Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
It was the end of the first month of the lunar calendar. Signs of the cold winter slowly retreated from the mountains and the streams of the Sichuan region. Before anyone knew it, sprouts of fresh greens had already occupied the branches, albeit somewhat shyly. The greens greedily and curiously painted the earth with youthful liveliness.
Nine Peaks Mountain was a scene of happiness as everybody was merrily minding their business.
The womenfolk were in high spirits. Under the direction of a few old grannies, they sewed nuptial dresses, embroidered dragons and phoenixes, cut red paper, brewed Qimei wine…
The abled craftsmen gathered in the village. They built a large house with three courtyards next to Grand Elder Wen’s house. When Po Tu started the construction work, the four elders personally placed a jade of conjugal bliss into the foundations…
First Uncle led a bunch of capable and experienced disciples and traveled between the village and Chongqing. They bought everything from large items such as furniture and electrical appliances and small items such as jewelry…
Mount Pan’s Gongye family left one of their elite refiners in the Wen family village. He operated the sword furnace, which refined Ning Jiao’s armor and spike. He also carefully forged many Heart-linking Locks…
The Second Mother led a few Qing Miao elites and secretly drew figurines as well as refined spells. Little Chi Maojiu accidentally spilled the beans to Wen Buzuo that they were refining Eternity Never Spell, never leaving for eternity! After it was cast, the husband and wife will share the same fate, one cannot live while the other dies… Wen Buzuo was startled. He hastily reported this to Fourth Elder Wen. This wedding gift was too evil, they would prefer not to accept it.
During the tenth day of the fourth month last year, Wen Leyang was trapped within the Witch’s Territory left behind by Grand Master Tuo Xie, which delayed his wedding day. The wedding was postponed for a year. It was finally the end of the first month, they were only slightly more than two months away from the big day.
The three families of Wen, Miao and Luo were already staying on the Nine Peaks Mountain. The two families had decided not to return to their hometown. Xiaoyi no longer hid within Red Leaves Forest but moved back into the village.
The two daughters-in-law-to-be stayed next to each other. Every time they met each other, they blushed and smiled at each other.
Xiaoyi was bored. She sneaked some red satin from the house and started sewing mandarin duck pillowcases. As she sewed, she giggled to herself…
When Mumu discovered that Xiaoyi was sewing, she immediately grew anxious. She forced Grand Elder Luo to get her the materials and she also started sewing. Xiaoyi sewed two mandarin ducks tumbling merrily in water while she sewed the dragon and the Phoenix, which symbolizes prosperity. She started during the day, by lunchtime, six of her fingers were wrapped in Band-Aids. Ah Dan was heartbroken to the point where he bared his teeth, wanting to cry… Four days later, when Ah Dan saw the half a quail which Mumu sewed on the brocade, he cried.
When Xiaoyi saw Mumu bandaging her ever-swelling thumb through gritted teeth, Xiaoyi started working on Mumu’s portion with a giggle when she was done with her own.
Grand Elder Wen counted the days to the marriage but he started to feel uneasy. He paced around the house with a frown. Fourth Elder Wen, who was silent, was annoyed. He asked coldly, “What’s making you fret!?” Grand Elder Wen grunted, “The tenth day of the fourth month, that’s about two months from now… The gift-bearers should have been here by now!” As he said this, he took out a notebook from his pocket. He peeked at it furtively. Fourth Elder Wen barely glanced at it as he stretched his neck, it was filled with the names of the people who were supposed to send gifts.
At this moment, Second Mother and little Chi Maojiu came over. Grand Elder hastily put away his treasured notebook and looked at them.
The Second Mother had always been very direct. She was also very familiar with the Wens. She did not talk nonsense as she directly shoved the letter in her hands to Grand Elder Wen, “Just now, old monk Ji Fei shadily passed this to the Big Dragon Root and went down the mountain.”
Fourth Elder Wen was slightly stunned, “I thought that Ji Fei and Shui Jing had left the mountain some time ago? They came back just now?”
