After an exhaustive and enthusiastic explanation, the golden-armored deity, now hoarse from talking, suddenly added with a grin, “Heavenly King, since I’ve worked so hard, could you spare a few thousand taels as a reward? Hehe…”
“Hmm, not bad!”
Qiao San instinctively nodded, then suddenly realized he had fallen into the golden-armored deity’s little trap. However, being naturally generous toward his companions, and seeing that the golden-armored deity showed great potential for cheekiness, he generously handed over another thousand taels as a reward.
Qiao San once again stepped onto the clouds, but to his surprise, the golden-armored deity quickly followed, bowing respectfully and saying, “Heavenly King, ahead there are still a few minor checkpoints. Allow this humble servant to guide the way, so as not to let dust soil Your Majesty’s peerless immortal grace.”
Before his words had even faded, the golden-armored deity had already soared halfway into the sky, assuming a posture of humble welcome.
The three of them disappeared from the sight of the Four Symbols Generals and the heavenly troops. The Rain God wiped blood from the corner of his mouth and struggled to his feet, muttering, “Has Golden Armor betrayed us? Why is he leaving with Yuan Shi Tian Wang?”
“No, no, no! Big Brother Golden Armor enjoys food and drink in the heavenly realm—how could he possibly betray us?”
From among the heavenly soldiers, the Silver-Armored Deity emerged, finally straightening his spine after having kept his head low. Like a wise sage, he sighed, “Brother Rain, you don’t understand how deeply Golden Armor reveres silver. He won’t give up until he gets all fifty thousand taels back! Truly admirable—Brother Golden Armor’s perseverance is something I deeply respect and admire!”
Indeed, no one understood Golden Armor better than Silver Armor!
Along the way, at every checkpoint, Golden Armor never hesitated to work tirelessly, running back and forth, sweating profusely. And just as Qiao San was moved by his efforts, Golden Armor would always promptly extend both hands, smiling broadly as he accepted yet another banknote.
As they approached the so-called “necessary checkpoint” Golden Armor had mentioned, Xuan Nu quickened her pace on the clouds and approached Yuan Shi Tian Wang, saying anxiously, “Master, Chi Yuan Da Xian is your peer and equal in cultivation, his powers must be formidable, and with the assistance of the heavenly guards at the pass, perhaps we should take a detour?”
“A detour? But Golden Armor said this was the only way—how can we detour?”
“Wu——”
As the two were speaking, a sudden blaring of gongs pierced the sky. A massive, dark swarm of figures rose into the air, their weapons flashing so brightly that even the midday sun paled in comparison.
“Yuan Shi, my old friend, Chi Yuan has been waiting long for your arrival. I trust you’ve been well?”
A giant of a man, with a massive belly and wearing tattered straw sandals, floated lazily toward them on a cloud. Though still some distance away, an invisible pressure pushed Xuan Nu backward, forcing her to retreat a step on her cloud.
Qiao San slightly shifted his shoulders, and instantly Xuan Nu felt the sky around her return to serene blue, with gentle breezes blowing. With a single move, Qiao San had neutralized the pressure. Merging with his cloud, he suddenly appeared right before Chi Yuan Da Xian.
Facing the enormous figure who seemed ready to crush the very clouds beneath him, fragments of Yuan Shi Tian Wang’s memories surged through Qiao San’s mind. Feeling the shift in energy, he couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise, “Wow, Brother Chi Yuan, you’ve slimmed down! Has weight loss become fashionable in the heavenly realm now?”
“A hundred years apart, and Tian Wang has only grown wittier. It seems your cultivation has advanced further—truly commendable.”
With great effort, Chi Yuan sat up, his massive belly quivering as he spoke nostalgically, “A century ago, I lost to you by a single move, and thus the Three Sages bestowed the Longevity Sutra upon you. Ah… I’ve never truly accepted that loss!”
Though Qiao San was not the real Yuan Shi Tian Wang, he could still sense Chi Yuan’s immense battle intent and his unfathomable magical prowess. Thinking quickly, he replied with a smile, “Brother Chi Yuan, you are no ordinary being—surely you can see through the Queen Mother’s ambitions? I refuse to believe you are someone who cannot distinguish right from wrong.”
“Haha… No need to provoke me, Tian Wang. I may not be a fool, but if it means a full-power battle with you, Chi Yuan won’t mind playing the villain for a day. If we miss this chance, I fear Yuan Shi will never again have the will to fight with all his strength. Defeat me, and you may pass.”
