Chapter 331: Double Hands Joined, Yellow River Flows Backwards

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Fenghuo Xizhuhou

(Chapter One)

The foul creature stepped over the river and rushed directly towards Xu Fengnian. It presented its “Joyful Aspect” face, a beautiful countenance that seemed like a woman’s delight, yet beneath the skin, it exuded a deathly, bone-chilling aura, utterly devoid of any joy. Especially unsettling was that this three-hundred-year-old grotesque possessed four arms, and as it soared over the great river, its four limbs—no, six limbs—swayed erratically. Moreover, it wore a trailing, wide-sleeved vermilion robe, making it appear even more bizarre and terrifying.

Xu Fengnian knew his predicament. He had just meticulously acted with Helian Wuwei, using a calculated plan against an unsuspecting target, and finally managed to deceive Zhong Shentong, that old fox. If he were forced to reveal his true abilities by this inexplicable shadowy creature and engage in a major fight, not only would Zhong Shentong become suspicious, but even a fool would. Furthermore, Xu Fengnian was currently unarmed, possessing neither the Spring Autumn Sword nor the Spring Thunder Blade. Although the creature had been defeated by Li Dangxin’s three seals from the Great Vajra realm, Xu Fengnian had no such power. He cursed inwardly, looking around, hoping for a hero or a heroine to come to his aid. Unfortunately, he didn't see Luoyang, the great demon in white who was also present, nor did he see any sign of Zhong Shentong making a move. Instead, he noticed Zhong Tan, that scoundrel, looking on with schadenfreude, clearly relishing the situation. When their gazes met for a moment, Zhong Tan didn't even bother to hide his intentions, evidently convinced that Xu Fengnian would be swallowed whole by the creature, and disdained to conceal his schemes from a dying man. Ultimately, it was the kind-hearted Old Commander who stepped forward, blocking Xu Fengnian, likely hoping to gamble that Zhong Shentong, for the sake of his tomb-robbing plan, would intercept the creature. However, Zhong Shentong remained unmoving with exceptional composure, eyes narrowed and silent, merely watching from the sidelines.

Facing this sudden disaster, Xu Fengnian sighed inwardly. He couldn't bring himself to let the Old Commander, who was of mediocre martial skill, suffer for him. He took a step forward, passing Helian Wuwei. Five or six tenths of his restrained inner energy surged outwards, causing a thunderous rumble. The creature, nurtured by Princess Tomb, was now close at hand. Its vivid, blood-red robe twirled, and its "Joyful Aspect" transformed into the "Ksitigarbha's Compassionate Aspect". Its four hands descended like a cage, enveloping Xu Fengnian's head. Xu Fengnian twisted his feet, executing a "Fuyao Style" empty-handed technique. The green-robed Xu Fengnian enveloped himself in the river water, like a green dragon drawing water. In their initial close combat, two of the red-robed creature's arms were repelled by the "Fuyao" move, but two still hooked his shoulders. Fortunately, they didn't penetrate deep enough to reach bone. Xu Fengnian, who dared not exert his full strength to resist, was instantly pulled up by the creature and thrown backward towards the turbulent surface of the Yellow River.

The creature’s archaic "Joyful Aspect" watched as Xu Fengnian knelt, squatting on the river surface, striking the water with a palm, and darting towards the opposite bank. The creature pursued him directly, its speed far surpassing Xu Fengnian's retreat. Only a short distance from the river surface, the creature's dazzling red robe emitted a few almost inaudible "poof-poof" sounds, yet its four hands remained stuck to Xu Fengnian's head and hands. As it was about to exert force and tear him apart, Xu Fengnian looked at the "Joyful" face just a few feet away, his whole body's energy sinking, pulling the creature down into the murky river water. The moment they entered the river, besides the Twin Gilded Morning Dew Swords he had just used (he no longer cared if he left clues), the other ten flying swords simultaneously flew out from his sleeves. Not only that, the Great Huangting's "Mirage Body Shield" activated. Furthermore, he mimicked Luoyang's "Thousand Swords from Water" technique from the Dunhuang city gate, drawing water to form swords, their *qi* rolling like dragon scales, surging towards the utterly repulsive creature. In addition, he used the "Immortal's Touch" combined with a "Hu Jia Rhythm," wildly striking the creature without restraint. Fortunately, this was in a hidden spot near the riverbed. On land, such a crude technique, resembling a hooligan fighting a shrew, would be utterly disgraceful. Though it lacked finesse, its power was considerable. The creature clearly took several "Immortal's Touches" capable of shattering monuments. The man and the monster completely disappeared into the riverbed. Several jagged reefs were either broken or shattered by their impact, like Gonggong crashing into a mountain.

Perhaps it was Xu Fengnian's endless array of techniques, or perhaps the monster's mind wasn't particularly agile, but for a moment, Xu Fengnian gained the upper hand. Aside from not breaking free, Xu Fengnian wasn't seriously injured. The river water was murky, so Xu Fengnian couldn't distinguish whether it was the "Joyful Aspect" or the "Compassionate Aspect." Supported by his Great Huangting cultivation and Great Vajra physique, his *qi* flowed continuously, each surge building upon the last, ascending like Mount Kunlun, circulating without end. This exchange of blows was incredibly exhilarating.

