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Li Shimin's face was ashen, his lips moved but no sound came out, and his hand holding the sword trembled violently.

Below the city walls lay countless Buddhist monks lying in disarray. Looking at Yi Huawei, still dressed in white as snow, an unprecedented chill and despair completely overwhelmed this chosen one of heaven.

The defenders on the city wall were completely silent, many of them dropping their weapons with a clang without even noticing. Faith had crumbled, reliance had vanished, and all that remained was the fear of being lambs to the slaughter.

Yi Huwei did not urge him, but simply gazed quietly at the city tower, his eyes deep. The autumn wind whipped the black banner, making it flutter like the prelude to victory.

However, in that moment of utter despair, when everything seemed to be set in stone—

On the eastern horizon, the autumn sun, struggling to rise, suddenly dimmed for a moment.

It wasn't just clouds obscuring the view, but a more mysterious change. It was as if the "qi" (vital energy) between heaven and earth was being disturbed and drawn by an invisible force.

A strange feeling swept through the hearts of tens of thousands of people both inside and outside the city. It was a sense of transcendence, freedom, and ease, yet also a deep connection with the natural world—a kind of "Taoist charm." Like a gentle breeze brushing across a mountain, a bright moon shining on a great river, or a gazelle's horns hanging from a tree—it left no trace, yet was omnipresent.

Immediately afterwards, a clear and unrestrained voice, seemingly untouched by worldly concerns, rang out leisurely, its source elusive, as if from the far reaches of the sky, or perhaps whispering in everyone's ear:

“Nameless, it’s been five years since I last saw you. You’re even more impressive than before. But this murderous aura is a bit too strong, disturbing the tranquility of this autumn day.”

The sound carried a strange, calming power, which slightly eased the minds of many fearful soldiers on the city wall.

For the first time, a genuine look of surprise flashed in Yi Huawei's eyes. Then, a slight smile appeared on his lips as he looked up at a point in the eastern sky: "Ning Sanren, how have you been? Five years of arduous cultivation, it seems you've already touched that door. But... since you're here, why hide your face?"

"Hahahahaha!"

The laughter began, initially from one person, but then seemed to split into countless others, coming from all directions. It carried a cynical mockery and an arrogant disdain for the world, completely different from Ning Daoqi's clear and unrestrained Daoist charm, and appeared more sinister, domineering, and unfathomable!
"Hiding your head and showing your tail? Why should I conceal my actions? It's just that this old Taoist priest is dragging his feet and not being efficient enough!"

Before the words were even finished, everyone felt a blur before their eyes!
About a hundred paces in front of Yi Huawei, not far from the nine fallen Buddhist monks, two figures appeared out of thin air without warning.

On the left was a man in a wide robe with flowing sleeves, white hair and a youthful face, riding a magnificent blue donkey. This was none other than the wandering scholar Ning Daoqi. However, his eyes were even more profound and ethereal than they had been five years ago, as if reflecting the entire starry sky. His aura was perfectly harmonious and flawless, and his connection with the world was so close that it was unbelievable. It was as if he was not standing on the ground, but rather a natural extension of this world.

After five years of arduous training, he had truly touched the profound threshold of "shattering the void," and his essence, energy, and spirit had reached an unprecedented peak. Facing Yi Huawei, who had defeated him in ten moves, there was no fear in his eyes, only a pure and solemn excitement at seeing a prey.

The person on the right, however, attracted everyone's attention, even making Ning Daoqi's extraordinary aura seem somewhat indifferent.

This person looked extremely young, perhaps only in his early twenties, but his deep, ancient eyes, which sparkled like stars, seemed to have seen through hundreds of years of vicissitudes.

His face was strikingly handsome, with a high, broad forehead and a strong, upturned jawline, combining to create a unique aura that was both majestic and mysterious, both cynical and arrogant. Simply standing there, hands behind his back gazing at the sky, he naturally exuded an air of supreme superiority, as if he were the only one worthy of respect. Dressed in a simple black robe, his long hair flowing freely, he emanated no sharp, imposing presence, yet all who saw him felt a chill and a tremor involuntarily rise in their hearts, as if they were seeing not a human, but an ancient emperor who ruled over all demons, or a god who played with the mortal realm, regarding all things as mere straw dogs.

Evil Emperor, Xiang Yutian!

The first person in the history of the Demonic Sect to successfully master the "Great Demon Seed Cultivation Technique of the Dao Heart," who has lived for hundreds of years, is a mysterious and unpredictable supreme being!

His appearance seemed to carry an eerie force field; even the light around him appeared to be subtly distorted, and the autumn wind vanished silently when it reached three feet in front of him. His gaze swept over the nine dying Buddhist monks on the ground, a mocking smile curving his lips, before finally settling on Yi Huawei. A hint of undisguised excitement and curiosity, like that of someone who had discovered a perfect prey, flashed in his eyes.

"Tsk tsk, those old bald monks, Liao Kong and his group, are still so unprogressive. They try to fight to the death with a broken formation, but they get slapped apart by someone else."

