Chapter 85

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written there.

However, at this moment, these gray-white fire butterflies showed no fear. Like moths drawn to a flame, they flew towards the fire scorpions in the air, swarming and covering the three giant scorpions, which seemed as ridiculous as a mantis trying to stop a cart.

Yet, even as the three giant scorpions desperately waved their large pincers and inflated their bodies wildly, it was all in vain. They were gradually covered by the more than a thousand fire butterflies.

"What is this? A mystic art, the Fire Butterfly Technique? No—"

On a distant high platform, Guyue Qingrong whispered in surprise, "It's not the Fire Butterfly Technique, but the Star Fire Divine Butterfly! The Tianxuan Zhaoshi True Scripture, has he also mastered the first level of the Tianxuan Zhaoshi True Scripture?"

Guyue Tianfang's face turned ashen, instinctively sensing that the gray-white fire butterflies released by Zhuang Wudao were not just Star Fire Divine Butterflies, but also possessed some profound mystery.

Bactang Cangjue, however, remained leisurely seated, gently blowing on the tea he had just prepared. The outcome of this battle was already decided. Although Fei Xiushen had good insight and realized early, it only hastened his defeat. The tea that Bactang Wan'er had poured for him had not even cooled yet.

"Boom!"

A Chi Yang Fire Scorpion, completely covered by the fire butterflies, suddenly exploded in the air. However, the fiery force did not scatter in all directions.

Instead, those unremarkable gray-white fire butterflies swelled to more than twice their size, revealing a fierce appearance.

Fei Xiushen watched the sky with a pale face. Only he knew what had truly happened. The three Chi Yang Fire Scorpions he had summoned, consuming a large amount of Chi Yang True Essence, were now being devoured by these fire butterflies! All the fiery energy was uncontrollably flowing into the bodies of the fire butterflies, making their fiery power even stronger!

How could this be? Even the 'Star Fire Divine Butterfly' from the Tianxuan Zhaoshi True Scripture? Even if Zhuang Wudao had refined it as his life-bound mystic art, it should not have such extraordinary abilities, devouring his Chi Yang Fire Scorpions in an instant—

At this moment, all those who had recently concluded that Zhuang Wudao was surely dead were now staring in shock at the scene before them, their eyes wide open, seemingly unable to believe what they were seeing.

"Fire butterflies? What kind of technique is this?"

"It's not a technique, it should be a mystic art!"

"I heard that Mr. Mo from the Northern City also uses a Fire Butterfly Technique. It is said that he practices the Tianxuan Zhaoshi True Scripture."

"Mr. Mo's Fire Butterfly Technique does not have such power. Wasn't he killed by Zhuang Wudao with a single palm strike?"

"Both internal and external cultivation, it's hard to tell, but Zhuang Wudao is actually practicing three paths. Bull Demon Yuan Body, Subduing Dragon and Tiger, Tianxuan Zhaoshi True Scripture. It's said that he has also restored part of the Great Tumbling Stele, the Six Harmonies Xingyi Quan, and the Dragon Seizing Hand. How many techniques is this guy practicing? And to have such proficiency?"

"He already has three mystic arts, how many spirit orifices has he opened?"

Another 'boom' sounded, and the second Chi Yang Fire Scorpion exploded. Hundreds of fire butterflies scattered and continued to dance in the air, their graceful movements both beautiful and terrifying.

Fei Xiushen's face twisted, and he no longer hesitated. His figure moved like the wind, turning and rushing down from the platform. These Star Fire Divine Butterflies showed no signs of dissipating, and after absorbing the Chi Yang Fire Scorpions, their fiery power had increased to an unimaginable degree.

Although he still had a pseudo-mystic art that he had not used, he knew it was impossible to turn the tide. Not only could he not win, but once these fire butterflies dealt with the last Chi Yang Fire Scorpion and continued to fly down, he, Fei Xiushen, would be in mortal danger! At this moment, only by fleeing to the ground could he have a chance of survival.

In the next instant, his hands and feet were seized by a strange force, and his body froze. Zhuang Wudao's voice then calmly echoed from behind.

"Have you not yet decided the outcome of our battle, Brother Fei, and you wish to flee?"

Fei Xiushen ignored him and struggled fiercely. The technique Zhuang Wudao used was not a pseudo-mystic art but ordinary magnetic force. With a bit of effort, he had already broken free.

However, at this moment, Fei Xiushen found his feet unusually clumsy and unable to move.

He quickly bent down and saw that his waist and below were covered with a gray-white stone-like substance. On each foot, three fire butterflies were tightly attached.

The stone-like substance only covered the surface, not penetrating the skin, but it was enough to stop Fei Xiushen for a moment, preventing him from moving even a step.

Then, a third explosion sounded, and countless fire butterflies dove down, almost completely enveloping Fei Xiushen.

Fei Xiushen was now filled with terror and despair. No matter how his palms flew, creating gusts of wind, he could not stop the fire butterflies from approaching. Each one he dispersed would instantly regroup, their fiery power as strong as ever.

Instead, his arms gradually became covered with gray-white stone-like substance. His body grew heavier, and inside him, it felt as if flames were burning, dispersing his true essence in his meridians. The pain was unbearable, like torture.