The Second Mother nodded, “They left as soon as they came…”
“Please don’t wander about on the third day of the second month, come to the feet of Mount Hua, welcome the wandering rogue immortal…” Grand Elder Wen took out the gold-stamped invitation card after he opened the envelope. He had only read two sentences and could go no further. He immediately saw the ending of the invitation card. The wrinkles on his old face jumped, “On the third day of the second month, ten thousand immortals will gather on Goddess Peak. Ji Fei and Shui Jing humbly await the honorable arrival of Seven Maidens Mountain’s Big Dragon’s Root, Chi Maojiu? Ji Fei and Shui Jing?”
Fourth Elder Wen had been in charge of the Death Trademark for dozens of years. He had spent much of his time outside and knew all kinds of tricks within Jianghu. His icy cold face showed a rare sight of a strange smile, “Ji Fei and Shui Jing want to gather the entire cultivation world?”
Grand Elder Wen’s expression was one of anger and amusement. He looked at Second Mother, “The two of them had only invited Qing Miao but not us or the Luo family…” This matter was not difficult to guess. Grand Elder Wen understood within a brief moment’s pondering, “Miao Bujiao was indebted to the two stupid fellows. They asked little Chi Maojiu to go over there and help them boost their morale!”
The Second Mother laughed, “That’s nothing serious. It’s our fault for being indebted to Ji Fei and Shui Jing! Little Chi Maojiu and I are getting ready to leave, we’ve come here just to say our greetings…”
She was halfway through her speech when Lord Gongye of Mount Pan arrived. He was rude as he spoke to Grand Elder Wen, “Gongye is here to say goodbye. There’s this grand meeting in the cultivation world…” He had not finished when he saw the invitation card in Grand Elder Wen’s hands. He was slightly stunned before he shut his mouth.
Little Chi Maojiu pulled on Lord Gongye’s sleeves and smiled, “That invitation is for the Qing Miao, we’ll be going in the same way!”
Fourth Elder Wen nodded, “Take Bushuo and Buzuo along, they’ll take care of you on the road…”
At this moment, One Word Palace’s Nineteen and Heaven-telling Sect’s Wei Mo also came with smiles, each held their own invitation cards.
Grand Elder Wen was all for the departure of Nineteen. He laughed loudly and agreed. Fourth Elder Wen thought for a bit and said to Second Mother, “I’ll contact the Great Mercy Temple, the group of divine monks should have received their invitation cards also. You can look after each other during the meeting.” As he said this, the old man glanced drily at Nineteen…
In the depths of Mount Hua, the siblings Fei Fei and Xiao Sha were stiff with boredom. They made Wen Shulin do their telling for them. The three of them were mere mortals, they could not be of any help with the digging of the rock tower. After Chang Li set a protective prohibition spell around them, she had them to wait on the top.
Just when Wen Shulin was engrossed in extravagant and baseless talk with the siblings, Fei Fei’s cellphone suddenly rang. Shortly after, Fei Fei ended the call. She frowned slightly as she said to Xiao Sha, “It’s from the team leader. Recently, huge numbers of cultivators are traveling towards Mount Hua. It’s said that there’s some rally of ten thousand immortals on Goddess Peak on the third day of the second month. He wants us to go have a look…”
Xiao Sha nodded, “It’s best if… we can wait for them and go together!” As he said this, he pointed at the large pit, which exposed the demon tower. At this moment, a furious howl like a dragon’s moan suddenly erupted from within the depths of the pit!
Whether it was Fei Fei, Xiao Sha or Wen Shulin, they were thrown off their feet by the pressure of the sound kicked up by this loud noise. Fei Fei crashed heavily onto the ground. The instant she lost her consciousness, she still had the mind to mutter, something happened… down below…
It was a hell of a mess at the bottom. The monkey had his ears drilled by the Ending Vine, Chang Li and Cone Nail were entangled by thirteen long plumes and were temporarily trapped. The dog-headed eagle was only a flesh armor but it let out a heaven-shaking wail. To save the others, Wen Leyang pounced towards the greenish spirit thread, which connected the Ending Vine and the devil fetus.
