Chapter 464: Honghuang Terror Short Stories

Streams of flowing light streaked across the void, and that group of "Shi Ya Zhe" arrived as scheduled.

The first wave of enemy Qi Refiners to reach this place were mostly at the Zhenxian and Tianxian realms, numbering around a thousand, led by two at the Jin Xian realm. Their cultivation wasn't particularly profound.

It was roughly equivalent to one "Wuyou" force.

At this point, Li Changsheng still didn't fully understand the rules governing these Immortal Dao forces in the Three Thousand Worlds, but he knew that these one to two thousand individuals were just an appetizer.

In the Tianya Secret Realm, excluding those "floating" great powers holding jade talismans, even just the group from Tianya Pavilion—those old ladies—would likely require at least twenty Jin Xian to take down.

Moreover, their side had experts like Bian Laofuren.

In the Three Thousand Worlds, where even top-grade acquired spiritual treasures were called "Zhi Bao," one's cultivation realm was nearly equivalent to their combat strength.

Bian Laofuren had managed to uphold such a vast operation for Tianya Pavilion, so she was not to be underestimated.

Through the paper effigies he had hidden in various spots in the void, Li Changsheng employed his old tactic, forming an "Xian Shi detection network." He had already detected that the enemy had more experts concealed tens of thousands of miles away, slowly advancing toward this small world.

The enemy clearly understood the art of "Shi Ya" and negotiation.

Among the enemy's rear forces, two figures exuded deep and solid auras, their Dao Rhymes condensed and radiating a sense of completeness, as if they were disciples of the Western Saints.

These circumstances were mostly within Li Changsheng's expectations.

At that moment, Li Changsheng and Lü Yue had ceased their conversation and were quietly positioned toward the rear of the enemy's initial vanguard.

They hid within a tiny "Jie Zi Qian Kun," having already targeted the enemy vanguards burdened with karmic obstacles, and were prepared with large doses of hallucinogens and poisonous pills.

It was just that...

"No wonder a great calamity is descending."

On a high tower of Tianya Pavilion, Qin Tianzhu stood at the top, gazing out at the streaks of light beyond the small world's grand array, and sighed softly.

Li Changsheng chuckled, "The human race multiplies too quickly, and the human body is inherently a natural Dao vessel, so there are always those with high aptitude.

In a single great thousand world, even if treasures are limited, spiritual energy is nearly infinite, and with cultivation methods readily available, a batch of experts can emerge in just tens of thousands of years.

Once they reach the Jin Xian realm, they can achieve immortality without calamity, so this situation is only natural."

Qin Tianzhu nodded slowly and added, "The number of Jin Xian experts in Heaven is still less than in a prosperous great thousand world of the human race."

"Everything has a starting process."

Li Changsheng explained gently,

"Heaven, after its great victory over the demon race, has already attracted seven human Jin Xian to join as scattered immortals.

Once the Purple Xiao Palace discusses the great calamity, Heaven's concern won't be a lack of experts, but rather tightening the gates to prevent those seeking to evade the calamity or with ulterior motives from entering service."

Qin Tianzhu nodded with a smile and sighed,

"When the great calamity falls, who knows how many lives will be lost;

To the Heavenly Dao, what difference is there between living beings and mountains and stones?

The Heavenly Dao seeks stability in the world, to avoid disasters like the initial Dragon-Phoenix Calamity.

Looking back to the ancient primordial times, myriad spirits cultivated recklessly, and over countless eons, a vast number of experts accumulated.

By the end of the ancient era, with Da Luo as common as dogs and Jin Xian everywhere, such a situation must never repeat...

The current world is more fragile than the Hong Huang of ancient times."

Li Changsheng pondered this and nodded slowly, but a long sigh came from behind him.

It was Bian Laofuren, seated at the back, who sighed and said,

"What General Qin just said is incorrect.

Heaven is presided over by His Majesty the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother, who are of the same generation as the Saint Lords, controlling the operation of the Heavenly Dao and receiving its protection. They are the driving force behind the current great calamity, something that the beings of dozens or even hundreds of great thousand worlds combined could never match.

