CHAPTER 619: GU CHANGSHENG'S LURE-THE-TIGER-AWAY-FROM-THE-MOUNTAIN SCHEME

Chapter 619: Gu Changsheng's Lure-the-Tiger-Away-from-the-Mountain Scheme

…

"These newcomers mean trouble, all of you fall back!"

Gu Changsheng's expression changed.

Given his current cultivation level, someone who could appear so close to him without making a sound, completely escaping his detection—just that fact alone was enough to make him treat this monk with the utmost seriousness.

As his words fell, he took a step forward, placing himself between the group and the threat.

The True Essence within his body instantly boiled, and a scorching aura, blazing like the midday sun, erupted violently.

He pointed his fingers together like a sword, thrusting swiftly through the air!

"Buzz—!"

A condensed, almost solid, blazing white Sword Aura tore through the air, carrying the Pure Yang True Intent capable of incinerating all evil, and shot straight towards the eerie smiling face within the shadows.

Although the opponent appeared to be a monk, his aura was extremely peculiar.

In Gu Changsheng's view, he was undoubtedly an evil entity.

However, facing this supremely Yang and rigid sword strike, the monk in the shadows merely raised his hand.

The arm covered by the dark golden kasaya seemed to wave casually.

The sleeve billowed, becoming like a bottomless quagmire.

Sss—

The scorching Pure Yang Sword Aura crashed into the sleeve, like snow thrown into boiling water, emitting a piercing sound of dissolution. Its radiance rapidly dimmed before ultimately being completely extinguished, without even causing a single ripple.

The smile on the monk's face remained completely unchanged, as if he had merely flicked away a speck of dust.

He took a step forward, covering dozens of zhang in an instant, soundlessly closing the distance.

The golden python-patterned kasaya shimmered with a sinister luster under the dim light, looking exactly like a living python's skin.

Warning bells screamed in Gu Changsheng's mind. He shouted sharply, "Who are you, sir?! Why are you interfering in the affairs of my Exorcist Division? Could it be that those two sword cultivators from earlier are your fellow disciples? Since ancient times, the Dao and Buddhist paths have not interfered with each other. This old man sees that you are not of the same ilk."

However, the only response he received was the silently widening grin and the oppressive feeling of the relentless advance.

"Halt! Come any closer, and don't blame this old man for being ruthless!"

Gu Changsheng's brows furrowed deeply, his hand already resting on his sword hilt.

The monk ignored him completely, his steps never ceasing. The smile seemed even more ghastly in the shadows.

"Fine! You leave me no choice!" A fierce glint flashed in Gu Changsheng's eyes. He stomped his foot violently, formed hand seals with both hands, and roared, "True Martial Grand Formation, rise!"

Boom!

A massive Yin-Yang Taiji diagram suddenly lit up on the ground.

The Taiji diagram nearly covered the entire Exorcist Division headquarters.

Heaven, earth, wind, and clouds resonated with it. Thunderclouds gathered above the formation.

Then, an even larger, slowly rotating shadow of a Taiji diagram made of clouds projected downwards.

The energy of Heaven and Earth was instantly stirred, buzzing and trembling.

Simultaneously, from every corner of the Exorcist Division, nine hundred and ninety-nine flying swords serving as secondary Formation Cores hummed and trembled, transforming into streams of light that shot into the sky.

Like soldiers receiving orders, they arranged themselves neatly behind Gu Changsheng, forming a vast, forest-like sword formation that soared into the heavens, its Sword Qi piercing the sky. Each flying sword emitted sharp sword rays, all aimed at the strange monk.

He originally thought this sword formation wouldn't be needed.

Gu Changsheng thought to himself, thankful for his own cautious nature.

Standing at the core of the Taiji Formation Core, he pointed his sword fingers, his voice thundering like lightning: "Suppress!"

"Swoosh swoosh—! Swoosh swoosh—!"

The nine hundred and ninety-nine flying swords transformed into a destructive torrent of steel, tearing through the air with sharp, piercing shrieks. From all directions, above and below, they blasted furiously towards the monk at the center.

The sword light cascaded like a waterfall, completely submerging the area.

The violent Pure Yang Sword Qi plowed deep furrows into the ground, sending rubble and dust soaring into the sky.

How could they possibly survive if they were caught within this formation?

Anyone within the formation should have been pulverized.

However, right at the center of this Sword Intent storm, a sudden mutation occurred!

A savage roar, filled with a primordial aura, exploded!

Blinding golden light erupted from the center of the Sword Intent storm, instantly dispersing the sky-full of sword shadows.

No wonder the monk felt like he was wearing a snake skin.

Turns out, he *was* a snake!

Facing the remaining torrent of flying swords still shooting towards him, the golden python violently opened its cavernous mouth.

Those sharp flying swords, capable of piercing through mountain rock, were swallowed whole into that giant maw as if they were mud oxen entering the sea.

Sword light flashed and struggled within its mouth, emitting piercing sounds of metal grinding and shattering, before finally falling silent.

"Hiss—!"

The golden python's cold vertical pupils instantly locked onto Gu Changsheng at the formation's core.

Its massive body suddenly coiled and sprang forward, swift as wind and thunder.

Its enormous tail swept out horizontally like a collapsing golden mountain, carrying a terrifying force capable of crushing everything, and smashed down ferociously!

Gu Changsheng's pupils constricted sharply. He channeled all his power to activate the sword formation's defense. The Taiji diagram blazed with intense light, and countless sword shadows interwove into a net ten zhang in front of him.

BOOM!!!

Amid the deafening roar, the sword net twisted violently, shattering more than half in an instant.

The python's attacks were like a violent storm—claws tearing, tail sweeping. Each strike carried immense, irresistible force and a strange blend of demonic and Buddhist energy, forcing Gu Changsheng to retreat repeatedly. The sword formation teetered on the verge of collapse.

His proud Sword Intent seemed so insignificant before the opponent's absolute power and those strange abilities of devouring and defense.

'This won't do! This monster cannot be fought alone!' Gu Changsheng thought with bitter hatred, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, but his gaze grew even more resolute.

While desperately manipulating the sword formation to withstand the python's increasingly violent assaults, he used a secret technique to send an urgent message to the stunned Zhao Ying and the others behind him—"Go! Quickly, find Zhang Yibai! This monster serpent... I will hold it off!"

The several hundred remaining flying swords behind him ceased attacking the python. Instead, they transformed into a massive sword wheel, enveloping him and erupting with unprecedented speed. No longer engaging, he shot straight towards the boundless darkness outside the Exorcist Division.

"Hissss ROAR—!"

The golden python let out a roar of fury. Its massive body crushed the ground as it pursued that sword light. Wherever it passed, buildings collapsed, and the earth shook as if mountains were moving.

In the blink of an eye, the two terrifying figures disappeared into the depths of the darkness, leaving behind only the ravaged Exorcist Division and a group of guards who had survived the catastrophe, their hearts shattered and courage gone.

"Senior, he... he just lured that python away like that?"

Zhao Ying was still somewhat dazed, staring into the darkness at the edge of her vision, unsure what to do.

"Even Senior wasn't a match for that giant snake? What exactly is its origin?"

Having witnessed this battle, Wang Shouyi felt a part of his heart break.

He used to think he was quite powerful.

But today, he couldn't even handle the two swordsmen who came to kill Her Eminence.

If Gu Changsheng hadn't intervened, wouldn't he have been kicked to death effortlessly?

"I know who he is."

At that moment, a weak voice spoke up.

Everyone turned their gaze towards Hua Jin the True One.

…