The five-element demon’s eyes were filled with helplessness as he looked at Full Moon. It was as if Full Moon’s question seemed a little excessive, “I’m burrowing into the place, to obviously save the esteemed master teacher. It has been arranged as such in the oracle!”
Full Moon raised his brows and leaned his big, fat body closer to the demon. He then inquired closely with a curious expression, “Let’s not talk about the oracle first. What do you mean when you say that you’re going to burrow into the place of the outer fringe?”
The five-element demon was not in a rush to answer that question. On the contrary, he asked Full Moon, “What is actually the place of the outer fringe?”
Full Moon was a descendant of a famous sect after all. His knowledge was naturally extraordinary. He nodded as he laughed, “Even though the place of the outer fringe is born out of the heaven and earth, it’s an area of its own! In simpler words, it’s a stretch of little sky and land that stands independently in between the sky and land!”
The five-element demon nodded. A child-like pride appeared on his face, as if showing off his knowledge, “Then, do all of you know that this stretch of Rely on the Fate of Ishvara, the Land of Caturapramanah, is actually opened up by the Buddhism Sect’s mighty power? Rely on the Fate, Ishvara, Caturapramanah, are all referring to the barge of mercy ferries. Amongst all the miserable people to the sky and land of bliss, that is the heart of mercy.”
The few of the descendants of moon cone nail were aware that the demon’s mentality was not fully developed. They hastily responded in a way as though receiving a lesson; they nodded in unison.
“Each of the monsters from Shiwan Mountain, are the embodiment of ferocity and cruelty! They only know how to kill, and apart from that, they will still kill more people after already killing many upon arriving at the place of the outer fringe!” The five-element demon stretched out his finger and pointed to the monsters that were howling bitterly far away, that had formed into groups before vanishing at the entrance of the place of the outer fringe, “The embodiment of ferocity and cruelty is supposedly dignified with malevolent energy. The act of killing people and getting killed will result in the malevolent energy in the place of the outer fringe growing heavier and heavier, until a point where it becomes thicker than the place of the outer fringe is able to withstand…”
At this point, the five-element demon suddenly looked to the left and right. He lowered his voice in an intentionally feigned mystery and reminded them patiently, “A little sky and land, the power of mercy, and an extremely malevolent energy… what will happen by then?”
It was still Nineteen who possessed meticulous thinking. After she pondered for a while, she could not refrain herself from screaming out in surprise, “Kong… the immortal master is going to draw in this stretch of little sky and land’s… uncountable time/endless punishment!”
The place of the outer fringe was a land of mercy. When the malevolent energy exceeded a certain level, the power of mercy would then counter react, and resisted the malevolence with everything in it into nothingness. Whether it was the Buddhism sect, or a profound orthodox sect, despite their difference in theories, it was still a process of understanding the heaven’s path. When everything had reached its extreme limit and ending, the heaven’s path would then send down the Endless Great Punishment, and destroy everything.
Rely on the Fate of Ishvara, the Land of Caturapramanah was supposed to be a little sky and land that was its own area. Kong Nuer’s arrangement this time was precisely to trigger the endless great punishment in the place of the outer fringe.
The five-element demon sniggered, “That is correct. Our four years’ worth of laborious efforts was for the endless punishment in the place of the outer fringe. When the punishment happens, I shall burrow into the place of the outer fringe and transfer the power of endless punishment to the esteemed master teacher. The esteemed master teacher is in an extremely great disaster at this point; he can only break free from the suffering with this gush of force.”
Triggering the endless punishment, he transferred the power to Kong Nuer.
Nineteen was dizzy and confused upon hearing that; she was unaware about the plan for Kong Nuer’s three magic formations in the past. Her mind had already turned into a chaotic mess now and she could not help but to inquire closely, “How do I transfer the power? What do you mean by suffering?”
The five-element demon shook his head, “I don’t know either. It’s only mentioned in the oracle that when the punishment happens in the place of the outer fringe, I am to enter the place before all is done. He also comforts me; that I do not need to be afraid. Even though the punishment may seem dangerous, in reality it is very safe for me.”
Full Moon gave a forced laugh as he shook his head. He asked the five-element demon, “So how are you going to enter the place of the outer fringe? Are you going to follow the monsters to run into the place together?”
