Despite its peculiar and powerful ritual array, the Great Light Sect proved no match for the might of consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivators.
Boom!
With one mighty palm strike, Vairocana shattered the sect’s defensive ritual array in an explosive burst.
“Who is it?!” Countless disciples of the Great Light Sect furiously charged forth.
However, the Mosquito Daoist made a sweeping motion with his hand. Swarms of black mosquitos instantly filled the surroundings, engulfing everyone in their path.
Panic struck as someone cried out in recognition, “It’s the Mosquito Daoist!”
“Over there!” Suddenly, a distinct voice rang out; it was the mole within the Great Light Sect.
The crowd instantaneously rushed towards a large hall.
Any resistance was futile against Vairocana, who unleashed a gale with a wave of his hand, which sent everyone flying.
A man dressed in a yellow robe shouted in challenge, “Who dares to cause trouble in my Great Light Sect?”
Someone instantly responded, “It’s people from the Han Imperial Dynasty!”
The yellow-robed Great Light Sect Master goggled and issued a call to arms. “Citizens of the Great Light Sect’s cities, this sect master urgently needs your help. Raise your right hand to help me defeat the enemy!”
As the blessings cloud sea churned and rumbled, it seemed poised to draw on the remaining citizens’ energy.
However, Long Shenying dashed to the front.
“How much energy can you borrow with the scant blessings you have left?” he scoffed, glaring fiercely as he threw a palm strike.
The attack was so swift that it arrived almost instantly.
Some of the citizens’ energy had already flowed into the Sect Master. However, he could only hastily block the attack.
Boom!
An immense explosion resounded in the grand hall, instantly shattering it.
The might of Long Shenying’s palm strike was ultimately too great, immediately overpowering the Great Light Sect Master.
“He is the one!” The mole from earlier pointed to a figure in the distance, a man in a black robe.
The sect master roared in shock and anger, “Traitor! How dare you betray the sect?”
Boom!
A dense cloud of black mosquitos instantly swarmed the man in the black robe.
The man raised his hat, revealing Dahong’s face. Dahong’s replica’s eyes turned crimson.
“Don’t look into his eyes!” the Mosquito Daoist shouted in alarm.
Boom!
The black mosquitos engulfed Dahong’s replica, obscuring his eyes.
“Argh!”
An agonized scream pierced the air but to no avail. The difference in their cultivations was too large. No one could help.
More and more energy from the citizens entered the Great Light Sect Master, and his strength skyrocketed. But even then, with Vairocana and Lady Houtu present, it all seemed insufficient.
Just as victory seemed to be in their grasp, a thunderous voice boomed in the sky. “The celestial stars are at my disposal. Stars move! Nine Dragons Divine Fire Pillar!”
Suddenly, countless stars in the sky flared. The starlight connected to form nine ma.s.sive fiery dragons that instantly arrived at the scene, seemingly transcending time and s.p.a.ce.
“Ji Dihong’s ambush?” Long Shenying’s face sank.
“Leave this to me,” Lady Houtu said with a cold snort.
With a wave of her hand, nine heavenly rivers appeared out of nowhere, rus.h.i.+ng up to the sky to meet the nine fire dragons.
Boom!
The high-alt.i.tude collision between the fire dragons and the heavenly rivers shattered s.p.a.ce.
“Mister Starless?” Long Shenying said.
Besides Gu Hai’s family, no one knew Mister Starless’s true ident.i.ty. They only knew he was Ji Dihong’s subordinate and was probably here on Ji Dihong’s orders to lay an ambush.
Lady Houtu’s expression turned solemn. “How formidable of Mister Starless, harnessing the power of multiple galaxies! The Nine Dragons Divine Fire Pillar?”
She saw the nine fire dragons slowly suppressing the heavenly rivers in their clash.
Lady Houtu showed a cold expression as she waved her hand, sending another nine heavenly rivers gus.h.i.+ng into the sky and forming a powerful repelling force.
------
The distant Xuanyuan City:
Ji Dihong’s face darkened. “We understand now. We now know what was bothering us. Gu Hai is not only attacking the headquarters of the Great Light Sect; his actual target is Dahong’s replica. The Great Light Sect has a traitor?”???????.???
