The group led by Chongyuanzi originally had no intention of fighting the ancient immortals to the death, believing instead that they might have a peaceful discussion and handle everything through negotiation.
However, now the ancient immortals had forcefully seized power, taking control of the major sects in the Immortal Realm, as well as various government offices and numerous celestial soldiers and generals in the Nine Heavens, completely disregarding the Four Great Lords and attempting to sideline them entirely!
This was undoubtedly an unbearable provocation!
Seeing the ancient immortals act so domineeringly, Chongyuanzi felt it necessary to teach them a lesson, to deliver a sharp warning so they would realize that the current Four Great Lords were not easy targets. Only then could they force the ancient immortals to negotiate, giving hope to the Immortal Realm and the beings of the Three Realms.
Chongyuanzi explained his strategy, which Wenchang Dijun further supplemented and improved. Everyone voiced their opinions, and together they devised a grand plan to seize control of the Immortal Realm. A battle of schemes, of wisdom and strength, was about to begin.
※※※
The heavenly court suddenly fell silent, with only the ancient immortals stirring up trouble everywhere.
Erlang Zhenjun led the Howling Heaven Dog, with the Seven Holy Men of Meishan clearing the way ahead, while Taishang Laojun led hundreds of Dao Zun and several elders from major sects following behind, all arriving outside Fa City.
In the First Heaven, the Sanqing Sect had originally been the most powerful, but after Shui Miao’s interference, the three great experts of the Sanqing Sect engaged in a fierce battle, which left dozens of experts at the Xian Di level within the sect gravely weakened, their sacred treasures damaged, their strength plummeting, and their influence waning, ultimately being driven out of the First Heaven by other sects.
However, the remaining major sects could not enjoy their dominance for long.
Under the leadership of Taishang Laojun, the newly established Tianqing Sect forcibly absorbed all other sects.
Therefore, the elders of the remaining sects did not have an easy time.
“Old Jun, Fa City is completely empty, probably scared off by us.”
Erlang Zhenjun, clad in golden armor with a red battle robe fluttering behind him, held his three-pointed, two-edged sword and rode the clouds to approach Taishang Laojun. His voice was loud and mighty, making people instinctively feel ringing in their ears and tingling on their scalps.
“No one?”
Taishang Laojun, dressed in an orange Taoist robe and holding a fly-whisk, looked grave upon hearing this. He quickly performed a divination, frowning deeply as he said, “Not good! The five elements here have been rearranged, yin and yang have been inverted, and there is hidden malevolence in the air—there may be an ambush.”
“Hahaha…”
Erlang Zhenjun burst into laughter. “Old Jun, don’t be so alarmist. This First Heaven is just a few empty immortal cities—what kind of ambush could there be? Even if there were, I wouldn’t need to lift a finger. My Howling Heaven Dog could bite them all to death, one by one!”
“Woof woof…”
The black, long-bodied Howling Heaven Dog, as large as a lion, wagged its tail joyfully upon hearing Erlang Shen’s words.
“Absolutely do not become complacent. Everyone, temporarily leave the First Heaven—this place is not safe to stay,” Taishang Laojun quickly performed another divination, which resulted in an extremely ominous omen. “Hurry, evacuate immediately and go protect the Jade Emperor!”
After saying this, Taishang Laojun turned and left immediately.
Accompanying Taishang Laojun was the thousand-year-old female ghost, Bailian. Seeing her master so flustered, she quickly whispered, “Master, what exactly did you divine?”
“What are you doing, Old Jun?”
Erlang Zhenjun had endured thousands of years in the mortal world and had finally returned, eager for a good fight, but Taishang Laojun turned out to be so cowardly.
Chong Yuanzi and his companions initially had no intention of engaging in a life-and-death struggle with the Ancient Immortals, believing that they could negotiate and resolve matters through discussion. However, the situation has drastically changed. The Ancient Immortals have forcefully taken control, dominating the major sects of the Immortal Realm, as well as the various celestial offices and legions of heavenly soldiers across the Nine Heavens, completely disregarding the authority of the Four City Lords. They aim to completely strip the Four City Lords of their power!
This is undoubtedly an intolerable insult!
Given the Ancient Immortals’ overwhelming dominance, Chong Yuanzi feels it is imperative to teach them a lesson, to deliver a resounding blow that will make them realize that the Four City Lords are not to be trifled with. Only by forcing them to the negotiating table can there be hope for the Immortal Realm and all living beings across the Three Realms.
