Chapter 494: Entering the Game
The Celestial Way Immortals of Despair Slope were equally stirred. Kou Xianren smiled and said, “Venerable, today is a great day for Despair Slope. Before, we merely maintained the world’s order out of desperation, allowing the Western Ox New Continent to continue. But now four cultivators have crossed the Tribulation, and Wu Wang has unified Dao. Despair Slope has hope!”
Gong Wanqing could not hide her excitement, and said, “Perhaps one day in the future, we can leave Despair Slope and return to the mundane world.”
The Celestial Way Immortals nodded one after another.
The Venerable smiled, “Indeed, today is a joyous day for Despair Slope. Since its founding, Despair Slope has endured many upheavals and long dark years. Only now do we see a sliver of dawn. But none of you may grow lax. The closer we are to dawn, the more we must guard against a dark counterattack.”
The immortals fell silent and serious.
Ping Xianren pondered, “Venerable, do you mean the gang led by the Demon Emperor? Those lawless ones seek to utterly destroy this realm and turn the human world into a demonic domain. They regard Despair Slope as a thorn in their side. If they learn that Wu Wang has unified Dao, they will surely move to eliminate him at once!”
The Venerable’s eyes flickered, “The enemy is utterly despicable and will stop at nothing. We must not let our guard down.”
Gong Wanqing hesitated, asking, “Venerable, should we also deal with the outsider gods? After all, those outsider gods shelter the people of the Western Ox New Continent and have not committed great evils.”
All eyes turned to the Venerable. He looked thoughtful and said, “Wu Wang has merely walked a new path; it has yet to be verified whether this path can truly sweep away the evil miasma of the Western Ox New Continent. If it cannot, then Western Ox New Continent will still need True Gods.”
“That is reasonable,” several agreed.
Xi Xianren said, “True Gods require the faith of the people for the sun to continue shining and the Celestial Way to function. Until the evil miasma is dispelled, Despair Slope must safeguard True God orthodoxy.”
Kou Xianren nodded slowly, “Demon Capital relies on Demonic Energy to rise. To corrupt the world, it must be removed first. The outsider gods who disturb the incense offerings of True Gods harm their longevity. This is a contest of doctrines, a matter concerning the lives and deaths of the common people; it cannot be taken lightly. However, some outsider gods sheltered the people during cataclysms and have merits toward the realm. You must distinguish right from wrong.”
The other Celestial Way Immortals nodded in agreement.
The Venerable glanced at Kou and laughed, “Kou Daoist speaks wisely. Still, the chief among the outsider gods, the Empress of Earth, has already manifested a split and invaded the Western Ox New Continent. There are also traitors among our people who hide behind the names of gods to pursue their own ambitions, and they must be removed.”
Xi Xianren, Kou Xianren and the others exchanged wary looks.
Kou said, “Venerable, perhaps the Empress of Earth among the outsider gods can be eliminated, but the other outsider gods have indeed protected the people and performed great meritorious deeds…”
Gong Wanqing said, “Venerable, please reconsider.”
Other Celestial Way Immortals echoed, “Venerable, please reconsider.”
The Venerable swept his gaze around and chuckled, “You are all too kind. Very well, we will only execute the ringleaders. Remove the Empress of Earth; as for the other outsider gods, we will not pursue them.”
Kou and the others breathed a sigh of relief and bowed in assent.
The Venerable continued, “There are also human scoundrels who have rallied behind the Empress of Earth, hoping for chaos to fulfill their own ambitions; they too are to be slain. Observe carefully and see if such rebels exist. If found, strike them down immediately.”
The immortals agreed.
The Venerable returned to Tianyuan Palace to continue his tempering.
“Kou Xianren, it seems the Venerable is injured, his aura unsteady,” Kou said softly as he watched the Venerable depart.
Xi Xianren replied, “I sensed it too. Could he have been wounded fighting the Demon Emperor?”
A chill ran through their hearts. If the Demon Emperor, a figure who appeared and disappeared like a dragon, could wound the Venerable, his strength was truly formidable.
Kou said, “While the Venerable heals, we must not slacken. Leave personnel at the sacrificial altar to monitor worldly movements, assign that duty to Immortal Qiu and Palace Immortal Gong.”
Qiu Ning and Gong Wanqing both nodded.
