Translator: CinderTL
Xiao Chan, with Jie Xin in tow, hurried towards Harmony Mountain, intending to inform Fayan of everything that had transpired at Jie Mountain.
Just as they had traveled a thousand miles, they saw Fayan speeding towards them from the distance.
Xiao Chan was puzzled. Why had Fayan stopped attacking Harmony Mountain's Mountain Protection Array?
Could it be that he had already learned of the upheaval at Jie Mountain?
At that moment, Xiao Chan noticed something.
Hundreds of miles behind Fayan, a surge of Corpse Qi was rapidly approaching.
Xiao Chan's expression suddenly changed, his eyes widening in shock.
For within that Corpse Qi, there was a gaunt figure.
The Corpse Demon Sect! Patriarch Gou Jun!
"Why is Gou Jun here? Could it be that what Ku Yan said was true? Is Gou Jun really near Harmony Mountain?"
Xiao Chan's heart was filled with dread, his thoughts in turmoil, but his actions were swift. He immediately let go of Jie Xin and turned to flee.
Jie Xin, seeing Xiao Chan suddenly abandon him, was terrified and quickly summoned his sword to escape.
However, his speed was no match for that of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
In the blink of an eye, he saw Zen Master Fayan flash past him from a distance.
Then, a wave of Corpse Qi swept over him.
In his helplessness and despair, Jie Xin was engulfed by the Corpse Qi.
His consciousness vanished instantly.
When the Corpse Qi receded, there was nothing left. Jie Xin's body had completely disappeared, devoured by the Corpse Qi.
In fact, not only his physical body but also his soul had been consumed, leaving not even a fragment behind.
"Xiao Chan, don't run! With our speed, it's impossible to escape Gou Jun's pursuit. Fleeing blindly will only lead to us being picked off one by one," Fayan shouted loudly.
Perhaps because he had been in a deep slumber for many years and had just undergone Nirvana, his speed was only slightly faster than Xiao Chan's, and the distance between them hadn't closed much.
Meanwhile, Gou Jun behind them was getting closer and closer.
Although Fayan wanted Xiao Chan to join him in facing the enemy, deep down, he didn't hold much hope for it.
Better to let others die than to perish oneself!
To survive, one must flee faster than their companions. This is the thought that crosses most people's minds when faced with danger.
However, to Fayan's surprise, Xiao Chan sent him a message, discussing a strategy to confront the enemy.
"Zen Master Fayan, do you have a plan to face the enemy?"
Fayan's eyes lit up, and he quickly replied via message.
"I have an item called 'Fleeting Splendor.' It is crafted from forty-nine Golden Core relics and various rare fourth-grade spiritual materials, imbued with immense Buddhist power, particularly effective against dark and evil entities."
"Once activated, this treasure can manifest a lotus barrier, covering an area of five hundred miles. Any evil beings within this barrier will be trapped and unable to escape. Fleeting Splendor is a one-time use treasure, and the barrier it creates can last for a hundred breaths, giving us enough time to escape."
"However, activating Fleeting Splendor requires ten breaths of time. During this period, I cannot be disturbed, so you must hold off Gou Jun alone."
Xiao Chan said, "I'm only at the mid-stage Nascent Soul level. How can I hold off Gou Jun for ten breaths?"
Fayan replied, "I have a 'Profound Heaven Defense Talisman' that can block Gou Jun for several breaths. With this talisman, combined with your Buddhist secret techniques and personal treasures, and the inherent suppression of Corpse Qi by Buddhist methods, holding off Gou Jun for ten breaths should not be difficult."
Xiao Chan glanced back at Fayan, inwardly surprised.
The "Instant Splendor" in Fayan's hand, though crafted by Fayan himself, was made using the Golden Core relics of Mixed Yuan Temple monks who had passed away after reaching the Golden Core Stage. Gathering forty-nine such relics would take at least a thousand years.
The Profound Heaven Defense Talisman, on the other hand, was an artifact accidentally obtained by a senior of Mixed Yuan Temple. The temple had no method to craft it, making it a treasure that diminished with each use.
It was rumored that the Profound Heaven Defense Talismans had been exhausted hundreds of years ago. Yet, unexpectedly, Fayan still possessed one.
