Meanwhile, Han Mian held the soul origins of hundreds of thousands of Kunlun and Zhongnan immortals in her grasp, making a "squeaking" sound as she savored the thought of crushing them. To shatter the soul origins of over a hundred thousand immortals at once—what an exquisite sensation that would be.
Even in the ancient times, Han Mian had never had such an opportunity for such a bold act. Given her bloodthirsty nature, this was an exceedingly rare chance. Thus, she had plundered the vital blood of these critically injured immortals and devoured their divine souls, yet she had deliberately preserved their soul origins.
The early corpse-god path was the path of slaughter, the path of destruction. To instantly slay over a hundred thousand mighty immortals imparted a wondrous feeling, as if one held dominion over all things in the Three Realms, seeing them as mere ants. By harnessing this sensation, Han Mian might possibly gain deeper enlightenment regarding her own Dao.
Just as the Monkey and Han Mian were about to strike simultaneously, two masses of lotus flowers smashed down from the void, striking head-on. One lotus blocked Han Mian’s hand, rendering her fingers immobile, while the other smashed onto the Monkey’s head, causing him to stumble back. Four specks of faint, flickering light puffed out from his nostrils, protected within that second lotus.
These tiny, bowl-sized lotus flowers possessed such formidable power that Gu Xiechen’s expression instantly chilled. He tightened his grip on the Sword of Destiny in his hand, and the Pangu Banner was poised for immediate deployment. He shouted sternly:
“May I ask which esteemed senior is present here?”
A soft, delicate voice drifted down from the void: “Why must you assume it is a senior?”
Gu Xiechen smiled thinly, stating calmly, “The Guardian Heavens have appeared; naturally, the seniors must appear as well.”
The voice clearly faltered. After a noticeable pause, the speaker chuckled wryly, “I seem to have underestimated you. Did you guess this, or did you use—”
Gu Xiechen stated blandly, “It was deduced by three thousand tactical masters from the Supreme Staff Headquarters of the Yafike Empire, utilizing one hundred thousand supercomputers!”
This answer clearly choked the speaker. After a long silence, he finally scoffed, “A collection of mere mortals, and a pile of crooked bronze scrap from fringe paths—can they truly deduce our movements? Impossible, Gu Xiechen. Perhaps you employed the Innate Divine Numbers?”
Gu Xiechen let out an amused laugh, “I apologize. This junior has not yet mastered the Innate Divine Numbers!”
Another silence followed. Suddenly, a small fissure opened in the void, and three Daoists walked out side-by-side from the rift.
Upon seeing these three Daoists, Han Mian immediately released the grip on the hundred thousand soul origins she held, transforming into a streak of blood-light that zipped back into Gu Xiechen’s Sea of Consciousness, clearly unwilling to exchange pleasantries with these three.
The Monkey, too, rolled his eyes upon seeing the trio, snorted coldly, and retreated into Gu Xiechen’s Sea of Consciousness. He still had an immense amount of psychic energy to absorb and digest and found these deep-scheming figures, who spent their lives calculating, tedious to engage with.
As the three Kongsang brothers stepped forward, placing themselves squarely in front of Gu Xiechen, they let out heavy, cold snorts.
Only Yang Jian, despite his inherent arrogance, was the most respectful of his elders and the most traditionally conservative. Seeing the three appear together, Yang Jian’s lips twitched into a bitter smile. He moved forward several respectful steps and performed a full obeisance to the trio: “Yang Jian pays respects to the three Martial Uncles.”
The three Daoists glanced at Yang Jian with complex expressions, then looked at the three Kongsang figures guarding Gu Xiechen. Simultaneously, they returned the salute with a long chant of their Daoist names.
Sighing softly, the Daoist in the center regarded Gu Xiechen with a gentle voice: “This humble one is Xuandu. Today, I shall act as a mediator for you all. From this day forward, the immortals of Kunlun and Zhongnan shall retreat three leagues whenever they encounter anyone from the Nine Nether Dao Gate. Is this agreeable?”
The Daoist on the left smiled kindly, saying softly, “Martial Brother Xuandu speaks wisely. The Three Teachings were originally one body. The descendants of Kunlun and Zhongnan remaining in this realm must not be disgraced. Today, we shall take them away and ensure they do not trouble the Nine Nether Dao in the future. This humble one is Yunzhongzi; surely, we still possess some small measure of influence?”
