Chapter 1165: Kill to Incinerate, Ascend to Bliss Early

Under the Bodhi divine ability, Huang Sheli's every action was naturally perfected, shattering Zhao Rucheng's attacks with the least amount of energy and the simplest movements.

That sense of concise and clear beauty was astounding.

Every move and stance pointed directly to the fundamental truth.

Technique approaching the Dao!

Just as the yellow-faced Buddha head gently tapped, it found the concentration point of Zhao Rucheng's true essence and the nexus where his sword energy intertwined, directly shattering the Gengjin sword.

Amidst the scattering dark gold sword energy, the brass Demonic Subduing Staff continued its advance. The carved yellow-faced Buddha head, in a state of compassion, seemed to smile.

All sentient beings suffer, my Buddha is merciful.

Yet, it struck towards Zhao Rucheng's face!

Zhao Rucheng stepped forward directly, as if to meet the blow head-on, but as his foot landed, he had already shifted to the left.

The Great Five Elements Chaotic Sky Step, harnessing the winds of the five elements, is adept at disrupting positions and reversing paths.

But Huang Sheli merely shifted her right foot slightly, her momentum unchanged, the Buddha head still squarely aimed at Zhao Rucheng's face!

Her footwork was likewise concise and clear.

She had perceived the correct path within the chaos and disorder of this moment, this situation, this route!

The Bodhi divine ability, reaching such a height!

Through the bronze mask, his opponent's expression was obscured.

But Huang Sheli saw a right hand suddenly extended, its five fingers blooming like a flower. It reached towards the Buddha head as if plucking a flower, intending to take it off.

It was precisely the Minor Formless Flower-Plucking Sword Finger.

This reaction from her opponent was, of course, extremely swift and fierce. The Minor Formless Flower-Plucking Sword Finger is also a top-tier finger-sword killing technique.

However, she was completely unafraid, responding with ease.

Her left hand slightly retracted, forming a bud shape, and drilled straight forward, entering the covered area of the Minor Formless Flower-Plucking Sword Finger, seemingly throwing herself into a trap... and then her five fingers spread open!

Bodhi also blossoms!

Her opened left hand's five fingers precisely interlocked with Zhao Rucheng's right hand's five fingers, their ten fingers intertwined!

In such a marvelous manner, she perfectly intercepted the Minor Formless Flower-Plucking Sword Finger.

Ordinarily, let alone interlacing fingers with a strangely ugly man, merely thinking of that image would make Huang Sheli nauseous and unable to sleep for days.

But in battle, she only sought the optimal combat strategy.

The Sixteen Scattered Hands to Save the World was created by Huang Fo in the military and is a well-known unarmed combat technique in the Jing Kingdom. Core generals of the Yellow Dragon Guard have learned one or two moves.

Naturally, there was no such move as interlacing fingers within it.

It was Huang Sheli, operating under the Bodhi state, who naturally incorporated it into her actions.

True mastery of application.

While interlocking her opponent's five fingers, her five internal organs moved in unison, and her Heavenly Palace also roared. Her left hand pulled Zhao Rucheng's right hand to the side, forcibly exposing his weak points, like a merciful Bodhisattva trying to save suffering sentient beings from the sea of suffering.

But the Buddha head continued to strike the face!

This strike was different from the previous one. Before the yellow-faced Buddha head even landed, bell sounds suddenly echoed around the entire martial arts arena.

It was the faint, lingering sound of an ancient temple in the deep mountains, and also the compassionate warmth of persuading those in the sea of suffering to turn back.

Although there was no obvious display of terrifying power, Zhao Rucheng's body stiffened on the spot.

Before the physical stiffness, there was the stiffness of the soul!

This is the Great Mercy Universal Salvation Heart Sutra, created by Huang Fo!

What is Universal Salvation?

To kill is to save!

What is Mercy?

Killing is mercy!

With this Great Mercy Universal Salvation Heart Sutra, one can awe and kill both body and soul!

Who could have imagined that the Minor Formless Flower-Plucking Sword Finger, which shone brilliantly in the battle against Yin Wenhua, could be countered in such a clever way?

A divinely inspired move, naturally perfected.

At this moment, Huang Sheli was terrifying!

As an opponent, Zhao Rucheng's response in battle could already be called brilliant, almost flawless.

But she forcefully transformed the Sixteen Scattered Hands to Save the World, causing Bodhi to blossom, artificially creating a crack, and then infinitely expanding this crack, instantly pulling her opponent into a dead end!

At this very moment.

