“The game is over.”
When he heard these words, Huo Lishang felt momentarily dazed. He recalled how he had once declared the same to others, and now the phrase echoed in his ears. Truly, the wheel of fate turns endlessly, and the cycle of cause and effect is inescapable, as if everything were but a dream.
The pair of eyes before him were clear and deep, showing no trace of attachment. The identity of the “Night Emperor” seemed to hold no allure for this person. Whether it was the status of a Dharma Body cultivator, the subordinates spread across the seven seas, the supreme power, or the beautiful concubines with their unique charms, nothing made him reluctant to abandon the title of “Night Emperor.”
This was the purest and most refreshing temperament… Huo Lishang sighed inwardly, feeling more joy than anything else. At last, he no longer had to worry about the false Night Emperor usurping his place and seeking an opportunity to kill him. He wouldn’t have to start from scratch and struggle again. With the healing pills from the treasure vault, he would regain his Dharma Body strength within a few days and once again ascend to the peak.
However, the other’s ability to suddenly appear before him along with his boat was truly terrifying. It was no different from snatching someone from a distance. Back then, he had definitely misjudged him. “Taiyi Heavenly Venerable” Han Guang was certainly a Dharma Body cultivator, perhaps even surpassing the Human Immortal realm!
Huo Lishang looked at Meng Qi, and all his emotions coalesced into a sigh:
“At last, the game is over.”
Then, he watched as Meng Qi quickly removed his Thousand Illusions Mask, tossed it to him through the air, and immediately rose into the clouds, vanishing in a flash without even a word of farewell, as if his home were on fire and the roof was already ablaze.
“Could it be that he tampered with the Thousand Illusions Mask?” Huo Lishang’s heart involuntarily quickened. The other’s hasty departure only fueled suspicions, resembling the actions of someone fleeing after committing a crime…
He infused his divine sense into the Thousand Illusions Mask and carefully examined it. He found that this divine artifact-class treasure was intact, without any trace of a mark or hidden mechanism left behind.
“Have I been overthinking?”
Frowning slightly, Huo Lishang flew back to his luxurious flower-adorned boat with the mask in hand. Then, he resumed his clean and carefree smile, addressing Yun Yue and his other concubines:
“Why so glum? Don’t you all look happy to see me?”
“Bring me the healing pills at once!”
Just then, a sudden thought struck him: “Could he have offended a Celestial-level figure?”
Was that why the man had fled in such a hurry, fearing pursuit by a Celestial and thus returning the identity of the ‘Night Emperor’ to me?
How should I explain this to that Celestial…
“He indeed offended the Celestial Envoy of the Golden Turtle Island,” Liushang interjected before the other women could speak. “But it no longer matters, as the Golden Turtle Island has chosen not to hold it against him.”
“Not hold it against him?” Huo Lishang was quite surprised. “Then why did he run away?”
You Lake bit her lip and lowered her gaze. “My lord, you don’t know. The Golden Turtle Island recently sent out invitations, summoning all Dharma Body cultivators to attend a banquet on the winter solstice. ‘See you there, no excuses.’ Among those invited… among those invited… was you.”
The banquet at the Golden Turtle Island? The envoy is a Celestial-level figure? Huo Lishang exhaled softly, his mind in turmoil.
No wonder that fellow suddenly declared the game over—he didn’t want to bear the burden that was rightfully mine.
You had the guts to offend a Celestial, why not go to the Golden Turtle Island!
“What else did he do?” In a short moment, Huo Lishang had regained his composure, so much so that none of his concubines noticed the shift in his mood.
Yun Yue hesitated before replying. “He… he also used the treasures from your vault.”
“I said he could use them as he pleased. It’s not a big deal,” Huo Lishang said, feeling slightly relieved. He took the healing pills from You Lake and swallowed them.
“He used materials from your vault along with a core ingredient he provided to forge a Celestial-grade divine weapon,” Yun Yue hastened to explain.
A Celestial-grade divine weapon? Huo Lishang was initially shocked. “Taiyi Heavenly Venerable” Han Guang had actually forged a Celestial-grade divine weapon! What kind of power did he truly possess?
He must have had help from the Golden Crow Sect with the core ingredient, right?
Even with the Golden Crow Sect’s assistance, forging a Celestial-grade divine weapon was a monumental feat, enough to demonstrate his strength!
