allendalepharm Chapter 634 The Heavenly Lord of the Intercepting Sect
Chapter 634 The Heavenly Lord of the Intercepting Sect
Kunlun Mountain Yuxu Palace.
Suddenly, the Primordial Sage calculated with his fingers and realized that it was the time of the Intercepting Sect's Grand Competition. He then summoned his jade chariot and flew towards Jin'ao Island.
The Primordial Celestial Venerable rode in a jade chariot, surrounded by auspicious clouds and the cries of cranes, a truly magnificent sight.
From afar, he saw a golden light coming towards him. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was Zhunti Daoist of the Western Sect, smiling as he flew over on the Seven Treasures Tree.
"Brother Yuanshi, it's been a long time! How have you been?" Daoist Zhunti greeted him from afar, his voice booming like a great bell, causing the surrounding clouds to churn.
Yuanshi Tianzun nodded slightly and said calmly, "Junior Brother Zhunti, why are you here in the East Sea instead of cultivating in seclusion on your Western Mountain?"
Zhunti Daoist chuckled and, without beating around the bush, said directly, "I heard that Senior Brother Tongtian is holding the Jie Sect Grand Competition here, so I came to observe and learn. I wonder if Senior Brother's purpose is the same as mine?"
Yuanshi Tianzun gave a light snort and did not deny it.
"In that case, let's go together."
As Zhunti Daoist spoke, he walked side by side with Yuanshi Tianzun and flew towards Jin'ao Island.
Inside the Biyou Palace on Jin'ao Island, the Tongtian Sect Leader sat upright, then suddenly calculated with his fingers, his brow furrowing slightly: "These two old fellows, coming uninvited, could they be here to cause trouble?"
He sneered and said to the Taoist priest Duobao beside him, "Go and invite those two old fellows in. I want to see what they're up to!"
Daoist Duobao accepted the order and soon led Yuanshi Tianzun and Daoist Zhunti to Biyou Palace.
Master Yu Ding bowed respectfully and stepped into the Illusory Mind Realm.
The scenery before my eyes changed, and the familiar Kunlun Mountain Jade Palace stood majestically.
Inside the main hall, the Primordial Celestial Venerable sat upright on a futon, exuding an air of otherworldly grace and solemnity.
Upon seeing Master Yuding enter, he nodded slightly, gesturing for him to sit down and listen.
Master Yu Ding was overjoyed, thinking to himself that he was incredibly lucky to have such a great opportunity.
He knelt respectfully on the prayer mat, listening intently as the Primordial Celestial Venerable explained the profound teachings of the Great Dao.
The sage's voice was clear and melodious, like the sound of heaven, expounding the ultimate principles of heaven and earth and the mysteries of the universe.
Master Yu Ding listened with rapt attention, as if he were in a fairyland, floating on air.
As time passed, Master Yu Ding gradually noticed something amiss.
Although the Taoist teachings of "Yuanshi Tianzun" are exquisite, they are slightly different from the Chan sect teachings he learned, and are more similar to the Jie sect teachings.
The Jade Cauldron Immortal was filled with doubts. Could it be that the Heavenly Venerable had some other intention? He secretly raised his eyes to look, but saw that the "Primordial Heavenly Venerable" had a calm expression, a kind face, and nothing unusual.
Master Yuding thought to himself: Perhaps I am overthinking it. The Heavenly Venerable has great supernatural powers and boundless magic, so the Taoist teachings he expounds are naturally profound and extensive. How could I possibly fathom them?
He suppressed his doubts and continued to listen.
The more profound the teachings of "Yuanshi Tianzun" became, the more engrossed the Jade Cauldron Immortal listened.
He felt his cultivation was advancing by leaps and bounds, as if he were about to break through the bottleneck and achieve the quasi-saint path at any moment.
Just then, "Yuanshi Tianzun" suddenly changed his tone, his voice becoming low and hoarse: "Yu Ding, now that you have joined my Jie Sect, why don't you quickly convert!"
