Chapter 212: Chapter 209: Lu King’s Tragic Death, Yama Dao Fruit
Seizing the opportunity while Lord Lu suffered a violent backlash, everyone attacked together. Six paths of formidable True Qi and onslaughts bombarded him, and even a normal fifth-rank would not dare to underestimate such an encircling force, let alone the current Lord Lu!
Lord Lu, who was forcibly suppressing the Ten Thousand Ghosts, could only muster his True Qi with great effort, causing his robe sleeves to billow and complex runes to appear all over his body.
"Thick Earth Carries Things."
Lord Lu’s stature seemed to grow several inches out of nowhere, his formerly pampered air of nobility transforming into an immovable heaviness, the pitch-black color surrounding him mixing with apricot yellow, turning into a murky yellow Qi. The ferocious visage resembling a ghost subtly revealed a royal dignity.
However, Jiang Li’s eight qi offense seized the moment before the Thick Earth Qi and the pitch-black Netherworld Energy could blend and solidify the Guardian Technique, dissolving part of Lord Lu’s Earth Qi with Primordial Qi.
"Boom!"
The imbalance between the Thick Earth Qi and Netherworld Energy caused a collision, and Lord Lu’s majestic body bulged with protruding bones, rising another three inches, yet his skin did not swell correspondingly, creating a distorted form as his bones stretched it out.
Eight qi lost balance, causing transformations and derivations. Wind Blades, Golden Spears, Water Immersion... an array of Primordial Qi attacked Lord Lu’s body.
"Rumble!"
White Dragon, Thunder Seal, Sword Qi, and Sword Light struck all at once, shattering Lord Lu’s Protective Technique in an instant!
"Krakrakrak—"
Bones exploded within his body, Netherworld Energy and Earth Qi collided fiercely, while Yin Souls eroded the physical body continuously, both internal damage and external assaults inflicted simultaneously, and all of a sudden—
"Boom!"
The murky yellow Qi Force swept out like a storm, enveloping the surroundings in its violent impact, forcing Jiang Li, Yuan Zhen, and Zhang Daoyi to simultaneously retreat amidst the chaos of turbulent flows in the air.
"Argh!"
Lord Lu let out a pained, mournful howl, his body swelling uncontrollably, sharp objects piercing through flesh to reveal his pitch-black bones, wrapped in swirling dark Qi, with Yin Souls wailing mournfully.
"Cui Jue! Cui Jue! Hurry and come out! Come out and help this prince suppress the Yin Soul! Cui Jue!"
Lord Lu’s cries for help were desperate, but to his despair, not a single response came—his collaborator, the Lord of the Mansion, had no intention of showing himself.
Lord Cui would not help him.
Not to mention that Lord Lu’s ascension was already a failure, and his death was certain, but the importance of Lord Cui himself also could not allow him to take risks.
As the court’s ultimate weapon against rebels, Lord Cui absolutely could not afford to fail; even if Lord Lu died, he would not risk his life. Should he show up, who knows how many in the world would rush to kill him.
Lord Lu’s calls for help were destined to be futile!
"Cui Jue!"
"Bang!"
Like a balloon expanded to its limit, Lord Lu’s lifeless body exploded, and countless pieces of flesh fell like rain, revealing a completely deformed set of pitch-black bones.
A ghostly figure clung to the bones, struggling frantically as countless fine strands of black Qi roamed and gnawed, consuming and eroding, slowly tearing apart Lord Lu’s Divine Soul.
Lord Lu let out piercing shrieks and agonizing wails, his voice eventually becoming indescribable as words failed to convey his torment. His soul was being ripped apart bit by bit, but just before it was completely shredded, the remnants of his Divine Soul suddenly collapsed.
He died in agony.
Such a scene truly aroused sympathy in one’s heart; even those present, who were his enemies, couldn’t help but feel a twinge of compassion.
Then, without a trace of sentiment, Jiang Li took advantage of everyone’s moment of pity and decisively acted, snatching Lord Lu’s bones.
"Stop!"
