At Feng Qi’s invitation, Zhang Ruochen led the old yellow ox and, together with the twenty-five Great Saints of the Feng clan, boarded the divine wood warship.
A god from the Demon God Realm was already standing outside to welcome them, surrounded by swirling pink radiance, with fragrance drifting in the air.
This god was someone Zhang Ruochen had indeed met before. She was one of the ten great powerhouses cultivated by the Demon God Realm using the Demon Ancestor’s ancestral blood: the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox.
He had seen her in the Heavenly Court’s Red Dust Archipelago, where she had been a distinguished guest of Shang Ziyan.
Among the ten great powerhouses, the strongest, Chu Jian, had been suppressed and killed by Zhang Ruochen during the Battle of the Ten Realms. Many of the other demon clan experts listed among the ten had failed their tribulations and perished in body and soul. Yet she had stepped into the Divine Realm.
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox wore a thin silver silk gown, her jade-white, graceful, and alluring body faintly visible. The curve formed by her willow waist and hips was breathtaking, her seductive charm innate and utterly enticing.
Even after becoming a True God, she remained utterly bewitching. Ordinary cultivators could hardly maintain composure.
None of the Feng clan Great Saints lacked mental fortitude, yet just one glance at her left them as if their souls had been hooked away, falling into entranced fantasies.
“Close your eyes. Circulate your breath, nurture your qi, and calm your mind.”
Feng Xi’s voice roused them.
One by one, they were shocked inwardly, hastily closing their eyes and circulating their techniques.
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox apologised, “I am sorry. I have only recently stepped into the Divine Realm and cannot fully restrain my seductive aura. I hope it does not affect their state of mind too greatly.”
It would have been better if she had not spoken. When she did, her soft, melting voice rang out, laced with boundless soul-captivating demonic power.
The more they closed their eyes, the more improper thoughts arose.
Lascivious illusions appeared in their minds.
Fortunately, Feng Xi was prepared. She formed a barrier with divine qi, dispersing the effect of her voice.
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox showed apologetic expression once more, saying softly, “Lord Jiaoyu knows that Xi God is here and is delighted. He has stopped cultivating and is waiting inside. Everyone, please come in!”
Zhang Ruochen looked in the direction the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox indicated. There stood a wooden grand hall, a thousand zhang high, brightly lit with lamps, extremely magnificent, integrated with the divine wood’s trunk.
The old yellow ox, blunt as ever, said directly, “Such grand pomp. He does not even come out to greet us, making it seem as if we are paying homage to him. What kind of god lord? No need to meet him!”
The atmosphere instantly became extremely awkward, with everyone falling silent.
Feng Qi stepped forward to smooth things over, smiling as he said, “Lord Jiaoyu is an upper god of the Demon God Temple. He has cultivated for eighty thousand years. Whether in cultivation or seniority, he far surpasses us.”
Zhang Ruochen appeared indifferent, maintaining his usual stern expression.
Feng Xi seemed completely unconcerned as well.
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox forced a charming smile, her gaze lingering on Zhang Ruochen and the old yellow ox, though no one knew what she was thinking.
The old yellow ox showed no courtesy whatsoever, saying, “So he is merely an upper god. Hearing him titled god lord, I thought he was an Immeasurable Realm existence. An upper god dares to put on such airs? Who gave him the confidence?”
The atmosphere grew even more awkward.
Zhang Ruochen knew the old yellow ox’s temperament well. It was even more straightforward than Chi Xingtian, capable of arguing with heaven, earth, and the air itself. Even Zhang Ruochen was often provoked to the point of wanting to stew it, let alone others.
The ox’s temper was simply too great!
Feng Qi’s gaze turned towards Zhang Ruochen, seemingly hoping he would discipline his mount.
Zhang Ruochen pretended not to notice, looking up at the sky as if counting stars.