Fei Xiushen could no longer hold back and let out a惨叫, but he could not move at all. Just as his entire body was about to be completely covered by the fire butterflies, he struggled to turn his head, his eyes filled with a mix of emotions: pleading, begging, hatred, regret, and countless other feelings.

Zhuang Wudao, however, remained cold and indifferent, standing with his hands behind his back, watching as Fei Xiushen was completely enveloped by the Star Fire Divine Butterflies.

A nearby instructor, responsible for judging the match, could not bear to watch and frowned, saying, "Zhuang Wudao, have you not heard that when you can spare someone, you should? You have already won, why must you deal a fatal blow? At such a young age, to be so ruthless, it is not the way of the righteous!"

Zhuang Wudao glanced at him, unmoved, and did not stop. "We have signed a life-or-death agreement. On this platform, life and death are not to be questioned! May I ask, Instructor, have I broken any rules today?"

The instructor was taken aback and Zhuang Wudao continued, "You allow him to force me to sign a life-or-death agreement, but you do not allow me to defeat him. What is the logic behind this?"

After asking, Zhuang Wudao ignored him. The instructor was biased, merely because he pitied Fei Xiushen's third-grade immortal root and did not want him to die at his hands.

But if Fei Xiushen had won today, would he have left him a chance to live?

The principle that a snake not killed will come back to bite you, he had learned at the age of twelve. Either do not make an enemy, or if you do, do not show mercy. You must strike hard and ensure the enemy can never rise again!

Sparing someone when you can is only appropriate if you know who you are sparing. The old and weak of the Zhuang family, who had lost their wealth, posed no threat to him. But Fei Xiushen, should he be left alive to join the Lichen Sect and become a threat to him in the future?

The instructor wanted to say more but had just opened his mouth when Zhuang Wudao flicked his sleeve. The thousand Star Fire Divine Butterflies scattered, and only nine remained, flying back into Zhuang Wudao's sleeve.

On the spot, only a stone statue remained, its features vividly detailed, exactly like Fei Xiushen. The fear, pain, and despair were still evident on its face.

Below the platform, there was another loud commotion.

"How can a person turn to stone? Wasn't that the Star Fire Divine Butterfly from the Tianxuan Zhaoshi True Scripture?"

"In the Big Dipper, Tianxuan is the Earth Star, but it cannot turn a person to stone on the spot!"

"What kind of evil technique is this?"

"A cultivator at the fifth level of the Qi Condensation stage, with a third-grade immortal root, and the potential to reach the Golden Core stage, is gone just like that—"

Guyue Tianfang was also slightly dazed, standing up from his seat. After a moment, his face showed a look of realization, and he closed his eyes in pain.

"It's the Stone Brightness Essence Flame, no wonder! The Star Fire Divine Butterfly, fused with part of the Stone Brightness Essence Flame, is a third-grade extraordinary mystic art!"

"What is the Stone Brightness Essence Flame?"

Guyue Qingrong, initially not reacting, asked in confusion. Then his face changed, and he looked at Zhuang Wudao on the platform with shock and disbelief.

"Stone Brightness Essence Flame, Father, are you saying he has already refined the Stone Brightness Essence Flame seed?"

At first, it seemed absurd, but upon careful consideration, it was the only explanation for the scene before them.

Except for the Stone Brightness Essence Flame, no other spirit fire below the third stage could turn a fifth-level Qi Condensation stage cultivator to stone instantly.

If Zhuang Wudao had refined the Stone Brightness Essence Flame seed, it was not impossible. After achieving the first level of the Bull Demon Yuan Body and possessing the Magnetic Yuan Body, Zhuang Wudao could resist the fire toxicity and contain the Stone Brightness Essence Flame within his body.

With the Tianxuan Zhaoshi True Scripture, he could use star power to suppress and refine the fire seed, making it quite possible.

"If this is true, it's no wonder he could master the first level of the Tianxuan Zhaoshi True Scripture and open another spirit orifice within two months."

Guyue Qingrong drew in a deep breath, his gaze heavy. Even if Zhuang Wudao could not yet use the Stone Brightness Essence Flame, he was still terrifying.

"But where did he get the Stone Brightness Essence Flame seed?"

Guyue Tianfang shook his head slightly. This was a minor detail. Although the Stone Brightness Essence Flame is a third-grade lower-stage rootless essence flame and is rarely seen, with the Bactang family's influence, it would not be difficult to obtain one for Zhuang Wudao.

Thinking of the Bactang family, Guyue Tianfang subconsciously looked at the opposite side, where Bactang Cangjue was calmly sipping tea, and his brows furrowed. "With him here, Ming's chances in this competition are truly in trouble."

Guyue Qingrong's face turned pale, and he let out a deep sigh. "Fortunately, we invited Fei Xiushen!"

If not for Fei Xiushen, it would have been difficult to test Zhuang Wudao's true foundation and mystic arts. Mystic arts are not easily restored, and the higher the grade, the longer it takes to recover, closely related to the practitioner's divine consciousness, true essence, and qi and blood. Given Zhuang Wudao's current second-level Qi Condensation stage and third-grade mystic art, he could probably only use it once a day.

After using it, he could not use it again today. Guyue Ming still had a good chance of winning—

However, Guyue Tianfang fell into deep thought, a hint of worry crossing his eyes. He still did not know what Zhuang Wudao's life-bound mystic art was, and how could he feel at ease?

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