The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 186 - 182: Retreat Ao Kuang, Take the Golden Sand Pill

Chapter 186: Chapter 182: Retreat Ao Kuang, Take the Golden Sand Pill

The Eastern Sea Dragon King, Ao Kuang, had received a Golden Sand Pill refined from Taiyi Pure Gold from the Buddhist sect and thus promised them that there would be no thick fog rising over the Yangtze River tonight.

Unexpectedly, Enlightenment Dao came to spoil the plan. As soon as they faced each other, seeing that they were both about to ruin each other’s intentions, words failed, and they immediately started fighting fiercely.

Ao Kuang suffered a great loss when ambushed by Enlightenment Dao’s Sword Shadow Clone, which self-destructed with terrifying power, leaving Ao Kuang covered in wounds and bleeding profusely.

Ao Kuang was inwardly shocked, thinking, "What Divine Skills does this man possess that enable a clone to self-destruct with such force! He must be an expert at the Indestructible Realm of Daluo Golden Immortal’s Third Heaven." He also couldn’t help but think, "Once someone reaches the Indestructible Realm of the Daluo Golden Immortal’s Third Heaven, they become almost impossible to kill! And this man’s Mana is unprecedented among those in the Third Heaven—my plan is likely to be ruined by him today! And if the Buddhist sect lays the blame, what should I do then?"

To prevent Ao Kuang from spoiling his plan, Enlightenment Dao was set on not letting him go, intending to kill him on the spot, his fingers forming a Sword technique as he softly chanted a spell, "One sword from the east, the sun and moon set in the west; Sword Leading Immortal Flight, encompassing the Eight Desolates!"

Ao Kuang felt a chill surge from the Bubbling Spring Acupoint in the sole of his foot, spreading throughout his body. Upon closer inspection, he saw a cold star shining through the layers of mist, aimed straight at his throat, which immediately instilled a fear in him as if the shadow of death was already looming over him!

"Sword Leading Immortal Flight!"

This was the ancestral killing move of the Shushan Sword Sect. After Enlightenment Dao understood it, he often used it to kill, having slain the Delighted Buddha of Fixed Light, and even the Yamata no Orochi. Now, he was about to slay Ao Kuang with the same technique!

"Chanting—"

Sword chants began to rise to the skies, like a Divine Dragon ascending to the heavens or a Phoenix undergoing Nirvana, causing the entire Yangtze River to seem unstable, such was the terror invoked by the burgeoning Sword Qi. Enlightenment Dao, like a Heavenly Immortal descending to the mortal realm, wielded his sword with supernatural elegance, its force meshed with profound charm and elusive grace, more powerful than ever before.

Astonishment gripped Ao Kuang’s heart. The power of this sword was too frightening—if he was not careful, he would either die or be gravely injured by it. In haste, he took out his divine seal and summoned nearly all the Power of Water Spirit in the Yangtze River, enveloping himself in a cocoon-like shield, layer upon layer, as solid as a fortress of gold.

As Enlightenment Dao and the Seven Stars Sword became one, he thrust his sword forward, and a terrifying sonic boom sounded, the blade piercing deep into the layers of the Power of Water Spirit.

"Break!"

Enlightenment Dao’s voice cracked like thunder, his shout causing the Sword Qi to boil over, blasting away layers of the Power of Water Spirit, aiming directly at Ao Kuang inside.

Ao Kuang was terrified out of his wits and hastily employed the divine seal to block, never expecting that even the combined Power of Water Spirit from the Yangtze wouldn’t withstand Enlightenment Dao’s Sword Leading Immortal Flight. The power of the sword was too appalling, especially once it merged with divine charm, becoming even more potent than before.

"Hisss!"

The sword touched the divine seal. Ao Kuang, in a panic, channeled Mana to resist, Divine Power emerging in waves, clashing unrestrainedly against the Sword Qi and the divine seal.

A massive explosion, like muffled thunder, caused both to be sent flying backward—except Ao Kuang had hurt himself, while Enlightenment Dao was unscathed. As Ao Kuang was thrown back, he clutched the Golden Sand Pill and, without hesitation, flung it at Enlightenment Dao, whereupon it struck with a crisp snap against Enlightenment Dao’s belly, bursting into a cloud of blood mist.

