Chapter 68 — Azure Dragon

The pale-faced scholar and the Nether King exchanged a smiling glance, and then he said with a smile to the crowd: "Greetings to you all. I am the Azure Dragon."

On the righteous side the reaction was not yet so violent, but Baiduzi and the other demon-cult people were visibly shaken. Three hundred years ago, when the Nether King Sect had just risen, apart from the previous Nether King, these so-called Four Great Holy Envoys were the sect's foundation and strength; from them its power had grown day by day. Through many slaughters and secret struggles in the demon cult, through countless storms of blood and wind, it had finally reached its present state. The strength of these four could well be imagined.

Then the Azure Dragon suddenly sighed, turned to the Nether King and said: "We are old after all. Look at those young righteous cultivators across the way—every one of them wears a look of doubt. Most likely they have never heard my name."

The Nether King said with a smile: "Why trouble yourself, Brother Long? The younger generation, having seen little, are easily amazed; given time, Brother Long's name will surely overawe the world once more."

The Azure Dragon laughed heartily, and in his laughter looked down at his own right hand, as if there were something faintly desolate in it still.

"Bang!" A loud crash made everyone jump, and they looked toward the sound: it was Shitou's demon-quelling staff, which had shot up into the sky earlier and only now come falling down.

For a time the field fell quiet. On the righteous side, most wore frowns, concentrating and keeping guard. This demon-cult revival—its strength had already exceeded all expectation, and from the look of things there were still more and deeper forces hidden and not yet come forth.

And on the demon cult side, each likewise harbored his own designs. Duanmu Laozu was the better off: he belonged to no sect, and was merely on good terms with the Old Vampire, and so stood on his side. But Baiduzi and the Old Vampire were both important figures of the Myriad Poison Sect, and now, looking at each other in silence, they had already grown deeply wary of the Nether King Sect.

Only the Nether King and the Azure Dragon stood there, composed and at ease. The Azure Dragon seemed to say something in a low voice; the Nether King smiled and shook his head, yet as if by chance cast a glance toward where Zhang Qingyue stood.

The night deepened, the sea wind howled, and far out over the vast ocean, that strange long keening of the deep night seemed to draw ever nearer, growing slowly clearer.

Tian Buhui and Daoist Cangyan exchanged a glance, each seeing in the other's eyes the intent to withdraw. Beside them Su Wan coughed once and said softly to Daoist Cangyan: "Brother Cangsong, the demons are strong now. Why not withdraw for the time being, return to the mountain and take counsel with our senior brother the sect leader, and then decide what to do?"

Cangsong pondered a long while, then nodded decisively: "What you say is right, Junior Sister." He glanced at Tian Buhui, and Tian Buhui slowly nodded.

Daoist Cangyan was just about to speak when something else occurred to him; he looked about him, frowned, and said in a low voice: "Where is Xiao Yichen? Why have I not seen him all night?"

Qi Hao, standing beside him, stepped forward at these words and said: "Master, when we came out earlier, Senior Brother Xiao said he was not feeling well and did not come along."

Daoist Cangyan's face darkened and he gave a snort, but in the end could not say anything before the disciples; he could only turn his head, about to speak to the others of the several factions, Fachéng and Li Xun and the rest, when suddenly, from behind the crowd, came a miserable scream.

The crowd stirred in confusion, and several young righteous disciples who had stood at the rear came staggering out of the darkness, grievously wounded, drenched in blood, crying out hoarsely: "There are demon cult people behind us!"

In the darkness, in the ancient forest, countless shrill laughter seemed to ring out, and Tian Buhui and the others turned pale. Ever since the Nether King and his party appeared, everyone's attention had been drawn to those old monsters; they had not expected the demon cult to be so full of schemes as to send men secretly to outflank them from the rear and strike without warning.

In that single instant, light flashed throughout the forest—countless magic treasures came flying in to kill. The righteous cultivators hurriedly summoned their own treasures to strike back, but first because it was unexpected, and second because the demon cult's numbers were far greater than they had imagined, they were at once at a disadvantage.

Daoist Cangyan's face was grim; with a great shout he leaped into the air, but before he could make any move, Baiduzi and Duanmu Laozu ahead both rushed at him together.

Baiduzi laughed aloud, his expression savage, crying: "You dog of a Daoist, give up your life!"

Daoist Cangyan steadied himself in midair, not daring to make light of these old monsters, and could only turn to meet the fight; at the same time, red light blazed beneath him—it was Tian Buhui striking out, taking on Duanmu Laozu.

Su Wan stood on the ground, her brows tightly knit, a trace of worry upon her beautiful face. At present the righteous side was clearly at a disadvantage; on the demon cult's side two unfathomable figures, the Nether King and the Azure Dragon, had not yet made their move, and how many more demon-cult followers lurked in the dark none could say. The situation was grave.

By now the field was in utter chaos; it seemed that in the deep night, in the shadows, demon-cult people were everywhere, and at any time and place the fierce light of life-taking magic treasures might come flying out. The righteous cultivators were plunged into bitter fighting, and muffled groans and screams of agony rang out without end.

Zhang Qingyue held the Black Iron Staff but did not strike, because Song Dayi, Tian Lingsu and the others of Dazhu Peak, mindful that he had been wounded just now, had closed him in their midst, so that for the moment he had not been hurt; yet the peril was urgent, and he was just as tense.

Before their eyes the demon-cult light grew ever brighter, and the righteous cultivators were slowly compressed together—chiefly because in the darkness of night they could not see the demon-cult followers hidden in the shadows at all, and so had truly suffered a great loss.

Zhang Qingyue stood where he was. Seeing the pressure mounting on the senior brothers around him and on Tian Lingsu as well, he grew anxious. He judged that though his body was somewhat fatigued, he was otherwise sound enough, and made to step forward and join the fight.

At that very moment a faint cry rang out, like a phoenix calling across the nine heavens, clear and pleasing to the ear, echoing far and wide. A brilliant blue light blazed up, and Lu Xueling rose with her sword as the Tianya Divine Sword poured forth its radiance, lighting the whole circle around her.

Darkness itself seemed unable to draw near her face or her figure!

Yet she flung herself into that darkness, and with a whoosh a piercing cry shook the heavens. The beautiful woman became a bolt of blue light and shot into the darkness of the ancient forest.

Moments later blue light flickered everywhere, and from the darkness came ceaseless cries of alarm; the pressure on everyone in the field at once eased.

At the same time, amid wave upon wave of Buddhist invocation, Facheng raised his palms joined before him, and above his fingertips the Wheel of Rebirth turned slowly, glinting with a solemn, austere golden light. He suddenly opened his eyes, and the Wheel of Rebirth too hurtled toward the darkness on the other side. Moments later a blaze of dazzling golden light rose in the darkness, bright as day, and countless cultists flew out screaming.