Chapter 210: Chapter 150: The Nail Head_1
Translator: 549690339
“The northern lands have already become a Demon Realm!”
“The people of all six provinces have fallen into the clutches of demons!”
“We in the south are in grave danger as well!”
“Once the demon conquered Zhongnan, it returned to the capital and entrenched itself without leaving.”
“Yet it still has numerous minions that plunder souls to continuously transport into the capital.”
“That demon, after destroying Mount Zhongnan and consuming the Taoists of the Palace of Longevity, along with the people of the Capital Region, the emperor of the Chen Dynasty, the civil and military officials, as well as the Buddhist monks who attended the Water-Land Dharma Assembly…
“With such a blood feast as its nourishment, it’s only natural that it would break through the Seventh Realm, and even the Eighth Realm is in sight.”
“Now that it’s entrenched in the capital, firmly guarding the Demon Realm, it is certainly looking to consume the blood feast and break through to the Eighth Realm!”
“Once it successfully breaks through, I fear no one in this world will be able to withstand it.”
“An unprecedented calamity, a world-ending giant demon!”
True Monarch Changrong’s expression was solemn, and everyone within the hall was even more panicked.
The Pudu Cihang possesses ancient relics and Mana Point heritages.
The ancient relics are manageable, and as it currently appears, they’re only able to conceal fates and shield Xu Yang’s Admiring Eye of Heaven from surveilling. Despite their high tier, they are not breaking any limits and cannot decisively determine the outcome of the battle.
The trouble lies in that Mana Point heritage!
In this world, the Sixth Realm is the end of the Dao Veins, and to ascend to the Seventh Realm, one must rely on the power of rituals, and only righteous Daoist cultivators and kind spirit monsters can receive the blessing. Evil cultivators and demons not only gain no benefit, but it is also detrimental to them.
Therefore, since ancient times, for ten thousand years in this world, not a single demon of the Seventh Realm has emerged, at most only centenarian old demons of the Sixth Realm.
But the emergence of Pudu Cihang has changed this situation.
It holds the Mana Point heritage in its hands, whether complete or incomplete, but at least there is no problem in breaking through to the Seventh Realm.
It has passed on these Mana Points to various great demons, allowing those old demons who have cultivated for ten thousand, even tens of thousands of years, with already sufficient accumulation, to rapidly break through the Seventh Realm and become demon gods comparable to Daoist Celestial Masters.
And it itself has the potential for the Eighth Realm or even the Ninth Realm, becoming a true world-ending giant demon.”
No wonder it does not wish to ascend.
Such nourishment is hardly obtainable even in the Upper Realm, not to mention the various Taoist heritages left in the mortal world by the ancient Immortal Gods, various inheritances, Divine Skills, and Magical Treasures of great value, how can it be overlooked?
It seeks to completely devour this world!
And they…
“We cannot sit idly by and wait for death!”
“If we delay any further, defeat is certain!”
“Once the demon breaks through, no one in the world will be able to subdue it!”
“Taoist Master!”
“Heavenly Master!”
Though they felt guilty, at this point, everyone had no choice but to turn their gaze towards Xu Yang.
Seeing this, True Monarch Changrong sighed as well, looking at Xu Yang like everyone else: “Taoist Master, do you have a way to subdue that demon?”
In the words, there was nothing but helplessness.
At this point, time and initiative were no longer on their side.
A further delay meant certain defeat.
But going on the offensive also held little chance of victory.
On the side of the demons, apart from Pudu Cihang, the calamitous giant demon, there were also four great demon gods, with the power of the Seventh Realm.
In contrast, the Guo Bei Academy has only held three Luotian Dajiao ceremonies in recent years, one of which was to support Xu Yang’s entry into the capital to slay demons, so there have only actually been two powers of the Seventh Realm nurtured: one is True Monarch Changrong himself, and the other is the Qingluan demon immortal from Phoenix Song Mountain.
Even with the addition of the Yin Mountain Mansion allowing those who Increase Life and Damage Fate to unite as one, there were at most three figures of the Seventh Realm against four great demon gods, with the odds of victory being an even match.
And this was currently the situation.
With further delays, the subordinates of Pudu Cihang would likely number more than just four great demon gods.
And on the Guo Bei Academy’s side, at most one more Luotian Dajiao ceremony could be held.
The Luotian Dajiao ceremony requires vast resources.
Although Guo Bei Academy now controls the rich seven provinces of the south, able to mobilize massive human and material resources, the Luotian Dajiao consumes more than just human and material resources, but also the Divine Soul force of the myriad common people.
The so-called offerings of incense, plainly speaking, is the harvesting of the Divine Soul force of millions of common people.
