A Pawn's Passage

Elsewhere, Qi Xuansu and his two companions continued along a wide corridor. Due to spatial folding, there were no forks, only a straight path. Along the way were numerous similar storage rooms, but all were empty now. Clearly, the cultivation of the Monkey was nearing completion, and the large stockpiles once kept here had already been depleted.

Up to now, Zhou Jiaoxian and Lin Yuanmiao had not shown themselves. They were tasked with covering for the trio and receiving them. After all, the trio did not plan to die here. They still had to make it out somehow.

By this stage of the conflict, both sides were spent. Every capable expert had already taken the field. All that remained were Prince Liao and the Pseudo-Immortal of the Xuanhui Court, but they were responsible for suppressing the earth qi and likely could not leave their posts. Beyond that, there were just ordinary Heavenly Beings, at most at the Wuliang stage. No more Zaohua-stage Heavenly Beings or Pseudo-Immortals were expected.

To Qi Xuansu, Zhang Yuelu, and Yao Pei, Wuliang-stage Heavenly Beings were more of a nuisance than a threat. Leaving aside the two women who had their respective semi-immortal objects, Qi Xuansu alone was confident he could take on a Wuliang-stage Heavenly Being if given a suitable semi-immortal object. Even without one, he could hold his own in a draw.

If all three joined forces, a Wuliang-stage Heavenly Being without a semi-immortal object would not stand a chance. Someone like Gan Longchi might not even survive a single exchange. They could even go toe-to-toe with a Zaohua-stage Heavenly Being.

After all, these were the Daoist Order’s eighth-generation prodigies.

Some might say Qi Xuansu was unworthy to be considered a prodigy. He was not on par with Li Changge, as he lacked another piece of Xuan Jade to complete his Banished Immortal lineage, and he had no semi-immortal object. But he was acceptable as Li Changge’s substitute. If it had been Li Changge with Zhang Yuelu and Yao Pei, the trio combined would have three semi-immortal objects, seven perfected methods, and countless talismans and elixirs. It would have been more than enough to even go up against an unarmed Zaohua-stage Heavenly Being.

At that moment, the trio entered another chamber. This time, it was not empty. There were five people standing within.

These five wore varied attire. One was in the Green Phoenix Guard uniform, one dressed in white robes from the Tianchen Division, one was in the Black Robes Armor, one wore a eunuch’s outfit, and the last one was in a kind of court robes that Qi Xuansu did not recognize. Qi Xuansu could tell the last person was a court official, but he could not place which office.

Zhang Yuelu whispered, “It’s the Directorate of Astronomy.”

Qi Xuansu instantly understood. The Directorate of Astronomy was a branch of the Quanzhen Sect, adept at geomancy, observing energies, and searching for dragon veins. They honored Xu Wugui as their patriarch, though they had kept a low profile since the decline of the Northern Dragon.

Though a part of the Quanzhen Sect, the Directorate of Astronomy had long received imperial favor and was also known as the Imperial Observatory. They had clearly aligned themself with the court and remained distant from the Quanzhen Sect.

The Imperial Observatory had one Chief Director, one Deputy Director, and one Registrar who managed documentation. There were five Astronomers in charge of calculating calendars and defining the seasons. Four Celestial Observers watched changes in the heavens, while one Records Officer documented the celestial phenomena.

There were also other auxiliary officials responsible for timekeeping, time changes, and announcing the watch shifts.

These were only the official duties of the Imperial Observatory. In reality, they were also responsible for constructing royal tombs and setting up formations. This grand formation of Wuxing Mountain was likely constructed under their oversight.

Qi Xuansu said, “I suspect someone is hiding in the shadows. You two stay alert. With my indestructible body and Golden Body, I’m not afraid of ambushes. Let me probe their strength first.”

Yao Pei nodded, while Zhang Yuelu said, “Be careful.”

Of course, Qi Xuansu would be cautious. He activated the body spirit in his acupoints one by one, and his body glowed a brilliant gold. He further strengthened his defense with the Green Netherworld Armor. While he would not claim victory when facing five Heavenly Beings, his defense was utterly secure.

At the same moment, the white-robed Superintendent of Tianchen Division suddenly stomped the ground, shattering it. In an instant, he appeared within about 3 meters in front of Qi Xuansu, his speed so great it caused the air to crack with a sonic boom.

A distance of 3 meters was already considered close combat for a Martial Arts Practitioner.

The Tianchen Division Superintendent clenched his five fingers into a fist, suddenly accelerating and punching straight at Qi Xuansu’s face.

Qi Xuansu abruptly halted and stepped back just as the Superintendent’s punch lost its momentum and could go no further.

The Superintendent’s expression changed subtly after realizing his punch had landed on air. He immediately shifted to defense, shielding his vital areas as streams of fist intention swirled around his body, each imbued with hidden force. If Qi Xuansu counterattacked, he would instantly be caught in a bind. This was the Tianchen Division’s Dragon Serpent Fist Intention, no weaker than the Tantai Fist Intention.

Qi Xuansu also saw through it, so he did not compete in fist intention. Instead, he drew Flying White Shadow and thrust it at the Superintendent’s chest. Though the Superintendent was a Martial Arts Practitioner, he dared not take on the weapon’s sharp edge. He sidestepped the blow and simultaneously punched out again, unleashing seven streams of fist intention with spiral force that collided with the blade, producing an ear-piercing screech.

