In Qingshui Village, Great Venerable Shenlei watched the departing expeditionary force, disbelief still lingering in his eyes.
They had set out on a campaign just like that?
Beside him, Zhu Zhuangshi looked at the big black dog strutting proudly on the expedition, his eyes full of envy.
He glanced at Great Venerable Shenlei beside him, his courage suddenly swelling.
In the past, had he encountered an expert at the True God level, he would have dropped to his knees and kowtowed.
Yet after following their guardian deity for a time, he too had grown devoid of reverence.
Of course, reverence for their guardian deity remained absolute.
"Once you see scenes like this more often, you'll get used to it," Zhu Zhuangshi shared with Great Venerable Shenlei like a seasoned veteran.
Having followed the guardian deity, which of them old-timers wasn't immune to such spectacles by now?
Great Venerable Shenlei shot Zhu Zhuangshi a look, flicked his sleeves, and said, "Someone who gets pinned to the floor by a dog and doesn't even dare sit at the table isn't worthy to speak to me."
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuangshi's worldly demeanor vanished in an instant, replaced by a pitiful, aggrieved expression.
Not long ago, during a feast, Zhu Zhuangshi had drunk too much and hugged the big black dog, reminiscing over the glorious struggles of the past.
Who would have guessed the big black dog would pin him straight to the ground?
Beside them, Wang Chongshan had teased Zhu Zhuangshi on the spot, "My sworn elder brother is not who he used to be. How can you presume to act so brazenly before him?"
Wang Chongshan's sworn elder brother was none other than the big black dog.
Hearing that remembered remark, the aggrieved look on Zhu Zhuangshi's face deepened.
***
Outside Feiwu City.
Officials stood arranged in two rows outside the walls.
Their expressions were varied.
Some wore looks of anticipation, some of trepidation, while others appeared heartbroken and grief-stricken.
"Commander Ji, how is it you chose to stay behind?" A man with a small mustache stood tall and imposing in a green robe tied with a gray sash, looking exceptionally spirited.
Ji Buran glanced at Wang Chunfeng and remained silent.
Seeing this, Wang Chunfeng took no offense. He cupped his hands, looking thoroughly genial. "We will be colleagues from now on. I hope we can look out for one another."
Feiwu City had no Ancient Gods, only a city lord.
Ji Buran was the grand commander of the city lord's manor and also commanded a battalion.
Now, with upheaval breaking out, Feiwu City's important figures had chosen to flee as refugees.
At present, Ji Buran was the highest-ranking official among those who had stayed in Feiwu City.
As for Wang Chunfeng, he was merely a merchant who originally held no official rank. When the New God was about to take control of Feiwu City, he had been the first to pledge allegiance, thereby becoming the representative of the New God's faction.
At this moment, they stood outside the city to welcome the arrival of the New God's retinue.
These officials each harbored their own hidden agendas as they stood outside the walls.
A light curtain of rain meant nothing to cultivators like them.
Wang Chunfeng looked at Ji Buran with a smile in his eyes. "Does Commander Ji look down on a lowly merchant like me?"
Only then did Ji Buran look squarely at Wang Chunfeng, his voice deep, curt, and forceful: "I do not."
"That is good. I have always admired Commander Ji," Wang Chunfeng said, his smile breezy. "Once the lord arrives, we shall serve the deity together."
When speaking of the New God, Wang Chunfeng's eyes brimmed with reverence.
The New God would assimilate some of the populace, but not all of them.
Furthermore, the New God had promised that those who offered loyal service could depart the Mortal Heart Realm with him and attain long life.
Wang Chunfeng's foundation lay in Feiwu City. If he left, everything he had accumulated over the first half of his life would go down the drain, which was why he had chosen to stay.
There were many opportunists like him.
Of course, the majority within Feiwu City were common folk—too elderly and frail to leave.
Even with Foundation Establishment or Origin Core cultivation, stepping out of Feiwu City in a world like this was very likely courting death.
It was precisely because Ji Buran could not bear to abandon the people under his care that he had chosen to stay.
"Mm," Ji Buran acknowledged, looking at Wang Chunfeng and nodding.
Just then, Wang Chunfeng thought of something and said, "Commander Ji, with the New God's imminent arrival, we as his subjects must do something.
"We plan to host a Maiden Feast. Commander Ji is most familiar with Feiwu City, so I ask that you round up the young girls."
