True Fire
Liu Zhijian also looked at Heba Yansi, and could sense the astonishing Manifestation emanating from him, and felt a connection to him in the the Unseen.
If we can slay this [Sha Qi] demon child today, we will be able to break through to the [Foundation Establishment] stage!
Having just slain the Grey Horned Whale Demon, Liu Zhijian was brimming with confidence and showed no fear in the face of the ferocious Heba Yansi.
However, Liu Zhijian dared not be negligent in the slightest when it came to the [Sha Qi] lineage.
Those who are evil are killed.
The so-called "killing things cause harm," the time of "killing" is autumn, and the "killing" of metal is obtained through the element of Xin.
[Sha Qi] is a Daoist tradition, its imagery being killing, violence, and injury, especially adept at combat.
In ancient times, the powerful figures at the [Sha Qi Fruition] level were vicious and ruthlessly killed the [Fortune Qi] True Lord, causing [Sha Qi] to completely fall into the demonic path and bringing more calamities.
"You're the current top disciple of Supreme Mystery Mountain?! How do you know how to cultivate [Kan Water]?!" Heba Yansi, of extraordinary birth and profound family learning, was extremely knowledgeable about the Old Method and traditions of the Southern Edge Continent. After sizing up Liu Zhijian, he frowned and said, "The [Kan Water] imagery is constantly flowing; doesn't that clash with the Manifestation of [Mystery Mountain Devil-Suppressing]?!"
"[The Mystery Mountain Devil-Suppressing Dharma Lineage]!" Liu Zhijian was shocked upon hearing this, and vaguely understood many things.
"Haha, you didn't know?!" Heba Yansi noticed Liu Zhijian's unusual reaction and suddenly laughed, "I heard that the Supreme Mystery Mountain lineage almost died out decades ago, I didn't expect it to be true!"
"Even the head disciple of the Supreme Mystery Mountain sect, the current senior disciple, doesn't know about his own family's lineage?!"
"The once mighty Supreme Mystery Mountain has fallen to such a state of destitution!"
Liu Zhijian remained silent for a moment, then said coldly, "Such crude methods, you think you can disturb my Dao heart?!"
Having said that, he reached out and swung the fishing rod.
A golden light flashed.
Heba Yansi neither dodged nor avoided the golden fishhook, letting it fall.
Liu Zhijian reached out and pulled, but there was no weight in his hand, and his heart sank.
There was no flesh or blood on the fishhook, only a wisp of black, Sha Qi.
Heba Yansi stared blankly at the empty hole in his chest.
After a surge of Sha Qi around him, he returned to normal.
[Sha Qi] Since his imagery was altered by the master, his cultivation has become closer to the demonic path. He no longer cultivates the physical body, but focuses on cultivating the Sha Qi body.
Many methods of restraining flesh and blood are ineffective against cultivators with [Sha Qi].
However, Heba Yansi frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and vaguely felt that he had lost something. He looked up at Liu Zhijian: "Bewitching the spirit and seizing wisdom?! [Old Man by the Stream] is indeed mysterious."
Liu Zhijian was also feeling bad at that moment.
The previous gray horned whale demon had remarkably simple thoughts.
The Sha Qi child before them, however, was fierce and malevolent, with few emotional flaws in his thoughts. He was either cultivating disaster and causing harm, or being tortured and devouring evil.
Liu Zhijian frowned as soon as he gleaned some fragmented memories.
Such wicked and vicious demonic methods!
Heba Yansi reached out and grasped, and a surge of Sha Qi condensed into a black longsword. With a loud laugh, he lunged at Liu Zhijian.
[Sha Qi] cultivators are not bound by physical bodies and are naturally adept at close combat.
In particular, Heba Yansi's cultivation Cultivation Method is unique; every time he is injured, his attack becomes stronger, and he is not afraid to exchange injury for life.
Liu Zhijian took a deep breath, suppressing his agitation, and with a flick of his wrist, the fishing line and hook became entangled on the black fishing rod.
This black fishing rod is a precious treasure bestowed upon me by my master.
It would be great for fishing.
However, it also has unique uses when used as a weapon in combat.
Call!
The black fishing rod crashed down with a whooshing sound.
Heba Yansi naturally neither dodged nor avoided, but used the long black sword in his hand to block, clearly intending to confront him head-on.
The black, Sha Qi longsword was smashed to pieces by a single blow, scattering into billowing clouds of Sha Qi.
The black fishing rod, still brimming with momentum, slammed heavily onto Heba Yansi's shoulder.
Heba Yansi retreated swiftly, re-condensing his Sha Qi into a longsword. Looking at his badly injured shoulder, he chuckled, "Interesting! Another new injury today."
