Chapter 507: Ah, This Spring's Breath

“Good one, Li Changgeng! If you don’t explain yourself today, I won’t let this go!”

Beneath the Blood Sea light pillar, at the edge of the great city, within the area covered by the Taiji Tu.

The charred Taiyi Zhenren pointed at the nearby sleeping Yunxiao Xianzi and others, cursing at Li Changgeng.

“What’s the meaning of this? You just used me as a test subject!

That was tianfa!

Do you think everyone is like you, the Daozu’s favorite grandson, getting struck a couple of times just to get used to it?

Hiss— it hurts!”

Li Changgeng stood nearby, repeatedly bowing and smiling apologetically.

“Ah…”

On the other side, Bai Ze smoothed his flowing hair, wiped his face, and with tears in his eyes, trimmed his goatee even shorter. He looked at himself in the condensed mirror from every angle, full of melancholy.

He never imagined that as a auspicious beast skilled in seeking fortune and avoiding disaster, he would one day be struck by tianfa.

Following the Water God around truly brought experiences he couldn’t have imagined before, and his beastly life was gradually becoming complete…

After ranting for a while, Taiyi Zhenren calmed down. He folded his arms and sat next to Bai Ze, sulking, while adjusting his own breath. He glanced toward the distant grand hall.

Taiyi Zhenren said:

“What do we do now? Wait for our senior brothers to wake up?”

“It’s too late,” Li Changgeng replied, standing on the broken wall and gazing at the murky Blood Sea above.

No sooner had he spoken than the Blood Sea churned, and figures leaped out one after another, rushing toward the blood-colored light pillar relentlessly.

The men, women, elderly, and children of the Xiuluo Zu all had expressionless faces, their eyes filled with blood light. The moment they collided with the pillar, their bodies dissolved.

Even their faint true spirits were swallowed by the pillar.

Li Changgeng’s face turned somewhat stern, but he didn’t panic. He turned and jumped back to where Bai Ze and Taiyi Zhenren were.

Taiyi Zhenren gritted his teeth and scolded:

“Then why, when you were hit by tianfa earlier, didn’t you drag more people in? You only pulled me and Bai Ze!”

“It’s because we’re close friends, so it’s easier to explain,” Li Changgeng said with a narrowed-eyed smile.

“You just think the others aren’t up to it! And you’re still smiling!”

Bai Ze quickly interjected:

“Stay calm, stay calm. Taiyi Daoist friend, don’t be so hasty.

Think about it carefully. The Water God’s choice just now was really out of necessity.

As for the senior brothers of the Three Teachings, let’s not even mention them. Among those present—or rather, lying down—who isn’t proud and arrogant? If they don’t break free from the dream on their own, it would affect their dao hearts.”

Hearing this, Taiyi Zhenren nodded in agreement, but the more he thought about it, the more off it felt.

Was he, Taiyi Zhenren of the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Jiao, not worthy of being proud and arrogant…?

Taiyi Zhenren sighed in resignation, then frowned at Li Changgeng, asking the question that even Bai Ze was curious about.

“Li Changgeng, how did you escape so quickly?”

Li Changgeng smiled calmly, standing with his hands behind his back, his long hair fluttering behind him, as if enveloped in a halo of light.

He said:

“Every day, I reflect on myself thirty times: Was this right? Was there calculation involved? Is it stable enough?

So, when something goes too smoothly, or develops exactly as I expected in my heart, I reflect on myself.

Remember, the enemy isn’t foolish and won’t surrender easily. They’ll go with the flow and guide things. Everything is in the midst of a game, and the most common game is a tug-of-war.

Nothing is ever purely black and white, and you can’t win every scheme completely. Overall, succeeding seventy or eighty percent in a matter is already quite difficult.

But in the dream, everything arises from my own thoughts—it’s all the scenes I subconsciously want to see.

For me, it’s much easier to break than an ordinary illusion array.”

Pausing his words, Li Changgeng turned to Taiyi Zhenren and Bai Ze, who both had somewhat dazed expressions…

Li Changgeng said warmly:

“Don’t worry, I’ve already informed His Majesty the Jade Emperor, as well as several experts from Chan Jiao and Jie Jiao. There should be over twenty masters from both teachings on their way.”

Taiyi Zhenren frowned and asked:

“Are they coming here to enter the dream?”

Li Changgeng pondered for a moment and looked beyond the Taiji Tu.