Master Yu Ding suddenly awoke with a start. Looking up, he saw that the face of "Primordial Heavenly Venerable" had become ferocious and terrifying—it was none other than the Tongtian Sect Master! He laughed loudly, his voice shaking the entire hall: "Yu Ding, you've fallen into the illusion I set up. Now you're a turtle in a jar. Why don't you obediently surrender!"
Master Yuding then realized that he had fallen into a trap, and he was both shocked and angry.
He quickly summoned the apricot-yellow flag to protect himself, its golden light flashing, forcing back the aura of the Tongtian Sect Leader.
The Tongtian Sect Leader sneered, "The Apricot Yellow Banner? Nothing special!" He summoned the Qingping Sword, its light like a rainbow, and thrust it straight at the Apricot Yellow Banner.
The two top-grade innate spiritual treasures clashed fiercely, unleashing dazzling light that shook the Jade Void Palace to the point of collapse.
Master Yu Ding was inwardly groaning. This illusion was so realistic that it perfectly mimicked even the Heavenly Master and the Green Lotus Sword.
While fending off the attacks of the Qingping Sword, he racked his brains for a way to escape.
The Tongtian Sect Leader pressed forward relentlessly, and the attacks of the Qingping Sword grew increasingly fierce, causing the light of the Apricot Yellow Banner to gradually dim.
Master Yu Ding was anxious. He knew he couldn't just sit and wait to die; he had to find a way to break the illusion.
Suddenly, an idea struck him. He remembered what the Taiyi Zhenren had once said: illusions are ultimately illusions, and as long as you find a flaw, you can break through them.
But this illusion is so realistic, where exactly is the flaw?
Just as Master Yuding was deep in thought, the Master Tongtian suddenly stopped his attack, a strange smile appearing on his face: "Yuding, do you think you can hide under the apricot-yellow banner and be safe? Let me tell you, in this illusion, I am the master! I can make you live if I want you to live, and I can make you die if I want you to die!"
The Qingping Sword hummed, its sword energy crisscrossing, coiling around the golden light of the apricot-yellow flag like a venomous snake, constantly eroding its defenses.
Master Yu Ding felt his blood and qi surging within him, and his internal organs felt as if they were being crushed by a giant rock, causing him unbearable pain.
He gritted his teeth and endured the pain, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, and his face growing increasingly pale.
"Yu Ding, I am also a direct descendant of Pangu, why struggle so bitterly?" The voice of the Tongtian Sect Leader echoed in the illusion, carrying a hint of mockery. "Why not join my Jie Sect as soon as possible and avoid physical suffering?"
"Don't even think about it!" Jade Cauldron Master roared, gathering his inner energy. The apricot-yellow flag shone brightly, barely managing to block the attack of the Azure Lotus Sword.
But he knew he was at his limit and wouldn't be able to hold on for much longer.
The Master of Heaven seemed to see through his true intentions, and sneered, "Stubborn to the end! Then don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Having said that, the light of the Qingping Sword in his hand suddenly surged, and the sword energy transformed into thousands of threads, completely surrounding Master Yuding.
Master Yu Ding was struggling to stay afloat, facing numerous perilous situations.
The sword energy of Qingping was like a leech, constantly eroding his protective golden light. Soon, several deep wounds appeared on his body, exposing the bone, and blood was everywhere.
"Cough cough..." Master Yuding coughed up a mouthful of blood, his vision blurring. He knew he was about to collapse. Was he really going to die here today? He was unwilling to accept it!
At this critical moment, the words of Master Yuding suddenly flashed through Master Taiyi's mind: "Senior brother, this Illusionary Mind Realm is unpredictable. If you are trapped in a desperate situation, remember to bite your tongue and spit out a mouthful of blood essence. This will activate the maximum power of the Apricot Yellow Banner and break the illusion."
