Walking alone with a sword, slaying ghosts and gods

Chapter 581 The Dao Sound Cleanses the Mind, the Sword's Cry Slays Demons (Seeking Rewards and Subscriptions!)

Deep within the Tianjue Canyon, although the battle clouds had subsided somewhat, the stench of blood and decay stubbornly clung to every jagged rock and every menacing crack, like maggots clinging to bones, echoing the surging blood clouds of the Chi Demon outside the valley, silently telling of the profound calamity lurking in this place.

In the Immortal Realm, there are more immortal cultivators and far fewer demonic cultivators. In the Ancient Demon Realm, there are more demonic cultivators and very few immortal cultivators, but both realms are yin and yang in nature, and there is no absolute immortal realm or demon realm.

At the heart of the Heavenly Canyon, in the center of the spiritual vein array guarded by the Taiqing Sect, the massive body of the Giant Spirit Warship floats, radiating a sense of reassurance.

Against this backdrop of desolation and ruin, a clear and peaceful voice, yet imbued with supreme majesty and Daoist intent, suddenly swept across the Heavenly Canyon like a gentle, purple rain descending from the heavens:
"The Great Dao is formless, yet it gives birth to heaven and earth; the Great Dao is without emotion, yet it governs the sun and moon; the Great Dao is nameless, yet it nurtures all things; I do not know its name, so I call it Dao..."

The owner of the voice was none other than Lu Cheng, the head of the Taiqing Sect.

At this moment, he sat cross-legged on a cliff that had been ravaged by war yet appeared all the more ancient. There was no Dharma platform beneath him, and no servants beside him. Only a scroll of ancient, pale blue scripture, neither gold nor jade, was held horizontally in his hand.

Lu Cheng's eyes were slightly closed, his expression serene. Every syllable of his lips seemed to contain the ultimate truth of heaven and earth, resonating in the void and emitting visible pale golden ripples that spread out continuously.

The ripples, like waves on water, caused the bloodthirsty aura and mournful cries that permeated the canyon to meet their nemesis, hissing softly as they melted and dissipated quickly, like snow being poured over boiling water.

As he sat cross-legged at the nodes of the great formation and the sentry posts of various defensive lines, resting and healing, and even recalling with lingering fear the brutal battles fought before, the disciples of the Taiqing Sect, the cultivators of the Eastern Pole Creation Heavenly Palace, and even some of the rogue cultivators who had come to join him, his mind was slightly shaken!

"The Dao is: it has purity and turbidity, movement and stillness; heaven is pure and earth is turbid, heaven moves and earth is still. Man is pure and woman is turbid, man moves and woman is still. From the root to the branches, all things are born..." Upon hearing this true word of purity and stillness, as long as one truly has a slight understanding, it transforms into tangible golden seal script, drifting and scattering, merging into the consciousness and soul of many disciples.

The nerves that were taut from the bloody battles, the fear and resentment that arose from witnessing the fall of their fellow disciples, and the frenzied killing intent that was ignited by the life-or-death situation, were soothed by the vast and pure Dao sound, as if gently smoothed by an invisible hand.

"...If people can always be pure and tranquil, then all things in heaven and earth will return to their proper place. The human spirit loves purity, but the mind disturbs it; the human heart loves tranquility, but desires pull it away."

"If one can constantly dispel desires, the mind will naturally be at peace; if one can purify the mind, the spirit will naturally be clear."

As the Daoist scriptures of Lu Cheng were recited, the tense lines on the faces of many disciples gradually relaxed, the bloodshot eyes faded, and the hands that were originally tightly gripping the magical implements unconsciously loosened their grip a little.

They took a deep breath, feeling as if all the turbid air in their chests had been expelled. A long-lost tranquility and peace arose from the bottom of their hearts. Their Dao hearts, which had been tarnished by the killing, were now being gently wiped clean by this supreme Dao sound, regaining their clear light.

