Chapter 306: Chapter 29 Rushing Over
A gentle breeze whisked away, carrying dust like countless sand grains.
In the desolate land crisscrossed with ravines, Bu Yusheng coughed repeatedly, spitting out a mouthful of congealed blood. She touched her face with her hand, feeling the lingering sting and couldn’t help clenching her silver teeth, her voice heavy.
"Jiang Li!"
Had she not made significant progress in cultivating Kunxu Immortal Palace’s Youtian Xuanjin Body and the "West Beauty Miao Dao Zhenjing," she might have indeed met her defeat at Jiang Li’s hands in that battle.
That momentary exposure of a flaw was too fatal.
"Jiang Li! You’d better not fall into my hands!"
Bu Yusheng said coldly, and with a flick of her hand, golden energy drew back needle after needle, re-forming them into a golden shuttle, which she withdrew into her sleeve. Then she wiped away the fresh blood from the corner of her mouth, about to take an elixir, when she suddenly sensed the sound of approaching wind.
She immediately took out a jade pendant, a faint golden light emerging around her, veiling her face and figure. From the outside, only a graceful silhouette could be discerned.
The sound of the wind came closer, along with footfalls, as Zong Hai and three Taoists hurried over using Qinggong. Judging by their appearance, they seemed to have realized she was a subordinate under the Fourth Prince.
Upon seeing the figure shrouded in golden light, Zong Hai opened his mouth as if to speak.
"Snap!"
A gust of wind struck Zong Hai’s face, making a crisp sound. Bu Yusheng said coldly, "You’re too late."
If Zong Hai and the others had arrived just a little earlier, they might have worked with Bu Yusheng to capture Jiang Li. After all, he was also a Sixth Rank, with three assistants, and could play some part.
But now, his arrival undoubtedly touched Bu Yusheng’s sore spot.
However, Zong Hai and his companions were not Bu Yusheng’s subordinates. They had come because they sensed the lethal moves unleashed here and wanted to check the situation. Now, they were slapped in the face without any clarity.
Zong Hai almost clenched his teeth until they cracked.
He bent his head, concealing the mark on his face and the throbbing vein on his forehead from being visible to others.
He didn’t dare to retaliate.
Even though he wasn’t one of Bu Yusheng’s subordinates and, in theory, she had no right to punish him, he dared not strike back. Their hierarchical difference was clear—being a direct disciple of Kunxu Immortal Palace’s Great Palace Master was a far higher status than Zong Hai’s as a Taoist.
This was the first aspect to confront after entering society—hierarchy.
"Please forgive me, Fairy." Zong Hai could not only not argue, but he also had to apologize.
"Hmph."
Bu Yusheng snorted and didn’t make a big deal, but directly asked, "What’s the situation at the Daoist Temple?"
"The temple master... Tong Yuanzi was struck by His Highness’s palm. He was meant to die, but a man in teal rescued him. His Highness, prioritizing urgent matters, did not order a pursuit. Now he’s at the Daoist Temple with the Left Privy Council Chief Executive, breaking through the restrictions."
Suppressing the anger in his heart and maintaining a calm tone, Zong Hai reported, "His Highness ordered us to inform Fairy that urgent matters come first. We should first seize control of the Cave Heaven, and then settle other issues."
Upon hearing this, Bu Yusheng pondered for a moment before pointing northward, "You four follow this direction to pursue Jiang Li. After consecutive battles, his power is nearly exhausted, and he should be recovering now. You go and capture him, and bring him to the Daoist Temple."
In truth, Bu Yusheng couldn’t get a clear gauge on Jiang Li’s current situation, for Jiang Li was indeed too good at concealing himself.
If Jiang Li still retained some strength, it would create a situation of Lifeless Death for those four if they approached.
But like this, they could also buy her some time.
Bu Yusheng, currently injured and having just used a lethal move, wouldn’t be able to use her trump card again in a short time if Jiang Li retained his power and decided to launch a surprise counterattack.
Therefore, she would let these four men take her place to probe the depth of Jiang Li’s abilities.
If Jiang Li’s power had indeed been exhausted, they should be able to capture him with their abilities.
And if he still held some strength, it was better for Zong Hai and the others to die than for her to take the risk.
Besides, their deaths would not disrupt the larger plan and could even buy some more time. Once the Fourth Prince controlled this Cave Heaven Blessed Land, Jiang Li would be like a turtle trapped in a jar.
After speaking, a Golden Wind suddenly rose, whisking Bu Yusheng swiftly away, leaving only Zong Hai and his companions behind.
Following Zong Hai, a middle-aged Taoist showed a troubled expression, then asked Zong Hai, "Brother, what should we do now?"
Jiang Li was no easy target. In the previous battle, he used his own power to alter the Heavenly Phenomenon and outright killed Yuan Zhen, the current leader of the Daode Sect.
Despite having Zong Hai, a Sixth Rank among them, if they truly faced Jiang Li, they would most likely be the ones to die.
That is, if Jiang Li’s power had not yet been depleted.
If his power had been depleted, then in such a short time, even taking an elixir wouldn’t likely restore much.
