Nan Yan remained diligent in her cultivation. Her Seven Buddha Karma Scripture grew stronger when facing evil forces. If possible, forming her Golden Core in the Demon Sealing Array, where demonic energy was abundant, would make it as solid as bedrock, far surpassing cores formed elsewhere.
As they arrived with Ji Yang, they could see over a dozen Golden Core cultivators floating above the sea. Each had formed their array and concealed their auras, circling to one side. Soon, they spotted Mu Zhanting and Yin Ya observing the situation from behind a tree.
“You’re late. What’s wrong with Ji Yang?” Mu Zhanting asked.
“He used the Yellow Springs Mirror, depleting his spiritual power. He needs to rest for a moment,” Nan Yan replied.
Mu Zhanting examined Ji Yang briefly, agreeing with Nan Yan’s assessment. “He looks good like this, quite stable.”
“…”
In reality, they were far from stable. Among them, Mu Zhanting and Yin Ya had just formed their Golden Cores. Although Nan Yan’s cultivation technique was potent against demonic practitioners, she was still at the Foundation Establishment stage. As for Ji Yang… no one had seen him in action, but he was proficient in various arts, including arrays. The inner workings of the Demon Sealing Array were intricate and ever-changing; without him, their mission would likely fail.
On the other side of the sea, demonic cultivators from Si State stood ready. In their midst was a young man with a hint of ferocity between his brows. Irritated, he kicked a nearby demonic cultivator and snapped, “We’ve been looking for half an hour with a heaven-bestowed compass. Why haven’t we found the entrance yet?”
The demonic array master stumbled, his face strained as he replied, “Forgive me, Young Lord. This Demon Sealing Array was created by the old Daoist Venerable Sui Hanzi using the entire power of Daosheng Heaven. Few array masters in the world understand its inner workings. Even a provincial lord would need time to enter, let alone your humble servant.”
“Then hurry up! If you can’t find the entrance within an hour, I’ll break one of your legs!”
“Yes, yes, of course!” The array master, sweating profusely, focused all his energy on the compass to locate the entrance.
Nan Yan, who had been observing from afar, curiously glanced at Ji Yang. The Si State demonic cultivators had brought a legitimate array master with late Golden Core cultivation, yet even with the compass, it was taking so long. Ji Yang, however, had found a place to transmit qin music into the array after just a brief observation.
Sensing Nan Yan’s gaze, Ji Yang turned to her. “A-Yan.”
“Hmm?”
“They’re moving too slowly. Secretly send a burst of spiritual energy to the reef exposed in the northeast. It will trigger a resonance with the array’s entrance.”
Nan Yan couldn’t help but think that Ji Yang, sitting in his wheelchair with a feather fan on his lap, looked particularly cunning and strategic.
Following his instructions, Nan Yan discreetly sent a burst of spiritual energy towards the reef. As it struck, the sea rippled slightly, and the compass in the demonic array master’s hand immediately reacted, pointing in a specific direction.
Overjoyed, the array master exclaimed, “Young Lord, it’s over there!”
Li Chi focused on the point of spiritual light indicated by the array master and tossed out a cyan scroll. As it left his hand, the scroll unfurled, revealing a powerful character for “Release” written on it.
Moments later, the character detached itself and floated into Li Chi’s palm, transforming into a talisman. The scroll then changed, its surface becoming a misty doorway.
“The release order is effective for three days. Quickly enter and find the Master Uncle,” Li Chi commanded before stepping through the door, followed by his demonic cultivators.
As the remaining seven or eight demonic cultivators prepared to enter, suddenly, an arrow wreathed in Sanskrit light symbols and flame shot towards them from afar.
“Watch out!”
The arrow came so swiftly that the Golden Core demonic cultivators could only shout a warning before it tore through one cultivator’s protective demonic energy, piercing his heart.
The struck cultivator looked down at the gaping hole in his chest, where the Buddhist power from the wound rapidly consumed his spiritual energy. After a brief moment of shock, he fell into the sea, leaving a red stain on the surface.
The other Golden Core demonic cultivators, astonished, formed a demonic array to guard the entrance. They shouted angrily, “Who dares interfere with Si State’s affairs?”
Their answer came in the form of a figure radiating killing intent.
