Chapter 868: I'm Still Here!

Inside the Celestial Northern Prison, Du Wuhen let out a similar groan. "What an unlucky day..."

But unlike Little Second Brother on the outside, he was dealing with a real crisis.

Moth was slamming against the barrier with increasing speed and force. From the sound alone, it was clear that the barrier wouldn't last much longer. Judging by the terrifying murderous aura pouring off Moth, everyone inside would be doomed once it broke free.

And now, their final hope rested on yet another monstrous villain. Just thinking about it was enough to crush any remaining sense of hope.

By now, Chu Liang had arrived outside Immortal Yuan Lu's cell. The Great Devil of the West Sea showed no trace of foundational qi and looked no different from a frail, middle-aged man.

Back then, the Imperial Supervisory Commissioner had crippled his cultivation using the power of the Tai'a Sword. Later, the Celestial Northern Prison used multiple methods to place layer upon layer of restrictions on him.

When he heard Chu Liang ask him to name his price, Immortal Yuan Lu slowly lifted his head, his eyes filled with mockery.

"Help you?" he said, his tone dripping with disdain.

He seemed to have sensed the chaos unfolding outside as well. His tone turned sharp with sarcasm. "Even the so-called unbreachable Celestial Northern Prison is on the verge of collapse? And you've sunk so low that you're asking a prisoner like me for help?"

"These demons came here to revive the Demon God," Chu Liang replied. "You know the Demon God is the master of the Great Dao of Devouring. Once it awakens, all humans, whether righteous or evil, will become its food. That includes you. But if you can help me stall that demon king, even for a short while, you can name your price."

"Whatever I want?" Immortal Yuan Lu let out a cold laugh. "So I can ask to leave this place?"

Chu Liang nodded. "Of course."

"As if you actually have the authority to decide that..."

Immortal Yuan Lu had not even finished sneering when Chu Liang lifted Tuntun.

After a few loud crunches, the little beast had gnawed a gaping hole through the cell wall, leaving Immortal Yuan Lu utterly stunned.

"I won't just let you walk out of here," Chu Liang said quickly. "I'll give you the resources to rebuild the West Sea Diabolical Forces. With the Mount Shu Sect's legendary artifact, you'll defeat the Dark King Sect and become the one and only leader of the diabolical sect. But all of this depends on one thing. We both have to survive today."

He turned to the guards. "Remove his restrictions."

As he spoke, he directed the prison guards to lift the many seals suppressing Immortal Yuan Lu's cultivation.

The guards were visibly stunned.

"He... he hasn't even agreed yet," one of them said nervously. "And that monster is cunning and treacherous. Even if he says yes—"

"I believe him," Chu Liang said firmly, locking eyes with Immortal Yuan Lu's bloodstained face. "Those who walk the diabolical path only care about benefits. And right now, you should know that helping me is more profitable for you."

Even Immortal Yuan Lu was taken aback. He hadn't expected Chu Liang to act so bluntly and decisively, lifting the restrictions before he had even given a reply.

"You..." Immortal Yuan Lu narrowed his eyes and stared at Chu Liang. "How can I be sure you're not lying to me?"

Chu Liang stared at Immortal Yuan Lu as he enunciated each word. "Back in Mount Shu, we got a saying—if I'm lyin', you can call me your boy."

"Do I look like an idiot to you?" Immortal Yuan Lu snapped. "Are you trying to fool a three-year-old?"

Chu Liang pressed a jade slip into his hand and said, "You're free now. This is your deposit. Is this enough to prove my sincerity?"

Immortal Yuan Lu swept his divine sense over it. His palm trembled slightly. "It's enough."

"But let me remind you," Chu Liang said firmly. "This doesn't erase your past crimes. Even if you escape today, I'll still arrest you if I get the chance in the future."

"I get it," Immortal Yuan Lu replied with a crooked smile. "I won't give you that chance again."

With that, he strode boldly out of the cell.

With each step he took, his aura surged stronger. After a dozen strides, the flames of qi that once belonged to the Great Devil of the West Sea reignited in full force.

Bam!

At the far end of the corridor, a final thunderous crash echoed, followed by sudden silence.

It seemed that Moth had broken free.

A terrifying murderous aura of blood surged outward.

“

Hee-hee-hee...

” Immortal Yuan Lu let out a wild laugh as he turned the corner and disappeared from sight. His voice echoed through the corridor. "West Sea Diabolical Forces—your demon lord has returned! Let me see what this demon king is capable of, daring to—"

Boom!

Before he could finish, he was sent flying back in the opposite direction a hundred times faster than he had walked in. He slammed into the far wall with such force that a man-shaped crack was left in the solid stone.