That origin shenqi couldn’t be detected or probed, and he didn’t know how much origin shenqi remained outside the Taiji Tu. This place was truly…

A treasure trove!

This origin shenqi was practically a perfect self-defense tool!

Even a great mage with such a high dao realm fell for it unknowingly, and even Taye and Tu Lao Da couldn’t react in time!

What was missing from his Xiao Qiong Peak composite defense array?

It was exactly this kind of shenqi!

If he could find a way to collect some…

Bai Ze muttered:

“It seems the Water God is even more interested in this shenqi than in the Honglian.”

“How could that be?”

Li Changgeng shook his head, then looked up at the Xiuluo Zu members crashing into the light pillar, and sighed:

“These are also living beings recognized by the Six Paths of Reincarnation. We need to think of a way to handle this.”

Taiyi Zhenren chuckled:

“Heh, Heavenly Court’s righteous god.”

Li Changgeng glanced at Taiyi Zhenren and replied with a smile:

“Heh, innate spirit.”

Bai Ze pinched his goatee and chuckled beside them.

Li Changgeng lifted the hem of his dao robe and sat cross-legged in the center of the Taiji Tu’s coverage area. He said:

“Before our reinforcements arrive, I need to find a way to break through this layer of shenqi. Otherwise, we can’t approach the Honglian.

Mr. Bai, once Tu Lao Da wraps you in yin-yang qi and sends you to the periphery, contact the Jinchi Dapeng Niao. If his injuries have mostly healed, have him bring some experts here first and try to keep the Xiuluo Zu at bay.”

“Understood,” Bai Ze replied with a fist salute, his expression extremely serious.

Taiyi Zhenren asked:

“What about me? What do I need to do?”

“Don’t rush, senior brother. You’ll have a big role later.”

As Li Changgeng spoke with his eyes closed, several streams of light flew from his sleeve, transforming into several paper daoist soldiers at the late Tianxian realm. They flew out of the Taiji Tu’s coverage.

Suddenly, a wave of drowsiness entered his brow. Li Changgeng thought to himself how powerful it was, and he condensed a thunderbolt in his palm, striking his own rear end. His body was instantly surrounded by electric light, and he felt invigorated.

Just a wisp of yuan Shen power encountering the origin shenqi had almost made his main body fall into the dream…

The Chaos Sea was truly too dangerous. It was better to cultivate honestly in the Honghuang.

As for why he struck his rear end…

Nothing else, just more flesh there.

These paper daoist soldiers charged forward, ascended, or darted left and right, each releasing more paper daoist soldiers from their sleeves.

Li Changgeng continuously sensed the subtle reactions of each paper daoist soldier while maintaining the thunder attacks on himself.

His hair stood on end strand by strand, making him look like a thunder god.

Taiyi Zhenren watched from the side and softly praised:

“This incarnation technique is truly unique in the Three Realms.”

Then, he asked the question that the four shadowy figures in the ruined grand hall, observing the outside, were also pondering:

“What is the Water God doing?”

Unfortunately, while Taiyi Zhenren had Bai Ze to explain, the others could only speculate wildly.

Bai Ze said:

“He might be probing the range of the shenqi’s influence, but that’s just the ordinary explanation.

Based on the Water God’s usual unconventional thinking, he could also be adapting his yuan Shen to the shenqi, exploring its properties to see if it can be detected or collected for self-defense.”

Taiyi Zhenren thought: …

They were indeed different.

‘That ox demon didn’t follow?’

In a certain part of the Blood Sea, the silver-haired girl scanned her surroundings with some uncertainty, clutching the treasure sword in her arms tightly.

What a powerful ox demon. Could he be an ancient great yaozu?

That ring could actually seal the Yuantu Jian. Though the Yuantu Jian hadn’t recognized her as its master and couldn’t unleash its full power, it was genuinely a top-grade innate spirit treasure…

The girl lowered her head and rubbed her cheek against the sword hilt, took a light breath, and was about to tiptoe away to protect her ancestor.

No one understood how to escape through the Blood Sea better than the creatures of the Blood Sea!

“Dao friend— ha ha ha ha!”

The silver-haired girl stumbled, nearly drifting sideways in the Blood Sea.

She gritted her silver teeth and turned toward the source of the voice. There, the Blood Sea waters parted to the sides as a burly man with horns on his head and a nose ring charged forward, waving enthusiastically.

“Hmph!”

The silver-haired girl gripped the sword hilt, fully on guard. Though she knew she was no match for this ox, she had the pride of a Xiuluo Zu princess.

