Although the Bug Deity is restricted by incense offerings and the special circumstances of the Southern Wilderness, making it difficult for Him to leave easily, He is not well-known in the Northern Zhou, Great Jin, the Grasslands, and the Western Regions, and does not rank on the Celestial List. However, His power and cultivation realm are widely acknowledged within the small circle of Dharma Bodies, making Him a genuine Earth Immortal. Moreover, with the divine weapon Mountain-Driving Whip, His combat effectiveness is formidable in the Southern Wilderness, where mountains stretch endlessly.
Over the past thousands or even tens of thousands of years, there have been no shortage of righteous Dharma Bodies who wished to act as Heaven’s enforcer and eliminate this “evil deity.” Yet no one has ever succeeded. Even the founding patriarch of Shaolin, who attained the Kashyapa Dharma Body and reached the Bodhisattva stage, failed to accomplish this feat. Some Dharma Bodies even perished in the Southern Wilderness while attempting it.
After repeatedly exhausting His lifespan and being reborn through incense offerings, has the Bug Deity finally perished today? Has He fallen to the “Crazy Saber” Su Meng, who has just attained the Dharma Body?
“Definitely not!” The Blood Sea Rakshasa, whose fate is closely tied to the Bug Deity, denied it fiercely. “It seems the righteous Dharma Bodies have the same idea as us—concentrate forces, launch a surprise attack. It’s better to sever a finger than injure ten.”
He believed the Bug Deity was lured out by the Crazy Saber and then ambushed, leading to His demise.
“Master of Evil” Han Guang kept his left hand behind his back while rapidly forming mudras with his right hand—movements imperceptible to the physical body. A phantom River of Time appeared in his eyes as he spoke calmly, “Let’s calculate the heavenly fate and see whether they have obscured the cosmic truth.”
After attaining the Dharma Body and becoming a true immortal, one gains, to varying degrees, the ability to perceive cosmic changes through intuition. As soon as Han Guang spoke, Gourdo, the Dharma King of Salvation, and the Blood Sea Rakshasa all began using secret techniques to peer into the truth.
After a short while, Han Guang sighed, “Su Meng defeated the Bug Deity in a one-on-one battle. His actions can serve as a model for the world. The Transcendent characteristics derived from the cause of all effects are truly awe-inspiring.”
The Blood Sea Rakshasa, whose eyes resembled an endless sea of blood, appeared to see rolling waves through the calculation. He confirmed Han Guang’s conclusion and fell silent, a sense of fear creeping into his heart, his fierce killing intent and cruel thoughts dissipating unconsciously.
Every time he heard of the Crazy Saber, the latter had grown stronger than before. Yet he had always maintained a calm mindset, looking down on the opponent from a superior position. Even when he learned that Su Meng could slightly manipulate fate and alter causality, he had only felt cautious, not fearful, nor had he ever lost composure. This was the psychological advantage of a Dharma Body over a non-Dharma Body cultivator—a true distinction between immortals and mortals.
But now, the Crazy Saber had suddenly attained the Dharma Body and defeated the Bug Deity, whose power and cultivation stage were far superior to his own.
Back in the Southern Wilderness, he had often interacted with the Bug Deity and understood the gap between them. If even the Bug Deity had been overpowered in a one-on-one fight, what chance would he stand?
Fear, shock, and a mixture of emotions filled the Blood Sea Rakshasa’s heart.
If it weren’t for the fact that he could still hide and remain undetected—preserving his strength for the future—he might have already lost his composure entirely.
“Summoning heavenly punishment with a wave of the hand, shifting mountains with a single word—truly the demeanor of an ancient grandmaster,” Gourdo’s expression shifted slightly, yet he maintained his demeanor as a ruthless hero. “Decades ago, there was Su Wuming, and now another Crazy Saber, Su Meng. Yet our generation has produced no such figures.”
Already a long-lived deity, the death of the Bug Deity stirred a sense of sorrow within him, as if he could see his own fate. Were it not for his strong will, such emotions might have overwhelmed him completely. Moreover, he believed that unlike the Bug Deity, the “Long-Lived Heaven” he served did not cruelly oppress its followers, thus accumulating less negative karma. Even if heavenly punishment came, he could handle it calmly without suffering significant losses in power.