The Daoist on the right looked at the other two and said dryly, without much enthusiasm, “This humble one is Zhao Gongming. The Nine Nether Dao is also a branch of my Jie Teaching. Kunlun, Zhongnan, and the Nine Nether Dao share a common origin. Let us not allow ill will to harm our camaraderie.”
Zhao Gongming?
Gu Xiechen’s heart sank vaguely. In the Supreme Purple Heaven Immortal Registry Flute, neither Master Xuandu nor Yunzhongzi were listed by name, yet Zhao Gongming was someone who had been granted a position as a Heavenly Court official during the Investiture of the Gods. The heavenly soldiers and generals Gu Xiechen had summoned included Zhao Gongming himself.
Now, the true body of Zhao Gongming was present. Furthermore, Gu Xiechen had another Zhao Gongming within his Sea of Consciousness, whose Daoist arts and divine abilities were identical to the main body, differing only slightly in cultivation base. Could it be that under the Heavenly Dao, two Zhao Gongmings were permitted to coexist? Essentially, they were the same person, yet each possessed a degree of independence. What was this?
A clone? A separated spirit? Yet, it was not entirely so. This situation was utterly incomprehensible, unprecedented since the dawn of time. Gu Xiechen stared intently, scrutinizing Zhao Gongming from head to toe, only to notice that Zhao Gongming’s gaze consistently avoided his own.
Interesting, truly interesting, strange thoughts began to bubble up in Gu Xiechen’s mind.
After chuckling oddly a few times, Gu Xiechen gazed at the hundred thousand immortal soul origins that had already been collected by Xuandu Master using a purple-gold gourd. He sighed lightly and inquired, “So long as they do not trouble us, we certainly won't seek trouble with them. However, are the three seniors remaining in this realm permanently? Heh heh, that would indeed be quite interesting.”
Master Xuandu glanced at Gu Xiechen and nodded with a face full of smiles, “Indeed, we have remained here.”
Gu Xiechen casually pointed toward the edge of the cosmos, smiling, “The world outside is dazzling, filled with endless opportunities. Are the three of you not tempted?”
Yunzhongzi chuckled, his hands tucked into his sleeves. He smiled with an air of calm indifference, “The world outside is splendid, but it is also exceedingly perilous. While there are many chances, far more perish. This place is calm and untroubled—a perfect sanctuary for quiet cultivation.”
Gu Xiechen rolled his eyes and sneered, “Are the three of you truly unmoved?”
Master Xuandu and Yunzhongzi simply responded with hearty laughter, choosing not to speak. Gu Xiechen felt a surge of frustration, yet he dared not show any of it on his face. These two figures were renowned, big names among the Grand Unity Golden Immortals countless ages ago, and their current cultivation levels were unfathomable; he could not afford to be reckless.
Zhao Gongming, however, was straightforward. He shot a cold glance at Master Xuandu and Yunzhongzi, stating bluntly, “Anyone would be tempted by such rewards. However, we are acting under a divine decree here. We do not need to explain the details to you. Gu Xiechen, you are not yet qualified to hear such profound mysteries. Once you possess strength surpassing that of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, hehe—”
Strength surpassing a Grand Unity Golden Immortal?
Gu Xiechen shook his head. He weighed the Pangu Banner in his hand and casually tossed it toward Yunzhongzi, “This item—”
Yunzhongzi snatched the Pangu Banner, but it felt like a red-hot coal. He quickly tossed it back to Gu Xiechen: “This item is fated to be yours. Today, our appearance is solely for the sake of these unworthy disciples!”
Grasping the Pangu Banner once more, Gu Xiechen smiled lightly, his demeanor completely composed. He looked at Yunzhongzi, and the renowned Immortal of Fortune and Virtue, Yunzhongzi, looked slightly awkward under Gu Xiechen’s unwavering gaze, turning his head to look into the distance.
Yunzhongzi is an honest man, Gu Xiechen thought to himself with a sigh. Then, he turned with a smile toward Master Xuandu and produced the Wind Fire Cushion.
Master Xuandu’s expression didn't shift at all as he smiled at Gu Xiechen, “There is no need to return it to me. If you ever have the chance to meet Master, you can deliver it to him personally.”
