Wielding the Thunders Across Two Worlds

Taoist Shen Hao arrived.

As a senior of the Shangqing Lineage on Sanmao Mountain, he had to step up when Taoist Han Zheng and Taoist Han Xuan weren’t yet strong enough to represent their lineage.

And he certainly lived up to the role.

Forget Taoist Xu Ning and Taoist Yuan He—even Taoist Ming Chong paled in comparison to this strike from the Flowing Gold Fire Bell. Perhaps only Taoist Ming Yu, channeling his Magical Power through the Thunderwood Sword to cast the Five Yang Thunders, could hope to match it.

BOOM!

The Flowing Gold Fire Bell smashed directly onto the red-bearded man’s body. Surging Nanming Li Fire burned him from the outside in, searing his manifested outer shell and his internal organs.

AH!

The red-bearded man let out a bloodcurdling scream, unleashing endless Demon Qi. A crimson light also enveloped his body as he tried with all his might to expel the Nanming Li Fire.

The next moment, the great sun from before transformed into a small golden Bell, turning into a streak of light and flying back into Taoist Shen Hao’s hand. At the point of impact, a huge circular crater, a hundred meters in diameter, had suddenly appeared.

This was the result even after the red-bearded man had resisted with all his might, dissipating most of the Flowing Gold Fire Bell’s power.

Taoist Shen Hao held his right palm open. The bronze-colored Bell hovered in the air above it, a thin layer of flame burning on its surface. At the same time, it emitted a faint, crisp ringing that lingered deep within everyone’s Sea of Consciousness.

"So powerful!" Xue Bingbing exclaimed in admiration.

Of course, the one who best understood Taoist Shen Hao’s power was the red-bearded man. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as Demon Power circulated wildly within him, extinguishing the Nanming Li Fire that had penetrated his Body. He didn’t dare make a reckless move.

Taoist Shen Hao was naturally aware of his internal condition and had no intention of giving him a chance to recover. The Flowing Gold Fire Bell in his hand began to glow with golden light once more.

"Wait! Don’t attack!" the red-bearded man said hastily. "I am a disciple of the Southern Border’s Six-Headed Divine Monarch! I have five other martial siblings. If you kill me, the consequences will be endless!"

Seeing Taoist Shen Hao’s eyes gleam with Divine Light, completely unmoved, the red-bearded man spoke in a rapid-fire burst, finishing his words in an instant.

"Actually, there’s no grudge between us. I should even thank the disciples of your esteemed palace for finding my lost treasure. There was a misunderstanding earlier, but fortunately, no grave mistake has been made.

"This fight has served as a fine introduction. I have witnessed the might of Daluo Palace and dare not be disrespectful. But I am no pushover, either. If you truly insist on fighting, I’ll take two of you down with me!

"That being the case, why not stop this fight and turn foe into friend? Your esteemed palace has suffered no losses, and you won’t have to worry about my martial siblings seeking revenge. You’ll even gain a friend in the Southern Border. In the future, if disciples from your palace travel to the Southern Border, I can look out for them."

"He’s lying!"

As soon as the red-bearded man finished speaking, Xue Bingbing immediately interjected, "The Six-Headed Divine Monarch is the Six-headed Old Demon. He was their master, but they, his six disciples, joined forces to kill him.

"But the six of them are not on good terms. On the contrary, they are hostile and wary of one another.

"When they killed the Six-headed Old Demon, each of them seized one of his Magical Treasures. As long as they gather all six treasures, they can master the Six-headed Old Demon’s Dharma Gate, grow six heads, possess six lives, and even hope for Ascension to the Spirit Realm to achieve eternal life."

"You little bitch, you’re courting death!"

The red-bearded man shot out a red thread, aiming straight for Xue Bingbing.

Taoist Xu Ning turned her Treasure Mirror, and its light ground the red thread into nothing.

"A fine Magical Treasure! And what excellent Pure True Light!" Taoist Shen Hao praised.

Taoist Xu Ning smiled humbly. "I only managed it by referencing the Artifact Refining Method left behind by Martial Brother Shen Hao."

Taoist Shen Hao laughed heartily. "But you’ve also added your own ingenuity. It has wonderful applications."

