Chapter 1242: Duel of Magic

This venerable one is not specifically targeting your Heavenly Thunder Zen Temple. It's simply that these two rogue cultivators practice demonic arts, and as a righteous cultivator, I absolutely cannot allow demonic cultivators to go unpunished.

Chen Mobai pointed to Chi Lei and Sun Qingxue, who were bound by his fire dragons, and spoke, composedly observing the two great Divine Transformation cultivators of the Western Continent to see how they would handle the situation.

“Oh, is that so?”

After True Monarch Qingfeng heard this, he looked surprised.

“There might be a misunderstanding involved. They probably cultivated it by mistake, unaware that it was a demonic art.”

Little Thunder Immortal, however, was still defending them.

“In that case, if these two swear that they were unaware they were cultivating demonic arts, I will believe your words.” Chen Mobai was not one to be unreasonable after gaining the upper hand. If they truly cultivated it by mistake, he would still, like the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect, give them an opportunity to prove their innocence.

Hearing his words, True Monarch Qingfeng nodded, indicating there was no problem.

Little Thunder Immortal, however, frowned deeply. But under these circumstances, he understood that unless he could defeat the Eastern Wilderness Azure Emperor right in front of him today, as long as the other party pressed the issue of demonic cultivation, they would stand on the side of righteousness.

Seeing Little Thunder Immortal remain silent for an extended period, Chen Mobai thought he was refusing and couldn't help but prepare himself, bracing for a battle.

“You heard Fellow Daoist Chen's words, right? Take the oath yourselves, or don't blame me for personally taking action to uphold the integrity of the righteous path in the Western Continent.” But at this moment, True Monarch Qingfeng spoke. He directly bypassed Little Thunder Immortal and addressed the four, including Chi Lei, speaking coldly.

In front of Chen Mobai, True Monarch Qingfeng was refined and courteous, a true gentleman, but on the Western Continent, he had been the most powerful and authoritative figure for centuries. Seeing that Chen Mobai had given such an opening, True Monarch Qingfeng naturally wanted to immediately resolve the potential disaster that could spark a clash between the two great cultivation worlds of the Eastern and Western Continents. In his eyes, the lives and deaths of these four Nascent Soul cultivators were insignificant.

“Yes, True Monarch!” The other two Nascent Soul cultivators of the Four Jackals of the Western Continent immediately followed True Monarch Qingfeng's words and swore an oath, affirming that they had not cultivated demonic arts. Although they were rogue cultivators, their ability to cultivate all the way to the Nascent Soul realm indicated a certain amount of good fortune. They were even ancestors of two Western Continent sects, and their cultivation methods were quite good, so they truly had not been tainted by demonic arts.

After these two, everyone's gaze turned to Chi Lei and Sun Qingxue. But their expressions were hesitant, especially Sun Qingxue, whose eyes were filled with misery. She had originally fled the Pure Temple because her cultivation of demonic arts had been exposed. It was only because she had a paramour at the Pure Temple who covered for her that she wasn't pursued by this sacred ground. Even True Monarch Qingfeng was unaware that his own sect had such a disciple. And today, under the watchful eyes of the three Divine Transformation cultivators present, Sun Qingxue knew she couldn't escape. But she still held onto a sliver of hope and looked at Chi Lei. The two of them had cultivated demonic arts together, and judging by Little Thunder Immortal's demeanor, he clearly intended to shield Chi Lei. What if...

Just as Sun Qingxue was contemplating her slim hope of survival, True Monarch Qingfeng frowned and said coldly, “I'll count to three breaths. Swear immediately, or I will consider that you have cultivated demonic arts and send you into the cycle of reincarnation.” Hearing his words, Sun Qingxue's face turned pale. She tremblingly raised her hand, faltering as she was about to swear, when suddenly a thunderous bolt of lightning descended from the sky, reducing her to ashes.

It was Little Thunder Immortal who made the move. After killing Sun Qingxue, he frowned and glanced at Chi Lei, then sighed and reached out his hand towards his disciple. Chi Lei saw this scene, opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but the lightning had already engulfed him. After the lightning, Chi Lei vanished from his spot, reduced to nothingness.

