Chapter 63 — The Ghost King
劍問蒼天 · Page 5 of 6
Before she could finish, Bili gave a delicate cry from within the arena, and the Heartbreak Flowers scattered in all directions. In an instant the wind howled, and the whole cave was filled with dazzling white blossoms, like a keen wall of light, sweeping forward like a landslide and a overturned sea.
Zhang Qingyue had seen Bili use this spell several times and knew well how formidable it was. His heart was just then full of worry for that Little Zhou.
But unexpectedly, Little Zhou only frowned, retreated a zhang through the air, and with his right hand formed a rapid succession of hand seals, his left hand gripping his right wrist as though weighing a thousand catties, as though tracing wild cursive script. His fingers gave sharp shrieks in the air, and in an instant he had drawn a Taiji diagram there before him out of nothing.
At the sight, Zhang Qingyue and Tian Lingsu had no further doubt: this Little Zhou was indeed a disciple of the Canglan Sect. That spell just now was plainly the Canglan Sect's Taiji Xuanqing Dao!
In a flash the Seven Stars Sword spun upward, its radiance blazing, and came to rest at the very center of the Taiji diagram, ringing with a ceaseless "zheng, zheng, zheng, zheng." A moment later the Seven Stars Sword shot forth swift as lightning, and around its blade a wheel of Taiji light spun and flowed, its might so terrible it could not be withstood.
In an instant, the two magic treasures collided in midair with a thunderous crash!
"Rumble—"
Where the great sound passed, the halos that burst forth from the collision of the two treasures rushed swiftly outward. The whole stone cave rang and shook without cease, and the rock walls above could not withstand the tremendous impact; stones large and small came tumbling down.
Zhang Qingyue and Tian Lingsu felt the shaking around them too, and could scarcely keep their footing. Their hearts were filled with even deeper admiration: this Little Zhou's cultivation in the Taiji Xuanqing Dao was likely a shade stronger than that of any young disciple of the Canglan Sect he had ever seen.
In the arena, the radiance of Bili's white wall of flowers faded and vanished. Her face was somewhat pale—plainly she had come off the worse. Zhang Qingyue had spent some time in her company, and his heart cried out that this was bad; he guessed she would never let the matter rest. Sure enough, a flash of anger crossed Bili's face, the Heartbreak Flowers flickered and were drawn back, and her hand went to her waist and grasped that clear, lovely little golden bell.
Little Zhou frowned and gathered himself on guard. This young woman before him was young, but her cultivation was already beyond his expectations. Just now he had struck with nine-tenths of his power, and still could only slightly discomfit her—yet by the look of her, she seemed to have an even stronger magic treasure. And what he feared most was still the man standing silently in those shadows: truly unfathomable, and the great danger at the heart of it all.
Then came the clear sound of the bell, "ding-ding-dang-dang," ringing out—utterly incongruous in this cave so thick with killing intent. Bili stood lightly in midair, her hands gently brushing the air, and a little golden bell floated slowly before her, ringing clear.
Looking from where Zhang Qingyue stood, he saw that beautiful woman in midair, her hands soft as boneless things, gently dancing. The golden bell spun slowly between her hands, giving out its clear notes from time to time.
"Ding-dang," "ding-dang," "ding-dang."
Little Zhou suddenly shuddered, startled to realize that he had fallen into a trance and had nearly forgotten he stood at the brink of life and death. Had his Dao-heart not been firm these many years, his spirit would already have been lost. This little bell seemed to have the power to hook and bewitch the soul.