"You’re killing me!" Enlightenment Dao couldn’t help but cry out as his internal organs were smashed by the Golden Sand Pill.

The tiny Taiyi Pure Gold bead weighed ten Jin, but this Golden Sand Pill, being refined from an entire mountain of Taiyi Pure Gold, its immense power could be imagined! The direct hit had shattered Enlightenment Dao’s organs, but with a thought shift and great expenditure of True Qi, he swiftly repaired his ruptured internal organs. Such was the formidable facet of the Indestructible Realm—any injury could be recovered from as long as there was sufficient True Qi, unless it struck at the essence itself.

The Golden Sand Pill was excessively heavy, and its impact was crushing, almost pulverizing a person. Fortunate was Enlightenment Dao, who had dodged slightly; the point of impact wasn’t complete, otherwise, his lower body would’ve been blown away in one strike.

Ao Kuang summoned with a gesture, taking back the Golden Sand Pill.

Having suffered a great loss, Enlightenment Dao was incensed. Seeing how effective the Golden Sand Pill was, Ao Kuang launched it again at Enlightenment Dao. The pill came too swiftly to evade, aiming directly at Enlightenment Dao’s face—if it hit true, it would likely blow his head open and even kill his Primordial Spirit, leaving no chance of survival.

Enlightenment Dao couldn’t help but curse, "You old thieving Dragon, damnable thief! You really did take something from the Buddhist sect—whose Bodhisattva gave you that Golden Sand Pill? Watch me take it from you!"

A beam of light emitted from Enlightenment Dao’s third eye revealed a Stele—the Swallowing Dragon Stele. The Stele scanned its surroundings, stating, "Golden Sand Pill, made from refined Taiyi Pure Gold; it takes an entire mountain of Taiyi Pure Gold to make one such pill, which is extremely precious."

Enlightenment Dao pointed at the Dragon’s head and declared, "Take it for me!"

The Swallowing Dragon Stele opened its mouth, releasing the gripped Stele, and in one gulp, swallowed the Golden Sand Pill into the spatial void within it. With this action, Ao Kuang was left both frightened and infuriated—his precious Golden Sand Pill had been taken just like that? If he failed to carry out the task after accepting the Buddhist sect’s treasure, he could have possibly returned it, but now that the treasure was stolen, and the mission unfulfilled, what was he to do?

The Dragon King shouted, "Return my Golden Sand Pill to me!"

While screaming, he charged forward, holding the divine seal and the treasure sword in his hands.

Enlightenment Dao sneered as he took away the Swallowing Dragon Stele, "Here you have it back!"

Ao Kuang had just acquired the Golden Sand Pill and had no time to refine it when Enlightenment Dao snatched it away for his own use. Retrieving the Golden Sand Pill, he feigned a sword thrust and suddenly unleashed it, striking Ao Kuang squarely in the chest. That blow was powerful, sending Ao Kuang flying before he could even grunt, his chest smashed into a mess. Fortunately, the flesh of the Dragon Clan was extremely durable; otherwise, that hit would have reduced his body to dust!

With a wave of his hand, Enlightenment Dao hastily reclaimed the Golden Sand Pill. This was a treasure, and having it in hand, there was no reason to give it back.

Ao Kuang was struck by the Golden Sand Pill and plunged into the water, causing a massive splash before sinking to the bottom of the Yangtze River. Enlightenment Dao took this opportunity to pinch a spell, creating three Sword Shadow Clones hidden in the mist, waiting to strike the Dragon King with another vicious blow once he emerged!

"This Ao Kuang is really potent indeed!" Enlightenment Dao thought to himself, "To survive being struck by a Golden Sand Pill forged from Taiyi Pure Gold is no small feat. When he comes out, I’ll give him a good thrashing!"

Enlightenment Dao’s Primordial Spirit was tempered in the deepest parts of the Sea of Thunder, making it much stronger than the average person in the Indestructible Realm, his mana circulated rapidly, and he absorbed True Qi much faster than ordinary people. How could the Dragon King compete with him in Magic Combat, especially after the Swallowing Dragon Stele snatched his Golden Sand Pill in a flash?

