A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch

Chapter 220 164: Underwater Treasure Appraisal, Master and Disciple Reunion_2

The demonic soul leaped erratically, a dark wind sweeping through the area for several miles, and withered arms reached out, dragging the Big Flood Dragon.

"Leaving so decisively, truly befitting an old hand of the Jianghu!"

Bai Qi discerned the Alien Evil Monarch's intent. Despite the grand show of force, it wasn't a fight to the death. He looked over to Lv Nan, who had been watching for a long time, and asked:

"Brother Lv, do you have any powerful talismans left?"

Lv Nan, hearing this, retrieved his last remaining stock from his sleeve, a yellow talisman paper inscribed with intricate spells in cinnabar.

...

...

"Once the Celestial Fiend Day arrives and the Turbid Tide rises, my cultivation will progress greatly, then I'll seek revenge!"

The Alien Evil Monarch had it figured out. By merging his Divine Soul with the Yin Banner magical artifact, he temporarily enhanced his personal cultivation, barely manifesting the Great Venerable Annihilation, worshiped day and night by the Celestial Anomaly Sect. It couldn't last long, so rather than get entangled with these individuals, it was better to flee far away and await the opportune moment.

Just as the demonic soul rode the evil wind, ready to escape, a piercing cold suddenly filled every thought.

Like needles on his back!

"On silk threads, how can you be allowed to escape!"

Having been sliced by Qi Yan's Peach Wood Sword and extinguished by the Big Flood Dragon's icy destruction, the Alien Evil Monarch's demonic soul was greatly reduced, and was now weak beneath its outside strength.

Bai Qi's arms bulged with muscles, like a group of pythons twisting and curling, he pulled the great bow into a full moon shape in an instant. The meticulously tanned, resilient bowstring moaned, as if about to snap.

Invisible air currents converged at the arrowhead. The infused force made the arrow shaft tremble, emitting almost a burst of fierce light, like a raging dragon breaking free.

His blazing Qi Blood rose like fire, igniting the talisman paper attached to it. Nearby, Lv Nan rapidly pointed with two fingers, quickly reciting:

"Commanded by heaven, rising to the nine palaces, hundred spirits in position, lined up serving the Divine Lord, soul fusion and refining, organs flourishing, hundred brews mystical infusion, seven liquids replenishing emptiness, flame bells exchanging, expelling ghosts and removing evils! Swiftly as the decree!"

Crash!

As Lv Nan unleashed his inner breath and triggered the talisman paper's mystical effect, Bai Qi released the bowstring with twelve parts of strength, like lightning striking dry ground, the solid stone paved floor beneath his feet cracked and shattered, raising large clouds of dust.

The bow like thunder!

The swiftness of the arrowhead surpassed even the sound of thunder, its sharp edge arriving before the rumbling began!

Giving the Alien Evil Monarch no chance to react, it precisely caught the moment when his demonic soul rode the wind to flee.

"Damn it, ganging up on me! No martial honor..."

Swish!

Hundreds of wind dragons roared, the iron arrow fiercely tearing the ephemeral thoughts of the demonic soul. That Exorcism Talisman exploded like a muffled thunder across the sky, releasing a dazzling burst of light as large as a millstone, containing an unparalleled explosive force that instantly shattered the Alien Evil Monarch's soul thoughts!

As the dark wind dispersed, the form of the Great Venerable Annihilation instantaneously returned to nothingness, leaving only clusters of ghostly green flames fluttering.

"A big downfall!"

The Alien Evil Monarch was extremely weak. Bai Qi's arrow tore his soul apart, shattering the thoughts he had cultivated and strengthened over years of meditation and visualization. If not for preserving his core spirit, he would have turned into an imbecile on the spot.

"Since escaping the hands of a Daoist Official from Yuan Sheng Prefecture, I have never suffered such a severe wound!"

"Divine soul thoughts indeed endure longer than flesh and blood."

Bai Qi couldn't help but marvel, Daoist Skill experts are truly tenacious. For practitioners of equivalent level, suffering two major injuries would be a nine-death outcome. Yet this Alien Evil Monarch still managed to put up a struggle.

"Sister Jiao, it's your turn."

Roar!

The Big Flood Dragon opened its mouth wide, like a whale gulping, swallowing the ghostly fire-like remnants of the broken soul completely, utterly annihilating it.

"Such a tough kill, I wonder how many Gold Coins it will yield."

Bai Qi breathed a sigh, compared to flesh and blood which can't withstand swords and fire and water, soul thoughts seemed to have extra lives, with rich means for combat and escape.

"Brother Bai, let this Elder Jiao spare some breath, so we can guide the way later. Only by finding the corporeal form can we earn harvest."

Qi Yan said quietly.

"The creature is only eight, and you're already calling it elder!"

Bai Qi muttered, letting the Big Flood Dragon spit out a crystal-clear thought with a ghostly green hue, handing it over to Qi Yan. He stepped into a magnum stride, sweeping the Peach Wood Sword in all directions, chanting:

"Sky pursues, earth pursues, sun pursues night urging, soul resonance returns!"

The thought suddenly exploded, emitting a streak of black light.

Bai Qi and the others followed the guidance to find the dim cave, where they were met by the Black Bear guarding outside, shot in the head by the flying Peach Wood Sword and dying instantly.

