Fierce Battle

"Martial Uncle, what should we do?"

A Wudang Mountain disciple looked at the middle-aged Daoist ahead of them and asked quietly.

"There's no chance now. Retreat."

The leading Daoist glanced disdainfully at the clamoring wandering martial artists and sorcerers, then at the soldiers closing in from afar. He shook his head. "These people are asking for death."

Most of the other prominent sects nearby made the same choice as Wudang Mountain, quietly withdrawing one after another.

Standing behind Zhang the Great Buddha, his adjutant watched the disciples of the prominent sects retreat and leaned in to ask softly, "My lord, should we deal with them?"

Zhang Qishan raised a hand and shook his head. "Their backgrounds are all complicated. If they want to leave, let them. As for the rest who are causing trouble, I don't want to see them again. Consider it repayment for my debt to Chen Yulou."

"Yes, sir."

The adjutant bowed, accepted the order, and quietly went off to make arrangements.

Chen Yulou and Luo Laowai were discussing their plans when one of Luo Laowai's trusted men came over and whispered a report to him. After listening, Luo Laowai said gravely to Chen Yulou and the others, "Brother Chen, Zhang the Great Buddha has made his move."

With his hands clasped behind his back, Chen Yulou nodded. "Have our people start moving too. Don't let a single one get away. These sorcerers are easy enough to deal with while they're gathered in the open. If they escape into hiding, they'll be impossible to guard against."

"Yes, sir."

Hua Laoguai bowed to accept the order, then went off with Red Maiden to arrange the operation.

Meanwhile, in a dense forest outside the city, Lu Yan stood facing four Golden Core cultivators. The atmosphere was tense.

Zhang Daoyi had the youthful face and white hair of a crane. Stroking his beard, he smiled warmly and tried to persuade him. "Young Lu, you've achieved so much at such a young age. Why not join the Celestial Master Sect as an honorary elder?"

Beside him, Li Zhongkang frowned and said sternly, "Zhang Daoyi, you're old enough to know better than to deceive a child."

"Lu Yan, you have a history with Simu of the Maoshan Sect. He once sent word asking me to spare your life. If you hand over your pocket dimension, I'll spare you."

Lu Yan was a little curious at that. "You're so sure you've got me beaten?"

Li Zhongkang shook his head and sighed. "If your cultivation weren't so strong, we might have spared your life. But you're so young, and already at the same cultivation level as us old fossils. Your future is bound to be limitless. If we take your pocket dimension, who would dare leave you alive?"

Looking at Li Zhongkang's stern face, Lu Yan suddenly laughed. "You look like a menace, but you're much more honest than the smiling old Daoist beside you."

"But if you want the pocket dimension I'm holding, talking won't get you anywhere."

"Let's fight."

Shaka grinned at Lu Yan. Black mist surged around him, transforming into a serpent that lunged at Lu Yan.

"Then I'll grant your wish."

Lu Yan's lips curled up. His figure flashed into the air, and he fired repeatedly at the four men with Ebony and Ivory in his hands.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

The forest was left in ruins. Ice had formed in some places, flames burned in others, and still other patches were charred black, as if struck by lightning.

"Amitabha."

Huiyun was now gleaming with golden light. His upper garment had been destroyed in the earlier explosions. He raised his golden palm and struck at Lu Yan.

A gigantic Buddha palm appeared out of nowhere and quickly descended on Lu Yan.

The Sharingan in Lu Yan's eyes spun rapidly. He twisted in midair, dodging a Gu worm that sprang from Shaka, while pouring a massive amount of magic power into Ebony and firing at the Buddha palm.

A lightning dragon appeared out of nowhere, snarling as it crashed into the Buddha palm. Their energies canceled each other out, and thunderous booms rang out again and again.

"Young friend, you can wield lightning? Then try mine."

The smile vanished from Zhang Daoyi's face. His expression turned murderous as he formed a hand seal with his right hand.