Xiang Yutian's voice had a metallic quality as he said with amusement, "Hey, kid over there, you're that Heavenly Dao Alliance leader? I heard you subdued the Yin Kui Sect and the Song Clan, and even killed Bi Xuan? Not bad at all. I've been sleeping for a long time, and I was just woken up by this old Taoist priest, only to hear about such an interesting character as you. Not bad, not bad, much more resilient than these bald monks."

His tone was casual, as if he were commenting on merchandise. His condescending attitude, which regarded all heroes as nothing, was more sinister and domineering than Yi Huawei's calm indifference just now.

Ning Daoqi didn't take Xiang Yutian's teasing to heart. He simply bowed slightly to Yi Huawei, his expression serious: "Brother Wuming, I benefited greatly from that battle back then. I have been in seclusion for five years to comprehend it and have made some progress. However, I know that I am no match for Brother Yi's extraordinary abilities on my own. I just happened to sense that Brother Xiang's energy was awakening, so I invited him to come along to witness it. I also wish to ask Brother Yi for some more guidance."

His words were polite, but his meaning was clear—he had come today not to reminisce, but to stop you from breaking through Luoyang, and even... to join forces with you to fight!
Looking at the Taoist and the demon before him, Yi Huawei saw that they were perhaps the only two people in the world who could communicate with him on the level of martial arts. Instead of fear, he showed a genuinely interested smile.

"Ning Sanren, you are too kind. Xiang Yutian... the name of the Evil Emperor is renowned far and wide. It is an honor to meet you today."

He nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the two men: "You two have come together, are you to stop me from taking Luoyang? Or... do you simply wish to discuss and exchange ideas with me?"

Xiang Yutian laughed heartily, his voice echoing across the land: "Discussing the Dao? I've been bored to death debating with this old Taoist for days! Fighting is definitely more fun! As for Luoyang?" He glanced at the city wall: "Whether Li Tang brat lives or dies is none of my business. But this old Taoist seems to still have some lingering affection, talking about the well-being of all people and the balance of fortune, so long-winded. I'll just treat it as a chance to stretch my muscles and see if you're really as divine as the legends say!"

Ning Daoqi said gently, “Brother Wuming, the world is bound to unite after a long period of division, and divide after a long period of unity; this is the will of Heaven. However, excessive killing is against the harmony of Heaven. The fate of the Li Tang dynasty is not yet over, and the people of Luoyang are innocent. Why don’t you temporarily halt your military campaign and seek another way? If you are willing to cease hostilities, I am willing to vouch for you and persuade the Li Tang to divide the country along the river, each maintaining its own territory, thus avoiding a great calamity.”

These words sound nice, but they are actually a delaying tactic, and they also imply that if Yi Huawei does not agree, they will take action.

Yi Huawei shook his head slightly, his smile unchanged, but his tone turned cold: "Old Daoist Ning, do you know how many innocent people have died in these decades of war? Li Tang, Wang Shichong, Dou Jiande—whose hands are not stained with the blood of the common people? Our Heavenly Dao Alliance marched north, with strict military discipline and prioritizing the well-being of the people. Wherever we passed, the people offered us food and drink. Only unification can end this chaotic world and usher in an era of lasting peace. As for ceasing hostilities…"

His gaze suddenly sharpened like a sword, and the aura that had blended seamlessly with heaven and earth around him began to recede, replaced by a pure and vast sense of power that made the space itself tremble slightly.

"My path lies beneath my feet. I will take Luoyang. Since you two wish to obstruct me, then..."

"Let me meet you, Zhenzhang."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yi Huawei took a step forward.

Just one step.

"boom--!"

Centered on the spot where his feet landed, the ground within a radius of a hundred feet sank sharply, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake! As if crushed by an indescribable force, the hard yellow earth instantly became more solid than refined iron, not raising a speck of dust, and the broken stones turned to powder! An invisible force field suddenly spread out from him, the air hummed under the immense pressure, and even the light was slightly distorted!
This step is no longer the ethereal unity with heaven and earth of the past, but a domineering declaration that my body is heaven and earth, and my will is the law!

Ning Daoqi and Xiang Yutian's expressions simultaneously turned extremely solemn.

"Well done!"

Xiang Yutian's eyes blazed with an evil light. Instead of retreating, he stepped forward to meet the spreading force field! There was no sound from his feet, but everyone seemed to hear a demonic roar from the depths of the netherworld! The eerie force field around him, which distorted light and devoured auras, suddenly expanded, turning a deep dark purple. Within it, countless tiny demonic shadows seemed to be born and die, emitting silent roars, and collided violently with Yi Huawei's pure and vast force field!

"Chichichichi——!"

