Immortal Father
Chapter 1106: 386 Shocking Spirit Mountain!_2

Chapter 1106: Chapter 386 Shocking Spirit Mountain!_2

Li Ping’an wasn’t here to show off; preparations had already been made long ago. He raised his hand slightly, and two Heavenly Fury Guards came forward carrying an incense burner, with a single stick of pure incense inside. The incense lit itself, and faint blue smoke began to waft upward.

“I am giving you all the time it takes for this incense to burn.”

Li Ping’an’s voice resonated across the entire space:

“After the incense burns down, if you don’t hand over those traitors, don’t blame me for being rude.

“And don’t bother using talk of your so-called future sect with two saints a thousand years from now to intimidate me. All matters must adhere to reason; if saints refuse to follow reason, there are saints who will deal out justice.”

The disciples of the Western Sect looked at each other, utterly lost and without a leader in this moment.

The Calamity Venerable was not present;

Senior Brother Maitreya was also absent;

The few Da Luo Golden Immortals who could preside over the scene seemed mute, merely furrowing their brows and pondering in silence.

The younger disciples of the Western Sect might still have a trace of boldness in their hearts, but they vaguely knew the truth of what the second-generation disciples had done; naturally, none dared to step forward and act as scapegoats.

The atmosphere grew tense.

The single stick of pure incense seemed to turn into an instrument of doom.

Li Ping’an hadn’t expected that these disciples of the Western Sect would be so spineless, like punching into a soft mat of cotton.

The blade he raised could only remain suspended for the moment.

Over a thousand Heavenly Fury Guards faintly encircled the front hall, while the outer perimeter of Spirit Mountain was surrounded by a million celestial soldiers. Under the command of various celestial generals, they advanced, creating a human wall that sealed off the skies around Spirit Mountain’s main hall completely.

At this moment, Li Ping’an finally understood why Lady Ba had chosen not to come.

With her fiery temper, recalling the countless human soldiers who had perished in ancient times after the Western Sect severed the Human Race’s destiny, she would most likely have given an order to annihilate Spirit Mountain entirely.

But if she did so, the two saints of the Western Sect would then have an excuse to act against the Human Race upon their return.

Even though Zhunti might not dare to attack the numerous mortals, with his shameless nature, he would surely launch a sneak attack against the Human Emperor and his ministers under the pretext of avenging his disciples. The Three Pure Ones wouldn’t be able to easily rebuke him.

The Desolate Era is a place governed by cause and effect.

And when it comes to cause and effect, the power to interpret it lies in the hands of the strong.

Furthermore, the soldiers of the Human Race who battled from ancient times to now deserved a moment of rest; the pressure from the two saints of the Western Sect could be shouldered by his Heavenly Court alone.

The incense was already halfway burnt.

Li Ping’an gestured to Cailin the Great. Wearing a mask and clad in black armor, she exuded an air of mystery and alluring danger as she stepped forward holding a sword.

Li Ping’an unsheathed the Yuan Tu Sword and gazed at its crystalline blade. With a flick of his finger, he struck the blade lightly.

The clear, sharp resonance of the sword echoed in the ears of the disciples of the Western Sect, making many Heavenly Immortals and True Immortals whose Dao Hearts were insufficiently cultivated turn pale.

Li Ping’an said leisurely: “Do you all know how I took this sword from Minghe the Patriarch of the River Styx?”

The disciples of the Western Sect stiffened, drawing long breaths.

The immortal soldiers and celestial generals of the Taoist Sect turned their curious gazes toward him.

Li Ping’an took out a silk handkerchief and began to meticulously polish the blade of the Yuan Tu Sword, speaking unhurriedly:

“I fought in the inner Heavenly Dao against the divine beings of the inner Heavenly Dao and saved these Heavenly Fury Guards. Minghe the Patriarch was also trapped within the inner Heavenly Dao, his Dao of Slaughter and the swords Yuan Tu and Abi fused within.”

“The situation at that time was extremely perilous, as I and the Heavenly Fury Guards faced a pincer attack from both the awakening Minghe and the divine beings of the inner Heavenly Dao.”

“The only way to break the deadlock was to comprehend the Dao.”

“So, I studied the Dao of Slaughter of Minghe the Patriarch and discovered a new Dao of Slaughter within his slaughtering Dao. By resonating with the Dao of Slaughter, I managed to resist his counterattack and forcibly seize this sword.”

The Yuan Tu Sword trembled slightly, as if conveying ‘acknowledgment’ and ‘joy.’

Li Ping’an squinted and smiled: “At that time, I had yet to break through into the Golden Immortal Realm. Now, why do you think this sword chose to favor me? It’s quite simple.”

His smile was warm.

Beside him, a small mound of ashes fell from the incense, as its final ember quietly went out.

Li Ping’an rose with his sword in hand, emanating a piercing celestial light.

Though he was only in the Golden Immortal Realm;

At this moment, in this place, he drew upon the power of the Heavenly Dao and the aura suppression of the Yuan Tu Sword’s spirit, his released pressure overwhelming all present.

“My Dao of Slaughter surpasses that of Minghe the Patriarch.”

Ding——

The Yuan Tu Sword emitted a soft vibration.

Li Ping’an took one step forward, prompting the disciples of the Western Sect to retreat en masse.

Niu Benben, clever as ever, roared at the top of his lungs: “Hand over the inner Heavenly Dao remnants!”

A thousand Heavenly Fury Guards shouted in unison: “Hand over the inner Heavenly Dao remnants!”

