Chapter 911: Stop at the Painting, Return to the Ink

The moment Zhu Yan saw Xiezhi, everything became clear to him.

Zhu Yan knew his assessment of Ji Yuan was correct; Ji Yuan was indeed an immortal of this era, and undoubtedly the most brilliant and extraordinary among them.

The reason Ji Yuan could grasp Zhu Yan's ley lines, the reason he could paint that illusory sky and moon, and the reason he was so confident in confronting Zhu Yan—it was all because of Xiezhi.

Whether Ji Yuan was being used by Xiezhi or cooperating with Xiezhi for mutual benefit, Xiezhi's presence meant Ji Yuan naturally had more knowledge. Although Xiezhi's understanding might not be as clear as Zhu Yan's, nor did it possess the qualifications of a true strategist, as an ancient divine beast, it would be easy for it to collaborate with Ji Yuan.

This was simply a matter of who came first; Xiezhi had met Ji Yuan earlier and could thus better influence his decisions!

In the split second Xiezhi pounced, countless thoughts raced through Zhu Yan's mind, and he let out a furious roar the next instant.

"Ji Yuan—I am more worthy of you than Xiezhi..."

"Roar—Zhu Yan, you talk too much! Prepare to die!"

Xiezhi opened its enormous maw, its terrifying fangs lunging towards Zhu Yan. Even in moments of utter despair, Zhu Yan had never feared Ji Yuan. This was due to his inherent character—a condescending, superior attitude, like an elder addressing a junior.

However, facing Xiezhi, Zhu Yan, acutely aware of his weakened state, felt a pang of panic. How could his current physique withstand Xiezhi's tearing bite? Instinctively, he channeled demonic energy into his arms and struck directly at Xiezhi.

"Boom..."

The punch shook the heavens, yet it seemed to pass through a cloud of mist. The charging Xiezhi appeared to shatter into a mass of ink, but its momentum was not diminished, and it enveloped Zhu Yan.

"Swoosh..."

Zhu Yan's entire body was enveloped by the ink-like demonic energy. Xiezhi appeared to transform into both gas and liquid, flowing over Zhu Yan's demonic form. Suddenly, a beast's head emerged from behind Zhu Yan and bit fiercely into his nape.

"Thump..."

"Roar—"

Though Zhu Yan appeared terrifying at this moment, having been trapped and assaulted within the sword formation for so prolonged a period, he was already at his limits, like a person whose energy is completely depleted sinking into a muddy swamp.

"Ji Yuan, Ji Yuan! Xiezhi is nothing but a mediocre being, a failure from ancient times! Cooperate with me, and you can gain far greater benefits! Ji Yuan, quickly help me drive Xiezhi away—"

Zhu Yan swung his fist backward, striking his own nape, shattering Xiezhi's beast-like head. Yet, it merely re-merged with the ink and then reformed a head under his armpit.

"Hahahahaha..."

Xiezhi's laughter sounded terrifying to Zhu Yan.

"Zhu Yan, didn't you declare you'd never let Ji Yuan go? Didn't you claim to be irreconcilable with him? And now you're begging? Didn't you always believe the weak don't deserve to live and the strong rely on themselves? How is your begging any different from a cowering dog wagging its tail? Hahahahaha..."

"Xiezhi, you despicable creature, would you even have this opportunity if not for Ji Yuan?"

"Thud... thud... thud-thud-thud..."

Zhu Yan frantically struck at Xiezhi all over his body and attempted to re-condense his demonic energy. However, his wounds were too severe, and the ceaseless agitation from the sword intent and qi, coupled with intense pain and overwhelming weakness, meant his demonic energy, though vast in scale, lacked any spirit and was instead completely devoured by Xiezhi.

"Hahahahaha... As Ji Yuan would say, you are now just raging impotently! I'm not like you; I succeeded precisely because I leveraged Ji Yuan's help. What can you do to me now? Hahahahaha..."

Ji Yuan merely maintained the sword formation from afar, watching quietly.

Xiezhi's own condition was certainly not excellent, in fact, it was still far inferior to Zhu Yan's current state. However, by leveraging its rested state against an exhausted opponent, it seized Zhu Yan's critical weakness and slowly devoured him.

For Zhu Yan, this was a protracted, agonizing, and fear-filled process. The death of this avatar alone might not be so terrifying, but its demise signified far graver consequences: Zhu Yan would be unable to seize the initiative, and for a considerable time, he would lack the spiritual and vital energy to separate his true spirit and escape the desolate realm.

As a strategist, to meet such a fate meant his interests could be seized by other strategists. He might also miss his chance to secure an opportune position amidst the great shifts in the world, possibly culminating in his complete destruction.

Xiezhi, before him, was merely a minor terror; the true horror lay in the unsettling, unknown future.

Roaring, shrieking, hysterical fury, all mixed with intense resentment...

Zhu Yan's power was insufficient to instantly overwhelm Xiezhi. His vital energy was slowly consumed, and he was gradually dragged into the "earth" formed by the painting.

The sky was no longer a pitch-black night, but appeared somewhat pallid, while the earth returned to an inky black. Between heaven and earth, with the sky white and the ground black, it resembled the duality of Yin and Yang.

