Tracking a Trail Through a Maze, Encountering a Wounded Enemy; One Sharpened Spirit Strike Startles a Nascent Soul

---- Joyful Sight Mountain

At this moment, Sect Leader Kang Da had no idea that Fengwen, the Demon Lieutenant who had always instilled fear in the cultivators of the Three Southwest Circuits, had already fallen into the Duke's trap before they had even met.

At this moment, he was being relentlessly pursued by Fei Tianqin and the two True Person.

But ahead, the dark light streaked across the frozen ground of the Mountain North Circuit like a stray dog.

At this moment, True Person Cloud Trust's robes were stained with blood, and golden blood was still oozing from the wound on his back. Just now, Chan Master Huiming's Vajra Pestle had not only shattered his dragon-patterned spiritual shield, but also sent a wisp of Buddhist power into his meridians, gnawing at his Nascent Soul's origin like a maggot clinging to a bone.

True Person Cloud Trust dared not turn around, and desperately activated his inner energy. His dark spiritual power condensed into a thin armor outside the escape light, but it still could not block the scorching heat of the dense golden Buddhist light behind him.

"Fellow Cloud Trust, why bother running away in vain?" Chan Master Huiming's voice was calm and unhurried, yet it struck True Person Cloud Trust's ears like a thunderclap.

Suddenly, the thick Buddhist light accelerated, condensing in mid-air into a Buddha's palm over ten feet in size, its five fingers like peaks, carrying the power to suppress all things, and slapping towards the black escape light.

Wherever the Buddha's light passed, even the frozen soil in the mountains shimmered with golden patterns, the chill was completely dispelled, and even the falling snowflakes turned into tiny fragments of spiritual light.

Hearing the unusual wind behind him, True Person Cloud Trust suddenly turned to the side, his dark escape light abruptly changing direction, barely avoiding the Buddha's palm.

But when the Buddha's palm landed on the frozen ground, it created a huge crater hundreds of feet deep with a loud "boom." The bottom of the crater glowed with Golden Light, and it even shook the Spirit Vein underground, causing them to surge upwards. The pale blue spiritual liquid meandered down the crater wall, and as soon as it came into contact with the air, it was baked by the Buddha's light and began to steam into white mist.

"You bald thief! Always leave a way out! You Original Buddha Sect will be safe in the future?!" True Person Cloud Trust roared, his voice trembling, but after being tricked by Chan Master Huiming, he truly had no ability to fight back.

But he was, after all, True Person from the great sect of Joyful Sight Mountain, and even when he was in dire straits, he did not sit idly by and wait for death.

Seeing that Chan Master Huiming's hand movements behind him did not falter in the slightest, True Person Cloud Trust's fingertips suddenly emitted a clear and mysterious light.

This "Mystic Origin Transformation Realm Instruction" is one of the few remaining fundamental inheritances of Joyful Sight Mountain. Practitioners need to condense the primordial energy of heaven and earth into "Mystic Origin True Qi" and reach the Nascent Soul Realm stage before they can master its subtleties. It is the most orthodox Technique Method of the major sect of Daoism.

He formed the "Tai Chi Seal" with both hands, and his Mystic Origin True Qi circulated in front of him, condensing into a clear shield about three feet square, with the "Primordial Eight Trigrams Pattern" engraved on its surface.

The Qian and Kun trigrams correspond to the top and bottom, while the Kan and Li trigrams appear on the left and right. Each line can draw upon the surrounding primordial energy of heaven and earth, forming a circulating defensive barrier.

The moment True Person Cloud Trust condensed the Bagua Shield, the Mystic Origin True Qi at his fingertips stirred again, and the Qian Gua patterns on the shield surface suddenly lit up.

Those with knowledge know that the Joyful Sight Mountain Mystic Origin Transformation Realm Instruction emphasizes "integration of offense and defense." The Bagua Shield is not merely for defense; each trigram contains the secret to drawing upon vital energy.

He placed his left hand on the center of the shield, silently chanting Daoist Method Formula. The Kan trigram pattern emitted a faint blue spiritual light, and three Xuan Mystic Origin Kan-Li Pearl, their bodies enveloped in clear, mysterious light and with the fine patterns of the Kan and Li trigrams faintly visible on their edges, shone through.

Three beams of mysterious light pierced the air, carrying the deep hum unique to Daoist Technique Method. The clear bead collided with the surrounding Spiritual Qi, creating a sound, and a layer of light white mist condensed on the bead. It seemed slow, but in fact, it was as fast as lightning.