Chong Yuanzi laid out his strategy, and Lord Wenchang further refined and supplemented it. Everyone contributed their ideas, and thus, a grand scheme to seize control of the Immortal Realm was devised. A battle of wits and strength, filled with intrigue and calculation, was about to unfold.
※※※
The Heavenly Court suddenly fell silent, with only the Ancient Immortals stirring up chaos everywhere.
Erlang Shen, leading his celestial hound, and the Seven Sages of Meishan led the way, while Taishang Laojun, accompanied by hundreds of Daoist masters and the elders of several major sects, followed behind, all arriving outside the Punishment City.
The First Heaven was originally dominated by the Three Pure Sects, but after the disruption caused by Shui Miao, the three great powers of the Three Pure Sects engaged in a fierce battle, severely weakening the sect. Dozens of Immortal Emperors were left drained, their sacred artifacts damaged, and their power drastically diminished. The sect was driven out of the First Heaven by other sects.
However, the remaining major sects did not enjoy their victory for long.
Under the leadership of Taishang Laojun, the newly formed Tianqing Sect forcefully absorbed all the other sects.
Thus, the elders of the major sects were not faring well.
“Laojun, the Punishment City is empty. It seems they have all fled in fear of us,” said Erlang Shen, clad in golden armor, a crimson war cloak draped over his shoulders, and wielding a three-pointed, double-edged blade. He approached Taishang Laojun with a voice so powerful it caused ringing in the ears and a tingling scalp.
“Empty?” Taishang Laojun, dressed in an orange Daoist robe and holding a horsetail whisk, frowned upon hearing this. He quickly performed a divination and his expression turned grave. “This is bad! The Five Elements here have been rearranged, Yin and Yang are inverted, and there is a hidden aura of malevolence. There may be an ambush.”
“Hahaha…” Erlang Shen laughed heartily. “Laojun, don’t be so paranoid. The First Heaven is just a few empty celestial cities. What kind of ambush could there be? Even if there is, I won’t need to lift a finger. My celestial hound can take care of them all with a single bite!”
“Woof woof…” The celestial hound, black and long, as large as a lion, wagged its tail proudly upon hearing Erlang Shen’s words.
“We must not let our guard down. Everyone, leave the First Heaven immediately. This is no place to linger,” Taishang Laojun said urgently, having just divined an extremely ominous sign. “Quick, all of you, retreat and protect the Jade Emperor!”
With that, Taishang Laojun turned and left.
Accompanying Taishang Laojun was the thousand-year-old ghost, Bai Lian. Seeing her master so anxious, she whispered, “Master, what did you divine?”
“Laojun, what are you doing?” Erlang Shen, who had endured thousands of years in the mortal realm and was eager for a fight, was frustrated by Taishang Laojun’s apparent cowardice.
Taishang Laojun ignored Erlang Shen and instead whispered to Bai Lian, “It’s an extremely ominous sign. I suspect Shui Miao hasn’t truly left for the Demon Realm. He’s still in the Immortal Realm, and these celestial cities may have been altered by him, turning them into self-destructing artifacts. These cities are top-tier sacred artifacts. If they self-destruct, the power could destroy heaven and earth!”
“Bah! Coward!” Erlang Shen muttered under his breath, cursing Taishang Laojun. He then looked around at the celestial cities and asked the Seven Sages of Meishan, “Do you think there’s any ambush here?”
Taishang Laojun had summoned the Ancient Immortals but had not informed them about Shui Miao, the insane forging maniac still lurking in the Immortal Realm.
He didn’t dare to reveal this because he feared the consequences.
Shui Miao was a pawn he had nurtured, but now this pawn had escaped his control.
Moreover, this pawn was becoming increasingly mysterious and unpredictable. Taishang Laojun feared that Shui Miao might expose his true identity.
Indeed, this Taishang Laojun was not the real Taishang Laojun. The real Taishang Laojun, like the Heavenly Mechanism Sovereign, had perished in the Immortal-Demon War. However, Xuankong’er still held their primordial spirits. This Taishang Laojun was actually a special puppet created by Xuankong’er, imbued with Taishang Laojun’s own primordial spirit.
This was why Shui Miao had sensed a sinister aura emanating from him.
“We haven’t found anything…”
“The Heavenly Court doesn’t seem to have many powerful figures now, does it?”
“Indeed! I heard there’s only one Thunder Ministry Sovereign, Chong Yuanzi, who’s somewhat formidable. The rest are just useless bureaucrats.”