Lu Cheng knew deep down:

"The vast majority of cultivators are ultimately better suited to cultivating in a peaceful environment, experiencing nature, honing their foundation, and improving themselves, rather than proving their Dao by killing on the edge of life and death. After a brutal battle, those who can truly comprehend the Great Dao, make progress, and hone their Tai Chi Dao Heart are extremely rare."

At this moment, he is preaching the Dharma to dispel the murderous, violent, and resentful energy accumulated in the hearts of the disciples in the valley due to years of fighting and killing. He aims to guide their hearts back to their original tranquility, stabilize their Daoist hearts, and enable them to cope with the even more tragic calamities to come.

Sisters like Xiao Yuhong and Xiao Yuxue, concubines Xue Yuzhen, Yun Ling'er, Lin Qinghan, and Bai Zhi, disciples Miao Chuyun and Youming Daoren, often accompanied Lu Cheng and could receive his guidance and advice. However, most disciples needed to awaken on their own, and Lu Cheng's sermons and teachings could only play a supporting and motivating role.

However, such things are nothing unusual. Throughout history, the vast majority of cultivators have ultimately failed to attain enlightenment, with few succeeding and many failing. Cultivators are as numerous as hairs on a cow, while those who attain enlightenment are as rare as phoenix feathers.

"...The true constant responds to things, the true constant attains its nature; the constant responds and the constant is still, the constant is pure and still..." The sound of the Dao grew louder and louder, echoing back and forth in the valley, forming a wonderful rhythm, and even drawing in some of the spiritual energy flowing between heaven and earth, forming the image of wind, clouds, dragons and tigers.

Some disciples had unknowingly entered a deep state of meditation, their breaths becoming long and deep, and their injuries seemed to be healing at an accelerated pace.

"Every time I hear Master preach, I feel my body and mind are cleansed, and my sword heart becomes more clear and transparent. It is truly the greatest fortune of our lives to be able to become Master's disciple!"

Inside the quiet room, the Netherworld Taoist, dressed in black, slowly exhaled from his meditation and spoke thus.

“Master and the three elders, Mingque, Minghe and Tongzhen, take turns giving a lecture every year in order to dispel the inner demons of the disciples in the valley. However, although the three elders’ theories are all profound, I feel that they are not as good as Master’s. I don’t know if I am biased.”

Miao Chuyun said this, then shook her head slightly and gave a self-deprecating smile.

"Senior Sister, I feel the same way. High cultivation level does not necessarily mean high level of cultivation." Shi Sheng and Yun Huang'er slowly stopped their practice at this time, and Yun Huang'er stood up and said.

"Alright, these comparisons are fine for us to discuss in private, but we must never utter them in public. If we cause discord within the sect for our master, it will be a grave offense for us."

Speaking of which, I wonder how Zhao Di is doing. Her master sent her to Qingfeng Prefecture to persuade the Jinshi Clan cultivators. Those Jinshi Clan members are notoriously stubborn; I wonder if my junior sister will be able to successfully complete the sect's mission this time.

Miao Chuyun, Youming, Shisheng, and Yun Huang'er were disciples that Lu Cheng had taken in when he was young in the mortal realm. Zhang Zhaodi was a disciple taken in by his master in the Earthly Immortal Realm through his supernatural powers. Miao Chuyun and Zhang Zhaodi got along very well, and since they hadn't seen each other for many years, they naturally had some concern for each other.

"Senior Sister, there's no need to worry too much. For Junior Sister's mission, Master and the three Supreme Elders joined forces to cover up the secrets for her. In addition, with Junior Sister's own vigilance and cultivation, even if she fails, she won't be in any danger."

The Taoist Shisheng offered these words of comfort.

"I hope so."

…………

Just as all sounds gradually quieted down, the Daoist intent filled the valley, and even the blood-red clouds that had been hanging over the canyon for years seemed to have been purified and thinned out a bit—hum!

