Under the grace of the Bodhi Divine Ability, Huang Sheli’s movements became utterly natural, employing the most minimal expenditure and simplest actions to shatter Zhao Rucheng’s offensive.

This kind of simple, unadorned beauty was enough to evoke sighs of admiration. Each move, each posture, pointed directly to the true essence of combat.

Skill verging on the Great Dao!

Behold, that Buddha head, carved upon the Vajra Pestle, gave a light nod. Instantly discerning the locus of Zhao Rucheng’s True Yuan, and the very pivot of his sword energy, it shattered the Geng Metal Sword.

Amidst the scattering fragments of the shattered black-gold sword energy, the bronze-colored Demon-Subduing Pestle continued its relentless advance. The carved yellow-faced Buddha upon it wore a compassionate expression, seemingly smiling.

All beings suffer; I, the Buddha, am compassionate.

Yet, it aimed directly for Zhao Rucheng’s face!

Zhao Rucheng directly stepped forward, appearing to meet the strike head-on, yet as his foot descended, he had already shifted to the left. The Grand Five Elements Reversal Heaven Step, commanding the winds of the Five Elements, habitually confused directions and overturned the forward path.

However, Huang Sheli merely rotated her right foot slightly, her momentum unwavering. That Buddha head still bore down directly upon Zhao Rucheng’s face! Her steps, too, were so simple and clear. She had already perceived the true path within this bewildering reversal of circumstances!

The Bodhi Divine Ability, extended to such a degree!

Separated by the bronze mask, the opponent’s expression remained unseen. But Huang Sheli saw a right hand suddenly dart forth, its five fingers blooming like a flower. It reached towards the Buddha head as if to pluck a blossom, intent on seizing it. This was precisely the Minor Formless Flower Plucking Sword Finger.

The opponent’s reaction, of course, was exceedingly swift and fierce. The Minor Formless Flower Plucking Sword Finger was also a first-rate killing technique using the finger as a sword. Yet, she harbored no fear, responding with effortless grace.

Her left hand drew back slightly, gathering into the shape of a flower bud, then drilled directly forward, piercing into the covered range of the Minor Formless Flower Plucking Sword Finger, as if throwing herself into a snare… and then, her five fingers spread open!

Bodhi, too, blossoms like a flower!

Her blooming left hand’s five fingers precisely interlocked with Zhao Rucheng’s right hand’s five fingers. Ten fingers intertwined! With such exquisite finesse, she perfectly intercepted the Minor Formless Flower Plucking Sword Finger.

Under normal circumstances, let alone interlocking fingers with an extremely ugly man, the mere thought of such a scene would leave Huang Sheli feeling disgusted and sleepless for days and nights. But in combat, she sought only the optimal fighting strategy.

The World-Saving Sixteen Scattering Hands was a combat technique created by Huang Fu in the military, renowned as a top-tier unarmed martial art in Jing Country. Core generals of the Yellow Dragon Guard all learned a move or two. Within it, there naturally existed no such technique as interlocking ten fingers. This was Huang Sheli, under the control of her Bodhi state, naturally integrating it into her movements. True application, guided by the heart.

While locking down the opponent’s five fingers, the five Mansions within her body stirred, and the Tongtian Palace rumbled. Her left hand guided Zhao Rucheng’s right hand to the side, forcibly exposing his vital gate, like a compassionate Bodhisattva seeking to deliver suffering beings from the sea of bitterness. But the Buddha head continued its strike towards the face!

This single strike was different from the previous ones. As the yellow-faced Buddha head descended, the entire martial arena was suddenly filled with the sound of bells. It was the faint, lingering chime of an ancient temple in the deep mountains, and also the warm, compassionate call to turn back from the sea of bitterness.

There was clearly no terrifying force outwardly manifested, yet Zhao Rucheng’s body stiffened on the spot. Before his body stiffened, it was his Divine Soul that seized up!

This was the Great Compassionate Universal Salvation Heart Scripture, created by Huang Fu!

What is Universal Salvation? To kill people is to save people! What is Compassionate? Killing is Compassionate!

With this Great Compassionate Universal Salvation Heart Scripture, he intimidated and killed both body and soul!