“Brother, why don’t we explore these celestial cities? I heard they’re all top-tier sacred artifacts. Why not take them for ourselves?”
“That’s a great idea! We don’t even have a place to stay now. Since no one’s in charge here, let’s take advantage and claim these cities as our own!”
“…”
The Seven Sages of Meishan discussed fervently.
Everyone knew these celestial cities were top-tier sacred artifacts, and with no one guarding them, it would be a waste not to take them!
The Seven Sages of Meishan—Yuan Hong (the monkey), Chang Hao (the serpent), Zhu Zizhen (the boar), Yang Xian (the goat), Dai Li (the mountain dog), Jin Dasheng (the wild ox), and Wu Long (the centipede)—had suffered greatly in the mortal realm under Erlang Shen’s leadership. Now that they had returned to the Immortal Realm, they naturally wanted to enjoy themselves.
Erlang Shen’s eyes gleamed as he pointed to the Golden City. “This celestial city looks good. Let’s choose this one!”
“Great!”
“Boss has excellent taste!”
“…”
The Seven Sages of Meishan were no fools. They could see the grandeur and majesty of the Golden City, the finest in the First Heaven.
Thus, Erlang Shen led the Seven Sages of Meishan and the celestial hound to the outskirts of the Golden City.
As soon as they arrived, a figure flashed before them, blocking their path. “Halt! What demonic immortals dare trespass into the Golden City? Take one more step, and I, the Punishment Sovereign, will show no mercy!”
The one who appeared was none other than the Punishment Sovereign.
The Punishment Sovereign, bare-chested, revealed his fierce, muscular physique. With a leopard-like head and piercing eyes, he looked exceptionally menacing!
Seeing the Punishment Sovereign, the Seven Sages of Meishan couldn’t help but feel a chill run down their spines.
The Punishment Sovereign possessed several top-tier sacred artifacts, and the aura of these artifacts was terrifying, something ordinary immortals could hardly withstand.
“Bastard! You dare call me a demonic immortal?” Erlang Shen was furious. He brandished his three-pointed, double-edged blade and pointed it at the Punishment Sovereign, shouting, “If you have the guts, say it again!”
“Hmph! Three-eyed freak, what else could you be but a demonic immortal? Die!” The Punishment Sovereign didn’t bother to explain. Instead, he gripped his twin axes and launched a fierce assault on Erlang Shen!
“Pah! Coward!”
Erlang Zhenjun muttered a curse under his breath at Taishang Laojun, then looked around at the immortal cities and asked the Seven Holy Men of Meishan, “What do you think—what kind of ambush could possibly be here?”
Taishang Laojun had recalled various ancient immortals but hadn’t informed anyone that Shui Miao, that monstrous master craftsman, was still in the Immortal Realm.
He didn’t speak because he dared not.
If he revealed the truth, he himself would be implicated.
Because Shui Miao was originally his pawn, a pawn that had now escaped from his palm.
Moreover, this pawn had become increasingly unpredictable. He was afraid—afraid this pawn might expose his true identity.
Indeed, this Taishang Laojun was not the real one. The real Taishang Laojun, like Tianji Zunzhe and others, had perished during the Immortal-Demon War. However, Xuan Kong’er still possessed their souls. This Taishang Laojun was actually a special puppet created by Xuan Kong’er, infused with the soul of the real Taishang Laojun.
This was precisely why Shui Miao had sensed the yin and malevolent energy from him.
“No signs detected…”
“It seems like there aren’t many powerful figures in the heavenly court nowadays?”
“Yeah! I heard only a certain Lei Bu Fazun named Chongyuanzi is somewhat formidable. The rest are just useless bureaucrats, mere officials.”
Chong Yuanzi and his companions initially had no intention of confronting the Ancient Immortals head-on, believing that they could negotiate and resolve matters through discussion. However, the situation has drastically changed. The Ancient Immortals have forcefully seized control, dominating the major sects of the immortal realm, as well as the various celestial offices and legions of heavenly soldiers across the Nine Heavens. They have completely disregarded the authority of the Four City Lords, aiming to render them powerless. This is undoubtedly an intolerable affront!
Faced with such arrogance from the Ancient Immortals, Chong Yuanzi felt it was imperative to teach them a lesson, to deliver a decisive blow that would make them realize the Four City Lords are not to be trifled with. Only by forcing them to the negotiating table could there be hope for the immortal realm and all living beings across the three realms.