In the Hong Huang, having walked the path of cultivation to my level, I have experienced the hardships involved.

Living beings fight for survival, Qi Refiners fight for opportunities—a single Jin Xian rises amid untold bloodshed and storms.

But the Jin Xian realm is merely a stage of cultivation; immortality and leisure are just empty words. Only great powers and those with supreme divine abilities can attain some freedom.

Above all beings stand the six Saint Lords, who with a single finger can obliterate a great thousand world and with a flip of their hand recreate wind, fire, water, and earth!

What can Jin Xian do? What can Dao Completion do? They are but ants and weeds, distinguishing themselves among the lowly."

Qin Tianzhu laughed, "Old Madam, your insight is profound."

Li Changsheng stood with his hands behind his back, gazing beyond the grand array, where more than a dozen enemy figures were pressing forward, each releasing their auras as if to hurl insults...

Heavenly Dao, time, heaven and earth;

Saints, the universe, ants;

The principle of balance exists among all things; imbalance brings forth great calamity.

A flurry of insights arose in Li Changsheng's heart, which he quietly suppressed.

From beyond the heavens came a somewhat mild greeting: "Is the decision-maker of Tianya Pavilion willing to come out for a talk?"

"Still insisting on courtesy before force?"

An old woman snorted coldly, her expression turning quite unpleasant.

At that moment, on the high tower's rooftop, the dozen or so people standing or sitting all turned their gazes toward Li Changsheng's figure.

Though present was merely an incarnation of the Water God of Heaven, and only a late Tianxian realm paper effigy at that, who had arrived just four or five days ago, somehow...

He had become the pillar of support.

Li Changsheng crushed the jade talisman in his hand, and from the Tianya Secret Realm's small world, dozens of streams of light flew outward.

Three old women at the Jin Xian realm emerged, with the rest all at late Tianxian realm; most were women, each clad in armor and wielding ordinary spiritual treasures, their expressions hostile as they watched the "visitors."

The two Jin Xian from the enemy side had eyes full of coldness and said indifferently,

"Does your pavilion not even wish to show a deputy pavilion master for discussion?"

One old woman replied, "You are merely the vanguard; what right do you have to see our deputy pavilion master?

Tell those behind you to hurry up!

When your leaders appear, ours will naturally show themselves!"

Upon hearing this, one of the enemy Jin Xian elders frowned and said,

"Does Tianya Pavilion truly have the confidence to withstand today's assault? Don't bring destruction upon yourselves."

It seemed he held some affection for Tianya Pavilion.

Tianya Pavilion's side offered no response; one person held a jade talisman and opened a gap in the grand array behind them.

The sounds of immortal music and laughter echoed near and far, with scenes of dancing everywhere, as everything in the secret realm continued as normal, undisturbed by the outside commotion.

This was the best answer.

The more than ten enemy immortals who had come to challenge them said no more, now somewhat uncertain about Tianya Pavilion's true strength.

In the rear, the originally slow-moving "army" began to accelerate, forming a river of light in the void as thousands of streams shot forward.

Among them were a small group of experts temporarily summoned by the Western Cult.

In the small Jie Zi Qian Kun, Li Changsheng's Jin Xian realm paper effigy and Lü Yue exchanged a glance, both showing a hint of a smile.

Lü Yue transmitted, "The enemy didn't deploy ordinary immortal soldiers, so today we can go all out."

Li Changsheng replied, "They must have rushed here; if they used an immortal soldier army, it would take at least three days to arrive."

"Chang Geng, shall we... proceed as planned?"

"For my first battle in the Hong Huang, which might harm heavenly harmony, we should at least give them a fright."

"Hahaha! I've been waiting for this! Fighting side by side with you, my junior brother, is truly exhilarating!"

The two exchanged whispers through transmission, then fell silent, quietly lying in wait.

Half an hour later,

More streams of light arrived outside the Tianya Secret Realm's grand array, forming a loose battle formation above and below, front and back.

Seventeen or eighteen Jin Xian experts lined up side by side, men and women of various ages, each with auras mixed with some karmic obstacles.

Of course, in the eyes of certain Saint disciples, that was just an average of about 11.5 "Wuyou" force.

