Chapter 129, Instrumental Implement Confrontation and Dragon Spirit Secret Talisman

Translator: Raznick

 

Ming Xia’s method was actually quite simple—a wide search.

 

However, this wide search was not mobilizing the power of major clans to conduct a blanket search throughout Mist Province.

 

That would be essentially handing over sacrifices to the enemy!

 

Her method involved inviting Violet Palace Stage cultivators from major clans in Mist Province and having them work in pairs to systematically investigate each rogue cultivator settlement and minor cultivating clan estate.

 

According to her calculations, approximately thirty rogue cultivator settlements and minor clan estates needed to be investigated, and if three teams worked simultaneously, the search could be completed within three days.

 

If the people of the Dragonized Sect were still within the borders of Mist Province and were hiding and recuperating in a rogue cultivator settlement as she suspected, this search would undoubtedly find them.

 

However, despite its simplicity and effectiveness, this plan was not easily implemented.

 

For a cultivating clan like the Zhou Clan, there was only one Violet Palace Stage cultivator. How could they risk letting such a pillar of the clan leave the clan estate, especially during these dangerous times?

 

What if the Dragonized Sect cultivator discovered that their Violet Palace cultivator was absent and suddenly attacked their clan?

 

If a Violet Palace cultivator were to participate in this matter and cause the clan to be destroyed, the consequences would be dire!

 

Therefore, after hearing Ming Xia’s plan, Ming Jian also hesitated and did not immediately express his approval.

 

He needed to weigh the pros and cons and balance the benefits.

 

Ming Xia understood his concerns, so she did not pressure him from the start.

 

But after waiting for a long while and seeing him remain silent, she impatiently raised her eyebrows and spoke in a somber tone, “A decisive end must be brought to what cannot be endured; Senior Brother, you ought to know that if we return disgraced for negligence, the opportunity to redeem ourselves will be exceedingly rare.”

 

Speaking to this point, her tone hardened, “It’s better to strive now and risk failure than to regret it later!”

 

Though she was merely a woman, the presence she displayed at this moment surpassed even that of a man like Daoist Ming Jian.

 

As if stunned by her presence, he stared at her for a moment before his expression suddenly shifted.

 

After hesitating for a while, he sighed, “Very well, let’s do as you suggest and take a chance.”

 

With their opinions aligned, they split into two groups and personally visited the cultivating clan’s Violet Palace cultivators, using a combination of persuasion and pressure to request their assistance in the investigation.

 

At this time, although the major clans in Mist Province were fearful of the people from the Dragonized Sect, the influence of the Green Lotus Monastery on them remained immense, and no one dared to truly harbor treasonous thoughts.

 

Therefore, after persuasive words from the two Daoists, several local Mist Province Violet Palace cultivators agreed to assist in the investigation.

 

Shortly, four local Mist Province Violet Palace cultivators, including Zhou Mingde, along with two Green Lotus Monastery Violet Palace cultivators, a total of six people in three groups, simultaneously began investigating the rogue cultivator camps and smaller cultivating clan estates in Mist Province.

 

After a cultivator opened their Violet Palace, their soul manifested, and their Divine Sense underwent a transformation, rendering much hidden mystical art and secret art ineffective.

 

Therefore, with Violet Palace Stage cultivators personally involved in the investigation, if someone from the Dragonized Sect were to appear before them, they would undoubtedly be spotted.

 

Thus, only two days passed before the hiding place of the Dragonized Sect’s people was discovered.

 

It was a peculiar coincidence.

 

The cultivators who discovered the hiding place of the Dragonized Sect’s people were Zhou Mingde and Red Herb Valley’s Wang Clan Violet Palace cultivator Wang Guangping.

 

The Black Dragon Guardian was healing his injuries deep within the camp when the cultivator from the Dragonized Sect guarding the camp discovered the arrival of two Violet Palace cultivators. He was immediately terrified, believing their location had been exposed.

 

He then acted on his own initiative, activating the array and resolutely preventing the two from entering the camp.

 

This was essentially asking for trouble!

 

Zhou Mingde and Wang Guangping quickly had a Foundation Establishment cultivator who had followed them send a message for help while keeping an eye on the camp to prevent the enemy from escaping.

 

The Black Dragon Guardian, who had been in seclusion to heal, naturally had no choice but to come out. He quickly gathered people and prepared to break out.

 

He knew that after this breakout, he could no longer stay in Mist Province, and the mission was practically over.

 

Therefore, before the breakout, he directly issued the order to cause a distraction, then would regroup at the Black Dragon branch of the Dragonized Sect in Cloud Province.

 

Outside the camp, Zhou Mingde spoke to Wang Guangping with a serious expression: “Fellow Daoist Wang, if the enemy breaks out, you and I will restrain the Black Dragon Guardian. The rest can be dealt with by my spirit pet, and we will split the rewards equally. What do you think?”