A deep, resounding boom that pierced the very soul of the cultivator suddenly erupted from the center of the Nine Turns Yellow Springs Immortal Forbidden Formation, at the core of the formation guarded by the three Dao Lords!

There, a magical artifact resembling an ancient mirror, flowing with powerful wood and fire elemental energy, and inscribed with the Eight Desolate Fire Dragon Talisman, suddenly transformed into a beam of crimson light that shot into the sky, bursting forth with an unprecedentedly dazzling brilliance!
Flames swirled above it, fueled by wood, and then suddenly a crimson light, capable of subduing demons, was generated and focused in one direction.

At the same time, the canyon scene originally reflected on the mirror instantly distorted and shattered, replaced by a deep, viscous, and ancient and violent demonic shadow!
"Wugu Can!" Tongzhen Daojun's icy voice instantly resounded throughout the heavens and earth, carrying a hint of shock, anger, and killing intent.

"You dared to use your disguise and infiltrate the Heavenly Desolation Canyon yourself? Now that you're here, you're not leaving!"

"Quickly intercept this demon!"

"The core of the formation is in danger!"

Besides the roar of Tongzhen Daojun, the divine senses of Daojuns Mingque and Minghe instantly entered Lu Cheng's mind.

It turned out to be Wugu Can, a Mahayana elder of the Chi Demon Clan, who completely concealed his Mahayana aura, hiding his true form and transforming into an ordinary low-level Chi Demon warrior with an aura only at the Golden Core level. He mingled among a Chi Demon remnant army that had just been defeated and was pretending to retreat!
Intending to infiltrate with the team and destroy the eye of the Nine Turns Yellow Spring Immortal Forbidden Array, he was detected in advance by the Eight Desolations Fixed Yuan Mirror.

Every high-level cultivator of the Chi Demon Clan is a veteran of countless battles, and they are ruthless in their killing. Unfortunately, Tongzhen Daojun is skilled in hiding and concealment, and is also a first-rate expert in searching for hidden individuals.

"All Nascent Soul and Void Return cultivators, heed my command! Form the 'Taiyi Demon-Slaying Sword Formation'! Target: the auxiliary formation's water vein! Rush to the aid of the three Dao Lords and slay the infiltrated demon!"

"Disciple obey!"

Before Lu Cheng finished speaking, he had already transformed into a golden sword rainbow that had been condensed to the extreme. He merged his body with the sword, tore through the sky, and arrived first despite being behind. His speed was not much slower than that of the three Mahayana Dao Lords!
Dozens of figures with equally powerful auras and surging magical power soared into the sky, closely following behind. They communicated with each other using their divine senses and moved swiftly in the air along mysterious trajectories. Their sword lights intertwined, and the rudimentary form of a sword formation that could lock down the universe and refine demons with flying swords was gradually taking shape as they moved at high speed!

Lu Cheng brought with him over a dozen Nascent Soul elders and dozens of Void Returning disciples from the Taiqing Sect. Even after deducting those cultivators who needed to guard the array's cores (the larger the array's coverage, the more cores it needs), there were still seven Nascent Soul elders and twenty-seven Void Returning cultivators flying on their swords. Their sword formation, even without relying on the array itself, could contend with early-stage Mahayana cultivators and ensure their safety for a short time. However, just as the golden sword rainbow that Lu Cheng had transformed into was about to sweep across the middle of the canyon, through a stone forest area shrouded by spatial rifts...

Mutations reborn!

That area, which seemed to be empty except for distorted light and shadow and the remnants of broken laws, suddenly shattered and spread like glass!

An overwhelming, cold, and domineering magical power suddenly erupted from it without warning!

The gray light was straight and extremely fast, piercing through the sky. It carried a chilling aura that could lock the soul and fix the spirit, as if it came from the deepest part of the Netherworld. It struck the sword rainbow that Lu Cheng Daoist had transformed into with perfect precision!

