The Eternal Way-Chapter 108: Magical Duel

A crisp, resounding "Dong!" echoed through the air.

The halo around the Precious Canopy suddenly became overwhelmingly magnificent.

Green-tiled roofs overlapped like fish scales, jade steps gleamed flawlessly. Pavilions condensed auspicious mists, and towers stretched across with radiant clouds. Around the Precious Canopy, a hundred deities stood guard, and countless immortals lined up in order. Immortal sages stood tall like cranes, and Daoist masters appeared pure as ice.

The illusions that surged forth abruptly formed into a talisman.

On the talisman was written: "By the Decree of the Sage." Within its core, words formed: "Nine Birds Purify Defilement and Transform into Pure Yang."

As the talisman was cast, the hundred-zhang-tall female apparition recited true words. Her voice was gentle like a breeze, yet thunderous like an explosion. Though her voice wasn't loud, it drowned out all other sounds in Li Qi's mind.

Her words were: "Great Lord of the Stars, ever-changing and ceaseless. Drive away evil spirits, bind demons, protect life, safeguard the body. Wisdom shines bright, the mind is tranquil. The three souls endure eternally; the seven poisons shall not be lost. Urgently, as per the command—Decree!"

As the word "Decree!" rang out, the vast shadow of evil was forced to retreat.

The talisman reflected in the void, and strange phenomena emerged around the Precious Canopy. Azure dragons and white tigers faced each other in grand procession; vermilion birds and black tortoises guarded the truth. Deities from all eight directions proclaimed their might to the nine heavens. Heaven and earth harmonized naturally, and defiling miasma dispersed.

Then, the gods, immortals, sages, and Daoist masters who formed the talisman bowed together, chanting: "Nine Phoenixes soar, purifying ten directions. Golden boys guide, jade maidens attend. We humbly summon the General of Nine Phoenixes to descend swiftly with celestial yang, banishing malevolent spirits and eradicating impurities. Celestial generals and divine officials, descend directly through the clouds. Stars shift, constellations turn, three lights shimmer. Respect my talismanic command, cleanse the ten directions. Urgently, by the decree of the Queen Mother of the West!"

Suddenly, a nine-headed divine bird appeared in the sky!

Amidst a burst of golden light, the nine-headed bird spiraled with the talisman, purifying the realm, breaking defilements, and dispelling evil. The oppressive shadow of evil that had dominated the sky seemed to be touched by a single point of spiritual light in the void. In an instant, all malevolence was severed, and misfortune was driven away.

As this talisman completed its work entirely, heaven cleared, and earth calmed. Evil was cleansed, and malevolent forms vanished.

The nine-headed bird completely dispersed the demonic mist. Even Li Qi felt a sudden lightness in his body and a surge of vitality.

A wave of pure energy rushed toward him. He and Old Horse couldn't help but take deep breaths. Instantly, qi surged, toxins dissipated, and they both felt refreshed and rejuvenated. All traces of evil were expelled from their bodies, leaving them radiant with vigor.

Old Horse, who had previously looked gaunt and listless, miraculously regained his spirit. It was as if the fatigue from fifteen days of continuous travel had vanished. He even let out a neigh.

As for Li Qi, he felt his internal energy actually increasing!

This pure energy—just one breath of it equaled an hour of hard practice for him!

Unfortunately, both the demonic and pure energies quickly dissipated. He only managed to breathe in four or five times before it faded. But before he could feel regret, he heard voices and dialogue in the distance.

That hundred-zhang-tall female apparition must have been something like Luo Fu Niangniang's Dharma body, right?

The glowing, translucent figure had a serene and peaceful face, but her tone was cold: "A mere sixth-rank demon dares to act so brazenly before me?"

However, the vast shadow of evil that had been dispersed reassembled, forming a terrifying, black-faced, fanged demon body, also a hundred zhang tall, matching Luo Fu Niangniang's height.