"Despicable!"
"Amitabha, Benefactor, please hold!"
Reprimands came from all around, but these did not affect Jiang Li as he transformed his Innate Qi into a claw, reaching for the skeleton.
With Lord Lu’s physical body shattered, all his personal belongings scattered with the blood rain in every direction, their whereabouts unknown; but his most precious possession—the Dao Fruit—was undoubtedly on the skeleton.
To obtain the skeleton was to obtain all of Lord Lu’s Dao Fruit.
The Dragon Claw soared through the air and, in the blink of an eye, grabbed hold of the bones. Jiang Li retracted his hand, ready to snatch them.
"Roar!"
A white dragon’s tail suddenly appeared, sweeping across the Dragon Claw and causing the Innate Qi to shake violently, on the verge of collapsing.
"Three Flowers Gathering at the Top."
Jiang Li decisively used his Dao Fruit Ability, unifying Essence, Qi, and Spirit, and stabilized the released Primordial Qi.
When he had previously used this method, he discovered that this Dao Fruit Ability was not only for defense but also enhanced the externally released Qi. Now using it again, it immediately showed its miraculous effect. The powerful and heavy strike of the dragon’s tail could not sweep away the Dragon Claw; instead, it was repelled by the resultant rebound force.
But this delay allowed others to intervene in time.
Geng Metal Sword Light shot forth, its unparalleled sharpness aiming straight for the Dragon Claw.
Zhang Daoyi had talismans affixed to his body, stepping through emptiness, his sword stirring the winds and clouds, slashing with a sword, "Fellow Daoist, monopolizing the spoils isn’t a good habit, is it?"
The Geng Metal Sword Light was unmatched in its ferocity, and the magnificent Sword Qi displayed its formidable power. The Daode Sect’s joint attack, with two swords striking in unison, immediately put Jiang Li in a situation with no room to advance or retreat.
Faced with such a predicament, Jiang Li made an unexpected move. His lips twitched slightly as he secretly communicated to Zhang Daoyi, "Yuan Zhen has the bearing of a proper man, he has taken a fancy to you."
Even as a disciple of the Daoist Lord, with many years of devout cultivation, could not withstand such strong and abrupt bombardment of information, Zhang Daoyi was completely startled for a moment, his sword momentum thrown into disarray.
Yuan Zhen, witnessing Jiang Li’s lip movement and perceiving Zhang Daoyi’s disrupted sword momentum, was also thrown into disarray.
It was because Jiang Li had leverage over him that he had come to assassinate Ji Chengye today to prove his innocence. After today’s battle, Yuan Zhen could boldly claim he was at complete odds with the Lu King and his son, asserting himself as a good man.
But Yuan Zhen was still worried that Jiang Li would divulge the secret, fearing that some might believe it.
From his current perspective, it seemed to him that Jiang Li had indeed leaked the secret, and that Zhang Daoyi somewhat believed it.
With his mind in turmoil, his moves spontaneously revealed flaws. Jiang Li used the Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill to predict his opponent’s moves, peering into the microscopic details. His figure transformed, blending into the wind, and like an ethereal ghost, he broke free from the entrapment of Sword Light and Sword Qi, stepping on the wind and escaping.
After several days of cultivation, Jiang Li had grasped that feeling of transforming into wind. With his efforts and astonishing wit, he had stepped over that threshold.
He soared in the sky, merging with the winds, the air swirling around, emitting a sonic boom-like howling, propelling Jiang Li as he strategically retreated.
However, at that moment, a Blade Energy arose from below, blending into the wind, fragmenting into countless pieces of Shattered Blade Energy, following the track of the flowing wind, converging in the center of the stream—the heart of Jiang Li.
Zhong Shenxiu!
He struck suddenly, using the Observation Technique to perceive the flow of the wind, slashing out with this unforeseen strike.
Jiang Li, after all, had not completely transformed into the wind and still had a physical form. Blade Qi came with the wind, striking his body with a clangor and causing a gap between him and the wind.
"Amitabha, Great Mighty Dragon!"
