Chapter 2981: Boundless Heavenly Venerable
At Feng Qi’s invitation, Zhang Ruochen, leading the old yellow ox, boarded the Divine Wood Warship alongside the twenty-five Great Saints of the Wind Clan.
A deity from the Demon God Realm was already standing outside to greet them, surrounded by pinkish radiance, with a fragrant aura drifting about.
Zhang Ruochen had actually seen this deity before. She was one of the ten strongest beings cultivated by the Demon God Realm using the ancestral blood of the Demon Ancestor—the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox.
He had encountered her in the Red Dust Archipelago of the Heavenly Court, where she had been a guest of Shang Zihong at the time.
Among the ten strongest, the most powerful, Chu Jian, had been suppressed and killed by Zhang Ruochen during the Ten Realms Battle. Many other demon clan experts on that list had failed their tribulations and perished, their divine forms annihilated. Yet she alone had stepped into the divine realm.
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox wore a thin silver-threaded garment, her jade-white, exquisite figure faintly visible. The curves of her willow waist and hips formed a breathtaking silhouette, exuding an innate seductiveness that was utterly alluring.
Even as a true god, she remained steeped in charm to the bone, making it difficult for ordinary cultivators to maintain their composure.
None of the Wind Clan’s Great Saints had weak mental fortitude, but a single glance at her seemed to steal their souls, plunging them into a dazed, fantasizing state.
“Close your eyes, regulate your breath, and calm your minds,” Feng Xi’s voice jolted them awake.
One by one, they were horrified and quickly shut their eyes, circulating their techniques.
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox apologized, “Forgive me. I have only recently stepped into the divine realm and cannot fully restrain my seductive aura. I hope it does not affect their mental states too severely.”
If she had not spoken, it might have been manageable, but her voice—soft, sweet, and tender—carried an irresistible soul-capturing power.
The more they closed their eyes, the more their imaginations ran wild.
Lascivious illusions filled their minds.
Fortunately, Feng Xi had prepared in advance, forming a barrier with divine qi to neutralize her voice.
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox showed an apologetic expression again and said softly, “The Qiu Yu Divine Lord knows that the Xi Deity is here and is very pleased. He has stopped his cultivation and is waiting inside. Please, come in.”
Zhang Ruochen looked in the direction the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox indicated. There stood a wooden hall, a thousand zhang tall, brightly lit, and extremely imposing, seamlessly connected to the trunk of the divine wood.
The old yellow ox, blunt as a greenhorn, said outright, “Quite the airs! He won’t even come out to greet us, making it seem like we’re here to pay him homage. What kind of Divine Lord is this? Not worth meeting!”
The atmosphere instantly became extremely awkward, with everyone falling silent.
Feng Qi stepped out to smooth things over, laughing, “The Qiu Yu Divine Lord is an upper-rank god of the Demon God Hall, having cultivated for eighty thousand years. Whether in cultivation or seniority, he far surpasses us.”
Zhang Ruochen appeared indifferent, maintaining his usual stern expression.
Feng Xi seemed completely unconcerned as well.
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox forced a charming smile, her gaze lingering on Zhang Ruochen and the old yellow ox, though no one knew what she was thinking.
The old yellow ox showed no restraint, saying, “So he’s just an upper-rank god. With a title like Divine Lord, I thought he was an Infinite Realm existence. An upper-rank god putting on such airs? What gives him the nerve?”
The atmosphere grew even more strained.
Zhang Ruochen knew the old yellow ox’s temperament well—even more blunt than Chi Xingtian, challenging heaven, earth, and everything in between. Even Zhang Ruochen himself often wanted to stew it after being provoked, let alone others.
That ox temper was just too strong!
Feng Qi’s gaze shifted to Zhang Ruochen, as if expecting him to rein in his mount.
Zhang Ruochen pretended not to notice, looking up at the sky as if counting stars.
