360: Chapter 86: Fate and Destiny_2 360: Chapter 86: Fate and Destiny_2 Beneath the flickering rage and fury,
Xie Xuanyi saw the “sorrow” in the Venerable’s eyes…
His most accomplished disciple,
had his arm severed,
his Heart Lake destroyed,
and for the rest of his life, he likely had no hope of ascending to the Yang God Realm.
Up until now, Prince Jiu was just a hairbreadth away from completing his “inquiry into the Tao,” and the Peacock Venerable had even prepared all the offerings needed for the ascension, just waiting for his beloved disciple to finish his inquiry before ascending!
“Hum…”
A low hum arose from the center of Prince Jiu’s brow.
Under the Peacock Venerable’s mental guidance, the Five-Colored Divine Furnace slowly emerged; it was the top-tier Secret Treasure he had given to his disciple to help him cross the Yang God Tribulation.
Now, the divine furnace was deformed and cracked from the battle.
“It’s not my fault.”
Lu Yuzhen sighed lightly and said helplessly, “He was wounded by the True Dragon Dao and his Heart Lake was eroded by the Ruyi Dao…
If you can’t let go of your anger, then go settle the account with them.
I certainly won’t stop you.”
“…”
The Peacock Venerable cradled his disciple’s body, continuously infusing him with demonic power.
His expression mournful, he looked toward the direction of Great Yue Kingdom, which was enveloped by the Ruyi Dao’s blockade…
After descending onto Snow Mountain, he did not rush forward, sensing the aura of the Tao Rules inside the Secret Realm.
Two top-tier powerhouses, not of this era, were battling!
Those who can become Venerables are one in ten thousand geniuses, hearts grander than the heavens, never inferior to others.
Yet, Peacock had to admit,
at this moment, amidst the swirling sands, the two combatants, their Tao Rules aura, were stronger than his own!
However,
the cruelest path in the world is that of life and death.
Once this battle was over,
the two of them should also face “death.”
Entering the fray would be pointless for him…
The Peacock Venerable withdrew his gaze from the sandstorm and sent forth a resonant voice, “Do you have a way to remove the remnants of the Tao Rules from his Heart Lake?”
Lu Yuzhen was slightly taken aback and then smiled, shaking his head, “The Ruyi Dao is enigmatic and unpredictable.
It’s a path of willingness, not something mundane people like us can touch.
My friend, don’t make things difficult for me…”
“I can see that the Yang Gods worshipped in the temples of the Great Chu dynasty, the path they practice is not the same as yours; you’re not fellow travelers.”
The Peacock Venerable stated calmly, “Remove the Ruyi Dao from him for me, and once I leave Snow Mountain, I’ll block the people from Great Chu for you.”
As soon as these words came out,
the smile on Lu Yuzhen’s face slowly receded.
He looked serious and asked, “Do you speak the truth?”
The Peacock Venerable replied enigmatically, “As the Venerable of the Demon Country, when I give my word, I follow through.”
Lu Yuzhen pressed further, “How long can you hold them off?”
The Peacock Venerable chuckled lightly, “For the duration of one battle.
I will only hold them back, not fight to the death.”
“…Alright!”
Lu Yuzhen again lifted his sleeve, and countless sheets of paper surged forth.
The Peacock Venerable raised his hands and released Prince Jiu.
The withered figure was swept up into the air.
“Are you…
going to heal him?”
Xie Xuanyi transmitted telepathically, frowning.
He didn’t know the specifics of the two’s telepathic conversation, but he could discern Lu Yuzhen’s intent.
“Yes.
The Peacock Venerable has suffered several setbacks, and this is me merely showing a token of goodwill.”
Lu Yuzhen was in high spirits, leisurely explaining, “You can rest assured.
Even if Prince Jiu recovers, it’s difficult for him to prove the Tao.
This demon makes for a fine whetstone, to be left for your killing later on…”
“…”
Upon hearing this, Xie Xuanyi said nothing more.
In truth, he didn’t care about the life or death of Prince Jiu.
Even if this guy really ascended to the Yang God, could he possibly travel down to Great Chu and capture him?
The only one who would suffer would be Ao Ying.
However,
having his arm severed by the True Dragon Dao and his body maimed, even if it’s breaking the Golden Body,
the ability to traverse the void, it’s unlikely that Prince Jiu could ever perform it again in the Yin God Realm…
This grievous injury, even if it could be healed, meant a great loss of his primordial energy.
Rustle rustle!
