In a certain divine city in the Three Realms, there was a rather famous auction center with its business spanning over a dozen divine cities.
Within, Jiang He sat and yawned in a luxurious private box, left a little speechless. “Is this how superior beings like you entertain yourselves, Old Zhao?”
Zhao Gongming, however, was busy munching on some divine food and having a sip of fine wine prepared by the auction center.
There was a screen of water ahead of him, in which rare treasures auctioned outside were shown. He could even steer the screen with his divine mind, rotating it to observe what was going on outside.
Immortal mist swirled within their private box, while some fairy maidens were playing some instruments and dancing.
Then, Zhao Gongming chuckled and said, “We’ve been confining ourselves for too long now. We’ve got to find pleasure among commoners, occasionally joining auctions such as this to get our hands on some treasures… that, or live mundanely and peacefully among mortals.”
“Live mundanely?”
“As in disguising yourself as a mortal, marrying and having children,” Zhao Gongming explained, before adding, “Not that I’ve ever done that, of course.”
Jiang He was at a loss for words.
Live mundanely?
My foot! I’m not even forty!
As for taking part in the auction and frequenting brothels to have the ladies play them some music or other entertainment, all that stuff were merely equivalent browsing videos or gaming back on Earth in Jiang He’s perspective.
He was getting more bored by the moment as he strolled around with Zhao Gongming.
“Want to wander the stars a bit, Old Zhao?” Jiang He suggested then.
After all, he was either refining items and pellets or fighting once he arrived at the Celestial Battlefield. While he did see the scenery around the place, he had not visited the regions beyond.
Nonetheless, Zhao Gongming quickly refused, saying, “Martial Uncle, I heard from my master that the God Emperor and the Demon Emperor think of you as a thorn in their side. If we do run into them, I won’t survive even if I had ten lives!”
“It’s fine,” Jiang He promised. “I’m not that weak now, and can protect myself unless the God Emperor and the Demon Emperor set a trap.”
With that, he left the three realms with Zhao Gongming and teleported all the way without stopping… until they arrived at a vast constellation eight hours later.
The constellation was ruled by the Bloods, and their divine city sat upon it.
The Bloods were one of the universe’s unique lifeforms, but were much fewer in number compared to cosmic giants.
It was said that they came in different appearances, as they could resemble humans, plants, animals, or even mystic treasures such as swords, spears, axes, blades, or even pagodas.
Their essence, however, was a puddle of blood.
They were one of the Demons’ vassal races, having four-Demi-Saints. Two were dispatched to hunt down Jiang He when the Gods and Demons were trying to kill him, and one was killed then, leaving just three.
***
Back at the Three Realms…
At Tushita Palace, the Celestial Court, Taishang Laojun suddenly looked up at the distant skies, pinching his fingers in divination and scowling.
“The brat is running off again?”
A ripple surged around this body, and the blue ox which was eating from the haystacks outside the gates disappeared with him.
Over at the God Realm…
“Jiang He!”
The God Emperor strode out and disappeared from his palace.
And at the Demon realm, the Demon Emperor extended his hand, tearing space and time apart.
***
At the Bloods’ territory…
“Why is my heart racing… Is this the danger sense developed form martial arts?”
“No!”
“I have to be quicker!”
Kaboom!
With a dash, Jiang He landed on the massive continent floating among the stars where the Bloods’ divine kingdom was located!
The Bloods’ three Demi-Saints and their treasure vaults were all on that continent, which in turn was forged by generations of Blood elites. It was several hundred million miles wide, and its full shape resembled a mystic treasure.
“Hold on…”
“With my current abilities, it wouldn’t take me that much time to kill the Bloods’ Demi-Saints and plunder their vault… but wouldn’t moving the entire continent be quicker?”
The Saints could instantly destroy a constellation, and moving a several hundred million miles-wide continent would not be difficult.
Jiang He unleashed his strength, the world in his body hence spreading and instantly enveloped the entire continent.
In the next instant…
Ooom!
The entire continent was gone.
With that done, Jiang He turned and teleported dozens of light years away.
And ten breaths later…
Kaboom!
Taishang Laojun, the God Emperor, and the Demon Emperor all appeared in this part of the stars…
“Brother!”
The God Emperor and the Demon Emperor were scowling, with the latter growling, “You would stop us?”
“The Bloods are a vassal race of us Demons. If Jiang He doesn’t answer for his crimes of attacking them, does that not mean every last one of the Demons’ vassals are in danger?!”
The God Emperor spoke out as well. “Jiang He’s abilities has reached a Saint’s, and he should therefore follow the agreement between Saints. Even so, he has repeatedly violated it, and the agreement dictates that every Saint across the universe shall work together to take him down.”
“…”
Taishang Laojun was quiet for a long while before he flatly said, “Jiang He cannot be considered a Saint because he had not ascended as one. Moreover, the Bloods had a part to play in hunting him down before, and surely, I can’t stop him if he wants payback for that grudge, can I?”
Despite his looks, he was complaining endlessly inside his head.
Damn it!
What on earth is this brat trying to do?
Not even I can keep covering for him if this goes on…
There were ashen looks on the faces of the God Emperor and the Demon Emperor. They glared tightly at Taishang Laojun, but ultimately decided not to attack, though they certainly would not hold back from throwing barbs.
And yet, they were just about to speak when their faces all fell, and they looked out into the distance.
Even Taishang Laojun’s lips twitched.
***
At the Insectoids’ territory…
The Nine-Headed Insectoid Saint’s massive body vaporized several planets as he bellowed in rage, “Jiang He! I won’t rest until you die!”
His nine heads crushed another planet at that.
Oom!
The other Insectoid Saint appeared as well, and asked with a somber, ashen face, “What’s going on?! Did that wretch Jiang He return?!”
“Madman! What a madman!”
“I just sensed the commotion over at the Bloods’ domain, as well as the presence of Taishang Laojun, the God Emperor, and the Demon Emperor… I was just going to see what had happened for myself when I found Jiang He in outer space, fleeing.”
The Nine-Headed Insectoid Saint seethed through clenched teeth. “He must have sensed Taishang Laojun, the God Emperor, and the Demon Emperor’s auras as well, and changed paths to attack me, taking away my summer palace!”
The Nine-Headed Insectoid Saint had personally crafted that summer palace, which was an acquired soul treasure.
Likewise, all his treasured objects, which were used for creating Insectoid warriors, were in space as well. In fact, it could have created three Demi-Saints and dozens of Grand Luo warriors!
That was when Taishang Laojun, the God Emperor, and the Demon Emperor appeared at once.
After having gotten to the bottom of the matter, the God Emperor and the Demon Emperor turned toward Taishang Laojun.
The Demon Emperor asked, “Don’t you think you ought to explain this, Brother?”
“The Insectoids had sent their Demi-Saints after Jiang He, and he was just paying back a personal grudge…”
Taishang Laojun calmly explained. “Moreover, the Insectoids are not pressing the issue… or could the Gods and Demons be intending on meddling?”
Meanwhile, both Insectoid Saints were trembling in their boots…
They did want to pursue the matter, but their abilities kept them from doing so!