The timing was so precise, and the spell's release so sudden, that it was far beyond the ordinary!
It is the Nine Netherworld Ghost Saint Clan of the Hundred Races of the Spirit Realm, the Great Art of Annihilation of the Netherworld Light!
Boom—Crack!!!

A deafening roar, like a pillar of heaven collapsing!

Today, Lu Cheng is the sect leader of the Taiqing Sect, and naturally he possesses top-grade protective magic treasures. A Ruyi scepter instantly flew out from Lu Cheng's body, spreading spiritual light for protection, but it was shattered in an instant.

Immediately afterwards, the indestructible sword rainbow containing Lu Cheng's essence, energy, and spirit was forcibly knocked off its "man and sword as one" state by this terrifying force in an instant!

The sword light of the Five Elements Flying Sword shattered and swirled in five colors. Lu Cheng's figure was as if he had been hit by an ancient divine mountain, falling out and exploding instantly, turning to ashes!
It wasn't a repulsion, nor an injury; it was pulverized into dust by that absolute power!
Flesh and blood, bones, magic power, and even the overflowing divine light were all reduced to the finest particles and annihilated by that single blow!

All that remained was a terrifying black hole that was constantly collapsing and swallowing light, along with an eerie chill that could freeze one's soul.

"Hahahaha, under the Netherworld Annihilation Technique of my Holy Clan, what if one cultivates an immortal body according to Taoism? One's soul will still be scattered and one will never be able to reincarnate!"

From the spatial rift, a tall cultivator dressed in a blue-gray robe and wearing a bamboo hat slowly emerged. He exuded a chilling, ghostly aura and had clearly reached the Mahayana realm.

It is extremely difficult for a ghost to attain sainthood, and it is almost impossible for a ghost cultivator to cultivate into an immortal. Reaching the Mahayana realm is already incredibly astonishing. However, among the hundreds of races in the spirit world, there is a race called the Nine Nether Ghost Saint Clan. This race has lived in the Netherworld for many years and is influenced by it. They are born half-human and half-ghost. Even if they are killed once, they can be resurrected, but they will be transformed from humans into complete ghost cultivators.

This race has cultivators who have actually achieved immortality, hence the origin of the "Saint" in the Nine Nether Ghost Saint Clan.

This happened so fast and so suddenly!
Before the elite disciples following closely behind could even react, they felt the space in front of them suddenly collapse, and a shadow of death that made their very souls tremble rushed towards them, abruptly halting their momentum!

"Sect Leader?!"

"Sect Leader!!"

Exclamations of shock, grief, and incredulous roars erupted instantly! All the Taiqing cultivators who witnessed this scene were struck dumb, their eyes wide with horror!
However, just as the spatial black hole had not yet completely closed, and the chilling, desolate aura was still raging, and the hearts of all the Taiqing cultivators present sank into the abyss of despair—

hum!
In the void, a point of "qi" that was pure to the extreme and contained infinite vitality appeared without warning!

This "Qi" seemed to have been born from nothingness, unbound by time and space. With a gentle tremor, countless particles invisible to the naked eye, scattered points of light, and even shattered fragments of space, as if summoned by some powerful force, surged back at speeds exceeding the speed of light!

Tao gives birth to one, gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three gives birth to all things!
Three beams of light flew through the air, bursting with dazzling brilliance. In the center of the destruction that annihilated everything, the figure of a Taoist priest visibly materialized from nothing to something, from illusion to reality!
Sensing the reshaping of his physical body, Lu Cheng sighed inwardly, "My Taoist Transformation Ascension Technique has ultimately not been perfected!"

The true Taoist transformation and ascension technique, as the foremost protective divine skill of ancient Taoism, possesses two qualities: first, seventy-two lives; and second, an indestructible body.

Knowing that your opponent has seventy-two lives is not a cause for despair. If you have absolute power to suppress them, killing them seventy-two times in a row would be enough. What is truly terrifying is that you are facing an opponent with seventy-two lives, yet you cannot break through their indestructible body. Let alone seventy-two times, you cannot even kill them once.

