Please, Young Master, Slay the Demon!
Chapter 871 - 81: Trouble Brewing [Vote for Monthly Pass!]

Chapter 871: Chapter 81: Trouble Brewing [Vote for Monthly Pass!]

The word "Wen Yuan" alone sent Daoist Cang Sheng’s blood pressure skyrocketing.

He no longer wanted to pursue the matter with Chu Liang, not only because he realized it was impossible to kill Chu Liang that day but also because he had just received news of a band of Evil Demons besieging the Penglai Upper Sect. Originally, Mirage Mountain had reserved enough power to handle most emergencies, with the Zhenshan Guardian Divine Azure Dragon and many Seventh Realm Masters, crushing any sect below the Nine Heavens was no problem at all.

But the appearance of a Divine Artifact was not included in that scenario.

That Underworld King Sect Master, unaware of his own impending doom, dared to set his sights on Penglai!

The reason why Daoist Cang Sheng brought two Divine Artifacts to Shu Mountain was the determination to quickly decide the outcome if a full-scale war broke out, even if it meant eliminating Shu Mountain at all costs, regardless of interference from any other presence in the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands. With the massive advantage of two Divine Artifacts, this battle should have been a one-sided crush. Even if someone were to surprise attack his own sect, he would have time to return.

Yet he was unexpectedly delayed a quarter of an hour by Master Wen Yuan with a strange Magical Treasure capable of replicating Divine Artifacts and utterly shattered his plan with the Shu Mountain Divine Ship brought back by Chu Liang. Pointlessly antagonizing Shu Mountain just tarnished Penglai’s image.

Penglai’s actions today could already be seen as a huge failure, and they would undoubtedly have to bear some consequences.

But as long as the two Divine Artifacts were still in hand, the price Penglai Upper Sect would have to pay would be considerably limited. So what if I was wrong? As long as the strength of Penglai remains unshakable, then no one can force me to admit a mistake.

But now...

The surprise attacks by Mang Mountain disciples and the Underworld King Sect completely disrupted Cang Sheng’s plans. At this moment, with all the high-ranking powerhouses away, if Mirage Mountain were to be breached, the price Penglai would have to pay would be far too great. The resources of the Penglai Three Islands determined the sect’s development for the next several hundred years.

If the Three Islands were lost, Daoist Cang Sheng’s actions today would become a complete joke.

He absolutely would not allow such a thing to happen!

Yet Shu Mountain received news about Penglai even earlier than he did. The circle of Immortal friends had real-time updates, and Wen Yuan and Chu Liang were clear about the situation at Mirage Mountain.

That was also why Chu Liang came up with so many excuses, using this clearly nonsensical talk to stall for time. And when Daoist Cang Sheng was too lazy to bother with him anymore, Wen Yuan took up the baton.

Now, Penglai Upper Sect was like a wounded man bleeding profusely, and Daoist Cang Sheng was the doctor who needed to go back to stop the bleeding. The longer he was detained here, the more Penglai’s lifespan would be perilously reduced.

If Wen Yuan took direct action, it would not keep Daoist Cang Sheng there for long because he still had the Eastern Sea Time Wheel, which would make breaking out not difficult.

But this single word "compensation" contained vast implications.

How much to compensate, how to do it, and who to compensate... These issues all need to be scrutinized and each point finalized. Negotiations could drag on indefinitely. If Daoist Cang Sheng waited until everything was agreed upon before returning, he would probably not make it in time for the funerals of the disciples left behind at Mirage Mountain.

"Heh," Daoist Cang Sheng, also a deep and crafty calculator, saw through Wen Yuan’s intentions at a glance, and with gritted teeth, he sneered coldly, and immediately shouted, "No compensation!"

"You pounced on my Shu Mountain gate, harmed my Shu Mountain disciples, and destroyed my Shu Mountain’s foundations. It is an act that enrages both deities and humans!" Wen Yuan righteously declared, "But with other Immortal Sect friends mediating here, I have no desire to start a new feud with you. I wanted to settle this matter peacefully, but you from Penglai show no remorse whatsoever. As fellow sects of the Nine Heavens Immortal Sect, do you really think that because you’re considered the First Immortal Sect, you can disregard Heaven’s will and act tyrannically? Don’t forget, ’First’ may follow ’Immortal Sect,’ but ’Righteous Path’ comes before all!"

"Enough talk, what are you going to do?" With his heart in turmoil, Daoist Cang Sheng spurred the Eastern Sea Time Wheel in the skies above, as the clouds churned, ready to leap back to Penglai across thousands of miles.

