Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1273 Light Collapse
Endless darkness enveloped the sky, and the divine gate that had been vaguely visible in the distance vanished into the darkness even faster, replaced by the lurking, enormous setting sun!

"Red-cut arrowhead".

Gongsun Bei's face also darkened.

Yes… Gongsun Bei is indeed a master of supernatural powers who emerged from Yanmen Pass. He has experienced many great battles and is very experienced. However, his training in the harsh and desolate passes has also left him without a crucial weapon for defeating enemies in combat:

Taoism.

This [Yinxiu Ye Escape Method] was something he obtained from the powerful Han family. The incantation for that method was also taught by the Han family. He only grasped the surface meaning but not the essence—even the implications revealed in Li Zhouwei's few words gave him a sense of sudden enlightenment.

Similarly, he finally understood why the "Kidai Night" that dispelled the Heavenly Sun appeared so weak in front of the "Red Arrowhead".

Another realization dawned on him:

With this statement, I am confident I can take another step forward on the path of "Qi cultivation."

'Unfortunately... there's no chance anymore.'

His face, which had been submerged in darkness, finally lit up, and his pupils reflected the dazzling light of the sky!

It was a magnificent and imposing white-brick, purple-flame heavenly gate that descended from the sky.

"Visiting the Heavenly Gate!"
Gongsun Bei's face quickly brightened, turning a blazing white. The general gripped the blood-red axe in his hand tighter and tighter, the last thought of retreat vanishing from his mind. His gaze turned icy cold.

'To die is to die, but what is the point of dying in battle if one is cowardly?'

The fact that "Qi Dai Ye" cannot escape from this Blood Desert does not mean that the cumbersome supernatural power "Ye Tian Men" can easily subdue his "Xi Qi"!

In times of emergency, expediency is paramount; how can one disregard the king's command!

He took a step forward, and that blue light shone from him once more, like a noble carriage in the night, silently emerging from beneath the Heavenly Gate, speeding for hundreds of miles, advancing instead of retreating, raising his blood axe high, pointing directly at Li Zhouwei!
They launched a fierce attack.

'That's more like it.'

Li Zhouwei was not angry but pleased. His golden pupils were fixed on the brilliance of the "Eight Discourses" on Gongsun Bei's body, his eyes unblinking, as if he was trying to grasp all the characteristics of this supernatural power in this short period of time!
For him, this was also a rare opportunity.

Whether it's "Xi Qi" or "Jue Yin", the more familiar he is with these opposing supernatural powers, the more composed he will be in his future actions. Sometimes, a small judgment or a correct response can affect the overall situation, and may even affect the lives of Li Ximing, Li Quewan, and even the cultivators on the lake!

At this moment, facing the menacing Gongsun Bei, the King of Wei's face was covered with leaping Qilin patterns. He neither dodged nor avoided, but stepped forward and held his halberd horizontally from bottom to top to block the blood axe!
"Boom!"

The clanging sound echoed across the desert, but it was completely blocked by the blood-red light, unable to travel outwards. Like all cultivators from impoverished backgrounds, Gongsun Bei's weapon skills were not low, and the armor he wore was the culmination of his life's work. But unfortunately, he encountered Li Zhouwei.

【Yuan E】 operates in tandem with 'Jun Dao Wei', the halberd gleams, and it remains unshaken under this terrifying pressure. The face of the King of Wei is close at hand, his expression is calm, and he even releases his right hand from the halberd's tail with lightning speed!

He held the halberd in one hand, and with the other hand, he reached straight for Gongsun Bei's neck!

Gongsun Bei felt a strong sense of alarm. The 'Wei Que Hua' behind him shone brightly, operating at full power to continuously weaken Li Zhouwei's heavenly light, but it was still unable to block that giant hand.

It suddenly locked onto the throat.

In that instant, Li Zhouwei felt as if he had grabbed a slippery, venomous snake, which struggled in his hand with astonishing force. In a short moment, it slipped out of his grasp, leaving only a bluish-green divine light that made his hand sizzle.

Even the Dharma body of the Lord, who is fraught with danger, is ineffective…

Gongsun Bei seized this moment of opportunity and finally managed to move out, but he did not retreat. Instead, he gathered all his divine power and slashed his long axe at Li Zhouwei's neck!
The young man ignored him. The bright sun between his brows flickered, and for a moment the chaotic stars trembled and the flowing light was dazzling. It had disappeared from its original place and was replaced by an unfolded catalog, with the light of the bright sun flowing through it.

