Fierce Battle

"Uncle-Master, what should we do?"

The disciples of Wudang Mountain looked toward the middle-aged Daoist in front and asked in hushed tones.

"There is no opportunity left. Retreat."

The lead Daoist cast a disdainful glance at the clamoring rogue cultivators and sorcerers, then looked at the soldiers closing in from afar, shaking his head. "These people are courting their own deaths."

Most of the surrounding prestigious sects made the same choice as Wudang Mountain, choosing to retreat in silence one after another.

The adjutant stood behind Zhang the Great Buddha, watching the disciples of the prestigious sects withdraw, and leaned in to whisper, "Buddha, what about these people?"

Zhang Qishan raised a hand and shook his head. "These people all have complicated backgrounds. Since they want to leave, let them go. As for the others causing trouble, I do not wish to see them again; consider it settling the favor I owe Chen Yulou."

"Understood."

The adjutant bowed to accept the order and walked aside to make arrangements.

Chen Yulou and Luo Laowai were in the midst of a discussion when one of Luo Laowai's trusted aides approached him to report in a low voice. After listening, Luo Laowai spoke to Chen Yulou and the others with a grave expression, "Brother Head, Zhang the Great Buddha has made his move."

Chen Yulou stood with his hands behind his back and nodded. "Let our people begin as well. Do not let a single one escape. It is easy to deal with these sorcerers while they are gathered in the open, but if they manage to flee into the shadows, they will be impossible to guard against."

"Understood."

Hua Laoguai bowed to accept the order and went off with Red Maiden to coordinate the operation.

Elsewhere, in a dense forest outside the city, Lu Yan stood facing four Golden Core cultivators, the atmosphere heavy and tense.

Zhang Daoyi, with his youthful face and crane-white hair, stroked his beard and smiled as he persuaded, "Little Friend Lu, to have achieved so much at such a young age, why not join our Celestial Master Sect as a guest elder?"

Li Zhongkang, standing to the side, frowned and said sternly, "Zhang Daoyi, you are old enough, stop trying to fool a child."

"Lu Yan, you have a history with Simu of my Maoshan Sect. He once sent word asking me to spare your life. If you hand over the cave-heaven to me, I will ensure your survival."

Lu Yan felt a touch of curiosity upon hearing this and asked, "So you have already decided you have me cornered?"

Li Zhongkang shook his head and sighed. "If your cultivation were not so formidable, we might have spared you. But you are young and already possess the same cultivation level as us old relics; your future is bound to be limitless. If we take your cave-heaven, who would dare leave you alive?"

Lu Yan looked at Li Zhongkang's stern face and suddenly laughed. "I didn't expect that despite your fierce and menacing appearance, you are actually much more honest than the smiling old Daoist beside you."

"However, if you want the cave-heaven in my hands, words alone will not suffice."

"Let's begin."

Shaka looked at Lu Yan with a savage grin, black mist rising from his body and transforming into a black serpent that lunged toward Lu Yan.

"Then I shall grant your wish."

The corners of Lu Yan's mouth curled upward. His figure flashed into mid-air, and he held Ebony and Ivory in his hands, firing continuously at the four men.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

The dense forest was left in shambles; some areas were encased in ice, others were scorched by flames, and some spots looked as if they had been struck by lightning, charred black.

"Amitabha."

Huiyun was now glowing with golden light, his upper garment destroyed in the previous explosion, as he raised a golden palm to strike at Lu Yan.

A massive Buddha palm appeared out of thin air, rapidly pressing down toward Lu Yan.

The Sharingan in Lu Yan's eyes spun rapidly. He flipped and turned, dodging a gu-insect lunging from Shaka's body, while a vast amount of magic power surged into Ebony, firing a shot at the Buddha palm.

A lightning dragon manifested out of thin air, roaring ferociously as it collided with the palm. The two energies canceled each other out, emitting continuous, thunderous booms.

"Little friend actually knows how to use lightning? Then try mine."

Zhang Daoyi withdrew the smile from his face, his expression turning murderous as his right hand formed a seal.

"Lightning Method - Yang Lightning."

