noffsinger Chapter 4 Return to Beihai
Chapter 4 Return to Beihai
Yun Zhongzi suppressed his fear and did not struggle in panic. Instead, he bowed respectfully, his tone neither humble nor arrogant.
"I am Yun Zhongzi, a second-generation disciple of the Chan Sect. I greet you, senior. I am wondering where I have offended you. Please enlighten me."
He introduced himself, mentioning the Chan Sect and the name of Yuanshi Tianzun, to reassure the other party.
Moreover, since his arrival in this world, he has always been kind to people and never made enemies; even if he did have enemies, as long as the other party's background was not strong, he would definitely not leave any trouble behind.
The next instant, space distorted, and he was pulled by a gentle yet irresistible force into a secret realm isolated from the secrets of the Three Realms.
Within the secret realm, auspicious clouds shimmered.
On the central Seven Fragrances Chariot sat a female immortal dressed in a golden robe, her face dignified and majestic, with a dragon and tiger Ruyi hanging above her head, its golden light flowing and suppressing the void in all directions.
She was none other than the Golden Spirit Mother, one of the four direct disciples of Tongtian Jiaozhu of the Jie Sect and the master of Wen Zhong.
Yun Zhongzi felt a chill run down his spine. This Golden Spirit Mother arrived so quickly and easily saw through the Bewitching Immortal Array. Could she have already reached the Quasi-Saint level?
His expression grew even more respectful, and he bowed again with his hands clasped in greeting.
"Yun Zhongzi greets Senior Sister Jinling. It has been thousands of years since we last met. Senior Sister has actually attained the Quasi-Saint Dao Fruit. Congratulations!"
They simply looked at each other calmly, waiting for what would happen next.
The Holy Mother of Golden Spirit remained noncommittal, her expression a half-smile:
"Yun Zhongzi, you've kept it well hidden. Everyone in the Three Realms thinks you're just a virtuous golden immortal who only knows how to cultivate in seclusion. Back then, you went to the Three Immortal Islands every day to dismantle Yunxiao's Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation and create this hidden formation. Below the Quasi-Saint level, I'm afraid no one can see through it."
Yun Zhongzi smiled calmly and cupped his hands, saying:
"Senior Sister, you flatter me. I am dull-witted and cannot compare to my twelve senior brothers who have teachers to guide me. I can only put more effort into unorthodox methods. When I went to the Three Immortal Islands, I sincerely sought guidance from Senior Sister Yunxiao. I am very grateful that you did not hold back your knowledge."
The Holy Mother of Golden Spirit chuckled softly, then abruptly changed the subject:
"Is that so? Then what about the message my disciple Wen Zhong just received—"
With a flick of her fingertip, she created a dragon and tiger ruyi, and a beam of light was projected out, revealing the words on Wen Zhongshuai's desk.
"You were unaware of this matter?"
The oppressive aura suddenly descended upon them.
Yun Zhongzi let out a muffled groan, his back slightly hunched, his face showing astonishment and bewilderment:
"Senior Sister, please understand! I was simply outside Jade Void Palace when I happened to see Senior Brother Yu Ding and Senior Brother Manjushri talking privately after their sermon, heading towards the North Sea. Out of curiosity, I followed them. As for any message—"
He looked up to meet the gaze of the Holy Mother of the Golden Spirit, his eyes open and honest:
"Junior brother is completely unaware."
The Holy Mother of Golden Spirit stared at him for a full three breaths.
Yun Zhongzi met her gaze without moving. In his mind, however, he had already laid out his escape techniques, the Bewitching Immortal Array, the Immortal Beans, and all his backup plans, ready to fight to the death at any moment.
Three breaths later, the oppressive aura suddenly dissipated.
The Holy Mother of Golden Spirit smiled knowingly:
"But I heard from Zhong that someone from your Chan Sect was involved here. In that case, I'll trouble you, junior brother, to be a witness so that we can have an explanation when we meet our second senior brother in the future."
Before he could finish speaking, Yun Zhongzi felt a blur before his eyes and was transported out of the secret realm, standing side by side with the Golden Spirit Mother on the desolate North Sea.
"Let's go."
Yun Zhongzi's heart sank slightly, but he remained expressionless and followed on a cloud.
Inside Wen Zhong's camp.
Wen Zhong was engrossed in studying military maps when ripples suddenly appeared in the space inside the tent.
Ten figures appeared out of thin air.
Wen Zhong was initially startled, but then his face lit up with joy, and he bowed deeply in gratitude:
"Wen Zhong has met all ten of his senior uncles! Was it at the invitation of our teacher?"
The newcomer had an unusual appearance; he was none other than one of the Ten Heavenly Kings of Jin'ao Island.
Qin Wan, the leader, had a face as blue as indigo and hair as black as cinnabar. He stepped forward to help Wen Zhong up and laughed heartily.
"We received a message from Senior Sister Jinling, saying that there are Qi cultivators interfering here, so we came to help."
Before the words were finished, ripples appeared again in the space inside the tent.
The Holy Mother of Golden Spirit, accompanied by Yun Zhongzi, stepped out of the void.
"Greetings, teacher."
"Greetings, Senior Sister Jinling."
The Holy Mother of Golden Spirit nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping across the tent. The lingering aura of Jade Cauldron True Man's magical power confirmed that he was indeed a Golden Immortal of the Chan Sect.
Qin Wan frowned and looked at Yun Zhongzi:
"Why is Senior Sister traveling with Yun Zhongzi?"
