Chapter 52: Ruthless Flower Destruction
Chapter 52: Ruthless Flower-Crushing
Though talismans and formations each have their merits, they ultimately share the same purpose—external aids that allow cultivators to overcome stronger opponents despite their own weakness.
A ninth-grade formation had already given Lü Yang the upper hand in battle.
And while a ninth-grade talisman might not match a formation's power, it was still something Yun Miaozhen couldn't casually dismiss, let alone the nearly five hundred talismans Lü Yang now unleashed simultaneously. The sheer force of this barrage could truly make heaven and earth change color.
Though talismans were consumables that would turn to ash after use, leaving no trace behind—making many cultivators treasure them dearly—Lü Yang was the exception. Run out of talismans? He'd simply have the banner spirits work overtime to craft another batch.
Boom!
In an instant, sword qi filled the air as thunderous echoes rolled across the sky. Countless talisman lights, swift as lightning, converged on Yun Miaozhen like a storm of blades and axes.
Yun Miaozhen had no choice but to retreat defensively.
A silver canopy of qi light materialized above her, shielding her from the onslaught. Yet this was only temporary—while the talismans didn't drain Lü Yang's energy, Yun Miaozhen's Taiyi Golden Radiance Pill Art consumed vast reserves. As her defenses waned under the relentless assault, she could only summon a faint essence light to barely protect herself.
"Slash!"
Lü Yang harbored no tender sentiments. Sword Qi Talismans and Five Thunder Talismans rained down simultaneously, shredding Yun Miaozhen's protective robe of radiant mist.
Rip!
The robe dissolved into scattered droplets, revealing swathes of snow-white skin beneath.
"Ah—!"
Yun Miaozhen's flawless complexion flushed crimson as her jade-like body trembled violently. Instinctively, she tried to cover herself, but Lü Yang's barrage left her no opportunity.
"Demon! You seek death!" Yun Miaozhen's face twisted in fury. As a prodigy who had reached the ninth layer of Qi Refining at a young age, mastered the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion's great divine ability, and earned true disciple status as her sect's Foundation Establishment seed, she had always carried herself with icy pride. Never had she been reduced to such humiliation.
Lü Yang merely smirked.
"Fellow Daoist is truly heaven's masterpiece—so ample, so fair, so... moist."
Despite Yun Miaozhen's desperate attempts to conceal herself, it was futile—Lü Yang saw everything, whether appropriate or not.
Sensitive to his gaze, Yun Miaozhen grew increasingly frantic.
What enraged her further was Lü Yang's sudden look of disdain. "Such indecency in broad daylight—is this how your esteemed orthodox sect conducts itself?"
Even as he spoke, Lü Yang continued controlling the talismans assaulting Yun Miaozhen. His taunts were merely psychological warfare—every action served the singular goal of eliminating his enemy.
As expected, the combination of humiliation and the frustration of being overpowered by Lü Yang's extravagant talisman spam finally ignited Yun Miaozhen's inner fire, creating a minute crack in her Dao heart.
"Now!"
Lü Yang wouldn't miss this fleeting moment of vulnerability. Hand seals formed as a radiant halo materialized behind his head, transforming his vision.
The battlefield now revealed countless traces of Yun Miaozhen's qi—every mark she'd left during their clash.
"Profound Yin Form-Capturing, Nail-Head Life-Claiming..."
With a thought, the halo focused on one cluster of Yun Miaozhen's qi, projecting an ethereal image of her graceful form.
Lü Yang's fingers swept down in a vertical slash.
The halo split in two—and so did Yun Miaozhen's projected image. An invisible force simultaneously acted upon her true body.
Crack!
A faint tearing sound echoed as a crimson line appeared across Yun Miaozhen's ivory forehead, rapidly widening.
"...You wish!"
In that instant, Yun Miaozhen's pupils contracted. Crimson spread across her fair skin as her delicate brows furrowed—golden light erupting from her eyes.
Abruptly, she withdrew the "divine light" contesting Lü Yang's Heavenly Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Light, recalling both her "qi light" and "essence light". The three radiances merged into a single glorious golden brilliance, lifting her like a celestial goddess descending from the heavens.
Three Lights United—Taiyi Golden Radiance!
Suddenly, Yun Miaozhen seemed to grow "taller" in Lü Yang's perception—not physically, but dimensionally.
