Chapter 211: The Bargain with the Evil God
In Peng Wufeng's memory, she saw that within the secret realm they had entered there existed an utterly terrifying being.
Looking at that being, she saw it had nine pitch-black wings sprouting from its back and four long, razor-sharp claws growing from its body, and it was sheathed all over in pitch-black scales that gave off an ominous aura.
What was more, it had four pitch-black, unfathomably deep eyes set in its face, looking utterly unnerving.
So when she saw it, a hint of fear couldn't help but cross Zhu Qingyan's face.
"I don't know what it is, but I can say for certain it's no creature of the Immortal Realm."
Gu Daoshi spoke without the slightest hesitation.
He had lived a good many years by now and considered himself thoroughly versed in all things of the Immortal Realm, yet even so, there was nothing in the Immortal Realm like that creature.
Forget identical — there wasn't even anything similar.
With that, the two of them both looked toward Lu Xunxian.
Neither of them knew what it was; if anyone did, it would likely be Lu Xunxian alone.
But what they hadn't expected was for Lu Xunxian to shake his head too. "I don't know this thing's origins either."
"But the aura on it is quite close to the eerie aura atop Sun Mountain."
As Lu Xunxian's words fell, shock filled both Zhu Qingyan's and Gu Daoshi's faces.
"You're sure you're not joking? That thing has already appeared here?"
There was a trace of fear in Zhu Qingyan's tone.
Earlier, the mere aura alone had been able to kill an Immortal Emperor; she could scarcely imagine the strength of a creature steeped in that aura.
Lu Xunxian nodded. "I don't joke about such things."
"Then, Senior Lu, are we going to intervene?"
Gu Daoshi had already prepared himself to act.
In the future he had glimpsed, unless he made a move, Peng Wufeng was certain to die.
"Make your move. It's a fine chance for you to cultivate the Law of Karma — saving Peng Wufeng amounts to him owing you an immense karmic debt."
Lu Xunxian spoke slowly. Naturally he would act — after all, he wasn't about to watch the Immortal Realm sink into crisis.
And as it happened, perhaps from that thing he might learn the state of the world on the other side of the spatial breach atop Sun Mountain.
With Lu Xunxian's nod of assent, Gu Daoshi readied himself to act.
Meanwhile, after leaving Zhonggui Mountain, Peng Wufeng soon came before a middle-aged man.
The middle-aged man wore a dragon robe — none other than the lord of the Guixu Empire, Peng Wufeng's father, Peng Qianling.
"This son greets you, Royal Father."
"Mm. You've said your farewells, then? In that case, prepare to set out. Your father has high hopes for you."
Peng Qianling smiled, stepped forward, and gave Peng Wufeng's shoulder a meaningful pat as he spoke.
Even Peng Qianling had never imagined that his sixth son would progress this fast — in a mere year, cultivating all the way to the Shedding Mortality Realm. Such talent far surpassed his own back in the day; perhaps the boy could lead their Guixu Empire to even greater glory.
"I understand, Royal Father. I will absolutely not let you down."
Peng Wufeng nodded firmly, then hurried off toward the north.
The Guixu Empire was no particularly powerful empire; even the strongest being in its ranks was merely at the Emperor Realm.
Soon, Peng Wufeng arrived before that secret realm.
There before the secret realm stood eight more young men of about Peng Wufeng's age — none other than the other eight princes.
Seeing Peng Wufeng arrive, their expressions varied, but without exception their eyes brimmed with hostility.
After all, they were enemies now, vying for the throne.
Also standing before the secret realm was an old man in black robes — none other than the Patriarch of the Guixu Empire.
"Since everyone's here, then you go."
"Spend seven days within the secret realm. These are your storage rings. Whoever's storage ring holds the most demon-beast heads, and the most powerful demon beasts, will be the next Emperor."
The Patriarch spoke.
The princes exchanged a glance, then the next moment they all rushed in, jostling to be first.
Seeing them all go in, an eerie expression came over that Patriarch's face.
"As long as I offer you up in sacrifice to His Lordship the Evil God, I'll earn my reward and break through to the Saint King Realm. Kekeke!"
As the words faded, the Emperor Realm Patriarch froze on the spot.
The next moment, Lu Xunxian and the other two appeared before him.
"Senior Lu, so what we're going to do is...?"
Gu Daoshi looked toward Lu Xunxian.
Lu Xunxian wasted no words. He looked toward that Emperor Realm Patriarch and began a Soul Search.
But the instant the Soul Search began, the Emperor Realm Patriarch burst into flames.
Seeing this, Lu Xunxian gave a cold snort. "Courting death — you'd kill someone right in front of me? It seems you don't take me seriously at all!"
As the words faded, Lu Xunxian stepped forward and seized the Emperor Realm Patriarch's head, and at once those inexplicably kindled purple, eerie flames cooled and died.
The Emperor Realm Patriarch wore the look of one who'd narrowly escaped death, and hurriedly thanked Lu Xunxian. "Thank you, Senior, thank you for saving me."
But Lu Xunxian wasted no words and began the Soul Search, soon arriving at the memories concerning the Evil God the man had spoken of earlier.
"Bring me the tributes, and I can grant you the power to break through to the Saint King Realm!"
The one who'd struck this bargain with him was precisely the creature from the memories Lu Xunxian had glimpsed in Peng Wufeng's mind.
And it was precisely because Lu Xunxian had begun the Soul Search that the creature had noticed, and so tried to take the Emperor Realm Patriarch's life from afar.
Seeing Lu Xunxian finish the Soul Search, the Emperor Realm Patriarch had just begun to think he might live — when the next moment he was reduced to fine dust by a single thought from Lu Xunxian.
A being who would sacrifice his own descendants to seize power, and who had struck a bargain with an Evil God, had no need to go on living.
Off to the side, Gu Daoshi and Zhu Qingyan had glimpsed the Emperor Realm Patriarch's memories as well.
"He didn't know the Evil God's origins either."
Gu Daoshi knit his brows slightly — why, even the name "Evil God" was one the man had coined himself.
"Why fuss over all that? Let's just go straight into the secret realm!"
Zhu Qingyan waved a hand and spoke, looking toward the secret realm.
Though the spatial barrier kept them apart, she could see the situation inside the secret realm perfectly clearly — Peng Wufeng and the others were about to meet their end.
Hearing this, Lu Xunxian nodded, then took a single step down and entered the secret realm.
At that moment, within the secret realm.
The nine of them — Peng Wufeng and the others — gazed at the enormous creature before them, their pupils shaking violently.
"What on earth is this thing?"
The Eldest Prince, Peng Wuwang, his voice full of terror, his legs trembling uncontrollably.
The other seven princes wore looks of horror, and almost without the slightest hesitation they turned and fled.
The being before them was already beyond anything they could deal with; if they didn't leave now, death was certain!
But the next moment, with a single thought from the enormous creature, the seven fleeing princes turned into a mist of blood and were sucked straight into its body.
Only Peng Wufeng and Peng Wuwang — frozen stiff with fright — had yet to be absorbed, but from the looks of it, their turn was coming soon.