Volume One: The Revival of All Things, Where All Seasons Are Spring Chapter Nineteen: Snatching Food from the Tiger’s Jaws, The Power of Divine Retribution

The Buddhist whisk and the long sword tangled fiercely. The aura emanating from the whisk was endless, and even separated by dozens of meters, Mo Wen felt his heart tremble with unease. In the realm of breaking illusions, one could control objects as if present in person. The fine threads at the tip of the whisk were as sharp as blades, slicing across the sword's body and leaving countless marks.

Yet the black long sword was not to be outdone; its sword light flashed incessantly, intent solely on shattering the Buddhist whisk.

The small sphere buzzed urgently, signaling Mo Wen to take action once more. Mo Wen leapt up, unleashing the dazzling “Starlit River Fist,” striking toward the whisk.

Indeed, the sphere’s intention was to aid the black sword. As Mo Wen attacked, the sphere shone with black radiance, releasing a shroud of annihilating mist that enveloped the Buddhist whisk. As soon as the whisk touched the mist, it was dyed black; the fog seeped into every filament, distracting the whisk from the sword’s assault. Thus, the whisk suffered several heavy blows and was flung into the distance.

“Young man, one wrong step leads to another. Do not ruin yourself!”

A voice emanated from the Buddhist whisk—slightly angered—it was the old Panda Daoist. His true body was nowhere to be seen, but his spirit controlled the whisk, intent on destroying the black sword.

Mo Wen remained silent. Seizing the moment while the whisk struggled against the mist, he unleashed a barrage of “Fist Suppressing Mountains and Rivers,” pouring down like a torrential storm. Sensing the onslaught, the whisk shimmered and the mist instantly evaporated, revealing its pristine white form once more.

With the mist dispelled, the Buddhist whisk soared through the air, vanished into the night sky, and disappeared. Mo Wen breathed a sigh of relief; to contend with the realm of breaking illusions required immense courage.

Yet the black sword did not rest. It continued to hum, as if resisting something. Suddenly, the sphere flew to the sword’s side, emitting an unprecedented brilliance. The sword smoothly entered the sphere.

At that moment, a deafening roar echoed from the sky, causing Mo Wen’s pores to bleed.

“This is my blade! How dare a mere ant like you touch it? Die!”

The roar still reverberating, a dark mass appeared overhead. Had Mo Wen’s eyesight not been extraordinary, it would have been impossible to perceive in the already dark night.

A terrifying pressure descended from above. Mo Wen felt his bones creak, his inner strength straining to resist. The sphere, sensing danger, retreated to Mo Wen’s heart.

“So all your ideas, and now you flee?”

Cursing inwardly, Mo Wen did not remain idle. Molten inner energy surged forth, his refined spirit probing the entity above.

As the darkness drew near, Mo Wen finally saw it clearly—it was thousands upon thousands of black ravens!

Unlike ordinary crows, these ravens had sharp claws and beaks, diving down from above. Mo Wen's inner energy formed a protective barrier; the ravens crashed into it one after another, bursting like fireworks in the sky, explosions echoing endlessly.

The ravens were countless. Mo Wen’s inner energy dissolved bit by bit, and the oppressive force kept him immobilized. He persevered by sheer willpower, but was on the verge of collapse.

“Raven King, you betray the Dao covenant, are you not afraid of Heaven's wrath?”

The old Panda Daoist appeared in person, standing proudly in the air. With a sweep of the Buddhist whisk, the raven flock plummeted and died. As the Daoist manifested, the night sky shimmered, condensing nearby. A black figure in a golden crown and long robe appeared, standing opposite the Daoist.

Mo Wen felt relieved, hurriedly clasped his fists and thanked him: “Senior, I saw the sword trying to escape the Raven King’s control, so I helped it. Please do not hold it against me!”

The Daoist nodded slightly. The Raven King heard this, and his sharp claws extended from his robe, grasping at the air: “Come back to me!”

Mo Wen instantly felt as if worms were gnawing at his heart. The sphere within his heart trembled violently, almost dragging Mo Wen’s heart out of his body. The Daoist did not stand idly by; the whisk spun, its filaments detached like arrows, shooting toward the Raven King.

“Traitor, how dare you?”