“Since these two dared not swear, they clearly have guilty consciences. When faced with cultivators who practice demonic arts, our Heavenly Thunder Zen Temple would rather kill an innocent person than let a guilty one escape.” Little Thunder Immortal spoke with a righteous and stern expression after killing the two.

True Monarch Qingfeng, standing nearby, applauded, praising him for eliminating his own for the sake of justice. Chen Mobai, however, had a slightly strange expression, feeling that Little Thunder Immortal was treating him like a fool.

Chi Lei was not dead. When Little Thunder Immortal made his move, he used lightning techniques to activate the true qi within Chi Lei's body, executing a lightning escape art capable of covering a thousand li in an instant. He sent Chi Lei along the descending lightning bolt into the Heavenly Gang, and after leaving Chen Mobai's sight, Chi Lei fled northward. If it were any other Divine Transformation cultivator, their attention might have been drawn by the vast momentum of Little Thunder Immortal's lightning, and they might have truly been deceived. But Chen Mobai's Haotian Mirror, Echo of the Empty Valley, Void Sense, Spirit Eye Technique, and other abilities all detected it. Little Thunder Immortal's actions were like those of a clumsy magician performing before Chen Mobai.

“Fellow Daoist, while your sleight of hand is decent, it's a bit too crude.” Chen Mobai calmly stated, then the Haotian Mirror appeared in his hand and shone towards the northern sky. Soon, the mirror's surface revealed Chi Lei's figure, enveloped by lightning and constantly shifting.

Seeing this scene, True Monarch Qingfeng's expression clouded over. He snorted coldly and looked at Little Thunder Immortal beside him. Because he had truly been deceived. And after Chen Mobai exposed the deception, True Monarch Qingfeng felt greatly humiliated.

“Fellow Daoist Chen, it was my fault to pursue your sect's disciple earlier. I am willing to apologize. Chi Lei is my chosen successor, and he has picked up some undesirable habits during his travels. After I bring him back to the sect, I will certainly discipline him rigorously. I hope you, a magnanimous person, will overlook this minor transgression.” Seeing his ploy exposed, Little Thunder Immortal shamelessly spoke, clearly intent on protecting Chi Lei.

“I am not unreasonable. Bring him here, have him apologize to Xuan Shui, then abolish his demonic cultivation, and furthermore, make him swear never to again be involved with the demonic path. For the sake of our shared righteous path, this matter can be laid to rest.” Chen Mobai spoke these words.

Upon hearing this, Little Thunder Immortal hesitated, because he didn't even know what demonic cultivation technique Chi Lei had truly practiced. After all, the Western Continent did not possess a power like the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect, so while there was opposition between the righteous and demonic paths, it had not reached the point of utter incompatibility. Chi Lei and Sun Qingxue had been involved for so long that Little Thunder Immortal feared Chi Lei might have already integrated the demonic cultivation into his spiritual foundation. If that were to be abolished, he might be completely ruined. If it were other disciples, Little Thunder Immortal probably wouldn't have been so invested. However, Chi Lei was not only his disciple but also his bloodline descendant. Therefore, Little Thunder Immortal's emotions got the better of him. After hearing Chen Mobai's words, he said nothing, his entire body glowing with lightning, transforming into a bolt of lightning and vanished from his spot.

Chen Mobai was slightly startled to see Little Thunder Immortal flee outright. He then chuckled softly and waved his sleeve. Instantly, nine crimson flame dragons soared forth from his Pure Yang Immortal Robe, streaking like nine long rainbows, rushing rapidly towards the lightning bolt that Little Thunder Immortal had transformed into. At the same time, the Haotian Mirror radiated light, and in just an instant, it locked onto Little Thunder Immortal, who was in flight, and froze the void around him. The Heavenly Thunder Escape, reputed to be the fastest in the Western Continent, was effortlessly countered by the sixth-tier Haotian Mirror. Subsequently, the nine flame dragons caught up and slammed into the immobilized Little Thunder Immortal.