A bolt of lightning shot toward the sky and flashed rapidly toward Lu Yan. Just as Lu Yan intended to dodge, Huiyun and Shaka attacked from the left and right.

The black mist coiled around Shaka's body contained countless poisonous insects and gu, constantly attempting to entangle Lu Yan, while Huiyun on the right glowed with golden light, engaging Lu Yan in close-quarters combat.

Lu Yan frowned, his magic power surging rapidly into Ivory as he released a giant "Wind Blast Bullet" downward. This powerful gust not only stalled the momentum of Huiyun and Shaka but also used the recoil to propel Lu Yan's body backward, allowing him to evade Zhang Daoyi's lightning.

Li Zhongkang sighed, and a green light flashed from the jade talisman in his hand. The heaven and earth energy in the surroundings surged toward Lu Yan, as if intending to pin him in mid-air.

Lu Yan's body stiffened; he felt the surrounding energy turn into a massive resistance, making every movement exceptionally difficult.

"Dirty Water Lightning."

Zhang Daoyi's eyes shifted, and countless black lightning bolts, resembling sludge, surged toward Lu Yan, seizing the opportunity to entangle his legs.

"Repulsion Field."

The ring on Lu Yan's right hand lit up, and a powerful outward-repelling force field continuously resisted the Dirty Water Lightning burrowing into his legs.

With a forceful shake of his legs, he kicked the Dirty Water Lightning aside, raised Ivory and Ebony, and fired several shots at Huiyun and Shaka.

Huiyun's body stiffened; although the Buddha light on his body continuously melted the ice, he found himself frozen for a moment.

The bullets from Ebony fired at Shaka caused violent explosions, and the corpses of countless poisonous insects fell from the black mist.

"You're courting death."

Shaka's eyes turned red; these venomous insects and gu-worms were treasures he had cultivated for years, yet now, more than half lay dead or injured.

"Then let's see who dies."

A gentle smile played on Lu Yan's face as he suddenly raised Ivory and fired a shot into the sky.

A white mist suddenly rose within the dense forest, and Lu Yan's figure quickly vanished into the haze.

Li Zhongkang raised an eyebrow and formed a hand seal with his left hand, summoning a powerful gust of wind to blow toward the mist. Yet, the white fog seemed anchored in place, not moving in the slightest.

"It's useless."

Zhang Daoyi walked to Li Zhongkang's side and sighed, "This white mist can isolate spiritual sense; it has even slowed the circulation of my mana."

Huiyun pressed his palms together and said, "This Lu Yan is truly troublesome."

Shaka's face was filled with murderous intent as he glared at the surrounding mist and shouted, "Lu Yan, if you dare to flee, I will go back and slaughter everyone from Xieling."

"Oh, is that so?"

Lu Yan's ethereal voice drifted from within the white mist.

"Over there!"

A flash of brilliance ignited in Zhang Daoyi's eyes as he transformed into a bolt of lightning, darting toward the southeast.

The other three followed closely behind, each employing their own methods to give chase.

As they approached, they saw Zhang Daoyi locked in combat with Lu Yan. Lu Yan's footwork was incredibly nimble, and his dual pistols possessed immense power; Zhang Daoyi's lightning techniques were more than enough for self-defense, but he could not land a hit on Lu Yan.

"Go to hell!"

Consumed by hatred for Lu Yan, Shaka took the lead in the assault, pulling out a murky black jar and sending a beam of black light flying rapidly toward Lu Yan.

Lu Yan appeared unable to react in time as the black light pierced his body, causing him to collapse to the ground and dissolve into a puff of white mist.

"Damn it, it's a clone technique!"

Zhang Daoyi realized the truth and scanned his surroundings with heightened vigilance.

"Ah!"

Shaka let out a miserable shriek as one of his legs turned to stone, causing him to collapse and howl in agony while the surrounding black mist surged rapidly toward him.

"Got you."

The jade talisman in Li Zhongkang's hand emitted a dim cyan glow, and chains of talismans coiled toward Lu Yan.

Huiyun formed the Wisdom Seal with one hand, and a golden swastika shot toward Lu Yan.