Chapter 465: Settling Old and New Grievances Together (3)

Chapter 465: New Grievances and Old Scores Settled All at Once (Part Three)

Mount Tenpo in Osaka Castle, the absolute pinnacle of this city.

The pristine moonlight shone upon the hideous ghosts and deities, while majestic armor clad the imposing, colossal physique.

Night winds whipped the branches, and the sea of forest surged like crashing waves.

Human voices were entirely muted; the distant prosperity had nothing to do with this place.

The air floated with primeval wildness and savagery, hot blood surged within the veins, and the clenching of fists cracked and popped with bone-deep resonance.

"You have ruined my grand design..."

Huangshi Lie’s thick, coarse eyebrows knitted tightly together, his rugged countenance filled with nothing but impatience and irritation, "Must you insist on courting death?"

The death of Liangren Xian was of no consequence to Huangshi Lie.

Yet the fact that it disrupted Akechi Haruhide’s plan was of paramount importance to him.

Huangshi Lie untied the knot at his chest and unhurriedly shed the feathered cloak from his body, revealing a brutal torso possessing immense impact and oppressive power.

"I know Su Ce has held back from moving against me because he wanted to use me as your whetstone. But to speak the truth, I once considered sparing your life."

Huangshi Lie spoke indifferently, "Though I harbor no fondness for the Martial Order, I too wished to see whether this faded path of evolution could rise anew in your hands, and just how much of its ancient glory it could restore..."

"How unfortunate, I have never once thought of that."

Li Jun shook his head, "Even without the old man's arrangements, I would still kill you."

"Why?" Huangshi Lie grinned broadly.

"I find the sight of you displeasing. Is that reason enough?"

"Enough, utterly and completely enough!"

Huangshi Lie flung wide his two thick arms, his ten fingers flaring in fury as he let loose a booming, protracted laugh.

"My current state of mind is precisely the same; I find the sight of you highly displeasing as well!"

He abruptly snapped his laughter short, his gaze turning ferocious as he spoke each word with heavy emphasis: "A single piece of Fifth-Grade Ink Armor, paired with a peak Martial Five—even if your solitary paths possess an inherent suppression over sects, you truly believe you can trade blows with me? Kid, aren't you being a bit too naive?"

"Whether it is naive or not, I do not know, but there is one thing you can rest assured of—"

Li Jun pointed his finger to the heavens and laughed aloud, "It is quite enough to send you on your way."

The words had barely fallen when a drop of icy liquid struck the tip of Huangshi Lie’s nose.

"Rain?"

Huangshi Lie looked up toward the sky, and the sparse threads of rain became dense at a speed visible to the naked eye. In an instant, Osaka Castle beneath the mountain peak was submerged within the torrential downpour, the flashing neon lights blurred and obscured by the sheets of rain.

A massive lunar disc rose majestically into the sky, and amidst the moonlight, a form of Buddha revealed its true visage. Within the palm held horizontally before its chest, Yuan Mingfei stood with bare feet and hands clasped in prayer.

That countenance, usually brimming with enchanting allure, was now exceedingly solemn. Her skirt danced amidst the wind and rain, while countless bizarre and motley phantoms of gods and demons leapt and frolicked joyously from the streets of Osaka Castle, swirling around her form.

"An Earthly Buddha Domain... so there is actually a Fourth-Grade Buddha Domain mainframe here. But with your Order Five strength, how long can you sustain this domain?"

Huangshi Lie flashed a contemptuous smile at Yuan Mingfei, his five fingers running through the wet, tangled hair atop his head. Raindrops struck his torso with a corroding hiss, and a faint green smoke drifted up from his reddening skin, yet Huangshi Lie seemed entirely oblivious to it.

"Do you have any other tricks?"

Densely packed Buddhist scriptures surfaced upon the pitch-black armor. As Li Jun took his stride, the scriptures emitted a soft glow, dragging dots of light-trails behind him.

"It seems there are no other hidden cards. Though it falls a bit short, it should barely suffice to let me enjoy myself to the fullest..."