 

“Very well, I shall follow your words, Fellow Daoist Zhou.”

 

Wang Guangping nodded in agreement, readily accepting the suggestion.

 

Not long after, the Black Dragon Guardian burst out of the camp.

 

He showed no visible injuries, but his aura was noticeably weaker than when Zhou Mingde had seen him in the Green Cloud Mountains.

 

His injuries were not fully healed.

 

When the Black Dragon Guardian saw Zhou Mingde, he roared angrily: “You again! It seems the Zhou Clan must have long lives, don’t they!”

 

Upon hearing these words, Zhou Mingde responded coldly: “It’s hard to say whether the Zhou Clan have long lives or not, but yours will probably be the shortest!”

 

He spoke, and together with Wang Guangping, invoked an artifact to attack the other.

 

“You have some nerve!”

 

The Black Dragon Guardian roared in anger, invoking an artifact to engage in combat with the two, while simultaneously reaching out to slap his waist storage bag, retrieving a silver-white talisman paper roughly a foot long.

 

“Go!”

 

He held the silver-white talisman paper, pouring spiritual power into it. The item quickly transformed into a shimmering silver longsword, which hurtled towards Zhou Mingde and his companion.

 

“It’s the Yu Clan’s Silver Frost Sword instrumental implement!”

 

Zhou Mingde’s eyes narrowed, instantly recognizing the origin of the long silver sword.

 

According to what they knew, the Black Dragon Guardian sustained his injury initially from being blasted by a mysterious treasure lightning pearl and subsequently struck by this instrumental implement.

 

With the demise of the Yu Clan Leader, this instrumental implement had fallen into the hands of the Black Dragon Guardian.

 

However, since they already knew this information, they would certainly be prepared.

 

He observed Zhou Mingde and Wang Guangping both raise their sleeves, retrieving an instrumental implement as well.

 

The Zhou Clan and the Wang Clan were both ancient and venerable clans. Items like instrumental implements were rare, but both had plenty in their possession.

 

Immediately, Zhou Mingde invoked a turquoise treasure mirror instrumental implement, and the turquoise light emitted from the mirror stilled the silver longsword in mid-air.

 

Wang Guangping invoked a longsword radiating purple-blue true fire, heading straight for the Black Dragon Guardian himself.

 

The power of an instrumental implement was like a Golden Core cultivator’s instrument; even if its power was less potent than an instrument, its essence was remarkable.

 

The Black Dragon Guardian, even with the use of the Dragonized Sutra, which made his body’s defenses akin to a third-grade defensive artifact, dared not let the instrumental implement strike him.

 

He twirled the dragon banner in his hand, and the black flood dragon depicted on the blue flag seemed to come alive, suddenly bursting forth from the banner’s surface, transforming into a black flood dragon stretching a full hundred feet in length as it lunged toward the flame-infused sword.

 

The Black Flood Dragon, formed from pure water spiritual energy, although lacking the quality of the violet-purple true flame propelled by the instrumental implement, possessed overwhelming and continuous power.

 

The Flood Dragon and the sword engaged in a fierce aerial battle, presenting a stalemate where neither could overcome the other.

 

But Wang Guangping had more than just an instrumental implement; she possessed her own artifact.

 

After using the instrumental implement to fend off the Black Dragon Guardian’s signature artifact, she summoned a slender, dark hair ornament and launched it towards him.

 

Despite its small size, the hair ornament was exceptionally sharp, and its speed surpassed even that of a flying sword.

 

The Black Dragon Guardian immediately recognized the danger and hastily conjured a dragon scale shield to protect himself, deflecting the attack.

 

But the next moment, Zhou Mingde raised a hand, and a crimson jade tablet materialized in his grasp.

 

Under his spiritual power, the ferocious tiger pattern carved on the front of the jade tablet suddenly opened its mouth and roared, and a ball of light rapidly leaped out from within, transforming into a Searing Fire tiger as it pounced on the Black Dragon Guardian.

 

At the same time, the Fire Spirit Jackal, at its master’s command, opened its mouth and unleashed a flaming pillar toward the Black Dragon Guardian.

 

This time, the Black Dragon Guardian found himself unable to defend against the fourfold assault and was struck.

 

Boom!

 

A tremendous roar echoed through the sky, and flames dyed half the heavens crimson.

 

The Black Dragon Guardian, covered in black dragon scales, burst forth from the searing fire and quickly fled towards a nearby river.

 

He intended to stall Zhou Mingde and the other to create an opportunity for his subordinates to break through and escape.

 

But now he realized he had no chance of withstanding the prepared assault of Zhou Mingde and Wang Guangping.

 

Therefore, without hesitation, he abandoned his subordinates and wanted to escape first to save himself.

 

“Where do you think you’re going?”

 

Zhou Mingde had personally experienced the Black Dragon Guardian’s ability to vanish using water, so upon seeing the other’s escape route, he understood his intentions.