Coincidentally, the two experts suspected to be Western Cult disciples stopped right in the center of the enemy immortal formation, only...

Half a zhang away from where Li Changsheng's Jin Xian realm paper effigy and Lü Yue were hiding.

Lü Yue was about to act, but Li Changsheng quickly raised his hand to hold Lü Yue's arm, shaking his head with a serious expression.

"Senior brother, not yet."

"I got ahead of myself, I got ahead of myself," Lü Yue laughed. "Let's stick to the plan."

The two continued to lurk stealthily, beginning to release faint, imperceptible traces of poisonous pill energy...

Accumulating gradually, like boiling a frog in warm water.

Although these two enemy experts were hidden in the mist, at such close range, they couldn't escape Li Changsheng and Lü Yue's detection.

One was an elder, the other a young Daoist; the young Daoist's pressure was stronger, not matching any Western Saint disciple Li Changsheng had seen before.

But on the young Daoist, Li Changsheng sensed an aura similar to Dizang's, suggesting they practiced related techniques.

Li Changsheng secretly instructed Lü Yue that if they could only spare one, kill the elder and leave the young Daoist alive to carry the message back.

Naturally, it would be best to eliminate both.

Just as Lü Yue was about to agree with some boastful words, voices of conversation drifted from the front.

The two experts muttered to each other...

The elder asked puzzledly, "Dao brother, why does it feel like someone is watching us?"

The young Daoist smiled confidently.

"It's nothing; with the great calamity upon us, most Daoist experts dare not move recklessly.

It must be some high figure enjoying themselves in the Tianya Secret Realm. We're just here to intimidate Tianya Pavilion; those high figures won't bother with us.

Today, as long as we mock the Water God a bit and force Tianya Pavilion to bow, we'll have accomplished our mission.

There's no need to kill or fight."

"The Water God is not easy to deal with."

"True, we mustn't be careless. Later, we'll just stand here and shout from afar—what can his incarnation do to me?"

"Excellent."

The elder praised, making their status hierarchy clear.

The elder then snorted coldly, his voice echoing through the mist with the tremor of the Great Dao, pressuring the entire Tianya Secret Realm.

Bian Laofuren tapped her walking stick lightly, and layers of arrays rose around the various pavilions and halls.

This would consume an unknown amount of spirit stones...

But for the customer experience, Tianya Pavilion was going all out.

Bian Laofuren released her own pressure, clashing with the elder's and responding with a cold snort.

The elder outside shouted sternly, "Since I have come, why doesn't the master of Tianya Pavilion come out to meet me?"

His opening was straight out of the old Western style.

On the high tower of the Tianya Secret Realm, Bian Zhuang, now clad in silver armor and holding his Nine-Tooth Nail Rake, was about to go out with the two deputy pavilion masters, the old women.

Li Changsheng smiled faintly and said warmly,

"Bian Zhuang, come here."

"Yes!"

Bian Zhuang quickly approached Li Changsheng, saluted with the Nine-Tooth Nail Rake in both hands.

Li Changsheng extended his right hand, and strands of Primordial Chaos energy in his palm condensed into a phantom of the Xuanhuang Pagoda, which he sent into Bian Zhuang's chest, then patted his shoulder.

"Relax a bit, don't forget your lines; if you do, just improvise with some mockery."

"Understood! Rest assured, Water God, I know what to do!"

Bian Zhuang grinned, saluted with a fist, glanced toward the outside of the small world, and leaped into the air with his Nine-Tooth Nail Rake.

Qin Tianzhu and Li Changsheng exchanged smiles, quietly awaiting the show.

As Bian Zhuang flew out of the array, the two old women behind him immediately maximized their auras, guarding him on either side as he stopped before the array.

Bian Zhuang casually summoned a white cloud and plopped down on it.

He crossed his legs, pulled out a handkerchief carrying a young girl's fragrance from his armor, and wiped his hands, completely ignoring the five or six thousand figures and the overwhelming pressure before him.

The elder hidden in the mist said indifferently, "Is the master of Tianya Pavilion such a rude and arrogant fellow?"

