Heaven-Subduing Scripture

At noon Li Daoxuan bade farewell to the master and disciple Xuanzang and left Yuzhang City.

In truth he had considered whether to stay in Yuzhang, hunkering down until he learned the earth-travel art of the Great Five-Elements Escape Art before leaving.

Tempting as it was, he did not do so.

For the Great Five-Elements Escape Art is too vast and obscure; though he had gained the true-meaning transmission, when he might first perfect it was anyone’s guess.

He could not very well stay in Yuzhang for years — the Lady in Green would likely be angry, and his master too awaited his return.

Another important reason: fortune favors the bold!

A weasel that had cultivated eight hundred years — what reward might slaying it bring?

That Huang Sanlang was but late Yin-Spirit; with Sister Yu awake he had mid-Yin-Spirit strength, and Li Daoxuan had many treasures at his side — truly not without a chance to win!

Of course, Li Daoxuan had also prepared plenty of talismans — his confidence to stake his life.

Xuanzang and Master Sanle escorted him to the city gate before stopping.

Xuanzang watched Li Daoxuan’s receding back, eyes full of reluctance.

”Master, do you think Big-Brother Li can pass this trial?”

Master Sanle gazed at Li Daoxuan, and rarely did not play the fool; he sighed, ”This boy’s fate-span is most special — even your master cannot see through it. In truth, even if he passes this trial, thousand trials and ten-thousand tribulations await; his whole life shall be shrouded in calamity-qi!”

Hearing his master, Xuanzang was much startled.

”Therefore, Xuanzang, keep some distance from this boy, lest one day you be infected by the calamity-qi; by then, perhaps even your master could not shield you.”

Xuanzang, however, shook his head stubborn and said firm, ”To see a friend in calamity and draw back, and to pass a dying man by without rescue — what is the difference?”

”Master, teach me to cultivate — I too wish to help Big-Brother Li soon!”

Master Sanle laughed and slapped his belly. ”Cultivation cannot be rushed; did your master not say — you are still a little short.”

Xuanzang said aggrieved, ”Master, you always say this — just how short?”

Master Sanle held up his little finger and measured. ”Short by just this tiny bit!”

After Xuanzang left in a huff, Master Sanle gave a soft sigh and spoke the withheld second half.

”That Li lad, though wrapped in calamity-qi, also shows towering heavenly fortune; in this age of chaotic heavenly secrets, Xuanzang’s deep karma with him — whether good or ill, who can say!”

…

Leaving Yuzhang, Li Daoxuan worked the Shrinking-Earth and fled like mad.

Though covetous of the reward for killing Huang Sanlang, to Li Daoxuan it was still best not to fight if he could — his little life mattered most.

The chapter was copied from the author’s official publication without approval; reading it at the place they publish supports the writer.

So he chose to leave at noon, for then is the yang-qi of heaven and earth at its peak; any demon or ghost is affected, and even Sister Yu can only hide in the umbrella.

In this window he meant to slip away!

Because his mana had greatly advanced from drinking the nectar, Li Daoxuan ran a full four hours before stopping at dusk.

He only breathed a little, not tired at all, even rather comfortable, his sinews clear.

Looking about, he had run to some nameless barren mountain; the woods were still, only cicadas ceaseless.

Below the mountain, faintly, a village could be seen.

Li Daoxuan reckoned he had covered more than half the way — perhaps that Huang Sanlang truly had been shaken off?

After a day’s running he was thirsty, so he stopped to drink and meant to go on.

But just then a breeze came, bearing a strange scent, not quite fragrant, not quite foul.

Li Daoxuan yawned; his eyelids grew heavy.

”So sleepy — better sleep first, and travel at dawn…”

He muttered, then leaned against a great tree, closed his eyes, and soon came a faint snore.

Only then did an old man walk slowly from the woods.

He wore a yellow robe, leaned on a staff, his old eyes full of venom; he came before Li Daoxuan, opened his mouth, baring the fangs within.

”You run fast — nearly shook me off…”

He had not expected this little Daoist to break the hair he had secretly planted in the other’s body, and with the fierce noon sunlight he had nearly lost the trail.

Fortune favored him yet — he caught up.

”I will not kill you lightly; first I shall drain your yang-qi and your mana, then flay your skin and pull your sinews, and refine your soul into a slave, to be driven and tormented by me forever!”

Huang Sanlang’s heart brimmed with vicious fancies; for this Daoist who killed his only bloodline, he could wish to use ten thousand means to torment him cruelly.

Death? That would be letting the other off too cheaply!

Huang Sanlang opened his mouth and sucked hard.

A stream of flesh-and-blood essence rose from Li Daoxuan’s body and flowed into his nose; Huang Sanlang showed a trace of intoxication.

This little Daoist — what scripture did he cultivate, that his flesh-essence was so pure!

Yet just as he floated near to ecstasy, Li Daoxuan’s body suddenly blazed with dazzling gold light; many protective talismans were triggered, haloing him like a golden-body arhat.

Caught unawares, Huang Sanlang gave a shrill cry; his yellow robe was scorched by the gold light, his skin split, revealing yellow fur.

Li Daoxuan snapped his eyes open, a cold killing-intent showing.

In his hand appeared a bronze mirror — the upper-grade artifact Demon-Revealing Mirror that the mirror-ghost Hui’er had given him.

The mirror showed a golden-furred weasel, then shot a beam of golden light that struck Huang Sanlang’s eyes.

The golden light of the Demon-Revealing Mirror had no small killing power, but against a deeply-cultivated great demon it fell short.

Huang Sanlang, wreathed in demon-qi, took no great hurt — only his eyes were dazzled; he could not help weeping, his sight unclear.

This was the moment Li Daoxuan waited for!

”Sister Yu!”

He opened the oil-paper umbrella; then a green light flew past, like rainbow, like lightning, piercing the Netherworld, carrying endless sharpness, and shot through Huang Sanlang’s brow.

It was the Jade Escape-Heavens Hairpin the Lady in Green had bestowed!

Boom!

The precious hairpin, after piercing Huang Sanlang, lost no force, but directly bored through the mountain behind, then flew into the blue sky, circling above Chen Ziyu’s head.

And Chen Ziyu’s hand had already reached into Huang Sanlang’s chest, without the least hesitation crushing that beating heart!

A glint of joy flashed in Li Daoxuan’s eyes — done!

The next moment a red sword-pill appeared in his hand; infused with mana it trembled slightly and swiftly became a red longsword some three feet long, wreathed in rosy light, faintly giving a clear sword-ring.

”Behead!”

Li Daoxuan gripped the Red Cloud Sword, raised it high in both hands, and cleanly cut off Huang Sanlang’s head; then the sword-qi played, grinding that head to pulp.

Clap, clap, clap…

Li Daoxuan pasted several Five-Thunder Talismans on the remaining corpse, meaning to call thunder down.

After all, a Yin-Spirit-realm strong one, even if the flesh dies, can still roam as a yin-soul; Li Daoxuan would not make so low an error — once the other’s yin-soul showed, here would fall a swarm of thunder!

Yet Li Daoxuan, mid-incantation, suddenly froze; his face turned very dark.

For that Huang Sanlang’s corpse slowly dissipated, at last becoming a faint-golden hair.

That Huang Sanlang just now… was not the true body!

Footsteps sounded; under the moonlight appeared a most eerie scene.

From the woods before Li Daoxuan walked out one figure after another; they leaned on staves, wore yellow robes, aged and decrepit — and their faces were identical!

In a moment, the whole mountain was Huang Sanlang…