Chapter 529: Slaying the Demon Emperor
The Empress of Earth watched the exuberant Chen Shi with a helpless feeling in her heart. "Weren't we supposed to go pick mulberry leaves? How did we end up carrying the whole tree back? His Majesty truly knows how to be frugal, not letting even a scrap go to waste. This tree is indeed ownerless, but someone was using it to suppress and refine the corpse of the Golden Crow. And you just took it away..."
When she thought about that person's abilities, her head began to throb. "I'm always the one settling accounts with others. This time, I'll probably be the one getting an account settled against me."
"Godmother!"
Chen Shi waved his arm excitedly. "We picked the mulberry leaves! This time, Can'er won't have to worry about going hungry!"
"Mm-hmm, well done, Your Majesty." The Empress of Earth said.
"This Western Ox New Continent is probably beyond saving," she thought to herself.
Chen Shi waved his hand. "Wu Qi, follow me. Let's plant this tree at Qianyang Mountain!"
Wu Qi struggled under the massive, towering tree as he and Chen Shi returned to the mortal world.
The Empress of Earth felt her headache growing worse. The mulberry tree was even more precious than the Purple Heaven Vine. Why had it remained untouched in the Mysterious Yellow Sea for so many years?
"Wasn't it because that person wanted to completely refine the Golden Crow to death? This account won't be easy to settle."
She sighed. "There's no way this will escape that person's notice. He'll definitely come looking for me. But I'm not afraid of him. It's just one more bad debt. However, His Majesty will need to help me balance more accounts to offset this one."
Chen Shi and Wu Qi arrived at Qianyang Mountain. The great snake Xuan Shan saw the mulberry tree from afar and was so startled he nearly flew away into the sky. Madam Zhuang was also shocked. The various strange beasts, rare creatures, and spirits in the mountains were all terrified and hurriedly scattered in all directions.
The Qianyang Mountain Lord looked at the mulberry tree with some reverence. "Your Majesty, where did you obtain such a treasure?"
"No one wanted it by the roadside. I picked it up." Chen Shi said cheerfully.
"Your Majesty!"
The great snake Xuan Shan called out from afar. "Has this tree become sentient yet?"
Chen Shi laughed. "Godmother said it's still a sapling. It'll be a long time before it cultivates sentience."
The great snake Xuan Shan was startled and became even more reverent toward the tree.
Chen Shi activated the Taiyi Demon-Repelling Shuttle, transforming it into ninety-nine flying swords. In a short time, he hollowed out a valley. Wu Qi planted the mulberry tree, and immediately pure yang energy filled the area around Qianyang Mountain, nourishing everything. Even the great snake Xuan Shan, who usually preferred cool shade, found the pure yang energy quite comfortable.
From a distance, the majestic Qianyang mountain range appeared small, all of it beneath the tree's canopy.
The tree emitted a golden glow. Even at night, it illuminated the Qianyang mountains in brilliant gold.
"Does the mulberry tree need watering?"
Chen Shi went to consult the Empress of Earth. "Should we fetch seawater from the Mysterious Yellow Sea to irrigate it?"
The Empress of Earth was nearly finished refining the Purple Heaven Vine. "No need. This tree is a divine object with unparalleled vitality—more vigorous than all of you combined. As long as it's planted, it won't die."
Chen Shi smiled. "Is it even more vigorous than Wu Qi's vitality?"
In his view, the Purple Heaven Vine could produce at least twenty to thirty Wu Qi-level beings. Such vitality was practically unparalleled. Surely the mulberry tree couldn't compare.
The Empress shook her head. "The Purple Heaven Vine? Hah, it can't even catch up."
Chen Shi returned to the mulberry tree and examined this divine plant. He noticed that the creatures living nearby were already faintly showing signs of the tree's nine-yang nature, likely influenced by its pure yang energy. He saw a hedgehog living nearby that, by absorbing the pure yang energy, had refined a few flying needles it could launch and retrieve at will.
That hedgehog clearly had no spiritual nature—it wasn't even a demon—yet it had somehow refined flying needles. Truly remarkable.
He also noticed a plantain plant absorbing the pure yang energy, transforming into a spiritual herb. The nine-yang energy was concentrating medicinal power, causing it to metamorphose.