The silver-haired girl whispered:

“If you want to kill or capture me, just make it quick!”

The azure ox braked sharply and stopped in front of the girl.

Now dressed in a fresh blue-green robe, he had already tidied his once messy long hair into smooth strands.

Taking advantage of the earlier moment, he had even bathed, sprayed on some fragrance powder, and sprinkled powder from a spirit pill refined by Taishang Laojun on himself to add a subtle scent.

The azure ox recalled how, when he carried Laojun out, Laojun used his techniques to observe Li Changgeng’s reactions to Yunxiao Xianzi…

He forced a elegant smile, flicked the air bangs on his forehead, and said warmly:

“Dao friend, what happened earlier was purely a misunderstanding. I’m not here to kill or capture you; I just want to get to know you.”

“Disgusting!”

The silver-haired girl snorted, lowered her head, and sped off, transforming into a streak of light.

“Hey…”

The azure ox reached out to stop her but could only watch as the silver-haired girl disappeared, his bright cow eyes full of tenderness.

“Even when you scold, you look so good… Dao friend, wait for me!”

With a step, the azure ox chased after her, his speed through the Blood Sea steadily surpassing the silver-haired girl’s.

This made her grit her teeth, yet she didn’t dare provoke this “ancient yaozu great power.”

And so…

The azure ox swam breaststroke, butterfly stroke, freestyle, and backstroke, easily keeping pace with the silver-haired girl.

He smiled, chuckled, and gazed deeply, asking her name, where she lived, how many in her family, if her parents were still around, and if she’d like to wander around with him to get to know each other.

Of course, all he got in return were the silver-haired girl’s looks of disgust and rejection, along with:

“Disgusting!”

“Scoundrel!”

“You’re a senior acting without any expert demeanor!”

Fortunately, the term “pervert” wasn’t popular in Honghuang, or the azure ox would have won that title hands down.

After rushing forward for who knows how many thousands of li, the silver-haired girl stopped, at her limit. With a clang, she drew the Yuantu Jian three inches and snapped:

“What exactly do you want?”

The azure ox instinctively pressed his nose ring, gave an awkward laugh, then looked sincere. In a deep, masculine baritone, he mooed:

“Dao friend, I think I’ve entered a tribulation.”

The silver-haired girl furrowed her delicate brows, slightly puzzled.

The azure ox grinned:

“A tribulation destined to be spent with you.”

“Get lost!”

“Apologies, even when you’re angry, you’re captivating,” the azure ox shook his head in admiration and said warmly, “Won’t you try to understand me? Maybe I fit your criteria for a dao companion.”

The silver-haired girl gritted her teeth and scolded:

“I don’t want to! Everything I have comes from my father; dao companions have nothing to do with me!”

“Oh?”

The azure ox suddenly thought of how Li Changgeng faced saints with ease, and recalled the Ren Jiao scriptures he had heard and comprehended when Taishang Laojun taught the great mage. He said seriously:

“Dao friend, the influence you’ve received seems inappropriate. While our bodies and skin come from our parents, and filial piety is the foremost virtue,

We are independent beings after birth. We should respect and honor our parents, but we must also maintain our own selves and not be controlled by them.

We are not attachments to anyone, nor are we possessions of others. Your parents truly didn’t handle this well…”

“Shut up!”

The girl straightened her chest and lifted her chin, snapping fiercely:

“How would you know me if you’re not me? This is the reason for my existence, my fate!

I have urgent matters today. If you won’t kill or capture me, stop following me!”

The azure ox said:

“Dao friend, what’s your urgent matter? Let me go with you and help out?”

“Get lost!”

The silver-haired girl drew the Yuantu Jian fully and said:

“Otherwise, let’s fight to the death right here!”

“Don’t get worked up, be calm, be calm,” the azure ox waved his hands repeatedly, stepped back a few paces, and asked weakly, “Then, can I at least leave a transmission jade talisman?”

“Hmph!”

The girl turned and left, tiptoeing away in a flash of red and white light, vanishing into the depths of the Blood Sea.

“Ah…”

The azure ox sighed dejectedly, standing there for a long time, memorizing the girl’s aura.

‘Once the Honglian matter in the Blood Sea is settled, I’ll ask Li Changgeng for advice when he’s free.’

A shrill cry suddenly came from above. The azure ox blinked and flashed away, breaking through waves of the Blood Sea.