Bian Zhuang ignored him entirely, put away the handkerchief, and shrank his Nine-Tooth Nail Rake to three inches long, using it to comb the bangs on his forehead.

Two Tianxian realm fairies then brought tea; Bian Zhuang took a sip, swished it in his mouth, and spat it into the teacup held by the other fairy.

He said leisurely, "Well, who was calling just now?"

In the mist, the elder's eyes flashed with killing intent as his pressure surged toward Bian Zhuang, barely blocked by the two old women behind him.

The elder scolded, "Don't seek your own death."

"Heh," Bian Zhuang scoffed disdainfully, "Do you even know who you're threatening?

I am a fifth-rank immortal god of Heaven, deputy commander of the Tianhe Water Army. I have paid respects in the Lingxiao Hall to His Majesty the Jade Emperor, received treasures from the Grand Mage before the Doushuai Palace, and listened to the Water God's teachings in the Water God Manor.

You so-called experts, who bark wildly at Heaven just because of your cultivation, how many of you from the demon race have we already wiped out? Now, heh, probably none left."

"Heh, so Tianya Pavilion really isn't afraid of death?"

The elder said indifferently, "Killing a minor immortal god of Heaven here—what of it?"

"Is that so?"

Bian Zhuang recalled the lines the Water God had given him and the instruction to just follow the script regardless of what the other said.

But in that moment, Bian Zhuang felt the lines fit perfectly.

He held the Nine-Tooth Nail Rake in his palm and examined it, saying, "You probably don't recognize what this treasure is, and that's no surprise—it's refined by Taishang Laojun, not something just anyone can see."

As soon as he spoke, gazes locked onto the rake in Bian Zhuang's palm.

Not just the Qi Refiners at the front, but even those guests enjoying themselves in the Tianya Secret Realm were now watching, focusing on the Nine-Tooth Nail Rake...

Indeed, it carried a subtle and obscure Dao Rhyme.

Bian Zhuang laughed, "You fools who don't know death when it's staring them in the face—since you've come knocking today, I have to teach you a lesson.

With this rake of mine, just one tooth, if I flick it like this..."

Bian Zhuang gently flicked a silver tooth on the rake, producing a crisp sound.

"Within the range of my immortal sense, anyone with hostility toward me, and the rake will randomly select one and ignite their karmic obstacles."

As his words fell, silence enveloped the area outside the array, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Someone laughed first, then laughter erupted from various places.

Suddenly!

Amid the laughter, among the more than ten Jin Xian lined up, a middle-aged man suddenly widened his eyes, black blood seeping from his eye sockets, mouth, and nostrils!

He clutched his throat, his body collapsing forward powerlessly, his primordial spirit melting like wax, turning into a pool of black water that splashed into the void...

The world fell silent once more.

Bian Zhuang's eyelid twitched slightly as he forced himself to stay calm and continue the script.

He flicked the rake twice more, saying indifferently, "I wonder if the Grand Mage will blame me for using this treasure at my own doorstep.

Ah, well, there's no choice—heaven has few experts, so we rely on treasures for self-protection."

"Ah—"

"Save me!"

Before Bian Zhuang finished, two more screams rang out; a man and a woman collapsed, meeting the same fate as the first.

Three pools of black water, three immortal Jin Xian!

Everything happened in an instant, so naturally it was eerily bizarre!

The enemy formation fell into chaos!

Three Jin Xian from different great thousand worlds had melted away just like that...

The elder in the mist reacted quickly, immediately trying to unleash a divine ability to seize Bian Zhuang!

Bian Zhuang's gaze sharpened, his fingers sliding across the nine silver teeth of the shrunken rake, producing a series of light rings.

The elder, about to charge, was startled and quickly examined himself, staring at the black gas that had already infiltrated his primordial spirit without his notice!

"Poison! Someone has poisoned us!"

The elder roared, desperately suppressing the toxin and turning to flee, but as his immortal power surged, his vision darkened, and the black gas in his primordial spirit transformed into a dozen rainbow-colored lights!

Because the angle was perfect, the timing ample, and the opportunity rare, Lü Yue, guided by Li Changsheng, tested over a dozen types of his Great Dao poisonous pills on this elder.

