Chapter 841: Noble Dharma

Just moments earlier, while the second battle at Mount Shu was still ongoing, Chu Liang received this message.

Senior Brother, you need not worry. Someone from the Holy Mountain will handle the matter concerning the Heaven-Devouring Bug later. You just need to wait in peace.

There was no name attached to the message, but Chu Liang knew only one person who would call him "Senior Brother."

When it came to his junior brother, Chu Yi, Chu Liang always had mixed feelings. After all, it was Chu Liang who had rescued Chu Yi, brought him to Mount Shu, and watched as he grew and learned. There was certainly a bond between them.

Especially after spending so much time together, Chu Liang could feel that the boy shared many similarities with himself.

If Chu Yi hadn't been there during the six years Chu Liang had gone missing, Red Cotton Peak could never have grown to its current scale. In fact, it was more likely that it would have completely failed after being overpowered and suppressed by Taotie City.

Huyan Dong was no mediocre figure. The fact that Red Cotton Peak had grown stronger and stronger during the competition with him was no small feat.

So, when Chu Yi's identity was exposed and he left Mount Shu, Chu Liang didn’t feel the need to pursue him. All he hoped was that Chu Yi could conduct himself properly. At the same time, he couldn't help but feel a sense of wariness toward this overly intelligent child.

As the young emperor of the former dynasty, Chu Yi was born to bring instability to this world. At the same time, he could achieve what others couldn’t. Who could say what he might become in the future?

However, Chu Liang was certain of one thing—neither he nor Chu Yi wanted to end up as enemies.

The rebels of Mount Mang were backed by Chu Yi, and Mount Mang City had the strong support of Noble Dharma. So, Chu Liang had long connected the dots and guessed that Chu Yi and Noble Dharma were in contact.

He just hadn’t expected Chu Yi to lend a hand at this moment. This was exactly why he had stayed behind to stall after the battle ended.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have even been able to catch him slipping away. He would have already hidden away in the Blue Dragon Hidden Realm to wait out the storm. Though hiding wouldn’t solve the problem, this situation had arisen so suddenly that he honestly had no idea of how to handle it right now.

When he returned from the Far West back then, he had told Wen Yuan and Baize about the Heaven-Devouring Bug.

At that time, Venerable Wen Yuan had believed that the Heaven-Devouring Bug had to be killed immediately to completely eliminate the risk of the Demon God’s resurrection.

Baize, however, thought differently. She believed that even if the Heaven-Devouring Bug under Chu Liang's care was slain, another would emerge within the next few hundred years. It would be better to keep this one under control and, perhaps, use it as bait in future battles against the demons.

Chu Liang, on the other hand, promised both Venerable Wen Yuan and Baize that the Heaven-Devouring Bug in his care would never fall into anyone else’s hands. Tuntun had saved his life many times and was a gentle and kind-hearted demonic spirit. He told them that Tuntun should never be treated that way.

After some contemplation, Wen Yuan agreed with their reasoning, so the Mount Shu Sect decided to keep everything a secret.

However, Chu Liang was required to protect both himself and the Heaven-Devouring Bug, ensuring the demons had no chance of using it. From that point on, he began handling matters as a clone.

He had only stopped going out as a clone when the Penglai Supreme Sect revealed to the public that he possessed a Heaven-Devouring Bug.

Fortunately, Huyan Dong arrived just in time to ease the tension. However, even after listening to him, many remained skeptical.

The Imperial Supervisory Commissioner frowned and asked, "Eliminate the life essence of the Demon God? Has the Noble Dharma already come up with a plan?"

"Of course there is a plan. The Noble Dharma has been preparing for this for many years," Huyan Dong replied with a smile.

"For a matter of such importance, the Noble Dharma will obviously explain it to you all in person. I’m only here to deliver the message. Please don’t act rashly. Just wait, and the Noble Dharma will arrive shortly."

"The Noble Dharma is coming here in person?" the crowd exclaimed in surprise.

After all, the Noble Dharma had been in closed-door cultivation for many years, and even disciples of the Holy Mountain rarely saw him.

The last time the Noble Dharma left the Northern Regions was so long ago that no one could even remember.

The fact that he would descend from the Holy Mountain was certainly surprising.

However, given that this concerned the only ninth-realm existence in the world, it made sense that the Noble Dharma, being someone on the brink of ascension, would care deeply about it.

"Yes, but the Noble Dharma was delayed by a small matter. Otherwise, he would have arrived earlier," Huyan Dong replied.

Before he even finished speaking, golden light shimmered in the sky, forming a radiant circle overhead. A figure in white monk robes slowly descended from within. The glowing circle then collapsed into a bangle that clasped itself around his wrist.

The crowd erupted with gasps. "The Celestial Cosmic Ring?!"

...

With smooth skin and gentle eyes, the Noble Dharma looked kind and peaceful. He was the perfect representation of a compassionate old monk. There was no sign at all of the awe-inspiring presence he had just displayed on Mirage Mountain, where he had fought against three powerful foes alone.

However, the mere fact that he showed up was enough to shock everyone.

Without delay, Shentu Yang asked, "Noble Dharma, did you make a trip to the Penglai Islands? Was that what kept you busy?"

Everyone had just witnessed Daoist Cangsheng personally send the Celestial Cosmic Ring back to Penglai. Now that it had appeared in the Noble Dharma’s hands, it could only mean he had taken it from the Penglai Supreme Sect.

