Chapter 2644: Invitation from the Ancient Civilizations
Shu Yong grew more spirited as the battle progressed, his face flushed red, his aura surging. He unleashed sacred techniques with unrestrained ease, feeling as though divinely aided, effortlessly drawing upon the power of heaven and earth to bolster him.
He seemed to have transformed into a favored son of destiny.
In contrast, Gongyang Mu was utterly embarrassed and in a sorry state.
He mobilized over ten trillion sacred dao rules, unleashing heavenly principle patterns to prop up his dao domain, yet he could not withstand Shu Yong's assault. His body was covered in wounds, forcing him to retreat swiftly, seeking an opportunity to counterattack.
"Where do you think you're fleeing? Gongyang Mu, face me in an honorable battle—escape is impossible." Shu Yong stepped upon a righteous river, like riding a dragon soaring through the sky, his spirit soaring. Billions of characters rose and fell within the river as he pursued Gongyang Mu relentlessly.
"How can he be this strong? Could Shu Yong have been hiding his true strength all along, actually being a peerless figure capable of shaking heaven and earth across realms?" This thought had just flashed through Gongyang Mu's mind when he immediately shook it away.
Impossible.
He had known Shu Yong for ages, having dealt with him for nearly ten thousand years. If Shu Yong were truly that powerful, he would have turned the world upside down long ago. Why wait until now to erupt?
"Gongyang Mu, behold my Gentleman's Sword! A gentleman upholds benevolence and righteousness; one strike slays the treacherous and wicked."
Shu Yong's purple-tipped brush radiated dazzling divine light. With a single stroke, it transformed into a Gentleman's Sword, drawing upon the vast power of heaven and earth, slashing down across the sky.
...
In the Red Dust Sea Market, countless cultivators were stunned.
Gongyang Mu was a participant in the Demigod Project, hailed as the number one powerhouse of the Book Realm. In recent years, his reputation had soared within the Heavenly Court. Yet he was being beaten so miserably by Shu Yong, who was not known for his combat prowess?
Could Shu Yong actually be a ruthless character who played the fool to deceive his enemies?
The world's greatest calligrapher, and his combat skills were this formidable? Was he, though not a demigod, about to secure a place on the "Red Dust Peerless List" through sheer combat strength?
The "Red Dust Peerless List" recorded the most top-tier cultivators below the divine realm in both the Heavenly Court and Hell, representing the strongest in the mortal world. When gods do not emerge, they are invincible under heaven.
Only the strongest among demigods had a chance to make the list.
For example, Stone Emperor and Sword Emperor.
Although Gongyang Mu was a demigod, he was not qualified to be listed.
The "Red Dust Peerless List" was divided into an upper volume and a lower volume.
The upper volume was titled "Peerless," and the lower volume was titled "Red Dust."
The lower volume had a fixed number of slots, recording exactly one thousand and eighty names. It ranked from Red Dust Number One down to Red Dust Number One Thousand and Eighty.
To break free from the Red Dust and enter the upper volume, to be listed among the peerless, one's combat power had to reach the demigod peak level. Those who had reached the demigod peak realm or had defeated a demigod peak powerhouse could be listed.
It was precisely because the requirements of the "Red Dust Peerless List" were so high and the slots limited that the vast majority of the number one powerhouses from the Heavenly Court's great worlds could not make the list.
Those who did make the list were supreme beings in the mortal world, able to summon wind and rain, laugh proudly under heaven. With a raise of their hand, they could sweep across an entire realm. With a single step, hundreds of saints would turn to ash. One person could determine the outcome of a merit battle.
If Shu Yong were truly listed on the "Red Dust Peerless List," the entire Book Realm's status within the Heavenly Court would skyrocket.
However, cultivators who knew Shu Yong did not believe he possessed such strength.
For instance, Yu Chenjing.
She was very clear about Shu Yong's combat power. His sudden surge in strength was far too strange.
