Chapter 124: A Single Palm Unleashes the Five Elements

Outside, Hong Yang could no longer concern himself with the affairs at the Liyue Valley.

He had already learned what was transpiring within Mount Fuzhong.

There was a Great Demon inside.

It was a Flower Demon, taking the form of a woman, enchanting and seductive. Her cultivation was not inferior to his own—perhaps even slightly higher—standing just one step away from the Demon King realm, which was equivalent to the level of a Daoist Master.

Hong Yang hailed from the Shouzhen Sect. Generally speaking, he rarely encountered rivals of the same rank, and naturally, he did not fear any Great Demon. However, the fact that such a powerful creature was hiding within Mount Fuzhong, without having triggered the Divine Thunder and remaining undetected by the Shouzhen Sect’s arrays, added an infinite number of variables.

Especially... a Flower Demon?

He could not help but recall the White Lotus.

"Mount Fuzhong involves not only the Divine Thunder but also the whereabouts of the White Lotus. There can be no mistakes."

Hong Yang took a deep breath and sent a telepathic message to Hong Gu, ordering, "Cease the repairs to the array. Begin the withdrawal."

...

The vegetation was lush and green.

Hua Mei stood gracefully, holding a strand of hair in her hand—it was Yu Ling's.

"I just wounded a disciple of the Shouzhen Sect. I imagine that fellow in the sky already knows that a Great Demon like me is here in Mount Fuzhong," Hua Mei said leisurely. "My presence here is a massive variable. If I am not mistaken, now that the Divine Thunder has been mostly harvested, he will certainly withdraw the array and come to subdue the demon."

Senior Sister Zhou stepped forward, bowed, and said softly, "Many thanks for your tremendous help, Miss Hua."

"Why do you thank me?" Hua Mei smiled, a look so captivating it made one lose focus. "I risked my life to lure him away only for the sake of that little one, Hua Ling."

Senior Sister Zhou tactfully ignored the word "lure," sighed, and whispered, "We will take good care of Yu Ling."

"That is good," Hua Mei nodded. "The Shouzhen Sect has their eyes on you, and this Mount Fuzhong is entirely within their formation. I can only act as a variable to force them to withdraw early and disrupt their original plans. As for Hong Yang... I cannot defeat him, but I will draw him away. The rest will depend on you."

Senior Sister Zhou nodded slightly and said in a low voice, "Hong Yang is decisive, wise, and skilled at perceiving many things, and his cultivation is high. As long as he leaves, the rest of us have comprehensive methods to deceive them."

"Your Huanhua Pavilion wants to obtain the girl Yu Ling, and the Shouzhen Sect is also looking for her," Hua Mei said with a solemn expression, her pale, bloodless hands clenched tight. "The Shouzhen Sect only wants the White Lotus, not the little Flower Demon that is Yu Ling. Moreover, these Daoists have always made it their mission to purge demons. If Yu Ling falls into their hands, she will undoubtedly be forced back into her original form. Only by sending her to the Huanhua Pavilion can she be preserved."

"Since Yu Ling has joined the Huanhua Pavilion, we, as her senior sisters, will protect her even if it costs us our lives," Senior Sister Zhou replied with a bow. "She has absorbed the White Lotus and is tied to destiny; she is of great help to the countless years of our Pavilion's heritage. If there is truly no room for maneuver, even if it means breaking the rules, the sect will surely send a Master to the Central Plains to assist us."

Hua Mei nodded. "That would be best."

Senior Sister Zhou bowed once more, then retreated to recall the other disciples and discuss their escape route.

...

Inside the Liyue Valley.

Qing Yuan had just finished a battle with the manifestation of himself, and his consumption was severe.

He struggled to his feet, sat cross-legged, and began to contemplate the June Non-Defilement Meditation to clear his mind. Within his body, the Yellow Court Immortal Scripture began to circulate, gradually restoring his True Qi.

Once recovered, he fell into deep thought.

"The lightning patterns are not straight lines; they have turns, varying thicknesses, and lengths. Therefore, the True Qi must change accordingly."

"I neglected these subtle changes before."

"But he did not... He is the manifestation of me. In another sense, he is the most perfect version of me in terms of combat ability."

"These subtle changes must be calculated, tested, and practiced until they reach a state of flawless perfection."

He did not know how much time had passed as he pondered.

Qing Yuan had finally grasped the knack of it, but he remained calm. Knowing he was still no match for that other self, he did not rush back in, but instead began to cast his lightning arts repeatedly.

After many attempts, he gradually became proficient rather than clumsy. Thus, he entered again, walked to the corner, and drew out the other "Qing Yuan."

"Come!"

He pointed his iron staff forward, the lightning manifesting in a crimson color, like the glow of molten iron.

The other "Qing Yuan" raised his white jade ruler and released an identical bolt of lightning.

This time, the two lightning bolts collided with a thunderous roar. The shockwaves scattered, creating a magnificent display of power.

The lightning still canceled each other out!

But this time, the collision occurred at the very tip of the white jade ruler.

This meant that Qing Yuan's lightning art had almost struck the manifested version of himself.

The speed at which the two cast their lightning arts was now almost indistinguishable, and the power of the lightning was equal. In terms of the execution of the lightning art alone, one could no longer tell who was superior.

Their lightning arts were now evenly matched, no longer the one-sided defeat Qing Yuan had suffered before.

"At last, I am no worse than him." Qing Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, then released another bolt of lightning.

The opponent met it with lightning of his own.

However, just as the two lightning bolts collided, a flash of fire attacked.

While casting lightning, the manifested "Qing Yuan" had effortlessly unleashed another Daoist art.

This flame arrived extremely quickly; its power was immense, yet it was two parts stronger than the flames Qing Yuan usually produced.

"This..."

Qing Yuan’s pupils constricted. His lightning arts were now on par with his opponent's—was he now expected to catch up in fire-based Daoist arts as well?

Even as he thought this, he saw the manifested "self" wave his white jade ruler to strike with lightning while opening his five fingers, each fingertip glowing with a point of light.

The light was divided into five colors, one for each fingertip, corresponding to the Five Elements.

Five Elements Daoist arts, all contained within a single palm?

No hand seals needed, no incantations, no walking the star-steps—a single press of the palm, and five types of Daoist arts were released?

Qing Yuan gasped, a chill running down his spine as he retreated rapidly.

At the same time, the lightning struck and the Five Elements arts descended, their sheer scale terrifying to behold.

Qing Yuan retreated from the empty chamber, and the manifested figure vanished without a sound.

But the crimson lightning and the Five Elements arts had already struck.

A thunderous explosion followed!

Qing Yuan struggled to resist, and then his vision went black.

Only a few thoughts continued to spin in his mind:

"Is this the most powerful means I can employ?"

"Is this the state reached after unleashing every bit of my ability?"

"So, with my current cultivation, I am capable of unleashing such massive and ferocious power?"