Feng Qi cleared his throat and said, “Although Lord Jiaoyu is an upper god, he has reached the Great Perfection boundary. Coupled with his status as a Truth Emissary, his combat strength is no weaker than a great god’s.”
These words carried a hint of intimidation.
The old yellow ox secretly glanced at Zhang Ruochen, seeing him remain impassive, and immediately grew bolder. It said, “Still just an upper god, is he not? We are the guests. Why should he not come out to welcome us? Who is he looking down on? Let us go. Since others hold us in such low regard, no need to go in.”
With that, it twisted its rear, turning one hundred and eighty degrees.
The three gods present had never seen such an arrogant mount before. Not only did it dare to provoke Lord Jiaoyu, it seemed capable of making decisions for its master.
If not for Feng Qi and the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox understanding the rule of “to beat an ox, one must consider its owner”, they would long since have butchered the old yellow ox to vent their frustration.
“Well said. It is this lord who has been remiss! Haha!”
Hearty laughter rang out from within the wooden grand hall.
Space trembled slightly!
A short figure, three chi tall, appeared before everyone.
This Lord Jiaoyu had thick black skin, a diminutive stature, and a head resembling that of a rat clan, with sharp teeth, a long snout, silver-glowing whiskers, and ears atop his head.
Lord Jiaoyu scrutinised the old yellow ox, nodding repeatedly in admiration. He said, “I never expected the ox clan to produce such a remarkable rising star. If you were to take this lord as your master, this lord guarantees you entry into the Demon God Temple for cultivation and access to the Demon Ancestor’s ancestral blood. Then, you might well become a Yuan Hui-level representative.”
Feng Qi and the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox, seeing that Lord Jiaoyu was not angered, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
One must know that in the demon clans, it was survival of the fittest. The environment was as harsh as the hell realm. Lower gods, middle gods, and upper gods each occupied distinct statuses.
An existence like Lord Jiaoyu could already sit as an equal with great gods. If enraged, who could stop him from killing a peak Semi-Divine cultivator?
Feng Qi knew well Lord Jiaoyu’s ruthless and vicious nature. Thus, even though he was a god of the phoenix clan, he remained deeply wary of him.
“Hurry and thank the god lord for his favour?” the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox said.
The old yellow ox naturally sensed the terrifying divine might emanating from Lord Jiaoyu. Yet, with Zhang Ruochen backing it, what was there to fear? It showed no face whatsoever, saying, “You are worthy of being my master? I already have a master. My master is a peerless hero, clad in seven-coloured divine robes, treading five-coloured chaos clouds, wielding the Heaven-Slaying Divine Sword. He could thrash ten of you.”
Zhang Ruochen’s mouth twitched. Feeling this wretched ox could not be allowed to continue provoking, he formed a seal with his hand.
Instantly, the old yellow ox’s mouth was sealed in ice.
Zhang Ruochen bent his left middle and ring fingers, forming a Taoist gesture, profound and unfathomable. He said, “Immeasurable Heavenly Venerable! This wretched beast has been poorly disciplined, making a fool of itself before you all!”
Jiaoyu, Feng Qi, and the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox could not manage smiles, merely repeatedly inviting Zhang Ruochen and Feng Xi into the hall.
Jiaoyu and Feng Xi evidently knew each other. The two were discussing matters of the Temple of Truth.
Jiaoyu had crossed the tenth sea of truth to become a Truth Emissary, so he naturally had deep connections with the Temple of Truth. It so happened that Feng Xi had once been a disciple there too!
“Ah…”
A scream rang out!
An Immortal Realm Feng clan Great Saint collapsed to the ground.
Immediately after, six or seven more Great Saints fell, each in agony, veins black throughout their bodies, skin beginning to melt into pus and blood. They clawed at themselves, tearing flesh until it was mangled.
“Not good. The corpse poison has flared up!” Feng Qi said.
