Thunder Suddenly Roared over Putuo Mountain; the Pure Glazed Bottle Shattered, and Qiongxiao Returned

Deep beneath Southern Jambudvipa Continent, Tongtian slowly withdrew his gaze from the void, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Grand Supreme Elder Laozi really was alerted after all." He murmured to himself. That detached, lofty Saint's Will had swept over everything just now. Though it had lasted only an instant, it had still put considerable pressure on him. His Senior Brother's cultivation had grown ever more unfathomable.

Fortunately, it seemed the other party hadn't discovered anything specific, merely sweeping through as part of a routine search. It seemed the message he had sent Xuandu had helped muddy the waters, at least for now.

"My lord, has something happened?" Kui Niu asked nervously.

"It's nothing." Tongtian waved a hand, suppressing a hint of unease. There was no turning back now. He had to rescue his other two disciples as quickly as possible, before everyone's attention fully focused on him.

His gaze returned to the water mirror, which showed two distant locations: Ksitigarbha, still "patiently" performing his rites of salvation on the East Sea Coast, and a live feed provided by the system, showing Luojia Cave on Putuo Mountain and Yunxiao Cave on Five Dragon Mountain in real time. (Purchased with Contribution Points.)

Cihang Daoren's Dao Field, Luojia Cave on Putuo Mountain, lay on an immortal island in the South Sea. It was shrouded in mist, with groves of purple bamboo and graceful cranes—a scene of celestial splendor. Manjushri Guangfa Tianzun's Dao Field, Yunxiao Cave on Five Dragon Mountain, lay at the border between Western Ox Continent and Southern Jambudvipa Continent. Its rugged peaks were wrapped in Dragon Qi, with Buddha Light flickering faintly among them.

Both Dao Fields were heavily guarded, shrouded by powerful Mountain Protecting Arrays. Ordinary immortals and deities could hardly approach them.

Tongtian waited patiently, like the most seasoned hunter awaiting the moment his prey let its guard down.

Time passed, bit by bit.

Suddenly, the image of Putuo Mountain in the water mirror changed!

A peaceful streak of light flew out of Luojia Cave and transformed into a solemn-looking female immortal clad in white, holding a Jade Bottle. It was Cihang Daoren—Guanyin! It seemed she had received some kind of message. She mounted her flying light and headed straight for Western Spirit Mountain at tremendous speed!

The opportunity had come!

A sharp glint flashed in Tongtian's eyes!

Cihang had left the cave! If he didn't act now, when would he?

"Kui Niu! Let's go!"

Without hesitation, he stepped onto Kui Niu's back. Kui Niu let out a long bellow, and his four hooves shattered the void. His water-blue immortal light blended with the Chaos Qi emanating from Tongtian, turning into an inconspicuous grey-blue streak that tore through space and raced toward Putuo Mountain in the South Sea!

They moved faster than ever before!

On the way, Tongtian didn't hesitate to burn another drop of his Life Blood Essence, imbuing Kui Niu with its power. At the same time, he activated the Chaos Bead with all his might, distorting the workings of fate along their path and concealing their tracks!

He had to rescue Qiongxiao and get away before Cihang returned!

In virtually an instant, Putuo Mountain appeared in the distance!

"System, scan for weaknesses in Luojia Cave's Mountain Protecting Array!"

[Scanning target: Putuo Mountain's Mountain Protecting Immortal Array. Energy sources: South Sea spiritual leyline + Buddhist devotees' faith. Weakness: the southeast Xun position. At each change of the tides, there is a gap in the flow of Buddha Power lasting one-thousandth of an instant. Time until the next gap: three breaths!]

Tongtian's gaze flashed like lightning as he instantly locked onto the southeastern side of Putuo Mountain!

"Now!"

The instant the system's countdown ended, Tongtian and Kui Niu became one, transforming into a hair-thin streak of Chaos light. They passed precisely through the fleeting gap in the array and slipped into Putuo Mountain without a sound.

As soon as they entered the immortal mountain, an overwhelming tide of Buddhist devotees' faith and immortal energy rushed toward them, clashing with Tongtian's Chaos Aura. He immediately concealed his aura with all his might, suppressing the fluctuations of his Chaos Dao Fruit to the barest minimum. Moving like a shadow through the purple bamboo grove, he headed straight for the heart of Luojia Cave!

Following the system's directions and the vague sense of Qiongxiao's presence, he quickly found a secluded side hall sealed with layers of Buddhist sigils. It was where Cihang Daoren usually meditated in seclusion—and the most likely place to find the Pure Glazed Bottle!

Two Guardian Vajras, each at the Golden Immortal level, stood guard outside the side hall, their expressions solemn.

Tongtian's gaze turned cold. He gave them no chance to react, flicking his fingers!

Two tiny but razor-sharp strands of Chaos Sword Qi appeared from nowhere. They crossed the distance in an instant and pierced the Vajras between the brows!

Both Vajras stiffened. The light in their eyes went out, and they collapsed without a sound, their Nascent Souls shredded by the Chaos Sword Qi.

Tongtian didn't even glance at them. He shattered the Buddhist seal on the side hall's door with a palm strike and darted inside.

The hall was empty, save for a white jade Lotus Platform at its center. Resting quietly atop it was a white jade bottle made of mutton-fat jade—the famed magic treasure of Cihang Daoren, the Innate Spiritual Treasure known as the Pure Glazed Bottle!

A faint, pure light radiated from the bottle. The shadow of the Nine Nether Weak Water could just be seen shifting within it. And in the deepest part of that water, a speck of True Spirit light, so faint it seemed on the verge of going out, struggled desperately. It carried an aura Tongtian knew all too well: Qiongxiao's!

