The five-element demon was executed. The descendants of the heaven’s cone nails were detained or died tragically. There was only Nineteen who survived out of the four Heavenly Moon disciples.
Without the leadership of the drum sounds, the monsters that covered the entire mountain and wilderness too no longer troubled the cultivators. The monsters were like a falling tide. They fell back and dispersed in all directions. It was unknown if the monsters were lying dormant once again, or if they were creating troubles in the mortal world.
The reinforcement who came to Shiwan Mountain and the survivors from the place of the outer fringe were all in a hopeless situation. When they suddenly received the divine providence, not only did they manage to escape death, but win a victorious battle. Their cheering sound shook the entire mountain valley. All sorts of treasured weapons accompanied by the sound of thunder, continuously resolved into a multitude of colors within the rainstorm akin to fireworks. The Shiwan Mountain that was initially ghastly and sinister, turned into a shimmering immortal mountain in the blink of an eye!
A group of top master cultivators each consumed the Centipede Grass. They held their breaths and concentrated on healing their injuries.
Both Wen Leyang and Chi Maojiu were not severely injured. They were only exhausted and lethargic. They would only need to rest and recuperate for a few days, there was no need to waste the immortal grass on them.
There was a rainstorm in the huge mountain that was washing away the corpses and blood mist. By daybreak, the rainstorm still had no intention to stop. On the contrary, it grew heavier and heavier. There was a sign of mountain torrents, the evil mountain was enshrouded in a gloomy rain mist. The booming sound of water was heard occasionally from afar and up close, tainting the stretch of sky and land with deadly energy!
The sky was dim and dark. The wild burly man suddenly somersaulted. His eyes were as wide as bronze bells. He looked to the large group of cultivators around him. Wen Leyang hastily stood up. Just as he was about to explain the sequence of events, the wild man suddenly screamed out in surprise, “Telegnosis ability! Evil cave! Some idiot bit me?” He stretched out his hand and touched the bite by Chang Li on the back of his neck. He did not pay attention to the crowd around him, or did he bother to ask about what actually happened. He howled wildly all the way, running towards the depth of the huge mountain!
The master cultivators who were depending on the immortal grass to heal their injuries, suddenly opened their eyes. They gazed at one another with a forced smile.
The demon immortals and sword immortals extracted the medicinal effect. They depended on their life vitality to transport and transform the medicinal effect. Their spiritual intelligence was conscious all along, there was no need for them to fall into a coma after consuming the immortal grass like Wen Leyang.
Meanwhile the old monk Ji Fei suddenly squalled. The large troop immediately fled with a loud bang. Thousands of treasured weapons were raised in the blink of an eye. Thousands of people pinched into the magic conjuration gesture and chanted incantation. The entire lone peak turned into a chaotic mess all at once.
The old monk hastily waved his hands, “There is no enemy. It is the place of the outer fringe… the place of the outer fringe has revealed itself!”
The place of the outer fringe that was supposed to be hidden in the void, was slowly revealing its trace. It was akin to a gigantic yet transparent bubble, suddenly appearing before the crowd. A luscious yet magnificent radiance was circulating ceaselessly above the outer shell of the place of the outer fringe. The situation that was taking place inside, was a purgatory without reservation!
On the inside of the place of the outer fringe, layers of divine thunder were closely knit like spider web. Thunder flashed past in a swift yet seemingly unstoppable manner. The monsters that were trapped inside were seized with terror. The monsters widened their mouths as they screamed out in agony soundlessly. Every time the thunder struck, there was a puff of fresh blood that surged skywards. Remnant limbs and flesh could be seen anywhere.
The monsters with mighty strength gathered underneath the waves of heaven’s power. They urged their inherent rare art desperately, resisting and dissolved the thunder. In the end they were still blasted into pieces.
Heaven’s damnation, all matters on earth diminished!
The cultivators who had just encountered a chain of tragic battles were staring in bewilderment at the power of endless punishment.