“Your Holy Eminence, the death of Dahong’s replica will disrupt the mind control, and it will take a long time to find a suitable replacement!” said Emperor Kong, his face drawn and worried.
Ji Dihong responded coldly, “Notify all the Dahong replicas to be cautious and stay out of sight as much as possible!”
“Yes!”
------
Great Light Sect:
The Mosquito Daoist pounced on Dahong’s replica, who soon crumbled, under the relentless onslaught of innumerable black mosquitos and the Mosquito Daoist’s personal effort, into a mere layer of human skin, silenced forever.
The Great Light Sect Master’s strength continued to flourish. However, at the moment of the Dahong replica’s obliteration, the sect master jolted awake, as if rising from a deep sleep.
“What is going on? Who are you all?” the shocked sect master cried out.
“Sect Master?” people around him exclaimed in surprise.
“He’s awake!” exclaimed Long Shenying.
On the other side, Lady Houtu called out, “Leave Mister Starless to me. You all should hurry to the next location!”
Vairocana nodded in response.
“We are pressed for time. I would appreciate it if you two stayed behind to protect Lady Houtu and clarify the situation for the Great Light Sect Master!” Long Shenying addressed two of the new marquises.
These two new marquises used to be emperors of imperial dynasties. Protecting Lady Houtu was not a daunting task, especially since the Great Light Sect Master had regained consciousness and his att.i.tude towards everyone was sure to change.
“Understood!” they responded in unison.
“Let’s move!” the Mosquito Daoist roared.
In a flash, Vairocana carried the Mosquito Daoist, Long Shenying, and four of the new marquises, racing towards the next sect.
While in flight, the Mosquito Daoist refined the Dahong replica, his entire body trembling in discomfort.
Whoos.h.!.+
With an exceptional burst of speed, Vairocana reached the second sect within just three breaths of time. Emperor Kong’s message had yet to reach the other Dahong replicas.
Boom!
With a powerful palm strike, Vairocana shattered the sect’s ritual array.
The same scenario unfolded. However, this time Vairocana acted swiftly and decisively, instantly dealing a heavy blow to the sect master, and the mole quickly identified the location of Dahong’s replica.
The Mosquito Daoist lunged. A black proboscis pierced through the Dahong replica’s body.
“Argh!” The Dahong replica let out a miserable shriek.
Just then, a phantomlike, black sword light suddenly appeared behind the Mosquito Daoist.
“Gautama Divine Palm!”
Boom!
Vairocana’s palm collided with the black sword, resulting in an enormous impact and s.p.a.ce shaking.
“Consummation of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm?” Vairocana said in surprise.
Who is this swordsman? Why wasn’t there any information about him before?
“Huang Heavenly Dynasty’s Dark Guard envoy commander. Please provide me with some pointers, Vairocana!” the shadow called out coldly, thrusting the sword forward once more.
“Dark Guard? One of Ji Dihong’s secret factions? Tasked with collecting information and a.s.sa.s.sinating external enemies? A unit similar to the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Blood Uniform Guard?” Long Shenying’s face darkened.
s.h.i.+ng! Boom!
With his tricky sword technique, a.s.sa.s.sination skills, and immense strength, the Dark Guard envoy commander proved to be a formidable opponent. Vairocana held his ground, but defeating the Dark Guard envoy commander would require significant effort.
s.h.i.+ng!
Just then, a sword light descended from the sky, sending the Dark Guard envoy commander’s sword flying in an instant.
“Huh?” Everyone’s face sank, including Ji Dihong’s, who was observing from a distance.
An azure sword lotus blossomed above, upon which stood a man in snow-white robes. Beneath his feet, infinite sword qi saturated the s.p.a.ce around him.
“The Myriad Age Daoist Sect’s Sha? He has managed to form a sword physical soul and has reached the consummation of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm?” Ji Dihong’s face fell again.
“Sha? Did Gu Hai ask Sha to go over? To think Gu Hai has such influence?!” A chill ran down Cangjie’s spine.
------
The distant Borderless Heavenly Capital:
Gu Hai exhaled in relief, his eyes flickering with grat.i.tude. When he asked Sha for help, Sha had agreed without a moment’s hesitation.
The consummation of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm? Sha had gained Sect Master Heavenly Access’s sword Dao and successfully formed his sword physical soul. Except for Essence Genesis, he was now the most powerful being in the Myriad Age Daoist Sect.
