Chapter 1434: Hoodou

"You say their auras vanished completely, but why is it not possible they were slain by the Kui Ox?" Zuo Guangshu asked.Venerable Yue glanced at him, saying with profound meaning, "Death does not erase all traces."Regarding this statement by Venerable Yue, Jiang Wang indeed had a deep understanding.But for Zuo Guangshu, who lacked much experience with death, it was clearly too difficult to grasp.Despite his remarkable intelligence.Jiang Wang pondered for a moment, then asked, "Can the Venerable one deduce from the traces at the scene the victor of the battle between the Kui Ox and that person?"Venerable Yue's tone was placid: "Victory depends on how you define it. The Kui Ox clearly held an overwhelming advantage, but that person also successfully escaped."Qu Shunhua was also very curious: "I wonder what that person did to make the Kui Ox pursue them so relentlessly?""Perhaps only that person knows," Venerable Yue said.Jiang Wang silently analyzed the details reflected in the Rouge Mirror, feeling as though he had grasped a familiar sensation, yet lacking conclusive evidence.While lost in thought, a strong sense of crisis surged through him.He was about to speak.Venerable Yue had already cried out first: "Unknown danger approaches! Let us leave this place quickly!"The group immediately changed direction, following Venerable Yue, flying swiftly towards the direction where the traces of the Kui Ox were weakest.All of them were talents of great standing, even the youngest, Zuo Guangshu, merely lacked some experience of life and death. Having been together for only a short time, a battle tacit understanding had naturally formed.Venerable Yue led the way, Zuo Guangshu and Qu Shunhua flanked left and right, and Jiang Wang wielded his sword to cover the rear.Such a formation, even when facing a divine-level beast like the Yingyu, should have been able to withstand a few rounds.And if it were merely for escaping danger, they all had considerable confidence.But the powerful four-person team, after flying for less than three li, stopped.They had no choice but to stop.Within their field of vision appeared a pack of canine beasts with entirely black fur.Looking solely at their appearance, they were indistinguishable from common dogs. Only their fur possessed a peculiar luster, not very obvious, requiring extreme scrutiny to discern.Even gathered in a pack, they did not appear particularly fierce. But their indifferent gazes sent a chilling sensation deep into one's heart.It was clear that even with the information-gathering ability that Qu Shunhua considered the strongest in this mountain and sea realm expedition, Venerable Yue had failed to lead them away from this "hunt."These beasts possessed intelligence.Venerable Yue and Qu Shunhua immediately adopted postures of utmost vigilance, both clearly aware of the origins of these beasts. Zuo Guangshu quietly reminded Jiang Wang: "These are Huodou, beasts of ill omen."Beasts bearing the name of ill omen, their terror was imaginable.But the most frightening aspect was...They were gathering in increasing numbers.In the air, on the sea surface, even beneath the sea...dense and countless, they had approached and gathered unnoticed, and at the moment they fully revealed their presence, they had already completely surrounded the four.And new Huodou continued to join the fray.This was a pack of beasts with tactics, cooperation, and an understanding of laying ambushes!This point was far more terrifying than their formidable combat power and savage habits.Venerable Yue extended his hand, which bore a brass-like luster, and pressed it forward.Golden light bloomed, like a fleeting illusion of a realm of bliss, then vanished in an instant.A coiled figure in the golden light stretched out, transforming into a guardian deity of over two zhang.Descending with a crash!This deity had a horse's head and a human body, with a single horn on its forehead.Golden light subtly gathered within its coiled muscles, and it held a fire poker, possessing an ineffable majesty.Opening its mouth, it let out a roar, and beautiful harmonies flowed through the air.But there was no sound of flowing blood, nor any presence of a soul's aura.Clearly, it was another mechanical puppet.Mechanical Kinnara!The deity of music in Buddhist legends.In Jiang Wang's ears, this sound possessed a beauty close to the Dao.If one could hear it often, it would surely benefit the Path of Sound-Listening.And in the ears of that pack of Huodou beasts, this sound was clearly extremely imposing and oppressive. The pack of Huodou directly in front of the Mechanical Kinnara, at this roar, all retreated a few steps.But they quickly regained their formation.This speed of regrouping was comparable to elite military forces.Clearly, among this pack of Huodou, there was a king. That Huodou king must possess considerable intelligence, firmly controlling the beast pack. At the same time, it was extremely skilled at concealment.At least at this moment, Jiang Wang could not discern where it was hidden at all.Similarly in a pack, compared to the group of yellow shells Jiang Wang and Zuo Guangshu had encountered earlier, this pack of Huodou was clearly far more powerful, and the situation now was far more perilous than at that time.Qu Shunhua formed a hand seal and held it before her.Green swirling winds revolved around her body, and this whirlwind expanded in the blink of an eye, expanding out with such violent ferocity.At this moment, as noble and beautiful as she was, she became the eye of the storm.Terrifying tempest wrapped around and protected the four, while raging outward towards the entire Huodou pack.Within the inner periphery of the tempest.Zuo Guangshu raised both hands, instantly summoning nine water dragons, swimming