The Jinchi Dapeng Niao was circling in the air, with three or four figures on its back. A message from the great peng bird entered the azure ox’s ear, energizing him.

‘Azure Ox senior, my teacher and the others are in trouble and need our reinforcements.

I’ve already picked up Qiongxiao Xianzi and Guiling Shengmu from Jie Jiao, and Chijingzi and Huanglong Zhenren from Chan Jiao!

We’re not far from where my teacher is.’

The azure ox leaped up and landed steadily on the Jinchi Dapeng Niao’s back.

First things first, handle the main task, or he might lose his peaches and spirit pills as cattle feed.

However, to the azure ox’s surprise…

The Jinchi Dapeng Niao spread its wings and flew swiftly, quickly entering the Blood Sea and heading toward the edge of the great city.

In moments, they met Bai Ze, who had just been protected out of the city by the Taiji Tu. Bai Ze briefly explained the shenqi situation and assigned tasks as per Li Changgeng’s instructions.

The Jinchi Dapeng Niao had speed but hadn’t fully recovered from its injuries, and Guiling Shengmu’s divine abilities were like a defensive post-heaven treasure, so they stayed on the periphery to stop the Xiuluo Zu from approaching the light pillar.

The azure ox and Qiongxiao Xianzi went inside to assist, and once Li Changgeng found a way to break the shenqi, they would seize the Honglian.

Qiongxiao knew this was serious and put away her playful nature, her pretty face full of focus as she took out her Jinjiao Scissors.

Two streams of yin-yang qi flew over, bringing Qiongxiao and the azure ox into the city and landing them in a corner of the broken wall, where they met Li Changgeng.

Bai Ze pulled the Jinchi Dapeng Niao’s arm, his face solemn as he whispered a few words.

The Jinchi Dapeng Niao nodded and said softly:

“Don’t worry, Mr. Bai. I know what to do. If necessary, I won’t show mercy.”

Guiling Shengmu pursed her lips and said gently:

“The Xiuluo Zu are also living beings. Shouldn’t we…”

“Let’s do our best.”

Bai Ze smiled:

“The Water God said something similar, which is why he had us block here.”

The Jinchi Dapeng Niao asked:

“Can’t that light pillar be destroyed directly?”

“Earlier, the Water God’s incarnation tried it, but it was useless,” Bai Ze replied. “It’s just a projection from the twelve-grade Honglian…

Another group of Xiuluo Zu is coming; there will be more and more. Stop them.”

The Jinchi Dapeng Niao nodded, turned, and sped through the Blood Sea, its wings flapping to stir up massive waves on all sides, making the Blood Sea boil.

Just then, a flash of white light broke through the waves, rushing toward the great city.

The Jinchi Dapeng Niao’s narrow eyes narrowed slightly. Without waiting for Bai Ze, it dove swiftly.

The slender figure in the white light showed no fear, eyes focused, ready to draw her sword!

But the Jinchi Dapeng Niao was too fast; the girl couldn’t react in time. Their shadows crossed…

“Jin Peng!”

An urgent shout came from the edge of the great city, and the Jinchi Dapeng Niao pulled back just in time.

With an “ouch,” it sealed the girl’s powers, grabbed her by the neck, flashed back to Bai Ze’s side, and set the captured girl down at Bai Ze’s feet.

The Jinchi Dapeng Niao then turned and dashed away gracefully, continuing to stir up waves to block the Xiuluo Zu.

“Yuantu Jian?”

Bai Ze frowned at the treasure sword in the girl’s arms, then turned to the burly figure on the broken wall.

The azure ox rubbed his cow nose awkwardly, his face almost turning red, shifted his legs, and whispered:

“This is…

A friend I made among the Xiuluo Zu. Can we not kill her…?”

Below the broken wall, Li Changgeng, who had just figured out how to break the shenqi, opened his eyes and looked at the azure ox.

Beside him, Taiyi Zhenren elbowed Li Changgeng’s arm and winked.

“Even the Ren Jiao mount is finding a dao companion?”

Li Changgeng felt a bit speechless but also noticed the Yuantu Jian. After thinking for a moment, a slight smile appeared at his lips.

Scheming could wait; the azure ox having romantic feelings was no small matter. If handled poorly, it could affect whether his teacher and Laojun traveled safely.

From what he knew of the Journey to the West tribulation, did the azure ox have a wife?

He really didn’t recall anything.

But logically, this silver-haired girl was probably a Xiuluo Zu expert and had nothing to do with the Journey to the West story…