Chapter 110: The Old Man Attacks
Chapter 110: The Old Man Attacks
Li Si’s mind returned to the Mortal Realm. He heard shouts of surprise and panic coming from outside. He pushed the door open and saw pieces of joss paper falling from the sky. It was extremely bizarre.
These joss papers were not abnormal. Li Si caught one with his hand. It quickly turned into gray ashes. The wind blew, and it scattered.
“The living beings suffer, and heaven and earth mourn together. Has this world also sensed that the end is near?”
Li Si felt heavy-hearted. That World Guardian True Immortal named Muan fell into demonic corruption this morning. A big reason was likely that he saw no hope. So, he challenged that Devil Mushroom, not caring if they perished together.
Whether he succeeded or not, the future would cause heavy damage to this world.
Suddenly, Li Si’s gaze froze. He saw several joss papers ahead suddenly burst into flames. The Phantom Bride’s shadow quickly appeared.
“Muan fell into demonic corruption. He is temporarily holding back the Devil Mushroom. In the name of the Herb Gatherer, I am about to rebuild the Hall of Fate in the Palace Ruins. As a deity of the Mortal Realm, are you willing to move in?”
“Of course!” Li Si nodded without hesitation. He was currently the weakest one. His Idol of Fortune was originally in the Palace Ruins, so where else would he go if not the Hall of Fate?
But the Phantom Bride used the words ‘move in.’ That was very thought-provoking. Other World Guardian True Immortals might have different ideas.
Thinking this, Li Si immediately went to the Floating Cloud Sect’s base. He wanted to discuss with Old Madam.
“The Master has been in deep meditation. Junior Brother, weren’t you reflecting on your mistakes in confinement?” The very busy Xu Shen saw Li Si and was curious.
“The heavens have great changes. Reflecting on mistakes at such a time? Senior Brother, you sure know how to joke.”
Li Si gave a bitter smile and left. Old Madam was definitely discussing with familiar World Guardian True Immortals right now. Any decision these big shots made would have huge impacts.
Not to mention anything else, if Old Madam just cut the chains coming from the Blood Coffin, she herself wouldn’t be much affected, but most living beings in this area would die!
Only the thousands of people in Kaoshan City could survive, because their fate had been taken back by Li Si from the Evil God.
Hurrying back to the Quiet Room, Li Si immediately released his mind and entered the coordinates where his Idol of Fortune was. As soon as he appeared, he found his idol had been moved back into a slightly smaller Hall of Fate. But in this hall, he was the only lonely one. None of the other World Guardian True Immortals had come.
Were they still on the way, or unwilling to come?
Li Si felt a bit panicked. He walked through the Hall of Fate until he reached the entrance. He saw the Phantom Bride standing there, gazing into the darkness outside.
“This world is actually beyond saving, right?”
Li Si spoke. He vaguely guessed now that the Phantom Bride, the Herb Gatherer, was somewhat like this world’s steward, manager, or spokesperson. But by itself, it couldn’t turn the tide, so it needed the support of the Twelve World-Quelling True Immortals.
“They lost hope. These World Guardian True Immortals seek to break free from restraints and ascend to the Land of Infinite Vastness. But now, this path is completely blocked, unless they can defeat that Devil Mushroom.”
Defeat the Evil God?
Obviously, that was impossible.
“What are your plans next? You must not give up on yourself.” Li Si was very worried, afraid this guy would also fall into demonic corruption. If so, the first to suffer would be him.
“Give up on myself? No. I’ve faced situations more desperate than this. But I still persevered and remain full of hope for this world. Even if it becomes a dead land, I am willing to keep watching over it, to resist. I also believe I will find like-minded companions.”
“You might think I’m consoling myself or tricking you, but that’s not the case. You are not a qualified cultivator. You think a cultivator should sit comfortably in a blessed land, with kind and amiable masters to teach and show you the future path.”
“With beautiful and graceful senior sisters, handsome and steady senior brothers, clever and cute junior brothers and sisters to grow up with you? With foolish demonic creatures and fierce spirits to achieve you, to enrich your wonderful cultivation journey?”
“Don’t be naive. Even a thousand years ago, during that flourishing era of cultivation with countless methods contending, it was hard for one True Immortal to emerge among millions of people.”
“Even such an era was built by countless ancient cultivators who blazed trails through wilderness. They led the ancient Human Race with their flesh and blood, fighting against heaven, against earth, slaying evil fiends, battling plague gods, destroying demonic leaders. Step by step, they paved a heavenly path with countless flesh, blood, and bones, finally forging the magnificent cultivation golden age a thousand years ago.”
“But even so, one misstep still led to the arrival of the end of dharma, the decline of the Human Race, and the impending destruction of the world.”
“So, will you just accept your fate, or are you willing to keep resisting?”
Li Si fell silent. Then he voiced his doubt.
“Aren’t we all just tiny ants in the Seven Emotions Medicine Field? What’s the point of resisting?”
“The Seven Emotions Medicine Field and the Five-Tone Ruins both fell from the Land of Infinite Vastness. I don’t know who the masters of the Seven Emotions Medicine Field and Five-Tone Ruins are, but they should be very powerful existences among our ancient predecessors. They most likely perished or were severely injured in the Land of Infinite Vastness.”
“Then, one Seven Emotions Great Medicine in the Seven Emotions Medicine Field mutated. That is the Devil Mushroom. But to this day, I haven’t found the reason for the Devil Mushroom’s mutation. However, I cannot rule out that some unknown existence is secretly controlling it.”