An old-generation mortal world overlord from the Thousand Star Civilization exclaimed in amazement, "It seems we have underestimated the Book Realm before. Just Shu Yong alone is worth our full effort to win over."
"Indeed. A powerhouse of this level can single-handedly guard an entire star domain. Once a great war erupts, with millions of sacred armies clashing, he alone can sweep through a vast area, posing a tremendous deterrent to Hell." Another Supreme Realm Great Saint said excitedly.
"If the Thousand Star Civilization can find ten powerhouses of this caliber to support us, combined with our own mortal world strength, we can defend ourselves in the war."
Yu Chenjing's gaze fell upon Zhang Ruochen, and she smiled, "I find this Shu Qianchi more interesting. Even Shu Yong himself had no confidence in winning the battle, yet he was full of confidence. How did he manage that?"
"What does the Heavenly Maiden mean by that?"
The older generation Great Saints of the Thousand Star Civilization were all astonished.
"Could the Heavenly Maiden believe that Shu Yong's sudden strength is due to Shu Qianchi's secret assistance? That's impossible. A god is standing right above—how could he be allowed to pull such a trick?"
"In the Red Dust Sea Market, there are countless Great Saints. If he truly assisted Shu Yong secretly, even if we didn't notice, someone else would surely have detected it."
Yu Chenjing's eyes shimmered with starlight, the essence of origin flowing around her body. "It's precisely because I can't see any clues that it's interesting."
...
Shang Zihong stood with his hands behind his back on a wooden tower, surrounded by hidden formation patterns that could obscure cultivators' vision. Though in the midst of the bustling market, no one could see him.
On the wooden tower, over a dozen Great Saint-level powerhouses stood in a row, each extraordinary and peerless.
Shang Zihong said, "Have you noticed any clues?"
All the cultivators shook their heads.
Shang Zihong said, "Go investigate that Confucian cultivator surnamed Shu. See if he is some heavenly proud son from the Kunlun Realm's medieval period."
A Great Saint-level powerhouse vanished from the wooden tower.
"Zihong, do you believe he is the one causing trouble?" Michael said.
Shang Zihong said, "Fu Gu and Mo Yang were hired by us to pursue that mysterious person. Now, Fu Gu and Mo Yang are dead, the mysterious person has disappeared, and out of nowhere, a Confucian cultivator pops up."
"So, this Confucian cultivator is the mysterious person who appeared in the Golden Tree Sacred Domain." Michael said.
Shang Zihong tapped his fingers on the wooden railing. "This person is not simple. He might become a major obstacle for us at the Red Dust Assembly. Before the Red Dust Assembly, no matter what method we use, we must thoroughly investigate him."
...
Gongyang Mu was defeated. Even when he unleashed a forbidden technique at the last moment, burning his sacred blood, he could not turn the tide. Shu Yong pierced through his chest with a single stroke, sending him flying out of the space bubble.
A large amount of sacred blood spilled onto the sea, dyeing the waters red.
Shu Yong flew out of the space bubble with high spirits, landing in the Red Dust Sea Market. "Gongyang Mu, you have lost. Shouldn't you return the scroll now?"
Gongyang Mu's chest still gushed blood, his robe torn. He looked toward Lian Xi.
Hua Chunqiu said, "Lian Xi, Great Palace Master, you represent the Radiant Divine Temple. You wouldn't go back on your word, would you?"
Lian Xi's gaze was fixed on Shu Yong, then shifted to Zhang Ruochen. "Your methods are impressive, sir. This Palace Master admits defeat with full conviction. Take it."
She said the word "defeat" because she knew she had fallen into the other's trap.
The scroll in Lian Xi's hand burst into flames, turning into a rapidly flying fireball, heading straight for Zhang Ruochen.
He could not catch it directly.
If he did, the scroll would surely explode.
Nor could he delay.
If he delayed, the Four Beauties of the Blue Sea inside the scroll would be burned to death.
