Heaven-Subduing Scripture

Feeling those venomous gazes, Li Daoxuan’s scalp tingled; he found he had still underestimated Huang Sanlang.

This fellow was simply an old schemer — he, a mere early-Bigu cultivator, and the other a dignified late-Yin-Spirit great demon, yet still used a clone to probe?

This is not how one plays!

Li Daoxuan had thought his cultivation shallow and the other would surely grow careless, and meant to use that very psychology to draw the snake from its hole, then cut the tangle with a quick blade!

Before that sleep-inducing scent appeared, Sister Yu had already sensed it; warned by her, Li Daoxuan had long since switched to internal breathing, then feigned sleep.

But scheme as he might, he had not reckoned the other would be cautious to this degree — one can only say, worthy of an old demon of eight hundred years!

Chen Ziyu gripped the Jade Escape-Heavens Hairpin, guarding Li Daoxuan, her gaze grave upon those figures.

Li Daoxuan drew a deep breath. ”Sister Yu — it seems we truly must stake our lives.”

The wedding dress dripped blood.

Good…

Only the single word ”good,” yet Li Daoxuan seemed to feel in it a most unwavering resolve.

The fear in his heart vanished, replaced by a courage that went straight forward.

Clang!

Li Daoxuan advanced with his sword, standing shoulder to shoulder with Chen Ziyu; the Red Cloud Sword in his hand gave a clear ringing.

Before the life-staking Li Daoxuan, Huang Sanlang’s clones showed not fear, but a disdainful smile.

The next moment they burst their skins one after another, revealing true forms.

Under the moonlight stood weasels upright in Li Daoxuan’s eyes, hundreds of tails drifting.

Then they turned, and toward Li Daoxuan stuck out their rumps, baring something indescribable.

Li Daoxuan simply froze in place.

What in the world was this?

Suddenly he seemed to recall something; an odd look crossed his face — could that old demon mean to…

Sure enough, the next moment countless yellow gases were sprayed, sweeping the mountain in a howl.

Li Daoxuan’s face went green.

A poison-gas attack!

He recalled some biology he had learned in his past life — about a weasel’s nether region grows scent-glands, which release a most foul liquid or gas to frighten off enemies.

This Huang Sanlang, cultivated eight hundred years, his scent-gland was surely more than mere foul smell — it had been refined into a fearsome means of attack.

NovelPhoenix contains the author’s chapter, but this text was copied without approval; reading the published version supports their work.

Sure enough, as the sky-filling foul gas came, flowers and grass withered, trees gave off black smoke — it even held fierce corrosiveness!

”Bloody hell!”

Seeing this, Li Daoxuan could not but curse — too disgusting!

To die under this poison-gas, he would rather take his own life!

Chen Ziyu’s gaze showed a trace of resolve; her dark tresses grew longer, and the Jade Escape-Heavens Hairpin in her hand blazed with dazzling treasure-light.

The wedding dress dripped blood.

I block… you flee…

Li Daoxuan caught her. ”What nonsense — we agreed to stake our lives together; besides, mere poison-gas, what can it do to me?”

Seeing the gas draw near, Li Daoxuan slapped the gourd at his waist.

”Collect for me!”

The gourd blazed with brilliant light, raised a gust, and in a moment had collected all that yellow foul gas clean away.

”Ha-ha — Huang Sanlang, many thanks for your poison-gas; this poor Daoist shall accept it!”

Li Daoxuan deliberately laughed aloud, meaning to draw out the other’s true body.

Yet Huang Sanlang’s voice echoed among the mountains, impossible to place.

”Yellow-mouthed child — merely relying on treasures to flaunt your might; heh-heh, this seat should thank you for sending me such a precious gourd…”

Plainly, Huang Sanlang had conceived greed for Li Daoxuan’s gourd too.

Li Daoxuan’s face darkened slightly; this old thing was indeed level-headed enough!

The next moment the weasels all drew a deep breath and spat forth gusts of demon-wind; these winds were sharp as knives — even towering trees were cut at the waist — and swept toward Li Daoxuan.

”Suppress!”

Li Daoxuan’s mind moved; the Three-Realms Gourd grew on the wind to ten zhang and crashed down, blocking before the two like a high wall.

Bang, bang, bang!

Those mountain-splitting demon-winds, blowing on the gourd, could not even leave a white mark.

Among the clones, Huang Sanlang’s true body’s gaze flickered, brimming with greed.

A heavy treasure — assuredly a heavy treasure!

That gourd was no common thing, perhaps even a spirit-treasure!

He did not think toward immortal artifacts — one, he lacked the Lady in Green’s eye and knowledge; two, immortal artifacts had not appeared in the mortal world for far too long.

Yet however tempted, he kept his wits; an old demon of eight hundred years, he best knew that even a lion uses full strength against a rabbit — hiding in clones to grind the foe to death was the way to stand unbeaten!

…

Time ticked by; the weasels spread out, ringed Li Daoxuan, and kept spitting demon-wind.

The Three-Realms Gourd, however large, could block but one direction; thus Li Daoxuan could only work the Shrinking-Earth to dodge, and for a time the danger was acute.

The gold light about him grew dimmer; the protective talismans were near spent.

A moment later the protective talismans’ gold light suddenly scattered; Li Daoxuan lost all defense.

He had tried to use the Three-Realms Gourd to collect the demon-wind, but for some reason the gourd gave no response — seeming unable to collect wind-like substance.

Seeing demon-wind come from all sides, unavoidable—

Just then a figure blocked before Li Daoxuan; it was Chen Ziyu; she turned and embraced Li Daoxuan, her dark tresses dancing, weaving a cocoon that wrapped the two fast.

All around was darkness; by Li Daoxuan’s ear came her muffled groan.

Plainly she was not at ease.

Li Daoxuan’s heart warmed; he knew they could not go on thus.

Close to Sister Yu’s ear, holding her soft, cold body, Li Daoxuan said firm, ”Sister Yu, that old thing is too cunning; drawing him out seems impossible — use that plan!”

Chen Ziyu, held by him, paused; a strange feeling rose in her heart, but in this crisis there was no leisure to ponder it.

She said nothing, only nodded, gripping the hairpin, her gaze at Li Daoxuan holding some worry.

The ”that plan” Li Daoxuan spoke of was a surprise-victory method the two had plotted — fair odds, but great risk.

Of the two, Li Daoxuan bore the greater risk — the last resort, to be used only in dire necessity!

Li Daoxuan smiled at her and squeezed her hand.

”Rest easy — we shall surely win!”

His tone was so firm, its confidence infecting Chen Ziyu, and she smiled faintly.

Like ice and snow melting, spring returning to the earth, a hundred flowers contending.

Li Daoxuan paused, then laughed. ”Sister Yu, you truly should smile more.”

So saying he raised his left hand; the Five-Wild Battle-Troop Talisman at his palm grew hot, blazing with light.

”Wild-host fierce officers, your mighty spirit august; bear spears and swords, to give life or deal death. Furious and fierce, wild and savage; beheading and blood-dripping, devouring ghosts and fiends. Hear my summons, descend at fire-speed!”