The thunderous roar continued unabated. Although Lin Yi had not comprehended the peerless sword techniques of refining swords into threads and splitting sword light, the combination of sword energy and thunderous roar with the Great Shifting Sword Technique still possessed an unfathomable power.
Dugu Yuyun guarded the gate tightly, his body surging with magical power. He unleashed the full power of the Myriad Swords Technique, transforming it into a vast river of sword energy that stretched across the sky.
Lin Yi stood in the very center of the Myriad Swords Illusion Array, a slight smile playing on his lips, and muttered to himself, "The renowned Sword Saint of Mount Shu has indeed not disappointed me."
Ascetic training and combat are essential elements in a cultivator's growth process.
Without experiencing wind and rain, one will forever remain a flower in a greenhouse and will never grow into a towering tree.
Streams of sword energy flowed between Lin Yi's five fingers, leaping through the void like swimming fish, heading straight for Dugu Yuyun.
The Five Primordial Formations transformed into a Dao Wheel suspended high above, while the remaining thirty-three formations unfolded, unknowingly turning the opponent into a sitting duck.
Dugu Yuyun realized something was wrong. His sword light shattered the Myriad Swords Illusion Array, but he was trapped in a new array.
Lin Yi stood proudly above the Thirty-Three Heavens, his entire being like a god-king who ruled over all heavens and manipulated creation. The Limitless Dao Wheel, formed from the Primordial Five Great Array Diagram, spun behind his head, flowing with indescribable Daoist charm.
"The game is over."
Lin Yi pressed down with his right hand, and his five fingers transformed into five mountain peaks, which were the true Daoist teachings of the Tai Xuan lineage—the True Form Diagram of the Five Sacred Mountains.
The grandeur of Mount Tai in the east, the perilousness of Mount Hua in the west, the elegance of Mount Heng in the south, the wonder of Mount Heng in the north, and the steepness of Mount Song in the center are all within the reach of these five peaks.
Gazing at the Five Sacred Peaks descending from the sky, Dugu Yuyun brandished his longsword, and a clear and melodious sword chant resounded through the void for a long time.
At this moment, Dugu Yuyun became one with his sword, transforming into a rainbow piercing the sky, carrying the resolute will to shatter all laws with a single sword strike, sweeping across the heavens.
The world suddenly fell silent, and then with a loud "boom," the power compressed to its limit exploded outwards.
Dazzled and mesmerized, Li Xiaoyao stood on the gourd of the Drunken Sword Immortal, swaying back and forth in the raging wind, like a small boat struggling to survive in a stormy sea.
When the storm subsided, Dugu Yuyun stood pale-faced in mid-air. After a long while, he sighed and said, "I lost."
Lin Yi said calmly, "Release them, and I'll turn around and leave." He looked nonchalant, showing no signs of having just fought a major battle.
Dugu Yuyun shook his head and said earnestly, "That demoness has already been sent to the Demon-Locking Tower by me. Fellow Daoist, your magic power is great, but please heed my advice: demonesses bewitch people's minds and bring endless harm. Don't continue to be obsessed."
Lin Yi was not surprised and said, "In that case, please come with me to the Demon Locking Tower."
Having come all the way to Mount Shu, how could we not take a stroll through the Demon-Locking Tower?
Before he could finish speaking, Lin Yi suddenly appeared beside Dugu Yuyun and reached out to grab him.
Dugu Yuyun dodged to the side, and at the same time swung his long sword in his right hand, slashing towards Lin Yi.
The longsword struck Lin Yi's robe sleeve. The Taixu Robe was a sixth-order True Form level existence, how could Dugu Yuyun possibly shake it?
Lin Yi and Dugu Yuyun disappeared into the air. Seeing that things were not going well, the Drunken Sword Immortal chased after them with his sword, but could only watch helplessly as the two disappeared into the Demon Locking Tower.
The Demon-Sealing Tower is towering high, resembling a smooth, upright pillar, its entire body dark gray, with only a seemingly black hole-like entrance at the bottom. A sinister, ghostly aura permeates the misty, hazy atmosphere.
Lin Yi appeared at the cave entrance with Dugu Yuyun, and a deafening shout rang out from above: "Who are you, and what brings you here?"
The question caused the ground to shake. A large shadow almost completely obscured them both.
Lin Yi looked up and saw a monster several meters tall before him. Its thick arms were as big as palace pillars, its skin was bulging and dark, and its head, as big as a cart, had a bull's nose, blue lips, and exposed fangs. Its three bright eyes, like lightning, fixed on Lin Yi and Dugu Yuyun.
Lin Yi said dismissively, "Playing tricks."
"Insolent fool!" A glint of electricity flashed in the huge monster's eyes, and his voice was deep and majestic as he said, "I am the guardian deity of this tower, the Prison King."
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Chapter 157 Changing Fate
Lin Yi said slowly, "No need to speak so loudly, I can hear you."
Dugu Yuyun looked around at the Demon-Locking Tower. Since Shushan disciples were restricted from entering the tower, he was also quite curious about this place.
"Disrespecting the supreme deity deserves punishment." The voice of the Prison King, as loud as thunder, rang out, but even faster than the sound came a bolt of lightning.
Lin Yi flicked his finger, and a sword aura shattered the lightning. He sneered, "Heaven, Earth, Man, God, and Ghost. We cultivators are grateful for the creation of Heaven and the virtue of Earth in bearing all things. We respect Heaven and revere Earth. Therefore, Man is third. How dare a mere god be so presumptuous in front of me? He is truly courting death."
"How dare you!" the Demon King of the Prison shouted.
"You're the one who's being audacious." Lin Yi waved his sleeve, and a white bone dragon boat, shining with seven-colored divine light, suddenly appeared. It was arrogant, domineering, and violent, and crashed directly into the Prison King.
With a loud "boom," the Demon-Locking Tower shook. This tower was connected to the earth veins of Mount Shu, and the result was that the entire Mount Shu shook.
The Demon King of Hell stretched out his six arms, brandishing weapons, and headed towards the white bone dragon boat.
Dugu Yuyun stared in disbelief at this scene; it seemed like they were about to forcibly dismantle the Demon-Locking Tower.
The battle between the Supreme Ship and the Prison King quickly reached a fever pitch. The two sides were now locked in a fierce struggle, and the Demon-Locking Tower was shaking violently, as if it would collapse at any moment.
Lin Yi released his grip and looked at Dugu Yuyun, asking, "I've heard that the Sword Saint of Shu Mountain knew a descendant of Nuwa from the previous generation. Now, can you explain why you captured that little girl? Don't try to fob me off with that witch-like story."
Dugu Yuyun's gaze suddenly softened, as if he were recalling something beautiful.
Memories buried deep in his heart resurfaced, and he sighed softly, saying, "Do your best and leave the rest to fate. I want to try and see if I can change anything."
“Every generation of Nuwa’s descendants will eventually embark on the path of self-sacrifice to save others for various reasons. This is the greatness of Nuwa’s lineage, but also their eternal tragedy. I want to try to see if I can change this fate.”
Lin Yi nodded, understanding the real reason why Dugu Yuyun had kidnapped Zhao Ling'er.
Defying fate and changing one's destiny is the eternal pursuit of generations of cultivators.
Heaven and earth went from order to chaos, and all things went from birth to death. Those who followed the natural order became humans, while those who went against it became immortals.