'This is... a great divine ability?!'
If before she'd been employing components of the greater art, now she was unleashing the true Taiyi Golden Radiance.
The difference was staggering.
Bathed in golden light, Yun Miaozhen seemed to transcend the mortal plane, ascending to a height Lü Yang couldn't reach.
One high, one low.
This disparity felt hauntingly familiar—nowhere near as terrifying as that first encounter, but reminiscent of the awe he'd felt before Daoist Hong Yun.
Then Yun Miaozhen moved.
With a graceful wave, she diverted the Profound Yin Form-Capturing Grand Art onto someone with similar qi signatures—
Her own sister, Yun Miaoqing.
The wound on Yun Miaozhen's forehead healed instantly, while outside the grotto-heaven, the unconscious Yun Miaoqing abruptly split apart.
"Ruthless and decisive..."
Lü Yang sneered. "Fellow Daoist acts swiftly—sacrificing your own flesh and blood at the first sign of danger. Is this the righteousness of your Sword Pavilion?"
"This was Miaoqing's tribulation. Do not distort truth." Yun Miaozhen's voice regained its icy calm. "You disrupted her cultivation, leaving her tribulation unresolved. You're the root cause."
Lü Yang laughed heartily. "Such thick skin! You're wasted in the Sword Pavilion—our Saint Sect suits you better."
Yun Miaozhen remained unmoved, though killing intent sharpened in her gaze. "Sharp tongue won't save you, demon. Today, I execute heaven's will!"
The Taiyi Golden Radiance collapsed toward Lü Yang like a falling golden mountain, obliterating him and all his talismans in a single sweep—as thoroughly as erasing words from a page.
No corpse remained. No qi traces. Not even a hint of his existence lingered.
As the golden light faded, Yun Miaozhen staggered into view, her face ghastly pale.
Cough! Blood sprayed from her lips as every shred of radiance dissipated from her body.
"Gone... all gone..." Her red lips trembled without a trace of victory's joy. Forcing Taiyi Golden Radiance at less than perfected Qi Refining had shattered her three lights—decades of cultivation lost in an instant.
Her once-clear path to Foundation Establishment now clouded.
As Yun Miaozhen turned to leave the grotto-heaven, a figure materialized that defied belief.
"Fellow Daoist, the battle isn't over. Leaving so soon?"
Lü Yang stood unharmed, sleeves fluttering gracefully. Though his true qi and magic power were severely depleted, not a single injury marred his body.
"Impossible!"
Yun Miaozhen's beautiful features twisted in horror, her normally melodious voice turning shrill. "That was Taiyi Golden Radiance! How could you withstand it?"
Lü Yang wouldn't explain.
Indeed, relying solely on his own abilities, he couldn't have survived—a true great divine ability carried the might of Foundation Establishment.
What saved him was his talent.
[Purple Talent·Some Skill]
[Some Skill: No matter how terrifying the attack, if it falls within your limits, you can effortlessly withstand two instances of it.]
A reward from his previous life's sword strike against the Mending Heaven Peak Master!
Had Yun Miaozhen been able to unleash Taiyi Golden Radiance four or five times consecutively, he'd be dead. But one sweep? Then don't blame him for cheating.
Some Skill meant exactly that—he truly had some skill!
Smiling leisurely, Lü Yang first retrieved the Taiwei Mirror, then approached Yun Miaozhen, immobilizing her with its light.
She struggled instinctively. "What are you doing?!"
"Truthfully, I'm quite interested in the Taiyi Golden Radiance Pill Book."
"I'll tell you nothing!"
"Don't worry—you will."
Lü Yang's lips curled coldly. "I am, after all, a disciple of the Saint Sect's Mending Heaven Peak..."
......
Much later, the storm subsided.
"...Pity it's incomplete."
After meditating briefly, Lü Yang sighed. "Only one-third. The rest is protected by restrictions even dual cultivation couldn't breach..."
His gaze returned to Yun Miaozhen.
Clenching her teeth, she forced an ingratiating smile despite her hatred. "You've already taken me... isn't that enough?"
Lü Yang looked disgusted. "What use are you?"
Boom!
Before she could react, Lü Yang shook the Taiwei Mirror. Thunder and wind converged, reducing her exquisite form to dust.