Chapter 1611: Chapter 1241: Only Heaven Stands Above—No Mountain Equals Its Height
Back in the Tang Country, Jiang Dali took action against the guardian beside Li Jiancheng to support Li Shimin. Unexpectedly, the guardian was none other than Yin Zhong, the Demigod Undying, leading to a confrontation at the Suo River, eventually forcing Yin Zhong to retreat.
However, the condition for Yin Zhong’s withdrawal and ceasing to protect Crown Prince Li Jiancheng was that Jiang Dali promised to add an "Infinite Heart Transformation Pill" to the list of treasures to be requested from the Holy Dynasty once Li Shimin ascends the throne.
Currently, Li Shimin of the Tang Country has yet to formally ascend the throne, and a year and a half remains until the Holy Dynasty distributes resources every five years, so indeed, Jiang Dali has not fulfilled his promise to Yin Zhong yet.
However, this ancestor of the Imperial Sword Manor, a Human God Undying from the Tong Family, for unknown reasons, has now expressed willingness to help Jiang Dali deal with Shakyamuni.
Having such a Returning to Truth Realm expert wielding the Netherworld Treasure Sword, capable of the Immortal Body, as an ally is indeed a great boon. But in this world, nothing comes without a reason, and Jiang Dali is not a novice who would become insanely joyful with just a few nice words.
"Hehehe..."
Yin Zhong, having lived for over six hundred years, knew how to observe one’s expression and tone. He clasped his fists and smiled at Jiang Dali, saying, "Master Jiang, there’s no need for doubts. You are a straightforward person, so I won’t beat around the bush. I possess a rare treasure that can suppress Phoenix Blood, but I will need a portion of that Phoenix Blood from your formidable enemy after slaying them."
"Oh?" Jiang Dali raised an icy brow.
"No!" The Feng Family Patriarch immediately shouted, with raised brows and a wave of his hand, "Phoenix Blood is crucial for our Phoenix clan to be reborn in fire. I absolutely refuse to let anyone take it."
Yin Zhong didn’t even glance at her but gazed calmly at Jiang Dali and smiled, "What do you think, Village Chief?"
Before Jiang Dali could speak, the Feng Family Patriarch immediately advised, "Village Chief, you must not agree! Our Phoenix Clan’s Blood..."
"Hmph! How ungrateful!"
Before the Feng Family Patriarch could finish, Yin Zhong’s smiling eyes turned cold, and his gaze pierced like lightning towards the Feng Family Patriarch.
"Ugh!"
The Feng Family Patriarch’s chest felt struck by thunder, she groaned, her face turned pale, and she retreated, but as she retreated, she let out a low shout ready to strike.
Yin Zhong sneered and spat out a breath, striking the scapular point on her left arm before she could act.
The Feng Family Patriarch’s left arm went numb, and she felt the True Qi in her left arm reverse into her body, causing her meridians to become chaotic like a flood, stumbling her backward involuntarily.
"Enough!"
A strong wind arose, and Jiang Dali’s figure moved horizontally to stand in front of the Feng Family Patriarch. Seeing Yin Zhong release his Primordial Spirit Power, his tiger-eyes grew cold, sensing the rising Demonic Qi within him, instantly exuding murderous intent, and the surrounding temperature suddenly dropped.
Their Primordial Spirit Powers collided instantaneously.
Both sensed a vast, unmatched Spiritual Power at contact.
If Yin Zhong’s Spiritual Power resembled a deep, still pool, mysterious and unfathomable like himself, then Jiang Dali’s Spiritual Power was like a storm-tossed ocean in a tempest, passionate and tumultuous like himself.
Their Primordial Spirit Powers clashed in a flash, like Divine Weapons in battle, in the air.
For a moment, even the spirit affected substance; the entire room was swept with strong winds, extinguishing all lights and candles, the wind hastened and spread from their position, accompanied by the chaotic and cacophonous sounds of various utensils and objects toppling and breaking within the house.
The terrifying sight was simply astonishing, causing the Feng Family Patriarch to retreat repeatedly. In her eyes, both stood with hands behind their backs, like two solitary peaks in opposition, without moving, but only exchanged glances and momentum, creating a terrifying Spiritual Field that made her liver and gallbladder quiver.
