The Three Poisons of Greed, Wrath, and Delusion Attack; Love, Hate, Desire, and Malice Are Hard to Dispel (Part 2)

The lightning sphere sped across the water's surface. Through the Primordial Copper Bead, Xu Wenyu sensed the Colorful-Luan Spirit Ship's whereabouts.

The spirit ship had been seized by the Primordial Copper Grand Hand and tainted with a trace of primordial copper aura. Using the Primordial Copper Bead bestowed by Li Nanxing, Xu Wenyu was the first to locate the Colorful-Luan Spirit Ship.

Suddenly, a warning rose in Xu Wenyu's heart, and the lightning sphere veered right.

"Waning Moon."

A cyan wind blade cleaved down at the lightning sphere.

Not far away, a fireball also hurtled toward the lightning sphere.

"Xu Wenyu, you've finally been left alone. Take my fist—"

Fu Xuanxing leaped down from his wooden sword and attacked Xu Wenyu from midair.

"The Mysterious Subtle Sect's Two Extremes Serpent Fist? It even seems to come with a Separation Flame art. Is this kid following the path of water and fire linking yin and yang?"

Standing aboard the Colorful-Luan Spirit Ship, Heng Hua watched the battle among the three in the distance.

Although Fu Xuanxing understood nothing about anything, his set of Two Extremes Serpent Fist was indeed executed with exquisite skill. With Fu Xiangfeng supporting him through sword techniques, Xu Wenyu soon fell into a disadvantage.

Seizing the opportunity, Heng Hua handed a Golden Hoop to Hengshou. "Go help them. Put this on that fellow."

"..."

Staring at the Golden Hoop, Hengshou suddenly felt a touch of sympathy for Xu Wenyu.

The young master had actually brought this wicked thing off the island?

If Hengshou had not stood nearby when Heng Hua made the Golden Hoop and personally watched thirty-three profound sect spells enter it, he would have suspected it was some evil Black Artifact recorded in an ancient book.

"Hurry. Opportunity does not come twice."

Hengshou sighed, picked up the Golden Hoop, and charged into the battlefield. The instant Xu Wenyu revealed an opening, he swiftly slipped the hoop over his head.

"Third Young Master, Snow Blowing."

With that, Hengshou grabbed Fu Xuanxing and rapidly retreated.

Fu Xiangfeng changed his sword stance, and fierce winds swept up towering waves, forcing Xu Wenyu to meet them with lightning spells.

Suddenly—

Bursts of piercing pain came from Xu Wenyu's head.

The Golden Hoop atop his head gradually began tightening inward.

"What is this thing—ow!"

Xu Wenyu hurriedly cast a spell, trying to remove the Golden Hoop from his head.

But Fu Xuanxing's and Hengshou's attacks arrived simultaneously. He could only respond in haste, enduring the searing pain in his head.

On the spirit ship, Heng Hua muttered incantations, chanting the spell again and again.

Supported by Xiaoyu, Zhou Xiao walked over. He looked at Heng Hua, then at Xu Wenyu in the distance, and suddenly understood. "The Size-As-You-Wish Curse?"

After twenty repetitions, Xu Wenyu passed out from the pain and was carried aboard the ship on Hengshou's shoulder.

Seeing the Golden Hoop already embedded in his flesh, Zhou Xiao's eyelids twitched. "What is this Dharma artifact called?"

It was far too ruthless. A Foundation Establishment cultivator had not the slightest ability to resist this killing weapon.

"It was originally called the 'Tightening Hoop,' but after some thought, I renamed it the 'Ruyi Golden Hoop.'"

Zhou Xiao considered this. "A golden hoop locking the head, size shifting as wished—it is indeed a fitting name."

Heng Hua merely smiled without speaking, lowering his head to examine Xu Wenyu.

This was his first formal use of the Golden Hoop.

If he treated Journey to the West as a cultivation method, how could he possibly ignore that miraculous Tightening Hoop Curse which had trapped the Great Sage throughout his journey west?

Heng Hua knew he did not possess Tathagata's divine powers, but making a Golden Hoop that enlarged and shrank with an incantation was not difficult.

Squatting down, he took a drop of Xu Wenyu's blood and fused it into the Ruyi Golden Hoop. From then on, the hoop became one with Xu Wenyu and would be difficult to remove.

