A Pawn's Passage

Bai Yingqiong arrived above the ruins of Zhenwu Temple and immediately spotted Sikong Cuo.

Sikong Cuo also noticed Bai Yingqiong.

The fusion of the Xuan Jade and the Gift required more time, so Sikong Cuo had to remain there.

Bai Yingqiong wasted no words. With a wave of her sleeve, she dispersed the torrential rain. A massive lotus flower emerged and slowly rose into the air, with a slightly illusory version of herself standing atop the white lotus.

Sikong Cuo’s expression grew grave. He mimicked her, releasing a similarly illusory figure, but not in human form. Instead, it transformed into a monstrous beast the size of an ox, with enormous dog-like ears adorned with dangling green snakes. Its dark yellow fur had a cold, eerie sheen to it. Its eyes bore the pattern of a black moon and white sun, while its face retained human features that were unmistakably Sikong Cuo. This was the form of the Shebishi[1].

It was also one of the emblems of the Cult of Fates.

Sikong Cuo did not underestimate Bai Yingqiong, who was the first disciple of Sage Cihang and the Chief Jiangnan Daoist Mansion Master.

Though Bai Yingqiong was nominally the same generation as Zhang Yuelu because they shared the same master, she was actually closer in age to Lei Xiaohuan.

Years in the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion had inevitably made her more cunning and, at times, soft. However, her cultivation level was by no means inferior. If she were merely at the Xiaoyao stage of Heavenly Beings, how could she dare to compete with her much younger junior sister, who was a Xiaoyao-stage Banished Immortal?

Bai Yingqiong was at the Wuliang stage of Heavenly Beings, comparable to Lei Xiaohuan.

However, unlike Lei Xiaohuan, Bai Yingqiong was a Diviner.

The Cihang Sword Sequence was a comprehensive perfected method, encompassing four series: Sword, Heart, Nought, and Self. Among these, the Self Series was the most profound, followed by the Nought, the Heart, and the Sword Series.

The four series were sequential, aimed to build a solid foundation before reaching greater heights. Thus, the Cihang Sword Sequence was categorized under the orthodox methods.

Any of the Five Lineages could study it and derive unique benefits depending on their focus. For example, Qi Refiners emphasized transforming innate qi into a thousand swords, Martial Arts Practitioners aimed to achieve an immaculate true body, Shamans focused on forming the Guanyin Spiritual Statue, and Banished Immortals learned all aspects.

Diviners could learn a variety of spells. The most formidable being the Buddha’s Light of Salvation. This light would make their opponents fall to their knees in immediate repentance, akin to the Buddhist concept of instant enlightenment. This state of remorse could last for decades.

The fundamental principle was to suppress and bind the opponent’s true self with the Buddha’s Light, then create an opposing inner demon, essentially transforming the individual into an entirely different person.

Bai Yingqiong had not mastered Buddha’s Light of Salvation, but she had acquired other mystical abilities involving Buddha’s Light.

The Cihang lineage originated in Buddhism before submitting to the Daoist Order. Thus, they were known for blending Buddhist and Daoist practices. While their swordsmanship leaned toward Daoist techniques, their spells were deeply rooted in Buddhism.

In this regard, the Daoist Order after the Holy Xuan’s revitalization embraced inclusivity and discarded sectarian biases.

For example, the Shaman lineage absorbed the essence of Ancient Wuism, and Qi Refiners adopted the Confucian cultivation of righteous qi.

Bai Yingqiong’s soul left her body and stepped onto a white lotus. With a wave of her sleeve, the clouds lowered, the torrential rain paused briefly, and a beam of golden light pierced through the clouds, illuminating the world with radiant Buddha’s Light.

The Buddha’s Light shone on Sikong Cuo, holding him in place. Within the golden light, dazzling flames shaped like red lotuses bloomed, mesmerizing anyone who saw them.

This was the Red Lotus Karmic Fire, comparable to the True Samadhi Fire. This supreme spell could incinerate all murderous intent, malice, rage, and resentment, using accumulated sins as its fuel.