What a cheekily evasive response! Gu Xiechen was rendered speechless by Master Xuandu’s maneuvering.
Returning the Wind Fire Cushion by meeting Tai Shang Lao Jun? Even if he had the opportunity, Gu Xiechen would be unwilling. He could already sense a thick air of conspiracy. Was he supposed to deliver himself into the hands of Tai Shang Lao Jun’s calculations? Those supreme figures were masters of manipulation, turning clouds into rain and back again; one could be destroyed by them without ever knowing how, perhaps even offering three cheers of gratitude for their sacred grace.
After forcing a dry chuckle, Gu Xiechen dared not linger in conversation with them. He bowed hastily to take his leave, leading his group toward the Spiral Star Domain.
The three old Daoists watched Gu Xiechen’s party retreat with smiles, making no further comments.
After Gu Xiechen had traveled several thousand miles, he suddenly seemed to recall something and sharply turned back to ask, “Besides the three seniors, are there any others present?”
Master Xuandu and Yunzhongzi repeatedly shook their heads, smiling cheerfully, “None, none! Just the three of us!”
Zhao Gongming rolled his eyes toward the sky, ignoring Gu Xiechen’s question.
Seeing Zhao Gongming’s demeanor, Gu Xiechen quickly pressed, “Then, are there any from the Buddhist Sect remaining here?”
Master Xuandu and Yunzhongzi exchanged glances, then spoke in unison, “Amitabha’s seat: Moonlight Bodhisattva, Dragon Subduing Arhat, and Tiger Subduing Arhat are present. In the Poluonimi Non-Prideful Heaven, two more inheritors of the Western Saints reside. You should proceed with caution!”
Gu Xiechen glared fiercely at the two old Daoists, sneering coldly, “So much for ‘just the three of you’!”
With a cold snort, Gu Xiechen’s group rapidly vanished into the Spiral Star Domain, where the surrounding starlight surged, tightly enveloping the entire area.
Zhao Gongming let out a cold snort and scoffed at Master Xuandu and Yunzhongzi, “How does it feel to be mocked by a junior?”
The two old Daoists merely smiled and shook their heads indifferently, “It matters not, it matters not. Since he is a junior of the Jie Teaching, if anyone is to be mocked first, it should be you.”
A blockage formed in Zhao Gongming’s throat, and he was unable to speak for a long time.
The two old Daoists, meanwhile, cheerfully instructed the soul origins contained within the gourd. Then, they produced numerous lotus roots and blossoms, helping these immortals recast their physical bodies—bodies that now possessed a greater subtlety than their original forms.
After the bustling activity, the disciples of Daoist Xiao Zhang and the other faction bowed deeply to the three old Daoists. Daoist Zhang then summoned the Indra Thunder Chariot, and the over one hundred thousand immortals quickly boarded, pursuing the direction in which the Vishnu army had fled.
The three old Daoists stood smiling in the void for a moment, lost in thought. Suddenly, the void nearby shattered, and the agitated Moonlight Bodhisattva and the two Arhats sprang out. Moonlight Bodhisattva stared fixedly at the three Daoists for a full quarter of an hour before speaking in a cold voice, “Zhao Gongming, you are an honest man. Tell me, what was the purpose of employing your methods today to distract this humble monk?”
Master Xuandu and Yunzhongzi merely giggled. Zhao Gongming stared blankly at the Moonlight Bodhisattva for a moment before speaking slowly and deliberately, “For so many years, Bodhisattva, do you not find it somewhat hopelessly dull? Since you are bored, teasing the Bodhisattva becomes a form of sport, hehe. The Bodhisattva is a great virtue of the Buddhist Sect, possessing the broadest of minds; you will not be angered, will you?”
The words caused the Moonlight Bodhisattva’s face to darken, and the expressions of the two Arhats also became extremely grim.
However, facing the figures of Master Xuandu, the Moonlight Bodhisattva calculated for a long time, realizing he possessed absolutely no chance of victory. He could only swallow his anger.
He merely gazed at the swirling starlight of the Spiral Star Domain, nodding thoughtfully, as if contemplating something profound. Should you desire to know what happens next, please log onto Jixiong’s platform for more chapters and to support the author.
For more novels, visit storyread.net.