Chapter 180: Blind Old Man
Baoshu Buddha felt both anger and anxiety in his heart.
Today, he had completely lost face.
First, in the one-on-one against White Mountain Old Daoist, he was mercilessly suppressed. If not for the Savage Emperor’s timely appearance, he would have fled in panic. That was acceptable, after all, he had been inferior to White Mountain Old Daoist back then, and he could barely accept it in his heart.
But now.
This unknown figure who hid his head but showed his tail had actually surpassed him.
How could he accept this?
He could guess with his feet that even the Savage Emperor must be doubting him. That gaze with a hint of suspicion made his face burn hot, and then he became even more furious.
Fortunately, the Savage Emperor did not show it too obviously, after all, they were still united against a common enemy for now.
He rose into the air, with black light power surging from his body, landing on the Heavenly Wolf. In an instant, the Heavenly Wolf underwent a change and actually sprouted another fierce head.
The double-headed Heavenly Wolf looked murderous, charging toward the Immortal Crane with astonishing aura.
White Mountain Old Daoist’s expression changed slightly.
From this alone, he knew that the Savage Emperor had advanced one step further than him. However, he would not be without a way to fight back.
“The spiritual energy has not yet recovered, so the gap between us is not that great! You want to take advantage of the fire to rob and force me to join you in the same boat? Impossible!”
White Mountain Old Daoist laughed loudly. The Immortal Crane spread its wings, with mountains and rivers faintly appearing around it, making the Immortal Crane even more ethereal with immortal qi.
The double-headed Heavenly Wolf spewed black flame, suppressing the Immortal Crane tightly, but it could not achieve any further results.
The Savage Emperor frowned.
He turned his head to look at the other battlefield and was stunned.
He saw that the Glazed Treasure Tree was further bound by the White True Dragon, and there was even a trend of continuous strangling. Pieces of buddha light shattered, and many tree branches on the Glazed Treasure Tree broke. At this rate, let alone coming to support him, he might even need to go to its aid.
“What exactly is the background of this hidden person?” The Savage Emperor was shocked.
He knew a bit about Baoshu Buddha’s foundation. Although not as strong as him or True Profound True Monarch, he had some luck in awakening from the long years, but he was not someone any random person could challenge.
True Profound Mountain was also silent.
The four Ancient Saints were in a fierce melee, their auras so powerful it was unimaginable. Even a casual leak of residual waves brought immense pressure to the Heavenly Human Realm experts. They had retreated again and again, not daring to approach, lest they suffer as fish in the pond.
They too were constantly guessing who was behind the White True Dragon.
Names from various rumors flashed through their minds, but none could be confirmed.
“However… to suppress Baoshu Buddha, he must not be a nameless figure!”
The congregation looked on with reverence and astonishment.
“Only today did we learn that the world still hides so many Ancient Saints. They did not ascend, but lived to the present, and now they all appear together. Does this mean something big is about to happen?” someone whispered.
There were no lack of smart people in the world, and from the conversations of the several Ancient Saints, they had guessed some clues.
But they did not dare to speculate further, feeling a certain fear in their hearts.
The Ancient Saints must not have emerged without reason.
It probably involved great secrets.
“Get out here!” Baoshu Buddha’s furious shout echoed.
He was unusually angry.
Golden light bloomed from his body, continuously increasing power output, merging into the Glazed Treasure Tree. The Treasure Tree shook, gathering seven-colored light into a palm, intending to crush the white dragon in its grasp.
But the white dragon let out a long roar, spitting from its mouth a white ribbon that turned into a divine sword.
The unparalleled sharpness of the sword intent within made even White Mountain Old Daoist take notice.
The divine sword slashed, and the five fingers of the seven-colored buddha palm were instantly severed together, leaving it bald and looking somewhat comical.
It could clearly shatter it with one sword, yet it only severed the five fingers. To Baoshu Buddha, this was naked humiliation.
This hidden person was probably his enemy.
Baoshu Buddha could no longer hold back:
“How dare you insult me!”
His eyes shot out flames of anger, his whole body condensing golden light, becoming like a golden man.
The Savage Emperor’s expression changed:
“Buddha Venerable, no!”
But his words of dissuasion could no longer calm the furious Baoshu Buddha.
He opened his mouth and spat out a drop of golden blood that shot like lightning, merging into the Glazed Treasure Tree. In an instant, the Glazed Treasure Tree’s aura surged, the seven-colored light exploding, breaking free from the White True Dragon’s binding in a moment.
Not only that, the seven-colored light was extremely sharp, carrying a power that seemed to dissolve everything, as if even the void would be melted.
With a whoosh, the white dragon’s tail was annihilated.
Ning Qi opened his eyes, with a look of astonishment in them.
