Chapter 154: Chapter 153: Taoist Yi Hong Excels at Beheading, Taoist Ming Yu at Dismembering

"Who are you people!?"

After fighting for a good while, the Stone King finally voiced the question.

Gu Zhao answered with the Dharma Seal in his hand. He raised the Soul-Stabilizing Seal into mid-air and poured Magical Power into it. As Spiritual Power circulated within, the seal shot out a dark ray of light straight at the Stone King. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

The dark light passed through the Stone King’s Protective Corpse Qi and shone directly into his Sea of Consciousness.

The Stone King’s mind became muddled. His Divine Soul Cultivation, which was not particularly strong to begin with, was suppressed by the dark light, and even casting his Magical Power became sluggish.

Without a word, Taoist Yi Hong relentlessly swung his blade. The hazy white glow on its edge filled the Stone King’s vision, and he could only struggle to raise his right arm.

SLASH!

The blade’s edge broke through the Stone King’s Corpse Qi and, in a single strike, lopped off one of his forearms.

"AHH!"

The Stone King shrieked. Not daring to fight any longer, his body shrank and flickered as he tried to retreat deeper into the cave, but he was met head-on by a wall of Taiyi Wind and Fire.

Meanwhile, seeing Taoist Yan Song block the path with the Taiyi Wind and Fire and the Dragon-locking Light Curtain dimming under the assault, a glint appeared in Rong Wen’s eyes. He pulled a Small Copper Bottle from his robes.

He uncorked the bottle, and with a surge of Magical Power, a foul, turquoise poison mist billowed out. Guided by Rong Wen’s Magical Power, it transformed into a poison dragon and instantly shattered the connected Qi Mechanism of the eight Celestial Warriors.

Having broken their linked Qi Mechanism, Rong Wen no longer had any intention of fighting. With a flash, he appeared at the entrance of the cave, but before he could escape, a pattern of interconnected water and fire suddenly materialized before him.

The left half of the pattern was red, a blazing fire, while the right half was black, a churning current of water. Within the fire, a ring of water flowed, and within the water, a ball of fire burned.

The shapes of the fire and water were large at one end and small at the other, connecting head-to-tail and interlocking. Each contained a part of the other, a perfect fusion of inside and out.

Unfortunately, Rong Wen was too ignorant to recognize the famous Taoist Tai Chi Diagram.

At the same time, Taoist Ming Yu chanted, "Northern Five Qi Yin Thunder Generating Water," and "Southern Three Qi Yang Thunder Generating Fire." Water and Fire in Harmony, with thunder at its core.

The next moment, the fire and water began to rotate clockwise, forming a vortex of interconnected water and fire. At the center of the vortex, a violet-gold light flickered.

Rong Wen could see how terrifying the Tai Chi Diagram before him was, but he didn’t dare to linger. Taking advantage of the fact that the two most powerful Mages were focused on the Stone King, he risked injury, unleashed all his Magical Power, and charged straight into it.

BOOM!

Taoist Ming Yu’s Dao Practice was slightly inferior, after all. His Thunder Technique of Yin and Yang in Harmony failed to stop Rong Wen, who smashed through it.

Then, another Yin Yang Water and Fire Tai Chi Diagram appeared before Rong Wen’s eyes.

Rong Wen: ???

"Uncle-Master, what do you think of my Thunder Technique?" Gu Zhao asked Taoist Ming Yu with a smile.

Taoist Ming Yu stroked his beard and praised, "Sect Leader, your talent is extraordinary. This is a joyous occasion!"

He had only taught Gu Zhao the Shenxiao Taiji Thunder Concealment Book after being brought here, less than a month ago. Even though Gu Zhao already had a foundation in Thunder Techniques, his ability to execute the Yin Yang Thunder Skill so quickly and proficiently was a testament to his innate talent.

Rong Wen looked at the Water and Fire Tai Chi before him, its power faintly surpassing the previous one. Without hesitating, he sent a surge of Protective Poison Qi from the Copper Bottle in his hand and charged into it once more.

PFFT!

Rong Wen spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. Most of his Protective Poison Qi had dissipated, but he had finally broken through the Tai Chi Diagram blocking his path. Escape was now in sight.

SWISH!

The ring of a sword sounded, and at the same time, a clear voice echoed in his ear, "Purple Qi from the East, Pure Yang Immortal Sword!"