To strengthen his own survival capabilities, Fayan had seemingly spared no effort in depleting the temple's reserves.
Seeing Xiao Chan look back, Fayan assumed he had agreed to his proposal.
Suddenly, a golden talisman appeared in Fayan's hand, and he made as if to toss it to Xiao Chan ahead.
However, Xiao Chan suddenly transmitted a message.
"Master Fayan, your cultivation surpasses mine, making you more capable of blocking Gou Jun. Keep the Profound Heaven Defense Talisman for yourself. I will activate the Instant Splendor."
Hearing this, Fayan was momentarily stunned, his expression hesitant.
Xiao Chan's move was clearly a precaution against him.
The one using the Profound Heaven Defense Talisman would undoubtedly be in greater danger;
In contrast, the person activating the Instant Splendor would be safer, positioned further back, and could retreat at any moment if the situation turned unfavorable.
Fayan hesitated, as both treasures were from his own hands, and he naturally didn't want to choose the more dangerous Profound Heaven Defense Talisman.
At that moment, Fayan suddenly felt an intense sense of foreboding.
This feeling came from behind, carrying a mountain-like pressure.
Gou Jun was closing in from behind, and Fayan was already within his attack range.
A strand of Corpse Qi from Gou Jun's body split off, resembling a giant serpent, and charged straight at Fayan.
Fearing further delay, Fayan flipped his hand and retrieved a lotus-shaped treasure.
This was the Instant Splendor.
With a forceful throw, Fayan hurled the Instant Splendor toward Xiao Chan.
Simultaneously, he channeled his spiritual energy to activate the Profound Heaven Defense Talisman.
Instantly, a brilliant light erupted as the Profound Heaven Defense Talisman rapidly expanded, transforming into a massive, ten-mile-wide barrier, like an impenetrable wall, standing behind Fayan.
The Corpse Serpent, with its overwhelming force, slammed into the Profound Heaven Defense Talisman.
"Boom..."
A deafening roar echoed.
The Profound Heaven Defense Talisman trembled violently, its surface flooding with intricate runes that resisted the serpent's impact.
The Corpse Serpent shattered upon impact, dispersing into black Corpse Qi mist that lingered in the air.
Gou Jun, seeing this, was not surprised.
That strike had merely been a test; after all, his opponent was a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. Though his cultivation seemed somewhat unstable, he wasn't someone to be easily defeated.
Gou Jun continued to fly toward Fayan, closing the distance between them.
At the same time, his Corpse Qi surged, splitting into over a dozen serpentine forms that coiled and roared, accompanied by piercing whistles, all charging at Fayan.
Fayan dared not let the Corpse Serpents strike the Profound Heaven Defense Talisman unchecked. With a solemn expression, he urgently chanted Buddhist scriptures, and a vast, sacred aura emanated from his body.
This aura infused the Profound Heaven Defense Talisman, causing it to radiate with a brilliant Buddha's light, forming a stark contrast to the surging Corpse Serpents.
The former, glowing with golden light, resembled the Buddha's Light Illuminating All.
The latter, dark and sinister, was like the shadow of an abyss.
"Boom, boom, boom..."
Over a dozen ferocious pythons collided with the Profound Heaven Defense Talisman, each impact resonating with earth-shaking roars.
Moreover, these pythons did not dissipate after a single strike. Instead, they circled in the air before regrouping and continuing their assault on the Profound Heaven Defense Talisman.
In this clash between righteousness and evil, the latter held a slight advantage.
Under the relentless attacks of the pythons, the ten-mile-long Profound Heaven Defense Talisman was gradually engulfed by a sea of black miasma, teetering on the brink of collapse.
Fayan's expression turned anxious as he glanced toward Xiao Chan.
Xiao Chan, holding the lotus-shaped "Instant Splendor," continuously channeled his spiritual energy into it.
One after another, lotus phantoms emerged from the Instant Splendor, rapidly expanding in size.
Initially, the lotus phantoms would only spread to a range of several zhang before gradually fading and disappearing.
As Xiao Chan continued to pour his energy into it, the range of the lotus phantoms expanded further and further.
From several zhang to a hundred zhang, then to several li, and finally reaching a hundred li.
The lotus phantoms kept emerging and then vanishing.
(End of the Chapter)
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