The Sixteen Scattered Hands to Save the World had already exposed Zhao Rucheng's weak points, while simultaneously sealing his qi, strangling his true essence, and constraining his joints. The Great Mercy Universal Salvation Heart Sutra also awed and killed her opponent's body and soul, leaving him nowhere to run, nowhere to hide...

And the Universal Salvation Demonic Subduing Staff was about to "subdue the demon"!

From the collapse of the Magpie Bridge, Zhao Rucheng's attack by treading the broken bridge, to his current predicament, only a few blinks of an eye had passed.

The battle between top-tier prodigies is thus fierce, thus perilous.

But just at this moment, behind Zhao Rucheng, a faint, moon-white rhinoceros horn appeared.

It was only a fleeting glimpse, like an illusion.

Divine Ability, Spiritual Rhino!

Without the colorful phoenix wings to fly in pairs, the hearts are connected by a single point of spiritual rhinoceros.

This is also a divine ability that can be used for cultivation and combat.

In cultivation, it can often break through bottlenecks and capture inspiration.

In combat, it is manifested as capturing combat inspiration. For example, it allows for a more accurate grasp of the opponent's combat intent, achieving "understanding without words"! For example, breaking free from fixed patterns of thought, having a flash of inspiration for a choice in battle...

The Buddha head of the Universal Salvation Demonic Subduing Staff had already struck his face.

He could not evade, could not retreat far, and could not block in haste!

No matter how thick the bronze mask was, it could not withstand this blow. It itself had no ability beyond concealing the face, otherwise it would not have been allowed in the martial arts arena.

In an instant, a stalemate seemed to have appeared on the field.

But as an observer below the stage, Jiang Wang, although unable to see the expression of Deng Qi from the Mu Kingdom, could perceive that the eyes beneath his mask did not even blink!

And his right hand's five fingers, the five fingers firmly held by Huang Sheli, at this moment, burst forth with brilliant golden light!

The illusory image of a golden-winged great roc faintly appeared in the air.

Garuda Formation Breaking Sword Finger!

The Mu Kingdom prodigy's five fingers all turned into brilliant gold, and terrifying sword energy burst forth from his fingers, intending to shred Huang Sheli's five fingers into meat paste. And its momentum was fierce, directly pointing at her eyebrow crucial point!

Having received the Buddha's favor, destroy outer paths. Break the enemy's restraints, capture and kill the king of thieves.

This is the Garuda Formation Breaking.

This move was so perfectly timed.

Although this Garuda Formation Breaking Sword Finger technique incorporates military killing methods, belonging to the same stream as soldiers, the Buddhist true meaning within it is also extremely pure. Even the successor of the Xiyue Convent had previously acknowledged it.

Wouldn't the so-called "Yellow-faced Buddha" created by Huang Fo himself be an outer path? As one of the Eight Legions of Devas, Dragons, and Gods, the Garuda often listens to the Dharma before the Buddha, and it is only natural for it to "protect the Dharma."

But...

Why was this Garuda Formation Breaking Sword Finger unleashed when he had clearly been sealed in terms of Dao power, locked in terms of qi, and controlled at his joints by the Sixteen Scattered Hands to Save the World?

It came too suddenly!

It was as if both sides had already deployed their armies, and while they were in a fierce battle, a surprise troop suddenly appeared from nowhere!

This was an unexpected presence!

Many spectators outside the arena couldn't understand.

Huang Sheli, in the Bodhi state, was perfectly clear in her mind.

She had a clear perception. Just now, after this Deng Qi activated the Spiritual Rhino divine ability, the Gengjin sword energy that had dissipated earlier was actually re-controlled and returned to his fingers!

This current Garuda Formation Breaking Sword Finger is not from within, and Deng Qi did not break through the constraints of the Sixteen Scattered Hands to Save the World. Instead, it uses the Gengjin sword energy as the foundation for the Garuda Formation Breaking Sword Finger, forming it directly outside his body!

Therefore, it could not be blocked, and therefore it could be a surprise troop.

This was simply a stroke of genius. The Magpie Bridge Immortal Gengjin Sword Energy and the Garuda Formation Breaking Sword Finger could even combine in such a way, something completely unimaginable.

In a battle against others, this should be a brilliant move capable of turning the tide.

But he was facing Huang Sheli!

Almost as soon as the Garuda Formation Breaking Sword Finger burst forth with brilliant gold, Huang Sheli's five fingers loosened and retreated, getting away in time.

At this moment, Zhao Rucheng's Garuda Formation Breaking Sword Finger failed to strangle Huang Sheli's left hand, but he also simultaneously broke free from the restraint and gained room to retreat.