"Good!"
Yin Zhong’s head of black hair suddenly transitioned to golden yellow, his eyes seemed to emit a cerulean light, his spirit blazed like a dragon emerging from a silent abyss.
At this moment, Jiang Dali stood calmly with hands behind his back, the light of Primordial Spirit in his eyes condensed to a point, freezing the stormy ocean instantly into an unmoved ice sculpture, his spirit, merging with Ten Thousand Transformations and Mysterious Union, returned to nature in the state of Original Heart Realm.
Yin Zhong’s Primordial Spirit Power rushed over, but it seemed to face emptiness, Jiang Dali’s entire being had vanished, nonexistent.
Original Heart Realm—Spiritual Immunity!
This eerie absence in an instant shocked Yin Zhong, creating a flaw in his spirit.
This tiny flaw during an expert contest, even if for only a fraction of a second, was extremely significant as a weakness.
Thus, before he could react, Jiang Dali’s tiger eyes unleashed a long-prepared, tangible Primordial Spirit Power, like a massive hammer, through his gaze, striking deep within his spirit.
Yin Zhong’s expression shifted; he stepped back half a step, his blood bar visibly dropping, his heart turbulent, uncomfortable to the point of nearly vomiting blood, as his hair reverted from yellow to black, his eyes flashing with astonishment.
What is Jiang Dali’s exact strength?
At their first encounter, he had clearly just entered the Returning to Truth Realm. Though his strength might have increased lately, he thought that being in the same Returning to Truth 3 Realm as him was impressive enough. But now... even he felt Jiang Dali as very deep and unmeasurable.
Jiang Dali composed his mind, standing amidst the chaotic wind and dust, cloak billowing, easily judging superior to the disheveled Yin Zhong, his stature larger and more imposing, akin to a self-reliant Demon God, calmly stating.
"If Lord Yin wishes to test hands with me, another day we can find a different place, why be an ill-mannered guest and damage the host’s belongings?"
Yin Zhong took a deep breath, suppressed the sweet taste in his throat, silently adjusted his breath, then laughed loudly, clasping fists with sparkling eyes, gazing in admiration towards Jiang Dali, "Master Jiang indeed possesses unparalleled Divine Skill; this old man’s six hundred seven years of hard work, compared to you, truly ashamed of having lived in vain; just now this old man was impetuous and presumptuous."
After speaking, Yin Zhong turned to the Feng Family Patriarch, smiling, "Since Master Jiang has intervened, I can take a step back, but it’s only reasonable that if I help Master Jiang against that formidable opponent, I should receive some compensation. I originally intended to take at least thirty percent of the Phoenix Blood, leaving the rest to Master Jiang. Now, I am willing to retreat and only take ten percent of the Phoenix Blood, this is my bottom line."
Saying so, Yin Zhong looked at Jiang Dali.
"No need to say more, one-tenth of the Phoenix Blood is what you deserve. I think the Feng Clan Leader won’t be so unreasonable."
Jiang Dali waved his hand and looked towards the Feng Clan Leader.
The Feng Clan Leader, accustomed to being strong-willed, had never bowed her head before.
This is also a common failing of the Feng Clan people, who all pride themselves as descendants of the Phoenix and Hou Yi, thus possessing the arrogance of the phoenix. This kind of character can be attributed to temperament when holding great power, but in the absence of such power, it is merely foolishness clinging to pride.
At this moment, she naturally understood the stakes and situation. Her expression was ugly, and she grudgingly said to Yin Zhong, "Then we shall follow the village chief’s suggestion."
"Hmph!"
Yin Zhong coldly snorted and said to Jiang Dali, "Since that’s the case, village chief, shall we step outside? I don’t want too many people to know the methods we might employ against the Phoenix Blood bearer."
"Alright!"
Jiang Dali glanced at the Feng Clan Leader, shook his head inwardly, and said, "Feng Clan Leader, think about the specific cooperation plan regarding tracking the Phoenix Blood bearer. If all goes well, I hope this matter can proceed quickly into action."
With those words, Jiang Dali and Yin Zhong stepped out of the reception hall together.
Jiang Dali was also disappointed with the Feng Clan Leader’s lack of understanding of the gravity of the situation.