Kou continued, “Fellow Daoist Feng is investigating the whereabouts of Demon Capital and the Demon Emperor but has not returned. Demon Capital has many experts, and the Demon Emperor is unfathomable. We will need Ping Daoist and Xi Daoist to lead several Celestial Way Immortals and Heaven’s Listeners to assist. The Venerable’s injury means the Demon Emperor must also be heavily damaged; this is a prime opportunity to strike at Demon Capital.”
Ping and Xi agreed.
Kou smiled, “The rest should guard Despair Slope. When we discover the ringleaders or the Empress of Earth stirring, if they truly commit crimes, descend the mountain and execute them.”
Everyone consented.
Gong Wanqing asked, “Kou Daoist, what about you?”
Kou smiled, “Wu Wang has unified Dao and become the first immortal of the new method, with a bright future. I fear he may encounter danger. We stand in the light while the Demon Emperor operates in darkness. I must personally go to safeguard his Dao.”
Gong Wanqing said, “Brother, your cultivation is deep and unfathomable, the foremost among us. You should remain to guard Despair Slope and monitor the world, ready to support. I will go to protect Wu Wang’s Dao.”
Kou hesitated. Qiu Ning quietly transmitted, “Brother, think of her old lover!”
Kou’s heart stiffened. He recalled that Palace Immortal Gong once had a brief affair with Chen Yindu, and rumors said Chen Shi was her grandson. If the rumor were true, Gong Wanqing protecting Zhong Wu Wang might not be benign—she might intend to kill Wu Wang to avenge her grandson!
“Kong Immortal, this matter could be dangerous. I will personally go to protect Wu Wang.”
Kou laughed, “The Venerable is still wounded; you remaining to guard Despair Slope is also crucial.”
Gong Wanqing accepted reluctantly.
Plans made, the immortals dispersed.
Zhong Wu Wang was in Tiandao City outside Despair Slope, very close. Kou came to the bridge over the Red Frost River and saw Zhong standing on the bridge, smiling faintly while watching the stream pass below, appearing lost in thought.
“Wu Wang’s inner union of Dao and Immortal Way is something few can achieve,” Kou stood quietly watching for a moment. When Zhong came back to himself, Kou approached with a smile, “Your achievement will one day far surpass mine, even surpass the Venerable.”
Zhong hurriedly bowed, “Disciple greets Senior Kou!”
Kou waved and smiled, “You no longer need to call me senior. You and I are both Celestial Immortal Realm, only I entered a few days earlier. Call me Kou Daoist.”
Zhong hesitated. Kou chuckled, “That is Despair Slope’s custom. Wu Wang Daoist, you are now the new method’s first immortal. Will you transmit this method to the world?”
Zhong answered, “It cannot be transmitted. This method requires an Innate Dao Embryo, internal refinement of one’s own Realm of Emptiness. Other Divine Embryos cannot internally refine themselves, nor can they achieve perfect purity.”
Kou sounded a little disappointed, muttering, “If so, you are not the founding patriarch of the new method… Recently your surroundings might be unsafe. I will accompany you for a while.”
Zhong, touched by Kou’s worry, replied, “It does not matter if I am not the founding patriarch; I only need to be the strongest first immortal.”
He smiled serenely and explained, “Chen Shi’s outer self practiced the old method to cross Tribulation, but he only refined an Immortal Dao Primordial Spirit to jump from Tribulation to Ascension, not unify Dao. His true body’s realm is lower, merely Spirit Refining. Chen Shi taught his four major disciples the method; they cultivated the new method and crossed the Tribulation, but only refined the Immortal Dao Primordial Spirit—Ascension, not Dao Unification. The others are far less impressive than me.”
Kou and Zhong walked side by side out of Tiandao City. Kou curiously asked, “Since you became the new method’s first immortal, how has your power improved?”
Zhong said, “I now base myself on the Innate Dao Embryo to internally refine a small world and unify Dao with myself, forging an Immortal Body and Immortal Dao. My strength is not comparable to before.”
Outside the city, Kou reached out a hand and laughed, “Use your full strength and exchange a palm with me.”
Zhong raised his right hand to meet Kou’s palm, channeling his full power. Their forces collided. Kou’s body swayed slightly, his face showing surprise, and he praised, “Wu Wang, your immortal path is the true way. Your strength is tremendous. In at most ten years you could catch up with me!”
Zhong had exerted himself fully, managing only to make Kou wobble; he too admired Kou’s cultivation.
“Kou Dao… Kou Daoist, I have a question,” Zhong said. “Which of our Celestial Way Immortals and Heaven’s Listeners come from the Great Shang era?”
Kou thought, “There are Celestial Way Immortals from the Great Shang era… Feng Ruotong is one.”