Gongsun Bei showed no fear. With his supernatural powers activated and the aid of "Qi Dai Ye" (a magical artifact), he easily stepped over the obstacle. However, he did not expect that illusions would arise all around him, the setting sun would shine brightly, and a crimson light would appear out of nowhere, trapping him in place.

It is the wondrous [Shu Huan] of [Yuan E].

This wondrous technique, inspired by the "Red Arrowhead," was rarely used by Li Zhouwei due to its insufficient power. However, in the face of Gongsun Bei who had escaped from the heavens, [Shu Huan] proved highly effective, trapping him for a time.

At this moment, Li Zhouwei appeared high in the sky, his hands forming a magic seal, his gaze sharp and menacing. A sudden gust of wind swept through the air, and the last rays of the setting sun finally disappeared below the ground.

As the sky descended, the only light in the desert vanished, plunging everything into endless darkness, yet within this darkness, the sound of ticking could be heard.

The cultivator at the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion realm was momentarily stunned in the darkness.

Li Zhouwei has disappeared.

To be precise, the entire blood-red world of the "Crimson Arrowhead" vanished, leaving Gongsun Bei's spiritual consciousness in a blur, nothing but darkness. It seemed like an instant, yet also like an extremely long time, leaving Gongsun Bei bewildered.

'What kind of supernatural power is this?'

'Red-bladed arrowheads? I've never heard of such a thing…'

But in the instant his lingering thoughts drifted through his mind, a touch of crimson finally appeared on the horizon, a flowing red like a drop of blood streaking across the dark sky.

This blood, like a comet, seemed to usher in a chaotic era, cutting the dark sky in two, revealing the gray sky behind it, the all-encompassing mist, and—the distant Zanmen!

The "Red Arrowhead" has been solved!
Gongsun Bei had no time to extricate himself. As the darkness receded, endless black-gold light flowed out and converged.

It's still [Teiki Hikaru]!
The Mingyang Reversal Technique came head-on, but Gongsun Bei had no time to pay attention to anything else. His supernatural powers were constantly vibrating, reminding him at all times that a calamity was about to befall him!
Before he could even move, he felt as if a heavy hammer had struck his brain. A colorful blur flashed before his eyes, dazzling him. For a moment, he was disoriented, confused, and helpless.

【Qianyang Bracelet】!
This magical treasure was indeed powerful. Even though his "Eight Rebellions" responded simultaneously and the influence he received was constantly diminishing, he was still suffocated and forced to stay in place.

The blood-red comet that separated the "Crimson Arrowhead" fell like a teardrop at a terrifying speed, heading straight for the Gongsun Stele!

'not good! '

The "Crimson Arrowhead" had faded, revealing all the signs of the battle. In an instant, all the magical powers fighting around them were alarmed. Anyone with eyes could see that Gongsun Bei was in big trouble.

'Save him quickly!'

Sure enough, a dazzling light shone from the sky, and the nun revealed an earth-shattering figure. She made her move without waiting for any opportunity, and did not even dare to attack Li Zhouwei. Instead, she went straight for Gongsun Bei!

But how could Li Zhouwei be unprepared? After waiting for a long time at the "Visiting Heaven Gate," it suddenly became bright, like a meteorite falling from the sky, and fiercely resisted Maha!
That streak of blood-red light, like a gentle glow, softly draped over Gongsun Bei's body.

This person regained consciousness extremely quickly; the instant the blood fell, he unleashed his supernatural powers to their fullest extent:

"Discuss the Eight Removals!"
This supernatural power, which had repeatedly performed miraculous feats, shone brightly once more. Driven by this immortal at all costs, it even produced various illusions, as if there were thousands of palaces, noble officials, and factions forming to pursue their own interests, so that the emperor would not punish them and that the fallen glory would be removed one by one as before.

But the bloody light didn't weaken at all; in fact, it became even more deadly!

The young man stood with his hands behind his back, his voice quiet and cold, like light and lightning, illuminating heaven and earth:

"The usurpation and murder were committed by me, and the emperor cannot escape punishment. As for mere servants, why should we discuss this further?"