Beholding the magnificent figure not far off, whose imposing stature was not a whit inferior to his own, Huangshi Lie drew in a massive breath of the sweeping cold wind. Ferocity and ruthlessness burned blazingly between his brows, and a tangible, savage aura stormed outward, blowing away the corroding green smoke surrounding him.

Thump... Thump... Thump...

Within Huangshi Lie's chest, the heartbeat was as violent as a drumbeat, every single muscle trembling with exhilaration.

Daimyo samurai clad in domaru armor grappled with terrifying tengu; a green-faced, sharp-fanged yaksha bit down on the head of a woman bearing a charming smile; an eight-armed jorogumo held a dripping, bloody heart...

Right in the center of his chest, the majestic deity Amaterasu actually opened her half-closed eyes like a living being.

Eight Skills of the Yellow Heavens, Ghost Body!

Tread... Tread... Tread...

Li Jun’s steps fell like thunder as he faced the ghosts and deities head-on. His deep eyes were thoroughly bloodshot, like crimson droplets plunging into a pitch-black deep sea, a striking red hue bleeding out to dye them. Tied to this transformation was the surging essence of his viscera, billowing between his mouth and nose.

With one step down, Li Jun’s already terrifying frame shot up another inch. The armor covering his body expanded alongside his physique, fierce yet without the slightest hint of bloat. A tiger's mouth swallowed his wrist, a dragon coiled over his shoulder—silent and wordless, yet carrying an extraordinary sense of impact, like a single Ming Dynasty general standing alone to face the night procession of a hundred demons.

Insight into the Five Gods; the Five Gods arrive in unison.

The Devouring of Dragon and Tiger!

Thump... Tread...

Heartbeat and footstep landed upon the exact same beat. In that very instant, the sound of the zither whipped up a murderous intent that surged into the heavens, and the clang of the gong vibrated as fiercely as thunder atop the mountain peak!

"Fuck him up!"

Amidst the red eyes, Lord Ma roared with a lung-tearing fury!

"Hu..."

Li Jun slowly exhaled a breath and nodded in response: "Do it!"

Hibernating Official Method, Seventy Percent!

While the short words still hung in the air, the figure had already vanished from the spot.

"This is getting more and more interesting!"

Huangshi Lie bared a mouthful of stark white teeth. His head snapped violently to the left as a blurred shadow of a fist abruptly materialized, brushing past his ear and shattering the rain-filled air.

"Too slow, too slow! So you haven't truly reached the peak of Order Five yet!"

The explosive booms detonating in the air were drowned out by his arrogant, wild laughter.

Huangshi Lie stepped back and twisted his torso, his muscles tightening as a plain and unadorned right fist flew straight for Li Jun’s flank.

Li Jun raised his knee to parry the blow, and his previously missed fist flattened into a hand-blade, slashing horizontally from right to left toward the throat. Huangshi Lie, the smile never leaving his face, raised an elbow to block by his ear. Flesh collided with bone, yet the sound produced was the metallic clang of sharp weapons clashing.

His figure flickered, appearing ghost-like behind Li Jun. His five fingers splayed wide, clawing toward the back of Li Jun's neck.

Bang!

The icy night wind was compressed to an explosion by the closing fingers. Li Jun, having dodged the strike, bent his body and cut straight into Huangshi Lie’s inner guard, but his heavy, powerful thrusting punch similarly struck nothing but empty air.

Clang!

The crisp sound of a gong abruptly crashed into the zither melody. Li Jun understood instantly, executing a whip-kick that swept behind him, colliding dead-on with the incoming fist.

The two figures separated the moment they touched, only to clash together once more in the next instant.

Intertwining fists boomed with sonic cracks, and clashing knees and shins shattered the ground beneath. Low groans of pain and unbridled, wild laughter rose and fell in succession, while golden Buddhist light and foul, green smoke entangled inextricably.

The heavy rain found no place to land, roaring in fury.

The Buddhist maiden in the heavens looked down upon the slaughter of the mortal realm, yet the sight chilled her to the bone. Her clasped hands pressed tightly before the space between her brows, while a crimson drop of blood quietly slipped from the corner of her mouth, striking her snow-white, bare foot.

Boom!

A figure flew backward like a discharged arrow, smashing a massive deep crater into the mountainside.