The Qianyang Mountain Lord activated his divine power to move his temple closer. He likely felt the rich nine-yang energy here was perfect for cultivating more spiritual herbs. He already had an Apricot Grove with many spiritual plants, but growing them near the mulberry tree would produce better medicinal properties.
"If one were to cultivate here, it would be twice the result with half the effort. No, it'd be several times the result!"
Chen Shi secretly envied, but his path was one of dual cultivation of yin and yang. Cultivating under the mulberry tree would only cause his yang energy to surge wildly, with yin energy unable to restrain it. That would hinder his cultivation instead, so he couldn't train here.
But for others, the benefits would be enormous.
Ever since cultivators began gathering qi and establishing foundations, they had been fighting against the yin energy within their bodies, striving with all their might to transform into a pure yang body. At higher realms, they even needed to sever the Three Corpses to make their flesh and Primordial Spirit pure yang.
After achieving Dao Unification and reaching the True Immortal Realm, they earned the reputation of pure yang true immortals.
Clearly, yang energy was crucial for cultivators, while yin energy was something to be avoided at all costs.
"The mulberry tree can be considered a sacred ground, and Qianyang Mountain itself is also a sacred ground. The fusion of these two sacred grounds is sure to produce many experts in the Western Ox New Continent."
Chen Shi looked up. "The only question now is, will the Celestial Venerable allow this good thing to continue? Only by eliminating the Celestial Venerable can we completely refine away the demonic energy in this world and restore the Western Ox New Continent to normal!"
Suddenly, a streak of silver light flew through the sky. Chen Shi focused and saw Can'er, who had spotted the mulberry tree from afar, joyfully rushing toward it.
"Brother, so many mulberry leaves!"
She pounced excitedly, landing on a tender mulberry leaf, revealing her true form as a plump Heavenly Silkworm, and began feasting.
Chen Shi's heart stirred slightly. "Can'er really has grown a lot."
Just then, Wu Qi approached. "Slave King, what you asked me to do, I have done. Your life-saving grace, I consider repaid. I sense the presence of some of my clansmen. I'll go find them. In the future, we'll join forces against the Celestial Venerable."
Before Chen Shi could speak, Wu Qi leaped and vanished through the air.
Chen Shi frowned slightly. "The clansmen Wu Qi sensed—could they be those self-sealed Great Shang immortals? If he digs them up, they'll likely undergo Calamitous Transformation immediately."
But Wu Qi was too fast for him to stop.
In the underworld, the Ten Thousand Mountains, influenced by the Purple Heaven Vine planted by the Empress of Earth, spread out and merged with the underworld, magnificent and grand. Wu Qi stood before an ancient mountain. In the Great Shang era, it was called Ji Mountain, where a certain immortal named Yun Chang resided.
Back when Wu Qi served as the Grand Guardian of Great Shang, he had once visited Yun Chang.
At that time, though it was still the Great Shang era, many currents of thought were surging among the court and the people. Some proposed that immortals should not be under the court's jurisdiction—they should be free and unrestrained, either roaming the mortal world or ascending to the celestial realm. But later, the immortals discovered that they had been branded with the seal of criminal subjects in their bloodlines, preventing them from ever ascending.
Nevertheless, they still refused to be bound by the court. Yun Chang was one of them.
Wu Qi's purpose in visiting Yun Chang back then had been to persuade him to submit to the court and set an example, but Yun Chang refused.
Now, as the Empress of Earth refined the Purple Heaven Vine and brought the Ten Thousand Mountains under her dominion, Yun Chang's seal loosened. Wu Qi sensed his old acquaintance's presence and came to find him.
"Yun Chang, back then you said immortals pursued freedom and carefree living. You scoffed at my suggestion, saying that entering the court meant you could no longer be an immortal. But when disaster struck, only the court could save the world."
Wu Qi raised his hand and grabbed. The mountain split apart, and the void trembled violently. Another small world, broken, turbulent, and filled with demonic energy and malice, slowly emerged.
In that small world, heaven and earth were shattered, the Great Dao had collapsed, and demonic energy grew unchecked. Strange, writhing flesh leaped about in the small world, and with a wet *pfft*, a lump of flesh splattered against the barrier between the small world and the outside.