“What is that drop of golden blood?”
He could perceive that the Glazed Treasure Tree’s power had greatly strengthened. Relying solely on the Martial Saint Power within the King Yu Bead might no longer be enough to contend with it. However, he remained calm. He still had one strand of Innate Divine Sword Qi nurtured in his body, which was still his strongest trump card so far.
He had never used it since achieving Three Flowers Perfection.
White Mountain Old Daoist shouted lightly:
“Baoshu, you are quite willing to pay the price. But do you really want to fight to the death today? Retreat now, and this old daoist will not pursue your offense this time.”
But Baoshu Buddha sneered coldly, his slightly pale face looking somewhat fierce.
“I sacrificed a drop of spiritual blood and paid such a price. You think I’ll just retreat like this? Wishful thinking!”
Above the sky.
The Glazed Treasure Tree blazed with light, its aura even surpassing the double-headed Heavenly Wolf and Immortal Crane, becoming the most dazzling presence on the field. Originally, it was the white dragon binding the buddha tree, but now it was the buddha tree suppressing the white dragon. Offense and defense had swapped, and the White True Dragon was already somewhat disheveled, constantly dodging and weaving, but even so, it was repeatedly struck by the seven-colored light.
The Savage Emperor no longer spoke. Since the price had been paid, today they must gain something back, or it would be a huge loss.
But Ning Qi’s gaze was calm as he sought the right moment.
The Innate Divine Sword Qi would either not be used, or if used, it must achieve merit.
The seven-colored light of the Glazed Treasure Tree fell from time to time, like countless sharp blades, precisely slicing through the dao palaces wherever they passed. The guests dodged in horror, retreating again and again. Baoshu Buddha was burning with anger and no longer cared about anything.
Seeing this, White Mountain Old Daoist became angry.
“Good, good, good! Then let’s see whose foundation is deeper!”
Aura surged from his body, with spiritual blood also about to condense. Ning Qi frowned slightly and prepared to act. He was only waiting for the right moment, but if White Mountain Old Daoist paid a great price to fight, it would not be worth it.
Though he did not know what the spiritual blood was, it must be very important to them.
But as soon as the thought arose, his eyes showed astonishment, and he slowly stopped his movements.
In fact.
Not just him.
Almost at the same instant, the three Ancient Saints all looked in one direction. White Mountain Old Daoist, who had been about to fight desperately, also paused, his aura slowly calming. Everyone was surprised and looked together in the direction of the three Ancient Saints.
They saw an unremarkable blind old man slowly approaching, leaning on his blind staff.
Thump.
Thump.
The sound of the blind staff striking the bluestone was rhythmic. It should have been a very small sound, but as the blind old man stepped forward, it grew louder and louder, until finally it was like drumming, resounding in everyone’s hearts.
One by one, the guests were horrified.
In the blink of an eye, the blind old man had arrived nearby.
“Everyone, stop for now.”
An aged voice rang out.
The elder raised his slightly hollow eyes and looked toward the three Ancient Saints.
White Mountain Old Daoist spoke:
“It is not that this old daoist is unwilling, but these two came killing their way up, so we have to respond with full focus.”
The blind old man looked toward the Savage Emperor and Baoshu Buddha.
The Savage Emperor said nothing.
Baoshu Buddha’s eyes were defiant and frustrated. He had just consumed a drop of spiritual blood, and if he stopped now, would he not be losing to the point of spitting blood? He was unwilling.
The blind old man shook his head with a light sigh:
“Why engage in infighting?”
He casually tossed it, and the blind staff in his hand shot into the sky. The blind staff grew against the wind, instantly turning into a giant pillar. The giant pillar hung in the air, spanning between the buddha tree and the true dragon. With just a slight shake, the buddha tree’s seven-colored light was all repelled, the Glazed Treasure Tree emitting a crisp hum as if trembling, still shaking nonstop even after returning to Baoshu Buddha’s hand. The White True Dragon was also flung away by a force.
Baoshu Buddha’s face was shocked, looking incredulously at the elder before him.
The Savage Emperor’s expression grew even more grave.
The blind old man said nothing.
The giant pillar broke through the air again.
It swept the Heavenly Wolf and struck the Immortal Crane.
The Heavenly Wolf and Immortal Crane, which had been ferocious like world-conquering beast emperors, instantly shattered together, turning back into primal power that recoiled. The Savage Emperor and White Mountain Old Daoist’s bodies both shook, involuntarily retreating a few steps.
The two men’s gazes toward the blind old man also changed.
“You…” The Savage Emperor spoke.
But he was interrupted by the blind old man:
“Today’s matter was my oversight. Since you have all returned, rules need to be established. From now on, I do not wish to see such things. As for opportunities, each relies on their own ability.”