 

He immediately urged the azure treasure mirror instrumental implement, redirecting it to shine a blue light toward the enemy.

 

The azure light pierced the air, instantly striking the Black Dragon Guardian.

 

Suddenly, the Guardian felt his body sink; the flow of spiritual power within him slowed down dozens of times, making it incredibly difficult to mobilize. Even maintaining his airborne state became extremely challenging.

 

Dammit!

 

A flash of anger appeared in his eyes, and he hastily channeled spiritual power to refine and dispel the azure light.

 

But the azure light was generated by the instrumental implement’s power, possessing exceptional quality; it was something he couldn’t easily refine or dispel.

 

As soon as he was restricted, Zhou Mingde and Wang Guangping’s other attacks descended upon him.

 

This situation made the Black Dragon Guardian panic.

 

Remembering Zhou Mingde’s previous words, he felt that if he relied only on ordinary skills, he might indeed have a difficult time this time.

 

Therefore, after a moment’s hesitation, he hardened his gaze and moved his Divine Sense, taking an item from his storage bag.

 

That was a talisman, measuring one foot and seven inches long, covered with dark reddish runes stacked like grains of rice, twisted and turned to form a dark red Flood Dragon pattern.

 

This item was a secret talisman of the Dragonized Sect, the Dragon Spirit Incarnation Talisman, extremely precious and rare, and a gift from a Dragonized Sect elder, a Golden Core elder, for the Black Dragon Guardian’s execution of this raid mission—it was also considered a reward for him.

 

He hadn’t intended to expend this valuable secret talisman in Mist Province, instead planning to use it as a trump card for self-protection.

 

But now the situation was dire, and although he was unwilling, he could only focus on saving his own life.

 

He began chanting a special incantation, quickly activating it.

 

Immediately, the talisman erupted in blood-red light, transforming into a blood-red Flood Dragon that plunged into the Black Dragon Guardian’s body.

 

For a moment, the Black Dragon Guardian’s face was contorted with extreme pain, and a wave of crimson light emanated from him, forming a blood-red shield that encased him.

 

Zhou Mingde and Wang Guangping’s attacks landed on the blood-red shield, and they were unable to break through it.

 

Roar—

 

Suddenly, a roar filled with pain echoed from the sky.

 

Immediately after, the blood-red shield contracted inward, rapidly transforming into countless blood-red runes that were imprinted on the Black Dragon Guardian’s black dragon scales, adding a touch of exquisiteness and mystery to the originally rough and primitive scales.

 

At this moment, the Black Dragon Guardian’s eyes were also filled with bloodlust, as if his mind was affected.

 

“This…”

 

Seeing the aura surge and the Black Dragon Guardian’s form drastically change, Zhou Mingde and Wang Guangping were shaken to their core, feeling a sense of foreboding.

 

They couldn’t blame their shallow experience; the Dragon Spirit Incarnation Talisman was something that only Guardians could access within the Dragonized Sect.

 

And those records pertaining to the Dragonized Sect were destroyed and sealed long ago, and the information the two of them possessed about the Spirit Dragon Possession Talisman was also limited.

 

“Roar! Time to die!”

 

Bloodshot eyes surged with fury, and the Black Dragon Protector finally regained his mind, roaring as he launched a counterattack.

 

Yes, a counterattack!

 

The Black Dragon Protector, in his current state, has forgotten that he was originally trying to break through and flee.

 

Or rather, it wasn’t that he forgot, but that he believed he didn’t need to escape now and could try to strike back at his opponent.

 

He slapped his hands together, and a black water dragon emerged, flapping its wings toward Zhou Mingde.

 

Then he swatted his claw, relying on the sharp dragon claw to block the incoming hairpin, sending the turquoise-black hairpin flying.

 

After being empowered by the Spirit Dragon Possession Talisman, his spiritual power and cultivation, and even his physical strength, were all enhanced.

 

He was now, without exaggeration, a humanoid Flood Dragon.

 

Considering that a Flood Dragon could defeat several cultivators of the same level, it seemed reasonable that he tried to strike back at Zhou Mingde and Wang Guangping.

 

“Don’t try to brute force him; wait until he has exhausted the power of that talisman before settling accounts with him!”

 

Zhou Mingde spoke sternly, instantly becoming vigilant.

 

While continuing to urge the turquoise treasure mirror to release its radiant light to slow the Black Dragon Protector, preventing him from using his physical advantage to rush into close combat, he summoned the Fire Spirit Jackal that had been left behind to slaughter the members of the Dragonized Sect.

 

And Wang Guangping, after trying once, abandoned the idea of a direct confrontation, only focusing on controlling the flame longsword instrumental implement to withstand the opponent’s instrumental implement, then supplementing it with other artifacts and mystical art to deplete the Black Dragon Protector’s spiritual power.