Chapter 199: Chapter 196 Nine Heavens Thunder
"Sea Patrol Yakshas usually appear in the Four Seas, but their traces aren’t unseen inland either."
Yuan Zhen looked at the Yaksha corpse split in two, and said, "Among the Eight Divine Masters of the Devil God Sect, the followers of Wuzhiqi, the Huai River Water God, include Sea Patrol Yakshas among their ranks."
Well, that’s laying the blame on the Devil God Sect again.
With the Sea Patrol Yaksha showing up here, the public explanation is ready: all misdeeds are the work of the Devil God Sect, nothing to do with us.
But whether one believes it depends on personal opinion.
This kind of excuse could only fool the ignorant and uninformed; anyone with the slightest foundation in either the court or field would know just how tightly the court controls the mountains and rivers—not even a place like Yong Province, which frequently rebels, is spared.
Without the River Gods loosening control, what could a mere Sea Patrol Yaksha use to stir the tides?
’However, the Devil God Sect is really quite professional—they can carry any blame placed on them, sooner or later I might try tossing the blame myself.’
Jiang Li’s gaze swept over the corpse of the Sea Patrol Yaksha and turned to Yuan Zhen.
The primary objective at the moment was in fact to find the true body of that Sword Cultivator.
Using the Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill to watch the flow of the Three Talents Qi, Jiang Li’s eyes flickered with a triple harmony, faintly resonating.
Because of the unity ability of the "Unity" in the Liezi Dao Fruit, Jiang Li’s understanding of the changes in Qi deepened, and by realizing things by analogy, the Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill grew stronger as well; to him, the secrets of ordinary Seventh Rank were completely transparent.
This look made even Yuan Zhen, with his Realm, feel as if there was nowhere to hide.
’Preserving Silence Heart Technique.’
In his mind, he silently recited the incantation, quieting his mind and spirit, using the heart to govern the body with utmost firmness, embodying emptiness, and employing purity—maintaining his spiritual essence within silence, utmost in focused fortitude.
This was the Preserving Silence Heart Technique of the Daode Sect, a superior quiet technique, yet Yuan Zhen used it to resist Jiang Li’s prying.
Yuan Zhen’s body and mind entered a state of quiescence, transcending emptiness, his essence returning to stillness, transforming to become void, rendering the Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill without substance to observe.
One had to admit his skill, being able to devise a strategy to counter the Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill upon their first meeting—or perhaps it wasn’t their first!
At Laojun Temple, when he was first targeted by the Sword Cultivator for assassination, Jiang Li had already demonstrated the capability of the Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill. At the Praying for Rain ceremony, Yuan Zhen and Zhang Daoyi were tied up, hence they had no opportunity to witness Jiang Li’s battle with others.
’And besides, facing scrutiny without reacting, only focusing on defense, isn’t that the very picture of a guilty conscience?’
This world is not the ancient past of previous lives, even Confucianism has the fierce means to split a person in half, let alone Daoism. Though their main focus is cultivation, embracing emptiness and silence, if provoked, even the members of the Daode Sect would not hesitate to unleash thunderous tactics.
And Jiang Li’s actions were provoking.
However, upon realizing Jiang Li’s prying, Yuan Zhen did not directly act nor make it known, but rather focused on defense.
Jiang Li’s suspicion towards Yuan Zhen reached ninety percent; he was nearly certain Yuan Zhen had injuries and couldn’t fully exert himself.
But just because he didn’t act didn’t mean Jiang Li wouldn’t.
The wind began to pick up, swirling the pouring rain into a formidable invisible force. Jiang Li stood floating in the air, like the wind, like the rain, as if heaven and earth were united with him, with the wind and rain at his disposal.
"Moo—"
Just as an altercation between the two seemed imminent, a loud bellow sounded abruptly. Across the gorge, the air vibrated, and a ghostly white bull cart emerged from nothingness, rushing forward. On the exposed seat stood a tall, burly figure.