At the critical moment between life and death, a jade pendant on Little Thunder Immortal's chest erupted with dazzling golden-yellow lightning, colliding with the nine fire dragons from the Pure Yang Immortal Robe, emitting a violent roar. However, no matter how powerful the force, it could not enable Little Thunder Immortal to break free from the Haotian Mirror's immobilizing power.

“A Tier 6 Dharma artifact!” True Monarch Qingfeng, seeing this scene, couldn't help but show a look of shock. He opened the folding fan in his hand, covering half his face. It should be noted that among the sacred sites of the Western Continent, only their Pure Temple possessed two inherited sixth-tier Dharma artifacts. One was the naturally formed Six Roots of Purity Bamboo, and the other was the Free Wandering Heaven Fan in his hand, also crafted primarily from the Six Roots of Purity Bamboo. It was originally fifth-tier, and generations of Divine Transformation cultivators from their lineage had spent millennia nurturing it, barely managing to elevate it to the sixth tier. Yet the Eastern Wilderness Azure Emperor's records at the Impermanence Hall clearly indicated only two sixth-tier Dharma artifacts—a bell and a sword. How could he suddenly have an additional mirror now? Furthermore, it seemed he wielded this mirror with perfect ease, almost as if it were a Natal Dharma artifact. If that were the case, the Eastern Wilderness Azure Emperor might already be a sixth-tier artifact refiner!

Upon realizing this, True Monarch Qingfeng became even more shocked. If this were truly the case, then perhaps the entire Divine Transformation True Monarch community across the Five Continents and Four Seas would flock to the Eastern Continent in the future, seeking his assistance in refining Dharma artifacts. Thinking of this, True Monarch Qingfeng even felt an impulse to act: to help Chen Mobai deal with Little Thunder Immortal, thereby earning his gratitude! However, it was evidently clear that Chen Mobai, possessing a sixth-tier Dharma artifact, had no need for True Monarch Qingfeng's assistance.

After a shattering sound, the jade pendant on Little Thunder Immortal's chest suddenly cracked open from the middle. He then spat a mouthful of essence blood into the crack of the jade pendant, after which an earth-shattering golden lightning exploded, actually managing to tear open a gap in the Haotian Mirror's light. True Monarch Qingfeng, witnessing this scene, couldn't help but feel a wave of regret. Little Thunder Immortal's jade pendant was the Heavenly Thunder Zen Temple's ultimate treasure. Not only did it record all the cultivation methods of their lineage, but it also contained a strand of sixth-tier lightning condensed by a previous Divine Transformation expert from the Nine-Layered Heavenly Tribulation. This was their lineage's ultimate ace in the hole. He hadn't expected it would be so easily forced into use today.

However, True Monarch Qingfeng soon realized this was his opportunity. He immediately waved the Free Wandering Heaven Fan in his hand, intending to help Chen Mobai block the golden lightning: “Fellow Daoist Chen, do not be alarmed. Since this person harbored a demonic cultivator, he is a criminal of our Western Continent. I shall suppress him!” As True Monarch Qingfeng spoke, a dark hurricane swirled out from the treasured fan in his palm. This was also a wind tribulation condensed by a past Divine Transformation elder of the Pure Temple from the Nine-Layered Heavenly Tribulation. However, unlike Little Thunder Immortal who needed essence blood to activate it, he only needed to expend true qi and Dao energy because he possessed a sixth-tier Dharma artifact.

But True Monarch Qingfeng's move caused Chen Mobai to misunderstand: This old fellow, being a Divine Transformation cultivator from the Western Continent just like Little Thunder Immortal, must be in collusion with him. They want to attack me together, sandwiching me! At this thought, Chen Mobai's eyes lit up. He had originally thought that he wouldn't have to fight these two Divine Transformation cultivators on this trip to the Western Continent, but he didn't expect that True Monarch Qingfeng and Little Thunder Immortal would both cast aside all shame for the sake of two demonic cultivators. He estimated that Chi Lei and Sun Qingxue were likely covert operatives intentionally released by these two great sacred lands. After Chen Mobai believed he had grasped the truth, he ceased holding back.