The Alien Evil Monarch's corporeal form crumbled like sand and mud, leaving no trace as his soul faded, with only a black robe remaining.

Qi Yan, along with his junior brother Lv Nan, searched for a while and found both volumes of the "Taiyin Refining Spirit for Formless Creation Method," a verdant jade slip, several Mercury Lead Elixir Pills for the Six Jia Divine Generals, as well as several bottles of Nourishing Spirit Elixirs and artifact refining materials.

The wealth was rather sparse.

This aligns well with the condition of loose cultivators, who typically don't have much surplus gold, silver, or spiritual sand; they all convert these into useful items as quickly as possible.

"Brother Bai, these... are all the things this rogue had on him. Along with his bounty, the haul is quite generous."

Qi Yan was somewhat envious. The Celestial Evil Sect was once one of the Upper Sects before Dao fell into decline, and a complete copy of the "Taiyin Refining Spirit for Formless Creation Method" was of the third tier among formulas, laws, scriptures, and classics. Even without the general outline, its value was immeasurable.

Not to mention, that verdant jade slip appeared to be quite extraordinary, along with the necessary Nourishing Spirit Elixirs for cultivation and various external materials used for artifact refining.

Sufficient to spare loose cultivators a great deal of laborious travel.

"I wonder which among these holds the highest value."

Bai Qi picked up the black robe of the Alien Evil Monarch, shook off the dust twice, wrapping up all the gains, and then said to Qi Yan:

"Brother Qi, to be honest, I felt an instant connection with you and your brother. This time we've also faced life and death together. Dayu Town is not far off, followed by Black River County.

As the host, I'd like to invite you both to stay for a few days."

Qi Yan seemed a bit hesitant; heterodox loose cultivators have always been solitary and aloof. As practitioners, they haven't been granted talismans by the Dragon Court, making their identities somewhat sensitive. Additionally, to acquire various external items like treasured elixirs and strange artifacts, they need to venture into deep mountains and vast marshes, making it hard for them to stay in towns for long periods.

"These elixirs and artifact refining materials I don't need. Being able to take down the Alien Evil Monarch, you both contributed a lot; how could I dare to enjoy it all by myself?"

Bai Qi wore a faint smile, as it was rare to encounter two upright heterodox loose cultivators. Despite such a generous bounty, they showed no attachment and handed everything to him without reservation.

Such rare individuals, inviting them to Black River County would not only foster connections but also offer guidance to Ah Di, Bai Ming, in his cultivation of Daoist arts.

A win-win situation, why not do it?

"Senior Brother."

Lv Nan nudged Qi Yan's arm, gently rubbing his stomach, looking on with imploring eyes.

After a night's toil, the senior and junior brothers hadn't yet settled their meals.

"One should not receive rewards without contribution. If it weren't for Brother Bai and Elder Jiao, we might not have made it out alive. It is we who should be grateful to Brother Bai for saving our lives..."

Qi Yan responded earnestly. His master had often used the strict rules of Maoshan Dao to teach and restrain him, setting various precepts which he and his junior brother remembered at all times. He was about to politely decline, but his rumbling, hungry stomach inconveniently made a thunderous sound.

"Then we'll impose upon you."

...

...

Riding a black awning boat, Bai Qi returned to Black River County, just as Ah Di Bai Ming finished cooking fish porridge.

After entertaining the brother pair of Qi Yan and Lv Nan, he asked Old Xu to fetch a basin of water, wrapping the items from the Alien Evil Monarch in waterproof oilcloth and placing them inside.

"My Evil-Breaking Spirit Eye can discern the quality of items through their hues."

Bai Qi submerged his head into the basin of water, opening his eyes to find the volumes of "Taiyin Refining Spirit for Formless Creation Method" exuding brilliant radiance. Several Nourishing Spirit Elixirs also each emitted different colors, but the most dazzling of all was that verdant jade slip.

Almost blinding him!

"What is this?"

Bai Qi was stunned.

...

...

By the Nu Yun Riverfront, there is a Yanzi Cliff, where rocks stand tall, with three sides suspended in mid-air, resembling a swallow spreading its wings to fly.

Below, turbulent waves crashed on the shore, the water moon shining white, clear like a bolt of silk, with a celestial cyan robe fluttering in the wind.

Ninghai Zen, standing tall, coldly gazed at a lone boat cleaving through the river waves, where an elder sat in splendid attire, beard like spears, majestic like a lion.

"I've heard you've taken in a good disciple recently, aren't you planning to bring him to see me?"

The elder's voice rang like a great bell, akin to rolling thunder, striking towards Ninghai Zen, who stood alone on the Yanzi Cliff.

"Master, ever since you passed the position of Sect Leader to me, I personally expelled you from Tongwen Hall.

If not for that, ten years ago, Yihai Prefecture would have been reduced to nine lines.

You're no longer part of Tongwen Hall, so what does it have to do with you if I take on a disciple."

Ninghai Zen's tone was calm, the explosive sound waves dissipating invisibly three feet in front of him, transforming into a gentle breeze brushing his face.

"For a disciple to remove their master's title, only you, Ninghai Zen, could do such a thing in the world."

The elder sighed.