Compared to someone like Sikong Cuo, whose hands were stained with years of bloodshed, Qi Xuansu’s misdeeds were utterly insignificant, like a drop in the sea.

Sikong Cuo’s overwhelming burden of sins made the Red Lotus Karmic Fire particularly effective against him. On the contrary, this spell would have little impact on ordinary individuals.

Strictly speaking, karmic fire was a part of the Godly Immortal lineage. But since ancient times, Ghostly Immortals and Godly Immortals were usually grouped together, just like how Earthly Immortals and Heavenly Immortals shared many mystical abilities.

What Buddhists called sins, Daoist referred to as malicious energy, killing aura, and resentment, which served as sustenance for the Three Corpses within the body.

If one killed too much without resolving the accumulated killing aura, the Three Corpses would grow excessively powerful. Eventually, the Three Corpses could usurp control of the mind, devour the soul, and take over the body. That was why some succumbed to their inner demons and went astray. Many of such people became erratic and bloodthirsty, behaving like vengeful ghosts.

To outsiders, it seemed like a dramatic personality change, but in essence, their bodies had been possessed by their inner demons.

These individuals often possessed exceptional cultivation, so their Three Corpses grew so powerful that they could possess their minds. The saying that the traitor within was hardest to guard against indeed held true.

The Red Lotus Karmic Fire ignited the Three Corpses. If one could endure it, they would be able to shed their burdens, essentially killing the Three Corpses. This would significantly advance their cultivation.

It was just like how an Earthly Immortal could endure a heavenly tribulation to forge an indestructible Vajra body.

But enduring it was easier said than done.

Throughout history, few Earthly Immortals dared to attempt going through a heavenly tribulation. Most, including the Daoist Grand Masters, chose to ascend immediately upon completing their 100-year cycle. The only exception was the Holy Xuan.

Enduring the Red Lotus Karmic Fire was equally excruciating, a nearly impossible feat. After all, the Three Corpses were an integral part of oneself. Igniting them was akin to self-immolation.

Heavenly fire burned objects; yin fire burned qi; and karmic fire burned the soul.

An individual burned by karmic fire might only be left with an empty shell.

Bai Yingqiong’s methods were undoubtedly ruthless.

Sikong Cuo, who was also a Wuliang-stage Diviner, had reached the Object Creation Realm. Although he was not yet capable of manifesting entire worlds with one Thought, he could already create temporary Small Worlds.

The Daoist Order referred to this as Prison Ground Marking, akin to the Sleeve Universe of Qi Refiners or the Grand Illusion Realm of Banished Immortals. Though different in execution, the latter two required reaching the Zaohua stage of Heavenly Beings to master.

Earlier, when Sikong Cuo trapped Pei Xiaolou, he had used the Prison Ground Marking Technique.

Furthermore, the mystical abilities of a Diviner in the Object Creation Realm were not limited to Prison Ground Marking. Techniques like Bean Soldiers, which could turn scattered beans into soldiers, and Golden Touch, which could turn stone into gold, were undoubtedly perceived as divine powers by ordinary civilians.

Bai Yingqiong and Sikong Cuo were both Diviners with the same cultivation level. Thus, she did not defeat Sikong Cuo in a single strike.

His Shebishi fur bristled as he exhaled large masses of foul qi that were dark yellow in color and densely compacted. This foul qi resisted the Red Lotus Karmic Fire, causing the fire to crackle upon contact. Countless fiery lotuses bloomed but failed to harm Sikong Cuo, who was protected by the foul qi.

Taking advantage of the moment, Sikong Cuo used the Cicada Molting Technique, slipping out of the Buddha’s Light and lunging at Bai Yingqiong.

Both were soul-traveling at the moment, so they were freed from the constraints of the physical body, making spellcasting easier.

As such, they could skip the complex steps of drawing talismans or chanting incantations. A single Thought was enough to activate their magical powers.

However, the downside was the lack of physical protection, leaving them extremely vulnerable. One misstep could lead to the complete destruction of their soul. If Sikong Cuo managed to bite Bai Yingqiong, her soul would suffer severe damage.