White Mountain Old Daoist fell silent, then cupped his hands in salute.
The Savage Emperor and the other’s faces were extremely ugly.
This naturally referred to the matter of the two trying to force White Mountain Old Daoist to swear an oath by taking advantage. Originally, they aimed to bolster their own side’s power opportunistically, but now it seemed otherwise. With this statement from the blind old man, no one would dare do such a thing afterward.
The Savage Emperor finally also cupped his hands.
As for Baoshu Buddha, he felt as uncomfortable as if he had swallowed a fly. He was somewhat defeated, but in front of this blind old man, he did not dare to act presumptuously, at least not now.
The blind old man waved his hand, and the giant pillar in the sky turned back into the blind staff in his hand. His gaze looked toward the depths of True Profound Sect, seeming somewhat surprised, then he slowly turned around.
The blind staff struck the bluestone again.
Still making thump thump thump sounds, gradually fading until almost inaudible.
But the congregation did not even dare to breathe.
Until the elder’s back completely disappeared, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief from the bottom of their hearts.
If the several Ancient Saints gave the feeling of being powerful and awe-inspiring, then the feeling brought by this blind old man was vast and boundless, like an abyss one could not look directly into.
White Mountain Old Daoist’s eyes showed some emotion, but looking at the blind old man’s back, it was mostly admiration.
He knew some inside stories and knew how difficult it was for the elder.
He was not just submitting to the elder’s strength, but also respecting his conduct.
Today’s matter.
At this point, it could no longer continue.
It felt somewhat like starting strong but ending weakly, but the blind old man’s appearance at the end was perhaps even more shocking than the several Ancient Saints’ battle, leaving everyone’s minds unsettled.
The Savage Emperor took a deep breath and cupped his hands toward White Mountain Old Daoist:
“True Monarch, today’s matter was quite offensive, but it was all just preparing for a rainy day. Please do not take offense, True Monarch.”
White Mountain Old Daoist snorted lightly, but in the end still waved his hand slightly.
The Savage Emperor scanned the congregation, then broke through the air and left.
Baoshu Buddha’s face was ashen, as if water would drip from it.
Today, he had truly lost both face and substance, but he was helpless.
He coldly swept a glance at White Mountain Old Daoist, then waved his hand and also left through the air with those monks.
In an instant.
True Profound Mountain, which had been in chaotic battle, quieted down, giving everyone an unreal feeling.
“That blind old man… what exactly is his identity, to make all the Ancient Saints stop together?” This was the doubt in everyone’s hearts.
Someone frowned in thought.
Suddenly, a flash of insight in their eyes.
“I remember now. This one’s appearance seems similar to the Heavenly Human Ranking 1st, Listening Wind Elder! It’s just that Listening Wind Elder comes and goes without a trace, and few have seen his true face.”
“But… even if it’s Listening Wind Senior, he shouldn’t be this powerful, right?”
“Those are Ancient Saints… unless, Listening Wind Elder is just one of this old senior’s identities.”
Whispers arose.
The congregation seemed to have discovered the blind old man’s true identity, but did not dare to confirm.
It was just that everything before them was too mystical.
And apart from the three Ancient Saints, the one in the field most familiar with the blind old man was Ning Qi.
At this moment.
Ning Qi’s gaze held a color of surprise.
Hidden deep in True Profound Sect, neither the Savage Emperor nor Baoshu Buddha could detect his true location, but that blind old man had seen him. Correspondingly, Ning Qi had also sensed the blind old man’s existence.
“That is… the old storyteller mister who told the rumors of the Heaven-Slaying Martial Saint!”
Ning Qi was somewhat shocked in his heart.
Back then, he had personally gone to the town Ye Qinghe mentioned, even staying there for a period, having prolonged contact with this elder, but he had not noticed anything unusual, only vaguely feeling he was extraordinary.
But now, after the elder acted, he immediately felt that irresistible power.
“Absolutely a Martial Saint! And not an ordinary one!”
He could still feel the King Yu Bead trembling even now. He even felt that even if he used the Innate Divine Sword Qi, there would not be much difference.
“Could it be… he is the Heaven-Slaying Martial Saint?” Ning Qi could not help but think.
What he saw today made him realize that this world had such an unknown side.
Not only were there many Ancient Saints who lived to the present through various means.
There were also unknown Martial Saints walking the human world, just not known to the world.
Originally, he thought he stood at the pinnacle of the world, only needing to beware of that Great Yan Martial Saint. But now it seemed he still needed to guard against arrogance and continue striving.
The true face of this world was gradually unveiling to him, and the many secrets revealed in between made him eager to understand.
His gaze could not help but turn toward the distant White Mountain Old Daoist. Today, perhaps he would get some answers.