Golden Spirit Mother glanced at Yun Zhongzi and said calmly:
"We met by chance on the way. Wen Zhong said that people from the Chan Sect were secretly making a move here, and specially invited my junior brother to be a witness, so that our second senior uncle would not blame us for being 'scaly and horned, born from eggs in the wet' in the future."
The tent fell silent.
The Ten Heavenly Lords' gaze toward Yun Zhongzi held a hint of coldness.
Sun Liang said sarcastically, "That's for sure. How can we, born from moisture and eggs, be compared with those who have good backgrounds but whose cultivation progresses as slowly as a tortoise?"
Yun Zhongzi looked ashamed, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, and hesitated to speak.
Golden Spirit Mother frowned and interrupted:
"Alright. This matter has nothing to do with Yun Zhongzi. What are your thoughts on tomorrow's battle, fellow disciples?"
The Holy Mother of Golden Light understood and stopped the Heavenly Emperor, who was about to speak again, by saying:
"Senior Sister, since the Chan Sect has made its move directly, why don't we set up the Ten Deadly Formations? Even if all twelve Golden Immortals were here, we could still put up a fight."
The ten Heavenly Kings all echoed their agreement.
Yun Zhongzi stood to the side, his face expressionless.
Only two words flashed through my mind: courting death.
In the original story, these ten individuals were brimming with confidence, only to be defeated one by one by the Twelve Golden Immortals, none escaping unscathed. A single level difference in cultivation is like heaven and earth, and without any innate spiritual treasures to protect them, how could they possibly contend with the Twelve Golden Immortals, personally trained by the Primordial Heavenly Venerable?
A hint of helplessness flashed across the eyes of the Holy Mother Jinling.
She knew better than anyone the fighting strength of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect. Inviting the Ten Heavenly Lords was merely a ploy to contain the rogue demon cultivators within the rebel army. She would personally handle the Chan Sect's Golden Immortals.
But this cannot be said outright.
"Junior Sister Jin Guang is so thoughtful."
The Holy Mother of Golden Spirit nodded slightly:
"However, tomorrow, you should simply set up your formation and stand on the flanks of the battlefield to protect the Shang army's rear. There is no need for you to take the initiative to attack."
Although the Ten Heavenly Kings were unwilling, they dared not disobey and could only agree.
Golden Spirit Mother turned to Wen Zhong, her tone solemn:
"Wen Zhong, you will lead the army into battle as usual tomorrow. I will keep the people of the Chan Sect in check."
"Your disciple obeys!"
Wen Zhong knelt on one knee, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.
Silent all night.
The next day at dawn, the battlefield of Beihai was filled with a chilling aura.
A cold wind, carrying the stench of blood, swept across the wilderness. The two armies stood in formation, and the war drums thundered.
Wen Zhong rode astride a black Qilin, his twin whips gleaming with lightning. Behind him stood the four generals of the Demon Clan and Zhang Guifang, while 300,000 Shang soldiers stood in gleaming armor.
On the opposite rebel army's ranks, Yuan Futong stood on his horse. Behind him, the seventy-two warlords and the demon kings lined up in formation.
Unlike before—everyone in the rebel army had bloodshot eyes, and their bodies were surrounded by eerie black energy. Those at the Purple Mansion and Golden Core stages were now even approaching the threshold of the Nascent Soul stage.
The forbidden medicine of Chang'er Dingguangxian.
"kill!"
At Yuan Futong's command, the rebel army charged towards the Shang army's formation like madmen. The vanguard was riddled with arrows, while the rearguard continued their charge, stepping over corpses, fearless of death.
Before half an incense stick had burned, the vanguard of the Shang army was forced to retreat.
Zhang Guifang roared, spurring his horse forward with his spear drawn. He shouted at one of the rebel vanguard warlords:
"Li Mao! Why aren't you dismounting and surrendering? What are you waiting for?!"
The divine power of calling out the name and falling off the horse was activated in response. The lord trembled all over, his soul left his body, and he fell headlong off his horse, where he was killed on the spot by the Shang army.
Zhang Guifang's spear moved like a dragon, shouting three times in succession, managing to stabilize the situation.
The four members of the Demon Clan made their move together.
With a wave of his Qingyun Sword, Mo Liqing unleashed a torrent of black wind swords, instantly shredding the demon soldiers at the forefront into a bloody pulp.
Mo Lihong opened the Hunyuan Umbrella, absorbing all the rebels' arrows and sorcery.
Mo Lihai plucked the jade pipa, and the demonic sound reverberated, causing the rebels to fall to the ground bleeding from all seven orifices.
Mo Lishou released the Flower Fox Sable, a golden light piercing through the enemy formation, aiming to take the general's head.
Behind the main force, Zhao Jiang's Earth Fiery Formation and Dong Quan's Wind Howling Formation were activated simultaneously. With wind and fire erupting together, the four generals, carrying the power of the two formations, forcefully blocked the main force of the rebel army.
Just now.
Two beams of light silently shot out from the clouds.
Ju Liusun hid among the clouds, staring at Zhang Guifang, who was fighting the fiercest in the formation. With a flick of his finger, a grappling technique transformed into an invisible hand, grabbing out with lightning speed.
Cihang Daoist's eyes were cold, and the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi in his palm flew out and went straight for Mo Li Qingtian's head.
The large hand was already three feet above Zhang Guifang's head.
The Three Treasures Jade Ruyi was less than a zhang (approximately 3.3 meters) from the spirit canopy of Mo Li Qingtian.
"presumptuous!"
The overwhelming pressure of the Quasi-Saint was everywhere.