Feng Xi hurried over to examine their condition. Her expression grew extremely grave. She said, “The Yin Shang corpse poison is actually this formidable. I had already used divine power to seal their blood vessels and qi seas, planning to take them to the starry defence line for a great god of the clan to dispel it. I never expected the Yin Shang corpse poison to be completely unsuppressible. It has already corroded my divine power.”
“Ah… True God, kill me. It hurts so much… Give me a quick death…” One Great Saint tore off chunks of his own flesh, scattering them across the ground.
That flesh had all turned to rotting meat.
“I feel… I feel my consciousness is about to be devoured. It is growing ever more blurred. True God, I do not want to turn into a corpse… Grant me death…”
Another Feng clan Great Saint ripped off his own scalp, hair and all, dripping with pus and blood.
More and more Feng clan Great Saints collapsed, all wailing, faces twisted in torment, wishing for death.
The Feng clan Great Saints whose corpse poison had not yet flared were terrified by the scene, faces ashen pale.
Some showed resolute expressions in their eyes. Rather than suffer such torment from the corpse poison, better to end themselves while still rational.
Feng Xi shouted coldly, “Do not do anything foolish.”
She struck a divine light from her fingertip, hitting the Feng clan Great Saint who had torn off his scalp, using divine power to refine the corpse poison.
However, the corpse poison had already fused tightly with that Great Saint’s body, even invading the qi sea and corrupting the saint soul.
Feng Qi and the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox also acted, attempting to refine the corpse poison for two other Feng clan Great Saints.
The flames Feng Qi cultivated could indeed incinerate Yin Shang corpse poison. But now that the poison had entered their bodies, forcibly refining it would only burn the poisoned Feng clan Great Saints to death along with it.
Feng Xi, Feng Qi, and the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox failed one after another. The three grew solemn, feeling helpless.
Feng Qi said, “We must hurry and send them to the starry defence line. Only by inviting great gods of the Buddhist sect or those who cultivate the Path of Light can the Yin Shang corpse poison be purified.”
“I fear there is no time! And moreover…” the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox said.
She very much wanted to add that great gods were not so easily invited.
“Let this lord try.”
Lord Jiaoyu stomped his foot on the ground. Instantly, a boundless starry sea manifested, forming a unique divine border world.
He pressed his palm to the chest of one Feng clan Great Saint. Strands of starlight gathered towards his palm, surging into that Great Saint’s body. Immediately, with his palm as the centre, the corpse poison was driven away. Black blood flowed out, rotting flesh turning to dust.
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox breathed a sigh of relief, smiling charmingly. “Still, Lord Jiaoyu’s cultivation is profound, beyond what we can match.”
“Stop at once!” Feng Xi said.
The Feng clan Great Saint pressed beneath Lord Jiaoyu’s palm had the corpse poison refined, yet his body was also continuously turning to sand and dust, his life aura growing ever weaker.
It was clear that even if the corpse poison were fully refined, that Feng clan Great Saint would become nothing more than a pile of black ash.
Lord Jiaoyu quickly withdrew his hand, stepping aside. He said, “This Yin Shang corpse poison is truly formidable. Ordinary great gods would likely be helpless against it. Divine wood warship, full speed ahead.”
Feng Xi knew full well that rushing to the starry defence line now would be too late.
“Whoosh!”
Light flashed.
A sword appeared in her hand.
Surprise appeared on the faces of Feng Qi and the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox. They had not expected Feng Xi to be so decisive, able to strike even against her own clan’s Great Saints. No matter the faction, cultivating a Great Saint was never easy.
Killing more than twenty at once was truly something few could bring themselves to do.
Feng Xi’s gaze was icy cold. Beneath her veil, her lips pressed tightly together as she raised the sword and swung down.
Yet her wrist was seized, and the sword could not descend.
“Immeasurable Heavenly Venerable! Who says only great gods of the Buddhist sect or those cultivating the Path of Light can purify corpse poison? This poor Taoist is willing to try using the methods of the Taoist lineage.”
Zhang Ruochen slowly released his fingers, letting go of Feng Xi, and nodded to her.