Although severely injured, Zhui Zi still cracked a gentle smile at Wen Leyang. She explained to him softly, “The endless punishment in the place of the outer fringe has already reached its most intense point. That is why it reveals its form from the void. When the punishment ends, the place of the outer fringe will then shrink and disappear once again, returning to the chaos. It will stay still for millenniums and mega annums. Then it will transform into the small sky and land, that is a whole world of its own once again…”
Zhui Zi was halfway through her speech when she suddenly shut her mouth. She raised her pointy and charming chin, she did not blink once as she looked towards the dark cloudy sky. Within her always piteous gaze, a dash of sinister coldness suddenly exploded, “There is a punishment cloud that has floated here in the sky!”
The endless punishment in the place of the outer fringe, was the business of that small sky and land itself, the punishment cloud would never float to the outside.
Wen Leyang raised his head and looked up to the sky. As expected, within the boundless dark clouds, there was a cloud that was obviously darker in color. It was nauseating, floating in a slow yet heavy pace.
The martial art fanatic San Wei was startled. His gaze was moving back and forth on his group of companions, “Which one amongst all of you, is going to cross the god’s punishment?”
Zhui Zi laughed on the other hand. She enunciated her answer clearly, word by word, “Kong Nuer!” Her laughter was sharp yet agitated. She was like a she-wolf that had lost its young cub, finally picking up the smell of the enemy’s blood!
Wen Leyang’s mind was humming continuously. He inhaled a deep breath and suppressed the shock in his heart desperately, “Kong Nuer… is around here too?”
The five-element demon’s scheme in the place of the outer fringe was related to Kong Nuer’s life and death.
Kong Nuer spent his lifetime fiddling with magic formations. He wanted to depend on the power of magic formation to mitigate the god’s punishment. This time was no exception either, but in the end his plan failed. This immortal master teacher who was supposed to ascend to heaven as an immortal, and depended on despicable means to forcefully remain in the mortal world, was finally going to welcome his own punishment cloud.
That stretch of dark cloud most probably belonged to Kong Nuer. Unless there was another top master cultivator nearby who was about to cross the god’s punishment.
The fat monk Shui Jing swallowed his saliva. He spoke to the old monk Ji Fei, “This punishment cloud… the direction that it is floating towards, is precisely the location where the third group of master cultivators are at.”
The fat monk’s Art of Spirit-Searching found the third group of master cultivators in the huge mountain. Everyone removed the puppets that were led by Red Pot. The descendants of the immortal master teacher led by the five-element demon earlier, believed that the third person was actually the wild burly man.
The violent battle earlier was too horrifying, such that no one had expected that the wild burly man and the five-element demon were actually together. Within the fat monk’s Art of Spirit-Searching, they were the same group of people.
Zhui Zi had never laughed in such a joyous manner. She had never acted ruthlessly even less. She could not care that the injuries on her body had yet to recover by even ten percent. She stood up with great effort. As the wild rain poured, she tracked the punishment cloud as she walked towards the depth of the huge mountain! The cold and sharp water arrows struck her body. It roused up a puff of breathtaking beauty that made one feel pity for!
Ever since the three enlightened persons with the Tian-word generation name from the Black and White Island were murdered, Liu Zheng regarded Zhui Zi as his senior. He chased after her in quick strides and grabbed her arm, “If it were truly Kong Nuer, the situation would be very dangerous…”
If it were truly Kong Nuer who was crossing the punishment, just by depending on his abilities, he may not necessarily involve the people nearby in the great punishment. In the ancient times, there was a legend of a profound cultivator who wished to perish together with the enemy. In the final moment, he released his life vitality to trigger the god’s punishment desperately. Finally he was blasted into stone powder with the enemy.
Unexpectedly, Zhui Zi shook off Liu Zheng’s hand with a wave of her arm. Her voice sounded cold enough to cut through metal, “If I cannot witness his death, then what is the necessity for me to live?”
Wen Leyang too followed to persuade her initially. Upon hearing Zhui Zi’s resolute words he immediately steered over to her side, “That is correct! Let us go and take a look.”
Chang Li burst out laughing, “To be able to witness Kong Nuer get struck by the thunder to death, anything is worthwhile!”, she stood up and followed Zhui Zi.
Hanba too laughed as he stood up. His laughter sounded more dreadful and crueler than a hyena’s cry.