The "Red Arrowhead" supernatural power, though based on the principles of Yin and Yang, is also a method of attack. It is said to "sweep away all difficulties with the weight of ten thousand chariots" and is an extremely difficult supernatural power to cultivate. Li Zhouwei also cultivated it for twenty years before perfecting it.

When the "Crimson Arrowhead" is perfected and its supernatural power recedes, the light of "Transformation of Karma and Pure Yin" reaches its peak, thus giving rise to the meaning of "Destructive Power of the Setting Sun"!
If the incomplete "Red Arrowhead" is meant to roam the world, accumulating the power of ten thousand chariots to cause chaos, then there is the pure Yin of the transformed karma, who either escaped or killed the enemy. Now, it has entered the capital from the capital, and is about to return to the palace to kill the old party and seize the throne!
This is the origin of the "Red Arrowhead" as a deadly magical power.

And the "Red Arrowhead" was not even subject to reduction by the "Eight Rejections"!
Li Zhouwei's gaze was icy.

"Discussing the Eight Punishments is the way of a noble subject. If it prevents the emperor from imposing punishments and instead hinders the ruler, it is tantamount to a rebellious army, capable of killing the emperor and seizing the country. Even the monarch cannot protect himself; how can he possibly contend with the old faction regarding the Eight Punishments!"

"Boom!"

As if in accordance with his words, this crimson point fell, freezing Gongsun Bei's figure in place, the crimson light filling the sky and engulfing all the scenery.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the sky, light and brilliance rushed in. Cheng Qian and Cui Jueyin, one after the other, had rushed to the aid from Xiangxiang and suddenly made their move from the void, joining forces to block the golden statue of the nun!

Whether it was supernatural powers or Maha, it was too late to pay attention to them. All eyes were turned to the spreading and dissipating blood, and a terrifying scene was exposed before everyone's eyes.

Gongsun Bei has already knelt down on the fertile field.

The general lowered his head, clutched his chest, and blood gushed from his mouth. His supernatural powers were completely depleted, as if an extremely terrifying pressure had descended upon him, causing him to kneel on the ground, unable to move.

Gongsun Bei raised his head.

A tear of blood streamed down his brow, leaving a golden crack on his face. The setting sun bathed most of his face in crimson blood, making him look extremely terrifying.

This murderous aura of the setting sun permeated his body, not only damaging his supernatural abilities but also causing him to become mentally confused!

Jiang Toushou and Xiao Disa fell silent upon witnessing this scene.

'It's over...'

It wasn't that Jiang Tou Shou was sitting on the mountain watching the tigers fight, intending to harm Gongsun Bei—it was just too fast! Gongsun Bei cultivated Xi Qi, but he was completely defeated in front of Li Zhouwei in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn!
"Boom!"

Another earth-shattering sound rang out. Xiao Disa's aura surged, and he forcefully drew upon the colorful light, rising into the air and illuminating countless colors. Jiang Toushou cursed inwardly. With just a thought, Lianmin was shattered in mid-air!

But then a cold, piercing voice echoed through the night sky:

"Gongsun Bei! There will still be days when you wish to live in the Sandalwood Grove but cannot!"

Xiao Disa rode away in a blaze of light, and even had time to make a sarcastic remark to him!
All the divine lights flashed at once, darkening the sky and causing sand and stones to fly. The supernatural beings in the south, whether chasing or laughing, standing guard or stunned in amazement, all became blurred backgrounds.

The Zhao reinforcements suffered a minor defeat at the Zan Gate, but crumbled at the first touch, leaving one of the immortals kneeling on the ground. They then scrambled to hide back inside the pass, not daring to look back eastward.

They were even feeling fortunate and proud that what remained was the Gongsun Stele.

Li Zhouwei stood silently in place, watching all the colors retreat to the west, his aura firmly locked onto the kneeling figure, his gaze unwavering.

Until everything fell silent, no more colorful light shone, night had fallen, and a peaceful darkness enveloped the earth, one by one, supernatural beings silently emerged, hanging in the sky like gods.

Gongsun Bei was not surprised, nor did Xiao Disa's words make him make any move. He raised his bloodied face and looked at the sky in a daze and with relief.

Even though his vision was still filled with crimson.

After a moment, Chang Yun said softly:
"What a deadly ray of light! Gongsun Bei... you couldn't dodge it, so you deserve to die!"

Li Zhouwei glanced at him with an ambiguous expression.