A fierce glint flashed through Ji Buran's eyes, quickly suppressed. "Feiwu City is in ruins and awaiting reconstruction. A Maiden Feast must be carefully considered."
"Is Commander Ji unwilling?" The smile in Wang Chunfeng's eyes broadened.
"What do you mean by that?" Anger flickered in Ji Buran's eyes, and he snapped his sleeves as he glared at Wang Chunfeng.
Wang Chunfeng raised his hands and clapped twice.
At once, two guards marched forward, escorting a young boy who appeared to be seven or eight years old.
The boy was held fast, struggling continuously.
Wang Chunfeng chuckled. "If Commander Ji cannot bear to hold a Maiden Feast, then we can hold a Boy Feast instead. I have also contributed my humble part and captured a boy."
"You!" Ji Buran was enraged.
For the young boy Wang Chunfeng had dragged out was his own young son.
He had chosen to stay in Feiwu City to live and die with the city.
He had not forced his family to do the same.
Thus, he had sent them outside the city.
Never had he imagined that his son would be seized by Wang Chunfeng.
How could fury not consume his heart?
An aura belonging to the peak of Purple Mansion erupted at this moment; he wanted to kill!
Seeing this, Wang Chunfeng remained unhurried and said, "The lord is about to arrive. Does Commander Ji intend to rebel?"
Wang Chunfeng's whole scheme was to fight for power, sabotage Ji Buran, and become the foremost capable henchman beneath the evil god.
Ji Buran's aura surged through his entire body. He wanted to strike, yet forced himself to suppress it.
Just at that moment, the wail of a suona drifted over from up ahead.
Everyone outside the city immediately looked over.
A long procession was seen advancing slowly across the sky.
At the head of the procession were more than a dozen middle-aged women dressed in plain white mourning clothes. As they flew through the air, they wept aloud in absolute grief.
The mournful wail of the suona was heartbreaking and poignant, stirring deep sorrow and immersion in all who heard it.
"Whose funeral procession is this? Why are they heading toward the city?
"Today is the day the New God arrives! If he sees this and takes offense, none of us will bear the consequences!" Wang Chunfeng was furious. "Men, drive that mourning procession away!"
At this, Ji Buran could not help saying, "Respect the dead."
"These wretched peasants! Do they not know what day it is today? Choosing to hold a funeral today—their intentions are utterly vile!" Wang Chunfeng was truly terrified that the funeral procession would offend the New God.
He was also thoroughly baffled as to why anyone would be bringing a funeral procession toward the city at a time like this.
He could not fathom it, and what he feared most finally occurred.
A burst of immortal music echoed as twelve gorgeous celestial maidens appeared suspended in the heavens. Broad swathes of snow-white skin showed at their delicate shoulders and chests, while sheer silk stockings wrapped their calves, making them look extraordinarily enchanting.
Enormous auspicious beasts pulled an immortal carriage, following close behind the maidens.
This procession finally met the funeral procession in midair.
Wang Chunfeng's heart skipped a beat, seized by immense dread.
Inside the immortal carriage, a golden-eyed man sat with his eyes half-closed, a sultry young woman resting in his embrace.
Just then, a soft, seductive female voice came from outside the carriage: "Divine Lord, a funeral procession ahead is blocking the path."
The golden-eyed man opened his eyes, annoyance showing in them. "Is their coffin large enough? Stuff the rest of them into it."
Hearing that, the woman outside paused. "They... do not have a coffin."
Only then did she realize that the procession not far away looked very much like a funeral, but upon closer inspection, it was not.
Right at that moment, a lazy voice drifted over.
"Would that be Venerable Fengliu ahead?"
Hearing this, the golden-eyed man instantly picked up on an unusual vibe.
However, as a New God in an occupied territory, he possessed immense boldness. "Speak."
"Our funeral procession is lacking a central figure. Would your excellency condescend to serve as the corpse?" The voice sounded airy and casual, yet carried an undeniable finality.
The words echoed outside the city.
The waiting officials outside were completely stunned.
This wasn't a funeral procession; they had come looking for trouble!
Ji Buran was also bewildered. Just who was this... and where did they get such audacity?
In the fallen territories today, the Ancient Gods could barely protect themselves. What Ancient God would bother to care about Feiwu City?
He looked toward the funeral procession, a strange light flickering in his eyes.
"How audacious!" Venerable Fengliu's immortal carriage shattered alongside his roaring fury, and the sultry woman in his arms blew apart into a bloody paste.