The group of demon immortals and sword immortals stood up. They were clenching their teeth in pain, their eyes were shining brighter than one another. They supported one another, as they could fall down at any moment. Their footsteps did not slow down at all, they left chasing after the punishment cloud.
The large group of cultivators too, became high spirited. They jumped up in disarray and followed. The little supreme leader Liu Zheng was ditched by Zhui Zi. He laughed shyly, then he stretched out his hand to stop the large troop of people. He persuaded them out of kindness, “This is a gravely dangerous matter. Kong Nuer is even less of a trivial person. Please listen to Liu Zheng’s sincere words. If that madman was to launch an attack, not only are all of you incapable of helping, but you will cause the entire cultivation world to be buried with him…”
Before he could finish his sentence, someone from the rogue cultivators became infuriated, “The old father pursued for such a long time. The ending is about to dawn, yet you do not even allow the old father to take a look!”
Liu Zheng was talking to himself. Other than his Kunlun disciples, the rest of the people from the large troop of cultivators pretended not to hear him. Some were chatting and laughing as they passed by…
The punishment cloud floated all the way and guided the personages from almost the entire cultivation world. As they dashed towards the depth of the huge mountain, there were a few occasions the dark cloud on the sky became too thick and heavy. The punishment cloud was concealed, then the fat monk Shui Jing was tasked to show the direction. It was only until the sky darkened once again, the crowd turned into a mountain valley that appeared utterly non eye-catching.
The mountain valley was only the size of half a football field. The moment they entered the place, everyone including the top demon immortals’ and Tuo Xie’s disciples’ telegnosis ability turned into a stretch of misty grey.
Someone had guided in some incisive magic power, concealing everyone’s telegnosis ability. In the mountain valley, they could only see with their eyes, and hear with their ears.
The place was surrounded by hills. The rainstorm converged into a silver-colored water curtain that firmly covered the color of the rock walls. In front of the crowd, there was a cave that could be seen indistinctly on the mountain wall, but the color of the water was too indistinct, no one could see the cave clearly.
The thick and heavy punishment cloud stopped above the mountain wall faintly. It was quiet and did not budge.
Wen Leyang and the few demon immortals stood side by side at the head of the troop. Before them, were a few skeletons that had already lost their skin and flesh, lying messily across the ground. Under the rainwater’s beatings, the skeletons gave out a loud creaking noise that sounded very hollow.
Zhui Zi inhaled a deep breath. Just as she was about to take a step forward, Wen Leyang suddenly stretched out his hand and pulled her behind him. It was unknown if it was due to excitement, or due to fear, that his entire body was trembling vigorously, “There is… a strong poison prohibition spell that seals the place!” He inhaled strenuously, yet his voice quivered, “The grand master grandfather’s… Poison of Aqua Blue!”
There was only silence and the pattering sound of raindrops. The silence capable of urging and seizing the soul.
Chang Li did not speak of a word for a long while. She was so quiet, as if she was trying to suppress herself so much the world would explode. Her body swayed as she dashed towards the land of strong poison. Wen Leyang waved his hand once in exasperation. How was he going to toss Zhui Zi back? How was he going to toss Chang Li back as well?
Chang Li had already lost her spirit and soul. Her body tumbled onto the ground limply and splashed mud water. She also splashed up the sound of a weird cry. No one could tell if it was a cry, a laugh, a sorrowful shout or a savage howl!
Zhui Zi did not even once glance at the others. She glared straight into the indistinct cave. She enunciated her words clearly as she roared softly, “Are you in there? Are you, Kong Nuer?”
A slight droopy voice sounded, as if the person was suffering from a serious sickness, echoed softly, “Lin Li, it is me!”
Zhui Zi gave out a squeak. It was a laugh that sounded like a duck’s quack. Before she could manage to speak, a thick and heavy voice that Wen Leyang seemed to know, asked in puzzlement, “What are you saying?”
The two voices echoed from the cave.
Chang Li squeezed out a hiss from in between her chest ferociously, exerting every ounce of strength for the past two thousand years, “Tuo Xie!” At the same time, the demon cat’s body was blooming with a demonic power that lifted up the heavy downpour in midair!
