Chapter 238: Final Trump Card

Chapter 238: Chapter 238: Final Trump Card

The moment Hongmi Immortal finished speaking, the five surrounding Witch Dao Three Realms Practitioners sprang into action.

The five of them formed hand seals as Witch Power billowed from their bodies, then combined in an exceedingly profound manner.

High in the sky, the spectral image of a swarthy arm flickered in and out of existence.

It wasn’t a natural black, but the swarthy tone of skin darkened by long exposure to the high-altitude sun, and it was covered in all sorts of scars from sabers, swords, and claws.

The giant hand, formed into a knife-hand, slashed viciously toward Hongmi Immortal at a strange, shifting pace—at once fast and slow.

Hongmi Immortal’s brow furrowed at the sight. He didn’t take it lightly, his expression turning grave. A single grain of red rice flew from his sleeve, and with a flick of his finger, he sent it shooting toward the spectral hand.

"BOOM!!!"

"BOOM!!!"

"BOOM!!"

The red rice grain tore through the air and collided with the spectral palm, unleashing wave after wave of shockwaves.

Down below, Zhu Sisi hurriedly spun silk to envelop Yan Liyuan and the others, then spun more to protect herself. Otherwise, the shockwaves alone could have killed them.

At the same time, the five Witches were sent flying backward, their auras thrown into turmoil.

"Hahaha, is this Zhu Ge’s backup plan? Five ants?" Hongmi Immortal laughed with supreme arrogance. "I haven’t even used my treasured pills or Spiritual Artifacts, and you’re already defeated? I see..."

But in the next instant, before he could finish speaking, Hongmi Immortal abruptly looked down at the Dragon Ball by his side.

He saw that the "red rice grain" floating beside him was gradually changing, reverting to its original form as a Dragon Ball.

’It actually severed my connection to the Demon Dao?’ Hongmi Immortal frowned.

Not far away, the young man who had been sent flying laughed loudly. "Zhu Ge predicted long ago that this disaster would happen because someone was trying to break through—it was either you or the Plague God Sparrow."

"That being the case, how could we not be prepared? The power of our Ancient Witchcraft Array is beyond your imagination! Never mind that you haven’t broken through yet—even if you had already reached the Fusion Realm, we could still sever one of the Daos you cultivate!"

As he spoke, the five Witches quickly flew off into the distance.

They didn’t stop until they reached a distant mountain peak.

There, a woman with delicate features was waiting anxiously. Seeing the group return, she immediately asked, "How did it go?"

The elderly Witch wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. "Sui Niang, that Zhu Ge from your village is truly formidable. If we’d known years ago, we would have married one of our tribe’s girls into your Jianshan Village."

This woman was none other than Sui Niang!

"Zhu Ge is indeed exceptionally intelligent," Sui Niang sighed. "But he carries too heavy a burden."

"But that kid is truly incredible!" the young-looking Witch exclaimed. "Everything the five of us did was part of his prearranged plan. This proves he foresaw everything that happened today."

Another Witch, a woman with a graceful figure, asked, "But he’s dead now. What do we do next?"

"Dead?!" Sui Niang’s expression froze.

But the other five suddenly turned to look into the distance, their expressions turning grave and then surprised.

"Is... is that a silkworm?" the young man gasped in astonishment.

The expressions of the others were much the same, each more astonished than the last.

Sui Niang couldn’t see that far. She was burning with anxiety but could only suppress her feelings.

Meanwhile, high above Six Paths Valley, the Witches had fled so quickly that Hongmi Immortal had to abandon any thought of venting his anger on them.

He was at a critical juncture in his breakthrough and didn’t want any further complications.

"After I break through, I will slaughter every last descendant of your tribes." Hongmi Immortal’s gaze was sinister.

Just then, a dragon’s cry suddenly erupted from below.

Zhu Sisi, who had just spun a cocoon to protect herself, burst forth from the silk threads.

Two months ago, Zhu Sisi had been the size of a sesame seed. Now, after days of frantically devouring mulberry leaves, her body bore blood-red markings.

