Chapter 5: Offensive and Defensive Tactics, A Karma Rooted in Nuwa's Grace
The white Cloud Lotus appeared to drift lightly, but it seemed to traverse space continuously. One moment, it was hundreds of zhang away; in the very next moment, it had already arrived before Li Mingzhu.
Li Mingzhu took a deep breath, not daring to be careless. He knew that this wasn't because Shi Ji's Daoist attainment was so high it could ignore the limitations of space, but because her magic concealed the truth from the naked eye.
Even though he clearly understood what was happening, Li Mingzhu felt powerless. That Cloud Lotus technique of Shi Ji's—at its essence, it was merely the art of condensing mist into clouds.
But knowing the principle was one thing; mastering it was another. This was the manifestation of Daoist attainment: to handle the weighty with ease, to utilize every bit of one's strength with optimal precision. The higher one's attainment, the truer this became.
"Hah!"
With a forceful shout, Li Mingzhu activated his Huntian Ribbon, transforming it into a massive red light screen to intercept the attack. At the same time, the Qiankun Ring returned to his hand, prepared as a second layer of defense.
Li Mingzhu had firmly resolved to focus on defense. Having witnessed Shi Ji's extraordinary skills firsthand, and knowing from his past life's memories that Nezha once recklessly attacked her only to have his magical treasures confiscated, Li Mingzhu had no intention of repeating that mistake.
Armed with these forewarnings and his lack of powerful offensive spells, he concluded that defense was the wisest course of action.
The Cloud Lotus collided with the red light screen formed by the Huntian Ribbon. Ripples surged through the air, reverberating outward. Though the Cloud Lotus was ever-changing and elusive, it ultimately couldn't penetrate the defense of a mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.
"Hmph! Let me see how long your turtle shell can shield you!" Shi Ji snorted coldly, neither angry nor discouraged by the Cloud Lotus's failure.
"Lady Shi Ji, do try as you wish. However, let me repeat myself: the death of Cai Yun, although a failing on my part, was also a deserved fate. I am willing to resolve this karma by promising you one favor in exchange."
Hidden within his two layers of defense, Li Mingzhu spoke to Shi Ji in a calm and measured tone.
"Prove you can withstand my abilities first!" Shi Ji scoffed, her meaning clear: without sufficient strength, there was no right to negotiate terms.
Li Mingzhu said no more, realizing that unless Shi Ji truly found herself at an impasse, there would be no way to have a proper discussion.
In truth, Li Mingzhu didn't harbor a particularly bad opinion of Shi Ji. While her arrival with dark clouds engulfing the city and her readiness to unleash slaughter seemed extreme, she was not truly a great villain in his eyes.
In his past life's memories, Shi Ji was tragically beset by misfortune, ultimately struck down by Taiyi. Her ending had been pitiable.
Under Shi Ji's control, the Eight Diagrams Cloud Light Cloth expanded with the wind, descending from above to enclose the light screen formed by the Huntian Ribbon.
"Qian, Zhen, Kan, Gen, Kun, Xun, Li, Dui—Eight Diagrams in place, refine!"
Shi Ji shouted loudly, and the Eight Diagrams Cloud Light Cloth suddenly transformed into countless intricate symbols, encircling the Huntian Ribbon from eight directions.
Once the symbols firmly trapped the Huntian Ribbon, they began to rearrange themselves into an unknown formation. Out of the void, a faint misty-blue flame suddenly appeared and flickered.
"Mysterious Blue Immortal Fire?" Li Mingzhu exclaimed, astonished. The wonders of heaven and earth, especially in the Primordial World, were unparalleled. Beyond the myriad Innate Spiritual Treasures, there were also countless Innate Spiritual Objects.
The Mysterious Blue Immortal Fire was one such Innate Spiritual Object. Who would have thought Shi Ji possessed such a fortuitous treasure? This was genuinely unexpected for Li Mingzhu.
"You recognize this flame? If so, surrender your defenses and accept your death—that would be the proper course." Shi Ji smirked, brimming with confidence in her inevitable victory.
"Receive!"
Li Mingzhu did not bother to argue. He simply waved his Huntian Ribbon, and the Mysterious Blue Immortal Fire was instantly absorbed into it.
A fact speaks louder than words.
