Chapter 1817: Crimson Desert (I)

Tao Jiexing rode the wind out of Xuanmiao Temple, his heart weighed down by a feeling he could not put into words.

From the look of him, Lord Wei will never complete his cultivation.

Though Tao Jiexing had little experience of the world, he had attained the Dao at a young age and was exceptionally perceptive. Ch'i Lanyan had lured him out on the pretext of borrowing his services for two months, and he had yet to return. He had already harbored suspicions, so a single remark was enough for him to understand. The realization left him dazed.

He cannot complete his cultivation. He cannot... And that means he has succeeded.

The Tao Family had close ties to the Pavilion of Profound Order. In ancient times, they had been a great family whose members commonly cultivated the Three Yin. When Tao Jiexing's great grandfather attained [Unpurple Robe], cultivators from more than half of Zhao State came to congratulate him. It had been a glorious occasion.

Yet when the old man returned to the family, he seemed to have lost something precious and wept without end in private.

The old man said that Veiled Yin was slain by Lesser Yang and cast down among the demonic disciples. Now those responsible sit high in the heavens while sending the Pavilion of Profound Order into the world to wear the purple robe on their behalf. How could anyone truly attain [Unpurple Robe] that way? Failing to attain it would mean following the Orthodox Dao. Though he had attained [Unpurple Robe], the purple robe was merely hidden beneath his white one. What he had truly attained was [Flaw Concealing Garb].

Tao Jiexing understood that Wei Xuanyin's present inability to complete his cultivation was, in fact, an extraordinarily frightening and dangerous sign.

Lord Wei sits at the very top of the Pavilion of Profound Order. The Pavilion has immersed itself completely in the Immortal Dao, and has all but manipulated the course of events across the realm. He should inevitably have attained [Flaw Concealing Garb], yet he has managed to remain apart from it. Whatever level of Dao conduct that takes, Lord Yao could not possibly be unaware of what it means. Even so, he appointed Lord Wei to lead the Pavilion. His intentions could hardly be clearer.

His ambitions will likely put those on the mountain in a difficult position.

In Tao Jiexing's view, Mount Luoxia had actually shown a great deal of tolerance. Otherwise, Wei Xuanyin would never have reached his present cultivation as a Grand Daoist Master. But who would dare guess what those on the mountain truly thought?

Lost in thought, Tao Jiexing found himself amid a stretch of misty gray mountains and woods. The ridges rose and fell beneath the night sky, and grayish white banners fluttered in the wind. He had arrived at [Baiye Capital Immortal Dao].

This was Yehui's mountain gate. It had attracted little attention in the struggle between the north and south, but a great Purple Mansion Realm formation protected it nonetheless. Tao Jiexing took a long look at the woods concealed by the darkness, then allowed himself to drift down from the wind.

Where darkness and silence reigned outside the formation, boundless bright light filled its interior, casting gold across the ground. However, there was scarcely an immortal cultivator in Daoist robes to be seen in the tier upon tier of palace halls. Instead, monks stood packed together everywhere!

In the main hall, two Mahas had reduced themselves to the size of ordinary men. They sat cross-legged, their golden bodies gleaming as Buddhist chants filled the hall. Off to one side sat a man in a feathered robe, his eyes closed and his lips still.

The small [Baiye Capital Immortal Dao] was filled with Buddhist cultivators!

There were Mahas led by Guangchan and Nuzi; members of the Golden Lotus Throne such as Nuyan, Xuwang, and Luejin; and ranks of Master Monks and lesser cultivators. Sitting silently to the side was Tuoba Ci, a Daoist Master of the Tuoba Family!

This was the plan Yehui had offered Ch'i Lanyan!

[Baiye Capital Immortal Dao] was sprawled across the Wilderness and controlled a considerable stretch of territory. Baixiang Valley lay to its northwest, which could serve as a staging ground for an attack on Mount Bianyan, relieving Mount Tangdao. That was precisely the route Great Song had taken.

Ch'i Lanyan had calculated that the Great Song's cultivators would be too eager to reinforce their allies to attack [Baiye Capital Immortal Dao] before driving back the northern cultivators. They would pass it by and head for Baixiang. Thus, during the earlier clashes, he had quietly used the Tuoba Family's Devil Dao arts to conceal Buddhist cultivators within Baiye Capital Immortal Dao's mountain gate. Their numbers had grown little by little, and Guangchan and the others had been hidden there for some time.