The interweaving white and blood-red gave her an eerie, demonic appearance.

The dragon’s cry had come from her.

The Nine Heavens Cocoon-Breaking Dragon-Swallowing Technique!

"WHOOSH!!!"

Hongmi Immortal was just about to retrieve the Dragon Ball, but in that instant, it was drawn toward Zhu Sisi.

"Vile creature!" Hongmi Immortal roared in fury, pointing a finger from afar.

However, at that moment, the Bone Monster Avatar burst from the ground, shielding Zhu Sisi as the Fungus God Destruction Array flared to life once more.

At the same time, Zhu Ge’s body, which had been as still as a corpse, suddenly shot to its feet.

’Dead?’

’Of course he wasn’t dead.’

He had merely used [Secret] to conceal his aura.

And now, the time had come.

Zhu Sisi had learned the Nine Heavens Cocoon-Breaking Dragon-Swallowing Technique, a gift from the True Monarch of the Lantern.

Cocoon-Breaking and Dragon-Swallowing!

Zhu Ge, of course, knew the contents of this Cultivation Technique and had long ago plotted out the final state of the battle.

He didn’t know Hongmi Immortal’s true intentions, nor did he know who from the Nanyue Mianhuang was backing the Plague God Sparrow.

But he knew the endgame would inevitably be one side achieving a breakthrough.

That side would definitely not be the Red River Dragon Python.

After all, the Red River Dragon Python hadn’t dared to cause trouble for so many years. How could it possibly be the final winner?

The most likely scenario was manipulation by a hidden mastermind.

At the time, Zhu Ge’s primary suspect had been Hongmi Immortal.

And to break through to the Fusion Realm, one first needed to "gather" before one could "fuse."

One only needed to sever the connection to the Red River Dragon Python’s Dao during the "gathering" step. Then, no matter who ultimately won, they would be constrained.

Thus, during a lull in the campaign of the thirteen cities, Zhu Ge had Hua Liusha secretly find Sui Niang.

He then had Sui Niang bring him five Third Realm practitioners of the Witch Dao, who knew of the Five Elements Emperor Jiang Heaven-Cutting Hand Array—an array capable of severing the path to the Fusion Realm.

Finally, they severed the connection to the Red River Dragon Python’s Dragon Ball, allowing Zhu Sisi to swallow it.

But this was only a temporary measure.

"You’re not dead." Facing Zhu Ge, Hongmi Immortal’s gentle smile returned.

"You faked your death to bide your time, gathered your strength, and pretended this array was fragile. It was all a performance for my benefit."

"But what good does any of that do?"

"Watching your little show was as effortless as watching a toddler babble its first words."

"Zhu Ge, ah, Zhu Ge. I’ll give you one more chance."

"Submit to me, pledge your loyalty, and I will lead you to the pinnacle. I will make you my chief disciple. What do you say?"

Hongmi Immortal’s expression was gentle.

"And become a pawn, just like the Red River Dragon Python?" Zhu Ge asked calmly, patting the dust from his clothes. "Do you know why I waited until now?"

"Oh?" Hongmi Immortal’s interest was piqued. "Do you still think you can turn the tables?"

"Of course." Zhu Ge nodded slightly. "I was waiting. I was watching. And I was acting."

"I was waiting for those of a higher station than you or I to see what would happen. I was watching to see if they would make a move. And I was acting, preparing my method to kill you."

As he spoke, the Bone Monster Avatar activated the Fungus God Destruction Array to form a defense.

Zhu Ge, however, stood tall, looking at Hongmi Immortal without a trace of fear.

Hongmi Immortal’s face suddenly went blank, and his Dao Heart began to throb. "Your defiance disgusts me. I will wipe this place from existence."

In the next moment, however, Zhu Ge did not stir his Martial Arts Heart. Instead, he circulated the faint wisp of Literary Energy within his body, looked to the heavens, and declared:

"As Heaven’s movement is ever vigorous, so must a gentleman ceaselessly strive for self-improvement!"

As his voice fell, the wind and clouds began to shift.