Master Wen Yuan swept his sleeves, set the vast void in motion, and blocked Daoist Cang Sheng’s attempt to shatter the void. He shouted, "Against such a shameless and unreasonable brute, we, the disciples of Shu Mountain, are unafraid to fight!"

"Exactly!" Empress Feng declared loudly from the side, "In my life, there is nothing I hate more than irrational people like you! Wahahaha!"

Knowing the malice behind Shu Mountain’s actions, Daoist Cang Sheng, with no time to delay, decided to blaze a bloody trail to escape, unleashing the Eastern Sea Time Wheel that came rolling down, its boundless power sweeping across heaven and earth!

Storms rise once again!

Yet this time, the tide of battle had turned, and it was not the disciples of Shu Mountain who felt despair, but the people of Penglai!

...

The most desperate person witnessing the battle reignite was none other than Jing Yuanzi.

Just moments ago, in the fight within and outside the real and fake Universe Rings, the Penglai Upper Sect had the upper hand, except for him, who was swimming against the current.

After being knocked down to Silver Sword Peak by Daoist Yan and Empress Feng, he could have escaped using the speed of his shadow-stealing technique. In theory, as long as he wasn’t careless, no one in the world could catch him. Yet due to a moment’s inattention, he was captured by the frenzied Iron Eating Beast and brutally swung around.

Even for a master of the Eighth Realm, the tremendous strength of the Iron Eating Beast was terrifying, and Jing Yuanzi’s physical body was not strong enough to withstand it. He was swung around violently. By the time the Iron Eating Beast stopped, he had been impaled through the chest by the Xiaoyun Ancient Sword, with Tianyuan Blood Essence spraying out, putting him on the brink of death.

Daoist Yan thrust the Longsword into Jing Yuanzi’s chest. An explosion of Sword Qi was all it would take to shred his internal organs, and even if it couldn’t kill him outright, it would at least destroy his physical body and most of his cultivation. Even if Jing Yuanzi could escape with a remnant spirit, he would temporarily be incapacitated, no better than the former Sword Emperor of the Western Sea.

But Daoist Yan did not do that; instead, she left the Xiaoyun Ancient Sword in his chest, sealing his heart meridians with Sword Qi and enveloping Jing Yuanzi with a ring of flowing Sword Aura.

Sword Qi Prison!

Immediately, Jing Yuanzi didn’t dare to make any rash moves.

With this move, Daoist Yan intended to use him as a hostage to coerce Daoist Cang Sheng into ceasing his actions. At that very moment, it was when the Universe Ring was about to destroy Shu Mountain that she specially reserved this bargaining chip.

But the situation changed more drastically than anyone had anticipated. Chu Liang descended like a Heavenly God, and Immortal Qi Jing returned with his ship, stabilizing the situation at once.

Jing Yuanzi also heaved a sigh of relief and said in a weak voice, "Daoist Yan, since everyone has stopped, maybe you could let me go first?"

"Hmph." Yan Zi’s response was a cold snort.

"Don’t shake, please, I beg you!"

Jing Yuanzi hurriedly cried out, as even a slight movement of Daoist Yan’s wrist caused him heart-wrenching pain, hating himself for every mistake he made, for wanting to kick every animal he saw on the roadside...

"Anyway, now that the fight is over, you could ask around, and have our Sect Leader pay a ransom to get me back," Jing Yuanzi persuaded again. "It’s not appropriate for me to stay like this..."

He felt like a large chunk of lamb skewered on Daoist Yan’s sword blade, as uncomfortable as could be.

Although Daoist Yan did not respond to him, she had the same idea in mind; a captive from the Eighth Realm held in her hands was indeed significant.

But just then, the two sides started fighting fiercely again!

The situation changed unexpectedly, and as Daoist Cang Sheng once again activated the Eastern Sea Time Wheel, Jing Yuanzi shouted, "Sect Leader, no!"

But it was already too late. Seeing the battle recommence, Daoist Yan moved forward to join the fray. But if she didn’t keep an eye on Jing Yuanzi, he would surely escape. If she continued to control him here, her side would be one general short.

Daoist Yan made a split-second decision. She turned her gaze towards Jing Yuanzi, her eyes devoid of any sentiment, as if she were looking at a skewer of lamb meat incapable of fighting back.

"Do you remember? We even had a meal together once..." Jing Yuanzi seemed to sense something, begging for mercy, and finally screamed: "Don’t—"

Bang!