Who could have imagined that the Minor Formless Flower Plucking Sword Finger, which had shone so brightly in the fight against Yin Wenhua, could be countered in such an exquisite manner? A stroke of divine inspiration, naturally formed.

At this moment, Huang Sheli was truly terrifying! As her opponent, Zhao Rucheng’s responses in combat could already be called wonderful, almost flawless. But she forcibly altered the World-Saving Sixteen Scattering Hands, causing Bodhi to bloom like a flower, artificially creating a single flaw, and then infinitely amplifying this flaw, instantly pulling the opponent into a deadly situation!

At this moment, the World-Saving Sixteen Scattering Hands had already exposed Zhao Rucheng’s vital gate, simultaneously sealing his Qi mechanism, twisting and killing his True Yuan, and with the Great Compassionate Universal Salvation Heart Scripture intimidating his body and soul, leaving him nowhere to escape, nowhere to avoid… And the Universal Salvation Demon-Subduing Pestle was just about to “subdue the demon”!

From the moment the Magpie Bridge shattered and Zhao Rucheng stepped onto the broken bridge to attack, to his falling into a deadly situation at this instant, only a few blinks of an eye had passed. The combat between absolute top prodigies was this fierce, this perilous.

But just at this moment, behind Zhao Rucheng, a moon-white rhinoceros horn vaguely appeared. It was only a flash, passing in an instant, like an illusion.

Divine Ability, Spiritual Rhinoceros!

The body without the double-winged flight of the colorful phoenix, the heart with the singular insight of the spiritual rhinoceros. This was also a Divine Ability that could be used for both cultivation and combat. In cultivation, it often allowed for breakthroughs and captured inspiration. In combat, its manifestation was the ability to capture fighting inspiration. For example, more accurately grasping the opponent’s combat intent, achieving unspoken “heart-to-heart understanding.” For example, breaking free from fixed patterns of thought, seizing a flash of inspiration for choices in combat…

The Buddha head of the Universal Salvation Demon-Subduing Pestle had already reached his face. He could not avoid it, nor retreat far, and in his haste, he could not block it! No matter how thick the bronze mask, it could not withstand this one strike. It itself did not possess any ability beyond covering the face; otherwise, it would not have been permitted in the martial arena.

In an instant, the situation on the field seemed to have reached a deadly impasse. But as an observer just below the stage, Jiang Wang, though unable to see the expression of this Deng Flag from Mu Country, could perceive that the eyes under that person’s mask did not even blink once!

And that person’s right hand, its five fingers firmly clasped by Huang Sheli’s five fingers, at this moment, suddenly burst forth with brilliant golden light! The ethereal shadow of a Golden-Winged Great Peng faintly appeared in mid-air.

Garuda Breaking Array Sword Finger!

The Mu Country prodigy’s five fingers all turned brilliant gold, terrifying sword energy piercing out from them, intending to twist Huang Sheli’s five fingers into paste. And its momentum was fierce, pointing directly at the vital point of her brow!

The body receives the Buddha’s favor, cutting down external paths. Breaking the enemy’s shackles, capturing and killing the thief king. This is the essence of the Garuda Breaking Array. This move was so perfectly timed.

This Garuda Breaking Array Sword Finger, although blended with military killing techniques and belonging to the same lineage of releasing soldiers, held a pure and true essence of the Buddha Gate within it. Even the successor of Xi Yue An had recognized it earlier. That so-called “yellow-faced Buddha” created by Huang Fu himself, was he not precisely an external path? Garuda, as one of the Eight Divisions of the Heavenly Dragons, often listened to the Dharma before the Buddha; “protecting the law” was also natural.

But… Clearly that person had already been sealed in his Dao Origin by the World-Saving Sixteen Scattering Hands, his Qi mechanism locked down, his joints controlled. From whence did this Garuda Breaking Array Sword Finger come?

It came truly suddenly! Just as both sides had clearly exhausted their armies, and the two forces were locked in fierce combat, a surprise force suddenly appeared from seemingly nowhere! This was an unexpected existence!