Catching the scroll was even harder than withstanding a direct strike from Lian Xi.
Zhang Ruochen calmly reached out a hand and caught the scroll.
The flames on the scroll extinguished, and the powerful impact vanished, as if it were effortless.
Lian Xi's expression shifted slightly, but she quickly recovered. She landed on the back of her unicorn and rode off. After a short distance, she turned back and asked, "What is your name?"
"Shu Qianchi," Zhang Ruochen said.
"This Palace Master looks forward to seeing your true strength at the Red Dust Assembly."
Lian Xi and the Great Saints of the Judgment Hall quickly departed.
Gongyang Mu had intended to leave with the Judgment Hall's Great Saints, but Hua Chunqiu and Shu Yong intercepted him.
Hua Chunqiu took out a brush emitting jade light, grinning. "Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Do you remember what you promised earlier? Hurry up and kneel to kowtow, so I can paint it down."
"You want this seat to kneel? You're dreaming."
Gongyang Mu's veins bulged, blue flames appearing on his hands. His battle might instantly peaked as he tried to force his way through and escape.
Zhang Ruochen traced a line in the air with his finger.
"Pfft!"
Gongyang Mu's legs were severed, and he fell to the ground. Blood gushed from his knees like a spring, and he let out a muffled groan of pain.
Zhang Ruochen walked over, crouched down, and looked at Gongyang Mu lying in a pool of blood. "Making you kneel is too much to ask. After all, Confucian cultivators value their face. I am a merciful person. I'll leave you your legs as our goods. Do you have any objections?"
Gongyang Mu glared at Zhang Ruochen, trying to rise, but Zhang Ruochen pressed his head back down.
"Think carefully. I'm doing this for your own good," Zhang Ruochen said.
When he lifted his head again, Gongyang Mu forced a smile. "Thank you for your mercy, sir. Leaving my legs is only right."
"So, this is voluntary? No one forced you?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Gongyang Mu said, "Correct, voluntary."
"Go ahead."
Zhang Ruochen made a gesture of invitation.
Losing a leg was nothing. With his cultivation, he could regrow it instantly. It would only cost him some blood qi and a slight drop in cultivation. As long as the green hills remain, there is no fear of running out of firewood.
Gongyang Mu thought this to himself, but his eyes were as cold as a viper's.
Zhang Ruochen and the other three watched Gongyang Mu float away, all bursting into loud laughter.
Hua Chunqiu sighed, "What a pity, what a pity. I didn't get to see Gongyang Mu kneel."
"One must be lenient where possible. If a Confucian demigod were to kneel in public, it would surely breed inner demons. Cutting off his legs is already paying the price for his past deeds, avenging the disciples from our Book Realm and Painting Realm who died by his hand," Shu Yong said.
Hua Chunqiu was still unsatisfied, so he found a plaque and wrote on it: "A pair of demigod legs, can be refined into speed-type secret treasures. Price: two hundred divine stones."
Zhang Ruochen secretly extracted a drop of blood from the bloody severed legs and put it away.
"Rustle, rustle."
A luxurious sacred carriage drove up.
From the carriage stepped an elderly Great Saint in brocade robes, who approached the stall and smiled. "I am Xia Jiu from the Witch God Civilization, representing His Highness the Crown Prince, inviting the four of you to tonight's Witch God Sacred Banquet. Would you be willing to grace us with your presence?"
Following that, envoys from over a dozen ancient civilizations—such as the Big Dipper Civilization, Giant Spirit Civilization, Hidden Ruins Civilization, Blazing Sun Civilization, and others—came one after another, issuing invitations to the four of them.
For the ancient civilization faction, the Red Dust Assembly was a perfect opportunity to befriend and win over top figures from various realms. With war imminent, they had to seek support.
For them, this was a matter of life and death.
The once closely allied ancient civilization faction now had to compete against each other.
...
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