The barren hill’s rainstorm stopped. The rainwater accumulated into a blue lake. With one drop of crystal clear tear, it soon split up. Following Chang Li’s mouthful of ghastly fresh blood, it crushed everyone’s heart!
Wen Leyang was probing at the strong Poison of Aqua Blue. It was still as sharp and strong as the Desert Rebel Mountain. Moreover, the greatness of the toxicity was not something he was capable of withstanding. If he were to speak courteously, with every single cultivator of the same profession tossed into this tiny mountain valley, there may not necessarily be one person who was capable of dashing into the stone cave.
Kong Nuer’s laughter sounded a little disturbing. His laugher carried a sense of unspeakable comfort, “The cave is casted with my magic spell. He cannot hear the voices from the outside, he can only hear my words.”
Tuo Xie interrupted like he was banging on a drum, “It is useless. It is useless for you to say anything. Unless you die, I will keep continuing my effort to block you.”
Kong Nuer’s tone was unnoticeably helpless, “Two thousand years ago, it was the demon cat who destroyed my demon-suppressing great formation. She ruined my important matter. It was not me who harmed the demon cat. It is also fine that you stopped me for two thousand years, but you ought to speak sensibly anyhow. I am the one at a loss obviously…”
Tuo Xie laughed and spoke, “It is precisely because you were at a loss first. I was afraid that you would seek revenge, that is why I came here to block you.”
Everyone wanted to cry, scream or go mad. Everyone made the same wild guess before. However, no one would dare to believe that the Pickle Jar Tuo Xie, could truly block the immortal master teacher Kong Nuer, with an exceedingly high cultivation base in this mountain valley for two thousand years!
Kong Nuer heaved a sigh. He spoke to the people outside in an amused and angry manner, “This Tuo Xie person, he is very stubborn!”
Tuo Xie did not acknowledge anyone on the outside. He burst out laughing a, “You are an old demon with an exceedingly high cultivation base. In comparison to our mentality, I am weaker than you by thousands of times!”
Kong Nuer chuckled and answered, “You are too modest.”
“However,” Tuo Xie was not courteous at all actually, “I do not care about anything else. I can only confirm one matter – that is to kill you! If I cannot kill you, then I shall never allow you to leave! You can have a hundred obsessions, a thousand schemes, a million thoughts, but it is useless.”
What sort of person was Kong Nuer? He was willing to risk his life to seize the abode of the god level body. He applied small tricks to borrow Qian Ren’s body to trigger the Gou Mang’s spiritual seed. No one in the entire world was worthy to compare to the depths of his scheming and the thoroughness of his plan. He was blocked in the rock cave by Tuo Xie for two thousand years. It was unknown how many methods he had used, yet he was unable to leave the rock cave.
I do not care about anything else, I can only confirm one matter – that is to kill you!
Two thousand years ago, there was one person who was extremely intelligent and another who was stubborn headed. They have been having a match of strength ever since, until now.
Even though he could not see, Wen Leyang could sense that Kong Nuer was shrugging. With a forced smile he said, “The demon cat is outside.”
“I do not believe you.”
Kong Nuer was rather patient, “My scheme had failed. The demon cat led a group of ineffective underlings and killed Second Brother. There should be some of your disciples and disciple’s disciples amongst the troop.”
“I do not believe you!”
Kong Nuer was laughing, “My god’s punishment has already arrived. Yet you are still blocking my way, so you are going to be buried with me.”
“I do not believe you!”
The group of people were greatly startled upon hearing the conversation. The martial art fanatic San Wei raised his flying sword, he suddenly shouted, “Suffer!” His divine sword was akin to the floating light and passing shadow, as it flew towards the small rock cave. He was attempting to remind Tuo Xie that there were people outside.
The flying sword with imposing mannerisms flew until the strong poison prohibition spell hit. It suddenly gave out half a sorrowful hum, it struggled and twisted about, then tumbled onto the ground. It was tainted into the color of aqua blue in the blink of an eye.
The martial art fanatic San Wei screamed out in surprise as he tumbled onto the ground. Even the top sword immortal’s treasured weapon could not pass through the strong poison prohibition spell by Tuo Xie.