Many spectators outside the arena could not understand. But Huang Sheli, in her Bodhi state, understood clearly. She had a clear perception. Just now, after this Deng Flag opened the Spiritual Rhinoceros Divine Ability, the earlier scattered Geng Metal sword energy was actually controlled again, gathering around his fingers!

This Garuda Breaking Array Sword Finger at this moment was not generated from within. This Deng Flag had not broken the shackles of the World-Saving Sixteen Scattering Hands. It was formed directly outside his body, using the Geng Metal sword energy as the foundation for the Garuda Breaking Array Sword Finger! Hence, it could not be obstructed, and hence, it could become a surprise force.

This was simply a stroke of divine inspiration. The Magpie Bridge Immortal Geng Metal sword energy and the Garuda Breaking Array Sword Finger could still combine and change in such a manner, truly making it unimaginable. If pitted against someone else, this should have been a wonderful move sufficient to reverse the situation.

But he faced Huang Sheli! Almost as soon as the Garuda Breaking Array Sword Finger shone with brilliant gold, Huang Sheli’s five fingers had already loosened and retreated, detaching themselves in timely fashion.

At this moment, Zhao Rucheng’s Garuda Breaking Array Sword Finger failed to twist and kill Huang Sheli’s left hand, but he simultaneously also broke free from the restraint, gaining space to withdraw. Huang Sheli’s World-Saving Sixteen Scattering Hands were opened, leaving her facing the danger of the opponent’s Garuda Breaking Array Sword Finger, but simultaneously, the Universal Salvation Demon-Subduing Pestle still bore down upon the opponent’s face.

Both sides faced new choices. This was a contest of courage, wisdom, and talent. A choice in combat under the amplification of Divine Abilities. Bodhi and Spiritual Rhinoceros!

The brilliant golden Garuda Breaking Array Sword Finger, without hesitation, still pressed towards Huang Sheli’s brow. Zhao Rucheng made his choice first! He did not withdraw, nor avoid, but instead sought to strongly attack the opponent! He was certain he could arrive first, striking Huang Sheli’s brow before his own forehead was shattered!

Huang Sheli’s forward-striking Demon-Subduing Pestle suddenly drew back, its three-edged point stabbing down at Zhao Rucheng’s hand. She had already perceived Zhao Rucheng’s follow-up move and determined that she indeed could not shatter Zhao Rucheng’s forehead first. And her choice similarly was not to withdraw.

Experts contend in time, momentum, and intent. A single step of concession could very likely lead to being bullied step by step by the opponent! She used attack to substitute defense; the point of her stab was similarly precise, aiming directly at Zhao Rucheng’s wrist bone. This distance was neither far nor near, just enough to intercept and break Zhao Rucheng’s Garuda Breaking Array Sword Finger. This timing was neither fast nor slow, precisely catching Zhao Rucheng at the moment when “advancing yields no merit, and retreating is powerless.”

The awl tip of the Universal Salvation Demon-Subduing Pestle had three edges. These three edges represented the three realms: the past, the present, and the future. When this Demon-Subduing Pestle descended with its awl tip, it was to erase the past, kill the present, and sever the future. Bodhi illuminates and sees; in ten thousand deaths, there is no life.

Facing such a precise, such an uncomfortable stab, Zhao Rucheng’s Garuda Breaking Array Sword Finger suddenly turned back, his brilliant golden five fingers blooming like a brilliant golden flower. His index and middle fingers actually pinched the awl tip! Plucking a flower in the three realms! Using the Magpie Bridge Immortal Geng Metal sword energy as the foundation, employing the force of the Garuda Breaking Array Sword Finger, he yet changed to the move of the Minor Formless Flower Plucking Sword Finger!

Earlier, in the fight against Yin Wenhua, many people still felt that this Deng Flag from Mu Country had learned too much miscellaneous stuff, and his Dao path might be difficult. Now viewing it, that person’s seemingly unrelated powerful secret methods were actually all thoroughly understood by him, operated by heart, and melted into one furnace! What kind of talent, what kind of genius is this!

But behold the field: his right hand plucked a flower in the three realms, “plucking” the Demon-Subduing Pestle between his fingers. His left hand lifted slightly, its five fingers virtually pointing downwards, as if pressing something. If one observed carefully, one could discover that each of his fingers pressed at a different horizontal plane, staggered in height. Like flower branches that had been meticulously pruned.