On the bank, everyone's expressions varied, but they all instinctively ran downstream along the riverside. Helian Wuwei's face was ashen. He first glared at Zhong Shentong, and seeing the latter's indifferent expression, he saved his breath. His mind raced, wondering how to rescue Xu Fengnian. Setting aside the young man's sensitive identity, just the spiritual bond of their recent friendship, spanning their age difference, made Helian Wuwei unwilling to see him die inexplicably in the Yellow River. Even if he took a step back and considered the worst, if Xu Fengnian were to die before his eyes, what if Xu Quede were to go mad, truly believing the Northern Liang cavalry wouldn't dare to march all the way to Xihezhou? Although generals gain military merits on horseback and must be prepared to die on horseback, Helian Wuwei wasn't afraid of war, nor was he afraid of widespread devastation. However, the old man merely hoped to one day confront Gu Jiantang on the battlefield and didn't wish to become an enemy of the Butcher, who had once saved his life. In the distance, a dozen sharp riders, the Commander's personal guards, were patrolling and on standby. When the creature suddenly attacked, they galloped towards Helian Wuwei. The old man gravely issued orders: go to Jiejian Platform and mobilize a thousand elite Control Azure Army soldiers to provide support. Helian Wuwei was originally a guest official of Princess Tomb, aligned with the "Grand Idea" faction. He wasn't afraid of falling out with the "Minor Idea" faction. How dare they commit violence before him? Did they truly think the Control Azure Army was just for show?

The outsider Zhong Tan was particularly relaxed, adopting a detached attitude and enjoying the spectacle. Even while running, he was in the mood to flirt with his maidservant: "So this guy truly hides his capabilities! He looks like a frail, pale-faced scholar, yet he can actually withstand the creature's attack head-on. If it were me, it wouldn't be much easier. Just so you know, you can't fall in love with him at first sight."

The maid, Liu Daogu, who had an exquisite perfumed pouch embroidered with a half-masked woman hanging from her waist, subconsciously touched the small pouch and replied somewhat helplessly, "Young Master, you jest."

Lu Gui remained perfectly still. Minister Lu was a true scholar, simply choosing not to join the commotion and keeping himself away from the center of conflict. Zhong Shentong was not someone to offend, and neither was Helian Wuwei. One was a Great General, the other a Commander—both were first-rate dignitaries of Northern Mang, top figures whose influence even the Empress had to weigh carefully. If Lu Gui couldn't afford to offend them, he could at least afford to avoid them. When Lu Chen tried to follow the group, he was quietly told to stop. Lu Chen stood with his back to his father, his shoulders trembling, gazing intently at the unruly river surface, where splashes occasionally rose several meters high. "Did you, who were so stingy that you never even told me your true name, die like this?" The eighteen puppet figures in colorful robes, like marionettes, rose again. They ascended into the air from all directions, their long sleeves fluttering ethereally, a beautiful yet chilling sight, before plunging back into the river.

Under the water, Xu Fengnian was busy. He either used the "Kai Shu Style" to part the river or formed "Green Silk" with his twelve flying swords. In short, he used every method to prevent the creature from getting close, unleashing all his hidden techniques. After all, underwater, where no one could see the true situation, he could make the best of a bad situation. The creature's lethal methods hadn't yet been revealed, but after taking dozens of piercing strikes from the flying swords, it showed no signs of weakening, demonstrating its formidable power. Its dense, crimson robe continuously circled within several meters of Xu Fengnian, its malevolent presence lingering like a persistent bone infection. This favorable situation didn't last long. When the eighteen colorful figures plunged into the water, striking like thunder, Xu Fengnian began to struggle. These colorful robed women were insentient, lifeless beings, impervious to pain and lacking any fatal weaknesses. Each long sleeve functioned as a long sword. He was hit in the chest in one instance, and a submerged reef was completely shattered by his back as he was thrown against it. This hunt reminded Xu Fengnian of the perilous battle against Tuoba Pusa on the grasslands. He, too, became grim and filled with ferocity, steeling himself to take a hit from a sleeve. With his right hand, he seized the sleeve and pulled it forward. With his left hand, he delivered an "Immortal's Touch," utterly smashing the colorful figure from head to toe. The now masterless, colorful figure, deprived of its support, floated to the surface. This vibrant splash of color on the river was fleeting, quickly disappearing into the flowing eastern waters.

The creature had excellent patience. Its four hands were indeed not for show. It guided the remaining colorful figures into the water, resurfacing if an attack missed, constantly seeking opportunities, wearing Xu Fengnian down. Suddenly, the pressure drastically lessened. At the same time, the aura of both the red robe and the colorful figures disappeared. Even while moving through the riverbed, Xu Fengnian's ears registered an exceptionally strong, membrane-shaking roar. Xu Fengnian cursed inwardly: it was a waterfall!