Liu Zhijian, having succeeded in his move, showed no joy whatsoever. Instead, he frowned and lowered his gaze.
He noticed a new wound on his left shoulder, not only a bloody mess but also emanating a faint aura of Sha Qi.
"What a bizarre [Sha Qi] technique!"
Liu Zhijian knew perfectly well that the injury was caused by his own attack just now.
He just didn't know what methods Heba Yansi had used to manifest himself in this way.
Heba Yansi's cultivation Cultivation Method was unique. From a young age, he ingested a hundred evil spirits and endured a thousand tortures to temper his will and enhance his Manifestation, so as to correspond to a [Sha Qi Immortal Foundation], named [Lord of Punishment and Prison].
Although it is only in its rudimentary form now, it has a unique purpose.
If one is injured, it can enhance one's combat strength.
It can also connect with the Qi and use the imagery of [harm caused by evil spirits] to display the injury on the opponent, making them wary and unable to exert their full strength.
Liu Zhijian practices the [River and Great Mound Scripture], which embodies the image of remaining calm in the face of danger and not retreating in the face of calamity. Standing on the lakeside, he exudes a majestic and unyielding aura, and the black fishing rod in his hand can easily dispel Sha Qi.
After a series of battles, Heba Yansi was injured several times, but was repaired by a surge of Sha Qi.
On the contrary, Liu Zhijian had inexplicably acquired many scars on his body.
The wound carries Sha Qi that cannot be suppressed even by taking elixirs or medicine.
"Even the current top disciple of Supreme Mystery is nothing more than this!" Heba Yansi was not unscathed, but he was able to conceal his injuries with his Sha Qi. Moreover, he had been enduring torture and evil aura since childhood and had extremely strong tolerance. He glanced at Liu Zhijian, flipped his long knife, and actually cut off his own left arm.
"Ugh!"
Liu Zhijian cried out in pain, only to find a deep, bone-revealing wound on his left arm.
Heba Yansi lost an arm, but in return, Liu Zhijian suffered only a wound. Instead of being surprised, Liu Zhijian was delighted. "My plan has succeeded!"
Heba Yansi, wary of the black fishing rod, dared not approach, but took advantage of the chaos to secretly use his Sha Qi to connect with Liu Zhijian's energy, finally managing to activate the Secret Method [Hundred Crimes and Thousand Punishments].
Originally, this was a Secret Method that used Sha Qi to condense into knives, axes, saws, chisels, and other instruments of torture, specifically designed to break through magical barriers, refine the body, and forge a golden body.
Now, Heba Yansi has used it on himself, and through the connection of qi and [the injury caused by evil spirits], it has manifested on Liu Zhijian.
Heba Yansi then recounted his own crimes and punished himself accordingly.
It could be cutting off the face or severing a finger.
They could be branded with iron or submerged in water.
Liu Zhijian suddenly developed many injuries.
On Earth, Liu Zhijian is considered a person of strong character.
But when it comes to enduring physical pain, how can he compare to Heba Yansi, who cultivates [Sha Qi]?
Liu Zhijian could barely endure it, but he felt that he was also tainted by a lot of Sha Qi, his will was somewhat sluggish, and he felt a fierce anger in his heart. Knowing that he could not continue like this, he shouted and stepped forward to swing his rod and smash it.
"It's too late!" Heba Yansi glanced at it, neither dodging nor avoiding, and took the blow head-on.
Heba Yansi's body was filled with Sha Qi, but his face was slightly pale.
Liu Zhijian, however, was struck as if by a heavy blow, his body covered in blood and staggering.
However, Liu Zhijian's anger intensified, and he showed no sign of stopping, continuing to strike with all his might.
Heba Yansi, who cultivates [Sha Qi], is most skilled at exchanging injury for life. His ferocity was also aroused, and he wielded his sword to fight Liu Zhijian.
However, Heba Yansi vaguely sensed that something was amiss.
This chief disciple of Supreme Mystery Mountain, who cultivated the [Kan Water] technique, was wielding a black wooden stick that was sparking and crackling with burning Sha Qi.
"The chief disciple of Supreme Mystery is nothing more than this?!" Despite his severe injuries, Liu Zhijian fought on relentlessly, fueled by his rage. "[Sha Qi] trades injury for life, growing stronger with each battle, so why should I fear my own life?!"
The Sha Qi stirred Liu Zhijian's anger, and he adopted a desperate stance.
[Sha Qi] cultivators have never feared battle!