After the initial shock, Huo Lishang suddenly realized: “How much is left in my treasure vault?”
The materials required for forging a Celestial-grade divine weapon were immense, enough to drain the wealth of a Dharma Body cultivator!
“Not… not much left,” Yun Yue answered honestly. “But he left behind an Earth-level divine weapon as compensation, saying he wouldn’t take advantage of you.”
“An Earth-level divine weapon?” Huo Lishang mused over the words. Then he watched as Yun Yue struggled to pull out a black iron whip with bamboo-like joints from her personal “treasure vault.”
He examined it for a while, then remained silent for a long moment. “Tell me in detail what he did and how he performed.”
“He is skilled in transformation. Without the Thousand Illusions Mask, he could still perfectly imitate you, matching your appearance and aura exactly,” Liushang said.
“His cultivation techniques are profound and mysterious. He elevated the ‘Great Night’ to a level that stunned the Yin Patriarch,” Xiadai recalled that scene.
“He can truly ‘turn stones into gold,’ transforming a cup of tea directly into a golden leaf!” Yun Yue described the most terrifying part.
“He can evade pursuit by Celestials,” You Lake added a detail that was easily overlooked.
As they spoke, the four concubines grew increasingly astonished. Yet, that false young master had always been kind and courteous to them, showing none of the aloofness typical of a Dharma Body cultivator, and was surprisingly approachable.
After listening to their descriptions, Huo Lishang fell into silence. This was even more exaggerated than he had imagined.
The true ability to “turn stones into gold” was a technique attributed only to legendary sages. Even if he wasn’t a legend himself, he possessed traits of the legends Huo Lishang aspired to emulate. He had an exceptionally deep understanding and mastery of corresponding laws and forces, clearly far beyond the Human Immortal realm.
After a long while, he sighed deeply and then smiled with his signature expression:
“Han Guang, I’ll remember that name.”
…
In the dark hall of the Tianmen Sect, Han Guang watched as a leaf in his hand turned to dust. His eyes, seemingly emotionless yet deep, were like a slowly flowing river, undisturbed by even the smallest ripple. Half of his body was covered in the dust of time, while the other half seemed as if reborn.
“The Golden Turtle Island in the Eastern Sea…” he murmured softly.
This was an invitation delivered through secret channels of the Tianmen Sect.
…
Having obtained the “Fairy Sword,” Meng Qi once again wielded both sword and saber. In high spirits, he visited Duke Huan of Qi, Xiao Bai, after leaving the Sea Eye, reminiscing about old times and delving into ancient texts.
Compared to the real world, the scriptures of the Fengshen World contained additional content and also lacked certain parts. For example, they included records of the Fengshen War and Dong Huang Taiyi, but omitted events like the great demon chaos. Reading them together provided considerable insights.
After lingering for several days, Meng Qi left the Fengshen World and returned to his Kunlun Mountain. Yet, before he could approach, he sensed that two of his disciples had completed their training and gone on a journey. The Jade Void Palace had become an empty temple.
“I really need to find someone to watch the door…” Seeing this, Meng Qi’s thoughts drifted, his mind wandering.
This time, after discussions with the Golden Crow Sect, Meng Qi’s idea of forging the “Ten Thousand Realms Universal Knowledge Sphere” had taken its first practical step, forming a more concrete plan.
In the future, if the Ten Thousand Realms Universal Knowledge evolved into the Ten Thousand Realms Trading Bazaar, it would be convenient for exchanging treasures like the “Decepticon Primus Essence Pearl” and the “Hyun Woojin Artillery.” Without someone to guard the door and receive deliveries, things would become inconvenient…
Suddenly, his wildly wandering thoughts were interrupted as he noticed an invitation carved into the wall:
“On the winter solstice, at the end of the Eastern Sea, the banquet at the Golden Turtle Island awaits. See you there, no excuses.”
An invitation in the real world too? A strange “Dao Yi Liulideng” suddenly appeared in Meng Qi’s eyes. He formed a hand seal and activated the “Jade Void Divine Calculation.”
“The Golden Turtle Island appearing at the end of the Eastern Sea?”
“Has it moved from the Seven Seas and Twenty-Eight Realms to the real world?”
“The Seven Seas and Twenty-Eight Realms are also called the real world…”
Meng Qi seemed to understand something. This time, he couldn’t escape the temple, no matter how hard he tried. Or rather, he couldn’t escape the Daoist temple.