The figure wielded a pitch-black steel fork, with two huge bull horns atop its head, a bull-headed and human-bodied form clad in black armor, radiating an ominous and destructive aura. With his appearance, a tide of deathly Yin energy cascaded forth.
"Bull-headed?"
The legend of Oxhead and Horseface was well-known, and Jiang Li was no stranger to it; however, he hadn’t expected to witness the appearance of Oxhead under these circumstances.
Based on Grade, this Oxhead should also be Sixth Rank, but its manner of arrival was somewhat too bizarre, coming directly through thin air.
And it was also a bit humorous—the Bull-headed deity driving a bull cart, the bull cart pulling the Bull-headed deity...
Two bull heads, one above the other; Jiang Li almost couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
As the Ghostly Bull Cart, carrying the Bull-headed Yin God, appeared and just as quickly faded away, the Bull-headed Yin God himself strode forward mid-air, his steel fork reaching down as an overwhelming tide of deathly Yin energy burst forth like a waterfall plunging down.
"Taibai Jingtian."
The pure white Sword Light spinning around Yuan Zhen suddenly erupted, transforming into a rainbow that shot up and pierced through the sky. The waterfall of deathly Yin energy was instantly pierced by the Sword Rainbow, creating a gap.
Originally facing Jiang Li and with his back to the emerging Oxhead, Yuan Zhen was somehow able to release his Sword Qi and break through the Yin energy, soaring toward the heavens as if he had foreknown it would happen.
The Yin energy split by the gap then flowed back together, barreling towards Jiang Li in the forefront.
"Quite an impressive display of Power," Jiang Li remarked upon seeing this, then with a flick of his sleeve and the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, "it’s just the quality that’s a bit poor."
The Innate Qi was renowned for its quality, and the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top further elevated the quality limit. As Jiang Li endured the onslaught of the deathly Yin energy, he remained completely unharmed, instead using the force to his advantage.
He spun his Innate Qi into a vortex, suddenly absorbing huge amounts of the deathly Yin energy, creating in his palm a large black sphere, which he then casually tossed into the air.
"Fellow Daoist, don’t rush off."
He and Yuan Zhen had only just met and could hardly be called acquaintances, but his tone was remarkably warm, even offering a bundle of deathly Yin energy as a parting gift.
"I have urgent matters to attend to, and must leave. I hope Fellow Daoist will not insist on detaining me."
Yuan Zhen chuckled and, with a flick of his finger, summoned a beam of sword light that plunged from the sky, brilliantly quick and fierce. The sphere formed of the energy of deathly Yin was split into two by the sharp sword light, and Geng Metal Sword Qi bore down directly on Jiang Li’s body, its ferocity plain for all to see.
Yet Jiang Li had anticipated his opponent’s move and his figure was already poised to burst forth at the mere manifestation of the sword light. In a sudden flash, he dodged the sword light and soared into the sky like a startled swan, extending a dragon’s claw.
"Boom!"
The Innate Qi erupted into heavenly thunder, the dragon claw seizing the air and thunder roaring forth.
Seeing that his sword light had been evaded by Jiang Li, Yuan Zhen was about to sweep his sword horizontally, but at that very moment, the thunder struck the sword light. Arcs of electricity snaked over it, instantly causing Yuan Zhen to feel the sword light tremble, nearly losing control of it.
Gold is a conductor of lightning, and Yuan Zhen, currently unable to muster his full strength and in a weakened state, struggled to ward off the thunder directly. This slight disadvantage proved difficult for him.
Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Li recited the Heavenly Banner Spell, unleashing his Thunder Technique again. Lightning fiercely covered the dragon’s claw, which burst forth to strike at Yuan Zhen’s very essence.
But just as the dragon’s claw was about to hit, Yuan Zhen’s figure blurred instantaneously and vanished, reappearing a few dozen feet away, causing the dragon’s claw to grasp at empty air.
"Cough cough," Yuan Zhen coughed lightly and said, "If I truly wished to leave, Fellow Daoist might indeed find it hard to stop me."
