CHAPTER 542: 279、FEATHERED IMMORTALS! TRAGIC VICTORY!_2

"Die!" A word, its language unknown, fell upon the ears of the cultivators from the various sects, like a reverberating bell, shaking their souls. However, once it entered their minds, all the cultivators understood its meaning.

"Flying Immortal Art..."

"One of the three great divine powers passed down by the Flying Feather Immortal Palace, a divine power comparable to the Heavenly Saint Sect’s Nirvana Technique..."

As the cultivators from the various sects were astonished, a young Daoist appeared before them. He casually flicked his sleeves, dispelling the Feather Robe Immortal’s oppressive aura for them.

"Ancestor..." Nanhua Sect’s Sect Master Ding Jifeng’s pupils contracted slightly upon seeing the young Daoist, and he bowed respectfully.

Murmurs of shock and speculation spread through the cultivators: Is that an Ancestor? One of the two Sage Monarchs of the Nanhua Sect? Which Sage Monarch could it be? This competition has actually alarmed a Nascent Soul Saint Monarch!

Shock rippled through the hearts of the cultivators once more. Nascent Soul Daoist Lords were already the hidden strength of the major sects, rarely seen even in a thousand years. Nascent Soul Saint Monarchs, who were an entire great realm higher, were even more elusive; they were beings only heard of, never witnessed.

"It’s Elder Zuo Qiu." Some Dao Lords from various sects recognized the young Daoist’s identity and informed their disciples.

"The Heavenly Saint Sect’s Nirvana Technique..."

"The Flying Feather Immortal Palace’s Flying Immortal Art..."

"These are the ultimate secret techniques of the Higher Teachings. I never expected to witness them today."

With Elder Zuo Qiu’s explanation, the cultivators from various sects finally understood the divine powers and secret techniques Xu Xing and Zhongtai Dao Monarch had just used.

Under Elder Zuo Qiu’s protection, the cultivators from the various sects composed themselves and turned their gazes back to the two individuals engaged in the sword fight in the Heavenly Vault.

At this moment, the Feather Robe Immortal descended beside Xu Xing, regarding him with cold indifference. She raised one hand, and instantly, countless streams of moonlight and Spiritual Energy condensed, forming a magical sword similar in appearance to the Tide Feather Sword but hundreds of times larger.

In an instant, a beam of sword light shot out from the magical sword, aimed directly at Xu Xing, who hovered in mid-air. The moment this sword light neared Xu Xing, it suddenly accelerated, as if transcending time and space, stabbing straight towards Xu Xing’s glabella, giving him no time to react.

DRIP!

Like pearls, drops of blood fell from the sky, landing in the lake formed by the mountains and rivers below. Fish in the lake leaped out, drinking this Immortal’s Blood. Ripples spread across the lake’s surface as countless fish jumped out in a dense swarm. Upon contact with the blood, they gained sentience, their bodies growing several times larger.

How is this possible... Zhongtai Dao Monarch, concealed within the Feather Robe Immortal, stared at the fresh blood oozing from between his brows, his expression one of incredulous shock. He gazed blankly at his surroundings, unable to comprehend how Xu Xing had dodged that sword strike just now and seized the opportunity to attack him. Without the protection of that white barrier, Xu Xing, by all rights, shouldn’t have been able to evade the Feather Robe Immortal’s strike empowered by the Flying Immortal Art.

"You lost... Brother Zhongtai..." At the moment the feathering immortal dissipated, Xu Xing, wielding the Tide Feather Sword, placed its blade against the heavily injured Zhongtai Dao Monarch’s neck.

After saying this, Xu Xing flicked his great sleeve and paid Zhongtai Dao Monarch no further heed. He withdrew the magical sword, transformed into an Escaping Light, and returned to the Butian Sect’s formation.

The outcome of the sword fight decided, the Dao Lords of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace gave Xu Xing a long, hard look. No longer confronting the Butian Sect, they moved to Zhongtai Dao Monarch’s side and began casting spells to help him recover from his injuries.

Xu Xing said, descending from his Cloud Head, "Elder Zuo Qiu, I have an impudent request." He walked over to the young Daoist standing before the cultivators from the various sects, bowed slightly, and offered a small salute. "I sustained considerable injuries while Breaking the Array. I wonder if I might temporarily stay at Spring and Autumn Mountain to recuperate... After I have fully recovered, I will leave the Nanhua Sect and return to my Butian Sect."

This victory had been a narrow one for him. Zhongtai Dao Monarch’s Flying Immortal Art had nearly claimed his life. If not for his Child-Mother Dual Primordial Infants, allowing him to use the Child Primordial Infant to die in his stead, he would likely be a soul claimed by Zhongtai Dao Monarch’s sword by now. As for Breaking the Array, he had relied on the mutual reinforcement of the Eternal Proof of [Taoist Fruits] and the Nirvana Technique. This allowed him to succeed without losing his Magic Power.

Though he wasn’t completely depleted, less than a tenth of his Magic Power remained, and his combat strength had plummeted. Some of his Immortal Fates, such as Mother-Child Twinning and [Banished Immortal], had not yet re-solidified. In his current state, if he were to leave the Nanhua Sect, let alone dealing with a Nascent Soul Saint Monarch like Chi Yuan, he probably couldn’t even handle a Higher Teachings Dao Lord like Zhongtai Dao Monarch.

