Chapter 835: The Storm Arises Again

That one word from Venerable Wen Yuan sent Daoist Cangsheng's blood pressure through the roof.

He had given up pursuing the matter with Chu Liang because he realized it would be impossible for him to kill Chu Liang that day. More importantly, he had just received news that a group of demons and evildoers were attacking the Penglai Supreme Sect.

Daoist Cangsheng's group had left Mirage Mountain with enough power to handle most emergencies. With the Penglai Supreme Sect's guardian celestial beast, the Azure Dragon, and many seventh-realm Eminent Ones stationed there, they could easily crush any sect ranked below the Divine Nine.

However, the appearance of a legendary artifact had not been included in the Penglai Supreme Sect's contingency plans.

That leader of the Dark King Sect... It seems he is unafraid of death. He actually dared to set his sights on Penglai!

Daoist Cangsheng had brought both of his sect's legendary artifacts to Mount Shu because he had been determined to end things swiftly if war broke out. He had been prepared to destroy the Mount Shu Sect—even if the rest of the Divine Nine and the Terrestrial Ten tried to stand in his way.

Given the overwhelming power of the two legendary artifacts, this should have been a one-sided massacre. That way, even if someone tried to raid his sect, his group could rush back in time to stop it.

Yet, Venerable Wen Yuan just had to stall them for a quarter of an hour with a strange enchanted artifact capable of replicating a legendary artifact. Then the Vessel of God, the Mount Shu Sect's new legendary artifact, appeared and completely shattered Daoist Cangsheng's plan. Daoist Cangsheng had torn down the last shreds of civility between the Penglai Supreme Sect and the Mount Shu Sect for nothing and even tarnished his sect's reputation.

The Penglai Supreme Sect's attack on the Mount Shu Sect was undoubtedly a colossal failure—one for which the Penglai Supreme Sect would certainly have to pay a price.

Nevertheless, as long as both legendary artifacts remain in my possession, the price we have to pay will be minimal. So what if I'm in the wrong? As long as we remain powerful, no one can make me admit my mistake.

However...

The sudden assault from the Mount Mang rebels and the Dark King Sect completely threw Daoist Cangsheng's plans into disarray. If Mirage Mountain were to fall while he and the other eighth-realm Eminent Ones of their sect were away, then the Penglai Supreme Sect would have to pay an unbearable price.

The resources of the three islands of Penglai determined the sect's development for centuries to come. If the Penglai Supreme Sect were to lose those three islands, then Daoist Cangsheng's actions today would become an utter joke. He absolutely could not allow that to happen!

Unbeknownst to Daoist Cangsheng, the Mount Shu Sect had actually received the news about Penglai much earlier than he had. News of the attack had been shared on the Circle of Immortal Friends in real time, so Venerable Wen Yuan and Chu Liang were fully aware of the situation at Mirage Mountain.

That was exactly why Chu Liang had come up with so many reasons for not killing the Heaven-Devouring Bug and even gotten Di Nufeng to help rile up Daoist Cangsheng. It was all to stall for time. Then when Daoist Cangsheng couldn't be bothered to respond anymore, Venerable Wen Yuan took up the baton.

The Penglai Supreme Sect was now like a wounded man. He had been struck by a saber, and his wound was bleeding profusely. Daoist Cangsheng was a doctor who needed to rush back to stop the bleeding. Every moment he was held back on Mount Shu, the Penglai Supreme Sect lost more of its lifespan.

Venerable Wen Yuan could engage in another battle with Daoist Cangsheng, but he wouldn't be able to hold Daoist Cangsheng back for long. After all, Daoist Cangsheng still had the East Sea Chrono Wheel. It would not be difficult for him to break free and rush back to his sect.

However, that one word, “compensation,” carried far too much weight.

How much the Penglai Supreme Sect had to compensate, how the compensation would be made, and to whom the compensation would be made—it would all need careful deliberation, with negotiations for each item of compensation. If Daoist Cangsheng waited for all that to be settled before returning to Penglai, he might not even make it back in time for the funerals of the disciples guarding Mirage Mountain.

Daoist Cangsheng, a shrewd and seasoned schemer, saw through Wen Yuan's ploy at once.

He gritted his teeth and let out a cold laugh, "

Haha!

"

Then he snapped, "Not possible!"

Venerable Wen Yuan vehemently spoke of the need for justice. "You stormed into Mount Shu, harmed our disciples, and destroyed our base. Your actions would outrage both mortals and deities!

"But since our fellow Daoists from various immortal sects came here to serve as mediators between us, I decided not to continue the conflict with you. I wanted to seek a peaceful resolution instead. Yet, you've not shown even a shred of remorse.

"Our sects are both part of the Divine Nine. Do you truly believe that just because you call yourselves the Top Immortal Sect, you can disregard the law of the heavens and act like tyrants? Don't forget that 'Top Immortal Sect' is only the second part of that title; 'The Righteous Path's' is the first part!"

"Enough of this pointless talk. What do you want?" Daoist Cangsheng replied.