"To hell with that guy..." Du Wuhen muttered, unable to hold back. "Cackling like he was invincible. And here I thought he was supposed to be impressive!"

...

It wasn't entirely Immortal Yuan Lu's fault. After suffering repeated suppression, his cultivation, even if temporarily restored, was certainly weakened. Even at his peak, he would not have been a match for Moth, let alone now.

Boom boom boom boom boom!

After another barrage of chaotic blows, the dust finally settled.

Immortal Yuan Lu was still embedded in the wall and did not come down. Around the corner, Moth appeared.

He still looked like the same scrawny, withered figure, wearing a timid and cautious smile. There was not the slightest hint of cruelty on his face. But the large, pale gray wings spread out behind him radiated a powerful and otherworldly demonic aura.

"That in your hand... is the Heaven-Devouring Bug, isn't it?" Moth called out to Chu Liang from a distance. "Hand her over to me, and I won't kill you."

Chu Liang stared at Moth from afar and remained motionless.

He could have easily flipped his hand and stored Tuntun inside the White Pagoda, making it impossible for Moth to take her. But he didn't. Instead, he said,

"You'll have to kill me if you want her."

"Very well," Moth replied. Then, without warning, he flapped his wings.

Boom!

A violent explosion shook the corridor. Chu Liang's pupils narrowed slightly, yet he stood his ground, remaining motionless.

A tall, broad-shouldered figure suddenly appeared several dozen zhang ahead. He wore simple monastic robes, and thick veins stood out across the back of his bald head, winding like carved dragon patterns.

He was an old monk, nearly a zhang tall, who had appeared out of nowhere. With his arms crossed firmly in front of him like a pair of iron shields, he stood his ground and blocked Moth's strike head-on.

Moth's right arm bulged with sudden force, and he punched straight at the monk's forearm. Though it was stopped outright, his demonic power was immense. His fist, coated in a layer of purple slime, actually sank into the monk's arm.

Bang!

The old monk kicked Moth away and spread his arms wide. A grotesque fist-shaped bruise marred his right forearm, and blood dripped slowly from the wound.

He was the Abbot of Monastery Tower, the current National Master, and the successor of the Noble Dharma. He was the warrior monk Qu Hu!

He was a warrior monk in the Monastery Tower who had reached the peak of the eighth realm and had mastered the Great Dao of Distancelessness, one of the Great Daos of Space. While the Great Dao of Primordial Chaos could shift space and reshape reality in mysterious ways, Distancelessness was simpler and far more direct.

It granted a single, overwhelming ability: to go wherever one wished, whenever one wanted. With a single thought, the monk could appear anywhere he wished.

Even a heavily guarded place like the Celestial Northern Prison was no barrier to Master Qu Hu. He could step in and out freely.

"Master Qu Hu, you're a bit late," Chu Liang said quietly.

"It all happened too suddenly. I hope Young Hero Chu won't hold it against me."

The burly monk, Qu Hu, tugged off his robe with a loud rustle and flung it aside, revealing a muscular upper body.

"You can't stop me," Moth said, gazing at Qu Hu.

Qu Hu took his stance, brow furrowed, shoulders sunken, answering in a low voice, "We will only know if we try."

His Great Dao wasn't particularly suited for combat. It possessed many mystical properties, but offered little advantage in a direct fight. Still, if things took a turn for the worse, he could escape with ease.

However, he was the kind of man who thrived in battle. The warrior monks of Monastery Tower were known for being tough, disciplined, and saying very little.

Just as Moth and Qu Hu were about to clash, Immortal Yuan Lu slid down from the wall. Clenching his teeth, he suddenly roared, "I'm still here!!!!"

He had once been a master of Heavenly Origin. How could he accept being defeated so easily? Surviving a blow from Moth was an accomplishment, but it hardly justified the price Chu Liang had paid for his freedom.

Immortal Yuan Lu gritted his teeth and launched a surprise attack. His entire body was engulfed in raging demonic flames, as if he meant to burn down the heavens and the earth.

Moth didn't even bother to look. He casually raised one arm behind his back. A bright beam of white light shot from his palm with a sharp whoosh. As soon as the light was released, the arm that had looked so strong moments earlier began to wither and thin.

The white light turned into threads of silk that twisted through the air and wrapped tightly around Immortal Yuan Lu, trapping him inside a glowing white cocoon.

"Mmmmmh mhhhhhm..." His muffled voice came from inside, sounding utterly helpless.

Du Wuhen sighed and covered his face, completely at a loss for words. He couldn’t bring himself to look at the walking embarrassment any longer.

Still shaking his head, he muttered, "Honestly, would it even make a difference if he were here or not?"