Chapter 471: Immortal Fairy Battles the Four Great Immortal Sect Masters

"Fellow Daoist Luo, what happened to you?" Yang Ding started, taken aback. He had only just finished proclaiming that Luo Hongxia would surely achieve a resounding victory over Lu Yang, yet here she was, already thrown out of the fight.

Her posture was rather unbecoming; her mouth was stuffed with withered leaves, and a fair number of twigs and foliage clung to her hair, looking for all the world as though she had crashed straight into a tree.

"Pah! It is nothing serious. I was simply careless and got struck by a tree." Luo Hongxia spat out the leaves in her mouth as the injuries upon her body began to mend. Upon exiting the precious casket, she was restored once more to the Body Integration Stage.

"Struck by a tree?" Qiu Jin'an mused, bewildered. Ordinary flora could hardly pose a threat to Luo Hongxia. Had Lu Yang invoked the Tree-Planting Method, utilizing timber as a means of assault?

Qiu Jin'an was well aware that the Laurel Celestial Palace possessed a long-standing tradition of combat involving laurel trees, and he knew full well the astonishing defensive prowess of those trees; he simply had never considered the possibility that anyone could perform the feat of uprooting a laurel tree during the heat of battle.

"This junior named Lu Yang is somewhat uncanny. I carelessly fell into his trap," Luo Hongxia declared with bitter resentment. Had the laurel tree not withered so suddenly, she would not have met with such a swift defeat.

"Is he truly that formidable? Might it not be that you underestimated your foe, granting the junior an opening?" Yang Ding regarded Luo Hongxia with open suspicion. In her youth, Luo Hongxia had always possessed a habit of underestimating her opponents, running aground in unexpected shallows on more than a few occasions.

"If you are so capable, why do you not test your own mettle!" Luo Hongxia flared up in a sudden fury.

"Then test it I shall!" Yang Ding refused to believe the impossibility of the task. Luo Hongxia was prone to underestimating her enemies, but he was not.

Furthermore, things like battle glyphs grew more refined the more they were employed; at present, even when utilizing battle glyphs restricted to the Golden Core Stage, his variance of techniques, responsiveness, and sheer power surpassed even those of sword cultivators!

The precious casket emitted a beam of light that enveloped Yang Ding. Recognizing the mechanism of the Light-Detaining Casket, Yang Ding offered no resistance and smoothly entered the artifact, his cultivation suppressed to the Golden Core Stage.

"Fellow Daoist Yang should be capable of securing victory." The Great Xia Emperor nodded in assent. Unlike the partially reclusive Laurel Celestial Palace, disciples of the Prison-Suppressing Sect spent the entire year abroad, punishing evil and promoting good; they had endured countless altercations, both great and small, and their combat experience was a cut above Luo Hongxia’s.

Coupled with their unique method of cultivating battle glyphs, the lower Yang Ding’s realm was suppressed, the greater his corresponding martial prowess became.

"It ought to be so." Qiu Jin'an maintained absolute confidence in Yang Ding; no matter how powerful Lu Yang might be, it was highly improbable that he could defeat Yang Ding.

Amidst the gathering, only Grandmaster Jiesha and the Eldest Senior Sister remained wrapped in silence.

Whoosh—

The precious casket gave a sudden tremor, and Yang Ding tumbled outward, losing his balance entirely as his head struck the ground with a dull thud.

"Dammit, what kind of fighting style is that!"

Yang Ding swore loudly, filled with indignation. Never in his life had he fought such a stifling battle; the opponent seemed to have calculated everything beforehand, anticipating his every move. As the bout progressed, he had found himself utterly ensnared by the enemy's rhythm, resulting in his inevitable defeat.

"Then what has become of your hair?" Qiu Jin'an's expression grew exceedingly strange. When Yang Ding had entered, he possessed a full head of black hair, yet he emerged entirely bald.

He was merely asking what he already knew; he had been present when Lu Yang unleashed the Arhat Fist against Huang Ming.

"I have never witnessed such an unprincipled fist technique! It is bad enough to strike a man, but to cause hair loss as well!"

Yang Ding rubbed his glossy, bright head, exceedingly irate.

Combined with the tattoos marking his body, he bore an uncanny resemblance to a gang leader who had broken out of prison; were any manner of misdeed to be blamed upon him, no onlooker would ever believe him innocent.

"That is the Arhat Fist achieved through the unity of fist intent," the Eldest Senior Sister explained from the sidelines, causing Grandmaster Jiesha’s eyes to light up instantly.

The Arhat Fist, and one achieved through fist unity at that—an Arhat Fist capable of causing hair to shed?