This kind of harvesting cannot be too frequent, otherwise the Righteous Path becomes the Evil Path, doing more harm than good. Like the Guo Bei Academy performing sacrifices once every five years, that’s the limit, any more would harm the foundation.
Therefore, even now, at this moment of life and death, they can only hold one more Luotian Dajiao, which is still a desperate measure, squeezing every last bit out of an already burdened populace.
What can be done?
True Monarch Changrong didn’t know either and could only look to Xu Yang, placing the last hope in him.
In the face of the tense gaze of the crowd, Xu Yang’s expression remained calm, showing no signs of perturbation: “At this point, the only thing left to do is… huh?!”
Before he could finish his sentence, his brow suddenly furrowed, and on his forehead, a Spirit Light suddenly appeared, consolidating into a Talisman, which then transformed into an angry open eye.
The Spirit Light concentrated, and the Talisman flickered, forming an eye that pulsated vigorously, trying to open, but it was obstructed by some force. Amidst the ensuing conflict, fresh blood the color of crimson unexpectedly seeped out, running down from Xu Yang’s forehead, creating a startling streak of blood.
“This…”
“Taoist Master!”
“Heavenly Master!”
“What’s going on?”
Seeing this, everyone was shocked and rushed forward to check his condition.
Xu Yang offered no response, with his eyes tightly shut, standing in place in silence.
Just as everyone was at a loss…
“Rumble rumble!”
A roar came from outside the palace.
Turning their heads toward the sound, they saw an ominous cloud of calamity rushing in from the north, quickly darkening the skies.
The calamity cloud descended rapidly, obscuring the sun and darkening the day.
Amidst the dense darkness, though there was the sound of rolling thunder, no lightning was seen.
Only an expansive calamity cloud, a relentless cloud of calamity, spread over like a curtain drawn down on them.
Opressing, unbearably opressing.
Even cultivators of the Sixth Realm, Daoist True Monarchs, were alarmed and agitated under this celestial phenomenon, filled with trepidation.
“What is this…?”
“What’s happening?”
“The strange celestial signs must be the work of a monstrous fiend!”
“From the north… Is it that demon?”
“It’s using dark magic against the Taoist Master!”
“No good, quickly protect the Taoist Master with a spell!”
Those present were either true inheritors of the Dao or possessed genuine cultivation, and at a glance, they recognized the crux of the matter.
True Monarch Changrong swept his dust whisk and immediately drew a circle around Xu Yang, while also employing a spell and chanting mantras.
“On the South Sea shore, a single fur, evergreen both day and night, it remains unold; the Queen Mother’s peaches offer retreat, and all sorts of demonic and evil skills are dissolved: the first unraveling clears the yellow garb, the second neutralizes the Nanli Method, the third dispels the Hundred Arts Law, the fourth releases from the Three Masters’ Law, the fifth breaks the Blacksmiths’ Law, the sixth undoes the Painters’ Law, the seventh lifts the Tiling Law, the eighth eradicates the Stone Masons’ Law, the ninth dispels the Carpenters’ Law, the tenth resolves the Repair and Amendment Law; heaven and earth are unbound, years and months freed, day and hour released, all the ancestor masters’ manifold bindings are undone, respectfully summoning the Six Stars of the Southern Dipper, the Seven Stars of the Big Dipper, I command in the name of the Supreme Elder Lord, hasten, hasten as the decree!”
It was precisely the Hundred Unraveling Demonic Skills Spell!
Curse spells are a mainstream method of combat in this world, and there are spells for cursing as well as for dispelling them.
Now, True Monarch Changrong was casting the Taoist Righteous Sect’s Hundred Unraveling Demonic Skills Spell, capable of neutralizing the vast majority of demonic curse techniques.
However…
“Bang!!!”
A loud explosion sounded, the light circle shattered, and True Monarch Changrong staggered back several steps, his mouth dripping with fresh blood.
“Brother Dao!”
“This…”
The cultivators’ complexions changed, and they hurriedly steadied him.
True Monarch Changrong steadied himself, looking at Xu Yang who stood unflinchingly with his eyes tightly closed, his face a ghastly shade of iron, a mix of shock and fury.
With his cultivation as a Daoist Celestial Master, he had been unable to break the spell; not only that, but he had even suffered a backlash.
What kind of curse had that demon cast to be so formidable?
Could it be…
The cultivators were frantic, at a loss for what to do.
Turning to Xu Yang, his Divine Soul was undergoing a drastic shift as well.
“Rumble!”
All around, the world thundered ominously, mountains from all directions uprooted and moved towards him, pressuring him from every side.
