing something, and countless golden needles shot from his palm. They came in such dense swarms they hurt the eyes to behold, like ten thousand birds returning to their nest. They all stabbed down at her.
I cannot hold back after all...
Li Minggong understood she was no match. Her cultivation and spells were far inferior to these seasoned elders. The golden needles would kill her if they struck true. She had no choice but to pull something from her sleeve and hurl it into the air.
A folding screen immediately appeared in midair. Eight panels each bore a different painting. Azure light rippled across its surface, and dark blue radiance streamed out like falling rain.
It was the Chongming Profound Insight Screen!
The Chongming Profound Insight Screen belonged to the Green Pine Dao lineage and was particularly effective against sects from Jiangnan. But since the Capital Immortal Dao was unrelated to that lineage, Li Zhouwei had not carried it himself.
It had been entrusted to Li Minggong precisely because the Heavy Abyssal Gale ability of the Chongming Profound Insight Screen was exceptionally effective against the Golden Tang Gate.
The ancient dharma artifact erupted with tremendous power. Its dark azure glow spread across the sky, and tens of thousands of golden needles suddenly froze in midair, as if their throats had been seized.
As the dark azure light rippled past, it even forced out two writhing golden blades from the air, squirming like earthworms and struggling wildly. Li Minggong was taken aback, a cold sweat breaking out on her back as she thought, There was yet another strike! Without this dharma artifact, those golden blades would have followed one after another and my life would have been forfeit!
She had only broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm a few years ago and lacked much experience in combat, which explained why she was struggling so much. It was only thanks to her dharma artifact that she had survived.
Situ Mo’s expression finally darkened as he glanced at the artifact, muttering, “Heavy Abyssal Gale? What an overbearing dharma artifact...”
Situ Mo and Li Minggong broke off their exchange after several clashes, but Ding Weizeng had fared far worse. His dark red mana surged as he braced his staff against two golden spears. His eyes had turned entirely crimson. The Palace Sun Tiger’s gaze was known for its deadly precision, so none dared meet his eyes, casting only spell arts at his body instead.
He held six opponents at bay with just his dharma body, leaving them unable to advance an inch. Situ Biao had taken a blow midway and still looked grim.
Situ Mo’s eyes narrowed as he said, “What a formidable Palace Sun Tiger.”
With Ding Weizeng in peril, Li Minggong immediately activated the Golden Dao[1] protective ability within the screen, slipping free from the golden needles and rushing to assist him.
Li Minggong and Ding Weizeng joined forces. True Fire and Hengzhu, bolstered by an ancient dharma artifact designed to counter Golden Tang Gate, were no laughing matter.
Situ Mo was the first to react, drawing his blade to intercept and shouting coldly, “Do not let them join forces!”
His reaction was lightning-fast. He intercepted Li Minggong as he shouted, while Ding Weizeng had already shifted his position.
The guest cultivators of Golden Tang exchanged a glance and shouted in unison, “Go!”
Several streams of golden light burst from their hands. Situ Biao also produced the golden command token once again, releasing beams of light that restrained Ding Weizeng. In an instant, resistance closed in from above and below, left and right, sealing him within.
“ Hahahahaha! ”
This only made Ding Weizeng laugh. His dark red pupils shifted slightly as he pressed one hand into the air before him and chanted, “Crimson tiger flees, the king retreats from the hall, meals are cut, the self is chastised, amnesty is granted to all under heaven!”
He transformed into a gust of dark red wind, howling through the barriers around him as if they did not exist. The wind swirled once in the sky before landing beside Li Minggong, reforming into Ding Weizeng’s figure.
In that instant, everyone from Golden Tang Gate froze in shock. The turn of events had happened too quickly; even Situ Mo was momentarily stunned. He and Li Minggong reacted almost at the same time as they thought, The Palace Sun Tiger excels in battle, escapes imprisonment, shatters cages, charges through Yin to transcend karma, and strikes through sight.
The encirclement formed by Situ Biao and the others already bore the intent of Cage, and their combined efforts had shaped the form of Imprisonment. The Palace Sun Tiger’s art of piercing through Yin to transcend karma countered this perfectly, since it resonated with the very core of the Immortal Foundation.
The tide of battle shifted dramatically. Situ Biao’s face turned pale, while Ding Weizeng’s laughter showed no sign of stopping. Li Minggong, however, was the first to change expression, hastily steering the Chongming Profound Insight Screen back.
Siwei!
High above, An Siwei was still fending off one of Golden Tang Gate’s guest cultivators alone.
But she was a step too late. How quick was Situ Mo? He appeared beside An Siwei in a surge of golden qi. Before the Chongming Profound Insight Screen could arrive, he struck a palm against him. The blow caused An Siwei to spit blood and sent him hurtling toward Golden Tang’s forces. Situ Mo even had the leisure to turn and block the incoming dharma artifact, meeting it with a cold, unyielding gaze.
An Siwei’s Immortal Foundation was ordinary, his cultivation techniques mediocre, and he had been fully focused on dueling his opponent. How could he react in time? In the blink of an eye, he was caught within the encirclement of six cultivators and completely immobilized.
1. This technique first appeared in Chapter 900. ☜