Chapter 70: Forbidden Arts

“Battle?”
An Zhengqing laughed and said, “You can barely stand—how do you expect to fight?”

Jiang Wei stood atop the martial stage, his body swaying unsteadily. He burst out laughing, then shouted, “If I say I can fight, then I shall fight!”

With that, Jiang Wei bit his finger and pressed it to the center of his brow. Then, in rapid succession, he tapped his chest, both shoulders, and the area below his navel.

“Xuanji! Yunmen! Guanyuan!”

He activated each acupoint in turn and then raised his hand, pointing at the sky as he chanted:

“Dingchou prolongs my life, Dinghai binds my soul.
Dingyou restrains my spirit, Dingwei wards off my calamity.
Dingsi leads me through danger, Dingmao guides me past adversity.
Jiazi shields my body, Jiaxu protects my form.
Jiashen fortifies my fate, Jiawu guards my soul.
Jiachen anchors my spirit, Jiayin nurtures my essence.
By the urgency of the law, I summon the gods!”

At these words, the face of Elder Tongpu, seated upon his chair, changed instantly.

At the same moment, the sky above darkened abruptly. All present lifted their heads to see that what had been a clear blue sky was now shrouded in dense, roiling clouds that blotted out the sun.

“What... what is that?”
“Is this the work of Jiang Wei?”

The disciples of Tianyuan Sect murmured among themselves. The experts from the other twelve provinces’ sects also looked up, frowning deeply.

Sun Fanbai asked, “What is this…?”
Bai Qiu muttered, “Old Sun, do you remember that day when we hunted Bo Yunxin down, and after we subdued him, a certain expert of the Lesser Vehicle appeared?”
Sun Fanbai pondered, “The one who used your Bai family’s Azure Dragon Talisman—the one who was eventually repelled by Master Shi’s teacher, Master Bailu?”
Bai Qiu nodded. “Exactly. That day, too, clouds gathered and the weather changed in an instant.”
Sun Fanbai sighed. “It seems Jiang Wei has used some forbidden art to summon something truly fearsome.”

As their discussion continued, the clouds above began to swirl, forming a vast vortex directly over the martial stage. Lightning flashed and thunder roared around its rim.

Master Fengyuan bellowed, “Jiang Wei! What have you done?!”

Jiang Wei gave no answer. He stood with eyes tightly shut, seemingly severed from the world, a faint smile upon his lips, lost in his own realm.

A crack of lightning split the sky, thunder rolling in its wake. The crowd stared upward, uncertain what was unfolding.

“Look! What is that?!”

Suddenly someone pointed to the heart of the swirling clouds and shouted. The crowd activated their spiritual sight, gazing along the line of his finger, and were instantly dazzled by a blinding golden light.

“This!!!” Sun Fanbai’s eyes widened.
“What is that?!!!” Bai Qiu cried out.

At the vortex’s center, a colossal golden foot descended from the clouds. The foot was unimaginably vast, its outline just visible amid the swirling storm.

A crushing pressure seized every heart, each chest tightening as if a great weight pressed down upon their vital center, leaving them gasping for air.

“Outrageous!!!”

Suddenly, a thunderous shout snapped the crowd from their awestruck state. Only then did they realize they had been completely enveloped in that holy golden light.

Bai Qiu and Sun Fanbai snapped back to themselves, cold sweat running down their backs.
Bai Qiu whispered, “That was… terrifying. That momentary pause was enough for us to die a dozen deaths.”
Sun Fanbai was equally shaken, speechless as he stared fixedly upward.

The one who had shouted was none other than Jiang Wei’s master, Sect Leader Tongpu of the Divine Communion Sect of Tianyuan.

With his shout, he roused the crowd from their trance and vanished from his seat. An instant later, he appeared before Jiang Wei.

Jiang Wei stood with eyes still shut, blood trickling from every orifice, his body aglow with golden light. Yet he seemed insensible to pain, a smile still lingering on his lips.

“Rebellious disciple! Oh, rebellious disciple…”
Tongpu’s brow furrowed in deep concern as he formed a spell with his fingers, touching Jiang Wei’s brow, shoulders, and lower abdomen.

He then grasped Jiang Wei’s hands and forced him down. Jiang Wei, now unconscious, offered no resistance. Tongpu kicked at his disciple’s knee, folding Jiang Wei’s legs beneath him, and pressed down until he sat cross-legged.

With one palm, he struck Jiang Wei’s crown; with the other, he struck the air above.

From Tongpu’s hand, a golden beam shot forth toward the heart of the black vortex.

“Six Ding and Six Jia Divine Generals!” Tongpu cried out. “This rebellious disciple knows not what he does and has disturbed the gods. Tongpu begs forgiveness—please, depart at once!”

“Cha!!!”

A thunderous cry rang out from within the clouds—so mighty that everyone’s heads buzzed as if struck from behind.

Sun Fanbai clutched his head and looked up, noticing that only Master Fengyuan and the Nascent Soul and Lesser Vehicle elders at his side remained unaffected.