The Raven King was furious, not daring to slacken. With a sweep of his sleeve, he blocked the whisk’s threads, then his claws lunged at the Daoist.

The Daoist chanted, his voice resonant like a great bell. White Daoist light surged, his beard and hair fluttering without wind.

“Descend!”

The incantation was strange, the syllables unfamiliar to Mo Wen. Only at the final word did a sudden storm rise from all directions, the earth shook, sand and stones flew, gathering together to form a humanoid figure. Its massive fist struck at the Raven King.

The Raven King showed no fear; his body shifted from solid to ethereal, causing the sand-man’s fist to miss. In the next instant, the Raven King appeared before the Panda Daoist, became corporeal again, and seized the Daoist’s throat with his clawed hand!

Mo Wen’s heart sank. It seemed the Panda Daoist was no match for the Raven King; today would not end well.

The Daoist’s face reddened as the Raven King’s grip tightened. At that moment, thunder boomed in the sky, lightning as thick as a barrel struck with divine might. The Raven King’s eyes filled with dread, he released the Daoist abruptly and retreated dozens of meters.

“Traitor, I’ll spare you today. When the master returns and the army marches, you’ll be the first to be sacrificed!”

The Raven King glared at the Daoist hatefully, and before the lightning could strike, transformed into countless ravens and fled.

The lightning in the sky vanished, as if it had never been. The Daoist fell from the air, spat several mouthfuls of blood, and disappeared.

Once more, only Mo Wen remained within the grounds. When great powers clashed, a cultivator at the divine pivot could only spectate, unable to intervene. Mo Wen smiled bitterly.

He was still far too weak.

He retraced his steps, entered the stone wall, and returned to the riverbank. Yet strangely, while the small river remained, the waterfall had vanished. The river flowed gently away. Mo Wen sat and regulated his inner energy, then followed the river. At its end, a black vortex shimmered on the stone wall. Mo Wen communed with the sphere, which, after consulting the sword within his body, signaled that this was the only way out.

Mo Wen had no choice, eager to leave this place. Though the Raven King had been scared off by lightning, there was no guarantee he would not return.

He plunged through the vortex. The world spun, nearly causing Mo Wen to lose his mind, but the sensation lasted only a breath. Suddenly, daylight returned.

He found himself in a dense forest. Through tall trees, faint traces of dawn filtered in; the sky was brightening, a ray of morning sun rising in the west. Before Mo Wen could catch his breath, he noticed movement ahead.

The divine pivot cultivators from before were all there. The bearded middle-aged man lay against a tree, gasping for air. The cane-wielding elder and the white-haired old woman faced each other in confrontation.

“Old thing, this medicine is mine. That fellow’s body makes fine material—how about you take it?”

The old woman coughed as she spoke, evidently negotiating with the cane-wielding elder. He shook his head hoarsely: “Millennium Marsh Herb—you want it, show some sincerity! The divine pivot body may be fine, but for me it’s just a shell.”

The old woman fell silent, gritted her teeth, and spat bitterly: “Old thing, don’t push me too far! Do you think I fear you if things get rough? Not only did I fail to gain the divine treasure, but my Soul-Capturing Bell was destroyed!”

After a moment’s hesitation, she seemed impatient, unwilling to tangle further: “At most, when the pill is formed, I’ll let you have one.”

The elder chuckled, gesturing for her to do as she pleased. The old woman strode toward Liu Buhuo, stamped his wrist with her shoe. Liu Buhuo cried out in pain, releasing his tightly clenched left hand. A segment of black root fell from his palm.

Seeing the black root, the old woman nodded with satisfaction, snatched it, and kicked Liu Buhuo toward the cane-wielding elder.

Liu Buhuo seemed gravely wounded, powerless to resist. He vomited blood from the kick, tried to rise but failed.

The cane elder chuckled, his withered hand caressing Liu Buhuo’s body, clicking his tongue unpleasantly.

“A robust body—very good. From now on, you belong to me!”

Mo Wen watched silently, but the black sphere sensed the root and urged him desperately.

“Seize it! Seize it! That’s a treasure!”

Mo Wen already held little regard for these sinister elders. Without hesitation, he acted boldly, and in a few swift movements, appeared before the three.

“Haha, seniors, I desire this item as well!”