Chapter 134: Chapter 133: Lü Zu’s Dharma Aspect

A single blast of Palm Thunder scattered the green-clothed man’s Protective Ghost Energy and nearly obliterated his Ghost Body.

Gu Zhao’s Dao Practice Realm had advanced at a staggering pace since his arrival. In a one-on-one duel, he wouldn’t be much weaker than the new Guardian Star Official, The Golden Dog of Bond, let alone this century-old Fierce Ghost.

As such, the power of Gu Zhao’s Palm Thunder was on a completely different level. He no longer needed to chant; it manifested instantly with a mere thought. Moreover, he could control its power at will, making it as strong or as weak as he desired.

The green-clothed man had no time to dodge and was struck by the Thunderbolt, letting out a bloodcurdling scream. He was already injured from the backlash of his damaged Bone Arrow, and this heavy blow caused his aura to instantly wither.

The green-clothed man whipped his head around, his eyes filled with terror as he stared at Gu Zhao. He’d never imagined that this refined, scholarly young master was even more powerful than the swordsman!

’Who in the world are they?’

SNAP!

Gu Zhao opened his folding fan, fanned himself twice, and gestured to Yunyang with a lift of his head. "I’ve made my move."

Spurred on by Gu Zhao, Yunyang bared his teeth and unleashed his full power. His figure blurred into an afterimage as True Qi surged through his body, finally gathering at the tip of his sword. In an instant, he crossed several dozen feet to appear before the green-clothed man, thrusting his sword straight at the man’s chest.

The wind from the sword was biting. Although it carried the warmth of Taoist True Qi, to the green-clothed man, it felt bone-chillingly cold!

The attack was too ferocious. The green-clothed man couldn’t afford to worry about Gu Zhao—not that it would have done him any good. He could only circulate all the Magical Power and Ghost Qi in his body to shield himself.

Yunyang’s eyes widened. His Inner Breath True Qi fused as he poured his entire heart and soul into the strike.

The next instant, the unexpected happened.

From Gu Zhao’s perspective, Yunyang was suddenly enveloped in a faintly transparent aura. In the blink of an eye, it materialized into a translucent figure nearly ten feet tall.

The figure hovered in mid-air. Though indistinct, its features were discernible: a blue Daoist Robe, a tall Daoist cap, sharp brows, and starlike eyes. Three long strands of beard flowed down its chest. One hand stroked its beard, the other held a sword, and a faint smile graced its lips as it pointed its blade at the fiend.

"Holy sh—"

Gu Zhao’s eyes widened. Even though he had never seen this translucent figure before, he recognized it instantly from its attire, its appearance, and the technique Yunyang had just executed—Cyan Dragon Emerges from the Water.

The Northern Sect Five Ancestors, one of the Eight Immortals of the Upper Cave, Lü Dongbin!

When Lü Zu’s illusory Dharma Aspect appeared, the green-clothed man felt an extreme pressure that almost suffocated him. Seeing the sword tip stabbing toward him, he could only erupt with all his Ghost Qi to defend himself while shouting, "I am a Stone King’s Disciple! You can’t—"

SHLICK!

With his sword, Yunyang broke through the Ghost Qi. The moment the sword tip touched the green-clothed man’s body, the man’s Ghost Body could no longer hold its form and instantly dissolved into scattering black smoke.

Yunyang swept through the black smoke. With a twist of his True Qi, he wiped out the remaining Ghost Qi, completely obliterating the green-clothed man’s Divine Soul along with it.

"Noisy." Yunyang sheathed his sword calmly as the Dharma Aspect behind him gradually faded away.

Meeting the astonished gazes of Gu Zhao and the others, Yunyang’s face instantly broke into a wide grin. "Was I cool just now or what!"

Gu Zhao asked, "What was that just now?"

"Eight Immortals Sword Intent, Lü Zu’s Dharma Aspect!" Yunyang declared smugly. "With that one sword strike, every swordsman from those martial arts novels is a complete amateur compared to me. The Nine Swords of Du Gu? The Celestial Flying Immortal? Please."

Gu Zhao cut him off. "Stop bragging. Tell me the truth!"

