Baoshu Buddha was both furious and anxious inside.
Today, he had utterly lost face.
First, he was mercilessly suppressed in a one-on-one duel against Daoist Baishan. If not for the timely arrival of the Barbarian Emperor, he would have been forced to flee in disgrace. That alone was already a blow—after all, he had never been on par with Daoist Baishan back then, so he could barely accept it.
But now...
This mysterious figure who had suddenly appeared from nowhere was even stronger than him.
How could he accept that?
He knew without even thinking that even the Barbarian Emperor would start doubting him. The faintly suspicious look in the Barbarian Emperor's eyes made his face burn with shame and ignited his rage even further.
Fortunately, the Barbarian Emperor did not show his feelings openly, as they still had a common enemy to face.
Baoshu Buddha soared into the air, black light swirling around him as he landed on the Celestial Wolf. In an instant, the Celestial Wolf underwent a mutation, sprouting a second ferocious head.
The two-headed Celestial Wolf radiated a fierce killing intent and surged toward the Immortal Crane with overwhelming momentum.
Daoist Baishan's expression shifted slightly.
From this, he understood that the Barbarian Emperor had gone a step further than him, but he was not without the strength to fight back.
"With our spiritual energy not yet recovered, the gap between us is not that large! If you want to take advantage of the situation and force me to stoop to your level, it's impossible!"
Daoist Baishan laughed loudly. The Immortal Crane spread its wings, and the surrounding mountains and rivers faintly appeared, enhancing its ethereal aura.
The two-headed Celestial Wolf spewed black flames, firmly suppressing the Immortal Crane, but could not gain any further advantage.
The Barbarian Emperor furrowed his brows.
He turned to look at the other side of the battlefield and was stunned.
The Glazed Baoshu Tree was being further restrained by the white true dragon, and there was a growing trend of continuous strangulation. Fragments of Buddhist light shattered, and many branches on the Glazed Baoshu Tree broke. At this rate, not only would it not support him, but it might even require his aid instead.
"Who exactly is this hidden figure?" the Barbarian Emperor was shocked.
He understood Baoshu Buddha's foundation fairly well. Although not as strong as himself or True Immortal Zhenxuan, Baoshu Buddha had awakened from a long slumber by luck, so he was not someone just anyone could casually provoke.
Zhenxuan Mountain was quiet as well.
The four ancient sages were in fierce combat, their aura overwhelmingly strong. Even a slight leakage of their residual energy caused great pressure on the Heaven-Man Realm cultivators nearby. They had retreated repeatedly, not daring to approach lest they suffer collateral damage.
They were also guessing who was behind the white true dragon.
Various rumored names flashed through their minds, but none could be confirmed.
"However... whoever can suppress Baoshu Buddha must not be a nobody!"
There was awe and admiration in everyone's eyes.
"Today I realize there are still so many ancient sages hidden in the world. They have not ascended but are still alive in the present. Their sudden appearance—could it mean something major is about to happen?" someone whispered.
The world was not short of smart people. From the ancient sages' conversation, they had already guessed some clues but dared not speculate further, feeling a sense of fear.
The ancient sages would not appear without reason.
This likely involved great secrets.
"Come out at once!" Baoshu Buddha's angry roar echoed.
He was unusually enraged.
Golden light burst from his body, continuously amplifying his power and merging into the Glazed Baoshu Tree. The tree shook as multicolored light gathered, transforming into a giant palm attempting to crush the white dragon in its grasp.
The white dragon let out a long roar and spat out a white banner that turned into a divine sword and shot out.
The sword intent was unmatched, even causing Daoist Baishan to glance sideways.
The divine sword slashed, instantly severing all five fingers of the multicolored Buddhist palm, leaving it bare and looking somewhat comical.
Though it could have shattered the entire palm with one strike, it only cut off the five fingers. To Baoshu Buddha, this was a blatant insult.
This hidden figure was likely his enemy.
Baoshu Buddha could no longer restrain himself:
"How dare you insult me!"
His eyes shot out blazing fury, his entire body glowing golden as if he had become a golden statue.
The Barbarian Emperor's expression changed:
"Buddha, do not!"
But his words could no longer calm the raging Baoshu Buddha.
He opened his mouth and spat out a drop of golden blood that shot like lightning into the Glazed Baoshu Tree. Instantly, the tree's aura surged dramatically. The multicolored light exploded, breaking free from the white true dragon's restraint in an instant.
Not only that, the multicolored light became incredibly sharp, carrying a power that seemed to dissolve everything, as if even the void was about to vanish.