Feng Qi coughed dryly and said, “Although the Qiu Yu Divine Lord is an upper-rank god, he has reached the Great Perfection realm. Combined with his status as a Truth Envoy, his combat power is no weaker than a Great God.”
There was a hint of intimidation in these words.
The old yellow ox stole a glance at Zhang Ruochen, and seeing him still unruffled, gained a surge of confidence. “Isn’t he still just an upper-rank god? We’re the guests here. Why should he refuse to come out and greet us? Who does he look down on? Let’s go. Since they hold us in such contempt, there’s no point in staying.”
With that, the ox twisted its rear, turning a full one hundred and eighty degrees.
The three deities present had never seen such an arrogant mount—not only daring to challenge the Qiu Yu Divine Lord but also seemingly able to make decisions for its master.
If not for the rule of “strike the ox only after considering its owner,” Feng Qi and the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox would have already dismembered the old yellow ox to clear their minds.
“Well said! This lord has been remiss! Haha!”
A hearty laugh rang out from the wooden hall.
Space trembled slightly.
A short figure, only three feet tall, stood before them.
This Qiu Yu Divine Lord had thick, dark skin, a diminutive frame, and a head resembling that of a rodent clan—sharp teeth, a long snout, silver-glowing whiskers, and ears atop his head.
The Qiu Yu Divine Lord sized up the old yellow ox, nodding repeatedly in admiration. “I didn’t expect the ox clan to produce such an outstanding rising star. If you could worship this lord as your master, I guarantee you entry into the Demon God Hall for cultivation and access to the ancestral blood of the Demon Ancestor. Then, you might even become an Eon-level representative.”
Feng Qi and the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox breathed a sigh of relief, seeing that the Qiu Yu Divine Lord was not angered.
In the Demon Clan, survival of the fittest reigned, with an environment as harsh as the Hell Realm. Lower-rank, mid-rank, and upper-rank gods each commanded a distinct status.
For an existence like the Qiu Yu Divine Lord, who could already stand shoulder to shoulder with Great Gods, if he were angered and killed a half-god peak cultivator, who could do anything about it?
Feng Qi knew well the Qiu Yu Divine Lord’s ruthlessness, so despite being an upper-rank god and a deity of the Phoenix Clan, he remained deeply wary.
“Hurry and thank the Divine Lord for his favor,” the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox said.
The old yellow ox could naturally sense the terrifying divine might emanating from the Qiu Yu Divine Lord, but with Zhang Ruochen backing it, what was there to fear? It showed no respect, saying, “You think you’re worthy to be my master? I already have one. My master is a legendary hero, clad in a seven-colored divine robe, treading on five-colored chaos clouds, wielding a heaven-slashing divine sword. He could take on ten of you.”
Zhang Ruochen’s mouth twitched. He knew he couldn’t let this damned ox keep provoking. He formed a hand seal.
Instantly, the old yellow ox’s mouth was sealed with ice.
Zhang Ruochen curled his left hand’s middle and ring fingers into a Daoist gesture, looking profound and unfathomable. “Boundless Heavenly Venerable! This beast has been poorly disciplined. Forgive my impertinence.”
Qiu Yu, Feng Qi, and the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox could barely manage a smile, repeatedly inviting Zhang Ruochen and Feng Xi into the hall.
Qiu Yu and Feng Xi seemed to know each other, discussing matters related to the Truth Divine Temple.
Qiu Yu had crossed the Tenth Layer of the Truth Sea and become a Truth Envoy, naturally having countless ties to the Truth Divine Temple. Coincidentally, Feng Xi had once been a disciple of the Truth Divine Temple as well.
“Ah…”
A scream rang out.
A Wind Clan Great Saint at the Immortal Realm collapsed to the ground.
Soon, six or seven more Great Saints fell, their faces twisted in pain, blood vessels blackened, and skin beginning to dissolve into pus. They clawed at their bodies, tearing flesh until it was a bloody mess.
