"No! I must fight on! This deity—"
The giant ape’s words were cut off as the light from the Golden Hoop rose another notch, and he, roaring in anger, clutched his head, "The pain is unbearable for this deity!"
Amidst its raging roars, the giant ape sorsaulted, rising into the clouds. Within an instant, it had burst into the sky and disappeared without a trace.
"This deity?"
Jiang Li floated in midair, watching the sudden departure of the giant ape, and whispered to himself the self-proclaid title, "Wuzhiqi?"
Contemplating this, Jiang Li couldn’t help shaking his head.
Indeed, the choice to reject ascension in one step was the correct one. Though he reckoned he wouldn’t be as miserable as the giant ape, with his flexible and resilient nature, he would never be so abased as to be tornted by the Golden Hoop. Yet, to have such a shackle was ultimately no blessing.
His figure slowly shrank, dispersing his Fatian Xiangdi, feeling a rare touch of weakness.
The maintenance of Fatian Xiangdi was significantly draining. Although Jiang Li could sustain it with the One-foot Hamr and the Nourishing Life Master, the ntal fatigue was still inevitable.
Now that the great battle was over, Jiang Li could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
As for that monkey and Guangli Bodhisattva, let them be; Buddhist Zhen Ru’s reputation still must be respected.
Moreover, after this ordeal, it was unlikely Guangli Bodhisattva could return to Manjusri; he would probably fall into the hands of Buddhist Zhen Ru.
Erging from the dense dust, Jiang Li returned to the blue sky, his mood relieved, and the surrounding storms also dispersed.
With the dissipation of the storm, the overall situation was set; the other two Third Grade confrontations would also draw to a close.
...
...
The Immortal Queen, with an expressionless face, collected the pervasive chill in the air and, with a light step and swaying skirt hem, was about to leave.
Behind her, the frigid ice seized the sky, creating a frozen world above. A red and white Yin Yang globe of Water and Fire was sealed within, a figure of a Daoist barely visible inside.
It was evident that the encounter between Yuxu Temple’s Guangyuan Daoist and the Immortal Queen had been disadvantageous. The forr was primarily defensive, hardly blocking the Immortal Queen’s advances.
Thus, as the Immortal Queen walked away, Guangyuan Daoist was utterly powerless to prevent her departure.
She floated lightly over the mountains, just as when she had arrived, only now with an even more intense chill on her face, far colder than before.
Initially, Kunxu Immortal Palace’s move against Jiang Li was to provoke Tianxuan’s appearance, allowing the Immortal Queen to strike down Tianxuan and further smooth her path. But as Jiang Li ascended, the implications shifted.
Jiang Li’s strength had advanced so rapidly it was astonishing. After ascending to the Fourth Rank, he could dominate among his peers. With his aid, Tianxuan, already indomitable, would be all the more challenging to target.
The hope for the Second Grade grew ever more tenuous.
With thoughts of past feuds and resentnts, the Immortal Queen’s eyes revealed a fierce glint.
"Immortal Queen, please stay your step."
A voice as clear as that of a young girl, carried by a gentle breeze, dissolved the icy chill of the Kunxu Mountain Range and the substantial coldness surrounding the Immortal Queen.
The Immortal Queen suddenly turned, her eyes as sharp as sword light, fixed on the source of the voice.
There, on the snowy mountain not far away, stood a figure in red, a woman in a scarlet dress, poised atop the white snow, far from being incongruous, she was perfectly in harmony.
Behind her, the Moon Wheel ebbed and flowed, with the figure of another woman faintly visible within.
Ming Yue’s purity contrasted with the red, harmonizing with the snow and creating a beautifully picturesque scene.
"Tianxuan."
The Immortal Queen’s gaze fell straight upon the figure within the Moon Wheel, slowly uttering the na.
Appearing on this snow mountain were none other than Gongsun Qingyue and the spectral form of Tianxuan.
Gongsun Qingyue, using an incarnation as bait, had lured out Yun Jiuye, leading the Dinghu Sect’s eldest disciple to extinction in despair. Her true body had not hidden within the Heavenly Mirror Fragnt but appeared here instead.
Of course, more critical was Tianxuan behind her.