All of a sudden, Ao Kuang emerged from the water, transformed into a huge Five-Clawed Golden Dragon with wings on his back, having merged with the fortune of the Responding Dragon!

"Go!" Enlightenment Dao sent the Golden Sand Pill flying towards him.

Seeing it, Ao Kuang hurriedly dodged. With that dodge, Enlightenment Dao’s three Sword Shadow Clones burst forth, two clinging to the wings and one heading straight for the head.

"Oh no! This is bad!" cried Ao Kuang, clearly aware of the threat posed by the Sword Shadow Clones. After being hit by one and exploding, how could he not learn his lesson?

Just as he tried to shake off the three Sword Shadow Clones, they exploded, and tremendous waves of Sword Qi raged through his Body of the Responding Dragon, reducing him back to his original form in an instant. He plummeted into the Yangtze River with a thunderous crash, the water’s surface stained with blood, which was quite an unsightly scene.

In this battle, Ao Kuang had been utterly stifled. He had assumed the form of Ying Long, but before he could unleash his Divine Skills, he was ambushed.

Ao Kuang, repeatedly thwarted by Enlightenment Dao, lost his edge and hid in the water, unwilling to come out. He absorbed the mist bit by bit, for one way or another, he still had to deal with this matter, lest the Buddhist sect come looking for trouble, which he could not afford.

Enlightenment Dao’s body was no ordinary one; it was the flesh of the Water Monkey Great Saint Wuzhiqi, who could stir up storms in Ancient Times, eventually bringing out Yu the Great to suppress him, a testament to his might! Moreover, Wuzhiqi had inherited the Divine Skills of Rain Mage Chi Songzi; when it came to water battles, Enlightenment Dao was second to none.

Unable to help himself, Enlightenment Dao chuckled and cursed, "This wretched bastard thinks I’m not skilled in water battles? I’ll dive in and show him just how formidable I am!"

Using his Divine Skills, Enlightenment Dao dived into the water. Seeing him dare to fight underwater, Ao Kuang was overjoyed. He shook his dragon form and rushed towards him.

Unexpectedly, Enlightenment Dao suddenly used the Divine Skill of Imitating Heaven and Earth in the water, transforming into a massive black divine monkey and delivering a brutal punch right to the Dragon’s head, causing Ao Kuang to cry out in pain and tumble to the bottom of the Yangtze River. The impact boiled the river’s water wave by wave, making the soldiers from Cao’s Navy Camp, mostly from the North, suffer terribly as they were awakened and retched over the bow of the boats.

"His Divine Skill of Imitating Heaven and Earth is in fact that of the Water Monkey Great Saint Wuzhiqi? He seems to be exceedingly proficient in water battles too. What shall I do now?" After being struck by the punch, Ao Kuang’s head nearly burst, and he quickly swam towards the Eastern Sea.

Enlightenment Dao relentlessly pursued him, the giant monkey leaping from the water like a frog, bounding great distances, its speed not slower than Ao Kuang’s.

Fear coursed through Ao Kuang. Encountering such a master opponent, it seemed the task was doomed to fail; retreat was his only option now, and he would have to honestly report to the Buddhist sect.

Ao Kuang wondered if his luck had turned against him this year, perhaps encountering Tai Sui. How could he be so unlucky to lose such a treasure and flee with his tail between his legs in disgrace?

Having left the Yangtze River, Ao Kuang quickly disappeared into the sea. Enlightenment Dao did not pursue further; entering the Eastern Sea would mean entering Ao Kuang’s domain, where many powerful members of the Sea Tribe could attack in a group, leading to serious consequences.

Seeing Ao Kuang driven away, Enlightenment Dao truly felt at ease. Despite the setback, he was not seriously harmed and had gained a Golden Sand Pill, reaping a huge profit!

Dismissing his Divine Skills, he rode his sword against the current of the Yangtze River, intent on seeing how Zhuge Liang would borrow arrows.

If you want to find out what happens next, please follow the unfolding of the next Chapter. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Starting Point (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and Monthly Tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)