Just as Chan Master Huiming was about to unleash his Buddhist power to form a defensive hand seal, Fei Tianqin's voice suddenly came from his left, his tone somewhat urgent. "Zen Master, be careful of the bead! It contains the energies of Kan and Li, with the fire of Li in the core and the water of Kan on the outside. It's not easy to withstand it head-on."

This old bird had a certain relationship with True Person Tiger Spring, and they had maintained contact over the years. Therefore, he knew more about the fundamentals of Joyful Sight Mountain methods than others.

Upon hearing the old bird's words, Chan Master Huiming took it seriously. After all, although the latter's cultivation was inferior, his insight was no less than that of Chan Master Huiming, a Nascent Soul Nascent Soul.

Even without Fei Tianqin speaking, Kang Dabao's Delusion-Breaking Golden Eyes had already pierced through the mist.

The fire within Tongming is not manifest, but rather encased in the core of the pearl by the shell of Mystic Origin True Qi. Once it touches the radiant Buddha light of the Exoteric Buddhism Sect, it will attract Yang to clash with Kan and Li, potentially catching Chan Master Huiming off guard.

Therefore, Chan Master Huiming withdrew his hand seal, and a lotus flower rose beneath his feet. The lotus petals spun like flying wheels, and in a short while, he carried the old monk away, escaping the methods of True Person Cloud Trust.

He then held the Vajra pestle horizontally in front of him, and the Buddhist patterns on the pestle lit up with a "hum". The rich golden Buddhist power no longer condensed into a thick solid wall, but transformed into countless tiny golden lotus petals, which drifted towards the three silver balls like a drizzle.

The lotus petals, like tiny knives, relentlessly shave away at the silver ball, causing True Person Cloud Trust to harden with malice. He lamented that even if the monk from the Original Buddha Sect, whose whereabouts were unknown, did not launch a sudden attack, even in his prime, he would only have a 60% chance of winning against him.

Unexpectedly, his most secret skill was discovered by an old bird. True Person Cloud Trust was both surprised and angry, but he dared not delay any longer. Seeing that the two people and the bird opposite him paused slightly, he turned his back and rode away on the wind.

"Where do you think you're going!" Chan Master Huiming was clearly not one to let people off the hook. As soon as True Person Cloud Trust turned around, he threw out his vajra.

Fei Tianqin generously scattered the golden feathers that covered his body, as if they were worthless.

Suddenly, golden feathers, each as tall as a person and covered with dense spiritual patterns, formed an array and covered the back of True Person Cloud Trust.

Seeing that True Person Cloud Trust Yixin to escape, Sect Leader Kang Da had also acquired the ability to strike from a distance. Pairs of Golden Light seemed even brighter than the winter sun.

Just as True Person Cloud Trust used his Law Treasure to withstand the Vajra Pestle's pursuit, Kang Dabao's pupil technique had already caught up with him before the overwhelming golden feathers.

If it were during the prime of True Person Cloud Trust, this kind of pupil technique, while having some merit, would at most earn him a single question, which would be considered an honor.

But now he is only a Lingbao (spiritual treasure), and his physical body is still injured. He was also just hit by Chan Master Huiming's Lingbao, which is of a high rank, causing his internal organs to shift and his six senses to become confused.

At this moment, however, the pupil technique of Sect Leader Kang Da has become nothing more than a mourning staff used by the unseen force of death.

But then True Person Cloud Trust raised a spark of spiritual light, extinguishing most of the Golden Light within. However, the meridians, which had already lost most of their spiritual power, suddenly tightened.

This True Person's expression changed drastically, and the last pair of golden rays pierced through the air, striking straight at his chest.

True Person Cloud Trust's robes were tattered, and he could only relinquish one or two of their power, which is why he suddenly felt a heat in his chest and a salty, fishy taste in his mouth.

The next instant, True Person Cloud Trust felt as if countless fine needles were piercing his acupoints. The wounds that had been gnawed by the Buddhist power suddenly flared up, and a mouthful of Essence Blood spurted from the corner of his mouth, splashing onto his black Daoist robe and spreading out as dark red spots.

Immediately afterward, his Divine Sense faltered, and his six senses became much duller. He was even a beat late in noticing the golden feather array that Fei Tianqin had scattered behind him.

The golden feathers intertwined in the air, forming a golden net about ten feet in size, covered with sharp spiritual patterns, and came towards his back. Once caught in the net, the spiritual patterns would tighten and crush his meridians.

"I must not be captured!" This was the only thought in True Person Cloud Trust's mind.

This Daoist priest was well aware that if he fell into the hands of the two people and the bird opposite him, he would likely be taken by the Original Buddha Sect to present as a captive to the Mystic Firmament Palace to curry favor.