Chong Yuanzi laid out his strategy, and Lord Wenchang further refined and supplemented it. Everyone contributed their ideas, and together they devised a grand plan to wrest control of the immortal realm. A battle of wits and strength, filled with schemes and calculations, was about to unfold.
※※※
The Heavenly Court suddenly fell silent, with only the Ancient Immortals stirring up chaos. Erlang Shen, accompanied by his loyal hound Xiaotian Quan and the Seven Sages of Meishan, led the way. Taishang Laojun, followed by hundreds of Daoist masters and elders from several major sects, arrived outside the Punishment City.
The First Heaven was once dominated by the Three Pure Sects, but after the disruption caused by Shui Miao, the three great powers of the sect engaged in a fierce battle, severely weakening the sect. Dozens of Immortal Emperors were left drained, their sacred artifacts damaged, and their power drastically diminished. The sect was quickly driven out of the First Heaven by other factions.
However, the remaining major sects did not enjoy their victory for long. Under the leadership of Taishang Laojun, the newly formed Tianqing Sect forcefully absorbed all the other sects. Thus, the elders of these sects found themselves in a precarious position.
“Laojun, the Punishment City is completely empty. It seems they fled in fear of us,” Erlang Shen, clad in golden armor with a crimson cape billowing behind him, wielding his three-pointed, double-edged spear, approached Taishang Laojun with a voice so powerful it made ears ring and scalps tingle.
“Empty?” Taishang Laojun, dressed in an orange Daoist robe and holding a horsetail whisk, frowned upon hearing this. He quickly performed a divination and his expression turned grave. “This is bad. The Five Elements here have been rearranged, Yin and Yang are inverted, and there is a hidden aura of malevolence. There may be an ambush.”
“Hahaha…” Erlang Shen laughed heartily. “Laojun, don’t be so paranoid. The First Heaven is just a few empty celestial cities. What kind of ambush could there be? Even if there is, I won’t even need to lift a finger. Xiaotian Quan can take care of them all with a single bite!”
“Woof woof…” Xiaotian Quan, a massive black and long-haired hound the size of a lion, wagged its tail proudly upon hearing Erlang Shen’s words.
“We must not be careless. Everyone, leave the First Heaven immediately. This is no place to linger,” Taishang Laojun, in a flash of insight, had divined an ominous sign. “Quick, retreat and protect the Jade Emperor!”
With that, Taishang Laojun turned and left. Accompanying him was the thousand-year-old ghost Bai Lian, who, seeing her master so alarmed, whispered, “Master, what did you foresee?”
“Laojun, what are you doing?” Erlang Shen, having endured thousands of years in the mortal realm, was eager for a fight. He couldn’t understand Taishang Laojun’s sudden timidity.
Taishang Laojun ignored Erlang Shen and instead whispered to Bai Lian, “The divination revealed a great calamity. I suspect Shui Miao never truly left for the Demon Realm. He’s still in the immortal realm, and these celestial cities may have been altered by him, turning them into self-destructing artifacts. These cities are supreme sacred artifacts; if they explode, the destruction would be catastrophic!”
“Bah! Coward!” Erlang Shen muttered under his breath, glaring at Taishang Laojun. He then surveyed the celestial cities and asked the Seven Sages of Meishan, “What do you think? Could there really be an ambush here?”
Taishang Laojun had summoned the Ancient Immortals but had not revealed the existence of Shui Miao, the mad forger. He dared not speak of it, for fear of being implicated. Shui Miao was a pawn he had nurtured, but now that pawn had escaped his control and was becoming increasingly enigmatic. Taishang Laojun feared that Shui Miao might expose his true identity.
Indeed, this Taishang Laojun was not the real one. The true Taishang Laojun, like the Heavenly Sage, had perished in the great war between immortals and demons. However, Xuankong’er still held their primordial spirits. This Taishang Laojun was a special puppet created by Xuankong’er, imbued with the primordial spirit of the real Taishang Laojun. This was why Shui Miao had sensed a malevolent aura around him.
“We haven’t found anything…”
“The Heavenly Court doesn’t seem to have many powerful figures left.”
“True. I heard only the Thunder Department’s Law Lord, Chong Yuanzi, is formidable. The rest are just bureaucrats.”
“Brother, why don’t we explore these celestial cities? I heard they’re all supreme sacred artifacts. Why not take them for ourselves?”
“That’s a great idea. We don’t even have a place to stay. Let’s take advantage of the situation and claim these cities as our own!”
