Love & Redemption
Chapter 228: Volume 5 Phoenix Flower Blooms, - 35 Jun Tian Sea Strategy (Part 8)

Chapter 228: Volume 5 Phoenix Flower Blooms, Chapter 35 Jun Tian Sea Strategy (Part 8)

Huh, I got it wrong. It seems the promotion starts on the 26th, so I’ll update two Chapters today and three more in the next two days.

Sorry~~ I’ve been running low on drafts recently, so I can only update two Chapters today. I’ll save the triple update for the promotion period.

I’m working hard on writing!!

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Wuzhiqi seemed a bit confused too. He stopped chasing—actually, he had never intended to kill anyone. It was just a whim to scare people. Seeing that the blood mist stopped right at the doorframe to the exact inch, neither entering nor receding, like something alive. He couldn’t help but open the window and reached out to test it. His fingertip touched the blood mist, and there was a "sizzle," with a stinging pain as if something were corroding it.

He turned around thoughtfully, sucking gently on his fingertip. Zi Hu wrapped her arms around his, her expression filled with fear, and asked in a low voice, "What is that...?" He gently pushed her away and said, "Stay with Xuanji and the others. Don’t come over. It’s dangerous." Then, he suddenly spoke out loudly, "I haven’t seen you in a thousand years, yet your skill at playing tricks and posing as a god or ghost hasn’t diminished! Since you’re here, why not come out clearly? What’s with this blood mist? Do you see how many innocent people have died?"

Before he could finish, someone outside barked angrily, "Shut up!" And then from the dense blood-colored fog, a tall figure emerged, slowly entering the inn. In an instant, everyone’s gaze converged on this person—he was dressed in a bright red armor, tall and imposing with sleek and shiny long hair, exuding an air of valor. Upon entering, he didn’t look at anyone else and pointed his sword directly at Wuzhiqi’s nose, shouting, "You monkey! How dare you escape from prison! Will you not surrender at once?!" He projected absolute authority and style. Yet for some reason, everyone felt an urge to laugh.

Seeing that Wuzhiqi was picking his nose and ignoring him, the man grew even angrier and roared, "You monkey! I am speaking to you!"

Zi Hu couldn’t help but let out a "Pfft" of laughter and, noticing the man’s ugly expression, quickly covered her mouth and retreated several steps. Wuzhiqi rolled his eyes and said, "Please, it’s been a thousand years. Haven’t you progressed at all? This isn’t a stage. Which act are you putting on with that pompous tone?"

"How dare you! Do you want to die!" the man continued to shout as if he was still performing on stage, causing even Yu Sifeng to let out a few low chuckles. Observing the man closely, he noticed that despite his tall stature and heroic composure, there was an empty spot on his right arm, with the sleeve hanging empty. A thought struck him, recalling that Wuzhiqi had mentioned when he was drunk that he’d killed Xuanwu and even cut off Vermilion Bird’s arm. Could it be, this man clad in fiery red was none other than Vermilion Bird, the Divine General of Heaven?

Wuzhiqi laughed aloud, placing his hands together and mimicking Vermilion Bird’s pompous tone with a strange voice, "Ha! You immortal! Are you looking to lose another arm?"

His demeanor was just too comical and amusing, and for a moment, everyone in the inn forgot about the danger, finding the current situation both bizarre and funny. They couldn’t help but snicker secretly. Vermilion Bird’s face turned from red to white, and after a long while, he gritted his teeth and said, "Are you making a laughingstock out of me?!" His tone was surprisingly normal and menacing; it seems that he only regained his normal voice when angry, truly a strange person.

Wuzhiqi sat down on a chair with a thud, continuing to pick his nose and mumbled, "Alright, enough with the nonsense. Why have you come down here? Did the old Heavenly Emperor send you to catch me? Or to take back the War Gods?"

Vermilion Bird said coldly, "Neither! I have descended to the Lower Realm by the order of Emperor Bai to reclaim the Juntian Ring back to the Heavenly Palace; it must not remain in the Lower Realm."

"Oh?" Wuzhiqi was somewhat surprised and wondered, "Just the Juntian Ring? Not the Sea Control Hook? Emperor Bai is quite generous, huh! So he really intends to give the Sea Control Hook to me?"

"How dare you!" the Vermilion Bird roared again, "You have provoked us time and again, and now you’ve committed the grave crime of theft. You should have been executed! If not for the heavens’ merciful nature and the Heavenly Emperor’s pity for your lone bravery, you would have died ten times over by now! Yet you still have the audacity to bargain! Bring the Juntian Ring here at once!"

Wuzhiqi slipped off the Juntian Ring and flicked it back and forth on his finger, laughing, "I won’t hand it over! If you have the ability, come and snatch it. If you manage to get it, I’ll return the Sea Control Hook to you without a word!"

The expression of the Vermilion Bird shifted slightly, as if he was about to make a move, when suddenly, a provocative voice from behind him said, "Hold on! Since it’s the esteemed Divine General speaking, I have a few questions!" He turned around and saw a man in a green robe wearing a Shura mask standing there, the Vice Palace Master of Li Ze Palace. The Vermilion Bird could not sense any demon energy from them and took them for mere mortals, thus he said, "Ask!"