The honor and disgrace of this sect are secondary; the very foundation of this human lineage will be utterly destroyed.

In desperation, True Person Cloud Trust bit his tongue hard, spitting out a mouthful of Essence Blood, and formed an obscure hand seal that he had never shown to anyone before.

Once the hand seal was completed, the Mystic Origin True Qi surrounding True Person Cloud Trust suddenly became violent. Fine blood lines cracked on the surface of his skin, and the pale blue true qi wrapped in blood threads retreated into his body like a madman.

The surrounding heaven and earth energy was forcibly pulled into his Dantian, but instead of being used to replenish the Dantian, it was swallowed up by the origin of the Nascent Soul and turned into a jet-black escaping light.

This escaping light was different from the previous dark light; it possessed the characteristic of devouring all spiritual light, and even Chan Master Huiming's Buddhist light could not easily lock onto it.

"He's using forbidden techniques!" Chan Master Huiming's reminder was somewhat superfluous; judging from the scene, how could the people and birds present not know?

However, Kang Dabao and Fei Tianqin both reacted later than Chan Master Huiming.

But then the old monk's expression changed, and he was about to urge his Buddhist power to give chase when the dark light suddenly sank down and "poof" disappeared into a crack in the frozen ground.

Only a shallow trace was left on the frozen ground, which was quickly covered by snow by the howling wind and snow, leaving not a trace behind.

"Chase!" Chan Master Huiming made a decisive move, and the lotus platform beneath his feet emitted a burst of spiritual light as he chased after the direction in which the fleeing light had disappeared.

Fei Tianqin also spread his golden wings, a rare hint of urgency appearing in his eyes. "Let's go our separate ways! Master True Person Cloud Trust injured now. If we capture or kill him, it will be a major event that will shake the world."

Sect Leader Kang Da had originally intended to persuade Fei Tianqin to continue the journey, but the latter's anxious tone prompted him to understand immediately.

What's so rare about Nascent Soul True Person's critically injured and on the verge of death? Just look at how anxious the Fei Household patriarch, who has cultivated for thousands of years, is, and you'll get a sense of it.

It was so alluring that he found it hard to maintain his cautious nature and began to harbor some lustful thoughts.

However, since True Person Cloud Trust had used a secret technique, his whereabouts were not so easy to find. Even Chan Master Huiming, with his Nascent Soul cultivation, could only choose a general location and try his luck.

Sect Leader Kang Da could only pluck a wisp of the spiritual essence left behind by True Person Cloud Trust from the void with a flick of his finger, roughly finding a direction.

For a moment, I felt a mixture of longing and fear.

What he feared was that his meager cultivation at the Golden Core Early Stage would be like an ant before a severely injured Nascent Soul. If True Person Cloud Trust had any trump cards up his sleeve, he would not only fail to capture the person, but also risk his life here.

But the thought of "wanting" grew wildly like weeds. If he could really hold off True Person Cloud Trust until Chan Master Huiming or Fei Tianqin arrived, it would be a tremendous achievement. Even better if he could capture and kill this Nascent Soul True Person on his own.

"Clap clap."

Kang Dabao didn't hold back, slapping his own cheeks so hard they cracked loudly, barely managing to drive away this presumptuous thought.

He then clenched his fist and carefully examined the wisp of spiritual energy using the Full Moon Visualization Method. He felt that the spiritual energy seemed to carry a faint smell of blood and the clear, cold Mystic Origin True Qi, drifting northwestward with the wind and snow.

He dared not fly too fast, skimming low over the frozen ground, his Delusion-Breaking Golden Eyes scanning the ground from time to time, afraid of missing even the slightest trace.

After walking for about one or two hours, I realized I was going the wrong way.

Afterwards, they turned back to search, but after another hour or two, they found nothing. After that, they chose another route.

This process was repeated several times until even the last trace of spiritual energy in his hand dissipated completely.

Sect Leader Kang Da was not surprised. It was utterly ridiculous that Nascent Soul True Person could be detected so easily.

Just as the fervent thoughts in his mind were fading and he was about to turn around and leave, his golden eyes suddenly caught something unusual in the snow.

The permafrost there was slightly warmer than the surrounding area, and the snow melted much faster.

Kang Dabao's incantation changed, and the light in his eyes suddenly brightened. The radiant light gradually became hot, and in a short while, it melted away the snow, revealing a rock underneath that shimmered with a pale blue spiritual light.

"Or perhaps the lingering warmth of Mystic Origin True Qi!" Kang Dabao's heart stirred. He bent down and brushed away the snow, revealing a hastily laid restriction hidden under the rock.