Since he couldn’t avoid it, he might as well face it calmly!
Master Lu and Senior Su should have received invitations as well. Should he go or not? Meng Qi pondered. Whether the Golden Turtle Island was bluffing or not, the presence of a Celestial-level figure was undeniable. The phrase “See you there, no excuses” made that clear. If he didn’t go, he would certainly offend them, leading to conflict. If they had at least two Celestials, it would be dangerous. But if he didn’t know friend from foe and went there rashly, he would lose the advantage of terrain. If they harbored ill intentions, it would be even more perilous.
Whether he went or not, he needed to prepare.
There were still several months until the winter solstice; he couldn’t just sit and wait!
What preparations should he make? Meng Qi’s thoughts raced as he considered his options.
Seeking help? To counter the Golden Turtle Island, he would need legendary sages, but most of those had either perished or were barely surviving through various means, waiting for the right moment to return. They wouldn’t concern themselves with trivial matters. As for Celestials, he didn’t even know any.
Attempting to temporarily awaken a peerless divine weapon to the Celestial level? Yet, they were all as cunning as foxes. Even the Overlord’s Supreme Blade had not yet fully erased the Demon Buddha’s mark—perhaps partly because it did not wish to awaken prematurely. This matter would require careful deliberation and negotiation.
Forming temporary alliances with other Dharma Body cultivators who had also received invitations, not limited to the real world but including those from Fengshen and the Seven Seas. However, he had to be wary of spies like Yin Zu embedded by the Golden Turtle Island.
The most fundamental and ultimate approach was to enhance his own strength. He had just forged a Celestial-grade divine weapon that could withstand the erosion of time, no worse than Gourdo’s during the great righteous-evil formation battle over a decade ago. Without the aid of a Reincarnation Talisman, how could he improve significantly in just a few months?
Strengthening his power included, but was not limited to, martial arts cultivation, magical techniques, divine weapons, forbidden formations, mounts, and guardians… Suddenly, an idea struck Meng Qi, giving him a way to boost his strength in a short time.
He did not enter the Jade Void Palace. Instead, he turned around, rode the Somersault Cloud, and vanished into the distance.
Holding the newly reforged “Yuan Shi’s Eye,” Meng Qi stepped into the Immortal Ruins and arrived before the Biyou Palace, where he encountered “Doumu Yuanjun” Ye Yuqi, who had just exited.
“Fate brings us together. Yuanjun, I have a question to ask,” Meng Qi said with a smile.
Surrounded by a vast starry sky, Doumu Yuanjun slightly trembled. “What is it?”
“Does the inheritance jade slip of Lingbao Tianzun contain information about the ‘Zhu Xian Sword Formation’?” Meng Qi asked directly.
This was the method he had thought of to quickly enhance his strength—sword formations!
If four people could skillfully form the sword formation, its power would be far greater than their combined strength. In the Fengshen World, the Zhu Xian Sword Formation was known as the “Primordial Ultimate Slaughtering Formation.”
If four Dharma Body cultivators of similar strength each held a divine sword and formed the “Zhu Xian Sword Formation,” its power could be imagined. It would surely surpass the old days when Chonghe Daoist lacked divine weapons. Especially now, Master Lu was already close to the Celestial realm.
This time, he would invite Master Lu, Su Wuming, and the jester big brother to form the “Zhu Xian Sword Formation” together. One was a Dharma Body cultivator with legendary traits, nearing the Celestial realm, wielding a divine weapon of the same level. Another was a powerful Earth Immortal with many legendary traits, renowned for swordsmanship, also wielding a divine weapon of the same level. Another was a Dharma Body cultivator wielding the peerless divine weapon, the “Emperor Sword.” The last was a Dharma Body cultivator with some legendary and transcendental traits, wielding a Celestial-grade longsword. What would be the might of the “Zhu Xian Sword Formation” formed by such a lineup?
It would be absolutely legendary, unmatched by any!
Ye Yuqi was momentarily stunned but quickly understood why Meng Qi asked about the Zhu Xian Sword Formation. She nodded slightly and said, “Yes.”
“But the Immortal Ruins have many restrictions from the Six Dao, so be careful of punishment.”
Meng Qi grinned, his teeth gleaming white. “No problem. If the Six Dao has the ability, let them come kill me.”
His arrogance was evident in his expression.
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