Ning Jiao’s sting, Snake Knife was sharp. Hence, cutting through gold and jade was as easy as pie. However, the moment it touched the spirit thread, a wail that made everyone’s hairs stood on their end erupted suddenly. A gush of cold and huge force vibrated and traveled up the blade. Even with Wen Leyang’s strength, he could not wield his knife anymore. His fingers went numb and the Snake Knife fell into the depths of eerie green.
Wen Leyang was hit by the recoil from the spirit thread. There was no foothold for him in midair. When he saw that he was about to be thrown far away, his shoulders shrunk in a peculiar manner. At the same time, his waist arched upwards with force. He flipped in a semicircle like a fried dough twist in midair and changed the direction of the huge force, which invaded his body. He pounced on the thin spirit thread with his body.
Wen Leyang did not even have time to think, his only thought was that if he did not wish to fall, he must grab onto the spirit thread. From the Snake Knife being repelled to Wen Leyang’s pounce on the spirit thread, everything happened in the flick of a finger. When he finally grabbed hold of the thin thread, only then did he have the time to experience the fright of a lifetime.
With his abilities, Wen Leyang could not withstand Cone Nail’s all-out strike. However, the spirit thread could wipe out the haven-shocking magical powers of Cone Nail and Chang Li.
The root of the devil fetus was but an extremely thin thread. However, the instant Wen Leyang touched it, he only felt that all thirty-six thousand pores on his body were pried open by an external force. It was a searing and impetuous pain as if countless thick steel needles stabbed into his body. It was also as if all his blood, bones and organs wanted to squeeze out of his skin…
Ning Jiao’s armor put up a short fight. Cracks accompanied the strange squeaks it made. When Cone Nail and Chang Li saw that Wen Leyang was in danger, they immediately abandoned the long plumes in front of them and shot to his side like lightning. They flanked Wen Leyang and grabbed hold of the spirit thread in unison with an arm. Amidst their furious yell, they wanted to break the spirit thread!
The thirteen long plumes followed them like shadows. They intertwined and formed two thick boa whips and struck mercilessly at the backs of Chang Li and Cone Nail.
At the same time, Guo Huan howled sonorously on the rock tower, “Demon Body Breaking Spell!”
Yin’s Error and Yang’s Mistake rolled in an eerie demonic glow as they guarded behind Chang Li and Cone Nail! Chang Li and Cone Nail had slipped. They had both thought that the other would stay behind and temporarily keep the long plumes at bay. The one who saved their lives was the jade knife Guo Huan!
Guo Huan. The one who schemed occasionally against them, the one who, at times, squalled and wanted to fight them, the one who was stubborn when he was bullied, the one who chuckled the moment he tasted something sweet!
The intense sound rocked by the furious clash between the thirteen long plumes and Yin’s Error Yang’s Mistake sent a visible ripple through the eerie greenish air. Then, two urging water streaks appeared and spread in all directions! Xiaowu, who hid on the rock tower and was scared out of her wits, only heard a stifling booming ring. She turned in half a circle, lost her footing and fell to the ground…
Wen Leyang squalled and scolded, “You’re crazy!”
Just when Xiaowu’s beautiful forehead was about to hit the rock tower, a soft smack was heard. The jade knife had shattered completely. Guo Huan’s voice was so unpleasant that it made the others wanted to bellow towards the sky in anger, “If you’re all dead, how long can I live… The rock tower! If you kill the devil fetus, I might still have a chance…”
Yin’s Error Yang’s Mistake had blocked the fatal blow of the thirteen long plumes. Then, it buzzed in the air and vanished.
The two demon immortals bulged their eyes. Rolling black demonic primordial energy rose on Chang Li’s head; Cone Nail’s body was enshrouded in a dazzling color of water spirit energy. They tore the spirit thread with all their might!