Huang Sheli's Sixteen Scattered Hands to Save the World was broken open, and she faced the danger of her opponent's Garuda Formation Breaking Sword Finger, but at the same time, the Universal Salvation Demonic Subduing Staff was still heading towards her opponent's face.

Both sides faced new choices.

This was a contest of courage, wisdom, and talent.

Combat choices under the blessing of divine abilities.

Bodhi and Spiritual Rhino!

The brilliant golden Garuda Formation Breaking Sword Finger went straight towards Huang Sheli's eyebrows without hesitation.

Zhao Rucheng was the first to make a choice!

He didn't retreat or evade, but instead chose to attack fiercely!

He was certain that he could strike Huang Sheli's eyebrows first, anticipating her move before his own forehead was shattered!

Huang Sheli's forward-striking Demonic Subduing Staff suddenly pulled back, the three-edged cone point stabbing towards Zhao Rucheng's hand.

She had also sensed Zhao Rucheng's follow-up move and confirmed that she indeed could not shatter his forehead first. Her choice was also not to retreat.

When masters compete, they contend for time, momentum, and intent.

One step back can easily lead to being constantly bullied by the opponent!

She used offense as defense. The point of her stab was also precise, hitting exactly at Zhao Rucheng's wrist bone.

This distance, neither far nor near, was just enough to intercept Zhao Rucheng's Garuda Formation Breaking Sword Finger.

This timing, neither fast nor slow, was precisely when Zhao Rucheng's "advance is futile, retreat is powerless."

The cone point of the Universal Salvation Demonic Subduing Staff has three edges.

These three edges represent the three lifetimes.

They are the past life, the present life, and the future life.

When this Demonic Subduing Staff strikes with its cone point, it is to erase the past, kill the present, and sever the future.

Bodhi illuminates, leaving no path to survival.

Facing such a precise and uncomfortable stab.

Zhao Rucheng's Garuda Formation Breaking Sword Finger suddenly turned back, his brilliant golden five fingers blooming like brilliant golden flowers.

His index and middle fingers, surprisingly, pinched the tip of the cone!

Plucking a flower in the three lifetimes!

Using the Magpie Bridge Immortal Gengjin Sword Energy as the foundation, he employed the movement method of the Garuda Formation Breaking Sword Finger, yet unleashed the moves of the Minor Formless Flower-Plucking Sword Finger!

Earlier, in the battle against Yin Wenhua, many people felt that this Deng Qi from the Mu Kingdom had learned too much, and his path might be difficult.

Now, looking at it, the powerful secret techniques he possessed, which seemed completely unrelated, had actually been thoroughly integrated by him, used at will, and fused into a single entity!

What kind of talent, what kind of genius is this!

Just look at the scene on the field—

His right hand plucked a flower in the three lifetimes, pinching the Demonic Subduing Staff between his fingers. He gently lifted it up, avoiding its sharpness and creating an opening. Zhao Rucheng lifted his foot as if to retreat, but when his foot landed, he had already closed in by one foot!

The most natural and suitable attack range for the Universal Salvation Demonic Subduing Staff was exactly outside of one foot and one inch!

And Zhao Rucheng's left hand slightly lifted, his five fingers pointing downward as if pressing on something. If one looked carefully, they would find that each of his fingers was pressing on a different horizontal plane, with varying heights.

Like carefully pruned flower branches.

His five fingers were long, fair, and moist, perfectly sculpted.

So much so that in such an intense battle, a stray thought arose in Huang Sheli's mind - this fellow from the Mu Kingdom is too ugly to look at, but his hands are quite pretty.

And then his index finger flicked forward.

Between heaven and earth, zither sounds suddenly erupted!

Sound patterns suddenly appeared, the translucent air gathering into sword shapes, chillingly sharp, whistling through the air, directly piercing Huang Sheli's neck.

The Heaven's End Without Trace Qi Sword Technique!

The Mu Kingdom prodigy, Liang, possesses the divine ability of controlling qi, known as "qi is for my use." Of course, he possesses top-tier qi control abilities.

Zhao Rucheng's finger-sword technique also involves manipulating qi. However, it uses secret methods to guide it, takes sword stances as its form, and also incorporates zither music.

Just as he used his right hand to pluck a flower in the three lifetimes, "plucking" the Demonic Subduing Staff between his fingers.

His left hand was like playing a zither, like playing a pipa.

As soon as the index finger moved, the ring finger plucked again, the thumb pressed like a string, and the little finger hooked up again.

One after another, like waves.

Just listen—

Zhengg zhengg zhengg zhengg!

Zhengg zhengg zhengg zhengg!

His left hand's five fingers were like butterflies dancing among flowers, playing in the human world.

