Seeking Truth with a Sword

Chapter 368 - 320 Dead End

The Floating Buddha Tower of the Jialan Sect was octagonal, with thirty-seven levels, towering into the clouds. It was constructed from materials such as jade, stone, gold and silver, and Glaze Glass, decorated with Pot Gate designs, lions, and Fire Pearl Chandeliers. On each protruding corner of every level, small Haotian Bells were hung.

The group that came running halted abruptly in front of the tower. Eight faces of the Golden Light Restriction stood erect like a city wall, completely sealing off the entrance.

Li Ang forcefully threw his Triangular Spear towards the wall of golden light. The tip of the spear struck the restriction, sending sparks flying.

CLANG!

Ripples spread across the wall of golden light, but not a single scratch remained.

It didn’t even leave a mark. Li Ang drew a deep breath. According to the account information he had gathered from the Bookworm Immortal last night, the Jialan Sect had used a considerable amount of resources to construct the Floating Buddha Tower. This was particularly true after they forecasted the decline of the Sui Country and the approaching era of chaos. They had spent a vast sum to connect the Floating Buddha Tower’s restrictions with the Mountain Guarding Array. Once the array was fully triggered, the restrictions in places like the Abbot Courtyard and the abbot’s court would also activate simultaneously.

Clutching his fist, he suppressed the throbbing pain in the web of his hand. Holding the Triangular Spear, he repeatedly stabbed at the Golden Light Restriction.

"Why don’t we stay in front of the Grand Hall to help the people of Jialan Sect? Or just run away?" Xiao Da asked anxiously, watching cultivators and ordinary people scattering in the distance.

"Because in our reality, they all died," Jiu Fenghai spoke rapidly. "If we were in front of the hall and successfully helped the Jialan Sect kill the Demon Buddha, then there shouldn’t be so many corpses three hundred years later. But the reality is that the Academic Palace dealt with many skeletons, proving Liao Wu and Lian Nan definitely did not succeed—at least, not entirely. As for running away..."

"AAAAAH!!"

Screams echoed from afar, interrupting Jiu Fenghai’s words. Some, out of fear of the Demons, ran into the Mountain Guarding Array. They barely managed a few steps before an omnipresent, invisible force within the array severed their limbs. This caused them to fall, screaming in agony, before being diced by the array and turning into clouds of fine ash.

"As long as the array stands, there’s nowhere to escape." Xia Jun’s lips tightened. He formed a Sword technique with his hands, causing his longsword to hover half a meter in front of him.

More and more Demons poured out from the direction of the Grand Hall, chasing those who scattered in panic. Every second, people were pounced upon by the monsters and killed. They subsequently transformed into new monsters, struggling to rise from the ground to hunt the very humans who had been their companions just seconds before.

"Li Ang, are you sure we can survive this?" Xia Jun asked in a grave tone.

"I don’t know." Li Ang didn’t turn his head, continuing to stab the golden light wall with his Triangular Spear. "I only know that whatever is inside the Floating Tower is our only hope for survival."

THUD—

Another dull sound rang out. The Fine Gold tip of the spear snapped, a large chunk breaking off from the tremendous impact.

Without pausing to mourn his weapon, Li Ang switched from stabbing to smashing, focusing solely on battering the golden light wall.

"Trying to revive a dead horse, are we? Tsk. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have come to this so-called academic exchange. How wonderful it would have been to stay in the Imperial City—warm rooms in winter, cool rooms in summer, servants to tend to your daily needs, and even someone to warm your bed at night. Much better than facing death at any moment like now."

Xia Jun muttered for a moment, then his expression suddenly turned cold. "Well, it’s come to this. I’ll trust you this one time. I hope you’re as infallible as those Yu Country people claimed. Absolute Shadow!"

The Prince of Nanzhou took several steps forward and shouted. The longsword before him instantly split into more than a dozen sword shadows, which slashed towards the forest, attacking the approaching Demons.

SHRAKK—

A sword shadow cleanly split a monster’s head. Dark, tainted blood stained the Flying Sword. Before a few seconds passed, the centrifugal force from the rapidly turning Flying Sword flung the blood away.

The Flying Swords wove a dense, deadly net through the forest. Xia Jun’s hands, formed into a Sword technique, trembled continuously. Sweat beaded on his forehead—a clear sign of the tremendous strain he was under.

"Everyone, if I get infected by Demonic Qi, you must chop off my head before I turn into a demon," Ashina Que Teqin said in Chang’an official dialect, tinged with an accent. He pulled the scimitar from his waist and retrieved a small, intricately patterned triangular copper piece from his chest. With a slight flick, the gold piece spontaneously extended and unfolded into a one-handed shield.

"Tell my tribe I did not disgrace them," he said earnestly, shield in his left hand, scimitar in his right.

With that, he stomped on the ground and rushed forward to stand before Xia Jun. He used the heavy shield to knock away an approaching monster, coordinating with Xiao Da, who leaped forward to slice it into three pieces in mid-air.

As Martial Artists, their risk of exposure to Demonic Qi was ten to twenty times greater than Xia Jun’s. But in the current circumstances, they had no other choice but to fight for a slim chance of survival.

"Who would have thought that such a vast Former Sui Sect, with nearly a thousand cultivators, plus the few of us, would be driven to a dead end by an ordinary old scholar who isn’t even a cultivator," Jiu Fenghai said, shaking his head with a bitter chuckle. He also pulled out his last-resort talismans and Sea Shell Bell Beads from his robes. Stepping forward, he joined Xia Jun and the others to form a defensive line, blocking the tide-like surge of demons.

Xia Jun’s Flying Swords slashed at the assaulting demons. Ashina Que Teqin swung his shield, sending monsters that reached them flying. Xiao Da covered their flank. Meanwhile, Jiu Fenghai’s Magic and talismans created swamps, seas of fire, mud pits, and sheets of ice at the forest’s edge, hindering the demons’ advance.

Only Li Ang and Sui Yi remained before the Floating Tower.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Li Ang relentlessly smashed the Golden Light Restriction. The petals of the Bitter Realm Lotus in his chest fell one by one, signifying death’s gradual approach.

SNAP.

Slender, fair fingers landed on Li Ang’s shoulder.

Sui Yi squinted, biting through the sling on her dislocated right arm with her teeth. She tilted her head and said calmly, "Save your energy. When it comes to destruction, your Senior Sister is much better at it."

She stepped forward, shook her still slightly aching arm, then gripped her sword with both hands, pouring Sword Intent and Spiritual Power into it.

Flames of Yinghuo slowly rose from the blade, illuminating her eyes as if they too were ablaze.