With a swish, the white dragon's tail was annihilated.
Ning Qi opened his eyes, filled with astonishment.
"What was that drop of golden blood?"
He could sense that the Glazed Baoshu Tree's power had grown immensely. The Martial Sage power contained within the Yu King Bead alone was probably insufficient to contend with it, yet he remained calm. He still had the Innate Divine Sword Qi nurtured within him, which was his strongest trump card so far.
He had never used it since completing the Three Blossoms technique.
Daoist Baishan lightly said:
"Baoshu, you are willing to sacrifice, but do you really want to fight to the death today? If you retreat now, I will not hold your offense against you."
But Baoshu Buddha sneered coldly, his pale face showing a hint of ferocity.
"I sacrificed a drop of spiritual blood and paid such a price. Do you think I would retreat just like that? Foolish dream!"
Above the sky, the Glazed Baoshu Tree radiated brilliant light, its presence surpassing even the two-headed Celestial Wolf and Immortal Crane, becoming the brightest existence on the battlefield. What was once the white dragon restraining the Buddhist tree had now reversed; the Buddhist tree was suppressing the white dragon, with offense and defense switched. The white true dragon looked a bit embarrassed, constantly dodging, yet still being struck repeatedly by the multicolored light.
The Barbarian Emperor fell silent. Since a price had been paid, he had to gain something today; otherwise, it would be a huge loss.
But Ning Qi's gaze was calm as he searched for the right moment.
The Innate Divine Sword Qi was either unused or would strike only when it could achieve merit.
The multicolored light from the Glazed Baoshu Tree occasionally fell like sharp blades, precisely cutting open the Daoist palaces in its path. Guests shrank back in shock, retreating again and again. Baoshu Buddha was burning with rage and no longer cared about anything else.
Seeing this, Daoist Baishan grew angry.
"Fine, fine! Then let's see who has the deeper foundation!"
His aura surged as spiritual blood began to gather as well. Ning Qi frowned slightly, ready to act. He was only waiting for the right moment, but if Daoist Baishan had to pay a great price to fight, it would not be worth it.
He did not know exactly what the spiritual blood was, but it must be important to them.
However, just as he moved, his expression changed in surprise and he slowly stopped.
In fact, it was not just him.
Almost simultaneously, the three ancient sages looked in one direction. Even Daoist Baishan, who had been ready to risk everything, halted and calmed his aura. Everyone was surprised and followed the three sages' gaze.
They saw an unremarkable blind old man slowly walking forward, leaning on a cane.
Thump.
Thump.
The rhythmic sound of the cane striking the bluestone grew louder with each step, starting small but swelling into a drumbeat that echoed deep into everyone's hearts.
Each guest was shocked.
In the blink of an eye, the blind old man had arrived nearby.
"Everyone, stop fighting."
A hoarse voice sounded.
The old man raised his somewhat vacant eyes and looked toward the three ancient sages.
Daoist Baishan spoke:
"It's not that I don't want to stop, but these two came charging at me, so I must respond fully."
The blind old man glanced at the Barbarian Emperor and Baoshu Buddha.
The Barbarian Emperor was silent.
Baoshu Buddha's eyes were full of discontent and frustration. He had just consumed a drop of spiritual blood, so if they stopped now, it would be a huge loss. He was unwilling.
The blind old man shook his head and sighed softly:
"Why waste strength fighting among yourselves?"
He casually tossed his cane into the air. It grew with the wind, instantly transforming into a gigantic pillar that stretched across the sky, spanning between the Buddhist tree and the true dragon. With a slight tremor, the Buddhist tree's multicolored light all rolled back. The Glazed Baoshu Tree emitted a crisp cry, trembling as it fell into Baoshu Buddha's hands and continued to shiver. The white true dragon was thrown away by an unseen force.
Baoshu Buddha's face was shocked as he looked at the old man in disbelief.
The Barbarian Emperor's expression grew even graver.
The blind old man said nothing.
The giant pillar cut through the void again.
It swept the Celestial Wolf and pulled the Immortal Crane back twice.
The fierce Celestial Wolf and Immortal Crane, once like peerless beast emperors, instantly disintegrated, turning into raw power that rolled back. The Barbarian Emperor and Daoist Baishan both trembled and involuntarily took several steps back.
Their expressions changed as they looked at the blind old man.
"Sir..." the Barbarian Emperor began to speak.