He turned back to the martial stage.

An Zhengqing was now gasping for breath, crushed by the pressure radiating from the vortex, using the Five Elements Banner above his head for defense.

Tongpu still held one palm on Jiang Wei’s crown and the other raised to the sky. Gales swept the martial stage, whipping his ash-grey robes and scattered hair and beard.

Tongpu’s eyes bulged, bloodshot, as if straining against an unimaginable force.

At last, after several heartbeats, the golden foot slowly withdrew into the clouds and vanished. The suffocating pressure lifted, leaving everyone feeling immeasurably lighter.

Moments later, the clouds dispersed. The sky was clear for thousands of miles, sunlight pouring down upon the martial stage of Tianyuan Sect.

On the stage, An Zhengqing lay collapsed and unconscious. Jiang Wei too had fallen beside Tongpu, insensate.

Tongpu still held his hand aloft, breathing heavily, blood trickling from his eyes, nostrils, ears, and mouth.

“What… what just happened?”
A disciple below muttered, “Did I just… have a dream?”

“Tongpu!!”

Master Fengyuan vanished from his seat and appeared at An Zhengqing’s side. Placing a hand on his disciple’s brow, he sent forth his vital energy. Discovering that An Zhengqing’s only ailment was depleted energy, he relaxed and turned to Tongpu, shouting, “Tongpu! Your disciple used forbidden arts in a friendly contest, showing utter disregard for the sect’s laws! What are you playing at?”

Tongpu opened his eyes, gazing at Fengyuan through a haze of exhaustion. He murmured, “Senior Brother Fengyuan, the fault is Jiang Wei’s. He should never have used such secret arts. I, Tongpu, will bear the responsibility.”

Fengyuan thundered, “Bear it? With what? By the law, he should be executed on the spot!”

He raised his hand toward Jiang Wei, a red glow gathering at his fingertips.

“Senior Brother Fengyuan.” Tongpu stepped between him and Jiang Wei.
“Let the boy go. I have no objection to uniting the sects, nor any ambition for the position of sect leader. For the sake of our many years of brotherhood, grant me this one favor.”

Fengyuan sneered, “A favor? If that wretch isn’t executed today, where would my honor be?”

Tongpu shook his head and said quietly, “Let him go, and I will expel him from Tianyuan Sect immediately—he will never set foot on Tianyuan Mountain again.”
“Will you agree? If not, I shall summon the gods again—with my life’s cultivation. Can you guess how long Tianyuan Sect could withstand that?”

This last was said as a silent transmission, heard only by Fengyuan.

At these words, Fengyuan’s expression turned cold, but he was powerless. He thought, If Tongpu truly summons the gods, perhaps I could resist, but Tianyuan Sect would surely fall.

“You’re threatening me?” Fengyuan replied in kind.
Tongpu’s face was impassive. “I dare not—I only ask that you spare the boy’s life.”

Fengyuan considered for a moment, then said, “I can spare him, but on three conditions.”
Tongpu nodded. “Name them.”

“First, as you said, Jiang Wei is expelled from Tianyuan Sect, and may never set foot on Tianyuan Mountain again.”
Tongpu nodded.

“Second, before the representatives of all twelve provinces, you must publicly endorse me as sect leader.”
Tongpu nodded again.

“Third,” Fengyuan paused, enunciating each word, “you will retire to the rear mountain of Tianyuan Sect, never to leave, never to accept a disciple, never to interfere in sect affairs.”

Tongpu’s face betrayed no emotion. After a few breaths, he nodded.

Fengyuan smiled, then carried An Zhengqing from the stage. Tongpu gathered Jiang Wei in his arms and returned silently to his seat.

The storm had passed, and the crowd once more began to whisper among themselves.

“Everyone!” Fengyuan’s voice rang out, and the crowd fell silent at once.
He said, “The contest between our young disciples has ended. Though there was an unexpected twist, the outcome is clear for all to see.”

Before any sect representatives could speak, he continued, “In light of recent events, I have just discussed matters with Junior Brother Tongpu, and we have reached a conclusion.”

He glanced at Tongpu, signaling him to speak.

Tongpu set Jiang Wei down and stepped forward.
He began, “My rebellious disciple Jiang Wei used forbidden arts during a friendly contest, violating sect law and meriting execution. Yet, out of compassion, the sect leader has agreed to spare his life. As such, Jiang Wei is hereby expelled from Tianyuan Sect, forbidden for all eternity to set foot on Tianyuan Mountain.”

He continued, “I, too, acknowledge my responsibility and am overcome with shame. I shall retire to the rear mountain, never again to involve myself in the affairs of Tianyuan Sect.”

Bai Qiu frowned.
Sun Fanbai leaned over and whispered, “It seems Master Fengyuan has won completely this time.”

The other sect representatives had not expected this outcome.
Ji An rose and said, “Master Tongpu, is this punishment not too severe?”
Tongpu replied coolly, “I am guilty and have made my decision. Please do not ask further.”

Ji An shook his head and sat down.