When it came to manipulating fire, the Huntian Ribbon was surpassed only by the Golden Crow and the Fire Phoenix. Fortunately, Shi Ji had been cautious and refrained from using the fire's essence. Otherwise, it would have given Li Mingzhu an even greater advantage.
"How is this possible?" Shi Ji was taken aback. This Mysterious Blue Immortal Fire, which had allowed her to challenge even Daluo Golden Immortals in the Mortal World, was now effortlessly dispelled by this young upstart.
Were it not for the restrictions of the rules, she would have slapped this infuriating boy to death. But now, it seemed she truly couldn't do anything to him.
"Lady Shi Ji, I am willing to offer my apologies. Resolving grudges is better than perpetuating them—it is wiser to settle this karma." Li Mingzhu took the initiative to pacify her. Prolonging this stalemate served no purpose.
After all, if Shi Ji decided to vent her frustrations on Chentang Pass after finding herself powerless against him, that would be an outcome Li Mingzhu could not tolerate.
"You say you're willing to grant me one favor to resolve this karma? Very well, give me that red cloth of yours."
Shi Ji spoke indifferently. Trading an insignificant child for an Innate Spiritual Treasure—and one that countered her at that—was a highly advantageous deal.
More importantly, as Shi Ji's mood steadied, her bloodlust and hostility had dissipated considerably.
"This is a treasure entrusted to me by Nuwa; I cannot decide its fate on my own." Li Mingzhu responded reluctantly, clearly in a bind.
"Hmm? A treasure of Nuwa's? Then how did it end up in your hands? What is your relationship with Lady Nuwa?" Shi Ji suddenly grew uncharacteristically agitated.
"In my past life, I was an Immortal Child under Lady Nuwa's tutelage. Now, I have been reincarnated and am undergoing my tribulation." Li Mingzhu replied honestly. He didn't quite understand Shi Ji's reaction but saw no reason to conceal the truth—this wasn't a secret, after all.
"Shi Ji pays her respects to the Immortal Child. Have you sustained any injuries? Do you require Immortal Pills or Spiritual Medicine?" Shi Ji's demeanor changed drastically—she clutched her chest in humility, her earlier ferocity replaced with bashful sincerity, like a maiden meeting her betrothed's parents.
What a marvel! What a marvel!
Li Mingzhu, utterly baffled, could only stare blankly. What had just happened? What was all this about?
"My lady?" Li Mingzhu instinctively stepped back to avoid Shi Ji's curtsy, confusion written all over his face.
"I was once but a stubborn stone from the heavens. When Lady Nuwa collected the Five-Colored Stones to mend the sky, she graciously bestowed enlightenment upon me, granting me my current existence. Immortal Child, had you mentioned earlier that you served under Lady Nuwa, would I still have raised my hand against you?"
Shi Ji spoke with lingering fear, grateful nothing disastrous had occurred.
"I wasn't aware of this connection, but I must uphold my promise. Lady Shi Ji, have you thought of the favor you'd like me to fulfill?"
Li Mingzhu, unburdened by the animosity, asked openly.
"Might I trouble the Immortal Child to visit Golden Turtle Island on my behalf? In three months' time, it will be Senior Brother Duobao's 50,000th birthday celebration. You could attend in my stead to offer congratulations—I assure you it wouldn't cost you anything." Shi Ji smiled as she spoke.
This could be considered a way of gifting fortune to Li Mingzhu. After all, Duobao, with his Quasi-Sect Leader-level cultivation, would undoubtedly give a lecture during his birthday feast—a rare opportunity indeed.
"My lady, this… I feel unworthy." Li Mingzhu hesitated, conflict evident on his face.
"You need not feel guilty about it. This battle has, while far from being my full effort or a true test of our limits, provided me with considerable insights. It's just the right time for me to retreat into seclusion for reflection."
Shi Ji spoke with a smile, giving Li Mingzhu no chance to decline further. In a single leap, she mounted her azure phoenix and departed.
"Immortal Child, there's no need to feel indebted. I speak no falsehoods; this seclusion is indeed timely for me to refine my path and achieve the Daluo Dao Fruit. For such a fortuitous encounter, I should be thanking you instead."
Shi Ji's parting words echoed in Li Mingzhu's mind, leaving him with a profound sense of enlightenment. It was as if he had glimpsed the threshold of a new understanding.