Floating South territory.
Golden mist filled the skies, and True Fire flowed like a river.
Li Minggong raised the Six-Cornered Scarlet Flame Lamp high in her hand, its flames roaring skyward and holding back the surging golden mist. On the other side, the Chongming Profound Insight Screen radiated with dazzling light, its cascading azure glow capturing streaks of golden brilliance.
The great battle in the Floating South territory had already reached its final stage. Situ Mo hovered high in the sky, his diamond-patterned golden feathered robe billowing as he gripped Ding Weizeng's long staff with all his strength. Streams of golden qi flowed down his cheeks, making him look terrifying.
On the other hand, Ding Weizeng was in even more miserable shape. His Dharma Body was covered in wounds from head to toe, as dark red blood stained his robes, and a massive gash split open his abdomen, revealing glistening internal organs glowing faintly with dharma light.
Situ Mo stared at him with a dark expression, his gaze drifting from side to side. That wretched, foul-mouthed Hooked Serpent was still lurking nearby, its whereabouts unknown.
"Time is running out..."
Situ Mo had not fallen short of his fearsome reputation. His techniques had even surpassed the Li Family's expectations. The Golden Tang Gate master had single-handedly held off both Ding Weizeng and the Hooked Serpent, one man and one beast, and pressed them so hard that Ding Weizeng's injuries grew worse and worse. On top of that, the Chongming Profound Insight Screen hung in the sky, perfectly countering flying swords and flying needles.
Although Ding Weizeng had already suffered injuries earlier when he fought six opponents alone, his performance was still astounding. Li Wushao, too, was no ordinary foe; the two venomous hooks on his tail were enough to make most cultivators shudder.
It was precisely those two venomous hooks that made things dangerous. Caught off guard earlier, Situ Mo had only been grazed on the chin, yet the biting cold had spread from his jaw all the way to his chest. Even swallowing several pills had only temporarily suppressed it. One of his own foolish subordinates, unaware of how deadly the Hooked Serpent was, had been struck once by a hook and nearly plummeted to the ground.
"Use your head for once! The Li Family is a Purple Mansion Realm immortal family. Do you think they'd bother with an ordinary Hooked Serpent from the seabed? White ones are decent, but black ones are pathetic in battle; even dragons find them unappetizing. If the Li Family values this black serpent, then it must be something extraordinary!"
Having spent many years in the Eastern Sea, Situ Mo knew these things well. Thus, he dared not allow himself to be struck again, but that caution restrained his movements in battle. His most prized spell arts were countered, leaving him in a difficult position of being unable to advance or retreat.
As for the other members of Golden Tang Gate, Situ Biao was locked in combat with Li Minggong. Though he had driven her back again and again, he was forced to fight cautiously due to Li Wushao's intermittent support. The white ape and Li Chenghuai were each engaged with their own opponents.
However, it was the Dawn Rayfish who proved especially formidable. He darted back and forth, holding off three opponents at once with remarkable speed and strength. His attacks might not be lethal, but they were swift and vicious. He had also likely learned his high-level spell arts from Li Xizhi. He could conjure phantom clones, filling the sky with illusory afterimages and making it difficult to discern the real from the false.
As the battle dragged on, Situ Mo still saw no reinforcements from the Capital Immortal Dao. His heart grew uneasy, and he craned his neck in anxious hope. At last, several streaks of light rose from the east; Foundation Establishment Realm reinforcements from the Hidden East territory had arrived.
They were led by a round-faced woman. Li Minggong looked closely and saw that it was Song Yunbai. A chill crept into her heart, This is trouble...
Her own forces were already stretched to the limit just holding off Golden Tang Gate. Below, a guest cultivator poisoned by the serpent was still wreaking havoc and looting everything, making the situation even more desperate. If more enemies arrived, they might have no choice but to retreat.
When the woman drew near, Situ Mo recognized her as well. He was always respectful toward the Capital Immortal Dao and politely deferential toward the Li Family, but he spoke in a low, heavy voice to Song Yunbai, "You girl! What took you so long to come from the Hidden East territory?"
"What took me so long?" Song Yunbai was not the least bit intimidated and replied in a mocking tone, "It's not as if I can just march straight in like the gate master. Li Chenghui dismantled the grand formation of Hongfu Mountain and the entire mountain is crawling with rogue cultivators and esteemed clans. Hongfu Mountain was personally entrusted to us by the Daoist Master to guard, and we cannot afford to neglect it."
She came closer with a smile, then added, "If the gate master has any complaints... then perhaps your gate's Purple Mansion Realm Daoist Master should take it up directly with ours."
It was no secret that Golden Tang Gate's Purple Mansion Realm Daoist Master was wandering abroad. Song Yunbai's words were impeccably polite and offered no fault to seize upon, yet their meaning was grating.
Situ Mo's face darkened, but now was no time to explode, so he could only say, "Then why haven't you come to reinforce us?"
Song Yunbai simply bowed in reply. "You misunderstand, gate master. Our young master crushed a secret talisman and has already withdrawn into the Wilderness. I came only to deliver the news."
The moment those words left her mouth, the morale of the Li Family surged. Song Yunbai flicked her sleeves, ignoring Situ Mo's sour expression, and moved to cover the retreat before preparing to depart.
Situ Mo swallowed his anger and said in a deep voice, "Withdraw!"
He immediately withdrew his spell art, dodging a pair of hooks that suddenly shot out, and retreated swiftly. Since nearly everyone on the field was wounded, none dared to give chase.
After all, Li Minggong had been battered back and forth by both Situ Mo and Situ Biao. She had taken her pills and exhausted her trump cards. If either the Chongming Profound Insight Screen or the Six-Cornered Scarlet Flame Lamp had faltered even slightly, she would already have perished in True Fire. Pursuit was out of the question.
Ding Weizeng was the most severely wounded, but thanks to the protection of his Dharma Body, he still seemed in tolerable condition. The white ape and Dawn Rayfish had sustained minor injuries, while Li Wushao had fought with stealth and cunning. Though he had played a significant role, he escaped with only a few cuts.
Li Chenghuai lacked significant dueling prowess and had faced a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm opponent. Yet with the Upper Feather Night Robe and Night Ghost Secret Talisman gifted by his parents, his foe could not even touch him, while the night ghost left the enemy reeling. As a result, he was in the best condition of all, having lost hardly any mana.
Li Minggong finally let out a breath and nearly collapsed. She beckoned Li Chenghuai over to handle matters and murmured, "They captured Elder Siwei under my watch... I have no face left to see the old master!"
Li Chenghuai soothed her with a few words and had the white ape support her back. Flames roared and black smoke billowed all around. The Floating South territory, which had only just begun to recover, was once again left in ruins, with most of its mountain formations shattered and devastated.