"Jinling, I'm worried. You don't have much combat experience. It wouldn't be good if you got hurt."
Bai Jin looked at Holy Mother Wudang speechlessly. So it wouldn't be good if Jinling got hurt, but it was fine if I got hurt? That hurt!
Holy Mother Wudang added, "I'm relatively at ease about you. Though your strength may not be invincible among those of the same realm, you have many methods at your disposal."
Bai Jin blinked. I'll take that as a compliment.
Eastern Emperor Taiyi thought for a moment, then broke into an exceptionally handsome smile. "Qi Hu, you go."
A burly man froze for a moment, then quickly grinned and answered, "Yes!"
He immediately shot into the sky and stood atop a white cloud. Blood-fiendish qi emanated from his body, dyeing the surrounding white clouds into black demonic clouds. Streaks of bloody lightning flashed within the demonic clouds, accompanied by low tiger roars.
Qi Hu called out loudly, "Qi Hu, Mysterious Immortal cultivation. Please instruct me."
Holy Mother Wudang frowned slightly. He was actually a Mysterious Immortal. Neither she nor her junior brother could take the field now, while the other newly accepted outer disciples were still too immature.
After a moment of silence, a graceful figure flew up from Shangqing Peak and hovered opposite Qi Hu. She said crisply, "Shi Ji, Mysterious Immortal cultivation. Please instruct me!"
Qi Hu grinned and abruptly charged at Shi Ji. The rolling demonic clouds transformed into a savage tiger head.
Shi Ji drifted backward, and a square handkerchief appeared in her hand—the Eight Trigrams Cloud Light Scarf. With a casual toss, the scarf spun and enlarged, illusorily transforming into an Eight Trigrams formation. Shi Ji stood atop it.
"Roar—" The pitch-black tiger head pounced fiercely at Shi Ji.
Buzz—The eight corners of the Eight Trigrams formation lit up. From each beam of light emerged a majestic divine general, each with a character emblazoned upon their armor: Qian, Kun, Zhen, Gen, Li, Kan, Dui, Xun.
The eight divine generals shouted and charged at the tiger head together.
The moment they approached the tiger head, boom—the tiger head exploded. Scarlet claw shadows swept past, and with a thud, all eight divine generals were sent flying.
Qi Hu stood where he was, his hands clad in pitch-black iron claws streaked with flowing blood-colored veins.
On the cliff, Holy Mother Wudang said regretfully, "Shi Ji has lost! Her magic treasure is countered, and she lacks combat experience. She is no match for him."
The two figures crossed and battled in the sky. Shi Ji quickly fell into a disadvantage, and Bai Jin's gaze gradually turned solemn as he watched from below.
Pfft—A pale arm was severed and sent flying. Shi Ji cried out miserably and staggered back to evade.
Bai Jin instinctively stepped forward, his pupils constricting. Shi Ji was one of the few junior sisters willing to follow me. Nothing must happen to her!
Bai Jin suddenly took a step forward and shouted, "We concede!"
Eastern Emperor Taiyi chuckled. "Qi Hu, stop!"
Pfft—A claw pierced Shi Ji's lower abdomen and was violently pulled back out. Shi Ji fell limply toward the ground.
Bai Jin hurriedly flew over and caught Shi Ji in midair. He abruptly turned his head and glared furiously at Qi Hu.
Bloodlust gleamed in Qi Hu's eyes. He grinned and said, "I didn't hear it."
"Good! Very good." Bai Jin turned and carried Shi Ji down. Two female disciples hurried forward and took Shi Ji from him.
The smile vanished from Eastern Emperor Taiyi's face as well. He said coldly, "Qi Hu, didn't you hear what I said?"
Qi Hu shuddered and hurriedly flew down, kneeling before the imperial carriage as he hastily explained, "Your Majesty! I... I got a little too excited."
Eastern Emperor Taiyi waved his hand. Pfft—an arm flew into the air. Qi Hu let out a muffled groan, his face turning deathly pale.