More importantly, he wielded the Heaven-Smiting Axe, making him the perfect opponent against heavenly retribution.
The Dharma King of Salvation had a face so pale it was nearly transparent, his presence almost imperceptible. He spoke in a low voice, “Wait a little longer. Once the Holy Maiden matures, she will surpass them both by far.”
Due to Gu Xiaosang’s case, this generation’s Holy Maiden had awakened the consciousness of the Eternal Mother from the beginning rather than waiting until nearing the Dharma Body stage for a gradual infiltration. Her cultivation speed was astonishing, as if a Transcendent grandmaster had partially returned!
Han Guang remained expressionless, observing their expressions and listening to their words. In his heart, he gradually formed a plan. For instance, the Blood Sea Rakshasa’s current panic could be exploited. He was eager to improve his strength and eliminate Su Meng, the looming threat.
“The loss may turn into a blessing. The righteous side may grow complacent due to its strength,” Han Guang said with a smile. “Moreover, we haven’t acted yet, keeping our secrets intact. Our true and false strategies haven’t been deciphered, so there’s still a chance. As long as we follow the original plan and eliminate Su Wuming, things will gradually improve.”
“But how can you guarantee Su Wuming will fall into the trap? How can you ensure he will carry the fragment of the Mirror of Heaven?” the Dharma King of Salvation asked cautiously.
The shattered Mirror of Heaven was not a weapon for battle. Su Wuming had already awakened many of his other selves, taking a crucial step forward. It was unlikely he would carry it with him at all times.
Han Guang smiled slightly, “With the Final Calamity approaching and the world in fierce contention, stagnation means regression. Su Wuming is obsessed with the sword path and is highly motivated to improve himself. As long as the bait is enticing enough, he won’t resist the temptation.”
“With Su Meng’s potential now revealed, I am deeply concerned about the situation, so I will no longer withhold secrets. I will offer a hidden location I originally intended to explore alone as the site for ambushing Su Wuming.”
Earlier, they had discussed three possible locations, including the original Nine Heavens’ fragments and the Void Home, each with its strategies. Now, Han Guang suddenly overturned the previous decision.
“What hidden location?” Gourdo asked.
Han Guang’s expression was calm as he slowly scanned the group:
“The Jade Pond!”
“The Jade Pond, one of the top three layers of the Nine Heavens?” Gourdo’s expression slightly changed as he confirmed.
The Dharma King of Salvation lowered his eyelids, concealing his gaze.
Han Guang nodded slightly, “Yes, the Jade Pond, one of the top three layers of the Nine Heavens. It was once the residence of the Golden Empress, the Western Queen Mother, towering above all worlds. It can neutralize Su Wuming’s omnipresence. Moreover, according to the ancient texts I have obtained, before the Green Emperor’s disappearance, he visited the Jade Pond, entrusting the core fragment of the Mirror of Heaven to the Golden Empress for preservation within the Pond, hoping to use the spiritual treasures, manifest laws, and externalized Dao of the Ten Thousand Worlds to repair the Mirror of Heaven.”
“The core fragment of the Mirror of Heaven?” The Blood Sea Rakshasa, as expected by Han Guang, was visibly excited. His endless sea of blood seemed to burn fiercely, while Gourdo slightly narrowed his eyes, realizing the importance of this information exceeded his expectations.
Although the Heaven-Smiting Axe could help him gain the faith of Long-Lived Heavens from other realms, it couldn’t assist in projecting his consciousness to seek and communicate with his other selves. After all, different tools serve different purposes. Therefore, the importance of the Mirror of Heaven fragment was self-evident, especially as it was the core fragment.
“This is absolutely true. If any of you have secret techniques or pacts, I am more than willing to accept them,” Han Guang affirmed.
The Blood Sea Rakshasa was excited but still rational, asking suspiciously, “If there is a core fragment of the Mirror of Heaven, why would we target Su Wuming and lure him to the Jade Pond? Isn’t that creating unnecessary trouble? If we four explore it together without incident, wouldn’t it be better to take turns controlling it in the future?”
“The Jade Pond is extremely dangerous. I once entered it and nearly perished. Luring Su Wuming, and even Su Meng, there is to have them scout the way for us and bear the dangers on our behalf,” Han Guang explained.
“That’s right,” Gourdo nodded.