around the group.Dragon roars echoed everywhere, demonstrating great deterrence.Only Jiang Wang remained still, holding the Rouge Mirror, his eyes turning crimson, wanting to find the leader of this Huodou pack immediately.The number of Huodou was too great; their current response was absolutely insufficient. Only by killing the Huodou leader immediately was there a chance of escape.Under Qu Shunhua's control, the violent hurricane first made contact with the Huodou beast pack. It was considered the team's first attack probe.A terrifying thing happened—The black fur of this pack of Huodou was swept in the hurricane like wild grass pressed to the ground, clinging tightly to their skeletons, but the Huodou themselves remained completely unmoved!The special, hidden flowing luster on their fur seemed to gather the power of the Huodou pack under the guidance of a certain will.Allowing them to resist the storm.All of them, with only cold gazes, stared at the prey within their encirclement.Such a powerful Grade A superior Daoist art as Qu Shunhua's was completely useless!Venerable Yue immediately followed up with an attack.The Mechanical Kinnara leaped directly into the air, fearlessly charging into the Huodou beast pack, its fire poker almost shattering the air, easily smashing the heads of a row of Huodou beasts.But none of the dead Huodou let out a single cry of agony, all dying on their way to bite the Mechanical Kinnara.And after the blood and white bones...More and more ferocious Huodou pounced, covering the two-zhang-tall Mechanical Kinnara in less than three breaths.You could still see the golden light squeezed out from the Huodou pack, still hear the sound of harmonious rhythms, feel the might of the fire poker's swings, and clearly sense the struggle of that Mechanical Kinnara—But it was clearly no longer capable of any other actions.The nine water dragons controlled by Zuo Guangshu also charged in all directions. But they killed only a few dozen Huodou before being torn to shreds, returning to water.It was evident that this pack of Huodou had a strong ability to restrain Daoist arts. On this basis, they also possessed such exquisite cooperation and such terrifying numbers... They were simply the nightmare of practitioners of spell arts!Venerable Yue, draped in a gray robe, at this moment opened his mouth and chanted: "Ah, A, Xia, Sa, Ma, Ha!"With each sound, heaven and earth resonated.This was the Six-fold Vajra Incantation, a spell for delivering all sentient beings.The Mechanical Kinnara trapped in the Huodou pack, its golden light surged dozens of zhang, almost overturning all the Huodou covering it!But it was immediately covered again.The number of Huodou was truly too many, densely packed, almost filling everything within sight.It was unknown where they had gathered from, and how they had managed to surround them so silently!Venerable Yue's urgent reinforcement of the Mechanical Kinnara had not succeeded; he directly put his palms together, looking up at the sky.At this moment, the veil was swept away by the wind, revealing a serious, brass-colored female face.It was not beautiful, nor could it be called ugly.Very normal, very ordinary, and possessing a solemnity that inspired shame.Saying: "When I am Buddha, I shall slay all demons!"Rumble!There was no lightning in the sky, but the sound was like thunder.Ten thousand streams of golden light seemed to tear through the sky, descending from the heavens as a massive divine wheel several hundred zhang in diameter, like a mountain, smashing down heavily into the Huodou pack.Daoist Art, Eight Treasures Demon Subduing Method!This was one of the treasures, suppressed by the divine wheel.A massive empty space appeared in the densely packed Huodou pack.The casualties were immeasurable for a time.Such might... this was a super-grade Daoist art!As a top disciple of the Moon Washing Convent, Venerable Yue had always displayed the art of puppetry blending Buddhism and Mohism, essentially based on Mohist power. This was the first time she had showcased combat power purely belonging to Buddhism.Indeed, it was extraordinary.But... it stopped there.The number of Huodou was far too great, and even further away, there was a continuous stream of Huodou rushing in, as if all the Huodou in the entire Mountain and Sea Realm had converged here.The empty space created by the Eight Treasures Demon Subduing Method was instantly filled.Even countless Huodou rushed towards the sky, tearing at the dazzling golden light, actually blocking the remaining attacks of the Eight Treasures Demon Subduing Method in the sky!Huodou corpses were constantly falling.However, not a single cry of agony from a Huodou was heard, nor a single Huodou seen retreating.They were like the most elite iron army; blood and death only made them more ferocious, more savage.Whether dying, injured, or charging, they remained silent throughout, yet one could feel their determination to inflict pain.This was......the beast that brings ill omen?In an instant, black, oppressive Huodou pounced from all directions—Even powers like the Buddhist talent, the descendant of a Great Chu Duke, the First Talent of Great Qi, seemed like candles in the wind, extinguishable with a single breath in this almost boundless black tide.But talents always surpassed mere strength; none would surrender to these beasts.The sea waves vibrated.The entire sea seemed to shake.The majestic Li Dragon, pulling a luxurious chariot, appeared in the world. Zuo Guangshu manifested the form of the River Earl, standing on this chariot with a canopy of green lotus.Covered in battle armor, with battle robes billowing, his hands spread wide, as if embracing this ocean.Rumble!With the four people present as the center, a barrier of flowing water rose