His original intention was merely to prevent Yin Zhong from acting recklessly and causing serious injury to the opponent, which could derail the plan to find Shakyamuni, not to stand up for the Feng Clan Leader.
After all, this Feng Clan Leader indeed showed a lack of insight. Both he and Yin Zhong were willing to join forces against Shakyamuni for their own interests—he needed to first remove this major enemy, while Yin Zhong sought the Phoenix Blood.
No matter the motive, confronting a top expert like Shakyamuni naturally entails great risk, even the risk of death.
To have a Returning to Truth Realm expert fight with the risk of death, but not want the other party to gain some benefits from it.
On what grounds?
Sure, the phoenix was the guardian spirit of the Feng Clan in the past, and the people of the Feng Clan naturally could not tolerate anyone desecrating the phoenix. But now, times have changed, and being too rigid might lead to a dreadful end.
Facing Shakyamuni, even Jiang Dali was not confident, so what power did the Feng Clan have to contend with Shakyamuni? Yin Zhong dared to take the risk to join in, yet the Feng Clan Leader still refused to concede, which was no longer the so-called pride of the Phoenix Clan but sheer foolishness.
...
After leaving the Feng Clan’s reception hall,
Jiang Dali and Yin Zhong both used their lightweight skills, rapidly advancing to the summit of the famous and towering Divine Bird Peak nearby. The rocks here were elegant and smooth, the mountaintop lush with vegetation, resembling clusters of beautiful bird feathers.
The mountain opposite looked like a majestic and lifelike rooster; it was the renowned Peacock Peak.
The two stood proudly by rocks on their respective sides, gazing far into the endless expanse of white clouds, looking down at the deep valley below, like waterfalls of flowing water, amidst the vast and powerful sea of clouds, they breathed in the fresh air, feeling utterly refreshed.
"Hahaha!"
Yin Zhong suddenly laughed heartily, his eyes flashing with a piercing gleam, pointing at the clouds being swept by the wind he said, "Those who love to interfere with heaven’s affairs, today so many white clouds are born, yet do they know if more dark clouds will churn ahead?
Brother Jiang, with power like ours, why should we meddle in the trivial affairs of the weak?
Look at the wind blowing the sea of clouds, no matter how it blows, the clouds churn back and forth, disappearing and reappearing, utterly oblivious."
Jiang Dali watched the scene of the wind disturbing the clouds, then lifted his eyes to the red sun breaking through the clouds, smiling faintly, "Only the sky is above, with no mountain its equal. Looking up, the red sun is close, looking back, the white clouds hang low.
You think I’m meddling with the clouds’ affairs, yet in my eyes, they drift at a lower altitude. But without their backdrop, how would you witness the mountain’s beauty and the sun’s splendor?
Lord Yin, though we are strong, there are those stronger. Today we view the Feng Clan Leader like fleeting clouds, nothing more, with a narrow perspective.
Yet small figures have their own uses, a pen or a brick each serves its purpose. Do you think we are the mountain beneath our feet or the higher red sun atop the peak?"
Yin Zhong paused, silently pondering Jiang Dali’s words, and as he thought of the mysterious Phoenix Blood bearer, his eyes gradually sparkled as he clasped his hands behind him and laughed, "Though the village chief is young, your experience is quite profound!
Indeed, I pride myself as the red sun, but truly, I stand on the mountain watching it. Those above the sun might be mocking my arrogance. What right do I have to scorn the Feng Clan Leader from a strongman’s perspective? Hahaha—today, I should indulge heartily."
His laughter echoed, resonating in the air, as he suddenly took out a jug of wine and a mirror, laughing heartily, "Brother Jiang, do you want to drink my wine first, or take a look at this Spirit Mirror?"
"Is this the Tong Family’s clan treasure—the Spirit Mirror?"
Jiang Dali’s expression shifted, his eyes gleaming as he looked at the ancient bronze mirror in Yin Zhong’s hand.
It was said this mirror had the divine power of foreseeing, attacking, and healing injuries. Yin Zhong, having obtained the mirror now, must have greatly recovered from the old injuries it inflicted on him in the past.
The recently fleeting blood bar appearing due to Jiang Dali’s strike, further confirmed his suspicions.....
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