Chapter 434 - 61: Mountain and River Diagram
Above Yinluo Island, a tri-colored radiance of water, fire, and thunder billowed. Immense waves of energy rippled outward, as if the very heavens were collapsing.
The two Divine Ape energy bodies were solidly at the fourth tier, their strength immense and their Divine Techniques vast. They were in no way inferior to a fourth-tier Outer Celestial Demon.
Crucially, these two Divine Apes were being controlled by a Dharma Master. Their ability to adapt in combat was more agile and alert than that of an Outer Celestial Demon, making them extremely difficult to deal with.
The power of the Feather Divine Soldiers was superior. Even when its Thunder Sword Light swept out and severed the Divine Apes’ energy bodies, they could instantly reform and restore themselves to their original state.
All that was consumed was merely the Spiritual Essence within Elder Yingya’s Primordial Image Cauldron!
The two Divine Apes were not merely on the defensive. They even looked for openings to counterattack Fang Cheng, targeting all the weaknesses of the Feather Divine Soldiers.
Evidently, Elder Yingya was well-versed in the Artifact Refining Dao and had already discerned some of the secrets of the Feather Divine Soldiers.
Fang Cheng, piloting the Feather Divine Soldiers, clashed fiercely with the two Divine Apes, exchanging over a hundred blows in an instant.
After a round of probing attacks, Fang Cheng quickly formulated a plan to win.
The Feather Divine Soldiers spread its great wings and shot up into the sky with a roar. The two Divine Ape energy bodies pursued it closely, reaching the heights of the firmament.
Suddenly, an inconspicuous gourd fell from the sky!
As the gourd reached the space above the two Divine Ape energy bodies, it abruptly burst open. In an instant, myriads of flames shot out, raining down fiercely and enveloping the two Divine Apes in the blink of an eye.
Below on Yinluo Island, Su Miao, Sun Fuguo, Xun Yuanchu, and the others only saw a boundless radiance erupt high above. Fierce flames illuminated the void and thunder flashed, instantly brightening the entire world and outshining even the sun.
Within the layered radiance, ten thousand streaks of Thunder Light were mixed, shining brilliantly in all directions. It was as if the very sky was being melted.
—Five Flames Divine Thunder!
This gourd of Divine Thunder was Zhao Wuji’s ultimate trump card, yet Fang Cheng had just unleashed it without hesitation.
Amidst the thunder and fire, the two Divine Ape energy bodies struggled to break free. Their bodies dispersed and reformed, reformed and dispersed. After this repeated nine times, they finally dissipated completely.
A pained look crossed Elder Yingya’s face, and he sighed softly. He pointed at the Primordial Image Cauldron, which flared with brilliant light. It retrieved two balls of spiritual light from the void, storing them inside to be nurtured.
At that moment, another sky-shaking Sword Aura descended from above, slicing through the sky and arriving before Elder Yingya’s forehead.
The elder’s Protective Spiritual Light manifested in response, but it was useless, shattered by a single sword strike.
Just as the elder was about to be cleaved in two by the incomparably sharp and brilliant sword light, his form flickered, and he suddenly transformed into a golden lamp!
Five-colored light flowed around this golden lamp, its radiance magnificent and ever-shifting like colored glass.
The sword light passed through the golden lamp as if striking an illusion.
「The next moment.」
A shocked cry came from within the golden lamp, "A Tier Five Flying Sword?!"
The sword light turned back, thrusting and slashing at the golden lamp again. Although it failed to extinguish the lamp’s flame, it managed to cut a crack into the lamp itself.
This Qian Flame Golden Lamp was Elder Yingya’s fourth-tier Lifebound Magical Artifact, and it possessed wondrous abilities. Now, it was trapped by the sword light and seemed on the verge of shattering.
"So be it. This battle, I conce—"
Elder Yingya’s voice had just sounded from within the golden lamp when Ruan San Niang coldly cut him off.
"Fellow Daoist Ying, you must win this battle. Otherwise, do not blame my Ten Thousand Transformations Sect for being merciless."
Ruan San Niang said, her tone hostile as she watched with cold eyes.
The golden lamp flickered and fell silent.
In the distant sky, the vast expanse of thunder and fire slowly dissipated. A hundred-zhang-tall Mystic Iron Giant slowly emerged, its indigo body clad in golden armor, with thunder coiling around its wings. It was majestic and domineering.
Nimble as a swimming dragon, the Mountain-Slaying Flying Sword returned to the side of the Feather Divine Soldiers. From afar, its Sword Intent locked onto the golden lamp that Elder Yingya had become.
"Sigh..."
The golden lamp’s flame suddenly flared, giving rise to a ten-zhang-tall, five-colored pillar of fire. The flames twisted and condensed into the figure of Elder Yingya. He sighed softly as he unleashed a scroll.
A hundred-zhang-long painting slowly unfurled in the air. It rolled towards the Feather Divine Soldiers, and a pillar of cyan light shot out, enveloping the giant. With a flicker, the light pulled the Feather Divine Soldiers into the painting.
Elder Yingya said, "Fellow Daoist Fang, although my Mountain and River Diagram is only a fragment of a Fifth-rank Magical Artifact, it still possesses some wondrous functions. While I may not be able to defeat you right now, trapping you for a few years is not difficult."
After speaking, the golden lamp’s radiance receded, and he reverted to his appearance as Elder Yingya.
This was a transformation technique used by Artifact Cultivators. The Yinluo Sect had similar Divine Techniques, allowing one to transform their body into items like a Netherworld Banner or a White Bone Relic.
Elder Yingya looked at Ruan San Niang and said, "Fellow Daoist Ruan, this is as much as I can do."
A smile bloomed on Ruan San Niang’s face. "Fellow Daoist Ying, you are truly worthy of the title Artifact Refining Grandmaster. I knew you had other tricks up your sleeve. If Fang Cheng hadn’t forced your hand today, I doubt anyone would have known you possessed a fragment of a Fifth-rank Magical Artifact."
She flew before Elder Yingya, held out her hand, and said, "Give me the Mountain and River Diagram. The Sect Leader himself will have to act to completely suppress Fang Cheng."
A look of helplessness crossed Elder Yingya’s face, but he still took out the Mountain and River Diagram and handed it to Ruan San Niang.
Just then, the unexpected happened!
From within the Mountain and River Diagram, a piercing light the size of a bean suddenly flashed. Immediately after, a point on the surface of the scroll bulged outward and began to expand rapidly.
"Not good!"
Elder Yingya cried out in alarm. He instantly used his Divine Technique, transforming back into the Qian Flame Golden Lamp.
Ruan San Niang’s reaction was no slower. A golden radiance flared from her body as a great golden banner above her head enveloped her, and she retreated at high speed.
A tear ripped open in the Mountain and River Diagram. A streak of light flew out, instantly transforming into a mountain-sized Mystic Iron Giant that stood proudly in the sky.