Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 339 - 214: Imprisoning the Dragon in the Well_2

Chapter 339: Chapter 214: Imprisoning the Dragon in the Well_2

Suddenly, Li Yunshang remembered the Taiyin Order on Gu Wen’s body, a thread of spirit light emerging among myriad thoughts.

Perhaps it was possible to enter the Earth Realm to seek a solution.

At this thought, Li Yunshang spoke, "I need to leave for a while, Yu Hua, you must come with me, as well as Ao Tang and the girl from the Sword Control Sect."

Yu Hua suddenly looked up and asked, "Master, may I know why?"

"The Immortal Land is about to close, under the effect of lifespan disaster, even a Demi Immortal staying here for a hundred years would age and die."

Li Yunshang’s reply made Yu Hua frown deeply, her lips parted slightly as if wanting to say more, but she was sharply interrupted,

"Both you and Ao Tang’s foundations have been damaged, staying here might lead to an even earlier death than my disciple. Now, you cannot afford to be capricious."

Gu Wen supported by saying, "Listen to Master. Now that there are no enemies in the Immortal Land, there’s no use in you staying. Staying only adds more to eat."

Yu Hua gave Gu Wen a deep look, her skirt rustled slightly, and she stomped on his foot. He, shameless, smiled and felt no pain at all.

She suddenly missed the days in Bianjing where she could freely manipulate and mold this slippery fish.

Finally, Yu Hua didn’t cause any more trouble and bowed her head, saying, "I will heed the Master’s decree."

-----------------

Three days later, Li Yunshang left with his followers, causing a great commotion.

Yu Hua disappeared without a trace, Chi Yu Zi leapt a hundred zhang high trying to escape, but all were inevitably captured by Li Yunshang, each with a large bump on their head.

The group trod upon clouds of rosy mist, and Gu Wen waved to them from the fields.

Yu Hua’s brows were tightly knit, appearing never to have relaxed since three days ago, displaying a helpless look starkly contrasting her usual poise. Her gaze fixed on Gu Wen, her thoughts like vines sprouting from the ground, wrapping around his legs.

She seriously said, "I will come back."

Having come this far, she was the cause of all effects and, in any case, could not live alone.

Gu Wen smiled faintly, giving no direct reply, but instead suggested, "How about I escort you a part of the way, just as you once took me to the dome."

With that, a red dragon flew out of his sleeve, lifting the clouds beneath them with its claws, soaring directly into the Nine Heavens through the Flying Escape.

In Bianjing, a million people could look up and see a giant dragon ascending, followed immediately by white jade-like chains emerging from all directions in the void, locking onto the dragon’s body to prevent the True Dragon from wandering the Nine Heavens.

The two forces struggled, shaking the void. Great powers from all corners cast their gazes, assuming it was Gu Wen’s first attempt.

In the Jianmu Sea of Monsters, Jianmu dropped a branch once again, turning into an ordinary-looking man.

His gaze spanned a billion li, watching as a red light flared from the Immortal Land no larger than a well’s mouth, murmuring softly, "Ninety-nine fulfilled, the pinnacle of this era, the foremost under heaven."

Boom!

The world shook, the Red Dragon roared long, dragging countless chains into the sky, entering the clouds as if swimming.

Marks appeared on Gu Wen’s body, blood seeping through his skin, but he no longer felt any pain, and merely dirtied his clothes.

"In the past, you told me, ’To Flying Escape from the Immortal Land requires bearing the weight of heaven and earth, entering the Nine Heavens, a feat possible only for an Immortal.’ Now, I haven’t ascended to the Immortal Realm, but these ninety-nine foundations are sufficient!"

His voice traveled through the fierce wind, the city of Bianjing shrinking below his feet, the blue sky drawing nearer above his head.

Yu Hua looked up at the figure above the Dragon Head, the mortal who once huddled in her arms, now capable of reaching the Nine Heavens.

"In the Immortal Land today, he is akin to a True Immortal in the mortal world.

"Thanks to my Fellow Daoist, I have witnessed the vastness of cultivation; to hear the Dao in the morning and die in the evening is enough!"

Gu Wen raised his hand and tore through the heaven, and in an instant, the cosmic light reflected across, revealing once again the scenery of the Cultivation World.

Above the firmament, there were trees standing tens of thousands of zhang tall, Immortal Mountains floating vaguely in the void, the limitless lands of the Eight Directions, like Grotto Heavens hung amidst the stars.

"Wait for me a hundred years, and I will walk this vast world with you."

Yun Xia slowly passed through the boundary wall, the thin, membrane-like layer refracting light, momentarily magnifying everyone’s figures a hundredfold.

Gu Wen looked up at them, like a frog at the bottom of a well.