His five fingers were slender, clean, smooth, and perfect like sculptures. To the extent that even in such intense combat, Huang Sheli’s heart still generated such distracting thoughts—this guy from Mu Country is ugly to behold, but his hands are quite beautiful.

And then his index finger flicked forward. Between heaven and earth, the sound of a qin suddenly rang out! Sound patterns abruptly appeared, semi-transparent air gathering into sword shapes, stern with cold intent, rustling as they broke through the air, stabbing directly at Huang Sheli’s neck.

End of the World Innumerable Veins Qi Sword Technique! The Mu Country prodigy possessed the Divine Ability to control Qi, claiming “Qi for my use,” and of course, he possessed top-level Qi control ability. Zhao Rucheng’s finger-sword technique was also about Qi manipulation. It was simply using a secret method to guide it, taking the sword style as the body, and mixing in the art of the qin.

But behold him—his right hand plucked a flower in the three realms, “plucking” the Demon-Subduing Pestle between his fingers. His left hand was like stroking the strings of a qin, like playing a pipa. His index finger just moved, and his ring finger flicked again, his thumb was like pressing a string, and his pinky hooked up again. They rose and fell like waves.

But listen—
Zheng zheng zheng zheng!
Zheng zheng zheng zheng!
His left hand’s five fingers were like butterflies threading through flowers, performing in the mortal realm. And the Qi either formed sword shapes, or gathered into knife shapes, or guns, or arrows… Covering the sky and earth, enveloping every vital point around Huang Sheli.

Qi as strings, flowing out a melodious tune. A hundred Qi become kill, vowing to dominate the eight wastes and six harmonies.

“Lightly gather, slowly pluck, wipe, then pick again, first for , after .”

Where is the playing of the qin to seek a confidant? This is clearly a ten-sided ambush to kill the enemy!

The situation of attack and defense has changed! This battle was too wonderful. In an extremely short time, the situation of victory and defeat reversed wildly. It was fundamentally impossible to guess the changes. Every time it was outside expectations, upon closer reflection, it felt utterly marvelous.

This time, it seemed it was Huang Sheli’s turn to fall into danger again. The spectators in the observation seats all held their breath, concentrating on this wonderful battle.

Only Jiang Wang, just below the stage, stared intently at those fingers changing like flying butterflies, and suddenly felt a kind of panic arise in his heart.

Observing the River Terrace contention, facing the killing intent of absolute top prodigies, he did not panic. Breaking out of the Maze World, struggling for survival amidst the sea race army, he did not panic. But at this moment, his heart was in turmoil.

He hoped that it was real, yet feared that it would prove not to be.

Once upon a time in Fenglin City, there was a person who was meticulous in everything, from clothing and food to housing. Because he was too good-looking, to avoid “wasting heavenly things,” he also paid great attention to maintenance. Fine to the strand of hair, small to the fingers… His left hand and right hand required wiping with different handkerchiefs. He often used that person’s gold-embroidered handkerchief to wipe his sword blade, each time infuriating that person into shouting for a duel. Of course, using that person’s handkerchief to wipe the sword was not his original idea.

He once danced swords under the moon, and this person, drunk, played the qin for him. At that time, he looked back under the moon and saw such a pair of hands, like threading flowers!

Is it real? This is too unbelievable! The domain of Fenglin City has sunk into the Netherworld; he thought he would never see an old friend again… Mu Country is such an overlord nation; how could they let an outsider represent this country in the Observe River Terrace competition? He himself had the support of Zhong Xuan Sheng, Yan Fu, Li Longchuan, even Lv Zongxiao and others, and only with them did he have the qualification to contend for the name, winning and being selected uprightly, only then coming to the Observe River Terrace.

If it was truly him, then what should he do…

So it’s not real? So it’s just wishful thinking?

Jiang Wang pursed his lips and remained silent, his eyes fixed. But no one paid attention to his mood.

On the martial stage, the Mu Country prodigy’s killing moves had already surrounded Huang Sheli. Everyone waited for Huang Sheli’s response. She did not disappoint. Jing Country’s Huang Sheli had thick, sexy lips. Of course, it was difficult to hear any pleasant words from this mouth. At this moment, her lips suddenly opened—

“Zhah!”