"Heh heh, no wonder you're Luo Fu Niangniang, a great third-rank power. Even with just a wisp of your soul remaining, you effortlessly shattered my twelvefold concentrated curse demon, turning a thousand years of cultivation into nothing. If your injuries were any lighter, I'd already be thoroughly dead," said the demon.

"But alas, I've seen through your weakness," the demon sneered. "Even killing a mere curse demon required the use of the 'Nine Phoenixes Purification Talisman.' Clearly, you are at the end of your strength. Let me advise you to stop. Otherwise, though you may kill me, you'll expose your location and exhaust your true spirit. By then, you won't even be able to become a ghost."

"Hmph, you little demon, ignorant of the world. I don't blame you. The Nine Phoenixes Purification Talisman is merely used to cleanse environments, akin to cleaning a Daoist ritual site. How dare you speak of it as some kind of deadly weapon?" the apparition of Luo Fu Niangniang laughed.

"Haha, of course, I know all about the Nine Phoenixes Purification Method," the demon roared with laughter, doubling over.

The Nine Phoenixes Purification Method was frequently used in Daoist rituals. Whenever establishing an altar or performing magic, practitioners would typically perform purification to sweep away malevolent energies, cleanse the environment, and ward off misfortune, creating a pure space. Performing magic within such an environment greatly reduced interference.

In short, it was a method to clean up before conducting rituals.

The demon naturally knew this, which was why he laughed.

After laughing, he continued: "The real Luo Fu Niangniang wouldn't need such things. Even with just a wisp of her soul remaining, a single talisman she casts could obliterate me completely—even if it were just a cleaning talisman!"

"The current level of power here, though strong, can't possibly pretend to be Luo Fu Niangniang. You must be her servant, yes?!"

"I've heard that Luo Fu Niangniang has the essence of the sun and moon attending her—the solar essence, Jinwu Yangning, and the lunar essence, Jade Rabbit Shen Shuibei. Tell me, are you Yangning or Shen Shuibei!? Where exactly is Luo Fu Niangniang!?" The demon spoke confidently, pressing forward with his questions.

As he spoke, black mist surged forth once more. This time, it rushed toward the vicinity of the Precious Canopy but dared not approach too closely. Instead, it surrounded the area, sealing it off completely.

The female apparition shook her head. "Nonsense. If you truly have confidence, why not come forward and test me?"

"If not for the sword intent of the Human Emperor Sword 'drawing a boundary as a prison,' do you really think a small demon like you could offend me and live?"

But the demon didn't believe her. He continued: "How long do you think you can bluff? Our Great Sage has already declared that Luo Fu Niangniang escaped from the Human Emperor Sword, her three souls and seven spirits shattered, leaving only a wisp of her soul clinging to life. We've been tasked to search the five lakes, four seas, thousands of rivers, and hundreds of mountains. Whoever captures Luo Fu Niangniang will be rewarded with a fourth-rank magical treasure."

"You're just a servant. Tell me Luo Fu Niangniang's whereabouts now, and I might spare your life. Once I lose patience and resort to torture, you'll understand the extent of my methods!" the demon snarled viciously.

As for Li Qi, it was as if no one had noticed him at all.

After all, compared to the roadside insects, he was practically indistinguishable.

But through this exchange, he felt an overwhelming sense of horror.

Shen Shuibei had said there was Luo Fu Niangniang's presence here, which meant... Luo Fu Niangniang must indeed be here.

The demon claimed this was actually Shen Shuibei's colleague, the "solar essence" Yangning. This likely wasn't a lie either. After all, if Luo Fu Niangniang were truly alive—if we take the demon's claim of her being "third-rank"—a mere breath from her would probably kill this demon.

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Thus, if both conditions were true, it pointed to the worst possible scenario.

Luo Fu Niangniang was here.

But she was unable to manifest herself! She could only rely on the equally injured Yangning to put on a facade and guard her!