A 'Stick' to the Head

Holy Oil. Badanta's pupils constricted sharply. A mix of bewilderment and shock washed over his withered, wrinkled face. If not for the fact that Boggio's maternal clan had been cultivated by Wulou Temple itself, making betrayal utterly impossible, he would have suspected this was an elaborate trap... It was like fighting his heart out in a 1v5 match, only to discover every single one of his teammates was throwing the game! A vicious backstab. *Boggio, you son of a bitch, you fucking gave this away to someone else too?!* Yet if Boggio could open his eyes right now, he would surely be cursing up a storm himself. A classic case of dropping a rock on one's own foot. Back at the fleet base, the reason he had handed it over so readily—aside from putting on a show of fraternal affection—was entirely to lull Minkler into complacency, sending him off to risk his neck, buy time, and hold off the Sukarno family's counteroffensive. A measly amount like that was enough to mobilize the House God once at best. Besides, it wasn't as though Boggio lacked Holy Oil himself; even if Minkler tried to turn traitor, he could have easily suppressed him. He had never anticipated that time would indeed be bought, the Sukarno family would indeed strike back, the line would indeed hold... and someone would even sell their own life. The overarching outline had unfolded strictly according to his plans, but the details didn't match up in the slightest. And the Holy Oil had fallen into the hands of this bootleg Minkler! So what was there to wait for? Burn the damn thing! The moment his spiritus surged, Embers fire ignited within the vial, completely setting the Holy Oil ablaze as wisps and tendrils of smoke curled upward. Behind Ji Jue, the centipede-like limbs of the House God coiled into the air. Hideous, contorted faces surfaced across its form, thirstily sucking in the smoke in drunken, rabid ecstasies. Amid violent spasms like those of an addict in withdrawal getting a fix, the eyes across those faces snapped open again—and within them shone a gleam identical to Ji Jue's! The god-descent was complete! The previous patriarch tokens had, at best, commanded the House God to protect him passively. But once the Holy Oil was lit, what he acquired was true and absolute authority over the House God! This so-called Holy Oil had another name: Blood of the House God. It was the fat and marrow that dripped from the House Fire after every grand sacrifice. Refined after blending with countless precious ingredients. Once absorbed and consumed, the House God's hunger was temporarily sated, while its consciousness and primal instincts sank into a drunken stupor. At the same time, using the smoke of the Holy Oil as a conduit, the user's consciousness could seize control, temporarily wielding this peerlessly savage power! Like a cuckoo usurping a magpie's nest, he temporarily became the dominant will within the House God. From this moment on, Ji Jue was the master of the House God—the true and proper acting patriarch of the Chopra family! As for the accompanying mental pressure and insidious spiritual erosion... Was there such a thing? Ji Jue didn't feel a speck of it. At this moment, as Ji Jue's mind flowed through it, the grotesque faces across the House God's aberrant body morphed unnervingly—until, in the end, every single one transformed into a spitting image of his own face! Tens of thousands of Ji Jues lifted their heads and looked up into the sky. In unison, they broke into broad grins at Badanta. "Truly..." The lips on all those faces parted and closed in lockstep with Ji Jue's, sighing softly in heartfelt admiration: "—a fine, precious gem!" BOOM! The instant Ji Jue raised a finger and pointed toward the heavens, the countless faces resembling him across the House God's body roared together. Amid the churning torrent of myriad souls, an Ascension spiritus shockwave erupted like a torrential downpour. "Insolent!" Badanta's expression turned frigid and grew darker by the second. It wasn't that he felt pressured—he felt humiliated! A spiritus shockwave? You, an Embers practitioner, are using the basic attack of the Ascension path against Wulou Temple, masters of the true essence of the Abyss? This was turning the heavens upside down! "Hūm!" He pressed his palms together and chanted a mantra. Above his head, a pitch-black lotus manifested from thin air, petals unfolding layer upon layer. At its center rested a dazzling, pristine jewel. Phantoms of countless souls appeared out of nothingness, prostrating before the jewel, and the air was instantly saturated with the fragrant scent of sandalwood. It was still Tummo, yet as a Karmadana of Wulou