'They really are from the Zhang family...good eye.'

This killing intent was revealed when the 'Crimson Arrowhead' retreated. Once revealed, it was sure to kill. If it missed, its power would be greatly reduced, and it would no longer be able to obtain the light of [Transformation of Karma Pure Yin]!
This was not the first time Li had encountered it. The earliest Huayang King Yue that Li Ximing obtained contained a portion of its divine power—its advantages and disadvantages were the same, and they were from the same source.

That's why he saved the Qianyang Bracelet for the very last moment!
Gongsun Bei below naturally couldn't hear it, or perhaps it didn't matter whether he heard it or not. He still held his head high, letting the crimson light linger on his face. The spiritual treasure enveloped him, severing his connection with the Great Void.

Not a word.

All the cultivators were Li's confidants, so they remained silent. Only Yu Xi was shocked—he knew Gongsun Bei and was aware of his strength. Given the restraint between different lineages, it was impossible for him to be defeated so quickly…

They were even not much slower than Jiang Fu and Wang!
Yu Xi has always relied on his supernatural powers, so he is naturally proud and has no need to worry about his life. If his whole family hadn't been in Ruzhou, he would never have been able to give his all in this great battle!

For the first time, he doubted whether he could survive under the command of this King of Wei, and only then did he belatedly realize the shock and fear he was experiencing:
'Fortunately, I didn't refuse the King of Wei—if I had hesitated even slightly, I would probably be kneeling in Ruzhou!'

Yu Xiben was familiar with the Gongsun Stele, and upon considering this, he felt a sense of interdependence, lowering his brows slightly, and said:

"General Gongsun..."

But ultimately, due to his unsuitable status, he only uttered these four words, then sighed, turned away, and remained silent.

'The world has changed...the world has changed...two people died on Salt Lake, and now another one is about to fall before Zan Gate...the fall of all those with supernatural powers in recent years is related to this one!'

All eyes turned to Li Zhouwei.

The King of Wei, however, continued to stare at the spot where Xiao Disa had disappeared into the distance, his brows slightly furrowed. He had clearly overheard those words. He murmured:

"How hateful that he wasn't released sooner?"

Gongsun Bei heard his voice and finally reacted, his voice hoarse as he laughed:
"In my early years, I had a close friend who practiced both Buddhism and Taoism. He and I cultivated together at Yanmen. He was handsome and extraordinary, well-versed in many books, and he guided me in Taoist cultivation, saying that the opportunity lay in Mingyang. Thus, I left that desolate and harsh land and entered the world and the court. If the King of Wei were to ask me if I had any intention of joining Buddhism..."

His lips trembled slightly, and though he seemed lost in thought, he spoke frankly:
"At least there was once."

Gongsun Bei seemed to have calmed down a bit. He raised his blood axe to support himself on the ground, coughed up some blood, and was in much better condition. However, given the current situation, even in his prime, he wouldn't be able to get out. He didn't offer any hope, and simply said:

"It's not a matter of hatred."

"My dearest friend, out of compassion, has forgotten all feelings, gratitude, self, and others, and has stopped seeing me altogether. As for me... I was originally a chivalrous hero of Yanmen, who, having attained supernatural powers, entered the court and witnessed much corruption... I am ashamed to associate with people like Xiao Disa and Jiang Toushou, and the orthodox paths, whether immortals or Buddhists, are all ashamed to accept me as a disciple..."

The red in his eyes gradually faded, turning into tears of blood that flowed down, revealing his dark eyes:
"When I was wielding my sword and acting as a chivalrous knight in Yanmen, I was the pride of my clan, protecting my home and country, and killing the northern barbarians. I was extremely proud. That place was small, and even the most outstanding figures could only sigh helplessly when they saw me... Later, as my supernatural powers gradually developed, I realized how vast the universe was and how insignificant I was. I also realized that the world was dark and that heroes were being humiliated!"

"And I, I face certain death if I advance, and the extermination of my entire family if I retreat... A chivalrous hero? No longer. A lackey, a pawn, a cowardly commoner, a stray dog, living in constant fear, not knowing where I can find refuge..."

"King Wei—just kill me!"

He gave a self-deprecating laugh, shed his bloody tears, slowly closed his eyes, and praised:
"There are always those in the world who can only lament their fate, and even if they die at the hands of the King of Wei, they will still be worthy of being called heroes!"