A sound like a thousand rings. Shaking the outer ear, intimidating the inner heart. This was the Universal Salvation Sanskrit Sound! This top-level sound killing technique habitually injured the divine, extinguished intent, seized sound, and saved lives. In the void, a Sanskrit chant vaguely echoed. The concentrated crowd listening involuntarily put on strange expressions. Especially the spectators outside of Jing Country, some frowning, some puzzled, some bewildered.

Because the content of that Sanskrit chant was thus—

“The world has people who slander me, bully me, insult me, laugh at me, belittle me, despise me, hate me, deceive me, how should I handle it, huh?”

“Don’t say a word, kill him, kill him, kill him, kill him, kill his whole family!”

The vast majority of people were utterly speechless at this so-called Sanskrit chant. The incongruity of its content completely subverted people’s general perception of the Buddhist sect. Only a portion of those who understood the situation knew that this was the scripture text of the !

The Great Compassionate Universal Salvation Heart Scripture was a killing method that simultaneously acted on both body and soul. Huang Sheli had already displayed it earlier. But simultaneously, the world also truly possessed such a heart scripture. It was also edited by the Great General of the Yellow Dragon Guard, Huang Fu, who claimed it was completed after ten years of secluded cultivation. Its content… was precisely what Huang Sheli chanted in the void after initiating the Universal Salvation Sanskrit Sound, mostly in this style… That bald Great General of the Yellow Dragon Guard was truly a world’s marvel.

Of course, at this moment, the scripture text was not the focus; the focus was the Universal Salvation Sanskrit Sound, this sound killing technique. Along with Huang Sheli’s single word “Zhah,” the Sanskrit chant arose. This Sanskrit chant was clearly faint yet present, seemingly powerless, yet it completely suppressed the qin sound led by Zhao Rucheng’s End of the World Innumerable Veins Qi Sword Technique! Those Qi swords and Qi knives, which had just rushed to Huang Sheli’s front, already collapsed, scattering back into Qi.

Zhao Rucheng’s five fingers continued to pluck invisible strings, and Huang Sheli’s Universal Salvation Sanskrit Sound Zhah sound was continuous. The scene suddenly intensified! Countless Qi swords and sound patterns collided wildly. Qi force and sound force unfolded a killing field in all the space between the two individuals. This was an extremely meticulous contest, concrete to every sound, every wisp of Qi, every inch of space. This was a wonderful clash between top-level techniques!

One with the Spiritual Rhinoceros Divine Ability, driving the End of the World Innumerable Veins Qi Sword Technique. One with the Bodhi Divine Ability, controlling the Universal Salvation Sanskrit Sound. One with “heart-to-heart understanding,” one “awakened and clear.” The various exquisite changes of “Qi” and “sound” were dazzling to the eyes. It was difficult to lightly judge the outcome.

Huang Sheli did not know how long the opponent’s Spiritual Rhinoceros Divine Ability could be maintained, but in this battle, she was the first to open her Bodhi Divine Ability. If the degree of development on both sides was equivalent, then the opponent would necessarily end his Divine Ability state after hers. Stalling, for her, held no benefit. Therefore… it was time to seek another change.

Under the awakened state, everything was known and perceived, everything was clear beyond compare. All possible outcomes had been rehearsed in her mind. Huang Sheli lifted the hand she had used for defense. At this moment, the opponent’s Minor Formless Flower Plucking Sword Finger was still plucking the awl tip, contending with her Universal Salvation Demon-Subduing Pestle. And she, while displaying the Universal Salvation Sanskrit Sound, suddenly lifted this hand and grasped the handle of the Universal Salvation Demon-Subduing Pestle as well. Both hands held the Demon-Subduing Pestle!

She turned and shouted: “I, the Buddha, am compassionate and save the world! Let the body be consumed by fire and ascend early to ultimate bliss!” The power of the Universal Salvation Sanskrit Sound suddenly strengthened, its sound piercing through heaven and earth. Her two hands holding the Universal Salvation Demon-Subduing Pestle turned with the momentum, intent on twisting and shattering the opponent’s sword finger. It was as if breaking free from shackles, a coiled dragon awaiting ascent to the sky.