"Ugh..."

A deep thrumming emanated from Li Jun’s nostrils as he swallowed a rush of hot blood surging into his throat, his vision once more obscured by a malevolent grin.

No time to lose—Li Jun jerked his head back, a massive fist wrapped in rushing wind grazing his ear, his elbow slamming into hard stone.

Thud!

Li Jun’s foot crashed into the chest of the Reaper of the Wastes, his own cheek also struck by a sweeping elbow.

The helmet perched on his ear burst open, its remnants scattering, revealing the crimson jawbone beneath torn flesh.

“So quick to draw blood? How dull.”

No pause followed. The ground beneath the Reaper erupted into rubble, grotesque demons clawing through stinking smoke, their wild forms surging forward, faces twisted with contempt, eyes unbridled and scornful, inches from Li Jun’s sight!

Clang!

The Marshal’s drum blared, urging Li Jun to dodge, but his body remained still, a spear planted firm against the onslaught of demons.

Let? Let him try!

The ruined face twisted into a terror-filled smile as Li Jun stepped forward, his right fist clenched, spine arched like a drawn bow, shoulder thrusting the punch like an arrow loosed from a bowstring!

In the instant their fists clashed, a Buddhist maiden above them suddenly lifted her head, her eyes wide with horror as blood flooded her lids!

The Eight Great Techniques of the Yellow Sky, Thunder’s Chant!

Dragon’s Armor Removed!

Heavenly rain and thunder struck the earth.

Li Jun’s body convulsed violently, his fist striking not flesh but the peak of Mount Cui, a collapsing cliff wave, a clash of fierce thunder!

His face flushed pale, blood staining his skin even brighter. Veins bulged at his eyes, his right arm’s armor plates rocked like black sails in a storm, each one splintering and falling into churning waves.

His bare arm bore gaping wounds, revealing bones as hard as forged iron.

Boom!

Both feet left the ground, Li Jun was hurled through the air, his spine slamming into a massive boulder. Cracks raced across the stone, splitting it with a deafening crash.

The dust cloud that rose was so thick, even rain could not veil it.

Though less gravely wounded than Li Jun, the Reaper’s right hand was likewise ruined, bones exposed.

Worse still were the raindrops—symbols of the Buddha land’s corruption—already seeping into his skin, gnawing at his “ghostly body.”

Soul-severing chants echoed through the smoke, driving the Reaper mad. He glanced upward, his rage shifting to the figure hovering above—Yuan Mingfei.

Though this madness did not yet cloud his mind, the Reaper never wavered in his deadly focus.

“Since you crave death, I’ll send you to it first!”

He stepped back, knees bending, then sprang upward with a roar!

Yuan Mingfei’s eyes blinked once—too slow. The fist, unstoppable, closed in.

Blood streamed down her cheek, her pupils swollen crimson, the Buddhist maiden weeping as evil ravaged her.

In the next heartbeat, the world inverted.

The Reaper’s form flickered like a film reel, reappearing on the ground. His fist, meant for the heavens, slammed into the earth.

The land quaked, trenches rolled.

Yuan Mingfei remained in the Buddha’s palm, but her eyes were sealed shut, blood soaking her cheeks.

The moon above her, once like a mirror in water, rippled as if stirred by unseen hands.

Under Li Jun’s blow, the Buddha land on this earth showed signs of collapse.

The Reaper scowled, shaking his head. He straightened, raising his fist—then froze. In the dark pit below, a blinding light flared!

Click.

A foot encased in flames stepped from the shadows, heat searing the damp ground, steam rising as stones cracked beneath its touch.

Boom!

Flames erupted from both feet, engulfing the armor in seconds.

An ancient, plain helm slid from its place, blocking Li Jun’s face. His wounded right arm, scarred and bare, rose to shoulder height. The armor plate at his spine clanged, then split open, revealing a long, black-green spear floating into his grasp.

Flames bound the armor. The spear gleamed.

“Kid, Marshal, this upgrade’s got bite, right?”

The reckless laugh echoed as Li Jun’s wrist twitched. The spear, three chi long, surged to ten feet, flames weaving into a vast aura behind him!

Beneath the helm stood a legendary martial artist.