The Seven Sages of Meishan—Yuan Hong (the monkey), Chang Hao (the snake), Zhu Zizhen (the boar), Yang Xian (the goat), Dai Li (the dog), Jin Dasheng (the ox), and Wu Long (the centipede)—had suffered greatly in the mortal realm under Erlang Shen’s command. Now that they had returned to the immortal realm, they were eager to enjoy themselves.
Erlang Shen’s eyes gleamed as he pointed to the Golden City. “This celestial city looks good. Let’s take it!”
“Great choice, boss!”
The Seven Sages of Meishan, no fools, recognized the grandeur of the Golden City, the finest in the First Heaven. Thus, Erlang Shen led them and Xiaotian Quan to the outskirts of the Golden City.
As soon as they arrived, a figure flashed before them, blocking their path. “Halt! What demons dare trespass on the sacred grounds of the Golden City? Take one more step, and I, the Law Lord Xing Tian, will show no mercy!”
The figure was none other than Xing Tian, the Law Lord. Bare-chested, his muscular physique was fearsome, with a leopard-like head and piercing eyes that exuded ferocity.
Seeing Xing Tian, the Seven Sages of Meishan felt a chill run down their spines. Xing Tian wielded several supreme sacred artifacts, and their power was terrifying, something ordinary immortals could not withstand.
“Bastard! You dare call me a demon?” Erlang Shen was enraged. He brandished his three-pointed, double-edged spear and pointed it at Xing Tian, shouting, “You have the guts to say that again!”
“Hmph! Three-eyed freak, what else could you be but a demon? Prepare to die!” Without hesitation, Xing Tian gripped his twin axes and launched a furious assault on Erlang Shen!
“What a great idea! We don’t even have a place to live now. Let’s take advantage of the chaos and grab some benefits—taking these immortal cities back as our official headquarters would be great!”
The Seven Holy Men of Meishan began discussing excitedly among themselves.
Chong Yuanzi and his companions initially had no intention of engaging in a life-and-death struggle with the Ancient Immortals. They had hoped to negotiate and resolve matters through discussion. However, the Ancient Immortals have now forcefully taken control, dominating the major sects of the Immortal Realm, as well as the various celestial departments and numerous heavenly soldiers and generals across the Nine Heavens. They have completely disregarded the Four City Lords, aiming to render them utterly powerless! This is undoubtedly an extreme act of bullying!
Given the Ancient Immortals’ overbearing nature, Chong Yuanzi felt it necessary to teach them a lesson, to deliver a decisive blow that would make them realize that the Four City Lords are not to be trifled with. Only by forcing them to the negotiating table could there be hope for the Immortal Realm and all living beings across the Three Realms.
Chong Yuanzi laid out his strategy, and Lord Wenchang further refined it. Everyone contributed their ideas, and thus, a grand scheme to seize control of the Immortal Realm was devised. A battle of wits and strength, filled with intrigue and calculation, was about to unfold.
※※※
The Heavenly Court suddenly fell silent, with only the Ancient Immortals stirring up chaos. Erlang Shen, leading his celestial hound, and the Seven Sages of Meishan, with the Supreme Lord Laozi guiding hundreds of Daoist masters and the elders of several major sects, arrived outside the Punishment City.
The First Heaven was originally dominated by the Three Pure Sects, but after the disruption caused by Shui Miao, the three great powers of the Three Pure Sects engaged in a fierce battle, severely injuring dozens of Immortal Emperors within the sect. Their sacred artifacts were damaged, their strength plummeted, and they were directly driven out of the First Heaven by other sects.
However, the remaining major sects did not enjoy their victory for long. Under the leadership of the Supreme Lord Laozi, the newly established Tianqing Sect forcefully absorbed all other sects. Thus, the elders of these sects were not faring well.
“Supreme Lord, the Punishment City is empty. It seems they fled in fear of us,” Erlang Shen, clad in golden armor with a red battle cloak, wielding his three-pointed, double-edged spear, approached the Supreme Lord Laozi. His voice was thunderous, causing a ringing in the ears and a tingling scalp.
“Empty?” The Supreme Lord Laozi, dressed in an orange Daoist robe and holding a horsetail whisk, frowned upon hearing this. He quickly performed a divination and exclaimed, “This is bad! The Five Elements here have been rearranged, Yin and Yang are inverted, and there is a hidden aura of malevolence. There might be an ambush.”