The Pure True Light was another application of the True Qi cultivated by the Pure Sect. It embodied the concepts of purity, spirit, and clarity. Wherever the True Light passed, it swept away all evil, cleansing everything seen and felt.

Seeing that the newly arrived, white-browed old man and the first old woman to appear were completely ignoring him, the red-bearded man was furious. But after a moment of anger, he suppressed his temper and forced a pleasant expression.

"Your Excellencies, don’t listen to this little bitch’s nonsense. While we martial brothers can’t be said to be the friendliest bunch, if one of us is in trouble, the others will definitely seek revenge with all their might."

"Then let them come," Taoist Shen Hao said lightly.

"Huh?" The red-bearded man was stunned.

Taoist Yuan He laughed. "You’re drenched in Evil Qi. If your martial siblings are anything like you, we’d be eager to hunt them down. We’d welcome it if they came to us willingly."

"Huh?" The red-bearded man was dumbfounded.

"Enough nonsense. Hurry up and take out that blasted Heart Chakra for us to see. Let’s find out what kind of treasure could make you travel all the way from the Southern Border to the Central Plains." Taoist Ming Chong also took a Thunderwood Sword out of his gourd.

Taoist Xu Ning smiled faintly and moved to stand in front of Changyi and the others. Holding her Treasure Mirror steady and facing the red-bearded man, she said, "With so much Evil Qi, it looks like this old woman will get to enjoy some of the spoils today."

The red-bearded man’s eyes flickered. He didn’t understand the meaning behind their words.

But he didn’t need to. It was clear the four elders before him had no intention of letting him leave.

"You’ve forced my hand!"

The red-bearded man roared, whipping out the Heart Chakra and breaking its seal.

A violent wave of Demon Qi surged out, seeming to wrench at their very souls and causing everyone’s heart to lurch heavily.

The old Daoists immediately executed their Profound Skills, guarding their Divine Souls and suppressing the fluctuation with their True Qi.

Then they looked at the red-bearded man and saw that his expression was also ugly; the wave of Demon Qi had clearly affected him as well.

"So he can’t even control this Magical Treasure. No wonder he didn’t use it before," Taoist Ming Chong said with understanding. He then brandished his Thunderwood Sword, and lightning flashed within the Five-Colored Thunderclouds above, unleashing a continuous barrage of the Five Directions Thunderbolt.

Taoist Yuan He, brimming with Pure Yang True Qi, suppressed the palpitations in his heart. With a flick of his Sword Point, his Flying Sword shot out. "Useless even if you use it."

Taoist Shen Hao said nothing, but the Flowing Gold Fire Bell hovering above his palm also shot forward. This time, it did not transform into a great sun. Instead, the single spark of fire displayed a magnificent and brilliant aura, like a meteor falling from the sky.

Taoist Xu Ning waved a hand behind her, and a wave of Purifying True Qi enveloped Changyi and the other four. It sent them flying backward, several miles away, before she finally raised her Treasure Mirror and aimed it at the red-bearded man.

...

Watching the great battle in the distance, Changyi and the others calmly enjoyed the show.

"Martial Uncle Shen Hao’s Flowing Gold Fire Bell is way more powerful than yours," Changyi teased Zhan Qing.

Zhan Qing shot Changyi a sidelong glance, not about to let him get the better of him. "Why don’t you compare yourself to Martial Uncle Ming Chong?"

Taoist Shen Hao was two generations senior to Zhan Qing. By addressing him as "Martial Uncle," Changyi was cheekily implying he was a generation above Zhan Qing. Likewise, Taoist Ming Chong was two generations senior to Changyi, so Zhan Qing’s retort, also using "Martial Uncle," was a clever way of returning the favor.

Changyi didn’t mind at all, just laughing as he said, "I practice the Supreme Four Dipper Star Constellation Grand Talisman!"

Zhan Qing rolled his eyes at him. "Lame excuse!"

Yangshuo and Jingyi laughed at the exchange.

And while they were enjoying the show and chatting, the four old Daoists had already joined forces to seize the red-bearded man’s Heart Chakra and put an end to him as well.

In the end, the red-bearded man never revealed his name, leaving behind only his true form: a red centipede, a full seven feet long.

Taoist Ming Chong’s eyes lit up. "What fine medicinal ingredients!"