The five-element demon was elated and shook his head strenuously, “Of course not.” As he spoke, he stretched out his finger and pointed to a complicated but not-too-enormous formation chart nearby that was already carved and engraved to completion, but had yet to be launched. “Sir Rust, Shudou, Hot Immortal Aunt and I are going to launch this magic formation together and send me into the place with the magic formation.”
Meanwhile, the five-element demon who had been innocent all along suddenly put a serious face on, He explained to Nineteen and the rest earnestly, “Anymore of the people who are coming here to create trouble, are only seeking for doom upon entering the huge mountain. I’m not that worried about that, but I will still need to depend on the four of you to protect me.”
The four descendants of the moon cone nail nodded together to the five-element demon, “The descendants of the moon cone nail will certainly ensure that you are safe and sound…”
Unexpectedly, the five-element demon shook his head while he laughed, “You’re not going to protect me, but protect him!” As he was saying that, he stretched out his hand and patted the ground. At the sound of a fizz, a big-headed short man, burrowed out of the soil without a sign.
The big-headed short man’s complexion was yellowish brown. There was a small drum and a small gong tied to his waist, his entire body was naked, and he was only wrapped in a dirty rag with indistinguishable color.
The five-element demon burst out laughing. He pointed to the short man and introduced him to the descendants of moon cone nail, “He is Xiao Er from Shiwan Mountain! He once received the great kindness of the esteemed master teacher in the early years, so he’s invited by the master teacher to assist in the fight this time! I thought that no one was going to create trouble initially and there is no need to trouble him, but judging from the situation right now… heh, all of you will need to protect him well. There is no need to interfere with the rest of the matters!”
The big-headed short man cracked into a smile to Nineteen and the rest. He gave a shy smile, as he spoke with a fine voice and soft tone, “Thank you for the few divine immortals’ trouble.”
The descendants of the moon cone nail entered the huge mountain for four years. This was the first time they met the big-headed short man. There was not too much vibration of spiritual vitality in the short man’s body. His meagre amount of cultivation base was unworthy of mention according to the descendants of moon cone nail, but since he was a mountain elf who was capable of burrowing and moving in the soil unknowingly, his ability was not considered remarkable.
Full Moon’s face was all curious; he sized the short man up and down as he laughed, “So, you are capable of dealing with the enemies that are here to create troubles outside?”
The short man nodded in all apparent seriousness, “Other than the few of you, I will kill anyone who tries to enter!”
Nineteen and her three siblings stood gazing at one another; they were at a loss of words…
On the outside of the huge mountain, the cultivators of the world were arriving and gathering from all directions.
On the inside of the huge mountain, the five-element demon was confident with a preconceived idea in his heart. The big-headed short man acted courteously, while the descendants of the moon cone nail were baffled. Sir Rust, Shudou and Hot Immortal Aunt were still recuperating. Meanwhile, their group of inferiors were standing all around and waiting without any expression on their faces.
On the inside of the place of the outer fringe, monsters were wreaking havoc. Bloody slaughter was happening everywhere, while the shine and radiance of treasured weapons and supernatural powers were mixed with agonizing screams that covered the sky. Amidst thick blood and crushed flesh, the crystal clear sky had since turned into the color of a hideous dimmed yellow.
While outside of the East China Sea, a lone island that was regarded as the prohibited land in the eyes of the mortal people, had dark clouds gathering over its sky, while wind and thunder were rolling together… it was the Black and White Island!
The toad Red Pot that had already transformed into the size of a giant tower, was stretching out its limbs, with its stomach tightly laid on the surface of the ground. It laid in front of Xiang Liu, with its mouth opened widely.
Countless enormous talismans were blowing in the wind and spinning around Red Pot in circles. Some talismans were as red as blood; they were written with forceful and sonorous strokes that penetrated through the heaven and earth. Some were murky and dark, and no matter how hard one looked at it, one could not distinguish its pattern at all. It was akin to a mere stretch of a blurry mess all along.
Three of Xiang Liu’s heads had already regained some mobility. Its initially slightly bald snake skin was already covered in gigantic scales. The scales were blooming with a faint glow under the reflection of the remnant sun. Every time the scales swayed, it would flutter with a thousand streaks of brilliance that appeared bitter-cold, yet ruthless and tyrannical, as if it was the world-annihilating divine radiance that erupted in the eyes of God!