"I gained a small opportunity," the Noble Dharma replied in a gentle voice.

"Hahaha!" Lu Jiuwai burst into hearty laughter. "What a wonderful opportunity indeed."

Lu Jiuwai, the leader of the Great Astral Sect, had already taken off the Xuanhuang Battle Armor. Beneath the armor was not a burly man but someone lean, with a fair complexion and refined features that lent him an air of elegance. Though when he laughed, he still carried the rough, bold spirit of a true hero of the Great Astral Sect.

Everyone present had helped the Mount Shu Sect earlier, so they were naturally pleased to see the Penglai Supreme Sect suffer a setback.

If the Penglai Supreme Sect truly possessed two legendary artifacts, it would indeed have the power to wipe out another of the Divine Nine immortal sects in short order, placing everyone present in danger. While the Noble Dharma obtaining the Celestial Cosmic Ring would greatly strengthen the Holy Mountain, it was still a better outcome than allowing an overpowered Penglai Supreme Sect to rise.

"Noble Dharma, what exactly do you mean by exterminating the Demon God's source?" the Imperial Supervisory Commissioner asked.

"Everyone, the Heaven-Devouring Bug is born of the Great Dao of Devouring—the devouring force of heaven and earth," the Noble Dharma said slowly. "Even if we kill one, another will inevitably appear. Simply exterminating them on sight is not a lasting solution. Only by eliminating the Demon God’s life essence can we truly resolve this hidden threat."

𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

He looked toward Baize and said, "I presume Venerable Baize shares my view, which is why the Mount Shu Sect kept the Heaven-Devouring Bug alive?"

"Indeed," Baize replied with a nod.

"What you say is true," the Heavenly Strategist said, "but the Demon God’s life essence won’t reveal itself easily, at least not until the chance for its revival arises. How exactly do you plan to eliminate it if it refuses to show itself?"

Everyone present held deep respect for the Noble Dharma, the most senior among seniors.

"The Demon God was nearly exterminated in the past. Now, the remnants of its life essence are extremely cautious and won’t reveal even the faintest trace of aura," the Noble Dharma explained patiently. "If we want to lure it out, we must truly give it a chance to revive. That does come with risk, but it’s a risk we can minimize.

"All we need is a place strong enough to imprison the Heaven-Devouring Bug. The demons will come, and when they are unable to succeed on their own, the Demon God will have no choice but to act."

Shentu Yang nodded. "Lure the snake into the den!"

An elder of the Great Astral Sect asked, "Isn’t it supposed to be 'lure the snake out of the den'?"

"Well, it has to go in before it can come out," Shentu Yang said with a dismissive wave. "Don’t fuss over the details."

"This snake sure isn’t proper," the Heavenly Strategist muttered, shaking his head.

"Imprison the Heaven-Devouring Bug?" the Imperial Supervisory Commissioner asked as the conversation began to veer off track. "Noble Dharma, is that truly possible?"

Anyone with even a basic understanding of the Heaven-Devouring Bug knew it could only be slain. The idea of imprisoning it was unthinkable, as no cage could withstand the bite of that beast.

The Noble Dharma glanced at Chu Liang and said with a smile, "It might have been impossible in the past, but it is possible now with Young Hero Chu of the Mount Shu Sect here."

Chu Liang chuckled. "Noble Elder, you could’ve just said you wanted to lock me up."

Although no one knew how Chu Liang managed to control the Heaven-Devouring Bug, it seemed true that he could make it obey.

Venerable Wen Yuan asked again, "Then where should it be imprisoned?"

This was a question everyone cared about.

First of all, not everyone was willing to put in effort to eliminate the demon god. It was the morally right thing to do, but once the Demon God was truly eradicated, it was likely that a new ninth realm would soon emerge in the world.

At that time, no matter who ascended, the current balance of power would be drastically altered, and the Divine Nine and Terrestrial Ten might no longer endure. Changes to the status quo were always frightening, and a world without anyone in the profound realm was easier to accept.

This was also why everyone had initially wanted to eliminate the Heaven-Devouring Bug. They believed that destroying the vessel of the Demon God’s life essence would be enough. It wasn’t that they truly wanted the creature dead, but that they simply feared that the rise of a new ninth-realm existence might not be a good thing for the world.

At this point, only the immortal sects with members on the verge of ascension were truly willing to offer genuine aid.

Secondly, the location chosen to imprison the Heaven-Devouring Bug required careful consideration, as it was bound to be targeted by the demons.

Take today’s great battle as an example. If a similar clash occurred at the site of imprisonment, the lightest consequence would be something like what happened to the Mount Shu Sect, where the sect headquarters were left in ruins. The worst-case scenario would resemble the fate of the Penglai Supreme Sect, whose base was reduced to desolate nothingness. Any of these outcomes were possible.

Therefore, even if they were willing to put in the effort, they might not be willing to imprison the Heaven-Devouring Bug in their sect's base.

As the members of the various immortal sects pondered in silence, the Noble Dharma smiled and said, "I’ve considered this matter as well. There is a place within the nine provinces that is as solid as an iron fortress and perfectly suited for imprisoning the Heaven-Devouring Bug."

Seeing his smile, the Imperial Supervisory Commissioner seemed to realize something. "Could it be that the place you're referring to is... the Celestial Northern Prison?"