He couldn’t help but stretch out his hand towards the boundary wall, his fingertips touching it, the chains on his body abruptly pulling downward.

As if each chain bore a mountain, they tore at his skin, his flesh became blurry, and his bones cracked.

He endured only a single breath before the dharma form of the Red Dragon disappeared, and Gu Wen uncontrollably began to fall.

Watching his slowly descending figure, many among the onlookers quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

At least this monster didn’t go out. One Qingcang had already scared everyone enough, another one would likely mean no one could rise again.

-----------------

Outside Immortal Land, Two Realms City.

Qingcang stood suspended in the air, his eyes losing their softness, leaving only indifference and authority.

Every Devil in the city was so frightened they fell to the ground, and soon a strong smell of urine permeated the air.

Wu Kong emerged from the void, cupped his hands, and said, "Qingcang, Fellow Daoist, about the matter of the Devil Clan, when can we officially discuss it? Fox Fairy has been waiting for a year."

"Fox Fairy?"

Qingcang’s face showed a hint of contemplation, and then his gaze moved to a building inside the city, where he saw a beautiful woman looking at him.

The familiar face, the annoying aura, and the emergence of past memories made Qingcang somewhat stunned.

"Let’s talk then, I might indeed need some help."

Now she was no longer alone; having disciples she cared about meant she had vulnerabilities. Qingcang was eager to find a solution, no longer able to concentrate fully on things as before.

Entering the Two Realms City, inside an attic of the Jade Court under drooping curtains, Fox Fairy was leisurely swaying her tails.

Qingcang stepped in. Her simple hemp Daoist robe contrasted starkly with Fox Fairy’s splendid robes. Her hair simply tied up, her plain pale face oddly seemed more attractive than Fox Fairy’s.

The two looked at each other for a long time, with Fox Fairy taking the lead to speak, "You are still the same as before."

Qingcang answered indifferently, "You didn’t have nine tails before."

"Pedantic," muttered Fox Fairy, and without arguing further, she said, "Now, as Jianmu gathers the energy of the Saint’s Artifact, it is greatly weakened, maybe we have a chance to injure it more severely, perhaps irrecoverably even for a hundred thousand years."

"I have delved deep into the roots of Jianmu to inspect them..."

The voice penetrated his ears; Qingcang could listen and remember.

But most of his Divine Thoughts had flown out beyond the heavens, fallen into the Immortal Land that was like the bottom of a well, turning into a gentle breeze rustling across the fields where a lone Daoist with a packed bag was leaving home.

He faced the sunrise, barefoot on the earth, his ordinary face carrying a calmness identical to his own.

Yet at this moment, all he had left was a feeling of deep frustration.

A green leaf drifted by, carrying a message unnoticeable even to immortals.

Jianmu had sent a message.

"The living endure the pain of the dead, bearing old hatreds and harboring sorrow; they are both complete and lacking."

"Qingcang, you are already lacking completeness; you have already lost."

-----------------

Nanshui, Jiang Family Village.

The village was gone, and all animals had scattered.

What was once a land thriving with dragons had nothing left but a bamboo forest estate. A minor official sat dozing at the gate, suddenly awakened by the sound of the opening door.

He looked up to see an ordinary man stepping into the yard, and the gate, which hadn’t been opened in decades, had now been opened.

Nanshui was on the frontier, yet every year angels came from Bianjing to inspect the area. This attracted many unscrupulous wanderers, and some suggested guarding this place with the protocol used for royal tombs.

The late Emperor, unwilling to burden the citizens, had simply demolished the entire Jiang Family Village, leaving only this small yard.

The small yard, as untouchable as iron, climbing the walls as difficult as scaling mountains, its house enduring ten years undamaged, gave rise to rumors that an immortal lived inside.

After all, Daxia had been founded only decades ago, and many still lived who had seen Gu Wen and others pushing down city walls. Perhaps in another generation, they would turn into temple statues, and after two more generations, the statues would no longer bear any relation to them.

The minor official, coming back to his senses, repeatedly kowtowed, "This commoner has seen the immortal, seen the immortal."

The man turned his head to look at him and smiled, "Layperson, this place worships neither gods nor immortals."

Quick-witted, the official quickly asked, "May I ask, great immortal, what divine being is worshipped here? From now on, I will worship day and night."

"I am Red Dust, neither divine nor holy."

Gu Wen stepped into the courtyard, his gaze reaching the stone table under the courtyard tree, where vaguely the silhouette of someone appeared.

That year, as a youth, he conspired to slay a General of Daqian under his horse.

He sat down on the stone stool, slowly took a deep breath, and smiled, "Later on, I even killed the damned Emperor."