"Let’s go," Zong Hai took the lead towards the north.
"Brother!" exclaimed the others in alarm.
"Zong Ming had already offended Jiang Li when he entered the Daoist Temple. We are affiliated with Zong Ming; do you think Jiang Li will spare us in the future?" Zong Hai said coldly.
"But we belong to His Highness..."
"We are His Highness’s subordinates, and we should serve Him dutifully, not the other way around," Zong Hai interrupted.
They were the subordinates of another, obligated to protect the Fourth Prince, and not for the Fourth Prince to protect them. Could it really be that the Fourth Prince should assign Fifth-Rank... or even he, himself, to constantly protect these four subordinates?
"There’s no such good deal."
So, they had to deal with Jiang Li; otherwise, they would follow in Zong Ming’s footsteps sooner or later.
"Fellow cultivators, resolving Jiang Li isn’t just to ensure our future well-being, but also promises great rewards from His Highness. Achieving success and fame will then be but a trivial matter."
After Zong Hai finished speaking, he headed straight for the north.
Seeing this, the other three gritted their teeth and followed suit.
...
...
After traveling northward for over ten miles, the trees gradually became denser, no longer as desolate as before.
In the tranquil dense forest, a breeze that seemed to be there and not there brushed past, carrying the wood dust scattered about, blowing towards a certain direction.
Zong Hai, who was rushing along, brightened up at this. He led his people in the chase, and after covering about a mile, they suddenly broke into a clearing on a hillside.
Their target—Jiang Li—was sitting cross-legged on the hillside, his back to them, ingesting the faint spiritual mechanism of heaven and earth.
’Found him.’
Zong Hai was secretly thrilled and about to channel his Qi to attack.
But their rapid approach brought the wind all the way to Jiang Li. How could Jiang Li be unaware?
The moment Zong Hai began to channel his Qi, an invisible pressure descended upon him.
It was as if someone was watching him, that gaze tangible, obstructing him, unconsciously tensing his mind and spirit.
But apart from them, there was only Jiang Li here... and he was still facing away from them...
"Playing ghost tricks!"
Zong Hai coldly shouted, "Such antics only reveal your weaknesses."
If he wasn’t truly weakened, why bother playing ghost tricks?
Jiang Li, with his back to him, didn’t pretend to be mysterious and chuckled, "You call it playing ghost tricks, then come at me."
If he thought it was all an act, why hesitate?
Zong Hai’s face turned shades of green and white. He wanted to move forward but found his steps incredibly heavy.
He had just said that they must resolve Jiang Li, but now, when it came to it, he hesitated to make a move.
"Even a tiger fallen on the plains isn’t something a spineless dog like you can bully," Jiang Li said with a laugh.
His words struck Zong Hai like a sharp sword, igniting a fire in his heart.
"Don’t think that just because you bested this poor Taoist once, you can take me lightly."
Zong Hai clenched his right fist, the bones cracking, his stature firm, his Qi mechanism swirling around him like surging tides, "That day, it was because this Taoist did not wish to expose his Magic Door, not because I feared you."
His right arm had been broken by Jiang Li, and even with the finest medicines, it couldn’t have recovered in less than ten days. Injuries to muscles and bones may heal in one hundred days for ordinary men, and perhaps cultivators need less time, but recovery would not be easy.
Yet now, not only had Zong Hai recovered, but he also displayed a Qi mechanism far stronger than before.
"This poor Taoist has long since learned a superior Magic Door through the Southern Heavenly Department, refining my power to pure perfection. To avoid exposing the cultivation of techniques not from the Iron Pillar Temple, I had no choice but to suppress my power."
As Zong Hai spoke, he walked up the hillside, drawing within five steps of Jiang Li. His breath seemed to fade in and out, and suddenly, his arm muscles bulged, his blood and Qi transported, his essence energy exploding, emitting an aura like that of a primordial beast.
He stepped forward and struck with his palm, the air condensing, creating ripples that surged towards Jiang Li.
This palm carried True Qi within, his blood and Qi rolling vigorously. The force was pure and mighty, several times stronger than before. Zong Hai’s claim was accurate; he had indeed concealed much strength.
Had he wielded such palm force that day, he would never have had his arm broken by Jiang Li with a single strike.
However, even Jiang Li from that day hadn’t used his full strength, let alone Jiang Li now, whose power far surpassed his past. Back then, he was merely Seventh Rank, and now, he was Sixth Rank.
In the end, Zong Hai only dared to attack thinking Jiang Li was weakened; if Jiang Li’s strength remained intact...
The ripples now began to contract, forming rings of Qi that coiled around Zong Hai’s arms, layers of invisible force pressing down on him, invisible barriers blocking his palm.
The wind pressed, entangled, invisible chains binding Zong Hai and the others.
Jiang Li took a deep breath, and a misty vapor was drawn from the heavens and earth, inhaled through his nose.
"So this is the true spiritual energy of heaven and earth? Not bad at all."
The operation of "Qi Tomb" came alive more vividly, and Innate Qi from within his body radiated outward, emerging around him like layers of luminescent rings.