Suddenly, an illusory longsword, formed entirely of her magical power, materialized in Bai Yingqiong’s hand.

Bai Yingqiong stepped forward to meet Sikong Cuo’s attack, her sword techniques indistinguishable from Zhang Yuelu’s.

Though Bai Yingqiong was a Diviner and Zhang Yuelu was a Banished Immortal, it did not mean Bai Yingqiong lacked swordsmanship. In her youth, she had diligently practiced sword techniques. This was merely an alternative application of her knowledge.

In the blink of an eye, the two Heavenly Beings had exchanged over ten moves.

The brilliance of the Cihang Sword Sequence was evident. Bai Yingqiong remained unscathed while inflicting two wounds on Sikong Cuo. Instead of blood, sparks scattered like fireflies and vanished into the wind.

Sikong Cuo let out a roar. He created nine clones, each with a human face and beastly body. His mouth held radiant, illusory blades, which left trails of light as they shot toward Bai Yingqiong from all directions.

Bai Yingqiong responded by conjuring hundreds of arms, each holding a longsword that fanned out like a peacock’s tail. She then spun like a whirlwind, creating an airtight defense.

One after another, Sikong Cuo’s clones disintegrated upon impact with the sword, bursting into clouds of foul qi. However, Bai Yingqiong was also affected by this foul qi, as her aura began to dim.

Bai Yingqiong managed to slay another clone before the white lotus beneath her feet flickered and carried her away from the battlefield.

She dismissed the additional arms and swords, then summoned a massive pillar of Buddha’s Light that was more than 300 meters wide, which descended from the sky.

As a Diviner, swordsmanship was not her forte. After years of a comfortable lifestyle in the prosperous Jiangnan, she had rarely engaged in close combat, leaving her somewhat out of practice. Long-range spells still suited her better.

The Buddha’s Light engulfed Sikong Cuo again. It rapidly contracted, shrinking from 300 meters wide to less than 30 meters wide. From a distance, it looked like a massive pillar of light was reduced to a slender beam.

Sikong Cuo was trapped within this beam of light.

Bai Yingqiong prepared to unleash the Red Lotus Karmic Fire again, aiming to incinerate Sikong Cuo’s Three Corpses completely.

After all, this was not for showmanship. She would use the same techniques as long as they worked. She wanted to see how much foul qi Sikong Cuo could muster in resistance.

The Red Lotus Karmic Fire functioned as the firestarter, while Sikong Cuo’s Three Corpses were the stockpile of gunpowder. Thus, this spark only consumed a little of Bai Yingqiong’s energy. On the other hand, Sikong Cuo’s foul qi required substantial consumption of his magical power, making it difficult for him to sustain over a prolonged battle.

At that moment, a thunderclap boomed as lightning shot through the dark sky, illuminating heaven and earth.

At some point, the clouds above had turned a purplish-red, crackling with lightning and fire.

The rain, which had paused momentarily due to Bai Yingqiong’s intervention, resumed as a misty drizzle. Unlike the usual white mist from the rain, the mist generated was pitch black, rising and spreading upon hitting the ground.

It was exactly as Sikong Cuo had chanted earlier. “When the Lord descends to the mortal world, thunder reverberates through the heavens, and black mist envelops the earth.”

Sikong Cuo made no attempt to resist the Red Lotus Karmic Fire. Instead, he laughed loudly. “The Lord has descended, Sage Bai. All is in vain even if you defeat me now.”

Bai Yingqiong’s face turned deathly pale.

Zhenwu Lake had transformed into a massive block of ice. Through the ice, one could clearly see the fish frozen in their final moments. It seemed as if their time had been halted, with no visible signs of ice harming their vitality.

The frozen fish formed a pattern.

Viewed from above, the entire frozen Zhenwu Lake resembled a giant eye, with interwoven lines depicting the image of a white sun and a black moon.

1. Chinese mythological monster that is half-human, half-beast. ☜