And the air either formed swords, or gathered into saber shapes, or spears, or arrows...

Overwhelming, covering all the vital points around Huang Sheli.

Qi flowed like strings, producing melodious tunes.

A hundred qis forming a kill, vowing to sever all eight directions and six harmonies.

"Lightly plucking, slowly twanging, brushing, and picking again, at first it is 'Rainbow Skirts and Feathered Dresses,' then 'Sixes and Eights'."

Where is he playing the zither to seek a confidante, he is clearly setting up an ambush on all sides to kill the enemy!

The situation of offense and defense has changed!

This battle was too spectacular. In a very short time, the tide of victory and defeat reversed wildly. It was impossible to guess the changes. Each time it was unexpected, and upon careful consideration, it felt incredibly clever.

It seemed to be Huang Sheli's turn to be in a dangerous situation again.

The spectators in the viewing stands held their breath for this wonderful battle.

Only Jiang Wang below the stage, staring intently at those fingers that changed like fluttering butterflies, suddenly felt a sense of panic.

Competing at the Guanhe Platform, fighting against top-tier prodigies, he had not panicked.

Breaking out of the Misty Realm, struggling to survive amidst the sea race army, he had not panicked.

But at this moment, his heart panicked.

He hoped it was true, and yet he was afraid of proving it wasn't.

In Fenglin City of the past, there was a person who was extremely meticulous about his food, clothing, housing, and transportation.

Because he was too handsome, in order to avoid "wasting nature's gifts," he also paid great attention to maintenance.

Down to his hair, up to his fingers...

His left hand and right hand had to be wiped with different handkerchiefs.

He, however, often used that person's gold-embroidered handkerchief to wipe his sword blade, making that person scream in anger and challenge him to a duel every time. Of course, using that person's handkerchief to wipe his sword was not his original idea.

He once danced his sword under the moonlight, while this person, drunk, played the zither for him.

At that time, he looked back under the moonlight and saw such a pair of hands that seemed to dance among flowers!

Is it true?

This is too incredible!

The Fenglin City area, which had sunk into the netherworld, a故人 (gùrén, old friend) he thought he would never see again...

How could a dominant country like the Mu Kingdom allow an outsider to represent their country in the Guanhe Platform battle? He himself had the support of people like Chong Xuan Sheng, Yan Fu, Li Longchuan, and even Lu Zongxiao, only then did he have the qualification to compete for fame, and he won the selection contest fair and square before coming to the Guanhe Platform.

If it was really him, how did he do it...

So is it not true?

So is it just wishful thinking?

Jiang Wang pursed his lips and remained silent, his eyes fixed.

But no one paid attention to his mood.

On the martial arts stage, the Mu Kingdom prodigy's killing move had surrounded Huang Sheli.

Everyone was waiting for Huang Sheli's response.

And she indeed did not disappoint.

Huang Sheli of the Jing Kingdom has a full and sexy mouth.

Of course, it's hard to hear anything good from this mouth.

At this moment, her lips suddenly moved—

"Zhā!"

A sound as if a thousand echoed. It shook the outer ears and awed the inner heart.

This is the Universal Salvation Brahma Sound!

This top-tier sound-killing technique is adept at injuring the spirit, destroying intent, seizing sound, and taking life.

In the void, faintly, it seemed as if chanting echoed.

The spectators who concentrated on listening couldn't help but look strange.

Especially the spectators from outside the Jing Kingdom, some frowning, some confused, some dumbfounded.

This was because the content of the chanting was thus—

"If someone slanders me, deceives me, insults me, mocks me, belittles me, defiles me, hates me, and cheats me, how should I deal with it?"

"Stop your nonsense, kill him, kill him, kill him, kill him, kill his whole family!"

Most people were speechless at this so-called chanting.

The dissonance of its content completely subverted people's general perception of the Buddhist sect.

Only a portion of those who understood the situation knew that this was the scripture of the Great Mercy Universal Salvation Heart Sutra!

The Great Mercy Universal Salvation Heart Sutra is a killing technique that affects both body and soul.

Huang Sheli had already used it before.

But at the same time, there is also such a Heart Sutra in the world.

It was also compiled by General Huang Fo of the Yellow Dragon Guard, said to have been completed after ten years of seclusion.

Its content...

It was precisely what was chanted in the void after Huang Sheli unleashed the Universal Salvation Brahma Sound, mostly in this style...

That bald general of the Yellow Dragon Guard is truly a rare talent in the world.

Of course, at this moment, the scripture is not the point, the point is the Universal Salvation Brahma Sound, this sound-killing technique.