But the blind old man interrupted:
"Today's events were my negligence. Since you have all returned, rules must be set. From now on, I do not want to see such incidents again. As for opportunities, rely on your own abilities."
Daoist Baishan remained silent for a moment and then cupped his hands in respect.
The Barbarian Emperor's and Baoshu Buddha's faces darkened.
This was clearly about the two trying to coerce Daoist Baishan into making a vow to gain more strength. Their original plan had been to take advantage of the situation, but now it seemed impossible with the blind old man's words. No one would dare to act like that again.
The Barbarian Emperor also cupped his hands in response.
Baoshu Buddha felt as if he had swallowed a fly, miserable and defeated. But in front of the blind old man, he dared not act recklessly, at least not now.
The blind old man waved his hand. The giant pillar in the sky transformed back into his cane. He glanced toward the depths of the Zhenxuan Sect, seeming somewhat surprised, and then slowly turned away.
The cane struck the bluestone again.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The sound gradually diminished until it was barely audible.
But everyone dared not even breathe.
Only when the old man's figure completely vanished did everyone finally exhale deeply.
If the ancient sages had brought a feeling of immense strength and reverence, the blind old man brought a sensation of boundlessness, like an abyss too deep to behold directly.
Daoist Baishan's eyes were filled with emotion, but his gaze toward the blind old man was mostly one of respect.
He knew some of the background and understood the old man's difficulties.
He did not merely submit to the old man's strength, but also respected his way of doing things.
Today's matter...
At this point, it could no longer continue.
It was somewhat anticlimactic, but the blind old man's arrival was even more shocking than the battle among the ancient sages. The crowd's emotions had yet to settle.
The Barbarian Emperor took a deep breath and cupped his hands toward Daoist Baishan:
"True Immortal, today's matters may have caused offense, but it was all precautionary. Please do not take it to heart."
Daoist Baishan snorted lightly but finally waved his hand slightly.
The Barbarian Emperor glanced around at everyone and then left through the void.
Baoshu Buddha's face was so dark it seemed wet with sweat.
Today he had lost both face and dignity, yet there was nothing he could do.
He coldly glanced at Daoist Baishan and then waved his hand, taking the monks away through the void as well.
In an instant, the once chaotic Zhenxuan Mountain fell silent, giving everyone an unreal feeling.
"Who exactly is that blind old man... that could make all the ancient sages stop fighting?"
This was the question on everyone's mind.
Someone frowned deeply, thinking.
Suddenly, a gleam appeared in their eyes.
"I remember now, that figure looks somewhat like the Wind-listening Elder, the number one on the Heaven-Man List! But Wind-listening Elder comes and goes without a trace, and very few have ever seen his true face."
"But... would Wind-listening Elder be that powerful?"
"He's an ancient sage after all... Unless, the Wind-listening Elder is just one of this old man's identities."
Whispers broke out.
Everyone seemed to have discovered the blind old man's true identity but dared not confirm it.
Everything before them was simply too extraordinary.
Among all present except the three ancient sages, the person most familiar with the blind old man was Ning Qi.
At this moment, astonishment shone in Ning Qi's eyes.
He was hidden deep within the Zhenxuan Sect, so the Barbarian Emperor and Baoshu Buddha could not detect his true location, but the blind old man saw him. Correspondingly, Ning Qi also sensed the old man's presence.
"That is... the old storyteller who narrates the legend of the Heaven-Slaying Martial Sage!"
Ning Qi was shocked inside.
Years ago, he had personally visited the small town Ye Qinghe spoke of and stayed there for some time, having extended contact with this old man. Yet he had not sensed anything unusual, only a faint impression of someone extraordinary.
But now, after the old man acted, Ning Qi immediately felt that irresistible power.
"He is definitely a Martial Sage! And not an ordinary one!"
He could still feel the trembling of the Yu King Bead. Even if he used his Innate Divine Sword Qi, he doubted there would be much difference.
"Could it be... he is the Heaven-Slaying Martial Sage?" Ning Qi could not help but think.
What he saw today made him realize that there was a hidden side of this world he never knew.
Not only were there many ancient sages living by cunning means in the present, but there were also unknown Martial Sages walking the mortal world, unseen by the masses.
Originally, he thought he was already standing at the pinnacle of the world, only needing to beware of the Great Yan Martial Sage. But now it seemed he had to remain humble and continue striving.
The true face of this world was gradually unveiling before him, and the many hidden secrets made him eager to learn more.
He could not help but look toward Daoist Baishan in the distance. Perhaps today, he would receive some answers.