The ear-piercing shriek of two force fields, each with drastically different properties yet both incredibly powerful, rubbing together, eroding, and annihilating each other! The air between the two was completely torn apart and ionized, bursting forth with blue-purple sparks, and the ground silently developed deep, bottomless cracks!
Ning Daoqi did not directly resist the force field. The blue donkey beneath him let out a clear, long bray, and wisps of mist naturally arose beneath its hooves, carrying him lightly several feet to the side and back. It perfectly avoided the most crushing area at the core of the force field clash, yet remained in a position where it could intervene at any moment. His hands hung naturally in front of him, his ten fingers gently plucking at the strings of an invisible zither, imbued with Daoist rhythm.

As he moved, the surrounding "qi" began to subtly change. The direction of the wind, the brightness of the light, and even the propagation of sound all subtly centered on him, forming a unique "domain." This was the "Domain of Non-Action" he had created after cultivating the "Eight Strikes of the Scattered Hands" and the "Theory of the Fluctuation of All Things" to their extreme. It seemed to be indifferent, but in reality, it had already mastered the rules of a local world, and could greatly weaken, delay, and distort the enemy's attacks and momentum.

"Brother Wuming, please be careful, I have offended you."

Ning Daoqi shouted, and with his right index and middle fingers together, he gently "tapped" Yi Huawei from a distance of more than thirty feet.

This finger strike, devoid of any trace of artifice, is called "Returning Emptiness to Emptiness," an extremely profound technique among the "Eight Strikes of the Scattered Hands." The finger force is not a linear attack, but rather flows like mercury, penetrating every crevice, instantly merging into the surrounding "qi" fluctuations subtly altered by Ning Daoqi. The next moment, three seemingly gentle finger winds simultaneously emerge from behind Yi Huawei, to his left, and above his head, each containing the Daoist principles of "using emptiness to strike reality" and "creating something from nothing"! The trajectory of the finger winds is mysterious, sealing off the space for evasion, and even causing subtle fluctuations in the force field around Yi Huawei, attempting to induce chaos from within.

At the same time, Xiang Yutian, who was directly clashing with Yi Huawei's force field, suddenly let out a long laugh!
"That old Taoist priest is cunning! Watch me!"

He no longer simply countered with his force field; the dark purple force field suddenly contracted inward, retracting entirely into his body. The next moment, he seemed to transform into an intangible, shadowy figure, vanishing at a speed beyond the limits of visual perception, only to reappear almost instantly within three feet of Yi Huawei! This wasn't lightness skill; it was more like a short-range spatial "jump"!
As he appeared, Xiang Yutian's right hand, fingers bent like hooks, its tips swirling with dark starlight that seemed capable of devouring souls, grabbed directly at Yi Huawei's left shoulder! This grab, seemingly simple, contained the profound principle of "Demon Tribulation Devouring Souls" from the "Great Dao Heart Demon Seed Technique." Not only was its force insidious and bizarre, specifically designed to break through protective qi, but it also carried the terrifying power to directly attack the spirit and incite inner demons! Even more terrifying was that his left hand, fingers joined like a knife, silently slashed towards Yi Huawei's ribs. The air around the edge of the finger blade was cut with thin black lines—a sign that space was being torn apart by extremely concentrated demonic energy!
His first move was a close-range combined attack, devoid of any fancy moves yet ruthless and deadly to the extreme! Combined with Ning Daoqi's mysterious and unpredictable "Illusory Return to Illusory" finger wind, which was used to both distract the enemy and aid in his own attack, the timing was absolutely perfect!

Faced with the combined attack of two of the world's top masters, one Taoist and one demon, Yi Huawei's eyes finally blazed with brilliant light.

He neither dodged nor evaded, ignoring the "illusionary" finger winds attacking from behind and above, and merely slightly turning his body when faced with Xiang Yutian's soul-devouring, sky-splitting demonic claw finger blade.

His left hand rose, still with fingers pointing like a sword, but it no longer possessed the sharp, all-encompassing power of when breaking the combined attack of the Buddhist sects. Instead, it became incredibly heavy and slow, as if he were pushing a massive weight. A hazy, primordial gray luster appeared on his fingertips, a result of pushing the "Birth and Death from the Mind" mental technique to its limit, combined with the primordial power of birth and death from the "Longevity Technique"—the "Return to Nothingness Finger"! One finger pointed towards Xiang Yutian's outstretched claw-like palm!

With his right hand, fingers spread and palm facing upward, he made a "lifting" motion.

Within the palm of his hand, a miniature universe seemed to be spinning and dying, with infinite attraction and repulsion forces contradicting each other. The devouring properties of the Northern Darkness Divine Art, the spiritual insight of the Compassionate Sword Manual, and the true meaning of breaking moves in the Dugu Nine Swords were all integrated into this "support," welcoming Ning Daoqi's three profound finger winds and the influence of the "Dominion of Non-Action" he had secretly laid out.

At the same time, the ground beneath his feet, which had been compacted, suddenly lit up with complex patterns. These were the temporary "array bases" manifested from the resonance between his spirit and the earth. A vast and powerful force, capable of bearing all things, rose from beneath his feet, instantly flowing into his entire body, stabilizing him and isolating him from internal and external interference. (End of Chapter)