As Huang Sheli uttered a "Zhā" sound.

The chanting began. The sound of this chanting was clearly faint and weak, yet it completely suppressed the zither sounds caused by Zhao Rucheng's Heaven's End Without Trace Qi Sword Technique!

Those qi swords and qi blades, just as they reached Huang Sheli, collapsed and dispersed back into qi.

Zhao Rucheng's five fingers continued to pluck the strings in the void, and Huang Sheli's Universal Salvation Brahma Sound uttered continuous Zhā sounds.

The scene suddenly became intense!

Countless qi swords and sound patterns clashed wildly.

The power of qi and the power of sound engaged in a fierce battle in all the space between the two.

This was an extremely subtle contention, specific to every sound, every wisp of qi, every inch of space.

This was a top-tier clash, exquisite to the extreme!

One used the Spiritual Rhino divine ability, wielding the Heaven's End Without Trace Qi Sword Technique.

One used the Bodhi divine ability, controlling the Universal Salvation Brahma Sound.

One had "hearts connected like spiritual rhinoceroses," and the other was "awakened by enlightenment."

The various subtle changes of "qi" and "sound" were dazzling to the eyes.

It was difficult to quickly determine the winner.

Huang Sheli did not know how long her opponent's Spiritual Rhino divine ability could be maintained, but in this battle, it was she who first activated the Bodhi divine ability. If their development levels were similar, then her opponent's divine ability state would definitely end after hers.

A stalemate was not beneficial to her.

So...

It was time for a change again.

In the awakened state, everything known and perceived was incredibly clear. All possible outcomes had been rehearsed in her mind.

Huang Sheli raised the hand she had kept for defense.

At this moment, her opponent's Minor Formless Flower-Plucking Sword Finger was still pinching the cone tip, contending with her for the Universal Salvation Demonic Subduing Staff.

And while she was performing the Universal Salvation Brahma Sound, this hand she suddenly raised also gripped the handle of the Universal Salvation Demonic Subduing Staff.

Holding the Demonic Subduing Staff with both hands!

She then shouted, "My Buddha is merciful, saving sentient beings! Sacrifice the body and burn, quickly ascend to ultimate bliss!"

The power of the Universal Salvation Brahma Sound suddenly intensified, shaking the heavens and earth. The Universal Salvation Demonic Subduing Staff she held with both hands also turned with the momentum, intending to crush her opponent's finger-sword.

It was as if it had broken free from shackles, a swimming dragon about to ascend to the sky.

Just at this moment.

Zhao Rucheng suddenly said, "Since it is ultimate bliss, why don't you go?"

The Bodhi divine ability and the Spiritual Rhino divine ability both found a契機 (qìjī, opportunity/turning point) at the same time!

Zhao Rucheng's right hand barely maintained the flower-plucking posture, still making a final struggle at the cone tip.

But his left hand suddenly retracted at this moment!

The Heaven's End Without Trace Qi Sword Technique came to an abrupt halt.

All the power of qi was instantly detonated within the Brahma sound.

This was the final clash between the Heaven's End Without Trace Qi Sword Technique and the Universal Salvation Brahma Sound.

And neither of the combatants waited for the result.

Zhao Rucheng's left hand changed again. His index finger, middle finger, and little finger were held upright, only his ring finger bent down halfway, resting on his equally bent thumb.

With this posture, he pushed directly towards Huang Sheli.

Deng Yue's unique secret transmission, the Nine Tribulations Cave Immortal Finger!

With this finger, he could penetrate the mysteries of immortals.

Deng Yue relied on it to become famous, once severing the Wei River with a single finger, hence the title "One Finger Severing River."

This technique has a total of nine tribulations. Zhao Rucheng has only practiced to the seventh tribulation, not yet reaching the peak.

In the beginning, he had to rely on ten fingers to unleash this finger. With each tribulation advanced, he could tuck away one finger. At the peak, he would only use one finger, penetrating the immortal realm in nine tribulations.

But even this finger, not yet at its peak, was enough to shock ghosts and spirits!

In the border barren, Deng Yue killed a God-Arrival Realm prison warden of the Qin Dynasty's Prison Suppression Division with a single finger strike, the finger wind penetrating the ground, its depth unknown.

Now, Zhao Rucheng used this finger, also determined to kill his enemy and return!

Crackling... crackle!

Such a subtle, yet seemingly heart-stopping cracking sound rang out.

The thick bronze mask covering his face shattered into pieces, silently falling!

The face of the mysterious Mu Kingdom prodigy, Deng Qi, was thus revealed to everyone!

He failed to avoid this tap!