The few Da Luo Golden Immortals of the Western Sect almost simultaneously made the same move—reaching back to grab someone.

They clearly intended to randomly toss out a few fellow disciples they’d grown to dislike, yet worried it wouldn’t appease Li Ping’an’s appetite, they specifically targeted Taiyi and Golden Immortal Realm realm experts among them.

The captured individuals looked utterly baffled at first, their faces soon flaring with anger.

“Senior Brother! Why are you grabbing me by the shoulder?!”

“What inner Heavenly Dao remnants?! They’re lying! They’re lying!”

Li Ping’an observed, his heart quietly lifting an eyebrow.

The effect was desirable.

By killing a few disciples of the Western Sect and dissolving its unity, he could strike fear into the sect, ensuring they dared not commit wicked deeds for the next thousand years. That would suffice for this trip.

Suddenly!

“Heavenly Emperor, might you hear my words!”

A somewhat youthful voice arose from a corner. Accompanying it was an aura imbued with a peculiar Dao Charm, seemingly capable of calming the heart.

The disciples of the Western Sect parted, forming a pathway.

Clad in a gray-white wide robe, a young man walked forward with hands folded in prayer, his head bowed.

He grew taller with each step, his aura becoming denser and richer. At first, he was merely in the Heavenly Immortal Realm, but after three steps, his aura surpassed the Golden Immortal Realm; by ten steps, he reached the level of Taiyi.

When he arrived amongst the disciples of the Western Sect, his aura had steadied at the peak of Taiyi.

He finally raised his head, revealing a fair, rosy face with a soft, clear smile. His long hair, which fell to his waist, cut itself off halfway, disintegrating into dust, leaving behind a simple shoulder-length style.

At this moment, his aura surpassed the peak of Taiyi, ascending to the ranks of the Desolate Era’s Great Powers.

Da Luo Golden Immortal!

Judging by the expressions of the disciples of the Western Sect, even they were shocked by the sudden transformation of this young man.

The young Daoist’s feet emitted a faint glow that coalesced into a lotus shadow.

Twelve-tiered Golden Lotus!

Li Ping’an lightly raised an eyebrow.

“I am Ksitigarbha,” the youthful Daoist greeted with hands clasped and head bowed, “paying respects to the Heavenly Emperor.”

Ksitigarbha!

Hell will not be empty; I shall not attain Buddhahood!

The first Bodhisattva of Buddhism: Ksitigarbha King!

Li Ping’an’s Dao Heart stirred with awe. He set aside his contempt for this youth, curving his lips into a faint smile: “Rise.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Ksitigarbha acknowledged with a bow, then spoke gently:

“I originally had no intention of intervening in these matters. Before departing, my two masters only entrusted me with the Twelve-tiered Golden Lotus.

“But today, with Your Majesty seeking to shatter the Dao Hearts of my senior and junior brothers, I must make my presence known and offer a few words.”

Li Ping’an remained silent for a moment, before replying in a measured tone: “You should not have stepped forward.”

“I could not bear to do otherwise.”

“And what justification do you have?”

Li Ping’an’s voice sharpened suddenly, like a blade cutting through the air:

“You are well aware of the deeds of the Western Sect. Why can’t the Twelve-tiered Golden Lotus be brought into the Chaos Sea?

“It’s because it suppresses the ferocious demons that the Western Sect recruited!

“That second master of yours, the Calamity Venerable, formed alliances throughout the ancient era, first ending the age with Chiyou’s rebellion, then obstructing the Human Race’s campaigns under the banner of the West, leaving countless soldiers to die with regret!

“To this day, your Western Sect has only escalated its atrocities, harming lives, forging Dao Soldiers, poisoning the Western Continent with troubles that spill beyond the heavens!

“What have you to explain? What have you to justify?”

Ksitigarbha’s smile grew bitter.

Li Ping’an laughed instead: “Perhaps you intend to explain the matter of the inner Heavenly Dao remnants to me?”

“Indeed,” Ksitigarbha sighed. “The Twelve-tiered Golden Lotus has always protected this place; the divine beings of the inner Heavenly Dao could not possibly infiltrate here.”

Li Ping’an replied coldly: “If that is so, I will let the Human Race settle accounts and conclude the matters of cause and effect.”

Ksitigarbha pressed his lips into a frown, at a temporary loss for words.

“Step back,” Li Ping’an said. “The Heavenly Dao has indicated that you are not a deceitful or malevolent person. For now, you lack the qualifications to confront me. If one day I establish the Heavenly Court, you are welcome to visit; we may discuss matters further at that time.”

He flicked his sword, its blade releasing a clear, sharp vibration.

The frigid aura of the Dao of Slaughter extended outward like a biting wind.

“Western Sect, hand over the inner Heavenly Dao remnants!”

Several figures were pushed out of the crowd.

They stepped past Ksitigarbha, their cultivation and Dao Bodies sealed, leaving only their widened eyes and the defiance buried within.

Li Ping’an raised his sword, and as the blade fell, several heads flew into the air, droplets of blood splattering Ksitigarbha’s clean face. Their lifeless bodies lay still on the ground.

Li Ping’an sheathed his sword and proclaimed loudly: “Indeed, there were inner Heavenly Dao remnants here. Heavenly Fury Guards, where are you?”

The Heavenly Fury Guards responded in unison: “Present!”

“Search Spirit Mountain inside and out; examine the Dao Bodies and Primordial Spirits of every creature in Spirit Mountain! Let no divine spirit of the inner Heavenly Dao escape!”

“Yes!”