Though its Daoist Master appeared to have retreated and the Capital Immortal Dao's mountain gate seemed isolated and on the verge of collapse, a surprise force was hidden inside!

Now, if Liu Bai and the others stopped to attack [Baiye Capital Immortal Dao] on their flank, they would be held there long enough for the northern forces to surround them. Now that Liu Bai and the others had rushed north to provide reinforcements, the hidden force could pour out at once, cut off their route of retreat, and strike where it pleased!

Helian Wujiang, Helian Wumeng, and the others were all bait. Yehui alone knew the full plan!

The monks had been waiting here for so long that they were itching to act. They were overjoyed at the sight of Tao Jiexing. Guangchan, seated at the head of the hall, immediately leaped down and asked with a smile, "Cousin... did it work?"

To keep the south from detecting them, the group had not even linked their energies to the great formation. Instead, they had used the Purple Mansion Realm formation to cut off the great void, leaving them unaware of events outside.

Tao Jiexing quickly clasped his hands and answered, "Yes. They've gone north!"

Several faces lit up at once. The man in white seated to the side also opened his eyes, a hint of amusement in his gaze. "Why don't we head south now?"

He plainly meant to seize the chance to cross the Wilderness and strike straight into the heart of Great Song!

But his jest made their expressions shift. Not a single one dared agree. Someone standing to the side with his hands behind his back laughed inwardly, They've all come to gather fate, not risk their lives. Who would follow you into the heart of Great Song? The Pavilion of Profound Order hasn't given the order. If we offend the Underworld's judiciary that badly, will we even make it out alive?

Besides, they still had no firm word of Yang Ruiyi's whereabouts. If they pushed deep into the south instead of blocking Liu Bai, Situ Huo and Liu Bai could abandon the mountain and turn back to join Yang Ruiyi. Then it would be their own isolated force that found itself surrounded!

If we really wanted to head south, Moongaze Lake would be the more practical target. But with Li Ximing and Li Zhouwei working together, we wouldn’t be able to take it quickly. We'd end up in the same predicament...

No one answered the man in white. Only Guangchan gave an awkward smile and said, "Then please go south yourself, fellow Daoist. We must head north and catch them off guard."

Liu Bai and the others were already hard pressed in their assault on Bianyan. How could they withstand a strike from the rear? Why pass up an easier target to venture deep into enemy territory?

The middle-aged man fell silent. Tao Jiexing said, "Time is short. Everyone, please proceed!"

Countless streaks of golden light flared as they entered the great void together and headed north. Colors churned across the sky in their wake.

Guangchan said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Tuoba and I will go ahead. The rest of you wait here and intercept their retreating troops!"

————

Baixiang Valley.

Baixiang Valley had once been a treasured land of striking beauty, with low hills and tall maple trees. It had been where the great Su Family of Ning State had established its clan. Now the earth shook, the mountains trembled, and trenches crisscrossed the ground.

An immense golden body blotted out the sky, its countless eyes gazing down upon all living beings. Colors mingled overhead as hundreds upon hundreds of bands of illusory pink light stretched across the heavens, one layered over another, bathing the world in a riot of color.

The one holding this place was Zhelu, Liangli of the Emptiness Dao!

This Maha held the rank of Liangli in the Emptiness Dao. He had reached his Sixth Incarnation, and his strength was immense!

Facing him stood the sword cultivator Liu Bai, treading upon a field of pure white light.

The Daoist Master's radiant divine ability filled heaven and earth. With the Green Jade Cliff beneath his feet, he evaded calamity and kept his sword pointed straight at the Maha, giving no ground. Wherever its edge passed, hundreds of eyes squeezed shut one after another, shedding tears.

Behind Daoist Master Zhusheng floated a circular jade ring as broad as a table and as thin as a cicada's wing. It had inner and outer bands, with shimmering smoky hues steeped in rouge. Empowered by his divine ability mana, it resembled the dharma wheel of a true immortal, its might seemingly without limit!

Daoist Master Zhusheng had refined the [Supreme Virtue Profound Jade] he had obtained from Li Zhouwei years ago into an exceptionally powerful treasure! With both the jade wheel and [True Essence] bolstering him, he showed no weakness. He even seemed close to gaining the upper hand over Zhelu!

His sword qi swept across the battlefield and stirred the skies. Elsewhere, Helian Wujiang and Murong Yan remained locked in combat with Chen Yin and Xianyao.

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