The rogue’s mind froze for a moment, finally realizing he had run into a martial arts fanatic. He couldn’t help but admire the Queen Mother’s cunning. With a helpless sigh, he straightened his posture. “Brother Chi Yuan, it seems today’s battle is unavoidable. Shall it be a martial contest or a magical duel? Please, decide as you wish!”
Once he had steeled his resolve, Qiao San no longer showed any laziness. With a wave of his sleeves, his Confucian robe clung tightly to his body, and a powerful battle aura surged forth, stirring the very winds and clouds of the void.
After an exhaustive and enthusiastic explanation, the golden-armored deity, now parched from speaking, suddenly added, “Heavenly King, I’ve put in so much effort, could you perhaps reward me with three to five thousand taels? Heh, heh…”
“Hmm, not bad!”
Qiao San instinctively nodded, only to realize he had fallen into the golden-armored deity’s little trap. However, he was always generous with his brothers, and seeing the golden-armored deity’s potential for mischief, he magnanimously rewarded him with another thousand taels.
Qiao San stepped onto the cloud again, but to his surprise, the golden-armored deity caught up once more, bowing respectfully, “Heavenly King, there are a few small checkpoints ahead. Allow me to guide you, so that no dust tarnishes your majestic celestial presence.”
Before the words had even settled, the golden-armored deity had already flown up into the air, assuming a posture of humble welcome.
The trio vanished from the sight of the Four Symbols Heavenly Generals and the multitude of heavenly soldiers. The Rain God wiped the blood from his lips, struggling to stand, “Has the golden-armored deity betrayed us? Why is he following the Primordial Heavenly King?”
“Wrong, utterly wrong! Brother Golden Armor has food and drink in the heavenly realm, why would he betray us?”
The silver-armored deity emerged from the crowd of heavenly soldiers, who had been shrinking back, now straightening his spine like a wise man, sighing, “Brother Rain, you don’t know how devout Brother Golden Armor is in his worship of silver. He won’t rest until he gets all fifty thousand taels back! His perseverance truly impresses me, impresses me!”
Indeed, no one knows Golden Armor better than Silver Armor!
Along the way, at every checkpoint, Golden Armor would tirelessly manage affairs, bustling back and forth until he was drenched in sweat. Then, just as Qiao San was deeply moved, he would timely extend his hands, smilingly accepting one banknote after another.
As they approached the crucial point mentioned by Golden Armor, the Mystic Maiden quickened her cloud, arriving beside the Primordial Heavenly King, “Master, the Red Origin Immortal is your peer in fame, his magic power must be formidable, and with the help of the checkpoint soldiers, perhaps we should take a detour?”
“Detour?! Didn’t Golden Armor say that’s the only way? How can we detour?”
“Whoosh—”
As they spoke, the sound of golden drums suddenly pierced the air, and a vast, dark mass of figures rose into the sky, the glint of various weapons outshining the sun itself.
“Brother Primordial, Red Origin has been waiting here for a long time. How have you been?”
A superbly fat man with a bare belly and worn straw sandals floated over on a cloud. Though still far away, an invisible pressure already pushed the Mystic Maiden’s cloud back.
Qiao San’s shoulders twitched slightly, and the Mystic Maiden immediately found herself surrounded by blue skies, white clouds, and a gentle breeze. With a move that regained their momentum, Qiao San merged with the cloud, suddenly appearing right in front of Red Origin Immortal.
Looking at the seemingly cloud-crushing fat man before him, memories of Primordial flowed through Qiao San’s mind. Sensing the change in aura, he couldn’t help but exclaim, “Wow, Brother Red Origin, you’ve slimmed down. Is weight loss in vogue in the heavenly realm now?”
“It’s been a hundred years, Heavenly King, you’ve become more humorous. It seems your cultivation has advanced further, truly a cause for celebration.”
Red Origin struggled to sit up, his fat belly shaking, reminiscing, “A hundred years ago, I lost to you by a single move, and in the end, the Three Venerables bestowed the Longevity Scripture upon you. Sigh… I’ve never been convinced of that loss!”
Though Qiao San wasn’t the Primordial Heavenly King, he could feel Red Origin’s overwhelming fighting spirit and his profound, unfathomable magic power. With a shift in thought, he joked, “Brother Red Origin, you’re no ordinary being. Can’t you see the Queen Mother’s ambitions?! I can’t believe you’re someone who can’t distinguish right from wrong.”