Spring and Autumn Mountain? Elder Zuo Qiu frowned upon hearing this. Spring and Autumn Mountain was the ancestral land of the Zuoqiu Clan. Xu Xing’s mention of this place at this time clearly implied some form of "beneficial" exchange between himself and members of the Zuoqiu Clan.

Witnessing this, Ding Jifeng stepped forward and whispered a few words into Elder Zuo Qiu’s ear, explaining the whole matter.

No wonder he went to my Cave Mansion in Zhang Ze Cave with Ying’er... Elder Zuo Qiu’s understanding dawned. He didn’t resent Ding Jifeng for using Zuoqiu Ying as a bargaining chip to conduct beneficial exchanges with the Butian Sect. This was a necessary strategy for developing one’s power. The Righteous Path was the Righteous Path, but if one truly adhered to its ideals unflinchingly, the Nanhua Sect might not have remained one of the Higher Teachings for so long.

"Yes!" Elder Zuo Qiu declared, giving a formal bow of respect. "This time, the Flying Feather Immortal Palace and the Butian Sect signed a declaration of war, witnessed by the various sects of the Righteous Path... Our Nanhua Sect, as the host, naturally has a duty to protect Sect Leader Xu’s safety..."

After saying this, his tone shifted, and he continued, "However, Spring and Autumn Mountain won’t be necessary. The Spiritual Energy in the Cave Mansions there is sparse, unsuitable for Sect Leader Xu’s recuperation. Our Sect has other superior Cave Mansions available for Sect Leader Xu to choose from to recover from his injuries." He then added, "The members of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace are also welcome to recuperate in our Nanhua Sect..."

If the Nanhua Sect wished to strengthen itself amidst this crisis involving the Flying Feather Immortal Palace, neutrality was key. They had to remain as impartial as possible between the two sects.

"No need," Zhongtai Dao Monarch said. "We will take our leave first." He and the others from the Flying Feather Immortal Palace took a deep look at the cultivators of the Butian Sect and the Nanhua Sect, then conjured white clouds beneath their feet and departed with a wave of their sleeves.

Seeing this, Xu Xing shook his head. The Nanhua Sect wants to remain neutral and profit from both sides. However, sometimes, so-called neutrality is, in fact, the greatest form of non-neutrality. The Flying Feather Immortal Palace may seem defeated, having lost their Orthodox title, but their foundation remains. They still possess the underlying strength of a Higher Teaching. How could they easily submit to the Nanhua Sect’s arrangements?

Of course, this wasn’t due to a lack of wisdom on the part of Ding Jifeng or Elder Zuo Qiu of the Nanhua Sect. Rather, as a Higher Teaching of the Righteous Path, the Nanhua Sect was easily swayed by the prevailing opinions within the Righteous Path. Under the current momentum, they had no choice but to act this way. Suppressing the Butian Sect would mean losing the support of the various Righteous Path sects and alienating the Small and Medium-sized Sects. Conversely, not aiding the Flying Feather Immortal Palace would mean offending another Higher Teaching. A true dilemma!

"Thank you, Sect Master Ding, Sage Monarch Zuo Qiu..." The Butian Sect members expressed their gratitude and followed a Nanhua Sect House Elder, heading towards the location of the Nascent Soul Caves.

After the cultivators from the various sects had departed, Ding Jifeng sighed deeply and said, "This time, Xu Xing has also schemed against our Nanhua Sect... Then again, we should have suspected this when the Butian Sect’s three Tower Boats entered the Nanhua Sect..."

"The Butian Sect is rallying the Small and Medium-sized Sects of the Righteous Path, using them as their spearhead... This momentum is irreversible. Let alone you, even I would find it difficult to choose in this situation..." Elder Zuo Qiu said gravely.

"Five years ago, I foresaw this day’s events. I just didn’t expect Zhongtai Dao Monarch to be so impetuous as to openly turn against our sect," Ding Jifeng said, gazing in the direction where the Flying Feather Immortal Palace Dao Lords had departed, taking a deep breath. If Zhongtai Dao Monarch hadn’t stormed off in anger but had instead laughed it off and moved past the incident, there was no reason their Nanhua Sect and the Flying Feather Immortal Palace couldn’t have cooperated further.

"Human nature is unpredictable," Elder Zuo Qiu remarked. He raised his sleeve, pointed towards the lake, and used his Magic Power to draw a fish that had drunk Zhongtai Dao Monarch’s Essence Blood before him. "The nature of fish is also unpredictable." He withdrew his Magic Power. Seeing the panicked fish flee, he smiled faintly and said this.

What does the Ancestor mean? Ding Jifeng was somewhat bewildered by these words.

"That is for you to comprehend. After all, you are the Sect Master..." Elder Zuo Qiu flicked his sleeve robe, transformed into a wisp of cloud and smoke, and vanished from the spot, leaving only these words behind.

So that’s it... Ding Jifeng gazed at the lake’s surface, lost in thought for a long time. Only when he saw the fish consistently trying to rejoin the school did understanding dawn upon him.