At that moment, the Dharma King of Salvation opened his eyes, revealing a void within, “But Su Wuming already has a fragment of the Mirror of Heaven. The Jade Pond holds no allure for him.”
Han Guang smiled and said, “But the Jade Pond contains more than just the core fragment of the Mirror of Heaven. According to my knowledge, another treasure fragment is also preserved there—one that Su Wuming deeply desires. It can help him sense the flow of the River of Time in advance, laying the foundation for his future ascension to the Creation and even the Transcendent realm.”
“What treasure?” Gourdo, intrigued by Han Guang’s vivid description, couldn’t help but ask, while the Blood Sea Rakshasa stared intently at him.
Han Guang’s expression turned serious, “A fragment of the Donghuang Bell!”
“The Donghuang Bell?” Neither Gourdo nor the Blood Sea Rakshasa had heard of it before.
Han Guang resumed his composed demeanor, “In the ancient era, Donghuang Taiyi and the Supreme Heavenly Emperor vied for dominion over the Ten Thousand Worlds. Unfortunately, Donghuang Taiyi was defeated and killed by the Supreme Heavenly Emperor. His ultimate divine weapon, the Donghuang Bell, shattered and scattered across the world. Most fragments perished with the passing of eras, with only a few surviving to this day.”
“The Donghuang Bell is a rare cosmic light-class ultimate weapon. Had Donghuang Taiyi defeated the Supreme Heavenly Emperor and become the ruler of the Ten Thousand Worlds, the Donghuang Bell could have evolved to rival the Blade of Time itself. Unfortunately, it fell short. Still, even in its current state, it can help us sense the flow of the River of Time in advance.”
“Hmph, speaking of which, those of the Xuantian Sect are truly useless. They guard the Blade of Time but can only gain slight protection from it, unable to use it for cultivation advancement.”
The Blood Sea Rakshasa was visibly tempted. After a moment of contemplation, he said, “Then we choose the Jade Pond!”
Gourdo slowly nodded as he rubbed the surface of the Heaven-Smiting Axe, “So be it.”
The Dharma King of Salvation gazed deeply into the distance and said in a low voice, “I have no objections.”
…
Inside the Northern Zhou imperial palace,
Cao E received news that the Crazy Saber had returned to secular life and entered the Southern Wilderness. She hurried to report to Gao Lan.
As she entered the palace, she saw the stars shifting and a golden streak mixed with crimson light across the sky. Her ears caught Gao Lan’s familiar sigh:
“The Bug Deity has perished.”
So soon? Cao E was momentarily stunned, doubting her hearing. Then she saw Gao Lan slowly rise from the throne. His towering figure was surrounded by strange, radiant light, and the power of countless beings surged around him. In his hand, the Emperor’s Sword emitted a faint golden glow, exuding majesty and sacred virtue that nourished all things.
She quickly regained her composure and bowed in astonishment, “Congratulations, Father Emperor, on ascending to the Earth Immortal stage!”
Gao Lan did not look at her. Instead, he raised the Emperor’s Sword and gazed into the distance, murmuring coldly,
“An enemy has returned earlier than expected…”
…
In a secret location on the Grasslands, after finalizing the details, the Dharma Bodies parted ways to prepare their respective pacts and items.
The Blood Sea Rakshasa had just flown a short distance when he suddenly stopped and drew the Blood-Transforming Saber.
This was said to be a famous ancient evil weapon, later obtained by the Primordial Demon Sect’s master, and ultimately fell into the hands of the Blood Robe Sect.
The Blood-Transforming Saber was thin and emitted a faint ringing sound. The blood within it slowly rippled outward, and a powerful and familiar consciousness descended from an unknown height into the blade, its voice echoing in the Blood Sea Rakshasa’s mind.
…
In the forgotten former Crown Prince’s Mansion of the Jin capital,
Inside a quiet chamber, the former Crown Prince sat cross-legged with his eyes closed. Suddenly, white lotuses bloomed beneath him, pure and serene. A golden Mantra symbol materialized out of thin air and settled on his forehead.
…
At the Six Gates Bureau, in the Vermilion Robe Tower,
Sima Shi looked at the intelligence report in his hands and sighed with a bitter smile, “Their battles are beyond my comprehension and judgment.”
“Aiya, the Celestial List will have to be redrawn again.”
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