"Well played. I thought you were indeed detained by Earth Uncle, not expecting you could still spare the strength to be here," said the Immortal Queen, her sharp glint receding from her eyes, but the coldness on her intensified.
"You’re being too generous with your praise," said Tianxuan’s illusory figure, showing pride. "The main plan was designed by this palace’s disciple; even the leak was within his predictions."
She looked entirely content, as if having such a disciple left her wanting nothing more, which only served to irk the Immortal Queen even more.
Were it not for Jiang Li, the recent drastic changes in the court and the Dinghu Sect would have exhausted Tianxuan in resolving them, offering an excellent opportunity for the Immortal Queen to intervene. This might even have been achieved in the Divine Capital.
Now, with Tianxuan speaking like this here, it was hard not to suspect she was boasting and kicking soone while they were down.
The pettiness of so won’s hearts was well known.
"If you’ve co to anger , then let tell you, you have succeeded," the Immortal Queen said coldly.
"Wrong."
Tianxuan denied the Immortal Queen’s words with calm composure, "This palace has not co to mock you but to bring you a surprise—a surprise that could elevate you."
A surprise?
For the Immortal Queen, there could only be one thing worth the label of surprise: Tianxuan conceding. Beyond that, nothing else.
With the wisdom of the Immortal Queen, it was not hard to understand the implication of this "surprise."
But then—
"What’s the price?" asked the Immortal Queen.
A goal that had proven fruitless for years was now on the verge of being realized, yet the Immortal Queen did not lose her composure, instead asked calmly.
"The Dao Artifact of East King to compensate for the loss suffered by this palace’s disciple, and the life of a third-grade," responded Tianxuan with calm equanimity.
As expected, this request was t with a cold glare from the Immortal Queen.
"Ridiculous!" the Immortal Queen scoffed. "Even if it’s to make you concede, there are still several hurdles ahead. Do you think such a deal is worth such a price?"
She flatly refused.
However, Tianxuan, who had jostled with this old rival for many years in plain sight and shadows, could tell that she was sowhat tempted.
The refusal was only because the stakes were not high enough.
"Then let’s remove those other stumbling blocks for you," said Tianxuan with a casual air. "On Ji Lingguang’s side, this palace can also make the decision for her. After I defeat the Master of Rain from the Taiping Sect, she won’t pose an obstacle to you. Even Guanyin from Buddha Country, I can help you dispose of her."
It had been Tianxuan who had joined forces with Ji Lingguang and Primordial Lord Rain Master to ambush the Immortal Queen when she first reached the third grade rank, lacking Martial Virtue, tripping her up. Furthermore, the ascension of Guanyin to third grade rank had also beco an impedint for her.
Now that Tianxuan was willing to make concessions, Ji Lingguang should be no issue, and if the Master of Rain was to be defeated by Tianxuan, and Tianxuan then admitted her inferiority to the Immortal Queen, she would nominally be ranked below.
After that, it would just be a matter of dealing with Guanyin.
"You want to use as a pawn to eliminate your enemies," the Immortal Queen said with an icy tone.
The Taiping Sect was already on Tianxuan’s list, and with the Buddhist Law spreading from Buddha Country, they naturally were Tianxuan’s enemies, too. Even if the Immortal Queen stayed idle, Tianxuan would have to confront them.
Now, claiming it was to help the Immortal Queen, when looked closely, it was seeking to take advantage of the Immortal Queen’s Combat Power for free.
"Not just that," Tianxuan said with a faint smile. "Even if you remove all those obstacles, you would still be struck by a joint attack from third-grade ranks, and your ascension to second grade rank might not succeed. But are you willing to give up this opportunity?"
Tianxuan’s malice was almost unabashed; she intended to confront not only Primordial Lord Rain Master and Guanyin but also to include the Immortal Queen in her sche.
Even without those few blocking her path, the Immortal Queen’s promotion would be imnsely difficult.
However, with the current chaos, it was indeed a rare opportunity.
An opportunity the Immortal Queen was unwilling to let slip by.
"If you manage to calculate to death as well, then it will just show that it was my destiny to perish here."
The Immortal Queen resolved firmly, without a hint of hesitation, "I accept your terms."
"Good."
Tianxuan nodded, her pale hand raised, three fingers pointing to the sky, "This palace swears by Heaven, never to break my promise, with Heaven as my witness."
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