At this moment, the three heads’ movements could only be described as gentle. The heads were coiling at one another, wriggling and heaving soundlessly. The enormous snake tongues were exceedingly light; it licked past Red Pot’s body in an affectionate manner, as gentle as a maiden’s hair.
Within the six snake’s eyes that was supposedly cold, sinister and emotionless, pity and longingness flowed out. The eyes did not even blink once, as it stared at Red Pot’s eyes that were filled with agony.
Red Pot’s cheeks were puffing up and down; it was panting strenuously. In between puffs, it moaned like a broken bellow. An unknown period of time had passed, before the toad finally erupted into a croak.
The sound of a frog’s croak startled the heaven and moved the earth! A circle of airwaves that was visible to the naked eye, followed the sound of that croak. It rolled up and surrounded Red Pot, before rolling down in all directions and scattered out of the lone island in the blink of an eye. The surrounding seawater suddenly set off heaven-shocking big waves that moaned in rage, as it diffused towards the far side!
The murky yet disastrous big waves, was akin to being pushed by an invisible giant hand. It receded wildly, until it disappeared at the edge of one’s sight. When seen from a bird’s eye view, the surface of the sea within five hundred kilometers’ circumference had already turned into a funnel-like huge pit!
Within the heaven-shocking and earth-moving frog’s croak, a demon figurine with a pair of wings on its back, with four arms and two legs, which was almost the size of an adult man, suddenly spurted out from Red Pot’s stomach. The demon figurine rolled all the way and finally at the sound of a thud, it was crushed against the hard reef. The fine porcelain was splashing everywhere, and a demon that had the exact same appearance as the demon figurine suddenly revealed itself!
The double-winged and four-armed demon’s expression was in a trance. Its gaze was murky; it seemed to be completely unaware of what just happened. It looked to the left, right and everywhere else for a moment, before it finally saw Red Pot with its mouth still widened.
The demon was hesitant. It knelt on the ground and saluted Red Pot. Its voice sounded beyond dry, occasionally sharp; hoarse at times, “I present myself before my master. I am waiting to serve my master!”
Red Pot did not acknowledge the demon but suddenly croaked again. The second demon figurine was spurted out and crushed, with its entire body fiery-red. Its body was short and small, whie its face was trembling continuously, as if having a muscle cramp. It was dragging a pointy tail behind its back, and similar to the four-armed demon, it knelt on the ground awaiting to serve Red Pot as its master.
Red Pot’s croak sounded more and more rushed. The seawater that surrounded the Black and White Island was akin to a pot of boiling water. One after another, demon figurines were being spat out and crushed continuously. Each of those demons looked exactly the same as the demon figurines that revealed themselves and knelt on the ground…
Red Pot used the immortal vessels that it collected in the past to blast the Yin’s eye of Qinling Mountain until it collapsed. Simultaneously, it stole away all of Hanba Fifth Brother’s demon figurines. After it snuck back to the Black and White Island with the assistance of the three Xiang Liu’s heads of fire element, sun element and moon element, it launched the most ancient Art of Devilry, and turned one demon figurine after another into the great demons they were in life.
However, the demonic primordial energy that was sealed by Hanba in the demon figurines, had already been corroded by malevolent energy earlier. Even though the demons were resurrected right now, its actual power had deteriorated a lot as compared to before. Moreover, its spiritual intelligence was already damaged. The demons turned into demon-bodied puppets that were capable of following instructions, yet unable to think for themselves!
One thousand and thirty-four demon figurines and evil demons were all the family properties that belonged to Hanba Fifth Brother…
It was until after silence returned to the sky and sea once again, that Red Pot turned back into the size of a fist. Its initial pitch-black gaze was already misted with a layer of gloomy darkness. It panted for a moment, then it lifted its body with great effort. It shouted an order towards almost a thousand demons that were kneeling before its body, “Crush the rest of the few heaven’s cone nails!”