A sonorous loud howl rose at the same time from the mouths of Cone Nail, Chang Li, Wen Leyang, the dog-headed eagle, Qian Ren and the devil fetus. Their voices shot up into the heavens and eventually condensed into substantial sparkling mighty virtues of heaven. It ran along from the deep huge pit and turned into the Ninth Heaven’s Thunder!
It was this furious howl that sent Fei Fei and the others, who were thousands of meters above them, flying.
The spirit thread was pulled thinner and thinner. With a final struggle, it snapped with a twang below Wen Leyang!
The devil fetus’ bellow turned into a wail. Its giant body shook violently. It swayed to the left and right as if it would fall down the deep pit at any moment. Its eyes were still shut tight, but two streaks of dark green tears, so dark that they appeared black rolled down painfully from its large square face!
The spirit thread snapped in two. The Ending Vine withered into dust. The monkey, who hid within the dog-headed eagle, was in so much pain that it wished it was dead. However, the dog-headed eagle’s body turned unexplainably into the color of blood. The air around it was ignited by the searing heat. Low crackles were heard when suddenly, a great, blinding, golden light, like a sharp knife, penetrated the back of the dog-headed eagle, which had iron feathers and steel muscles. The dog-headed eagle’s giant body swayed to one side and fell stiffly into the dark green, hollow deep pit.
Even if this great pit opened up into the other end of the world, it was not deep enough for the dog-headed eagle to fall to its death. The other two demon immortals ignored Qian Ren. Chang Li pounced, almost impatiently, onto the demon fetus. She did not care whether she could kill it or whether there would be god’s punishment, she held on to Guo Huan’s words, I might still have a chance if the demon fetus is killed. Hence, Chang Li gave it her all!
When Chang Li pounced towards the thirteen long plumes, which were as wild and furious as she was, she suddenly laughed. She had never thought that the day would come when she risked her life for Guo Huan.
Cone Nail was slightly calmer than Chang Li. She reached up and grabbed Wen Leyang’s back. She wanted to toss him upwards onto the rock tower before she dealt with the devil fetus! However, just when she was about to exert force, suddenly, a domineering Power of Poison that devoured the soul and possessed the bones emanated from Wen Leyang’s back onto her arm. Caught off her guard, the protective life vitality on her arm was scattered in the blink of an eye!
Wen Leyang had completely no notion of the happenings around him. The instant the spirit thread snapped, the Poison of Life and Death within his body suddenly boiled. Unruly and merry, blazing and wild, a poison which he had never encountered before stabbed mercilessly into his body from the broken spirit thread under him.
Wen Leyang was too familiar with this situation. The Poison of Life and Death condensed, howled and swirled wildly within his body until it turned into a whirlpool that devoured everything. It greedily absorbed the poison outside into his body!
The Poison of Earth, which he absorbed inside the body of the earth-splitting toad, was heavy and majestic; the Poison of Metal, which he absorbed from the bronze ants Mo Ya within the Gold-Consuming Lair, was harsh and sharp; the firecrackers’ Poison of Water, which he absorbed in the snow-covered peak’s ore cave, was cold and rolling…
The poison, which came from the spirit thread, was agile and tough. This was the Poison of Wood.
Wen Leyang was ever-prepared to absorb poison, but every absorbing session took him by surprise!
Cone Nail had heard Wen Leyang describe his method of practice before. Not long ago, she even saw the live performance of him and a huge number of firecrackers in the ore cave on the snow-covered peak. She understood what was happening after some brief pondering. She cried out in pain with surprise. She flung her hand and tossed Wen Leyang away. Then, she turned around and joined Chang Li in her attack of the devil fetus.
The life vitality within the devil fetus was the combination of the Foulness of the heavens and earth and wood spiritual energy. It had the utmost qualities of the five elements and the cruelty of the world. If the combination of these two powers was not the wood element poison, then what is?!