“I’m not just here to interfere; I’m here to kill you all!” the figure declared.
The demonic cultivators, initially enraged, paled as they recognized the newcomer.
“How can it be you?!”
The cause of the great war between Chen and Si States was the assassination of Chen State’s previous Young Lord by Si State’s demonic cultivators. This enraged Chen State’s Dragon Lord, who ignited the conflict. For years, cultivators from both sides had been locked in bloody battles across the Qitian Plains.
After the death of Chen State’s Young Lord, the Dragon Lord, despite opposition from the elders, forcefully appointed a mysterious new Young Lord. This new Young Lord had achieved terrifying results on the battlefield, slaying countless demonic cultivators. He had claimed the top spot for military achievements at both the Foundation Establishment and Golden Core stages.
If Li Chi hadn’t entered the array yet, they might have been able to face Mu Zhanting. Now, however, intimidated by his infamous reputation, their spirits faltered.
“We can’t retreat! Otherwise, the Young Lord will make our lives worse than death!” Remembering Li Chi’s brutality, the demonic cultivators shuddered but steeled themselves. “There are seven of us and only one of him. Even if we can’t kill him, severely injuring him would give our Young Lord an advantage in the Mountain Sea Forbidden Decision!”
With that, the demonic cultivators’ auras surged. They brandished axes, halberds, hooks, and forks, each displaying their unique abilities. The leader, wielding a snake spear, attacked with thunderous force. However, when the spear clashed with the fierce flames surrounding Mu Zhanting, it instantly melted into liquid metal.
“Impossible! Why is his spiritual power suddenly countering my demonic energy?!”
Emboldened by his advantage, Mu Zhanting charged forward fiercely. “Surprised? It’s because I have a sister!”
A demonic cultivator with penetrating eyes quickly fled the battle, scanning the surroundings. Soon, he spotted a female Buddhist cultivator wearing a veiled hat standing near the shore.
Shrouded in an illusion barrier, the Buddhist cultivator remained unnoticed despite her presence. She was rolling prayer beads, channeling Buddhist incantations into Mu Zhanting from afar, causing the demonic cultivators to retreat steadily.
This explained Chen State’s recent desire to ally with Mao State. Although Mao State’s Buddhist cultivators weren’t adept at warfare, their presence at the front lines empowered Chen State’s cultivators with Buddhist energy, allowing them to suppress demonic cultivators of the same level.
“Hold on! I’ll kill that Buddhist cultivator,” shouted one of the demonic cultivators. Believing Buddhist practitioners to be weak in combat, he rushed towards Nan Yan at great speed. As he reached for her, he snarled, “How dare you interfere with Si State’s affairs! The Young Lord just lost a cauldron; tasting a nun wouldn’t be bad either!”
Nan Yan raised an eyebrow slightly. Nearby, Yin Ya, who was setting up an illusion, transmitted a message: “It’s an early-stage Golden Core demonic cultivator. Can you handle him alone?”
“It’s not a concern,” Nan Yan replied.
With that, she flicked the prayer beads wrapped around her arm. A Buddhist light in the shape of a swastika bloomed where she stood. Without dodging, she raised her palm to strike.
“Evil spirits and heretics, witness the Tathagata… Purification!”
As the Seven Buddha Karma initiated its purification, the demonic cultivator felt a tremendous Buddhist force crash into him. His internal demonic energy melted like snow under the scorching sun. His body flailed like a leaf tossed in ocean waves, bones cracking throughout.
How could this be? Isn’t she just a Buddhist cultivator?
Before he could ponder further, Nan Yan’s prayer beads chimed softly. She pursued him, whipping out her long string of beads to ensnare his neck. With a swift yank, she hurled him back to the shore like a meteor hammer, smashing through seven or eight trees as thick as two people’s embrace.
Mu Zhanting, thinking the commotion on his side was intense, turned to see an even greater disturbance on the shore, leveling a stretch of sandy ground. He asked Yin Ya, who had come to assist, “How brutal… Has A-Yan been cultivating Buddhism all these years?”
Yin Ya glanced at the demonic cultivator’s miserable state under Nan Yan’s assault. “I’ve wondered about that for a long time too. It seems she’s harbored a deep hatred for demonic cultivators since leaving the Filthy Valley.”