"Lightning Art: Yang Lightning!"

A bolt of lightning shot toward Lu Yan. Just as Lu Yan was about to dodge, Huiyun and Shaka attacked from both sides.

Countless poisonous creatures and Gu worms seemed to writhe within the black mist coiling around Shaka, repeatedly trying to crawl over Lu Yan. On his right, Huiyun glowed with golden light as he closed in and fought Lu Yan hand to hand.

Lu Yan frowned and quickly channeled magic power into Ivory. He fired a gigantic Wind Blast Bullet toward the ground. The powerful gust not only halted Huiyun and Shaka's attacks, but also sent Lu Yan flying backward through the force of its recoil, letting him evade Zhang Daoyi's lightning.

Li Zhongkang sighed. The jade talisman in his hand flashed with green light, and the surrounding spiritual energy rapidly surged toward Lu Yan, as if to pin him in midair.

Lu Yan's body stiffened. The spiritual energy all around him seemed to turn into an immense force of resistance, making even the smallest movement exceptionally difficult.

"Dirty Water Lightning!"

Zhang Daoyi's eyes shifted. Countless black bolts of lightning, like flowing mud, surged toward Lu Yan and seized the chance to coil around his legs.

"Repulsion Field!"

The ring on Lu Yan's right hand lit up, and a powerful force field pushed outward, constantly resisting the Dirty Water Lightning as it tried to burrow into his legs.

Lu Yan gave his legs a powerful shake, kicking the Dirty Water Lightning aside. Then he raised Ivory and Ebony and fired several shots at Huiyun and Shaka.

Huiyun's body stiffened. The Buddha's light around him kept melting the ice, but for the moment, he was frozen in place.

The bullets from Ebony struck Shaka with a violent explosion. Countless dead poisonous creatures fell from the black mist.

"You're asking for death!"

Shaka's eyes reddened. Those Gu worms and poisonous creatures were treasures he had raised for many years, and now most of them were dead or injured.

"Then let's see who dies."

Lu Yan smiled pleasantly and suddenly raised Ivory to the sky and fired.

A white fog suddenly rose in the forest, and Lu Yan's figure soon disappeared inside it.

Li Zhongkang raised an eyebrow and formed a hand seal with his left hand. A strong wind appeared out of nowhere and blew toward the white fog, but the fog seemed fixed in the air and did not move at all.

"It's no use."

Zhang Daoyi walked over to Li Zhongkang and sighed. "This white fog can block spiritual perception. It's even slowed the flow of my magic power."

Huiyun pressed his palms together. "Lu Yan is quite troublesome."

Shaka's face was full of murderous fury as he shouted into the white fog, "Lu Yan, if you dare to run, I'll go back and wipe out Xieling!"

"Oh, is that so?"

Lu Yan's faint, drifting voice came from within the white fog.

"Over there!"

A sharp glint flashed in Zhang Daoyi's eyes. He transformed into a streak of lightning and darted southeast.

The other three followed close behind, each using their own abilities to give chase.

As they approached, they saw Zhang Daoyi fighting Lu Yan. Lu Yan's movements were incredibly nimble, and his twin guns were immensely powerful. Zhang Daoyi's lightning arts were enough to defend himself, but he couldn't land a hit on Lu Yan.

"Die!"

Shaka was furious with Lu Yan. He attacked first, taking out a dark, murky jar and sending a streak of black light flying toward him.

Lu Yan seemed unable to react in time. The black light shot into his body, and he fell to the ground—only for his body to turn into a cloud of white mist.

"Not good, it's the Clone Technique!"

Zhang Daoyi realized what had happened and quickly scanned their surroundings, on guard.

"Ah!"

Shaka let out a scream. One of his legs had turned to stone, and he fell to the ground, howling in pain as the black mist around him rapidly surged toward his body.

"Caught you."

The jade talisman in Li Zhongkang's hand gave off a hazy green light, and strands of talismanic chains wrapped around Lu Yan.

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