"Ahem!" Yunyang cleared his throat and explained, "It’s a state of Three Flowers Gathering at the Top and Five Qi Chaoyuan. I completely immersed myself in the mindset of being Lü Dongbin himself as he thrust his sword. Through Unity of Heart and Spirit, I used my True Qi as a conduit to manifest that image externally."

Although Yunyang was enveloped within Lü Zu’s Dharma Aspect, he was clearly aware of what had just happened, his own image, and even how it looked from an outside perspective.

Yunyang raised an eyebrow, his voice sounding only in Gu Zhao’s ears. "This is the power of a Quanzhen Disciple. When your Inner Breath True Qi is complete, its might naturally manifests!"

Gu Zhao understood. "Teach me."

Yunyang: "..."

’Can’t you at least pretend to be shocked?’

’Even I was shocked out of my mind when I activated Lü Zu’s Dharma Aspect just now!’

However, Yunyang could only sigh. "Fine, fine, of course I’ll teach you!"

After the joking was over, Gu Zhao bent down and picked up a Bone Arrow that had fallen by his feet. "He said he was a Stone King’s Disciple. Is that the Stone King from Stone King Cave in Changye County?"

"Stone King Cave... or Corpse King Cave," Yunyang mused, also picking up a Bone Arrow. He frowned. "The Cave Master is a corpse, and this fellow was a Fierce Ghost. They’re both Ghosts, so it fits. And this," he added, looking at the arrow, "is human bone."

Gu Zhao raised an eyebrow. "You can tell?"

Yunyang held it up. "Because the arrowhead is made from a finger bone."

Gu Zhao examined the Bone Arrow in his hand and saw that it was true. He couldn’t help but ask Bai Ke, "I thought you said Stone King Cave wasn’t particularly evil."

Bai Ke poked out from the backpack. "Stone King Cave indeed doesn’t go out killing indiscriminately, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t kill. It just kills fewer people than the Three Extremes Mountain and River Biang Palace. But no mortal who accidentally wanders into Stone King Cave’s territory has ever come out alive."

Gu Zhao nodded. This green-clothed man’s Dao Practice was quite high, but his Evil Qi was only about the same as those few Female Ghosts.

Yunyang toyed with the Bone Arrow in his hand and asked, puzzled, "Since Stone King Cave is in Changye County and they rarely leave their mountain, what is a Stone King’s Disciple doing here?"

The green-clothed man was dead; he wasn’t about to offer any explanations.

Gu Zhao tossed the Bone Arrow into the air and unleashed a Palm Thunder, shattering the uncontrolled projectile into bone fragments that rained down on the ground. "Why worry about it? When the time comes, we’ll go straight to Stone King Cave and demand an explanation from the Stone King."

Gu Zhao added coolly, "And if the Stone King is responsible for a great number of wrongful deaths, then we won’t need an explanation."

Yunyang raised an eyebrow, then nodded with a solemn expression. "A wise point, Sect Leader!"

In that instant, the two young men, who moments ago had been joking around without a care, transformed. They now bore the righteous and aloof air of master Mages.

"Destroy these Magical Artifacts, then let’s leave," Gu Zhao said.

"I’ll do it," Yunyang said. Without waiting for Gu Zhao, he drew his longsword again. SHING! SHING! SHING! A few quick slashes and the remaining Bone Arrows were chopped to bits. He then released a surge of Taoist True Qi, purging them of all the sinister Ghost Qi they contained. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Let’s go," Gu Zhao called to the others. "We’ll find lodging in Xiuyue County tonight."

Zhuo Qingyan and the Silk Embroideress, being accustomed to such sights, said nothing. Li Erping, however, who had been cowering behind Gu Zhao the entire time, now had eyes shining with excitement as he went to fetch the horses.

’He could brag about tonight for the rest of his life!’

...

The next morning, Yunyang did not continue with the group. Not wanting to be a third wheel, he set off alone with his sword and a dozen or so silver pieces, embarking on his own journey north to Chongguang County to vanquish demons and ghosts.

As for Gu Zhao and the others, Li Erping drove the horse-drawn carriage and brought them once again to the Zhuo Family Mansion.