Xu Yang sat in the void, his body shimmering with golden light; one for Pure Yang Creation, and one for…
“Amidst the profound mysteries of heaven and earth, the primary qi is the root of all; by cultivating the great calamity of the mind, one verifies their divine skills; within the Three Realms, only the Way is revered supreme, the body has a golden light, which reflects upon my being, invisible to sight, inaudible to sound, encompassing heaven and earth, nurturing all beings, chant the verses ten thousand times, and a light will be within the body, the Three Realms await guard, and the Emperor himself welcomes, all gods come to worship, marshalling the court of thunder, demons and ghosts lose their courage, while spirit monsters go their way, within there is a thunderclap, the Thunder God appears and hides, piercing through and thoroughly connecting, the Five Qi rise vigorously, the golden light manifests swiftly, covering and guarding the truth, hasten, hasten as the decree commands!”
It was one of the Eight Great Dharma Protection Mantras of Taoism – the Golden Light Spell!
Xu Yang silently recited the divine spell as golden light enveloped and protected his Yang God.
Yet, the mountains from all directions were unrelenting, thunderously closing in on him, encasing his body entirely and leaving only his head exposed.
How can flesh and blood withstand the weight of mountains beyond measure?
Had it not been for the golden light enfolding him and the divine spell’s protection, he would have likely been crushed into a pulp.
Even so, confined as he was, it was difficult to move.
Having just his head sticking out made him as vulnerable as a target.
Just then…
“Moo!!!”
A cow’s bellow shook the heavens and the earth.
Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw storms parting in the sky, lightning flashing, and thunder roaring.
A Green Bull, no ordinary bull but an Ancient Green Bull, thundered toward him.
Upon its back was a Heavenly Plow, with the sky as its handle, the winds as its moldboard, and the calamitous clouds as its grips…
It was indeed a Heavenly Plow!
The Green Bull, pulling the Heavenly Plow, thundered forward, aiming directly for Xu Yang’s head.
The punishment of the Plowhead!
Xu Yang’s expression unchanged, seated amidst the mountains, allowed the Green Bull and its plowhead to advance, protected only by the Golden Light Spell he silently recited.
“Moo!!!”
“Rumble!”
The Green Bull bellowed, the Heavenly Plow angrily surged, striking hard upon the peak of the four mountains, furiously plowing towards Xu Yang’s head.
Its momentum was astounding, the force tremendous.
However…
“Bang!!!”
A colossal sound, the earth shook and the mountains quivered.
It was as if the Green Bull had struck an iron wall; even the Heavenly Plow shattered on impact.
All vanished like smoke, the only thing undiminished was the golden light.
Xu Yang opened his eyes to find everyone around him, their faces taut with tension.
“Taoist Master!”
Seeing him awake, the cultivators were startled, with True Monarch Changrong coming forward to ask, “How are you feeling?”
“It’s nothing.”
Xu Yang shook his head, speaking faintly, “Though that demonic and evil skill is fierce, it cannot break my Golden Light Spell for the moment.”
After speaking, he glanced outside and saw the tumultuous calamity clouds recede like the tide, the vast dark heavens once again clear for thousands of miles.
“For the moment!?”
The others still detected the critical nuance in his words.
True Monarch Changrong asked gravely, “What kind of curse technique did that demon cast?”
“It’s more than just a curse technique!”
Xu Yang shook his head. The talisman between his brows coalesced as the Admiring Eye of Heaven opened once more.
The talisman flickered, and the Heavenly Eye pulsed, its furious opening an especially terrifying sight.
Xu Yang paid it no heed, as mana surged and he forcibly opened the Heavenly Eye.
Finally…
“Pfft!”
A soft sound, and blood sprayed forth, the light of blood mingling with the Spirit Light to reveal a Mysterious Mirror.
In the Xuan Guang Mirror was seen a great altar between heaven and earth, the site of the Water-Land Dharma Assembly.
Atop the altar, splattered with blood and in complete disarray, one could see it had witnessed great upheaval.
But there was no sight of bodies, neither dead nor survivors.
Only at the very summit stood a figure, neither monk nor Taoist, half-demon, half-monster.
Pudu Cihang!
The figure stood in front of the altar, reciting an incantation, appearing to offer a sacrifice.
In front of the Mana Altar on the offering table, there placed a notable item, a straw effigy.
On the effigy was affixed a talisman, blood-red in color, with dark ink marking the strokes, spelling out “Guo Bei Accumulated Thunder Mingxiao Path” in seven characters.
Atop the effigy’s head was a nail, not driven into a board, but into a piece of redwood, uniting the two into one entity, exuding a particularly strange aura.
“This is…”
“Nailhead Plowhead Seven Arrow Scripture!”
The cultivators were astonished as Xu Yang sighed, revealing the origin of the item.