Master Yu Ding felt a chill run down his spine; he knew this was his last hope. He bit his tongue hard, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the apricot-yellow flag.
In an instant, the apricot-yellow banner burst forth with golden light, dazzling like the blazing sun. A vast and boundless power surged from the banner, dispelling all the surrounding sword energy.
"What's going on?!" The Tongtian Sect Leader's expression changed drastically. He felt a powerful force dismantling his illusion.
"Break!" Jade Cauldron Master roared, and the golden light of the Apricot Yellow Banner transformed into a huge pillar of light, shooting straight into the sky and tearing the entire illusion apart.
The illusion shattered, and Master Yuding returned to the real world. His face was pale, his breathing was disordered, and his Taoist robe was stained red with blood.
Upon seeing this, Master Taiyi quickly stepped forward to help him up, asking with concern, "Senior brother, are you alright?"
Master Yu Ding shook his head, saying with lingering fear, "This Illusory Mind Realm is indeed powerful; I almost fell for it!"
Taiyi Zhenren comforted him, saying, "Senior brother, good fortune always favors the virtuous; you will surely turn misfortune into good fortune."
Master Yu Ding felt his soul tighten and his true energy dissipate, as if he had just experienced a life-or-death battle.
He sat down cross-legged, circulated his profound energy, and regulated his disordered breathing.
Taiyi Zhenren, who was standing to the side, was also pale and weak, and quickly tried to recover.
About three hours later, disciples began to leave the Illusionary Mind Realm one after another in the square.
Some were overjoyed, some were dejected, some looked dazed, and some even seemed to be insane, talking nonsense, clearly having lost their minds in the illusion.
At this moment, Daoist Duobao, dressed in a golden robe, flew out. His gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Taiyi Zhenren and Yuding Zhenren, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.
Then, he announced loudly, "The second stage of the competition, the Trial of the Illusory Mind Realm, has come to an end!"
With a wave of his hand, Daoist Duobao conjured a huge jade disc in mid-air, on which five thousand names were densely arranged.
"Five thousand disciples passed this Illusionary Mind Realm Trial, and their names are now listed on the jade wall. Those who did not pass should not be discouraged; they should focus on their cultivation and will achieve success in the future."
Daoist Duobao paused, a hint of regret in his voice, "Unfortunately, some disciples lacked steadfastness and lost themselves in the illusion, even suffering from qi deviation. The great tribulations to come will be extremely dangerous, and if their resolve is not strong enough, they may not be able to escape their fate."
"Furthermore, based on the results of the first stage of the Trial Tower, only the top 800 disciples with outstanding performance will be selected to enter the third stage."
"The third stage, the practical combat stage, is unnecessary for those below the Golden Immortal level!"
The square was silent. Some of the disciples who failed the trial were ashamed, some were bewildered, and some showed resentment. Some even lost control on the spot and went berserk, and were forcibly taken away by the disciples of the Jie Sect.
The Jie Sect is said to have over ten thousand disciples, but this trial has revealed that only about eight hundred of them have reached the Golden Immortal level.
Those who have reached the Golden Immortal realm and those who have not, when participating in actual combat, are not even in the same league.
Of course, there are also some disciples with cultivation levels below Golden Immortal who are able to challenge those above Golden Immortal, such as some Xuan Immortals who are skilled in formations, or disciples with special spiritual treasures.
Taiyi Zhenren and Yuding Zhenren exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of relief in each other's eyes.
This illusionary mental state was indeed dangerous; even with their temperament, they almost fell for it!
Inside Biyou Palace, the Tongtian Sect Leader's face was gloomy as he looked at the out-of-control disciples in the square, a surge of anger rising within him.
He never expected that so many of his disciples would have bad character!
"What are your thoughts on this, gentlemen?" the Tongtian Sect Leader asked in a cold voice.