Heba Yansi was not alarmed but delighted. He could see that Liu Zhijian was already at his last gasp. Once this last breath was released, he could harvest Liu's fortune and Fate and cultivate his Immortal Foundation [Lord of Punishment and Prison].
The execution of Supreme Mystery's chief disciple, disregarding cultivation level and focusing solely on the symbolism, is already considered top-tier.
Liu Zhijian and Heba Yansi each possessed the righteous and the Evil Qi fortunes of the immortals and demons, and their struggle and harm against each other was partly ordained by Heaven.
Now, tainted by Sha Qi and filled with murderous intent, they each harbor a desire to fight to the death.
Heba Yansi with increasing ferocity, gradually gaining the upper hand, and it seemed he was about to kill Liu Zhijian.
However, Liu Zhijian was a cultivator of the [Kan Water] school, so his Law Power was continuous and his temperament was even more resilient, showing no signs of despondency or weakness.
The Daoist scriptures say, "Why is the taste of metal pungent? Because the west is associated with the destruction and harm of things, and pungent flavor is what destroys and harms them."
The imagery of [Sha Qi] is related to killing and injury, and has been associated with the Metal Virtue since ancient times.
Although the black fishing rod is made of wood, it has been burned by Divergent Flame and is as hard as metal.
When!
The black fishing rod clashed with the Sha Qi longsword, sparks flying and a metallic clang resounding.
The scattered sparks not only burn away Sha Qi, but also remain undying even when buried in soil or submerged in water.
Heba Yansi sensed something was amiss.
With a formidable enemy ahead and Sha Qi lurking around him, and the fortuitous opportunity Foundation Establishment about to be seized, he had no time to worry about anything else.
Liu Zhijian felt the black fishing rod in his hand getting increasingly hot, faintly red and shiny, but he was already at a disadvantage and dared not be distracted.
Call!
A small flame emerged from Liu Zhijian's palm.
It quickly spread along the black fishing rod.
In the blink of an eye, the black fishing rod was engulfed in raging flames.
The flames spread to Liu Zhijian's body, beginning to burn away the malevolent Sha Qi on his numerous wounds.
Liu Zhijian, oblivious to everything else, slammed the weapon heavily into Heba Yansi.
Heba Yansi his sword to block, but upon seeing the scene before him, he was immediately jolted awake. "[True Fire]!"
[Sha Qi] excels in combat and is almost unaffected by the constraints of the Daoist tradition, yet it still harbors some fear of [True Fire], which is said to be able to burn anything and wields the true meaning of Fire Virtue.
"A cultivator of the [Kan Water] realm using a [True Fire] Law Artifact —what kind of logic is this!" Heba Yansi was secretly furious, but he had no choice but to withdraw and avoid the [True Fire]'s imposing presence!
Liu Zhijian swung his flaming fishing rod, and the golden fishhook landed on Heba Yansi, giving it a gentle tug.
Heba Yansi paused for a moment, then turned around and brandished his sword, engaging in battle once more!
Boom!
The flames blazed brightly.
Liu Zhijian struck Heba Yansi with his pole.
The surging, Sha Qi was scorched by a layer of flames, preventing the body from repairing itself.
Heba Yansi had practiced Secret Method since childhood and had endured hundreds of tortures, which could reduce injuries and pain. However, he was still burned to death by [True Fire] once, and immediately screamed in agony.
[True Fire] can burn anything; it not only burns away Sha Qi but also scorches Law Power and the soul.
Ignoring the raging [True Fire] burning on his body, Liu Zhijian mercilessly attacked Heba Yansi's Sha Qi, shattering it into wisps of Sha Qi.
In just a short while, Heba Yansi's screams disappeared.
In mid-air, only Liu Zhijian remained, holding a flaming long pole, surrounded by raging True Fire.
On Mirror Moon Lake, malevolent Sha Qi filled the air, and True Fire burned everywhere.
Whether cultivators or demons, they all scattered and looked at the figure in the air with a sense of awe.
Some cultivators already showed anticipation, waiting to witness the birth of yet another Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Old Method on the Southern Edge Continent!
Liu Zhijian looked down at the [True Fire] Law Artifact in his hand, and sensed a Mixed Qi pouring down upon the Unseen. His Manifestation had already reached its peak, and a realization dawned on him. "With this fortune bestowed upon me, [Foundation Establishment] is just around the corner!"
"Excellent! First slay the demon, then eliminate the monster, and finally, the Manifestation is complete! We've reached the Foundation Establishment!" Above the southernmost point of the Mirror Moon Lake, near the sea, three figures stood in mid-air. The tall figure in the middle clapped his hands and laughed loudly, "This precious [Kan Water] has finally been nurtured!"