“Hahaha…” Erlang Shen laughed heartily. “Supreme Lord, don’t be so alarmed. The First Heaven is just a few empty celestial cities. What kind of ambush could there be? Even if there is, I won’t need to lift a finger—my celestial hound can take them all down with a single bite!”
“Woof woof…” The celestial hound, black and long, as large as a lion, wagged its tail proudly upon hearing Erlang Shen’s words.
“We must not be careless. Everyone, leave the First Heaven immediately. This is no place to linger,” the Supreme Lord Laozi, in a flash of lightning, performed another divination and received an ominous reading. “Quick, everyone retreat and protect the Jade Emperor!”
With that, the Supreme Lord Laozi turned and left. Beside him was the thousand-year-old ghost, Bai Lian. Seeing her master so anxious, she whispered, “Master, what did you divine?”
“Supreme Lord, what are you doing?” Erlang Shen, who had endured thousands of years in the mortal realm and was eager for a fight, was frustrated by the Supreme Lord Laozi’s apparent cowardice.
The Supreme Lord Laozi ignored Erlang Shen and softly said to Bai Lian, “An ominous reading. I suspect Shui Miao hasn’t truly left for the Demon Realm. He might still be in the Immortal Realm, and these celestial cities may have been altered by him, turning them into self-destructing artifacts. These cities are top-grade sacred artifacts; if they explode, the destruction would be catastrophic!”
“Bah! Coward!” Erlang Shen muttered under his breath, cursing the Supreme Lord Laozi. He then looked around at the celestial cities and asked his Seven Sages of Meishan, “Do you think there’s an ambush here?”
The Supreme Lord Laozi had recalled all the Ancient Immortals but had not informed them about Shui Miao, the insane forging maniac still lurking in the Immortal Realm. He dared not speak of it, for fear of being implicated. Shui Miao was a pawn he had cultivated, but now this pawn had escaped his control and was becoming increasingly enigmatic. He feared that Shui Miao might expose his true identity.
Indeed, this Supreme Lord Laozi was not the real one. The true Supreme Lord Laozi, like the Heavenly Machine Sovereign, had perished in the Immortal-Demon War. However, Xuankong’er still held their souls. This Supreme Lord Laozi was actually a special puppet created by Xuankong’er, imbued with the soul of the real Supreme Lord Laozi. This was why Shui Miao had sensed a malevolent aura on him.
“Nothing detected…”
“The Heavenly Court doesn’t seem to have many powerful figures now, does it?”
“Right! I heard there’s only one Thunder Department Sovereign, Chong Yuanzi, who’s somewhat formidable. The rest are just useless bureaucrats.”
“Brother, why don’t we explore these celestial cities? I heard they’re all top-grade sacred artifacts. Why not take them for ourselves?”
“That’s a great idea! We don’t even have a place to stay now. Why not take advantage of the situation and claim these cities as our own?”
“…”
The Seven Sages of Meishan were abuzz with discussion. Everyone knew these celestial cities were top-grade sacred artifacts, and with no one guarding them, why not take them?
The Seven Sages of Meishan—Yuan Hong (the monkey), Chang Hao (the snake), Zhu Zizhen (the boar), Yang Xian (the goat), Dai Li (the dog), Jin Dasheng (the ox), and Wu Long (the centipede)—had suffered greatly in the mortal realm under Erlang Shen’s leadership. Now that they had returned to the Immortal Realm, they naturally wanted to enjoy themselves.
Erlang Shen’s eyes gleamed as he pointed to the Golden City. “This celestial city looks good. Let’s take it!”
“Great!”
“Boss has a keen eye!”
“…”
The Seven Sages of Meishan were no fools; they could see the grandeur and majesty of the Golden City, the finest in the First Heaven.
Thus, Erlang Shen led the Seven Sages of Meishan and the celestial hound to the outskirts of the Golden City.
As soon as they arrived, a figure flashed before them, blocking their path. “Halt! Where do you think you’re going, you demonic immortals? The Golden City is a sacred place, not for the likes of you to trespass! Take one more step, and I, the Punishment Sovereign, will show no mercy!”
The speaker was none other than the Punishment Sovereign, bare-chested, revealing his fearsome muscles, with a leopard-like head and fierce eyes.
Seeing the Punishment Sovereign, the Seven Sages of Meishan felt a chill run down their spines. The Punishment Sovereign possessed several top-grade sacred artifacts, the power of which was terrifying, something ordinary immortals could not withstand.
“Bastard! How dare you call me a demonic immortal?” Erlang Shen was furious. He pointed his three-pointed, double-edged spear at the Punishment Sovereign and growled, “Say that again if you dare!”