Above, the weeping Buddhist maiden.

Their eyes snapped open simultaneously, different tones of whisper rising in unison.

“Buddha land, spread salvation!”

“Earth Skill, Ninefold Completion!”

The drum’s note soared like a startled hawk across the sky.

Through the Reaper’s gloomy gaze, a sharp spear tip pierced the smoke, striking forward!

Osaka Castle, the Pacification Office.

The officials, controlled by Ming Fei Qing, offered no defense against Chen Qi-sheng’s flying sword. Within moments, they became cold corpses.

The high-ranking Ming Fei Qing seemed absorbed in her new attire, laughing eerily now and then.

The scene was unnerving.

“Has this woman lost her mind?”

Chen Qi-sheng furrowed his brow, his flying sword trembling with unease.

“Faking divine powers and ghosts, let’s see—I’ve got a plan.”

Zou Siu-jiu, seated on the office steps, rose slowly, cleared his throat, his brow arching in fury.

“You yellow-hued dream ghost—born of a false vision—you may wear another’s skin, but you’ll never be truly human!”

The faceless, eerie visage halted its writhing. The malformed body rose from the chair.

Screech!

Ming Fei Qing’s face split into two symmetrical cracks, like slashes on dough.

The ragged “eyes” gaped open—empty voids of blackness.

“What are you saying?”

Her voice sliced like a blade, icy and venomous.

“What am I saying? Do you forget how you came to exist? You’re a yellow dream ghost, crafted by the madman Reaper of the Wastes to flee the Heavenly Gate’s terror—a tool for his escape!”

Zou Siu-jiu sneered. “Do you think you’re really Ming Fei Qing? That name was merely the first body you stole—the corpse of your puppet master, chosen by the Reaper for you!”

“I’m not a dream ghost, I’m not a toy! I’m human—alive!”

As Ming Fei Qing’s scream tore through the air, the Pacification Office transformed into a burning scroll, blackened voids appearing in Zou and his companion’s eyes, devouring the light around them.

Amid the shifting dance of light and darkness, the rain‑soaked Xuanwei Office dissolved into nothingness, giving way to a vast ocean of cherry blossoms suspended above the clouds.

Chen Qisheng crouched upon the soaring blade, turning his gaze toward Zou Sijiu, who hovered beside him, hands tucked into his pockets.

“Is this your plan? To incite her into madness?” Chen Qisheng sighed helplessly.

“Sooner or later she'll drag us in; you don't think she'll foolishly use that incomplete Daoist Form Four body to fight us, do you?”

Zou Sijiu tilted his chin toward the island floating amid the heart of the cherry blossom sea. “This Huangliang ghost has devoured the brains of countless souls, yet remains clever.”

Chen Qisheng nodded, then asked abruptly: “How do you know about those matters?”

“What matters?”

“Her identity.”

“A Huangliang ghost who has cultivated to the Yin‑Yang Fourth level—how could the Eastern Palace not know? Some charlatan thief still clings to his schemes, hoping to stir wind and rain from behind. The matter in the Wa region is far more intricate than either of us imagine.”

The Eastern Palace, too, interjected?

Chen Qisheng rubbed his brow, easing the sudden swirl of thoughts, and lifted his eyes to the colossal cherry blossom tree standing within the distant island.

The white‑clad, crimson‑sashed Ming Zhiqing Xiu stood beneath the tree, hands folded before his abdomen, offering the two a sweet smile.

“I should now appear as a human, right? Tell me I am one, will you?”

Though separated by great distance, Ming Zhiqing Xiu’s voice seemed to echo in their ears.

Chen Qisheng lifted his hand toward Zou Sijiu, still delegating the reply to him.

Zou Sijiu inhaled deeply and, addressing the expectant Ming Zhiqing Xiu, shouted loudly.

“You are the hammerman, you mother’s plague god!”

The roar thundered, echoing across the high sky plain.

Ming Zhiqing Xiu’s smile froze abruptly; above the great tree, a cloud of darkness erupted, and countless Eight‑Banded Crows emitted a piercing shriek, swooping toward the two.

“When I devour you all, I shall become human. No, I shall become a god!”