Temple's Upper Court, Badanta's cultivation and mastery left the useless trash Ji Jue had encountered before miles behind. The jewel, forged and honed from myriad delirious delusions and corrupt views, was purity of a single thought. It could invert heaven and earth, reverse the flow of rivers, and boil the vast seas. Combined with the aid of his blessings and mantras, within his domain, he was omnipotent. He was a god. A simple reach of his hand was enough to upend the world! A colossal golden hand manifested in midair, spreading wide against the rising blaze of light. Its mere appearance froze the downpour of spiritus shockwaves in the void, unable to advance another inch. Then, Badanta sneered. With a slight push, the countless spiritus shockwaves unleashed by Ji Jue were supposed to reverse their direc... direc... direc... Where the fuck did the redirection go?! The spiritus shockwaves suspended in the void had actually slipped right out of his grasp. Then, right under the suppression of the gigantic golden hand, they layered and converged upon one another. A crimson hue coursed through them until, amid the raging current of vast spiritus, they formed a great spiritus blade ablaze with blood-red fire, stabbing boldly forward! In an instant, the golden hand was pierced through the center. The blade blazing with scarlet brilliance swept through the tempest directly toward him, causing Badanta's face to change dramatically. "Halt!" A thunderous roar rang out as the jewel radiated brilliant light. The void solidified into iron walls, which were then breached layer upon layer. Through their mutual attrition, the blinding, scorching crimson forced its way closer inch by inch, stopping only right in front of his eyes. It had nearly run him through completely. Yet before he could even feel a glimmer of relief or catch his breath, the blood blade detonated! Crimson ripples swept across the heavens, corroding the silver and golden radiance and pulverizing untold numbers of the Seven Treasures into oblivion. Amid tearing sounds like ripped silk came Badanta's furious bellow. A pitch-black hue seeped across the jewel. Hovering atop the massive halo behind him like a black sunset, it blazed with radiant light, forcibly erasing the bursting waves of blood flames! By the time he recovered his senses and looked back at Ji Jue, he saw that the colossal House God had already hoisted an aberrant limb, wielding a massive crimson spiritus greatsword, and was slashing toward him once more! And as the House God opened its jaws again, purplish-black lightning erupted from its gaping maw like a tidal wave! Pan Ying howled; Zhanlu rang! The moment two blades manifested in Ji Jue's hands, thousands of spiritus blades entwined with blood flames and purple lightning appeared in the House God's countless centipede-like limbs. Flailing frenziedly toward the monk in the sky, blade after blade surged in relentless succession like a violent storm. They completely engulfed Badanta! Damage! Damage! Damage! Nothing but fucking DPS! How do you like a boss with twenty-four actions per turn, basic attacks that combo into cleaves, basic attacks that shred armor and crit, infinite mana, and built-in ignite, burn, and paralysis effects?! Well, here it is! "Sorry, but that's just how we Non-Offensive folks roll!" Countless silver gleams spread from Ji Jue's hands, replacing the Chopra family's utterly obsolete, backward, and hopelessly inefficient control sequence with direct, hands-on micromanagement! The good news: Ji Jue could only barely control the House God, lacking the myriad weapons and gear crafted by the Chopras specifically for it, meaning he couldn't unleash much of its true power. The bad news: he didn't need any of that in the first place... Gear? He had his own! Severing Ascension and Desolate Ruins to ban Embers? Sorry, but I happen to know a thing or two about Desolate Ruins and Ascension as well! Besides, did you think you could just ban it whenever you felt like it? Why don't you take a look at the Sage's direct transmission, Non-Offensive, before talking to me! Or perhaps check out Tide Sound Workshop's most famous craft: spiritus alchemy! Even without relying on physical matter, using solely the House God's spiritus, Ji Jue could work wonders. No matter how impure and chaotic the spiritus composition, no matter how convoluted this legendary mountain of spaghetti code was, he could still handle it. In fact, he was right in his element! Wouldn't you agree, Netherworld Worm? The Netherworld Worm remained silent, but behind Ji Jue, the colossal House God shrieked in excitement! Untold vicious spirits hissed and surged, swirling in ecstatic, frenzied dances