“Hmph! Three-eyed freak, if you’re not a demonic immortal, then what are you? Die!”
Without further explanation, the Punishment Sovereign brandished his twin axes and launched a fierce attack on Erlang Shen!
The Seven Holy Men of Meishan were Yuan Hong (the monkey), Chang Hao (the long snake), Zhu Zizhen (the wild boar), Yang Xian (the goat), Dai Li (the mountain dog), Jin Dasheng (the wild ox), and Wu Long (the centipede). They had suffered greatly with Erlang Zhenjun in the mortal world, and now that they had finally returned to the Immortal Realm, they naturally wanted to enjoy themselves.
Erlang Zhenjun’s eyes flickered, and he pointed at Jin City. “This immortal city looks great. Let’s take this one!”
“Great!”
“Boss, you’ve got excellent taste!”
The Seven Holy Men of Meishan weren’t fools—they could naturally see that Jin City was magnificent and imposing, the finest immortal city in the First Heaven.
Thus, Erlang Zhenjun, accompanied by the Seven Holy Men of Meishan and the Howling Heaven Dog, arrived outside Jin City.
As soon as they stood still, a figure darted toward them like lightning, abruptly blocking their path. “Hey! Where did these demonic immortals come from? The sacred Jin City is no place for you demons to trespass! Take another step forward and you’ll face the merciless justice of Xingtian Fazun!”
The newcomer was none other than Xingtian Fazun.
Xingtian Fazun had his upper body bare, revealing his terrifying muscular build, with a panther-like head and bulging eyes, appearing extremely fierce and menacing!
Seeing Xingtian Fazun like this, the Seven Holy Men of Meishan couldn’t help but feel their scalps tingling.
Chong Yuanzi and his companions initially had no intention of engaging in a life-and-death struggle with the Ancient Immortals. They believed that they could negotiate and resolve matters through discussion. However, the situation had drastically changed. The Ancient Immortals had forcefully seized control, dominating the major sects of the immortal realm, as well as the various celestial offices and legions of heavenly soldiers across the Nine Heavens. They completely disregarded the authority of the Four City Lords, aiming to render them powerless. This was an unbearable insult!
Given the Ancient Immortals’ arrogance, Chong Yuanzi felt it was imperative to teach them a lesson, to deliver a decisive blow that would make them realize the Four City Lords were not to be trifled with. Only by forcing them to the negotiating table could there be hope for the immortal realm and all living beings across the three realms.
Chong Yuanzi laid out his strategy, and Emperor Wenchang further refined it. Everyone contributed their ideas, and thus, a grand scheme to wrest control of the immortal realm was set in motion. A battle of wits and strength was about to unfold, a conspiracy that would shake the heavens.
※※※
The Heavenly Court had suddenly fallen silent, with only the Ancient Immortals stirring up chaos. Erlang Shen, accompanied by his celestial hound and the Seven Sages of Meishan, led the way. Taishang Laojun, followed by hundreds of Daoist masters and elders from several major sects, arrived outside the Punishment City.
The First Heaven had once been dominated by the Three Pure Sects, but after the disruption caused by Shui Miao, the three great powers of the sect had engaged in a fierce battle, severely weakening the sect. Dozens of Immortal Emperors were left drained, their sacred artifacts damaged, and their power drastically diminished. The sect was driven out of the First Heaven by other factions.
However, the remaining major sects did not enjoy their victory for long. Under Taishang Laojun’s leadership, the newly formed Tianqing Sect forcefully absorbed all other sects. Thus, the elders of these sects found themselves in a precarious position.
“Laojun, the Punishment City is empty. It seems they fled in fear of us,” Erlang Shen, clad in golden armor with a crimson cape, wielding his three-pointed double-edged blade, approached Taishang Laojun with a booming voice that sent shivers down the spines of those who heard it.
“Empty?” Taishang Laojun, dressed in an orange Daoist robe and holding a horsetail whisk, frowned as he quickly performed a divination. “This is bad. The Five Elements here have been rearranged, Yin and Yang are inverted, and there is a hidden aura of malevolence. There might be an ambush.”
“Hahaha!” Erlang Shen laughed heartily. “Laojun, don’t be so paranoid. The First Heaven is just a few empty immortal cities. What kind of ambush could there be? Even if there is, my celestial hound can take care of them all with a single bite!”
“Woof woof!” The large, black celestial hound, resembling a lion, wagged its tail proudly at Erlang Shen’s words.