------
Facing the Dark Guard envoy commander, Sha naturally drew his sword.
“Your seventh physical soul is not a sword physical soul?” Sha asked, slightly puzzled.
“A sword physical soul? There is no such thing. How can you form one?” The Dark Guard envoy commander sounded surprised.
“Humph! Since it’s not a sword physical soul, you are unworthy of witnessing my sword Dao!” Sha retorted coldly.
Buzz!
The surrounding sword qi vanished instantly. The sword lotus beneath his feet also disappeared abruptly, leaving Sha staring coldly at the Dark Guard envoy commander.
“Thank you, Azure Lotus Young Master!” Long Shenying said gratefully.
“I made a promise to Gu Hai,” Sha said calmly. “I will only block one consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivator—merely block. Go on now!”
“Understood!” the Mosquito Daoist answered as he absorbed a Dahong replica.
“Both of you, I’ll trouble you with a.s.sisting the Azure Lotus Young Master!” Long Shenying ordered two of the new marquises.
“There’s no need!” Sha responded indifferently.
“Alright!” Long Shenying agreed and nodded his approval.
“Let’s move!” Vairocana waved his hand.
Whoos.h.!.+
The group promptly left for the third sect.
“Stop!” the Dark Guard envoy commander yelled, ready to block their path.
s.h.i.+ng!
Suddenly, two strands of sword qi shot out from Sha’s eyes, aimed straight at the envoy commander’s forehead.
“What?”
Boom!
The Dark Guard envoy commander’s face turned ashen as he hastily swung his sword to block the attack.
Meanwhile, the sect master here wore a grim expression. “What happened? What’s wrong with me?”
“Sect Master! Have…have you really been under mind control?” the disciples of the sect exclaimed in shock.
The Mosquito Daoist and the group reached the third sect in an instant.
Whoos.h.!.+
Vairocana was about to attack when a large whip rushed towards him—it was the Divine Scorpion Heavenly Demon’s Poisoned Whiplash.
“You again?” Vairocana threw a punch.
Boom!
An enormous explosion shattered everything around them, even s.p.a.ce. However, the scorpion tail failed to poison Vairocana. Instead, he captured the tail and swung it with a fierce jerk.
Boom!
A gigantic scorpion over three kilometers long smashed into the ground.
The next moment, the scorpion transformed into a black-robed man—it was the Divine Scorpion Heavenly Demon himself.
“What happened? Vairocana, are you not scared of my poison?” the Divine Scorpion Heavenly Demon demanded in surprise and anger.
“Mister Gu and his wife have thoroughly researched your poison. It’s now ineffective on me!” Vairocana scoffed.
“Move fast!” Vairocana shouted.
“Alright!”
The group stormed the sect and quickly seized the third Dahong replica. The replica tried to escape, but in the face of the Mosquito Daoist’s swarm, he simply could not flee. The others held back the sect master. Soon, the Mosquito Daoist consumed the Dahong replica, and his body began to tremble violently.
“Both of you, stay here and protect Vairocana!” Long Shenying commanded two of the new marquises.
“Alright!” those two marquises responded in unison.
Despite the Divine Scorpion Heavenly Demon’s poison having no effect on Vairocana, his strength still seemed to suppress Vairocana somewhat.
“Don’t worry about me. Head to the next location!” Vairocana shouted.
“Let’s go!”
The Mosquito Daoist, Long Shenying, and the last two new marquises headed towards the final imperial dynasty.
The aura surrounding the Mosquito Daoist changed dramatically, as if he was on the verge of consummation of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm.
“I’m so close, just a bit more!” The Mosquito Daoist’s eyes sparkled with a mix of eager excitement and wild joy.
Meanwhile, in the distant Xuanyuan City, Ji Dihong’s expression darkened as he realized Gu Hai’s plot. “The aura around the Mosquito Daoist, is that the sign of someone about to break into the consummation of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm? Oh no! Gu Hai’s objective is the Dahong replicas? Not to destroy them but to allow the Mosquito Daoist to devour them?”
But it was already too late. There was only one Dahong replica left.
At this moment, the Mosquito Daoist had arrived at the fourth ambush site, located in the capital of the final imperial dynasty.