Burning with impatience, he activated the East Sea Chrono Wheel above him. Clouds surged as he prepared to traverse thousands of li back to Penglai with one step.

Venerable Wen Yuan rolled up his sleeves and activated the power of Primordial Chaos to block Daoist Cangsheng from creating a rift in the sky.

Venerable Wen Yuan shouted, "Against someone as arrogant, unreasonable, and shameless as you, we of the Mount Shu Sect do not fear a fight!"

"That's right!" Di Nufeng shouted beside him, "People like you who are impossible to be reasoned with are exactly the kind I hate most!

Rawrarararaya!

"

Daoist Cangsheng could tell what the Mount Shu Sect's intent was. The only way his group could leave Mount Shu today was to carve out a bloody path.

Without further delay, he brought the East Sea Chrono Wheel downward with full force. The power of the Great Dao of Infinity swept across the world!

The storm was rising again!

But this time, the tide had turned. It was not the members of the Mount Shu Sect who despaired; it was the members of the Penglai Supreme Sect!

...

When the great battle resumed, no one felt more despair than Jing Yuanzi.

During the earlier clash between the two Celestial Cosmic Rings, the Penglai Supreme Sect had the upper hand in nearly every aspect. The exception was Jing Yuanzi; he was the only one fighting a headwind.

After Daoist Yan and Di Nufeng struck him down to Silver Sword Peak, he could still escape because he had the Great Dao of the Shadow Glide's incredible speed. In theory, as long as he remained cautious, no one in this world could catch him.

Yet, at the very moment he let his guard down, a frenzied iron-eating beast grabbed him and slammed him repeatedly on the ground in a violent flurry.

The iron-eating beast had such tremendous strength that even Jing Yuanzi, an eighth-realm Eminent One, found it terrifying. Compared to the iron-eating beast, Jing Yuanzi's corporeal body was far too weak. He was flung around until he was completely dazed and disoriented.

By the time the iron-eating beast let go, the Heavenly Cloud Ancient Sword had already pierced through Jing Yuanzi's chest. His essence and blood spurt out of the chest wound as his life hung on by a thread.

Now that Daoist Yan had driven her longsword into Jing Yuanzi's chest, all she needed to do was unleash a burst of sword qi, and she could render his internal organs to shreds. She might not be able to kill him, but she could at least destroy his corporeal body and make him lose most of his cultivation power.

Even if Jing Yuanzi escaped as a remnant soul, he would be incapable of doing anything. He would be worse off than the Sword Emperor.

Nevertheless, Daoist Yan did no such thing. Instead, she left the Heavenly Cloud Ancient Sword lodged in his chest, used her sword qi to seal his heart, and then cast a ring of glowing sword light around him. It was a prison of sword qi!

With that around him, Jing Yuanzi did not dare make a single move.

Daoist Yan did that with the intention of using Jing Yuanzi as a hostage to force Daoist Cangsheng to stand down. At the time, the Celestial Cosmic Ring was on the verge of destroying Mount Shu, so she deliberately kept this bargaining chip.

However, there was a major turn of events that no one had expected. Chu Liang appeared like a deity descending from the heavens, and the Whale-Riding Immortal returned on the helm of an airship. The situation instantly stabilized in the Mount Shu Sect's favor.

Jing Yuanzi breathed a sigh of relief and said weakly, "Daoist Yan, since everyone has stopped fighting, could you let me go now?"

Yan Zi responded with nothing more than a cold snort. "Hmph."

"Don't shake. Please don't shake! I'm begging you!" Jing Yuanzi cried out quickly.

Even the slightest movement of Daoist Yan's wrist brought him agonizing pain, like his heart was being gouged out. He could only hate himself for developing a habit that he never, absolutely never ever, should have had—the habit of kicking any random creature he saw on the side of the road.

"Anyway, the fight's over now. Go ask our sect leader to pay a price to redeem me, won't you?" Jing Yuanzi continued to plead. "Staying skewered like this really isn't dignified..."

Right now, he looked like a large chunk of lamb meat skewered on Daoist Yan's sword, and he couldn't be more uncomfortable.

Daoist Yan did not respond, but she had the same idea. An eighth-realm cultivator would definitely be a valuable hostage.

However, Daoist Cangsheng and Venerable Wen Yuan resumed their battle right then. The situation had changed again astonishingly quickly!

As Daoist Cangsheng activated the East Sea Chrono Wheel once more, Jing Yuanzi shouted at the top of his lungs, "SECT LEADER, DON'T DO IT!"

Nonetheless, it was already too late. Seeing the battle resume, Daoist Yan wanted to join the fight, but if she didn't keep watch over Jing Yuanzi, he'd surely escape. And if she stayed to restrain him, the Mount Shu Sect's side would lose a key fighter.

Daoist Yan made her decision in a flash. She turned to Jing Yuanzi with a cold, emotionless gaze—looking at him as if he truly were just a helpless chunk of lamb meat.

Jing Yuanzi seemed to sense what was coming and begged again and again.

"Do you remember? We ate together once..."

His final plea was a scream.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"

Boom!