"Is that so?"
Jiang Li harnessed the storm, breaking the Mo Sword into countless blades, ready to merge with the tempest.
He was about to unleash the Wind and Rain Sword again.
Just then, Oxhead bellowed loudly, "None of you can leave."
A sudden Yin wind rose and swept aggressively toward them, as a figure rapidly approached—it was a Ma Mian Rakshasa.
Another Sixth Rank.
On both sides of the mountain pass, gusts of Yin wind were sweeping through, as figures emerged above the canyon.
’Night Patrol Deities...’
Jiang Li recognized several among them, who were astonishingly those who had died at his hands... no, who had been killed by others in front of him.
The others were dressed like jailers, with disheveled hair, holding wooden tablets inscribed with the words "Sun Patrol."
These were likely to be Day Patrol Deities.
Day and Night Patrol Deities, a full twenty of them, surrounding both sides.
Seeing this scene, Jiang Li immediately understood that the Yin Law Department was also supporting Ji Chengye.
He had originally thought that Lord Cui’s earlier intervention was out of personal sentiment, but now it appeared that both parties had larger, mutual interests and were in alliance. It was unclear why they had not intervened earlier.
Twenty Seventh Rank and two Sixth Rank Ghost Cultivators gathered here, bringing gusts of Yin wind and turning the falling rain into ice pellets, making the environment grow even more dim and gloomy.
"I am a Soul Hooker of the Yin Law Department, here to pursue the rebels of the Devil God Sect. Seeing the two of you fighting, you must be aware of the demonic people’s affairs."
Oxhead, wielding a steel fork and sporting an honest and simple bovine head, began to spin a yarn, "If neither of you is a demonic person, please restrain yourselves. Once we complete our investigation, we will certainly clear both your names."
Oxhead had been silent while attacking just a moment ago, but now that the main force had arrived, he began to speak.
In this conversation, a bureaucratic air wafted over, giving Jiang Li a sense of returning to a past life.
Meanwhile, the Day and Night Patrol Deities continued to emit Yin Qi. Gradually, the Yin winds grew stronger, turning into a wild maelstrom of ghosts.
They intended to use their words to buy time.
"Rumble!"
A bolt of thunder rumbled past, scattering the Yin winds.
Surrounded by swirling winds and rain of blades, with thunder flashing swiftly, Jiang Li spoke coldly, "Enough talk, if you wish to capture Jiang, then come."
The winds died down, but the thunder grew stronger. Facing these Yin Department Ghost Practitioners, the Thunder Technique was the most fitting response.
Jiang Li activated the thunder, which boomed incessantly as arcs of electricity frantically crisscrossed around him, echoing with the clouds above, causing the sky to rumble with thunder.
Oxhead and the other Ma Mian Rakshasa who arrived later on saw the formation and immediately showed a look of solemnity, twirling Netherworld Energy rapidly around their bodies in full defense. Facing the Supreme Yang Thunder Technique, even with their numerical advantage, they could not afford to be careless.
The likes of demons, ghosts, and monsters are easily restrained by the Thunder Technique. One misstep could mean that even if they overcame their adversary, many among them might end up being casualties as well.
"Boom!"
A deafening clap of thunder resounded. Jiang Li sprinted through the air, stirring up currents, which set the chilling winds into a tumult, amidst flares of lightning.
"Nine Heavens Thunder—"
He shouted abruptly, as lightning struck skyward, with utmost brilliance and grandeur.
"Double kick!"
Nine Heavens Thunder with a double kick!
As the lightning surged to the sky, it tore through the Yin Wind Ghosts. Jiang Li’s figure seemed to transform into a bolt of heavenly thunder, climbing higher and higher, higher and higher, until he was no longer visible.
What a joke—facing a group of Seventh Ranks plus two Sixth Ranks, and even Yuan Zhen with unclear allegiances, if one were to stubbornly continue fighting, it would simply be courting death.
So as for the Wind Force—hoist the sails!