A young man dressed in Great Shang-era clothing floated motionless in the shattered world, frozen like an insect in amber.
"You, who yearned for freedom, could only seal yourself away and flee from the catastrophe. Only the court could stand against this world-ending tribulation. Our debate back then—you lost after all."
Wu Qi looked at the young man, his expression darkening. "But unfortunately, the enemy was too strong, and Great Shang ultimately fell. Heh. Now I am also a failure, come to awaken another failure..."
Just as he was about to strike and break Yun Chang's seal, a voice suddenly rang out. "If I were the Grand Guardian, I wouldn't break that seal."
Wu Qi's heart stirred. He turned to look, and saw a tall, elderly man in blue robes, leading a child, walking toward him.
Wu Qi frowned slightly as he studied this person. Shamanic ritual markings like those of ghost gods were faintly visible on him.
"A Grand Sacrificial Officer in charge of rituals? You are of the Yin clan, from the Sacrificial Officer family?"
Wu Qi inquired. "Yin Fa—what relation is he to you?"
The newcomer was none other than the Grand Sacrificial Officer from the Divine Capital. Upon seeing Wu Qi, he could hardly contain his excitement. He stepped forward and bowed. "Yin Wushuang pays respects to Grand Guardian Wu Qi! Yin Fa was my founding ancestor!"
Wu Qi slowly raised his hand. "Rise. If you are Yin Fa's descendant, why haven't your shamanic ritual markings fully awakened?"
The Grand Sacrificial Officer looked ashamed and was about to answer when Wu Qi said, "I understand. During the calamity, you could barely protect yourselves. Many traditions were lost, so you couldn't truly awaken your bloodline."
The Grand Sacrificial Officer bowed deeply. "I cultivated the immortal path, later switched to the divine path to extend my lifespan, all in the hope of seeing the day Great Shang would be restored."
Wu Qi sneered. "The immortal path certainly has its strengths, but it's no match for our shamanic ritual methods. The divine path is nothing special either. Since you've met me, I'll let you awaken the supreme power of shamanic rituals!"
His form flickered as he appeared before the Grand Sacrificial Officer, his palm striking toward him.
The Grand Sacrificial Officer didn't block. He let Wu Qi do as he pleased. Wu Qi moved back and forth, left and right, channeling streams of strange power into the officer's body. The various shamanic ritual markings on the Grand Sacrificial Officer emerged, the power contained within them being released one by one, growing stronger and stronger!
After a moment, Wu Qi withdrew his hand and stepped back.
The Grand Sacrificial Officer felt surging tides of power roiling within him, boosting his cultivation by over thirty percent. Delighted and astonished, he quickly led the child in a bow of thanks.
Wu Qi's gaze fell on the child, and he frowned slightly. "A slave? Qiang people?"
Countless methods of tormenting and sacrificing Qiang people flashed through his mind.
The Grand Sacrificial Officer quickly shielded the child behind him, smiling. "Grand Guardian, this child is named Chu Feng. I sought him out to corrupt the Celestial True God's Dao techniques. Chen Shi created demonic techniques, and this boy cultivates them, thereby polluting the Celestial True God. First, it prevents the Celestial Venerable from controlling the Celestial True God. Second, it demonizes the world, turning it into a place where our Great Shang subjects can survive, restoring Great Shang's orthodox rule!"
Wu Qi's brows knitted tightly at this. "Chen Shi? True King Chen Shi?"
The Grand Sacrificial Officer affirmed it.
Wu Qi's frown deepened. Thinking of Chen Shi's many bizarre actions, he felt an inexplicable sense of unease. "The Celestial True God is the Shang King's Primordial Spirit. How can he allow it to be demonized? Chen Shi is extremely demonic in nature. I've met him—his actions are crooked and evil, not like a good man. This Qiang boy, cultivating his techniques, will likely come to no good end. Enough, enough. We Great Shang subjects are nothing more than criminal subjects exiled by the Qiang people. What nobility, what baseness—it's just what we decide for ourselves."
He summoned Chu Feng. "I am the Grand Guardian, with the authority to promote or revoke the divine duties of Great Shang subjects. Today, I grant you shamanic ritual markings, making you a Shang subject."