Eastern Emperor Taiyi looked toward Tongtian and said apologetically, "Senior Brother, my subordinate failed to obey and has made a fool of himself before you. To prevent such a thing from happening again, perhaps Senior Brother should lend me the Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage!"
Tongtian lowered his head and looked at Bai Jin expressionlessly. "Bai Jin, you obtained the Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage. What do you say?"
Bai Jin turned to face Eastern Emperor Taiyi, his expression solemn and his Daoist robe fluttering. He shouted, "I, Bai Jin, have but one sword. It can move mountains, overturn seas, subdue demons, suppress devils, command gods, pluck stars, sever rivers, destroy cities, and split heaven! Who will instruct me?"
Upon Shangqing Peak, Tongtian's eyes lit up. Eh? He had comprehended his own Dao and intended to follow the Sword Dao? Good boy.
Eastern Emperor Taiyi's expression also turned solemn. Through those words, he seemed to see a swordsman utterly devoted to the sword, sincere to the sword. Only by pursuing the ultimate could one achieve the best. Such people were undoubtedly terrifying.
Eastern Emperor Taiyi pondered briefly before saying, "Ying Lian, you go! Be careful of his sword."
A young man respectfully answered, "Yes!" He immediately soared into the sky and looked sharply at Bai Jin.
Bai Jin stepped onto the clouds one step at a time. The two faced each other in battle, and the air between heaven and earth was filled with a murderous atmosphere. The disciples below on Shangqing Peak unconsciously held their breath and fell silent.
Bai Jin gazed at the heavens at a forty-five-degree angle, his Daoist robe fluttering. He said leisurely, "I have one sword, and I will only strike once. Are you ready?"
Ying Lian's gaze was grave. This was an opponent devoted to the sword. One sword breaking ten thousand techniques—extremely difficult to deal with. But I am not afraid. He proudly said, "Please instruct me."
A longsword condensed in Bai Jin's hand. Holding the sword, he cupped his hands in salute and said, "Bai Jin, Golden Immortal cultivation." He slowly straightened and looked at Ying Lian.
Ying Lian suspected nothing. A short blade condensed in his hand, and he bowed deeply in salute. "Ying Lian, Golden Immortal cultivation. Please instruct me."
Bai Jin's eyes lit up. What a perfect opportunity. His longsword swept out fiercely—an attack that split heaven. A brilliant sword light flashed across the air.
Ying Lian, who was still bowing, was horrified. He hurriedly raised his head, only to see the sword light already before his eyes. Instinctively, he raised his blade to block it.
The sword light swept past with a resounding clang. Ying Lian froze in place, terror still in his eyes as he angrily said word by word, "You... cheated... Is this your Sword Dao?"
Bai Jin carried the longsword behind his back. A breeze blew past, sending his long hair fluttering as he stood graceful and detached from the world. He smiled. "This is my Sword Dao."
Ying Lian looked at Bai Jin with grief and indignation. Pfft—a sword wound split open across his chest and back. His entire body trembled as blood surged from his front and back, dyeing him red.
Below on Shangqing Peak, Tongtian's face darkened. So it was still like this. I thought you had truly comprehended the Sword Dao, but you were just fooling people again.
Daoist Duobao, seated below, curled his lips disdainfully. A shameless flatterer. I am ashamed to keep company with him. Yet he felt incredibly satisfied inside!
Taishang smiled and said, "Free and unrestrained, with nothing lingering in his heart. Very good!
Taiyi, return!"
Eastern Emperor Taiyi rose from the imperial carriage and stepped out. "Since I have lost, I have nothing more to say. The karmic ties have been settled. Until we meet again." He cupped his hands in salute and returned to the carriage, its curtains closing automatically.
Someone immediately flew forward and brought Ying Lian back to the group. The imperial carriage transformed into a blazing red sun and flew into the sky.
Taishang, Yuanshi, and Tongtian turned and entered the palace. With a rumble, the palace doors shut.
Before you continue