Chapter Seventy-One: The Art of the Grand Shaman

Master frowned, and with a twist of his palm, a white lotus rose into the air, circling around him. As the black-robed figure was about to reach Master, he spun his finger, causing the white lotus to instantly bloom, transforming into countless white blades that struck the shadowy figures in black, reducing them to drifting ashes.

The apparition, seeing this, grew agitated. Spreading both hands wide, he summoned a sudden change in the heavens: a dark, deep whirlpool appeared in the sky, faintly flickering with light from within. The apparition cried out, "Sorcery of the Great Shaman—Heaven-swallowing Vortex!"

With that, the vortex expanded rapidly, unleashing a monstrous suction. Dust, leaves, even trees outside the village were uprooted and sucked inside. Panic erupted throughout the Miao village; people clung to one another to avoid being swept away, and I did the same, gripping a stone pillar driven into the ground. Yet the pull was too strong; though I held on tightly, my feet gouged a deep furrow in the earth.

Master narrowed his eyes, standing his ground. To keep himself from being drawn in, he summoned forth dazzling golden light from his eyes, and a massive golden eye appeared before the vortex. In that instant, the vortex’s suction was cut by more than half, allowing me at last to regain my footing, gasping for breath. The apparition let out a surprised grunt, glanced at the eye, and frowned. "What sorcery is this, to resist the power of the Great Shaman?"

Master merely smiled at him. "Li Guang."

The apparition turned to Master in puzzlement, frowning deeper. "How do you know my name?"

"Ha. The illustrious fifth chieftain of the ancient Jiuli tribe, a master of the Great Shaman’s rank—why, even students today know your name. Why shouldn’t I?" Master laughed lightly.

The apparition was stunned. "Students? What are those?"

But at this, his expression turned fierce as he glared at Master. "Insolent human! How dare you insult the great Jiuli clan—I’ll cut you in half for your impertinence!"

I was left dumbfounded. Did this apparition take ‘students’ as an insult? I could hardly decide whether to laugh or cry. Master shook his head, looking at the apparition with speechless exasperation.

Li Guang’s apparition stomped hard, making the earth tremble three times. Suddenly, a gigantic mountain-splitting axe appeared in his hands. Lu Tangjun’s face was the picture of dismay—he had called forth Li Guang’s apparition to teach Master a lesson, but who could have predicted the apparition would prove even fiercer than Master himself? First the vortex tore up dozens of buildings and trees, then a single stomp left the land sunken by several meters—who could possibly withstand that?

Yet even Lu Tangjun dared not protest before the apparition of his own ancestor, so he could only watch the scene before him in pained silence. Li Guang’s apparition gripped the axe tightly, let out a thunderous roar, and swung at Master. Master dodged just in time; with a deafening crash, the axe split a terrifying chasm in the ground, sending a shockwave that knocked several people flying a dozen meters away.

Master, catching his breath, laughed. "As expected of a Great Shaman from ancient times—this is interesting! Come, let’s fight to our hearts’ content!"

Standing not far off, I already knew the apparition’s true identity. This was the legendary Great Shaman Master had mentioned. I remembered him saying that if he’d faced such an opponent in the past, he wouldn’t have stood a chance. Yet now, Master seemed almost exhilarated, even laughing in the midst of battle. What a heart he must have!

Li Guang’s apparition snorted coldly and said nothing, but swung the axe again. Master dodged once more, but the shockwave’s edge sent him staggering back dozens of steps. I was stunned—so few in the supernatural world today could force Master back like that. These ancient Great Shamans truly lived up to their reputation.

Master steadied himself, dusted off his clothes, and muttered to himself, "Damn, I got careless and lost face in front of my disciple. If I had my full strength, I’d have crushed you with the power of protection by now."

I, standing nearby, could only see Master brush the dust from his robes and face Li Guang’s apparition. The third assault came quickly; the apparition, huge and slow, was nonetheless terrifyingly strong. Master’s reflexes were sharp: as soon as the attack came, he vanished.