“So, you need not belittle yourself. This vast Mortal Realm, boundless and immeasurable, with living beings too numerous to count. Ordinary mortals are indeed smaller than ants. But this world leaves a slim chance for any living being to strive for crossing. Strive to cross, strive to cross. If you don’t strive, and instead complain about heaven and others, then don’t blame the merciless grinding of the cycle of heaven and earth.”
“Your True Cultivator sects have always spoken of the Seven Dao Hearts and the Nine Great Postnatal Dao Bodies. How do you think these Dao Hearts and Postnatal Dao Bodies came about?”
“By going to a brothel in the mortal world, sleeping with hundreds of famous courtesans, writing a few sentimental poems? Or by having a passionate love affair between a mortal and an immortal? The ugly drama of ‘you love me, I don’t love you, I love him, he doesn’t love me, but he loves you’?”
“Haha, Dao Hearts and Dao Bodies are not symbols. They are forged through bloody battles, cutting through thorns all the way.”
“So, Li Si, don’t worry about others giving up on themselves. Don’t underestimate any World Guardian True Immortal either. They are far tougher than you imagine. Even Muan, who fell into demonic corruption this morning, might very well have been plotted against. After all, True Immortals are not invincible. I can sense that there is an invisible black hand, hidden behind the curtain, manipulating things without leaving a trace.”
As soon as the Phantom Bride’s voice fell, a piercing white light flashed and vanished in the darkness outside the Hall of Fate. The next moment, the darkness for hundreds of miles around was dispelled. Then, a sharp sword light descended, revealing four figures and four divine idols over a thousand meters tall.
The arrivals were Jiuxuanzi, Old Madam, Shendanzi, and another World Guardian True Immortal whom Li Si did not recognize.
“Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!”
The four idols automatically moved into the Hall of Fate. Instantly, the originally rather small-looking Hall of Fate expanded more than ten times in size.
As for Jiuxuanzi, Old Madam, and the other two, they were the size of real people. But clearly, these were not their true bodies, but soul bodies. No, they should be one level higher than soul bodies.
Because their whole bodies were glowing. From afar, each looked like a small sun.
Li Si felt a bit intimidated. He secretly glanced at Old Madam in her immortal form. But she directly glared at him, and his whole body went weak…
“The situation is urgent. Thank you four for attending.”
The Phantom Bride bowed very solemnly.
“We did not come for you, nor for the myriad beings of this world! We came only for our own Dao.” Jiuxuanzi spoke coldly, not polite at all to the Phantom Bride, the Herb Gatherer.
“The Dao Heart does not perish, my heart does not change, Infinite Heavenly Venerate!” The unfamiliar World Guardian True Immortal spoke, and incidentally swept a glance at Li Si, giving a friendly smile.
“No need to say more. Saving the world, saving people, saving oneself. We, True Cultivators, will not flee from battle like those Spirit Cultivators. If that Devil Mushroom wants to destroy the world, it must first destroy my Floating Cloud Sect!” Old Madam spoke with murderous intent. So fierce, truly the ruthless old lady!
“Exactly, exactly! Fellow Daoists Chisongzi and Tianjizi are currently contacting others. At most by tomorrow, they will bring their respective Idols of Fortune and move in. But we need a plan. Herb Gatherer, if you still have any trump cards, don’t hide them anymore!”
Shendanzi also spoke now, and incidentally grinned widely at Li Si, giving a mischievous smile.
“Please!”
The Phantom Bride did not state its position, merely stepped aside from the entrance of the Hall of Fate. Then Jiuxuanzi entered first. Passing by Li Si, he suddenly smiled and said, “Fellow Daoist Kaoshan, do you still have red envelopes today?”
Li Si broke out in a sweat. Just as he was about to say something, Jiuxuanzi had already smiled and passed by. That smile made the starry sky pale in comparison.
The unfamiliar World Guardian True Immortal walked second.
“This humble Daoist is Lingjingzi. I have heard of Fellow Daoist Kaoshan’s red envelope technique for a long time. My heart yearns for it. Please take care of me.”
“This… I am ashamed, ashamed!” Li Si could only cup his hands. What else could he say?
Old man Shendanzi walked third, his face all smiles, saying nothing, but secretly giving a thumbs up!
Finally, it was Old Madam’s turn. Li Si’s scalp tingled. Just as he was about to bow and greet her, he heard her give a soft sigh. “Since you chose this path, then walk it!”
Li Si was thoughtful. What did this mean? Encouraging me? It didn’t seem like it!
But Old Madam had already left.
“You don’t need to give your Idol of Fortune to her. The Twelve World-Quelling True Immortals are now missing one. You must fill the gap. I will ensure you don’t mess up. This is my promise to them as the Herb Gatherer!”
“So you also don’t need to feel inferior to them. You now represent one of the Twelve World-Quelling True Immortals. You are also one of the Twelve Major Deities conferred by heaven and earth.”
The Phantom Bride walked over and stood side by side with Li Si.
“What do you mean?” Li Si felt his hair stand on end. He felt he had been tricked!
“The fate suppressed by the Twelve World-Quelling True Immortals comes from the same lineage, supporting each other! It also secretly aligns with the ultimate principles of heaven and earth, so not one can be missing.”
“Muan was plotted against and fell into demonic corruption. This barrier now has a breach that must be filled, even if we have to use a small one like you!”
“Of course, as compensation, I will also provide you with help.”
After listening, Li Si remained silent. Suddenly, as if he thought of something, his eyes immediately lit up, his eyebrows danced, and he asked excitedly.
“So, you mean to say, I will become an old man?”
The Phantom Bride: …