Zhong’s heart skipped, “The Venerable did not wipe out the Shang remnants?”
“And one more — the Venerable himself,” Kou said. “The Venerable is also an immortal from the Great Shang era. I came to Despair Slope relatively early; I was the third to enter. It was Feng Immortal Feng who welcomed me and took me as a disciple. Later, Despair Slope gradually grew. I am also descended from merchants.”
Zhong asked, “So Feng Immortal was a minister of Great Shang? Did he meet the Shang emperor?”
Kou shook his head, “That is beyond what I know. Since you are curious, let us find Feng Daoist and ask him. Why are you so interested in Feng Daoist?”
Zhong hesitated and did not voice the suspicions of Chen Shi and Yang Bi toward the Venerable. He smiled, “I met some merchants and became curious about that history.”
“The merchants’ history was erased; perhaps Feng Immortal knows, but he has never spoken of it.”
They walked and talked. Kou had been a Celestial Immortal for over ten thousand years and had accumulated rich experience. Along the way he instructed Zhong, accelerating Zhong’s cultivation greatly.
They traced Feng Ruotong’s trail into the underworld. Days passed without notice, and they reached a region thick with demonic miasma. Many powerful demonic beasts roamed, emitting overwhelming demonic energy.
They even saw several Huo Dogs hunting other demonic creatures.
Kou summoned nearby Heaven’s Listeners, but none appeared; they had surely been devoured by the demons.
They found traces of battle left by Feng Ruotong’s group. Kou examined them and said, “They were besieged by demonic creatures here.”
Following the battle traces deeper into the demonic domain, the farther they went the worse the miasma became. Kou scanned each trace and suddenly his heart leapt; calmly he said, “Wu Wang, we took the wrong path. This way.”
Zhong was surprised and followed. Kou did not follow the traces Feng’s group had left; instead he walked the other way.
“Kou Xianren, what is going on?” Zhong whispered.
“I do not know,” Kou transmitted, “but the one who left these divine ability traces is not Feng Ruotong!”
His eyes flashed. “Feng Ruotong is my master; I know his divine arts and techniques intimately. This imitation is very vivid, lifelike, but the details are off. It fools others but not me.”
A chill ran through Zhong.
Kou said, “Someone knew we were searching for Feng Ruotong and deliberately left his divine-ability traces to lure us into an ambush. We will pretend ignorance; I will lead you away.”
They feigned casualness and continued.
After a while, Kou stopped. The traces of Feng Ruotong’s divine abilities split east and west in chaotic confusion ahead.
Kou’s expression changed slightly. He picked a random path and moved forward, but the deeper they went the denser the demonic miasma became.
He switched paths, yet the result was the same: the miasma grew heavier and the surroundings started to feel oddly familiar.
He changed again, and again the scenery became eerily familiar within a short distance.
“Kou Daoist!” Zhong whispered.
Kou sneered, “Our movements have been detected. It seems we must now exorcise demons! Wu Wang, keep up!”
They advanced. The demonic miasma thickened so much that the sky dimmed. Many demonic beasts resembling Huo Dogs flickered in and out of the miasma’s gloom.
After much walking, a village appeared ahead.
This village was ancient, buildings in the Great Shang style, sculptures bearing Dark Bird patterns.
It should be a settlement of Great Shang remnants after the catastrophe.
Kou led Zhong into the village and saw the villagers had not been corrupted; they lived normally and had not yet become the ghost clan.
Kou sneered and whispered, “I am one of the last merchant descendants. When I stepped into Despair Slope, I began to turn into the ghost clan. I do not believe anyone can resist the invading miasma!”
At that, an old man in the village smiled and said, “You are a merchant too?”
Kou bellowed, “I am a merchant. What monsters are you? Show your true forms!”
His voice carried the authority of the Immortal Way. With a single rebuke, even Zhong’s eardrums buzzed.
At Kou’s shout, the village’s inhabitants all collapsed dead, their corpses sprawled.
Kou sneered, “Feigning gods and ghosts! These people have long been dead. You merely control their corpses! Show yourself!”
No one answered.
Then a large pit came into view.
From the pit, a sliver of blood-red light shone upward.
Zhong’s heart leapt. He followed that blood-red light with his gaze and saw the shattered Great Shang Celestial Court.
Behind the Great Shang Celestial Court hung the moon wrapped and bound in flesh.
Zhong’s scalp went numb. He stepped back, trembling, “Kou Daoist, we must leave quickly…”