The sky full of white paper enveloped Prince Jiu within, forming a long, slender coffin.
The Pure White Saint’s dharma once again appeared.
This time the Saint’s dharma did not exhibit an aura of aggression but one of compassion.
He raised the Zen Staff and with the tip of it gently touched the point of the white paper coffin.
“Ommm, omm, omm.”
Layers of trembling sounds resonated through heaven and earth.
Sheets of paper from the coffin peeled away, and strands of Ruyi Dao were drawn out by the Zen Staff; Lu Yuzhen stood with one palm pressed to his chest and with the other hand lightly waving his sleeve.
The Ruyi Dao returned to the space between heaven and earth.
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
He returned these Tao Rules to Ruyi Cave Heaven.
Peacock Venerable narrowed his eyes, watching the scene of the Saintly dharma giving away the Dao; then he reached out both hands to catch the falling figure of his disciple.
Prince Jiu’s complexion had improved markedly, no longer as pale as before.
After the infusion of demonic power.
He slowly opened his eyes, his cheeks hollow, his expression haggard.
“Master…”
Prince Jiu saw the face of Peacock Venerable, his gaze dim, his voice hoarse to the extreme, squeezing out the two words with difficulty.
Those two words.
Even carried a slight sobbing tone.
“I am here.”
Peacock Venerable’s eyes also showed a trace of sorrow.
“Master’s gifted ‘Five-Colored Furnace’ has been shattered.”
Prince Jiu bowed his head and murmured, “My arm has also been severed.”
The Five-Colored Furnace could be repaired, but this arm…had been severed by the True Dragon Dao and could not be healed, an irreversible loss.
From now on.
He would have only one arm left, incomplete in body, unable to achieve a Golden Body.
“All calamities are part of fate.”
Peacock Venerable let out a gentle sigh, “Regardless, you have retained your life.
I will now take you back to Chiling City for a good rest…
Everything is still retrievable.”
Just before Prince Jiu had used the Chi Ling Order to send a message to him.
Peacock Venerable was in seclusion at Five-Colored Ridge.
Upon hearing the great news of the Northern Hunt being wiped out, Peacock Venerable’s first reaction was not joy—
The Five-Colored Dao is linked to fate.
Thus, the first thing he did was to cast divination for his disciple, and the conclusion was that the journey was fraught with danger, and any carelessness could cost a life.
Peacock Venerable immediately sent back the divination.
Unfortunately.
His beloved disciple was indeed extraordinarily gifted and skillful, and it was this very brilliance that bred an arrogant nature.
Calamities, are also a part of fate.
Merely losing an arm was actually somewhat fortunate.
“I have honored the agreement.”
Lu Yuzhen gave a slight bow, indifferent he said, “The Ruyi Dao has been completely removed…
Now, it is time for you to fulfill your promise.”
“Don’t worry.”
Peacock Venerable conveyed with calmness, “I’ll go find Yang God of Great Chu right away.”
Five-Colored radiance streaked towards the apex of the sky.
Holding his disciple, Peacock Venerable was enveloped by illusionary light and vanished into the world in a few breaths.
“He’s leaving just like that?”
Xie Xuanyi was slightly surprised and also felt a bit regretful.
This Peacock Venerable, with such a bad temper, just left like that?
He had been looking forward to a battle between the two.
“Isn’t it a good thing to peacefully send away a Demon Country Venerable?”
Lu Yuzhen replied with a smile, “You want to watch me battle him to scope out my capabilities…
Consider this, if I were to lose, or prove insufficient and decide to flee, wouldn’t you and all these people die?”
“If you were to lose, you wouldn’t have appeared at all.”
Xie Xuanyi shook his head.
He stared at the Paper Taoist before him, speaking slowly, “You cherish life more than anyone else.”
“Oh…
And what makes you think that?” Lu Yuzhen still had a smile on his face.
“Any Great Practitioner at the Yang God Realm would not, like you, be so unknown before proving the Dao.”
Xie Xuanyi said earnestly, “Ten years ago, who had ever heard of the ‘Paperman Sect’?
And who knew who Lord Lu was?”
“In recent years, not many people actually know my name, either.”
Lu Yuzhen let out a regretful sigh before smiling again, “However…
after the file presented by Chen Jingxuan, not only the Great Chu dynasty but also Nanli have many who recognize my appearance and understand my roots.
Perhaps after some time, I will become well-known all over the world, known by everyone.
Tell me, should I thank the little State Preceptor or should I thank you?”