There was another thunderous explosion. The land and houses around us were close to collapse. Li Guang’s apparition frowned, scanning for Master, but saw nothing. After a moment, I spotted Master floating above the apparition’s head. With palms pressed together, he chanted in an ethereal voice that echoed all around: "Divine head hides in darkness, spirit transcends to the beyond!"

As his words fell, the apparition looked up, only to be struck by a golden greatsword, forcing him back several steps. Master now held a golden sword, with an even larger one floating behind him. Li Guang’s apparition steadied himself and glared in fury. "Human! How dare you attack me by stealth!"

Master smiled, waving the golden sword. "You think you’re the only one who can use weapons?"

"Arrgh! Human, give me your life!"

With a berserk roar, Li Guang’s apparition charged, swinging the axe. Master raised his golden sword overhead, and the massive sword behind him mimicked his motion, hovering above to shield him.

The thunderous booms rattled my ears painfully. I was blasted off my feet by the shockwave, dust swirling so thick I couldn’t open my eyes. I shielded them with my hands, hearing nothing but screams and shouts all around.

After a long while, the dust settled. I finally saw the battle in the sky—Master had landed far off, clutching the golden sword and gasping for breath, his hands trembling uncontrollably. Blood ran from the corner of his mouth and the web between his thumb and forefinger. My heart clenched with worry and fear. Li Guang’s apparition had not escaped unscathed either: he stood at a distance, his mountain-splitting axe showing cracks along the edge, chest heaving, eyes fixed on Master.

Sitting on the ground, I glanced around—the houses and land were in ruins; the people of the village were dead or wounded. Lu Tangjun’s face was frozen between laughter and tears.

I stood up and turned my gaze back to Master and the apparition. At last, they moved. Master wiped the blood from his lips and glanced over. "Li Guang, is this all the power a Great Shaman can muster?"

Li Guang glared, chest heaving. "Human, I admit your skill, but now I’ll hold nothing back. Great Shaman’s Art—Nine-Soul Shaman Beasts!"

Master’s brow furrowed, and he murmured, "Nine-Soul Shaman Beasts? But you’re only a residual consciousness left in a hand bone—how can you summon ancient shamanic beasts?"

But before Master could ponder further, terrifying roars echoed as the ground trembled with thunderous footsteps. Apparitions of shamanic beasts charged from afar, surrounding Master.

Standing at a distance, I knew these were no minor threats like the Green Minister Ghost King; this was one of the chieftains of the ancient Jiuli tribe. Master couldn’t possibly face ten beasts at once; even if he could, he’d be exhausted and helpless in the end.

Soon, under Li Guang’s command, nine shamanic beasts lunged at Master. Two of the fastest charged first, but Master vanished just as they closed in. With a tremendous crash, the two beasts collided and fell.

They struggled to their feet, shook their heads, and charged at Master again. Though he managed to avoid serious injury, the repeated attacks wore him down. Seizing the chance, Li Guang swung the axe; Master, now attacked from front and back, had no choice but to block the blow, only to be struck from behind by a lion-shaped shamanic beast and sent flying.

I watched as Master spat blood in midair, but still managed to twist and land, rolling to his feet. The beasts were swift and intelligent; the moment he landed, they swarmed, mouths agape to devour him.

Master rolled aside, dodging one, and swept his golden sword, sending a blast of golden energy that struck another beast, felling it with a shriek.

Seeing this, the remaining eight beasts went mad, charging without hesitation, while Li Guang’s apparition watched, interfering whenever he could.

"Damn it, relentless souls! Nether Gate—appear!"

Master spat blood, bellowed, and with a whoosh, the Nether Gate appeared on the ground. With a twist of his hand, countless arms reached out from the gate, dragging the shamanic beasts toward it. No matter how they struggled, the arms were indestructible, and soon several beasts, wailing in agony, were dragged into the Nether Gate.

Li Guang’s apparition was stunned. He brought the axe down, cleaving the Nether Gate in two. Master coughed up blood again, staggered back several steps, and clutched his chest to steady himself.