He formed a Sword Seal with his hand and pressed it to Chu Feng's brow. The various shamanic ritual markings on his body flowed along the Sword Seal into Chu Feng, traveling along his skin.
After a moment, Wu Qi withdrew his Sword Seal, looking somewhat weary. "I grant you the best fortune Great Shang has to offer. I hope you won't let me down for nurturing you today."
The Grand Sacrificial Officer, realizing he had passed down the Grand Guardian's own shamanic ritual markings, was deeply moved. He took Chu Feng's hand and bowed in thanks.
Wu Qi helped them both up. Suddenly, his expression shifted. "Yin Wushuang, did you bring anyone else here?"
The Grand Sacrificial Officer shook his head. "Only my disciple and me..."
Wu Qi's face grew serious. "It seems you've been watched for some time. Xun Jiangmu, you're still as sneaky as ever, only daring to hide in dark corners, scheming against everyone."
The Grand Sacrificial Officer's heart leaped. He quickly looked.
The Celestial Venerable, surrounded by divine light, strode forward. A vertical eye on his brow shone like a moon. He laughed. "Wu Qi, just as I expected—you really are the Demon Emperor. I didn't think we'd cross blows again after over ten thousand years. But this time, there's no Great Shang Celestial Court with countless gods to fight for you."
Wu Qi said calmly, "Xun Jiangmu, how does your cultivation compare to back then? Back then, I shattered your physical body and broke down your Primordial Spirit. On the verge of death, you had to seize a Shang subject's body—how utterly pathetic! Today, I'll only beat you even worse."
He subtly waved his hand, signaling the Grand Sacrificial Officer to leave quickly.
The Grand Sacrificial Officer's heart trembled. "The Grand Guardian has no confidence!"
If there were even a sliver of a chance, Wu Qi would have told him to stay and help. The two of them might have been able to destroy the Celestial Venerable together, even at the cost of their own lives.
Only when there was absolutely no chance would Wu Qi tell him to flee as fast as possible!
Suppressing the grief in his heart, the Grand Sacrificial Officer took Chu Feng's hand and sped away.
Wu Qi breathed a sigh of relief only after they had gone far.
The Celestial Venerable said leisurely, "Once I eliminate the Demon Emperor today, I can rest easy."
Wu Qi frowned, not understanding what he meant by that. "How did I become the Demon Emperor?" he thought.
The Celestial Venerable attacked without warning. The moment the two clashed, they both went all out without any probing, explosively and ferociously. Probing? That had already happened in their past lives. They both knew exactly what methods the other had.
"Boom!"
Ji Mountain shook violently. Yun Chang's small world was instantly pierced through by their divine abilities. The immortal Yun Chang, sealed inside, was exposed to the outside world and immediately corrupted by demonic energy. His entire body began to undergo Calamitous Transformation.
But the catastrophe had barely begun when Yun Chang, along with the transformation that hadn't yet had time to erupt, was reduced to ashes by the collision of their abilities!
Wu Qi's body slammed backward, *boom boom boom*, crashing through mountains one after another. The Celestial Venerable followed close behind, laughing. "Demon Emperor, your strength hasn't increased much since before! I wasted so much scheming on you! If I'd known you were this weak, I wouldn't have had to be so cautious and wait until now!"
In the span of a few breaths, they exchanged three or five moves. Wu Qi pressed a finger against the vertical eye on the Celestial Venerable's brow, but before he could put any force into it, his physical body was shattered by the Celestial Venerable!
"Without a single bone left, let's see how your Immortal Art of Immortality revives you!"
The Celestial Venerable laughed heartily, burned the nearby flesh and blood to ash with a burst of true fire, and flew away, feeling triumphant.
Xinxiang Imperial Capital.
Chen Shi, after arranging for Can'er, returned to the Imperial City and paced into the imperial garden. Lost in thought, he suddenly heard a cry of "Grandpa, grandpa!"
Chen Shi looked up and saw a figure standing beneath the Purple Heaven Vine.
"Wu Qi?" Chen Shi was stunned.
Wu Qi turned back and glanced at him. "And who might you be?"