The effect was evidently excellent.

The elder reached out to grab the young Daoist beside him, only to see the young Daoist pale and trembling in the mist!

The sky over the small world suddenly darkened.

The thousands of figures descended into chaos, but the chaos lasted only a moment as nearly a thousand Zhenxian collapsed simultaneously, and over two hundred Tianxian fell without resistance, their primordial spirits wilting into unconsciousness.

—This was Li Changsheng's handiwork, with over twenty paper effigies placed around releasing poison;

The 迷毒 was Lü Yue's creation—colorless, odorless, and not needing great power.

The more than ten Jin Xian among the enemy reacted fastest, trying to escape upon sensing something wrong, but their primordial spirits dissolved, each turning into a pool of black water.

—This was Lü Yue's strike, using his most prized Great Dao poison.

Peace returned inside and outside the small world.

On the high tower, Bian Laofuren and the other elders of Tianya Pavilion watched Li Changsheng and Qin Tianzhu's backs with a hint of shock in their eyes.

In the various pleasure pavilions, some guests had their Dao hearts shaken, some furrowed their brows, and others... might need doses of "Xiong Xin Dan" and "Du Long Wine" for treatment.

The impact on the dozens of Tianya Pavilion experts outside was the greatest; several Jin Xian paled, and the dozens of Tianxian trembled slightly in their Dao hearts.

They had cultivated for so many years, only to melt into black water in an instant, unexplained and unseen...

Bian Zhuang swallowed hard, sighing softly, "Why force my hand?"

In the mist, the elder spat blood and cursed lowly, "Who are you exactly!"

"The deputy commander of the Tianhe Water Army," Bian Zhuang smiled slightly, putting away the Nine-Tooth Nail Rake and delivering his final line, "Oh, and by the way, the young pavilion master of this Tianya Pavilion.

You two seniors, aren't you going to run?"

Immediately, the two old women behind Bian Zhuang moved to advance, but a burst of dazzling golden light flashed around the young Daoist, and a string of prayer beads appeared above his head.

The young Daoist opened his eyes, relying on the treasure to stabilize his heavily injured primordial spirit, and grabbed the elder to leave.

But just then!

A palm materialized out of nowhere, swirling with black wind, and struck the young Daoist's chest in a flash, waves of black gas nearly overwhelming his primordial spirit.

Destroying his Dao foundation and severing his path!

"How dare you!"

The young Daoist gritted his teeth and roared, but he took the full force of the palm, his body turning into a spray of blood light, as if using some escape technique, vanishing into the void in an instant.

As the palm struck, another flash of light appeared nearby; the elder's head flew off, smashing down without any resistance...

The void finally quieted.

Eerie and serene.

Li Changsheng's Jin Xian realm paper effigy sheathed his long sword on his back, while Lü Yue stood beside him with his hands behind his back, a look of regret in his eyes.

It was all part of the act, after all.

Li Changsheng called out loudly, "General Bian, are you alright?"

"Hahaha," Bian Zhuang laughed heartily, though his laughter sounded a bit pale, "Thank you both."

"In that case, we'll take our leave for now. General Bian can show yourself again if needed."

With that, Li Changsheng's Jin Xian realm paper effigy and Lü Yue transformed into two streams of light, flying straight into the void and disappearing in an instant.

Bian Zhuang felt his mouth dry, at a loss for words.

On the high tower, Li Changsheng turned to Bian Laofuren, a slight smile on his lips: "You can handle these intruders as you see fit."

Bian Laofuren's eyes sparkled as she sighed with a laugh,

"The Water God is truly formidable, wiping out a force with a snap of the fingers.

Come, execute all these intruders without mercy; don't leave any alive. Post notices outside: Tianya Pavilion welcomes guests, but not just anyone can cause trouble.

Also, spread the word that my grandson is merely serving in Heaven—let those major powers not overthink it."

The elders and matrons behind her bowed in acknowledgment.

Qin Tianzhu pondered her words carefully before grasping most of their meaning;

This...

Qin Tianzhu's eyes showed a touch of emotion.

He should just stick to his straightforward duties for the Jade Emperor. Chang Geng's world wasn't quite right for him.