Zhou Xiao stared at Heng Hua. Seeing this method of actively helping another refine a magic treasure, binding them so they could never escape it, he found it somewhat familiar. It seemed he had seen it in some ancient book.

"Little friend, this method of yours does not look like a secret art of the profound sects."

In an instant, Hengshou and Xiaoyu's gazes turned cold and sharp.

Without revealing anything, Heng Hua smiled. "Why would it not be? This is a telescoping Golden Hoop made with the 'Size-Shifting Technique' from the profound sects' Thirty-Six Heavenly Dipper Grand Supernatural Arts as its foundation. It is a perfectly legitimate profound sect marvel!"

He looked righteously at Hengshou and Xiaoyu.

Though the two spent every day and night by his side, they were not worms in Heng Hua's belly. Unable to discern the origins of his technique, they could only abandon the matter.

Xiaoyu secretly thought, It is only a Golden Hoop. Surely there is no wicked method hidden within it.

Hengshou thought, Whether in outward appearance or crafting method, this Golden Hoop shows not the slightest trace of evil qi or demonic arts. It should merely borrow from heterodox side paths. It is no concern.

Heng Hua then explained to Zhou Xiao, "In slow matters, follow the constant; in urgent matters, act according to expediency. This junior had no choice. After all, I do not wish to kill anyone. I believe that when this fellow Daoist wakes, he will understand me as well."

Zhou Xiao slowly nodded. "Indeed. You two wish to avoid becoming entangled in this old man's troubles. When blocking the pursuers, remember not to kill anyone."

If they did not kill, they would not forge a life-and-death enmity. In the future, this group's first target for revenge would naturally be Zhou Xiao.

But if they killed, once word reached their friends and relatives, the ones they would hate would be the Fu Family that had struck and killed them.

Zhou Xiao said, "These people know this old man's Golden Core has shattered and wish to come take advantage. Though they harbor greed, they have not truly done evil. We cultivators should embody Heaven's will above; we should not deal lethal blows below."

"Yes, yes, Senior is right."

Heng Hua readily agreed.

Kill them? What a waste. I am still counting on these people to serve as labor and build an array to seal Li Nanxing.

Xu Wenyu slowly awoke at that moment.

Noticing the Golden Hoop atop his head, his expression changed. He hurriedly drove lightning spells in an attempt to remove it.

Heng Hua began chanting again, forcing him to roll across the ground.

"Stop, stop already! Make it stop, damn you—"

He lunged forward, only to be kicked away by Hengshou.

Only after Heng Hua had finished one recitation did he slowly say, "Once my incantation begins, it cannot stop. I must chant the entire Ruyi Method. Please understand, Fellow Daoist."

Xu Wenyu clenched his teeth. What difference does it make whether I understand or not? Do I have any choice but to understand?

"I am from the Fu Family. My grandfather often taught us not to act rashly outside and to refrain from killing. So, Fellow Daoist, you may rest assured. I will not kill you."

Not kill him, only chant spells at him?

Xu Wenyu touched the Golden Hoop on his head and slowly asked, "What do you want me to do?"

"Other fellow Daoists will come looking for Senior Zhou later. I hope you can help us stop them.

"Of course, Fellow Daoist may refuse. I will not be angry."

As he spoke, Heng Hua raised his hands before his chest again, assuming the posture of someone about to chant.

"I understand. But I demand that you remove it for me tomorrow."

"Very well. Once I have dealt with Senior Li tomorrow, I will naturally remove this hoop for you."

After having Fu Xiangfeng and Hengshou take Xu Wenyu away, Zhou Xiao curiously asked, "Do you also plan to use this item against Li Nanxing?"

"If there were time, I would consider fabricating an immortal manor and turning the Golden Hoop into a magic treasure within it, tricking Senior Li into putting it on his head. But unfortunately, Senior Li will not give me that much time. And besides..."

Heng Hua sighed. "I only have a superficial grasp of the Size-As-You-Wish Curse. This Tightening Hoop may seem formidable, but it cannot restrain cultivators of great cultivation."

Not to mention that Heng Hua had only made three of these things.