After waiting for a long time, Ji Yuan gently closed his eyes, exhaled slowly, then beckoned with his hand. The sword intent and qi from the four corners of the firmament receded like a tide.

"Clang—"

The scabbard of the Azure Vine Sword appeared first, followed by the long sword, which then sheathed itself before Ji Yuan.

The "Sword Intent Scroll," still radiating boundless sword intent and qi, also flew back to Ji Yuan.

The sword formation consumed an astonishing amount of magical energy. Although the formation had now been withdrawn, its boundless sword intent and qi were neither depleted nor entirely dispersed. Instead, they converged into the "Sword Intent Scroll" and the scabbard of the Azure Vine Sword.

"Whew... It's over..."

He whispered, looking at the pitch-black earth. He could still sense it being churned within, but the volatile power was continuously weakening. Though slow, it was relentless, and most crucially, Zhu Yan could not recover under these conditions.

As Ji Yuan withdrew his magical energy, the sky above was immediately torn apart. The "Moonlit Night Sky Painting," which had hung high, continuously fractured, eventually falling as countless shreds of paper. Ji Yuan then beckoned, and the Xiezhi painting on the ground flew back to him, feeling significantly heavier the moment it settled in his hand.

At this moment, the imperial palace reappeared around the pagoda. Xia Yong's capital remained asleep in the tranquil night, a dark cloud slowly receding from the sky, while the bright moon still hung high.

At that moment, Monk Puhui raised a hand to the sky. Seeing the clouds part and the moon shine brightly, he pressed his palms together and recited a Buddhist invocation.

"Namo Amitabha, Great Bright King Buddha, tonight was always meant to be cloudless!"

From afar, Ji Yuan looked up at the pagoda, took a step, and ascended on the wind. As a gentle breeze swept through a third-story window of the pagoda, Ji Yuan instantly appeared in Monk Moyun's meditation room.

"Namo Amitabha, Great Bright King Buddha. Mr. Ji, has that monstrous fiend been subdued?"

"Yes, it's largely contained now."

Ji Yuan replied, his gaze shifting from the old monk to two women covered by quilts. Though both lay unconscious and prone, their exposed shoulders suggested they were likely naked underneath.

"This old monk, having cultivated until now, has never witnessed such a terrifying demon. No, I hadn't even conceived of one. What exactly is Zhu Yan's origin? Even a Celestial Demon couldn't be much more formidable, could it?"

*'A Celestial Demon? Zhu Yan is likely far more powerful than that,'* Ji Yuan thought. He had no intention of elaborating on matters of ancient times. Instead, he changed the subject, pointing towards the bed and asking,

"Who are these two women?"

Upon hearing Mr. Ji's question, Monk Moyun suddenly recalled the thorny issue at hand and offered a wry smile.

"One is Empress Li, the other Concubine Wang. Ah, this old monk has a terrible headache. Now that the imperial city no longer has only this old monk as its most prominent figure, I humbly request Mr. Ji to return them to their respective chambers..."

Ji Yuan paused, then asked, "Did they see you, Master?"

Monk Moyun replied with a sigh, "They likely did. Although they were disoriented and charmed when the fiend brought them here, they were still conscious. I assume they would recognize me."

Ji Yuan turned to Monk Moyun. "Master, the so-called 'method of forgetting' doesn't erase an ordinary person's memory; it merely buries it deep within their heart. It's still possible for them to recall it."

Memory is deeply intertwined with life and the soul; it should not be separated until one's final return to the cycle of the world. Directly erasing a person's memory is certainly not a path of righteousness, and it is extremely difficult to accomplish. Even making someone forget such a profound memory is an advanced technique. However, given Moyun's frequent contact with people in the palace, it would be easy for these two imperial consorts to recall him.

"This old monk understands! Tomorrow, I will submit my resignation to the Emperor, choose a suitable place for cultivation, and no longer concern myself with court affairs."

Ji Yuan nodded. While Monk Moyun's presence in the Xia Yong court was not a disadvantage for Ji Yuan, it might not be ideal for Monk Moyun himself. Not being deeply entangled in the current worldly conflicts could indeed be beneficial for Monk Moyun's spiritual cultivation.

In any case, the pagoda in the imperial palace could not remain empty. If Saint Monk Moyun were to leave, the Buddhist sect would certainly send other eminent monks, and likely more than one.

"Master, your ability to reach this realization and your magnanimity are truly admirable. I shall return the two consorts on your behalf. Let us part ways tonight."

"This old monk thanks Mr. Ji for saving me, and also for saving Xia Yong."

"It was no trouble at all."

Ji Yuan nodded. With a sweep of his wide sleeve, he drew the two jade-like forms from Monk Moyun's bed into his sleeve, then transformed into a gentle breeze and departed through the window.

Monk Moyun glanced at the slightly disheveled bed, then walked to the window and pressed his palms together.

"Namo Amitabha, Great Bright King Buddha. When great chaos descends upon the world, demonic fiends are sure to emerge. Fortunately, our righteous masters fear no change in the winds and clouds!"

That night, the duel and the sword formation Moyun witnessed far surpassed his understanding of the ways of heaven and earth, instilling in him an even more devout heart for spiritual cultivation.