“Not good—the corpse poison has activated!” Feng Qi exclaimed.
Feng Xi rushed over immediately to examine them, her expression turning grim. “The Yin-Shang Corpse Poison is this potent. I already used divine power to seal their blood vessels and qi seas, planning to take them to the Starry Sky Defense Line for the clan’s Great Gods to resolve. But the poison is completely uncontrollable; it has already corroded my divine power.”
“Ah… True God, kill me—it’s too painful… Give me a quick death…” One Great Saint tore off his own flesh, scattering it on the ground.
The flesh all turned to rot.
“I feel… I feel my consciousness being devoured, growing fainter. True God, I don’t want to turn into a corpse… Grant me death…”
Another Wind Clan Great Saint ripped off his own scalp, hair still attached, dripping with pus and blood.
More Wind Clan Great Saints fell, all wailing, their faces twisted in agony, wishing they were dead.
Those whose poison had not yet activated were terrified by the sight, their faces ashen.
Some showed a look of despair, thinking it better to end themselves while still rational rather than suffer such torment.
Feng Xi shouted coldly, “Don’t do anything foolish.”
A divine light shot from her fingertip, striking the Great Saint who had torn off his scalp. She used divine power to refine the corpse poison.
But the poison had already fused tightly with the Great Saint’s flesh, even invading his qi sea and corrupting his sacred soul.
Feng Qi and the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox also joined in, attempting to refine the poison for two other Wind Clan Great Saints.
Feng Qi’s flame cultivation could indeed burn away the Yin-Shang Corpse Poison. However, since the poison had already invaded their bodies, forcibly refining it would only incinerate the afflicted Great Saints along with it.
Feng Xi, Feng Qi, and the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox all failed, their faces heavy with helplessness.
Feng Qi said, “We must rush them to the Starry Sky Defense Line as soon as possible, seeking a Buddhist sect or a Great God who cultivates the Way of Light to purify the Yin-Shang Corpse Poison.”
“It’s too late! And…” the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox began.
She wanted to say that Great Gods were not so easily summoned.
“Let this lord try.”
The Qiu Yu Divine Lord stomped his foot on the ground, and a boundless starry sea manifested, forming a unique divine realm world.
He pressed his palm to the chest of one Wind Clan Great Saint, and strands of starlight converged toward his hand, flowing into the victim’s body. Centered on his palm, the corpse poison was driven back, black blood oozed out, and decayed flesh turned to dust.
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox sighed in relief, smiling charmingly, “The Qiu Yu Divine Lord’s cultivation is truly profound, beyond our reach.”
“Stop!” Feng Xi said.
The Wind Clan Great Saint under the Qiu Yu Divine Lord’s palm, though the poison was being refined, had his flesh turning to sand, his life force weakening.
It was clear that even if the poison were fully refined, the Great Saint would end up as a pile of black ash.
The Qiu Yu Divine Lord quickly withdrew his hand and stepped back, saying, “This Yin-Shang Corpse Poison is formidable. Even ordinary Great Gods would be helpless. Full speed ahead on the Divine Wood Warship.”
Feng Xi knew that rushing to the Starry Sky Defense Line now was impossible.
“Whoosh!”
Light flashed.
A sword appeared in her hand.
Feng Qi and the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox showed surprise, not expecting Feng Xi to be so decisive, willing to kill her own Great Saints. For any faction, cultivating a Great Saint was no easy feat.
Killing over twenty at once was not something just anyone could do.
Feng Xi’s gaze was icy cold. Beneath her veil, her lips were tightly pressed as she raised the sword to strike.
But her wrist was caught, and the sword did not fall.
“Boundless Heavenly Venerable! Who says only Buddhist sects or Great Gods who cultivate the Way of Light can purify corpse poison? This humble Daoist would like to try using the methods of the Daoist lineage.”
Zhang Ruochen slowly released his fingers, letting go of Feng Xi, and nodded to her.