“Haha… Heavenly King, no need to provoke me. I’m no fool, but as long as I can have a full-on battle with you, Red Origin is willing to play the villain. After today, I fear Brother Primordial may never muster the will to fight again. As long as you defeat me, you may pass.”
The rogue was momentarily stunned, finally realizing he had encountered a martial fanatic. He couldn’t help but marvel at the Queen Mother’s cunning, sighing helplessly before straightening his posture, “Brother Red Origin, it seems a battle today is inevitable. Whether it’s martial arts or magic, you decide!”
Once his mind was set, Qiao San shed all laziness, his sleeves billowing, his scholar’s robe clinging tightly to his body, his formidable fighting spirit stirring the winds and clouds.
“Magic battles are dull. Let me see how your martial arts have advanced in the past century. Take this!”
Before the words had faded, the obese Red Origin leapt up as nimbly as a monkey, his mountain-like body moving with lightning speed, truly living up to his title as a Great Luo Immortal.
Though it was a martial arts contest, every move between the immortals was filled with the brilliance of magic power. Red Origin tore off a piece of cloud, hurling it like a hidden weapon towards the Primordial Heavenly King.
Qiao San instinctively punched forward, the force of his fist dispersing the cloud into a myriad of cloud needles, which whooshed through, piercing the Primordial Heavenly King’s protective magic array.
“Damn, that’s powerful! I wonder how Primordial managed to defeat him back then!”
Cold sweat dripped in the rogue’s heart. Just one encounter and he almost fell for it. Transforming his fists into palms, he spun them in the air like a Bagua, a vortex of magic power forming, sucking in all the hidden weapons.
After a series of earth-shaking tremors, Red Origin, who had been attacking relentlessly without success, suddenly and miraculously became even “fatter.”
“Haha… Heavenly King, still as impressive as ever, but nothing new. Try my newly created killing move.”
Red Origin charged at Qiao San, without any sophisticated moves, just rapid, alternating steps, each step shattering the space beneath his feet. His outstretched arms were like two indestructible iron gates, closing in on his prey.
It was then that Qiao San finally understood why Red Origin was so “fat”—because that was his strongest move.
As the space crumbled section by section, the Mystic Maiden, though far away, slipped downward with Red Origin’s first step. By the time she steadied herself, she realized she had fallen nearly a hundred zhang.
A look of concern flashed quickly in the Mystic Maiden’s eyes. For the first time, she worried for her master. Red Origin was even more formidable than the legends said!
Before his words had even finished, the massive Chi Yuan had leapt nimbly into the air like a monkey, his mountainous body moving with lightning speed—truly worthy of his reputation as a Great Luo Immortal.
Though it was called a martial contest, every movement between these immortals radiated powerful magical energy. Chi Yuan tore a piece of cloud and flung it like a hidden weapon toward Yuan Shi Tian Wang.
Instinctively, Qiao San threw a punch. The force of his strike shattered the cloud into countless needle-like fragments, which whistled through the air and pierced Yuan Shi’s protective magical barrier.
“Damn, he’s this strong! I can’t even imagine how Yuan Shi managed to beat him back then!”
Cold sweat dripped from the rogue’s mind. In just one exchange, he had nearly been hit. His hands shifted from fists to palms, rotating in the air like the Eight Trigrams, forming a vortex of magical energy that absorbed all the flying needles.
After a shocking tremor, Chi Yuan, who had been unable to land a decisive blow, suddenly became even “fatter” than before.
“Haha! Tian Wang, your style remains as impressive as ever, but nothing new, I see. Try this brand-new ultimate move of mine!”
Chi Yuan charged forward, no complex techniques, just massive steps pounding forward one after another. Each footfall shattered the space beneath it. His outstretched arms resembled unstoppable iron gates, closing in hungrily on his prey.
At this moment, Qiao San finally understood why Chi Yuan was so “fat”—because this was, in fact, his ultimate technique.
Space cracked and collapsed step by step. Though Xuan Nu was far away, the moment Chi Yuan took his first step, the heir of the Su Nu Sect involuntarily slipped downward. By the time she stabilized herself, she had already fallen over a hundred zhang.
A flash of deep concern flickered in Xuan Nu’s eyes. For the first time, she felt true worry for her master. Chi Yuan was even more powerful than the legends had claimed!
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