that brought about a brand-new transformation across its form... It was more active than ever before! One could even say that centuries of serving the Chopras hadn't been half as exhilarating as these few minutes with Ji Jue! Under the deconstruction of Non-Offensive, the shackles bound to the House God unraveled one by one, releasing a geyser of savage ferocity. Wrapped and smothered beneath the Veil, the grotesque centipede swelled to its limit and burst open. Brand-new arms sprouted from its torso, reaching toward the sky with tens of thousands of hands! Grabbing for the jewel atop Badanta's head! Gimme that! Instantaneously, a chill ran down Badanta's spine. His eyes widened involuntarily into the glare of an enraged vajra as he roared at the top of his lungs—a Lion's Roar. Subduing all heretical afflictions and perils! "Duo!" Like a marionette pulled by unseen strings, 'Badanta' formed hand seals against his will, fiery light blazing from his eyes. A furious wave surged forth, obliterating the tide of hands stretching toward him. Within the jewel above his head, all manner of wondrous visions manifested and induced transformations, turning the pitch-black domain into a Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss—jeweled trees everywhere, lotus flowers blanketing the ground. Boundless joy welled up within the heart, making one beam uncontrollably, yearning impatiently to step into paradise. At this sudden shift, Badanta was not alarmed; instead, he was overjoyed. The Guru! It's the Guru! The Guru is aiding me! He didn't care in the slightest how shameful it was that an Exaltation-tier cultivator, suppressed and pummeled by someone in Regeneration, had to call for backup... There was no time for shame. Time was precious, and none could be wasted on Ji Jue! The Chopra family's survival was irrelevant, but this House God was a guardian beast personally designated by the Lower Court, and the territory of Xiangzhou was crucial to the Guru's subsequent plans. Nothing could be allowed to go wrong! Under the sacred light, 'Badanta' radiated an increasingly solemn and magnificent aura, resembling a living Buddha descended into the mortal world. As the mortal vessel chosen by Guru Shanzhu, this was Badanta's duty and supreme honor! One could say that all his cultivation and arduous efforts since embarking on the path had been aimed at making himself more like the Guru—transforming into the Guru's incarnation through contemplation and practice. Precisely because he had the Guru as an anchor and coordinate, he could stride boldly along the perilous path of the Abyss, saving untold toil and effort. As for whether 'I' was still 'I,' that didn't matter at all! This was precisely why the Church of Chongguang rejected gods: the moment a person bowed to gods and Buddhas and fostered faith, the most vital element of the Ascension path—the 'Self'—had already begun to waver! Yet regrettably, the reason heretical paths were so intoxicating was precisely that... they worked! And they worked frighteningly well! Even without bestowing any real power, a mere trivial thought cast into Badanta's vessel was enough to trigger an earth-shattering metamorphosis. In the snap of a finger, the Guru's 'Self' completely permeated Badanta, multiplying his cultivation and attainment several times over out of thin air. Quite literally, divine intervention! At this moment, I am God and Buddha! "Tsk..." Ji Jue furrowed his brows. "I hate people like you who constantly hijack accounts to pilot-play. Zero skill involved!" Skill or no skill, it was genuinely a huge pain in the ass... The Lion's Roar banished all heretical ways. Having received this 'empowerment,' Badanta easily suppressed the House God's counterattack. Then, casting his gaze downward, he barked: "—Ji Jue!" At once, heaven and earth shook, all things thundered, and every creature, sentient and nonsentient alike, cried out in unison: *Ji Jue! Ji Jue! Ji Jue! Ji Jue! Ji Jue!!!* This was the Awakening Blow! The deafening sound of a great bell erupted from Ji Jue's soul, stirring layer upon layer of tempestuous waves. Even Chunjun could not suppress it. The shadow of the sin fiend nearly rioted, black flames surging out like a tide before Ji Jue clamped down on them with everything he had. His cover had nearly been blown. Yet the one affected wasn't just Ji Jue—there was also the House God under his control, the House God that had mistaken itself for Ji Jue! With that thunderous shout and the profound, pure shift of the mantra, every link between Ji Jue and the House God was severed cleanly, stripping away all interference he had established. The myriad faces across the House God changed rapidly. Ji