Within the sound of responding promises, the vigorous demonic energy surged skywards. With streaks upon streaks of shadows as swift as electricity, the Black and White Island once again erupted in a chain of loud noises. It did not take long before seven loud and clear, ghastly, sinister, and aggressive strange howls overlapped together. It sounded like a knife coated with thick fresh blood, that pierced towards and mangled through the sky from the Black and White Island. The seawater was akin to a boiling pot of water. One after another, enormous sea beasts’ corpses floated from the deep sea in layers. The ghastly-pale color of white paved all the way to the edge of the sky.
The nine-headed monster, Xiang Liu, that had been suppressed for millenniums and megaannums, that lost two of its evil souls and supreme commander true soul, finally struggled free from its shackles!
Red Pot that had never shown any emotions, but a gush of delight that was even stronger, merrier and faster than the eruption of a volcano, arose on its face at this moment! When this delight, enough to shake the heaven and earth bloomed and erupted on its face, the sound from its throat was a bitter wail that sounded as if it was oppressed for a million years!
Every single syllable was utterly meaningless, yet accompanied by a portion of intense remorse and hatred!
Two thousand years ago, I was stubborn, eccentric and unreasonable. I caused the death of my brother who had been protecting me, taking care of me, laughing at me when he was happy, yet refusing to scold me when he was angry from the day the heaven and earth was born!
In two thousand years, I encountered life and death situations on a few occasions. Millions and millions of years ago, I once looked down scornfully at the entire world. I acted wild and cared for no one. When I met my misfortune and experienced suffering that lasted through every second and every minute, there was no way out, yet I could not die either!
Two thousand years later, the nine-headed Xiang Liu saw the light of the day once again. The seven heads were still rippling with the shimmer of heaven’s prestige like before, yet this glory that was capable of collapsing the heaven, sinking the land, and annihilating the world, was still able to seize everyone’s tears! Nonetheless, it could never change into the smile that I wanted to see most!
The person who loved me, died because of me, and the person who harmed me, was enjoying all the pride in between the heaven and earth. The irrelevant people, witnessed as I was frustrated, broken-down, and trapped in between life and death, yet they were clapping and laughing joyously!
Red Pot bawled and cried out loud!
Xiang Liu’s seven heads too, bawled and cried just as loud!
Red Pot dried its tears only when their cries drew in a storm. It crawled strenuously, while it walked past the front of the giant snake’s heads that were stretching towards it with great effort. They were afraid that it would walk one step further, and every time it passed by a head, it would stop for a moment and rub its cheek against its brothers’ intimately. A warm delight flashed across the primitive monster’s faces. This was their favorite game when they were young. In the world and in between the heaven and earth, which one of our ten brothers was the loneliest one? And which one was the least lonely one?
When it walked past that water element head with its eyes shut tight, it could not budge. Red Pot lingered on for the longest time, before raising its head in the end and chuckled to the few heads as it spoke, “I am going to avenge him, but I’m not bringing any of you along!” Upon saying that, it croaked strangely for a few times. A thousand demons surrounded it, and a giant bird that was dripping with thick flames all over its body kept Red Pot gently in its mouth. Soon after, the giant bird gave out an indistinct cry, and in between its flapping wings, it brought along the large group of demons as it surged out of the Black and White Island in the blink of an eye!
Xiang Liu was shocked; each of them squalled once. Its gigantic body leaped up suddenly, yet unexpectedly, it started trembling in midair. It then tumbled back onto the lone island on a spectacular scale. It had only struggled free, when the snake’s necks and heads were capable of moving unhindered, yet its gigantic body and snake tail had almost no sensation. After millenniums and megaanums of struggle, they had exhausted too much of their strength. Despite being a monster that came from the chaotic world in prehistoric times, it was utterly weak and feeble. The most awful part was losing the true soul’s command. The existing seven brothers were now too clumsy and lacked practice in their teamwork, as compared to how well-versed they were before.
Even though they broke free, it was still difficult for them to move in a short while.
Amongst the seven heads, someone was cursing and scolding the water element evil soul for making a rash decision instead of consulting the others first. Someone was shedding bitter tears soundlessly once again; crying for the Third Brother’s inability to let go of his guilt for killing First Brother. After saving the rest of his brothers, he no longer had the decency to face them anymore, and bid his farewell from then on. Regardless of whether he lived or died, he would never meet the rest of his brothers anymore!