Wen Leyang’s Poison of Life and Death was the element of Chaos in the Power of Poison. To put it simply, it was the father of all poisons. Although the devil fetus’ Poison of Wood life vitality was fierce and colossal, it could not resist the absorption of the Poison of Life and Death. Now, Wen Leyang and the devil fetus were connected to each other via the spirit thread. They swayed in midair. Before he completely absorbed the Poison of Wood, as long as the human-faced phoenix did not plummet, he would also not fall.
To the devil fetus, Qian Ren was a coconut. Likewise, the demon fetus was also a coconut to Wen Leyang.
The devil fetus had a body made of Poison of Wood but its body and plumes were natural. Even if Wen Leyang sprawled across that big square face, he could not hope to absorb any poison. Just now, under the joined forces of the two great demon immortals Chang Li and Cone Nail, they snapped a spiritual vein of the devil fetus. Coincidentally, Wen Leyang executed the Faulty Punch. The Poison of Life and Death within his body swirled wildly…
It can be said that it was Cone Nail and Chang Li who worked together to chisel an opening in the devil fetus branded leaf (Translator’s note: I think the author meant coconut) and placed the straw into Wen Leyang’s mouth.
Wen Leyang’s mind was a muddled mess. Absorbing the Poison of Wood was an extremely excellent matter but killing the devil fetus and invoking god’s punishment was an extremely dreadful matter.
If the extremely excellent matter and the extremely dreadful matter met, would they cancel each other out?
Chang Li and Cone Nail were ghastly pale as they cast their magical powers ceaselessly and silently. They attacked the demon fetus in a frenzied rage. The demon fetus wailed and its plumes shuddered. The two of them were of the same mind, they wanted to kill the devil fetus for Guo Huan. They wanted to kill this monster before Wen Leyang did.
The person, who dealt the final blow, would invoke god’s punishment. However, nobody knew when this strike will take place. If the two of them did not attack, god’s punishment would definitely befall Wen Leyang.
Chang Li and Cone Nail would occasionally glance at each other. They were still of the same mind, it would be best to leave the final blow to her…
The booming loud noise in the deep pit was ceaseless. In the dark, nobody knew how much time had passed. The little darling Xiaowu had woken up long ago. She sat at the edge of the final layer of the rock tower. A pair of soft little legs dangled with boredom. Her little plump hand supported her chin as she asked childishly, “How much longer do we have to wait?”
Guo Huan’s demonic primordial energy was already weak in the first place. After he broke his demon’s body, he was now a puff of blurry mist as if he could be blown away at any time. However, he did not let go any opportunity to speak, “I reckon they’re almost done…”
Softshell Turtle Stand was a malevolent land of the mountain, that was why Guo Huan could linger on with his final breath. Although his soul was weak, he would not disperse for quite some time. If that were not the case, he would have hesitated when he cast the Demon Body Breaking Spell.
It was a lost game just now. Chang Li, Cone Nail and Wen Leyang’s lives were hanging on a bare thread. Only by summoning Yin’s Error Yang’s Mistake could Guo Huan save everyone’s lives. If these three people died, even if the devil fetus did not find trouble with the jade knife, the already fragile jade knife could not have held on for much longer.
Other than that, Guo Huan suddenly thought of another matter. He found himself a better resting place, the devil fetus’ rock tower!
The rock tower was initially formed by the condensation of Guo Huan’s split body’s rocky nature and the vitality of the world. If Guo Huan could reside within it, he would not have to look for a dharmakaya. If he cultivated properly, he could directly cultivate a demon’s body from the rock tower. However, the rock tower was still a part of the devil fetus right now. Guo Huan could not enter the human-faced phoenix’s body. Hence, he could not enter the rock tower.
If the devil fetus dies, the rock tower would become a master-less object. It was a magic weapon formed after the devil fetus took shape. In essence, it was also a soul vessel that could accommodate primordial spirits. It also had the rocky nature of Guo Huan’s own split body. To Guo Huan, this body was extremely perfect.
Guo Huan was not afraid of trouble. Whether it was his former plan of looking for his split body or the newer plan of finding an unlucky substitute, he could not have recovered all his demonic energy. However, within this ready-made rock tower, if he spent some years cultivating within it, his demonic energy just might improve. Who could stop him from talking then?