Jue's features receded like an ebbing tide, and those hideous faces awakened as if from a slumber. Their innate ferocity and greed ignited, sending them into frantic thrashing. Control was lost! What was more, those twisted faces were rapidly shifting, aligning themselves toward Badanta... Under the illumination of the spiritual light, they naturally gravitated toward Wulou Temple. Across all of Xiangzhou, dense chanting resonated from the very origins of that vast influx of spiritus... In the slums, towering skyscrapers, and desolate mudflats, figures of men, women, old, and young—haggard and hollow-eyed—continued their fanatical worship before idols, offering their fervent faith to the House God alongside their spiritus. This plot had been brewing for who knew how long; what unfolded now was merely the dagger revealed when the map unrolled. The essence of Wulou Temple's doctrine had seeped drop by drop into the deepest depths of the House God over the years. Now erupting all at once, it sought to thoroughly deliver and convert countless vicious spirits, evil ghosts, and even this artificial deity! High in the heavens, the living Buddha looked down with disdain. "The Sea of Bitterness is boundless; turn back and the shore is at hand!" He bellowed sternly at Ji Jue, "Subdue yourself now, or when will you?!" The jewel radiated light, descending from above like a tidal wave. Praise from countless voices rang in his ears, flooding into his soul, yet it failed to shake Ji Jue in the slightest. Instead, he sneered, "Trifling parlour tricks—not even worth mentioning!" "An Awakening Blow, is it?" Suddenly, Ji Jue's expression changed, turning instantly vacant. Fiery light burst from his eyes, his aura shifting drastically from before. "You think you're the only one who knows how to do that?" Right under 'Badanta's' nose, Ji Jue raised his hand and pointed at the figure in the sky, shouting with solemn fury. Immediately after, his spiritus erupted! For a split second, Badanta could hardly conceal his terror. In his dazed shock, he pressed his palms together and braced himself with total focus, reinforcing his soul and Self to weather the ensuing erosion and impact. He had never imagined that Wulou Temple's secret transmission could appear in an outsider—a mere craftsman! Did this make any sense?! It made no sense whatsoever! And so... nothing happened. Not a damn thing appeared! Ji Jue had merely put on a show and pointed a finger at random. Meanwhile, Badanta had stood there like a total idiot, trembling on high alert against a formidable foe, guarding against a move that was purely nonexistent and would never arrive. At the end of it, Ji Jue smacked his own forehead, finally recalling the key detail. He offered an awkward smile. "My bad. You have to shout a name for this move, don't you? Hey, what was your name again?" "..." Badanta was struck speechless, fury surging within him as his eyes turned bloodshot. Then, he watched as Ji Jue waved his hand casually: "Whatever, I innovated a bit. It works without a name now—way more effective than that wild fox Zen of yours. Watch closely now—" Saying so, he raised his hand again in dramatic fashion. "Impudent fool!!!" This time, Badanta had exhausted every shred of patience. When the vajra glares, heaven and earth run red with blood; when the bodhisattva lowers her gaze, all living beings turn to white bone! A magnificent, colossal Golden Body re-emerged within the domain. That face of mercy no longer held the slightest smile, and the jewel's light gushed forth like a waterfall. A blood-colored finger, massive as a mountain, pressed down mercilessly toward Ji Jue, who seemed as tiny as a mote of dust below. *Die!* And then, across Ji Jue's mocking face, his lips parted and closed silently. As if reciting a mantra. Aiming right at him... —*A blow to the head!* BOOM!!! To Badanta's utter disbelief, his vision went black! A terrifying rumble, louder than anything before, detonated across the heavens. The Golden Body shuddered; the radiant halo flickered violently. It was as if, right along with Ji Jue's words, an iron club had truly been swung down onto his skull, leaving his head buzzing, his brains boiling, and his soul convulsing. Yet he would rather that what struck his skull truly had been an iron club! Just as anyone tragically backstabbed by a good brother would wish from the bottom of their heart that what pierced them had merely been a dagger... At that moment, accompanied by Ji Jue's words and following a prolonged buildup, the real 'iron club' finally arrived. Down upon him, it cast a terrifying shadow that eclipsed the entire domain. Juque! Juque descended from beyond the heavens!