How could such a fine prospect have failed to join my Hanging Temple, leaving that wretched creature, Daoist Buyu, to reap the windfall?

"Unity of fist intent, no wonder." Yang Ding felt a pang of chagrin. Thinking back, it truly did resemble the unity of fist intent; it was simply that the magical effect of the spell was far too preposterous, leaving him no time to react.

"By the way, Old Qiu, Lu Yang was clamoring for you to enter and receive a thrashing as well." Yang Ding suddenly remembered, casting a malicious grin toward Qiu Jin'an.

"That lad Lu Yang said that you merely possess a slightly higher cultivation. Were you at the same level, he would thrash you until you cried for your grandfather."

"He is tired of living!"

Qiu Jin'an flew into a rage. With the precedents of Luo Hongxia and Yang Ding before him, even he lacked absolute confidence in defeating Lu Yang, and he had not intended to make a move.

But since Lu Yang had spoken such words, how could he possibly refrain from acting?

He, Qiu Jin'an, was a man who valued his dignity!

The precious casket projected a beam of light, and Qiu Jin'an stepped into its confines.

"Why did Sect Master Yang Ding emerge so suddenly?" Lu Yang wondered to himself. Just moments ago, the Immortal Fairy had finished thrashing Luo Hongxia while using his body, and as they were resting to recover their strength on the spot, Sect Master Yang Ding had descended from the heavens, demanding a duel.

The Immortal Fairy had immediately consumed an Invincible Pill. Guided by the insights provided by the pill, she had forced Sect Master Yang Ding into a steady retreat. Ultimately, following the pill's recommendations, she had relinquished control of the body back to him, allowing him to execute the Arhat Fist, thereby delivering a dual blow to both flesh and spirit.

"That aside, how exactly does one get out of here?" Having fought two individuals in succession, it was high time to depart, and Lu Yang was currently searching for an exit.

"Lu Yang, you lad have quite the audacity to clamor for a challenge against me!" Qiu Jin'an let loose a furious roar as he, too, descended from above, leaving Lu Yang entirely bewildered.

"Step aside, step aside, let this Celestial handle it!" The Immortal Fairy once more exercised her authority as Sect Master, possessing Lu Yang's form.

Whoosh—

The precious casket shuddered, and a bruised and swollen Qiu Jin'an stumbled out.

"Old Qiu, are you unharmed!" Yang Ding cried out loudly, rushing forward to support Qiu Jin'an.

Qiu Jin'an glared savagely at Yang Ding. It was only at the very end of the clash that he realized Lu Yang had never uttered a single harsh word; it had all been a fabrication by this old scoundrel!

He shoved Yang Ding aside, his cultivation and injuries restoring themselves simultaneously.

"It is nothing serious. That lad Lu Yang indeed possesses genuine talent; it was merely his final words that I found hard to stomach."

"What did he say?" Yang Ding's eyes gleamed with curiosity as he questioned.

"He claimed that neither the Five Elements Sect nor the Hanging Temple possesses anyone capable of matching him alone!" Qiu Jin'an slapped his thigh, speaking through gritted teeth.

Grandmaster Jiesha’s hand, which had been turning his prayer beads, ground to a halt, his eyes gleaming brightly.

Since everyone had suffered a beating, they had to reclaim their dignity at all costs. Those of the Body Integration Stage were young, hot-headed, and lacking in experience, but an old-established Tribulation Transgression Stage expert like Grandmaster Jiesha, returning to the Golden Core Stage, would surely triumph over Lu Yang!

Grandmaster Jiesha spoke no further; with measured steps and a rising aura, his gaze resolute, he strode directly into the precious casket.

Before long, Grandmaster Jiesha emerged from the casket in a wretched state, having grown a full head of thick, dark hair.

His appearance was slightly better than the previous three, though only marginally so.

Grandmaster Jiesha cast an ill-tempered look toward Qiu Jin'an, having realized during the combat that Lu Yang had spoken no such boastful words at all.

"Ahem, everyone is now aware of Lu Yang's combat prowess. Fellow Daoist Luo, pray release him." Qiu Jin'an coughed twice. Now that everyone had lost face equally, a sense of balance was restored to his heart.

Luo Hongxia rolled her eyes. She had long desired to let Lu Yang out, but these fellows had marched in one after another to deliver themselves up, entirely unstoppable.

She silently chanted the incantation, and the lid of the precious casket swung open, releasing the Immortal Fairy.

"Eh? Is that all? Is there not still an Emperor who has yet to receive a beating?"

The Immortal Fairy scratched her head, not yet having had her fill of battle.

The Great Xia Emperor: "..."

(End of Chapter)