directly.Within the barrier, there was also water flowing like blades, furiously cutting.This sea area, for its current master, built a thick and ferocious wall!No foreign enemy shall invade!But in the next moment...Splash!This wall of water was instantly attacked by tens of thousands of blows, dispersing into the water in an instant.Countless Huodou died beneath this terrifying water wall, their corpses falling into the sea.But even more Huodou charged forward.Qu Shunhua stood to Zuo Guangshu's left, with moth-like brows and red lips, in beautiful, flowing robes. After her hurricane Daoist art proved ineffective, she had silently observed the battlefield for a long time. Suddenly, her body emitted brilliant light.It was as if boundless light shone forth from within her body.That dazzling radiance covered her, gradually condensing into a massive, illusory figure of a beautiful woman in flowing robes—Though an illusion, it possessed a tangible, powerful aura.She was beautiful, majestic, powerful, and sacred.She harbored compassion, yet practiced majesty.It was none other than the divine ability, Celestial Maiden!"Clouds want her clothing, flowers want her countenance, the spring breeze caresses the railing, the dew on the flowers is heavy. If not seen on the mountaintop of the Jade Maidens, one would meet her under the moon on the Jade Terrace!"It was not human beauty of the highest order, but a divine ability born of nature.Qu Shunhua herself had her eyes slightly closed, suspended in the heart of the Celestial Maiden.It was unclear whether she was reflecting this Celestial Maiden, or if this Celestial Maiden was describing her.Beauty and beauty, reflecting each other."Where is it?" she asked.Venerable Yue casually drew a line, and golden light formed a line, shooting out rapidly, circling a large area.Like Jiang Wang, she had also been searching for the location of the Huodou leader, but the opponent was extremely cunning and had never shown its face. Even she could only pinpoint a general area.At this moment, Qu Shunhua's eyes suddenly opened, and the massive Celestial Maiden also opened her eyes. Her gaze was like a river, full of radiance.The illusion instantly solidified.Like gold cast, like light condensed.Sacred and inviolable.The Celestial Maiden split her hands, each holding a slender sword, and leaped out in a lithe and elegant posture, directly pouncing into the Huodou pack.This Celestial Maiden was over seven zhang tall, and the slender swords for her were greatswords three zhang long.The size of the Huodou, however, was not much larger than ordinary dogs.In comparison, they appeared so frail.The Celestial Maiden charged into the Huodou beast pack, like a giant impacting a pack of puppies.Crossing her two slender swords, a massive sword light had already cut two great ravines in the Huodou pack, with countless casualties.At this moment, the Celestial Maiden seemed like a deity.Qu Shunhua, controlling this illusion of the Celestial Maiden, charged into the Huodou pack!Roar! Roar! Roar!Almost all the Huodou roared at the same time.This was the first sound they had made since the battle began, and it was clear that Qu Shunhua had indeed found the location of the Huodou King!But at the same time, the Huodou surrounding Qu Shunhua clearly became more agile and coordinated even more skillfully. Bite by bite, they shattered the Celestial Maiden's radiance.Just as Qu Shunhua controlled the Celestial Maiden to unleash a sword strike, causing widespread casualties, in the next moment, densely packed Huodou pounced, biting firmly onto the sword edge.Sword energy roared out, disintegrating them.Immediately, new Huodou bit onto the sword edge.In less than five breaths, the sacred Celestial Maiden, brilliant with golden light, was covered in clinging, black-furred Huodou.It looked as though she would follow in the footsteps of the Mechanical Kinnara—after the Six-fold Golden Light Incantation was bitten through, that Mechanical Kinnara had been completely torn to shreds by the Huodou beast pack.Just at this moment, a green-robed figure swept past!Jiang Wang stepped on green clouds, the light of his five divine abilities swirling around him, leisurely walking through the dense Huodou pack.That Huodou King was indeed cunning, and its urgent command was mixed in with the concerted roar of the Huodou pack.But under the immortal state of sound-listening, all sounds came as if to worship!Its sound could not be an exception.So clear and distinct, it pointed Jiang Wang to the location of the Huodou King.Thus, Jiang Wang opened his Heavenly Abode, stepped on the immortal art of green clouds and arrived, with one sword, Old General's Weariness, striking at life and death, reaching directly to the seemingly unremarkable Huodou King in the beast pack.This King, which looked no different from the other Huodou, flashed its claws like a peerless blade wielder before the sword tip reached it, actually clashing with Jiang Wang!Seeing that it could no longer hide, it no longer did so. Its body surged, growing to about twelve zhang, far exceeding the size of its kin. Shaking the tip of its tail, it split into three prongs.And at the same time—A flame flower bloomed in the high sky.As if describing a beginning.In the brilliant firelight, swaying, countless flame flowers fell.Those flame flowers, filling the eye, gathered in one place.Stacking tall buildings, burning flying eaves, scorching corridor pillars, incinerating pedestrians...Gathering everything.Everything vivid and lifelike.Everything infinitely majestic.Everyone, every Huodou, couldn't help but look up.Attracted by its beauty, by its majesty.It was a massive, burning city, as if falling from the nine heavens, as if coming to destroy the world.It was, Flame Flower Burning City!