He activated these two Dharma artifacts. With a phoenix cry, the mirror surface turned skyward. The fire spiritual energy within a ten-thousand-li radius was instantly swept up as if by a gale, surging into the Haotian Mirror, transforming into endless energy and manifesting a golden phoenix. As this golden phoenix just appeared between heaven and earth, the wind and lightning tribulations surging towards Chen Mobai from both sides were blocked mid-air by the flapping of its broad, multicolored wings, unable to advance. The power of Nirvana transcends all worldly calamities, making it immune to disruption or erosion. With the Haotian Mirror, Chen Mobai would have an additional thirty to forty percent chance of success when undergoing the Nine-Layered Heavenly Tribulation in the future. If the tier of this Dharma artifact were continuously raised, reaching the peak sixth-tier like the Heavenly Phoenix Mirror of Daoist Dan Ding from ancient times, it would probably allow him to navigate the Nine-Layered Heavenly Tribulation with ease.

Although True Monarch Qingfeng's wind tribulation and Little Thunder Immortal's lightning tribulation were also powers from the Nine-Layered Heavenly Tribulation, their cultivation levels were only at the Divine Transformation stage. Therefore, Chen Mobai reversed the Haotian Mirror, and as the golden phoenix spread its wings, it effortlessly dissolved these two immensely destructive tribulation powers. Immediately after, Chen Mobai thought that since they had already attacked him, there was no longer any need to hold back.

The Primordial Yang Sword, long poised for action, emitted dazzling golden radiance. Empowered by the pure yang immortal light refined by the Haotian Mirror, it successively unleashed two sword qi strikes that descended upon True Monarch Qingfeng and Little Thunder Immortal. Facing the sword qi, Little Thunder Immortal activated all his techniques, but they were all shattered. Subsequently, his body, renowned as the strongest tempered body in the Western Continent, was pierced through front and back by a single sword mark, as if it were made of paper.

“Fellow Daoist Chen, why did you attack me?” Seeing that Chen Mobai had actually drawn his sword against him as well, True Monarch Qingfeng couldn't help but frown, feeling that Chen Mobai was somewhat unappreciative of his good intentions, as he had clearly been trying to help him. Chen Mobai, however, couldn't be bothered to argue with True Monarch Qingfeng. They had just made a move against him, and with such irrefutable evidence, he certainly had to return the favor with a sword strike.

Seeing this, True Monarch Qingfeng also snorted coldly, feeling that it was necessary to uphold his standing as the Western Continent's most powerful figure. He activated the Free Wandering Heaven Fan in his hand again, but facing the sixth-tier sword qi, the power of the wind tribulation was surprisingly unable to withstand it and was sliced apart. Witnessing this, True Monarch Qingfeng's expression shifted. He finally understood why Little Thunder Immortal hadn't resisted: the disparity in power was too vast for him to fight back. To save his life, he had no choice but to pull out a bamboo staff resembling green jade from his storage pouch and swung it towards the sword qi. As the green bamboo moved, it emitted strange melodies, causing the Primordial Yang Sword Qi, which had just cut through the wind tribulation, to suddenly disintegrate.

Chen Mobai looked surprised. He recognized the green bamboo in True Monarch Qingfeng's hand as the Six Roots of Purity Bamboo. He hadn't expected it to also be refined into a Dharma artifact, seemingly imbued with the power of the Dao of Sound. Combined with the Free Wandering Heaven Fan's wind tribulation, it actually managed to block his sixth-tier sword qi. Worthy of being one of the Four True Ones, to be able to withstand one of his sword strikes.

“Fellow Daoist Chen, you've misunderstood! I truly wanted to help you!” Seeing that the Primordial Yang Sword above Chen Mobai's head was about to unleash its second strike, True Monarch Qingfeng disregarded his dignity as the Western Continent's foremost expert and hurriedly explained himself.