He glared at the crowd ahead, killing intent flashing in his eyes. "State your name! I do not kill nameless nobodies!"
"Qingshui Village, Origin Celestial Venerable," Qi Yuan said leisurely. "Now then, can you lend me your corpse?"
Hearing this, Wang Chunfeng's courage grew. "How dare you show disrespect to the Divine Lord! You are courting death!"
This was his best chance to prove himself!
Could they not see that the Divine Lord was completely confident, ready to crush these scoundrels?
Yet to everyone's surprise, Venerable Fengliu, who had seemed poised to unleash overwhelming might, suddenly bellowed.
"I have memorized your name! My brother-in-law will not let you off!"
Leaving behind a harsh parting threat, Venerable Fengliu turned tail and fled on the spot.
Though he had not sensed a dangerous aura, in a situation like this, running was the wisest course.
Venerable Fengliu's flight made Wang Chunfeng's jaw drop.
Watching Venerable Fengliu flee, Qi Yuan could not help sighing, "Putting on a bigger show than me, I thought he was some great hero. Turns out he's just a coward."
As Qi Yuan sighed, four True Gods abruptly appeared directly in front of Venerable Fengliu.
These four True Gods were none other than four Arhats:
Happy Arhat, Long Eyebrow Arhat, Doorkeeper Arhat, and Joyous Arhat.
Four Step One Sky Treading Arhats descended, cutting off Venerable Fengliu's retreat.
"Lend us your corpse!"
The four Arhats spoke in unison, their voices booming like thunder.
Seeing these four Arhats, Venerable Fengliu's expression choked up. "The Ancient Gods of Feiling Prefecture all came here? No, you aren't the Ancient Gods of Feiling Prefecture!"
These four Arhats were not any of the Ancient Gods in his memory.
The four Arhats could not be bothered to waste words with Venerable Fengliu and attacked simultaneously.
Arhat Fist!
This was both a fist technique and a divine ability.
Eight fists struck toward Venerable Fengliu, making him feel boundless pressure.
Even though he had opened four divine apertures...
By rights, against Step One Sky Treading opponents with only one divine aperture, he should have easily handled four at once.
Yet facing these four, he felt that even taking on a single one would prove troublesome.
"Who on earth are you?" Venerable Fengliu roared, struggling to hold his ground.
If these four grew to their potential, they would surely become Great Venerables.
And not just ordinary Great Venerables at that.
The four Arhats couldn't care less to answer Venerable Fengliu.
Acting as one entity, they unleashed punches upon Venerable Fengliu in rapid succession.
The surrounding terrain collapsed continuously.
The Mortal Heart Realm was very stable; a full-power strike from an ordinary Yin God could only destroy a single city.
Had one Arhat not stepped in to shield the area, the clash between several True Gods would have caught the people below in the crossfire.
Venerable Fengliu fought while attempting to persuade them to surrender.
"The talent of you four would be second to none even within our New God faction! Why serve the Ancient Gods?"
Venerable Fengliu spoke with complete sincerity.
"Lend us your corpse!" The four Arhats remained utterly unmoved by his overtures, repeating Qi Yuan's earlier words.
The battle grew fiercer, quickly reaching a white-hot pitch.
Venerable Fengliu grew anxious, pondering how to break the stalemate.
The only way was to capture the leader first.
With four True Gods tied up here, that guardian deity of Qingshui Village had to be unprotected, with only one True God guarding the rest.
If he slipped over and seized Qi Yuan in an instant, he could resolve this crisis.
Fighting as he moved, Venerable Fengliu shifted toward Qi Yuan.
"Too slow. At this rate, the feast is going to be delayed," Qi Yuan remarked, watching the True God clash with utter boredom. "Four Heavenly Kings, you..."
Qi Yuan stopped halfway and said no more, because there was no need.
At that moment, the divine spiritual power on Venerable Fengliu abruptly surged, and he charged madly toward Qi Yuan.
A triumphant grin spread across his face. "I have lived through god wars, clawing my way out from slaughter! How can pampered natives like you fight against me?"
He bolted toward Qi Yuan, thoroughly smug.
"Celestial Venerable, be careful!"
"Celestial Venerable, be careful!"
Right alongside Venerable Fengliu's shout, the Four Heavenly Kings suddenly stepped in front of Qi Yuan.
Four enchanting beauties, every single one of them radiating the power of a True God.