Zhou Xiao's expression relaxed as he explained, "Li Nanxing is fierce and unyielding by nature. If you threaten him with this item, he will surely disintegrate himself and self-detonate. Then everyone will perish together, which would be most undesirable."

"From Senior's tone, it seems you do not hate Senior Li?"

Zhou Xiao shook his head. "Aside from competing with me, that fellow has always conducted himself as one of the righteous path. In the Golden Direction Water Region, he has many deeds of slaying demons and eliminating fiends. When he fought me in Dharma combat, many friends also came to lend him their fists."

But this time was different.

Li Nanxing knew Zhou Xiao's troubles were too great. If he truly dragged his own friends into this, likely none would survive. Yet Zhou Xiao had only just escaped the Mysterious Subtle Sect, and in order to prove his Dao, Li Nanxing had no choice but to take the gamble.

Heng Hua pondered this. "Senior Li sounds like a man of true temperament. Then if he owed me an enormous favor, would he find a way to repay it?"

"If you can help him dissolve his wrath and prove his Dao calmly, then for this favor of achieving the Dao, he could certainly become a guest elder on your Coiling Dragon Island. With his cultivation, though he cannot compare to your grandfather, he would still be a fine source of fighting strength. At the very least, stronger than this old man."

Zhou Xiao smiled. "The Grand White Mystic Gold Art he cultivates is quite extraordinary. It has the Gold-Devouring Method of metallurgical arts, the Touch-of-Gold Stone Art of alchemists, and a Supreme White Divine Saber Art of tremendous killing power."

As he spoke, Zhou Xiao taught Heng Hua the complete Grand White Mystic Gold Art.

"This is a Black Grade cultivation method, with a method for Golden Core Realm cultivators to form the soul. Consider it the first portion of our transaction."

Heng Hua silently memorized the cultivation method and considered it. "This method takes an unconventional path, focusing chiefly on metal among the five elements. Is that not far too great a weakness?"

Zhou Xiao smiled. "You understand, boy. In my early years, whenever I fought him, I only needed to turn Two Modes Primordial Magnetism into an array to disrupt his magic power and force him into defeat. Only after he obtained that cauldron could he barely contend with me."

"So now he no longer fears primordial magnetic power?"

A trace of disappointment appeared on Heng Hua's face.

The reason he had brought out a Ruyi Golden Hoop was precisely to use Xu Wenyu's lightning arts to trigger primordial magnetic power.

"With that cauldron in hand, he can avoid it."

"So it still comes down to targeting that cauldron."

Heng Hua's heart settled completely.

Zhou Xiao added, "I just performed a divination and discovered that this old man's tribulation is entwined with your opportunity for Foundation Establishment. Before you establish your foundation, you must resolve seven groups of people."

Xiaoyu's expression changed.

This Senior has seen through the young master's condition?

Heng Hua, however, was not surprised.

"Greed, wrath, delusion, love, hate, desire, and malice—these seven groups are also a trial of the heart for me."

"So long as you know your limits."

Seeing Heng Hua's calm composure, a thought stirred in Zhou Xiao's heart.

"Little friend, do you have a master or lineage?"

"Do you wish to take me as your disciple?" Heng Hua smiled. "My cultivation method forms its own school. I fear I cannot enter the Mysterious Subtle Sect."

At that moment, combat broke out across the water again.

Heng Hua casually glanced over and saw Fu Xuanxing displaying the Two Forms Sword Technique.

"Your sect takes yin and yang, the two modes, as its Dao. Though it resembles my path, our underlying principles are ultimately different."

Heng Hua's Creation's Epoch-Reunion Art exhausted the creations of Heaven and Earth. It used oneself to emulate Heaven and Earth, defining the lifespan of Heaven and Earth as one epoch of one hundred and twenty-nine thousand six hundred years. Each completion of a cycle in Heaven and Earth's temporal wheel naturally completed another level of cultivation.

Yin and yang were merely one link in the operation of Heaven and Earth.

Suddenly, Heng Hua stared at Fu Xuanxing.

Two modes? Yin and yang? Wait—the Taiji Dao. Why must I define the five elements for the five master and disciple figures?

Taiji gives birth to yin and yang, yin and yang form the five elements. I can completely approach the fivefold reunion of the Mysterious Embryo Realm from another direction!

Today's update was complete.