During his tour of the Yellow River with Helian Wuwei, the old man had mentioned a magnificent viewpoint where the banks were steep with colossal rocks, and the river mouth narrowed like a woman's slender waist. Myriad tons of river water converged into a single torrent, plunging into a horseshoe-shaped gorge, cascading down three thousand feet, enough to enthrall any spectator. The crucial problem was that Xu Fengnian was currently inside it, utterly devoid of any leisure or appreciation. He knew that the next moment could very well be a brutal attack from the vermilion, two-faced creature. He focused his mind and held his breath. As expected, the water plunged into a giant "Pot Mouth." Xu Fengnian was propelled out by the inertia of the enormous water column, suspended motionless in mid-air for a moment. Amidst the rising mist, the river water within the great "Pot Mouth" beneath Xu Fengnian boiled. The creature, hovering slightly lower in the air, its "Joyful Aspect" face now truly bearing a celebratory look, unleashed seventeen colorful figures simultaneously from its sleeves. Xu Fengnian managed to deflect a little over half, but still had more than ten long sleeves wrapped around his head and limbs. If this technique succeeded, it would be a hundred times more brutal than being torn apart by five horses.

Trapped in a deadly situation, Xu Fengnian's body did not fall but rose. The *qi* within him flowed like rivers into the sea, each aperture connecting to the next, each meridian linking to another. His two palms clapped together with a bang, forming the gesture of a monk's prayer hands.

With this clap,

the entire magnificent waterfall paused in its descent.

The Yellow River waters, which for thousands of years had flowed to the sea never to return, on this day, at this very moment, flowed upstream.

The river water developed a rift unseen in a hundred years, revealing the true face of the cliff behind Xu Fengnian, a sight that shook the world.

An entire Nine-Dragon Wall was revealed, with nine ferocious dragons vividly contending for a massive pearl. Despite nearly a millennium of relentless river erosion, the dragon wall showed no sign of blurring. The profundity and intricacy of the original carving were simply inconceivable.

At this critical juncture, the vermilion-robed creature revealed a moment of stunned distraction.

Xu Fengnian, the one who brought this wondrous spectacle back into the world, had no idea how magnificent the scene behind him was. If he dared to be distracted at this moment, he wouldn't survive even with several extra lives to spare. Since the creature had graciously exposed a weakness, he unhesitatingly took advantage of it. His hands clasped together only to gather power. With palms pressed against each other, his hands suddenly pulled apart. Ordinarily, *qi*—whether it be Daoist true *qi* or Confucian grand righteous *qi*—was like abstruse texts, always profound and traditionally only meditator-perceivable, never visible to the naked eye. This was common sense. However, in Xu Fengnian's palm, where a faint purple mark appeared on his brow, the *qi* condensed into a visible form, a streak of purple *qi* clearly discernible to the naked eye.

Purple *qi* coming from the East.

Purple with hints of gold.

A stream of purple and gold *qi*, like a soaring dragon, pierced through the seventeen colorful figures. The creature watched helplessly as the puppets, meticulously crafted by Princess Tomb at immense cost, were destroyed. It stared fixedly at the dazzling purple and gold, then licked the corner of its mouth, as if a gourmand had encountered an earthly delicacy, drooling profusely. The colorful figures successively plummeted into the misty river trough below, spinning once before disappearing without a trace. The utterly profligate vermilion, foul demon opened its mouth wide, its abdomen contracting, taking a rapid inhale. Xu Fengnian had no time to draw back the purple *qi*, which he hadn't even anticipated, into his body. He watched as the purple and gold *qi*, now only a third of its original thickness, was sucked into the creature's mouth. Its eyes became tinged with an eerie purple *qi*, and its "Joyful Aspect" face grew even more grotesque and sinister. Its cheeks bulged as it chewed. The next instant, it lunged at Xu Fengnian, who was at the end of his tether, all four hands striking his chest simultaneously!

Xu Fengnian's Mirage Body Shield immediately shattered, collapsing like a building. Only now did he clearly understand how potent and heavy the creature's methods were. It wasn't stupid, nor was its power insufficient; it was simply too cunning. It knew not only how to feign weakness and gradually exhaust its opponent's essence, *qi*, and spirit, but also how to deliver a fatal blow at the precise time and place.

The force of that single blow didn't disembowel him, but it sent Xu Fengnian floating like a kite with a broken string towards the colossal stone wall behind him, adorned with the Nine Dragons snatching a pearl.

The river water, which had momentarily paused above them, once again cascaded down.

Just as Xu Fengnian was about to exert all his strength for a life-for-life exchange with the demon, his peripheral vision caught a white figure floating towards them. The figure placed a hand on the creature's "Compassionate Aspect" face, pushing it towards the Nine-Dragon Stone Wall. As the white figure brushed past Xu Fengnian, it gently pushed out a palm. Both Xu Fengnian and the vermilion creature soared towards the dragon wall together.

The white-robed figure pressed a palm onto the pearl carved in the likeness of a 'Li Pearl', embedding it several inches into the dragon wall. With a whoosh, a massive section of the mountain wall swiftly rotated, and the three of them were swept inside by the revolving wall.

Outside the wall, the river continued to flow ceaselessly.

Inside the wall, lay another world entirely.

I like this novel. Recommended.

Bookmark for now.

Will look for a completed version to read the full story.