The restriction couldn't even withstand his Delusion-Breaking Golden Eyes, allowing Sect Leader Kang Da to clearly see that it was an abandoned Spirit Vein cave abode.

In the center of the cave abode, True Person Cloud Trust sat cross-legged on a jade bed, his face as pale as paper, the blood vessels on his skin still throbbing with pain, as he used the last bit of his Nascent Soul essence to suppress the Buddhist power in his meridians.

"You actually managed to find this place?!"

A loud bang suddenly came from the spiritual barrier, startling the Sect Leader Kang Da, who had thought everything was perfectly safe, so much so that he almost turned and ran away.

"Damn it, I should have gone to find help right away!"

But then True Person Cloud Trust suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of panic crossing them, which was quickly replaced by ruthlessness.

He tried to get up, but the movement aggravated his wound, causing him to cough violently. A mouthful of golden blood splattered onto the jade bed, scalding it and causing white smoke to rise from it.

Kang Dabao dared not step forward Delusion-Breaking Golden Eyes shot out two beams of golden light, and the spiritual barrier was instantly broken.

In his haste, True Person Cloud Trust raised his hand, and his Mystic Origin True Qi condensed into a thin shield. However, this shield was much weaker than before. The moment the golden light collided with it, it shattered into mist. The remaining force grazed his temple, causing him to vomit Essence Blood again.

At this moment, Sect Leader Kang Da had also drawn his heavy halberd, the bright green light of which almost swept away all the evil energy in the cave abode.

"How dare a mere junior in the Golden Core Early Stage offend me? Does he truly seek death?!"

The person sitting on the jade bed was indeed a True Person. Even though he was seriously injured, he was still Kang Dabao could not withstand. However, True Person Cloud Trust's fingertips flashed with spiritual light, and a profound incantation was formed in an instant, easily blocking the blue light.

With another mouthful of blood, True Person Cloud Trust's robes were soaked again. He clearly hated this presumptuous junior and, disregarding his injuries, unleashed his power once more.

But at this point, he was truly at his last gasp.

Although the Mystic Origin Kan-Li Pearl has taken shape in his palm again, it is not only a single pearl, but its power is probably less than 30% of what it was before. However, True Person Cloud Trust must have calculated it and felt that it would be more than enough for Sect Leader Kang Da.

Then, after facing the Nascent Soul directly, the rebellious thoughts that had not yet dissipated vanished, Yixin thought about finding Chan Master Huiming and Fei Tianqin to come and help him.

The Mystic Origin Kan-Li Pearl shattered his halberd light and pupil technique, and then smashed the River Luo Mystic Armor on his body, causing Sect Leader Kang Da to fly more than a hundred feet away.

If the Primordial Ancient Body hadn't already reached perfection, that wisp of green smoke might have already shot out. Even so, it seemed that most of its bones and muscles were broken.

"If it could save Nascent Soul's life, wouldn't he keep all the treasures he possesses?!"

While Kang Dabao was making his rather untimely calculations, True Person Cloud Trust was also taken aback.

The latter thought that even if Kang Dabao didn't die, he was not far from it.

But it seems that it will take some effort to clean it up.

True Person Cloud Trust thought he could kill Sect Leader Kang Da with another strike, but if he did, what would happen when Chan Master Huiming came looking for him? Would he be able to escape then?!

Kang Dabao's life was clearly not worth True Person Cloud Trust's consideration for long. The latter calmed his anger and rode away on a cloud.

Sect Leader Kang Da let out a long sigh, but upon seeing the True Person's back, a bold idea still popped into his head. He then suddenly unleashed the Sharpened Spirit Thorn, a technique he had already mastered to a minor degree.

The True Person Cloud Trust, whose meridians were severed and whose acupoints were empty, was clearly caught off guard. His sea of Swift Movement throbbed with pain, and his swift figure suddenly stopped. Even the clouds beneath his feet vanished into thin air, and he immediately plummeted from the sky.

"You little thief, prepare to die!"

When True Person Cloud Trust gathered some more energy and looked back, he saw that after making his move, Sect Leader Kang Da didn't care about the outcome at all. He had already released the talisman and turned away.

True Person Cloud Trust was furious, but he understood the consequences and managed to suppress his murderous intent, letting the man escape.

Fearing that Chan Master Huiming might be nearby, True Person Cloud Trust dared not linger. However, when he saw the direction Kang Dabao had fled, a hint of hesitation appeared on his face.

After hesitating for a while, the Daoist priest finally put aside his inner struggle and Yixin finding his way to immortality.