Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

Suddenly, a sword light flew out from the depths of the Sea of Blood, blocking Lu Yu's attack. This sword light was full of killing intent. Looking toward the direction from which the sword light came, one could see a Taoist whose age was indiscernible, sitting atop the Sea of Blood.

Although the Taoist's age could not be discerned, his presence had an aura of the timelines—a vague and indescribable breath. He sat there as though one could see the passage of time itself, and with just one glance, everyone knew this Taoist must be an ancient powerhouse.

He wore a black Taoist robe, and behind him were two blood-colored long swords, from which endless killing intent emanated, causing an involuntary shiver to anyone who sensed it—it was as if through these swords one could see the purest form of the intent to kill.

"It's not easy to find such a fine seedling; we cannot let him be wasted!" The words of the Taoist reached everyone's ears as if coming from the distant past, carrying the breath of the ages.

Intimidated by the aura of the Taoist, everyone dared not make a single move, but this did not include Lu Yu; he harbored a resolute intent to kill Xue Wuyi.

Regardless of the Taoist's obstruction, the bright sword light soared once more, rushing straight towards Xue Wuyi's face.

Seeing this, the Taoist furrowed his brows and said, "Interesting, to make a move under the pressure of an elder like me is not simple. When did such outstanding talent spring up in the Three Realms!"

With a gentle wave of his sleeve, Lu Yu's sword light vanished without a trace, as if it had sunk into the ocean depths.

Seeing this, Lu Yu knew he probably could no longer kill Xue Wuyi; with the Taoist blocking him, his attacks could not reach Xue Wuyi at all.

Xue Wuyi, upon seeing this, rejoiced in his heart, knowing his efforts had not been in vain. With this elder stepping forward to protect him, his life was without worry.

"Since you made a strike under my watch, take a strike from me!" said the Taoist lightly.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Behind him, one of the treasured swords shimmered, and a sword light full of pure killing intent attacked Lu Yu.

Naturally, Lu Yu would not take this lightly; after all, the one he faced was a legend. However, it wasn't his style to yield so easily either.

With a loud shout, water flowed out from the Treasure Vase, forming a barrier in front of him to block the sword light—only to be torn apart shortly afterward.

A surge of anger rose in his heart; despite the elder's strength, his attitude of treating all beings as less than insects was something Lu Yu had always disliked, and now this disdain was being aimed directly at him.

Even a clay figure has three points of anger, and that goes even more for Lu Yu. Raising his Treasured Sword, he twisted all of his indomitable spirit and will into a single force, transforming it into a sword light.

Sword against sword, the most favored method amongst Sword Immortals. Although Lu Yu had always wielded a sword, to be truthful, he could not be considered a true Sword Immortal; he had always lacked the unstoppable momentum of a Sword Immortal.

Now in this moment, he finally found his sword heart. This strike could definitely be counted as Lu Yu's strongest ever, the utmost pure Sword Intent carrying an indomitable will to meet the powerhouse's attack.

As the two Sword Intents met in the sky, the void seemed to be torn apart by the Sword Intent, with black fissures faintly flashing. The land, swept by the crossing Sword Intents, was left with countless ravines. Read chapters at empire

The bystanders hurriedly dodged and kept their distance from the battlefield, as the level of the confrontation was such that even a brush from the exposed Sword Intent could leave scars on them—none dared to get closer.

The immense Sword Intent rampaged through the air, incessantly closing in on Lu Yu's body. At that moment, sounds akin to the tide could be heard emanating from Lu Yu's being, and from a distance, onlookers seemed to see an illusory great sea emerging around him.

Lu Yu's clothes were tattered by the Sword Intent, but not a single wound was left on his body. Now that he had succeeded in Body Refinement, his body was truly an Immortal Body, and the exhausted Sword Intent could not harm him.

Therefore, although he appeared to be in a sorry state, his aura had not weakened. On the contrary, a soaring battle intent burst forth from his body.

Lu Yu, who had blocked this strike, had an unyielding light flashing in his eyes, and he couldn't help but shout, "What goes around comes around, patriarch! Take my sword in return!"

Bright sword light transformed into a mighty river, charging toward the Taoist seated above the Sea of Blood with an unstoppable momentum.

The sword was so resplendent that even the Taoist did not dare to take it lightly. He who had been sitting raised a sleeve, and a huge wave suddenly rose from the endless Sea of Blood, blocking the sword light.

The Taoist looked at the human race Scholar daring to strike at him, his mind momentarily bewildered. He hadn't made a name for himself in the Three Realms for many years—were the people of today so bold and fearless, daring to draw their swords against him?

Although Lu Yu's Sword Intent still seemed somewhat immature in his eyes, the courage to draw a sword against him was extremely rare.

"Well, I, the patriarch, have avoided the world for many years, and truly have not seen the likes of you before. Should you die at my hands, I shall collect your soul into this Sea of Blood; you would make a fine Asura."

"Amitabha! Heaven cherishes all life; it would be best, patriarch, not to create more killing karma!" At this moment, a chant of Buddha's name suddenly came from afar.

A young Monk appeared above the Sea of Blood, dressed in a Kasaya, standing upon a lotus platform, with a halo of merit shining brightly behind his head.

"Ksitigarbha! You've come to meddle again," said the Patriarch of the Nether River with some resentment.

"This humble monk has made a great vow: 'Hell shall not be empty, I will not become a Buddha; until all beings are liberated, only then shall I attain Bodhi.' Patriarch, if you continue to kill, wouldn't that destroy this monk's merit?" Ksitigarbha replied with a smile on his face.

"Humph! You go too far!" The Patriarch of the Nether River felt somewhat angry and embarrassed. At this moment, he was too lazy to bother with Lu Yu anymore, and he maneuvered the Sea of Blood in an attempt to drown the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha.

The golden light of merit on Ksitigarbha's head shone brightly as he stood calmly atop the roaring Sea of Blood, quietly chanting sutras. The Sea of Blood couldn't get close to him; instead, as the chanting resonated, the countless aggrieved souls sunken in the Sea of Blood were transcended one by one.

They turned into clear-spirited Ghosts, paid their respects to Ksitigarbha, and then vanished from sight.

With the liberation of these aggrieved souls, Ksitigarbha's halo of merit became even brighter, and the speed of their Conversion increased once more.

The two treasured swords, Yuantu and Abi, flew up but were blocked by the Treasure Bead in Ksitigarbha's hands, unable to harm him. The Patriarch of the Nether River was so frustrated, he felt like spitting blood. Ever since the formation of the world, he was born from this Sea of Blood and had always been a renowned entity within the Three Realms.

Yet now, he suffered a great loss at the hands of the rising star Ksitigarbha.

Ever since Ksitigarbha made his great vow, he had dwelled in the Netherworld, suppressing the Sea of Blood, which made the once-powerful Patriarch of the Nether River unable to make a name for himself, quietly fading from the Three Realms' memory.

It was due to such pressure from Ksitigarbha that he cast aside his pride and personally devised a plan, using Xue Wuyi to condense the Sea of Blood to replenish the Netherworld's Sea of Blood.