An ordinary person would have surely lost grip on their weapon, but Qi Xuansu’s right hand held the blade steady. He even used the back of the blade to strike the Superintendent’s chest, causing him to stumble backward.

As Qi Xuansu was about to pursue the man, the Celestial Observer from the Imperial Observatory raised a vermilion gourd and chanted, “True essence refined, yin and yang perfectly balanced. One spark of the primal origin makes demons and ghosts give way.

Now, I summon my treasure to turn.”

The gourd turned on its own accord, aiming at Qi Xuansu. A bright white light over 20 centimeters surged from its mouth. But in a flash, it vanished.

Qi Xuansu swiftly withdrew his blade in defense. That was when he heard a faint clink. Flying White Shadow trembled violently in his hand and nearly flew out of his grip.

He was certain that the white light was not a flying sword. It seemed more like some kind of insect or parasite that was incredibly tough and lightning fast. It had collided multiple times with his blade in an instant, not only neutralizing his attack but even launching a counterstrike that nearly disarmed him.

The Celestial Observer continued to hold the gourd aloft with one hand and pointed toward Qi Xuansu once more. Once again, a speck of white light appeared and vanished in the blink of an eye.

Qi Xuansu clashed repeatedly with that speck of white light, which darted through the air in random, chaotic patterns with no discernible rhythm. Ordinary cultivators could only rely on spiritual senses and instincts to track this fleeting trail, but they would lose it with the slightest lapse. However, Qi Xuansu activated the Demonic Blade, which needed no conscious tracking or reaction. Guided purely by the Demonic Blade’s instincts, Qi Xuansu’s body followed the blade’s movement, effortlessly blocking the attacks.

Moreover, Qi Xuansu had a treasure of his own. During a brief pause, he slapped the Nine Yang Fiery Dome at his waist, which immediately unleashed nine fire dragons that circled around him erratically. As soon as the white light approached again, he struck it with the Demon Blade, halting it momentarily. In that instant, the nine fire dragons pounced at the white speck, trapping the white light.

Under the scorching flames, the white light revealed its true form. It was a worm, just as Qi Xuansu suspected. But it was an incredibly bizarre-looking one with a silkworm body, cicada wings, centipede legs, and—most horrifying of all—a miniature human face on its head.

The Celestial Observer’s face was grim. Against his Decapitating Flying Dagger, most people would lose their heads with a single, unguarded strike. Even prepared opponents would only last a few more rounds. Yet Qi Xuansu had not only blocked several strikes without injury but also retaliated with magical power and trapped his prized treasure. It was an unimaginable feat.

Now, focused entirely on trying to free his trapped treasure, the Celestial Observer was unable to move. If Qi Xuansu attacked him at this moment, the outcome would likely be fatal.

Fortunately, the Tianchen Division Superintendent closed in again and unleashed another heavy punch with great force, tearing through the air.

This time, Qi Xuansu did not dodge. Instead, he extended his left hand, clenched his fist, and met the attack with the Wind Thunder Fist of the Tantai Fist Intention.

Their fist intentions were evenly matched, but Qi Xuansu’s strike was bolstered by both innate qi and divine power.

The outcome was instantly decided.

Qi Xuansu took advantage of the momentum, grabbed the Superintendent’s wrist, pulled him in, and then rammed his shoulder into him, causing the opponent to immediately cough up blood.

At that moment, a thunderous roar rang out, infused with overwhelming blood qi. It was like thunder, yet also like a Buddhist Lion’s Roar, forcing Qi Xuansu to momentarily pause his movement.

This time, a white-haired elder in the Black Robes Armor stepped into battle. He stood tall and glared at Qi Xuansu with the commanding presence of a tiger. Though also a Martial Arts Practitioner, he differed from the Tianchen Division Superintendent. The Black Robes did not fight barehanded. Instead, he wielded a massive black bow that was nearly as tall as him. The bow’s body was neither metal nor wood, and its string was as thick as a pinky, wound from the sinews of some unknown beast. The string was hollow, with golden blood seemingly flowing inside. The Black Robes’s bare hands were not armored, but the bulging veins on the back of his hands resembled coiled, restless dragons.

This was a Golden Horde Martial Arts Practitioner.

Since the Great Xuan Dynasty reclaimed Xizhou, some members of the Golden Horde pledged allegiance to the emperor and served as officials in the Imperial Court.

Central Plains Martial Arts Practitioners typically favored spears as their weapons. Otherwise, they would go barehanded. Golden Horde Martial Arts Practitioners specialized in archery, yet they wielded bows without arrows. They used their own fist intention as arrows.

This archery technique was the exclusive art of the Golden Horde.

The elder took a slow breath, raised his massive bow, and slowly drew the bowstring. A tangible surge of blood qi gathered between his fingers as he pulled. At the same time, the blood qi throughout his body surged wildly, emitting a sound like rushing rivers. His face visibly aged even further. Clearly, this technique, though immensely powerful, was not sustainable. It inflicted serious strain and depleted his blood qi.

With a thunderous boom, the elder released the bowstring. The arrow, formed entirely from concentrated fist intention, shot forth almost instantaneously, leaving a long, lingering trail that refused to fade in its wake.