The monk, celestial in appearance, enveloped by the White Dragon, suddenly unleashed powerful and unyielding Qi Force. He soared through the air, his fair palms forming a Seal Technique, pressing down with his palm, Qi Force shaping into a dragon within it.
"Boom!"
This palm strike hit the Dragon Claw, the Strength surging, causing Jiang Li’s eyebrows to rise as he urged more True Qi.
"Thud!"
Holding the skeletal Dragon Claw against the Heavenly Dragon Seal, the two were evenly matched, with Jiang Li even slightly superior in strength.
"Indeed, the Benefactor possesses the Uniqueness Dao Fruit."
Hui Lun revealed a look of realization, not at all surprised.
Although a disciple of Buddhism, Hui Lun had to admit that the world was not equal; even as the Chief disciple of the Buddha Country, he could not be like Jiang Li at Seventh Rank. It was not that Jiang Li was far superior to him—it could only mean that Jiang Li also possessed a Uniqueness Dao Fruit.
This was a proud thought, but he and Yuan Zhen both had actually guessed right.
As he spoke, Hui Lun’s gaze fluctuated, deploying the Dao Fruit Ability "Heavenly Person Five Decays," causing the Qi Mechanism of Jiang Li’s Dragon Claw to weaken suddenly and to be partially broken by the Heavenly Dragon Seal.
External forces instantly applied to the skeletal remains of the Lu King, activating a Dao Fruit that had not been assimilated by it. A regal yet sinister royal shadow emerged on the skeleton, and soon a ray of dark light shot out, merging into Ghost Gate with the speed of lightning.
"Buzz——"
A formidable aura spread from the Ghost Gate, which quickly transformed as pitch-black Netherworld Energy billowed forth, giving off an ancient and vast feeling, like rusty blood. On the transverse plaque bearing the words "Ghost Gate," a terrifying aura lingered.
[In ancient legends, Ghost Gate is said to be the second checkpoint one undergoes after death, guarded by eighteen Kings of Ghosts and countless lesser ghosts, impenetrable, accessible only by showing a pass from King Yanluo...]
Just in time, the Karma Collection displayed the corresponding record, and Jiang Li understood in his heart, ’Ghost Gate is the Dao Artifact that carries the Yama Dao Fruit.’
This Dao Artifact had lost its power after the Dao Fruit was removed, until at this moment, with the Yama Dao Fruit’s return, Ghost Gate once again demonstrated the power of a Fourth Grade Daoist Artifact.
The gate appeared as heavy as a thousand jun, descending from the sky amidst powerful and cold energy, crashing down upon the Middle Finger Peak of Five Finger Mountain.
Jiang Li’s figure descended, landing on Middle Finger Peak, only to face the attacking White Dragon.
"Boom!"
He kicked out in mid-air, the Dragon Claw taking shape on his foot, striking the White Dragon’s head, sending it flying through the air, while he himself retreated several meters to land at the edge of the peak.
Subsequently, successive Qi Mechanisms rapidly approached, Zhang Daoyi and Yuan Zhen cutting through the sky to arrive, Zhong Shenxiu riding the Junzi Wind to ascend, also reaching the peak.
Lights flashed as Yang Ji appeared.
A group of people surrounded the Ghost Gate, forming a standoff.
"It seems everyone is interested in this Ghost Gate. However..."
Jiang Li looked around with a stern expression and stated, "This Ghost Gate is an artifact of the Great Zhou Imperial Family. Everyone, isn’t seizing it by force rather inappropriate?"
"Amitabha, isn’t the Benefactor seizing it by force as well?" replied Hui Lun Monk, seated atop the White Dragon, in a calm voice.
"Of course," retorted Jiang Li with a resonant voice, "to be frank, the Jiang family already intends an alliance through marriage with the Ji Family. By then, our two families will be one, and this Lord Lu, in terms of seniority, would even be called my uncle by me."
"Isn’t it more appropriate for this family member to take possession of the uncle’s belongings, rather than let them fall into the hands of killers like you?"