A ten-foot-tall Dharma Aspect appeared inside Stone King Cave. The Dharma Aspect held a longsword, its eyes glowing with Divine Light as it stared down Rong Wen, sending a chill through his heart. He hastily raised his hands to block.

A dozen sword-flashes flickered, weaving into a Sword Net that shredded all the poison gas and stopped Rong Wen from taking another step forward.

The next moment, the eight Celestial Warriors were back in position, surrounding Rong Wen.

"Fiend! Die!" the Celestial Warriors roared in unison.

Rong Wen’s eyes looked ready to split. He couldn’t help but demand, "Who are you people? I am Rong Wen of Infinite Cave in Bai Shi Prefecture! I have no grievance or enmity with you. How can you attack without distinguishing right from wrong?"

Gu Zhao nodded. "He finally said his name. I was starting to think people around here just fight without talking."

"We were the ones who stormed their gates. They were so confident, what was there to ask?" Yunyang said with a laugh. "Only Wudang Mountain needs to ask questions first. At Black Wood Cliff, we’d just kill them and be done with it."

Gu Zhao understood. "I knew something felt off. Turns out I’m just too used to being a righteous sect."

While directing the Celestial Warriors to besiege Rong Wen, Taoist Ming Yu shook his head and laughed. "But we are a righteous sect."

At this, Gu Zhao looked at Rong Wen. "So Infinite Cave is a power in Bai Shi Prefecture. I heard Consort Yu of the Golden Wind Sect mention it once. Back then, she mistook us for people from Infinite Cave."

Yunyang asked curiously, "Infinite Cave is also a bunch of Corpse Ghosts. Why would she mistake you for them?"

"Because Uncle-Master announced his Taoist name," Gu Zhao said with a smile.

"Fu Sheng Wu Liang... Hahaha!" Yunyang roared with laughter. Gripping his longsword, he looked eager for action and said enthusiastically, "Just look at him! His Evil Qi is even denser than the Stone King’s. That means Infinite Cave can’t be full of good people. Should we go wipe out Infinite Cave, too?"

Gu Zhao’s eyes narrowed. "No rush. Let’s take down Changping Prefecture first, then we’ll talk. Uncle-Master, you can make your move. No need to leave him alive."

"Alright!" Taoist Ming Yu nodded and commanded the eight Celestial Warriors to close in, layer by layer.

Rong Wen’s pupils shrank. ’So their fight with Stone King Cave isn’t a personal grudge! They’re also enemies of the Golden Wind Sect in Changping Prefecture, and they’re even coveting Bai Shi Prefecture.’

’Not spirits, not gods, not demons, not ghosts... no Harmony... pure Mages...’

Rong Wen asked again, "Who in the world are you? Why don’t you dare state your names?"

The next moment, a fierce shout came from the other side of the fight. "Seeing as your Dao Practice isn’t weak, I’ll let you die with an answer. The one who will take your head is Yi Hong of Daluo Palace!"

SLICE!

A flash of cold light shot past, and the Stone King’s head flew into the air.

Gu Zhao beckoned with his hand, and the Soul-Stabilizing Seal hovering in mid-air flew back to him. He then activated it again, and a dark ray of light shot through space, shining into Rong Wen’s Sea of Consciousness.

"Wait!"

Rong Wen was about to say more when he felt his Divine Soul sink. He hastily mobilized his Divine Sense to resist, but he was caught off guard as the eight Celestial Warriors attacked in unison, their Celestial God’s Suppression instantly bearing down on him.

Rong Wen felt his body grow heavy, and weapons of all kinds were already upon him.

A saber slashed his neck, a sword pierced his throat, a Muddy Iron Spear ran through his chest, a Hooked Scythe Spear snagged his back, a Bamboo Whip struck his shoulders, an Eight-Sided Mace smashed his ribs, a Xuanhua Axe severed his legs, and a Golden Gourd Hammer crushed the top of his skull.

With a final scream, Rong Wen was torn limb from limb by the Celestial Warriors. His Divine Soul was shattered by a Celestial Thunder Curse from Taoist Ming Yu, his body and spirit utterly destroyed.

On the other side, Taoist Yi Hong retracted his Divine Techniques, and Taoist Yan Song recalled his Wind and Fire. After fighting for so long, they had somehow managed not to harm the four human men and women standing behind the Stone King at all.

Gu Zhao dusted off his hands, dispelling the effects of the Great Dragon-locking Talisman. He pointed toward the inside of the cave. "Spread out and clear the interior. Regroup here afterward."