As the Four Heavenly Kings struck, the remaining twelve Arhats also stacked together like a human pyramid, guarding Qi Yuan securely on all sides.
The auras radiating from these Arhats were also unmistakably True Gods.
Seeing this scene, the smile on Venerable Fengliu's face froze. He swallowed with difficulty, utter disbelief washing over him.
"Kill!"
Sixteen True Gods struck at once.
The strum of a pipa, the whirl of an umbrella, the toll of bells—various sounds filled the air.
Before Venerable Fengliu's eyes came twelve pairs of iron fists, punching straight toward his face.
"No!"
Terrifying divine spiritual power swept forth.
Under such an overwhelming assault, Venerable Fengliu's divine apertures shattered in an instant.
Yet the iron fists did not stop.
Unable to endure, Venerable Fengliu's divine apertures broke apart one by one.
Watching Venerable Fengliu's miserable state, Qi Yuan couldn't help sighing, "If you had lent me your corpse earlier, it wouldn't have been so tragic.
"If I were in a good mood, I might have even let your memorial tablet sit at the table to enjoy the feast."
Amid Qi Yuan's sigh, Venerable Fengliu was brutally beaten to death by the iron fists.
How could a junior like Venerable Fengliu withstand the iron fists of over a dozen burly men?
Amusement showed in Qi Yuan's eyes as his gaze shifted to the officials outside the city.
By this point, every single one of those officials was dumbstruck.
They stared at Qi Yuan with deep terror in their eyes.
Venerable Fengliu had actually been killed!
And... by twenty True Gods!
Where in Feiling Prefecture were there so many True Gods?
"Time for the feast." A cold glint flashed in Qi Yuan's eyes. "Kill all those who intended to aid the evil god just now. It just so happens... we can hold the feast for an extra day."
At Qi Yuan's command, Dragon Subduing Arhat and Tiger Taming Arhat plunged into the crowd like men walking through an empty field.
In an instant, screams, wails, and anguished cries filled the air.
The officials who had previously acted so lofty and treated the common folk like ants were as fragile as paper before Dragon Subduing Arhat and Tiger Taming Arhat.
Qi Yuan looked toward Ji Buran, his tone turning lazy once more. "I have a task for you."
Ji Buran's heart trembled with tension, and he adopted a grave expression. "Please speak, Venerable!"
Before him was an Ancient God—an Ancient God who dared stand up for Feiwu City. Ji Buran felt immense respect.
"We traveled a thousand li to Feiwu City just to throw a feast for Venerable Fengliu.
"We brought the chef, the mourning troupe, and the band, but we didn't bring food.
"Go prepare and bring some food over," Qi Yuan said casually.
Hearing mention of a feast, the villagers behind him felt their appetites whetted.
Following Qi Yuan, their greatest joy was attending feasts.
Ji Buran was somewhat bewildered, but ultimately nodded. "Understood!"
He did not understand this guardian deity of Qingshui Village, but he sensed that it couldn't be as simple as just holding a feast.
This act surely carried a profound meaning!
"Origin Celestial Venerable has arrived; the people of Feiwu City... get to have a feast." Watching Ji Buran's retreating back and the towering city walls ahead, Qi Yuan felt a sudden surge of inspiration.
Qi Qi stood to the side, excitement in her eyes, though beneath it lay a faint trace of sorrow.
Unfortunately, the innocent people of Tianfu... and other cities who had died tragically at the hands of the evil gods would never have the chance to attend a feast—a feast made from an evil god.
Qi Qi resolved that she would eat her fill, eating on behalf of all the fallen people of Tianfu.
Qi Yuan took Venerable Fengliu's storage bag and casually glanced through it. "If I had met him a few months earlier, he might have been qualified to be my white moonlight. But now... that's all he was?"
Of course, there were no treasures of note in the storage bag, but his evil god spiritual power and experience bar both ticked upward.
That counted as quite a decent harvest.
However, upon noticing something, Qi Yuan's gaze paused slightly.
Inside the storage bag lay a battered suit of armor, riddled with countless holes and still stained with bright traces of blood.
From the armor, Qi Yuan sensed a familiar aura.
"Wenqi, is this... your great-grandfather's armor?"
With a wave of Qi Yuan's hand, the battered armor appeared before everyone.
Evil god spiritual power flowed and rippled within the armor, offering a glimpse of how brutal that past battle must have been.
Chapter 197