Everybody was horrified. They knew that Kong Nuer’s statement about the god’s punishment was true. Chang Li, who was supposed to be the most nervous, had since forgotten where she was. She was kindled with pride and a smile that only belonged to a lover.
Even Hanba who did not care about the relationship between men and women too became impatient, he turned his head to the side and roared softly to Chang Li, “Think of a way quick…”
Chang Li shook her head, “Even if he could see and hear what’s outside… Even if I could tell him about the things that only the both of us knew, he will still say the same words – I do not believe!”
“This person here has never looked back willingly.” Chang Li laughed again, she sounded relaxed, yet brilliant, “All of you do not know him, the decision that he has made and confirmed. He will never change anymore, he will never come out before Kong Nuer is dead.”
Kong Nuer changed his restless tone. He suddenly laughed loudly, “What a good demon cat. You are still the one who knows this pickle jar best. If that is not the case, how will he trap me here for two thousand years?”
Tuo Xie gave out a clanging muffled roar, “Do not give me that, I do not believe you!”
Everyone was concerned about Tuo Xie. There was only Chang Li who remained the calmest after the excitement. She was laughing in a baffling manner, regardless of whether Tuo Xie could hear her, “I like the bustling and dazzling mortal world with its myriad temptations, two thousand years later. It is very interesting. I like the beautiful clothes and shoes two thousand years later. It is very good looking. I like bullying others. The top master cultivators two thousand years later are very simple and honest. I like standing high above the masses. The disciples and disciple’s disciples two thousand years later are also very filial.”
Chang Li stretched out her hand and slowly covered the red scar on her neck, “When I left the mountain cave, I was not afraid that you were dead. If you were dead, then I shall accompany you, it is not a big deal. Yet in the past decade, I have grown more afraid that you are already gone, because I am growing fonder of the world. That is why I hope that you are still alive. So you can accompany me to take a ride on a steamboat as large as a small hill. So you can accompany me to stroll around the mall that is filled with mirrors. So you can accompany me to savor the taste of beer brewed using wheat…”
As she was saying that, Chang Li’s eyes brightened, “There is a place, there is a tower there, that leans for centuries. It has yet to topple. The first time I saw that tower, I could not help but to bend my neck. I was thinking at the time that when I found you, I would certainly make you push over that tower on behalf of me. If it were to topple over, everyone would feel more steady…”
“That is all. Every time I arrive at one place, I will be thinking about how it feels like if you are right beside me. The more I think the happier I become, the more I am unwilling to die. Yet the world is so huge, I just could not find you… I could not find you!”
At this point, Chang Li suddenly bawled.
She only cried once.
“I am addicted to this dazzling human world with its myriad temptations, that is why I am afraid that you are already dead. Not that I am unwilling to leave with you, but I am afraid that the thought of you accompanying me as we live happily ever after, is lost!”
“To feel the willingness, to feel the unwillingness, is this how it feels to be human? All thanks to you!”
“When I am ready to follow you as you leave any time, only then I can finally understand. I am living happily for you. Only then I can live free and unfettered, happily for you!”
“If you were to die, then I will… crash the small hill-like steamboat, collapse the mall that is filled with mirrors, burn all the wheat in the world, push over that leaning tower, then I shall follow you as you leave!”
“Yet right now, you are not dead. I will not shed a tear. I will not fool around. I will not turn mad, I will not feel sad, I will wait for you!”
“I will wait for you to die as well as for you to live. I will wait to accompany you as we travel around the world. I will also wait to bury your corpse. I will wait to bear ten children for you. I will also wait for people to mourn you as a dead parent!”
“I know that you are willing to die for me. The pain I feel in my heart cannot be surpassed. Even if the sky were to collapse at this moment, if all of Tuo Xie’s descendants were to use a cane and as they scold ‘You are the demon witch who caused the death of my family’s grand master’, I will still be feeling proud in my heart secretly. For in the entire world, Tuo Xie, the person that I love, is willing to die for only me alone.”
When she was done speaking her last words, Chang Li stretched out a hand and wiped away the tear mark on her face and the blood stain on the corner of her mouth. Then she pulled out the little supreme leader Liu Zheng’s sword, using it as a mirror to reflect her unsurpassed beauty. She started putting on makeup…