An opponent with a health bar is not scary, but when the Taoist Transformation and Ascension Technique is cultivated to a certain level, the health bar is no longer displayed at all.

His Taoist robe was brand new, his face was calm, and even the jade lotus crown in his hair was undamaged. Lu Cheng didn't like these ornaments in the past, but now that his status was different, he had to maintain the demeanor of a sect leader.

"Laughing? Why aren't you laughing anymore? I still prefer your arrogant and unruly self just now. The Netherworld Annihilation Technique, is it?"
"This great technique is indeed flawless in killing cultivators of your Nine Nether Ghost Saint Clan, but it still falls short when used against my Taiqing disciples."

"Young man... don't be so arrogant..."

The nameless cultivator from the Nine Nether Ghost Saint Clan was watching Lu Cheng while also glancing warily at the Taiqing Sect cultivators at the Integration and Refinement stages around him.

He was too complacent after his successful move and let these juniors surround him.

If Daoist Lu Cheng were already dead, it wouldn't be a problem, but at this moment, things are getting a bit tricky.

It was at this moment that Lu Cheng issued an order to the Taiqing Sect cultivators:
"You all go quickly to support the three Dao Lords! This fiend will be dealt with by me!"

"what?"

The Taiqing Sect disciples were caught off guard as they did not move upon receiving the order.

"go with!"

"Yes."

Led by a Nascent Soul cultivator, the thirty-odd cultivators who formed the Taiyi Demon-Slaying Sword Formation flew away on their swords.

Over the years, Lu Cheng has accumulated considerable prestige. With the full support of the four Dao Lords of the sect, he is now the true leader of the Taiqing Sect, and no one questions his authority.

"Although Wugu Can is only one person, and Ming Que, Ming He, and Tong Zhen are three Mahayana Dao Lords, and there is also the Eighth-Rank High-Grade Formation Nine Turns Yellow Spring Immortal Trapping Restriction to assist them, in the battle of Mahayana cultivators, the Eighth-Rank Formation, which is not connected to the earth veins, can only play an auxiliary role. Moreover, Wugu Can, as a demon cultivator of the Chi Demon Clan, has cultivated for so long and has experienced countless bloody battles. His magical power is also more profound than that of the three Mahayana Dao Lords of our sect. With a plan to take advantage of the opponent's lack of attention, we must not let him actually achieve some heaven-defying feat and kill three of them by himself."

"It's better to cut off one finger than to injure all five; and as for me, it won't be easy for him to kill me either."

"Hmph! Ignorant brat, I'd like to see how many times you can be resurrected!" A cold mental fluctuation emanated from the shadow of the bamboo hat.

He had clearly also discovered how formidable and troublesome Lu Cheng's Taoist immortal body was, but he absolutely did not believe that the other party could use it without limit.

The Nine Nether Ghost Saint Clan, possessing two lives, has risen to the ranks of powerful clans in the Spirit Realm, which is why they created the Nether Light Annihilation Technique to break the dual-life curse.

The death ray is like a rainbow, containing the law of death. Once it hits, it will be reduced to ashes. Even the Nine Nether Ghost Saint Clan members with two lives will surely die if they are hit by this attack.

Therefore, after learning that Lu Cheng, the leader of the Taiqing Sect, had achieved immortality through Daoist cultivation, the Chi Demon Clan hired a Mahayana cultivator from the Nine Nether Ghost Saint Clan at great expense to assassinate Lu Cheng.

This Mahayana cultivator from the Nine Nether Ghost Saint Clan indeed lived up to expectations. His sneak attack broke through Lu Cheng's eighth-grade top-quality protective magic treasure and one of his life-forces. He should have lost two life-forces, but the eighth-grade protective jade ruyi blocked one of them.

(End of this chapter)