The Daoist Zhunti, standing to the side, wore a cryptic smile and said, "Brother Tongtian, please calm down. The matter of temperament is inherently difficult to fathom. Some people are born with a steadfast Dao heart, while others are easily tempted by external things. This trial of the Illusionary Heart Realm can be considered a good thing, allowing them to recognize their shortcomings in advance."
The Master of Heaven snorted coldly and remained silent.
"It seems I need to strengthen the training of my disciples' character in the future..." Tongtian Jiaozhu thought to himself.
Zhunti Daoist's eyes darted around, a meaningful smile on his face.
These disciples with unstable temperaments were, in his eyes, invaluable "talents"...
The final eight hundred disciples were taken to a huge square.
In the center of the square stands a towering arena that seems to reach into the clouds.
These disciples were almost all second-generation disciples, but there were also some third-generation disciples, including Wen Zhong!
Daoist Duobao announced loudly, "Next comes the third stage of the competition—the arena battles! Matches will be fought in pairs; the winners advance, the losers are eliminated, and the top ten will be determined!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the square erupted in cheers.
"A ring battle? Interesting!"
"Finally, we can have a proper, satisfying fight!"
"This time, I'm determined to win first place!"
The disciples were eager to try their skills.
Taiyi Zhenren and Yuding Zhenren exchanged a glance, both seeing the solemnity in each other's eyes.
This arena battle is the real test!
With a flick of his sleeve, Daoist Duobao sent eight hundred jade slips flying into the air, flickering and swirling like fireflies.
"Each of you will draw a jade slip by chance, and the name engraved on the jade slip will be your first opponent."
Taiyi Zhenren and Yuding Zhenren each reached out and took a jade slip. Taiyi Zhenren unfolded the jade slip, on which were clearly engraved the three characters "Huolingzi". He couldn't help but frown slightly.
Huo Lingzi, a second-generation disciple of the Jie Sect, possesses the cultivation level of a late-stage Golden Immortal. He is renowned for his innate spiritual treasure called the "Blazing Flame Blade," which is as fiery as fire and has a fierce attack, making him a formidable opponent.
Master Yu Ding also checked his jade slip, which was engraved with the two characters "Yao Bin".
He was slightly taken aback. "Yao Bin? Who is this person?" He was not familiar with the disciples of the Jie Sect, and only knew the names of some of their direct disciples. Yao Bin was obviously not among them.
From one side of the square, Chu Yang took in the whole scene. When he saw Yu Ding Zhenren's opponent, he couldn't help but smile.
This Yao Bin will later become one of the famous Ten Heavenly Lords. He is proficient in formations. Although he is only a Golden Immortal at present, once his formation is completed, even a Great Luo Golden Immortal will have to be careful, as they will fall into his trap if they are not careful.
Later, during the Investiture of the Gods, the Ten Heavenly Kings joined forces to set up the Ten Deadly Formations, which was quite impressive. Unfortunately, they were all broken by the Chan Sect, and in the end, they all died on the spot.
Jade Cauldron Immortal is currently completely unaware of the names of the Ten Heavenly Lords, and he is likely to suffer some hardship this time.
However, he did not believe that Yu Ding Zhenren would be defeated. After all, he was one of the twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, and his cultivation had reached the Great Luo Realm. Dealing with a Golden Immortal should not be a problem for him.
Noticing Yu Ding Zhenren's puzzled expression, Taiyi Zhenren asked, "Junior Brother, what's wrong? Who is your opponent?"
Master Yu Ding shook his head. "I don't know him. His name is Yao Bin."
Taiyi Zhenren pondered for a moment, "I have never heard of this person before, but since he has made it into the ranks of these eight hundred people, he must be no ordinary person. Please be careful."
Master Yu Ding nodded, his expression solemn.
Beside Chu Yang, Zhao Gongming noticed his smile and asked curiously, "Junior Brother Xiao Lei, you seem to know a lot about this Yao Bin?"
Chu Yang smiled. "I know a little about him. This person is proficient in formations. Master Yu Ding is probably going to have some trouble." (End of Chapter)