The Vice Palace Master spoke sternly, "May I dare to ask the Divine General, has Li Ze Palace committed some heinous crime against the heavens? Why subject us to such cruel punishment?" He pointed to the disciples of Li Ze Palace, crying at the entrance after having escaped through the door, wounded by the blood mist, some with half of their bodies corroded away. Unable to die just yet, all they could do was wail in agony, to an extreme degree of cruelty.

The face of the Vermilion Bird turned exceedingly unpleasant, and after a long moment, he scratched his slick, shiny hair and said in annoyance, "This General... didn’t expect them to suddenly come out... Well, this General..." He hemmed and hawed, unable to articulate a proper reason, sweating profusely with anxiety. Unlike brutes like Tengshe, he was not keen on killing for no reason. He had merely created a blood mist to fabricate a mysterious atmosphere and envelop the inn within a barrier that severed connection with the outside world, never expecting to kill so many people.

After regretting for a long while, he finally let out a long sigh and said, "Enough, it was this General’s fault. I owe you an apology. Once I return to the Heavenly Court, I shall admit my guilt to Emperor Bai. Those who died unjustly will be blessed in their next lives. Be at ease."

The Vermilion Bird was considered one of the most honest immortals in Heaven, unlike Yuan Lang with his scheming mind and impetuous brutes like Tengshe. Anything he promised, he would see through to the end. He said he would admit his guilt, and he certainly would. Wuzhiqi believed that much and said with a smile, "You’re still so honest! Seeing you like this, it’s hard for me to even consider fighting you! Fine, I’ll return the Juntian Ring to you!"

He tossed the Juntian Ring high into the air, flinging it toward the Vermilion Bird. Unexpectedly, a blue figure darted like lightning, intercepting the Juntian Ring midway. The Vermilion Bird cried out loudly, drawing his sword and pointing it at the person’s neck. Seeing it was the Vice Palace Master who had previously asked the question, he paused for a moment and said coldly, "This is a Divine Artifact, not to be toyed with! Hand it over at once!"

The Vice Palace Master grasped the Juntian Ring tightly, feeling a searing heat in his palm, as endless power surged through his limbs. He laughed heartily, "The Juntian Ring! It truly is the Juntian Ring!" As the Vermilion Bird reached out to snatch it back, he lightly tapped the ground, floating three feet off the earth and flying up, while laughing, "Divine General, do not forget what you promised the Golden Winged Bird clan a thousand years ago! With my power now, am I not deserving of ascending to Heaven?"

As soon as the words fell, the sound of his clothes tearing apart could be heard. The clothes on his upper body shredded, falling to the ground and revealing two rows of black beads under his ribs. He slipped the Juntian Ring onto his wrist, dodged the Vermilion Bird’s long sword, and with his hands spread slightly like a pair of wings, he glided a great distance away. Then, with a series of clinking sounds, the black beads from under his ribs fell to the ground one by one. Xuanji and Yu Sifeng, upon seeing this scene, couldn’t help but tighten their grip on each other’s hands—they both remembered the painful memories from Fuyu Island two years ago; fortunately, it was all in the past now.

The Vermilion Bird gave chase for a couple of steps, but suddenly realized something was amiss and abruptly stopped, exclaiming sharply, "You’re no mortal! You’re a demon!"

The Vice Palace Master’s body was entirely enveloped in a fierce golden light, strength surging like a vast sea throughout his blood vessels. He steadied the Juntian Ring in his hand, and the six golden wings on his back, each spanning twenty to thirty feet, flapped vigorously. With their movement, screams filled the air, and whether they were disciples of Li Ze Palace or the poor mortals crouching fearfully in the corners, any contact with the wings resulted in severe maiming. The Vice Palace Master paid no heed to the horrors around him, completely immersed in the joy of his burgeoning power.

"Divine General, what does it matter so much whether one is a demon, a human, or an immortal? As long as one has the power and loyalty to serve Heaven, what harm is there in being a demon? Li Ze Palace... no! I have waited a thousand years! Come! Take me to the Heavenly Court at once! I am willing to serve the Heavenly Emperor and fight against the demons!"

The Vermilion Bird frowned and said, "A demon like you, who mindlessly slaughters innocents and is led by the nose by demon power, talks of serving the Heavenly Emperor! Let me repeat, the Juntian Ring is a Divine Artifact of Heaven! Return it immediately, or do not blame this General for being inhospitable!"

Before he could finish speaking, he felt a heavy pat on his shoulder. He turned around abruptly, only to see the bright, glistening eyes of Wuzhiqi fixated on the Vice Palace Master. "How audacious, Monkey, what are you attempting to..." Before he could finish shouting, Wuzhiqi had covered his mouth, with a mischievous smile, whispering, "No need to shout, see who I’ve found! Yuan Lang, you’re actually still alive?"