Just at this moment, Zhao Rucheng suddenly opened his mouth: “Since it is ultimate bliss, why don’t you go?” The Bodhi Divine Ability and Spiritual Rhinoceros Divine Ability simultaneously found their opportunity!

Zhao Rucheng’s right hand barely maintained the plucking flower shape, still struggling at the awl tip. His left hand, however, suddenly retracted at this moment! The End of the World Innumerable Veins Qi Sword Technique abruptly stopped. All the Qi force exploded at once amidst the Sanskrit sound. This was the final collision between the End of the World Innumerable Veins Qi Sword Technique and the Universal Salvation Sanskrit Sound. And neither contender waited for the result.

Zhao Rucheng’s left hand changed again. His index finger, middle finger, and pinky stood straight, only his ring finger bent halfway down, docking on his equally bent thumb. Then, with this form, he pushed directly towards Huang Sheli.

Deng Yue’s exclusive secret transmission, the Nine Tribulations Cave Immortal Finger! With this finger, penetrate immortal wonder. Deng Yue became famous relying on it, once cutting off the Wei River with a single finger, hence the moniker One Finger Break River. This technique has a total of nine tribulations; Zhao Rucheng had only cultivated to the seventh tribulation, not yet reaching the peak. In the beginning, one needed the assistance of all ten fingers to unleash this finger. For every tribulation advanced, one could retract a finger. At the peak, only a single finger would be sent out, the Nine Tribulations Cave Immortal. But this single finger, not yet at its peak, was already astonishing to gods and ghosts! In the border wilderness, Deng Yue pointed a single finger and killed the Divine Arrival realm prison chief of Great Qin’s Town Prison Division; the finger wind penetrated the ground, its depths unknown. Now Zhao Rucheng used this finger, also intent on killing the enemy and returning!

Pi pa pi pa pi pa… pi pa! The air emitted such continuous explosive sounds. The killing force of this one finger was terrifying enough to make observers tremble with fear. Huang Sheli had not yet completely seized back the Universal Salvation Demon-Subduing Pestle. The Nine Tribulations Cave Immortal Finger was already upon her body!

Hong long long! Thunder sounded! Around Huang Sheli’s body, rolling thunder suddenly erupted. Profound sound patterns, majestic thunder patterns, gathered and intertwined above her head, weaving into a thunder light tower. Thunder light and thunder sound, like a waterfall, cascaded down, protecting Huang Sheli’s body. Zhao Rucheng’s terrifying Nine Tribulations Cave Immortal Finger pointed at it, but only saw the thunder light ripple open like waves, and only heard the rolling thunder sound coming and going. Huang Sheli was actually unharmed! This was the Divine Ability, Thunder Sound Tower! This Divine Ability claimed to be “impenetrable to ten thousand evils, unharmed by ten thousand laws.” It was a first-rate defensive Divine Ability! Powerful enough to induce despair!

And under the protection of the Thunder Sound Tower, Huang Sheli twisted her two hands, already pulling back the Universal Salvation Demon-Subduing Pestle, and lightly struck forward! Zhao Rucheng retracted his hand in time, barely avoiding having his five fingers cut off by the awl tip, but the brilliant golden color on his fingers had already dimmed. Because the Nine Tribulations Cave Immortal Finger returned without merit, he immediately fell into a passive situation. Relying on the keenness of the Spiritual Rhinoceros Divine Ability, he narrowly saved his hand. He immediately displayed the Grand Five Elements Reversal Heaven Step again, stepping forward, and as his foot descended, he had already retreated three zhang away! Absolutely unable to continue close combat with Huang Sheli under the protection of the Thunder Sound Tower; opening distance to seek change was undoubtedly a sober judgment.

However… Ka ka! That kind of faint, yet seemingly thrilling cracking sound rang out. The thick bronze mask covering his face, just like this, split into four or five cracks and silently fell! The face of Mu Country’s mysterious prodigy, Deng Flag, was thus exposed before everyone!

He couldn’t avoid this one strike!