“We must not be careless. Everyone, leave the First Heaven immediately. This is no place to linger,” Taishang Laojun, after a quick divination, had received an ominous reading. “Quick, all of you, retreat and protect the Jade Emperor!”
With that, Taishang Laojun turned and left. Beside him was the thousand-year-old ghost Bai Lian, who, seeing her master so anxious, whispered, “Master, what did you foresee?”
“Laojun, what are you doing?” Erlang Shen, who had endured thousands of years in the mortal realm and was eager for a fight, was frustrated by Taishang Laojun’s caution.
Ignoring Erlang Shen, Taishang Laojun whispered to Bai Lian, “It’s a dire omen. I suspect Shui Miao hasn’t truly left for the Demon Realm. He might still be in the immortal realm, and these cities could have been altered by him, turned into self-destructing artifacts. These cities are supreme sacred artifacts; if they explode, the destruction would be catastrophic!”
“Bah! Coward!” Erlang Shen muttered under his breath, then looked around at the immortal cities and asked his Seven Sages of Meishan, “What do you think? Could there really be an ambush here?”
Taishang Laojun had recalled all the Ancient Immortals but had not mentioned Shui Miao, the eccentric forging maniac. He dared not speak of him, for Shui Miao was a pawn he had nurtured, and now that pawn had escaped his control. Moreover, Shui Miao had become increasingly enigmatic, and Taishang Laojun feared that his true identity might be exposed.
Indeed, this Taishang Laojun was not the real one. The true Taishang Laojun, like the Heavenly Mechanism Sovereign, had perished in the great war between immortals and demons. However, Xuankong’er still held their primordial spirits. This Taishang Laojun was a special puppet created by Xuankong’er, imbued with the primordial spirit of the real Taishang Laojun.
This was also why Shui Miao had sensed a sinister aura around him.
“Nothing detected…”
“The Heavenly Court doesn’t seem to have many formidable figures now, does it?”
“Indeed. I heard there’s only one powerful figure in the Thunder Department, someone called Chong Yuanzi. The rest are just useless bureaucrats.”
“Brother, why don’t we explore these immortal cities? I heard they’re all supreme sacred artifacts. Why not take them for ourselves?”
“Good idea! We don’t even have a place to stay now. Let’s take advantage of the situation and claim these cities as our own!”
The Seven Sages of Meishan—Yuan Hong (the monkey), Chang Hao (the serpent), Zhu Zizhen (the boar), Yang Xian (the goat), Dai Li (the dog), Jin Dasheng (the ox), and Wu Long (the centipede)—had suffered greatly in the mortal realm under Erlang Shen’s command. Now that they had returned to the immortal realm, they were eager to enjoy themselves.
Erlang Shen’s eyes gleamed as he pointed to the Golden City. “That city looks good. Let’s take it!”
“Agreed!”
“Great choice, boss!”
The Seven Sages were no fools; they could see the grandeur of the Golden City, the finest in the First Heaven.
Thus, Erlang Shen led the Seven Sages and his celestial hound to the outskirts of the Golden City. As they stood there, a figure suddenly appeared, blocking their path. “Halt! What demons dare trespass into the Golden City? One more step, and I, the Law Sovereign Xing Tian, will show no mercy!”
It was Xing Tian, the Law Sovereign. Bare-chested, his muscular frame and fierce eyes exuded an intimidating aura.
Seeing Xing Tian, the Seven Sages felt a chill run down their spines. Xing Tian possessed several supreme sacred artifacts, and their power was terrifying, something ordinary immortals could not withstand.
“Bastard! You dare call me a demon?” Erlang Shen was furious. He pointed his three-pointed double-edged blade at Xing Tian and growled, “Say that again if you dare!”
“Hmph! Three-eyed freak, what else could you be but a demon? Die!” Without hesitation, Xing Tian swung his twin axes, launching a fierce attack on Erlang Shen.
“Damn it! You dare call me a demonic immortal?”
Erlang Zhenjun flew into a rage, slamming his three-pointed, two-edged sword into the ground and pointing it directly at Xingtian Zunzhe. His voice was low but filled with fury: “If you’ve got the guts, say that again!”
“Hmph! Three-eyed freak, aren’t you just a demonic immortal? Die for me…”
Unexpectedly, Xingtian Fazun offered no explanation and instead gripped his twin axes, launching a fierce attack directly at Erlang Zhenjun with relentless strikes!
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage