“The distance between us is less than one zhang.”

Destructive Vajra Du Fan looked down to examine the small white-robed figure, who only reached his chest.

“At Third Grade realm, except for demon races, any system within one zhang of a martial artist means certain death.” He looked down at the white-robed practitioner, his thick lips curling slightly.

At this distance, even if the other party wanted to teleport away, he could interrupt it in advance.

As for defensive magical tools, in a Third Grade Vajra’s eyes, except for some great city defense formations carved into city walls and composed of countless small formations linked together, he could break through anything.

Formations inscribed on magical tools, limited by volume and material, couldn’t possibly block his iron fists.

Even if a Pagoda Treasure were deployed now, it would be too late.

“Or perhaps you’re offering yourself as a hostage to Buddhism, in exchange for Emotional Arhat?”

The moment these words left his mouth, Destructive Vajra’s fan-like large hand descended from above, covering Sun Xuan Ji’s head.

Pop~

The dark golden hand struck against the qi barrier, the vibrating air producing a piercing sound.

Destructive Vajra’s expression changed as he felt the resistance against his palm.

At this moment, he felt as if he was fighting against heaven and earth as if this world was rejecting him.

Sun Xuan Ji stood unmoved, raising his eyes to look at him, saying concisely:

“Get lost!”

He placed his palm against Destructive Vajra’s chest, pausing for about a second, then with a huge “bang,” amid ripples of exploding qi waves, Destructive Vajra was sent flying like a cannonball leaving its barrel.

He crashed through countless trees along the way, clearing a “vacuum” zone through the dense forest.

By the time he stabilized himself, he had been forcefully knocked out of the mountain peak, floating in the air with an abyss below his feet.

“…”

The scene fell into dead silence, observers from both sides seeming to have lost their ability to speak.

The Celestial Seal Office’s practitioner was actually this powerful…

Worthy of being from the Celestial Seal Office, worthy of being the Supervisor’s second disciple, truly terrifying…

Admiration and praise rose in the hearts of Fu Jing Men and other martial artists. Honestly, at first, they didn’t pay much attention to the “Supervisor’s second disciple” mentioned by Cao Qing Yang.

They’d barely heard about him, didn’t know his cultivation level, had no battle achievements, and he was a practitioner who couldn’t even engage in close combat – how much use could he be?

How could it compare to the dazzling three words “Silver Gong Xu.”

But the scene before them showed that this white-robed practitioner was terrifyingly strong.

One casual palm strike had repelled a Buddhist Vajra.

And this Vajra had just demonstrated his violence and displayed his strength moments ago.

Liu Hong Mian’s mouth nearly formed an “O” shape. Since joining Hidden Dragon City, she has dealt with many practitioners, and the little girl on their team was also a practitioner.

She knew deeply that practitioners had weak physiques, relying on endlessly crafting magical tools for attacks and using flashy formations to establish undefeated positions.

If practitioners really had to engage in close combat with martial artists, that would be like lighting a lamp in a toilet – looking for trouble.

Could practitioners after reaching Third Grade experience such earth-shattering changes in their physique, changes so great they could clash head-on with Third Grade martial artists?

White Tiger, Qi Han Dan Xiang, and others wore similar expressions to hers.

Jin Xin and Jin Yuan, the two Buddhist disciples, furrowed their brows, unable to see through the mystery.

…

On the Wind-Riding Boat.

Ji Xuan suddenly turned his head to look at Xu Yuan Shuang: “Sister?”

Xu Yuan Shuang, however, focused her gaze on Dong Fang Rong, saying softly:

“Elder Na Lan’s insight is keen – Quanrong Mountain’s terrain has indeed changed.”

She then looked at Ji Xuan, explaining:

“Sun Xuan Ji has carved formations using Quanrong Mountain as the foundation. Now all the earth vein power of the entire Quanrong Mountain is at his disposal.”

As a newly advanced alchemist, still far from being a fourth-grade formation master, she hadn’t immediately noticed the feng shui changes in Quanrong Mountain. Only when Sun Xuan Ji made his move did she glimpse something.

She suddenly understood Dong Fang Rong’s earlier words.

Ji Xuan frowned deeply: “Is Quanrong Mountain’s earth vein power really that strong?”

Xu Yuan Shuang made an “mm” sound, her small face serious:

“Quanrong Mountain is a famous mountain in Sword Province, ranking ninth among the Central Plains’ blessed lands. Legend says that the Heaven Sect’s founding master originally planned to build their sect on Quanrong Mountain, subduing Quanrong as a guardian beast.”

“The truth of this legend is hard to verify, but it’s enough to show that Quanrong Mountain is a rare blessed land, incomparable to ordinary mountain ranges.”

Ji Xuan suddenly understood, saying in a deep voice:

“No wonder Sun Xuan Ji hadn’t appeared – he was secretly arranging formations.”

Based on what he saw, Ji Xuan recalled words the National Teacher had spoken to them long ago:

“Within the Central Plains, the Supervisor can go wherever he wishes. The entire Central Plains realm is in the Supervisor’s pocket. What I need to do is make it mine instead.”

He hadn’t thought much of it at the time, but only now did he suddenly understand.

Many systems at low grades lay foundations for high grades, or are simply upgraded versions of high grades.

Ji Xuan vaguely realized that the technique Sun Xuan Ji was displaying now, commanding the power of mountains and rivers, perhaps concealed the deepest secrets of practitioners.

…

“This isn’t your power! You were arranging formations just now!”

Destructive Vajra stood in the air, trying to return to the mountain, but Quanrong Mountain had “closed its gates.” Each time he tried to descend, he was blocked by the Qi barrier.

As a Buddhist Dharma-protecting Vajra, he understood practitioners extremely well and made a clear judgment of the current situation in his heart.

Sun Xuan Ji didn’t speak, silently meeting his gaze.

“Why don’t you speak?”

Destructive Vajra seemed somewhat annoyed.

Sun Xuan Ji’s lips moved slightly, squeezing out one word: “Don’t…”

Then there was nothing more.

Cao Qing Yang, dragging his severely injured body, staggered toward Yang Cui Xue and others. Hearing this, a guess unconsciously floated in his mind:

He probably wanted to say “Don’t waste words.”

Dai Zong nimbly bounded over several times to reach Cao Qing Yang’s side, supporting him as they hurried back.

Fu Jing Men, Xiao Yue Nu, and the group of Fourth Grade martial artists immediately surrounded them, protecting Cao Qing Yang.

“Alliance Leader, how are your injuries?”

Xiao Yue Nu asked while taking out medicinal pills.

“Won’t die. Xu Qi An’s essence blood saved my life.”

Cao Qing Yang took the pills and swallowed them, then pulled open his clothes to let everyone see his injuries.

His chest was a bloody mess with bone spurs protruding, but the flesh was stubbornly writhing, trying to heal, though the speed was very slow, giving the impression it could fail at any moment.

“I can’t absorb essence blood again for a short while. Otherwise, my physical body will collapse. These injuries will take me half a month to recover from.”

After swallowing the pills, Cao Qing Yang’s complexion gradually turned ruddy.

“Alliance Leader, this practitioner is too powerful – the Vajra can’t even get in. Perhaps we can remain undefeated because of this. Maybe we won’t even need Silver Gong Xu to appear.”

Fu Jing Men’s face showed delight.

Cao Qing Yang now understood that the reason Sun Xuan Ji had delayed was because he was secretly carving formations.

“There’s one more thing – disciples from the Alliance have run to South Peak.”

The attentive Xiao Yue Nu said softly.

Cao Qing Yang looked toward the south in surprise, indeed seeing a large group of people standing on the cliff top. They were far away, tiny as beans, but Cao Qing Yang’s eyesight could see their faces.

Cao Qing Yang’s forehead veins jumped as he angrily said:

“Do they not fear the enemy deliberately massacring them?”

“Right now they’re just being ignored, but we can’t build our survival on the enemy’s mercy.”

Pop~

The sound of qi waves interrupted their conversation. Looking up, they saw the ugly Buddhist Vajra with blazing fire rings behind his head, his dark golden body transformed into dazzling gold.

Standing in the air, he was like a golden sun, so bright that observers could hardly open their eyes.

Destructive Vajra clenched his fist, and drew back his right arm, pulling his entire body backward. With these movements, his muscular physique bulged block by block.

Pop~ Pop~ Pop~

The golden giant repeatedly threw punches, heavily hammering the qi barrier, his posture like beating iron.

With each punch landed, the qi barrier would violently shake and deform. Everyone on the mountain felt Quanrong Mountain shaking beneath their feet.

This earthquake-like sensation caused them tremendous panic, afraid that the next moment Quanrong Mountain would collapse, burying everyone at its base.

Destructive Vajra was trying to shake mountains and earth veins with his power alone.

Sun Xuan Ji unhurriedly took out a black iron ruler from his sleeve, fingers together like a sword, sweeping across the ruler’s body.

As his fingertips brushed past, characters lit up one by one on the ruler’s body, the black iron ruler emanating brilliant clear light.

“Fix!”

Sun Xuan Ji stabbed the black ruler into the ground at his feet.

The qi barrier covering the entire Quanrong Mountain instantly became thick and concentrated. Destructive Vajra’s fists could only bring slight tremors.

After several more punches, Du Fan rationally gave up his attack. Since beginning Buddhist cultivation, he had long ago ground away the madness in his Destructive nature, becoming calm and rational. This would lose the combat boost brought by “madness,” but allowed him to master himself more perfectly.

Is he giving up? Cao Qing Yang, sitting cross-legged on the ground, looked up at the sky, his heart slightly relieved.

“Worthy of being the Supervisor’s second disciple…” The swordsman Yang Cui Xue stroked his beard and smiled.

The group of Fourth Grades began to laugh.

The Martial Arts Alliance disciples on South Peak’s summit had their fill of excitement. Although it was just monotonous punching, the visual impact and psychological shock were extremely strong.

A high-grade practitioner carved formations in the mountain, establishing a barrier covering all of Quanrong Mountain.

A Buddhist Vajra nearly shook an entire mountain with one person’s strength.

All of these left deep impressions on them, causing intense psychological impact, and letting them see the magnificence of the Transcendent realm.

Just as the Martial Arts Alliance martial artists were rejoicing, the sky suddenly filled with rolling dark clouds, rapidly growing gloomy.

The ink-colored clouds rolled and gathered, lightning flashing on and off within them as if brewing something.

Shortly after, a thick pillar of lightning descended from the sky, striking the qi barrier covering Quanrong Mountain.

This lightning pillar was so bright it suddenly dyed heaven and earth blue-white. Countless people were caught off guard, covering their eyes and screaming miserably, their eyeballs burning, hot tears rolling.

Sizzle~ Boom~

First came the sound of the qi barrier shattering, and then the lightning pillar seemed to strike the mountain, causing an explosion-like thunder.

The temporarily blinded martial artists clearly sensed Quanrong Mountain shake and felt their hair and body hair standing on end.

This was caused by the suddenly thousand-fold denser charged particles in the air stimulating their skin.

After a long while, martial artists of deep cultivation like Cao Qing Yang first recovered their vision, urgently looking toward the scene.

Seeing Sun Xuan Ji’s condition, their hearts suddenly sank.

Sun Xuan Ji’s white clothes were covered in scorch marks, his hair crown had exploded, and his black hair turned yellow and singed, smoking.

The exposed skin on his cheeks and arms was nearly carbonized, black with touches of bright red.

His aura had weakened like a candle in the wind, making people fear it would extinguish at any moment.

This… Yang Cui Xue and others’ pupils contracted violently, their spirits shaken, unable to calm down.

Sun Xuan Ji’s crushing defeat was unacceptable to them. At the same time, from Sun Xuan Ji’s fate, they understood a despair-inducing truth.

There were even stronger enemies – in that ship in the sky, there were even stronger enemies!

Strong enough to summon lightning, strong enough to subdue Sun Xuan Ji, whom even the Buddhist Vajra couldn’t handle, in one move.

Could the Martial Arts Alliance still contend with this?

“Alliance… Alliance Leader…” Qiao Weng of the Sword Province Merchants Association swallowed hard:

“What kind of existence have we provoked?”

He spoke everyone’s thoughts.

Cao Qing Yang’s expression was bewildered because he also didn’t know. When Sun Xuan Ji found him, he only said the enemies were from Buddhism and the Witch God Cult, with Transcendent realm battle power.

A terrifying guess flashed through his mind.

Second Grade?

Yes, only a Second Grade expert could so casually subdue Sun Xuan Ji.

Second Grade was indeed the Transcendent realm.

“Tsk tsk!”

Heart Insect Master Qi Han Dan Xiang’s gaze swept over Cao Qing Yang and others in the distance:

“Second Grade Rain Master, worthy of the name.”

Liu Hong Mian and others remained calm, not surprised at all. The Second Grade Rain Master was their greatest backing and source of confidence.

Second Grade Rain Master… the Witch God Cult’s Second Grade Rain Master… Cao Qing Yang and others looked at each other, faces full of bitterness.

The Witch God Cult’s Rain Master was renowned.

Rain prayer culture was unique to the three northeastern countries. In ancient times, during droughts, people in the northeastern regions of the Nine Provinces would make offerings to the Witch God Cult, praying for the Rain Master to bring rain.

These weren’t secrets but were recorded extensively in historical documents.

The Rain Master’s fame was as well-known as Buddhism’s Arhats.

“What was that lightning just now?”

“Too terrifying…”

“Master, I, I can’t see…”

The observers on South Peak hadn’t yet reacted, still immersed in the heavenly might from before, immersed in the panic of losing their vision.

Until they heard someone cry out: “That white-robed practitioner has been struck into charcoal by lightning!”

Only then did they belatedly understand the change in the situation, immediately rising into indescribable fear.

Pat!

Destructive Vajra landed back in the scene, examining Sun Xuan Ji, nodding with satisfaction:

“Still alive. A dead person can’t be exchanged for Emotional Arhat.”

He strode toward Sun Xuan Ji. During this process, Cao Qing Yang and others were silent as cicadas in winter, watching helplessly as he approached the stone gate and the nearly dead Sun Xuan Ji.

Suddenly, a pale golden light streaked across the horizon. Ding… amid the clear sound, it stabbed into the ground before Destructive Vajra.

It was a brass sword.

Great Feng’s Nation-Stabilizing Sword!