"Qiongxiao!" Tongtian's heart clenched, and his fury surged once more.

Without hesitation, he reached for the Pure Glazed Bottle!

But the instant his fingers were about to touch it—WHUM!!! The Pure Glazed Bottle suddenly burst with dazzling light! Countless golden Buddhist sigils appeared across its surface, and an immense torrent of Buddhist devotees' faith, combined with the Innate Spiritual Treasure's instinctive protective power, erupted!

At the same time, a woman's cold, furious voice rang out from inside the bottle, echoing through the hall:

"What manner of wicked creature dares covet my treasure?!"

It was a strand of divine will Cihang Daoren had left behind, taking the form of an incarnation!

"Get lost!" Tongtian didn't bother answering. He held up two fingers like a sword and poured his Primordial Unity Magic Power into them without reservation. A grey Chaos Sword Qi, as if capable of Splitting Chaos, slashed fiercely toward the incarnation formed from that strand of divine will!

BOOM! The sword energy and Buddha Light collided violently! The entire side hall shook. Were it not protected by its wards, it would have collapsed already!

Though the incarnation was powerful, it had no source to sustain it. How could it withstand Tongtian's enraged strike? It lasted less than a breath before letting out a scream and being completely destroyed by the Chaos Sword Qi!

But that brief delay had fully awakened the Pure Glazed Bottle. It turned its mouth downward, unleashing a terrifying suction that tried to drag Tongtian inside. Endless visions of Nine Nether Weak Water surged out as Towering Waves, corroding everything in their path!

"Stubborn fool!" Tongtian's eyes turned ice-cold.

He had intended to try taking the treasure, but it seemed Cihang had long since refined it into an impenetrable whole—and had bound Qiongxiao's True Spirit to the core of the Weak Water. If he forcibly took the bottle, Qiongxiao's True Spirit would be annihilated instantly!

If that was the case, a ruthless, resolute glint flashed through Tongtian's eyes!

He abruptly brought out one of the two Chaos Thunder Beads he had prepared in advance!

"Qiongxiao, hold on!" he called softly. With his divine will, he forcibly shielded Qiongxiao's feeble True Spirit inside the bottle, then slammed the Thunder Bead—containing terrifying Chaos Destructive Power—into its mouth!

"No!!!" Far away, Cihang Daoren, who was on her way to Western Spirit Mountain, suddenly sensed what was happening. She let out a shriek of rage and alarm and frantically urged her flying light to turn back!

But it was already too late! RUMBLE!!!!!! A deafening explosion, powerful enough to shatter the universe, erupted from Luojia Cave on Putuo Mountain!

Dazzling Chaos Divine Light, mixed with a destructive shock wave, instantly swallowed the entire side hall and half of Luojia Cave!

The renowned Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Pure Glazed Bottle, let out a strained wail under the Chaos Destructive Power specifically targeting the source of magic treasures. Cracks instantly spread across its surface!

BANG!!! At last, amid a dazzling burst of light, the Innate Spiritual Treasure exploded!

Countless fragments of the Jade Bottle, mixed with out-of-control Nine Nether Weak Water, flew in every direction, corroding and destroying everything around them!

At the very heart of the explosion, a speck of faint but pure True Spirit light was firmly shielded by a gentle stream of Chaos Qi and shot straight into Tongtian's hand!

It was Qiongxiao's True Spirit! Though incredibly weak, she had finally escaped the Pure Glazed Bottle's grasp!

"Let's go!" Tongtian didn't linger, nor did he look back at the explosion's aftermath. He put away Qiongxiao's True Spirit, swung onto Kui Niu's back, and turned into a streak of light. Taking advantage of the Mountain Protecting Array's violent instability and countless gaps caused by the internal explosion, he forced his way out of Putuo Mountain and fled at full speed!

Behind them rose a pillar of destructive light, accompanied by Cihang Daoren's furious roar and countless powerful auras stirred across the South Sea!

Putuo Mountain had descended into utter chaos!

Almost at the same time Tongtian succeeded—

Inside Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain, Venerable Lord of Primordial Beginning abruptly opened his eyes and looked toward the South Sea, frowning deeply. "An Innate Spiritual Treasure has been destroyed? Cihang's Pure Glazed Bottle? Who would dare such a thing?"

Eight Sceneries Palace on Shouyang Mountain.

Grand Supreme Elder Laozi gave a quiet exclamation. His gaze seemed to pierce endless space and see the Chaos Divine Light bursting apart. A faint ripple appeared in his placid eyes. "Power of Chaos... So it really was him..."

At Eight Treasures Merit Pool on Western Spirit Mountain, Daoist Zhunti abruptly rose to his feet, fury appearing on his face for the first time. "How dare he! He actually destroyed a treasure belonging to one of our Buddhist Bodhisattvas! Tongtian! You're asking for death!"

Daoist Jieyin's expression grew even more sorrowful. He sighed softly. "Calamity... Calamity..."

On the East Sea Coast, Ksitigarbha's chanting stopped abruptly. He looked toward the South Sea, his expression shifting. "A feint to draw us away?! Oh no! I've been tricked!"

He could no longer concern himself with "saving souls." Turning into a streak of golden light, he sped toward Putuo Mountain!

The destruction of the Pure Glazed Bottle had sent shock waves through the entire upper echelon of the Primordial World!

But Tongtian, the one responsible, had already fled hundreds of thousands of miles with Qiongxiao's True Spirit and gone into hiding once more.

Next stop: Five Dragon Mountain! Manjushri Guangfa Tianzun! The Dragon Subduing Stake!

Tongtian's path of slaughter and redemption had only just begun!