The shrill wail of the human-faced phoenix mixed with the savagery from the bottom of its soul. Its long eyelashes shuddered ceaselessly. Cone Nail and Chang Li remained silent. They devoted all their energy to hitting it. The two beautiful demons were at it again, this time they bet on their luck.
Just when the devil fetus was about to give in, a strange squall rose from the hollow depths. A short golden figure shot up from below as quick as lightning. Although the speed was amazingly quick, its turns and leaps looked slightly awkward, strangely clumsy to be more precise.
The other party’s speed was so fast that Chang Li and Cone Nail could not get a clear look at the visitor’s face. Someone with such skills would not have a cultivation base that was inferior to theirs! The two of them temporarily stopped their attacks on the devil fetus as they turned around in unison and focused their minds on meeting this new enemy. However, the golden figure ignored them after it shot up. It landed a flying kick on the devil fetus’ face. At the same time, it shouted angrily, “Trick me will you? Your death is not to be regretted!”
It was Qian Ren’s voice.
Chang Li and Cone Nail exclaimed in unison. They looked at each other with slight surprise. They only clearly saw that the thing that shot up like lightning from the depths was a charmingly naïve monkey covered in pure golden fur. Its stature was shorter than the little darling but slightly taller that Ah Dan. He even wielded Wen Leyang’s Snake Knife, which fell into the abyss!
Although the monkey Qian Ren broke free of the dog-headed eagle’s flesh armor, his red fur which was under the inter-restriction of the elements wood, metal and earth had turned into a beautiful and cute gold.
Ever since they dug the devil fetus out, strange things happened one after another. When they saw that a dog-headed eagle falling down while a golden monkey leaped up, they were almost numb.
The monkey saw that the two demon immortals were in a daze. He scratched his head with Wen Leyang’s Snake Knife. He was about to say something when Chang Li and Cone Nail cheered at the same time. The monkey’s look was too cute!
Xiaowu gritted her teeth from the top of the rock tower. She would have loved to jump down and give this little monkey a hug.
Guo Huan already understood the monkey’s bitter experience. He seized every opportunity he got to speak, “Qian Ren’s original wood element life vitality was cleanly absorbed by the devil fetus. The monkey’s metal element was too blazing without the restriction from the wood element. The dog-headed eagle’s fire element could not restrict the monkey’s metal element and could contain it no longer. Hence, the monkey broke free!”
The golden monkey was an alien species under the heavens. Even Kong Nuer and King Gesar, who had heaven-shocking cultivation bases. were unable to kill it. After it was sealed, in reality, it was the dog-headed eagle’s fire element and Qian Ren’s own wood element, which repressed the monkey’s metal element.
Now that the wood element was gone, the chain of inter-restriction of the three elements was broken. The monkey’s metal element did short work of the dog-headed eagle’s Prohibition. The flesh armor could not contain it any longer.
Xiaowu pouted, “Qian Ren’s original wood element was already completely siphoned off, how is he still alive?” The little darling’s meaning was that an honest to god golden monkey was much better than a golden monkey possessed by an old demon.
Guo Huan guffawed as he replied, “His primordial spirit could travel back and forth between three bodies because, at that time, the three bodies were one entity. But now, the wood element human body had died after its spirit primordial energy was drained. The fire element bird’s body was destroyed by the metal element. Now, only the monkey is left! Haha, if I have not guessed wrongly, in the future, in this lifetime, for a thousand years or ten thousand years, Qian Ren will stay as a monkey. Haha, the golden monkey Qian Ren!”
Qian Ren ignored Guo Huan. He pointed at the devil fetus that was barely breathing. He turned and stared at the other two demon immortals with his round eyes. He laughed heroically, “How’s this? We can bet amongst ourselves, who among us is the unlucky one to invoke god’s punishment!” As he said this, he flung the Snake Knife towards Wen Leyang.
