Chapter 531: The Feng Immortal

Feng Ruotong, Immortal Ping, Immortal Xi, Wen Daoist, and the others all felt a chill run through them. They turned around to see the Celestial Venerable walking over with a beaming smile. Qingyuan Daoist quickly lowered his head, not daring to look up.

Feng Ruotong reacted the fastest, stepping forward quickly to bow deeply and smile, saying, "Ruotong pays respects to the Celestial Venerable."

The other Celestial Way Immortals also snapped out of it and stepped forward to pay their respects.

The Celestial Venerable didn't notice Qingyuan Daoist at all. He chuckled and said, "We are all fellow Daoists, why all this formality? Rise and speak."

Feng Ruotong straightened up and said, "We searched for the Demon Emperor without success, so we decided to return to Despair Slope, but we didn't find you there. Fairy Maiden Qiu Ning discovered that Chen Shi was dealing with the Twelve Great Clans, and the ghost god forces he was mobilizing were considerable, so we planned to go give him a warning. We just arrived at Tiandao City and happened to run into you, Celestial Venerable. Where have you been these past days?"

The Celestial Venerable's gaze flickered. He smiled and said, "I came back once, then went out again. To be honest with you, I have already killed the Demon Emperor."

As he said this, he couldn't hide his smug satisfaction and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Feng Ruotong and the others were all shocked beyond words. The Celestial Venerable had killed the Demon Emperor? Did that mean Chen Shi had already died at the Celestial Venerable's hands?

Their hearts turned to ice. Chen Shi's Yin-Yang Dao Field had given them hope of refining away the demonic energy of the world and restoring the Western Ox New Continent to normal. If the Celestial Venerable had killed Chen Shi, didn't that destroy that hope as well?

Immortal Ping's voice was hoarse as he asked, "When did this happen?"

The Celestial Venerable smiled. "Not long ago. I was tracking the Grand Sacrificial Officer of the Demon Capital, and finally, the Demon Emperor slipped up and revealed his true form. His strength was indeed formidable, but he was a notch below me, and he fell to my hand."

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned.

Chen Shi's strength wasn't all that impressive. Even with his skeleton body, he might not be a match for a Celestial Way Immortal. But the Celestial Venerable's assessment of the Demon Emperor was that his strength was formidable, only a notch below his own.

Clearly, this Demon Emperor couldn't possibly be Chen Shi.

Then who could the Demon Emperor be?

Who had the strength to be only a notch below the Celestial Venerable?

The Celestial Venerable smiled. "Don't just stand around outside. Let's return to Despair Slope."

Feng Ruotong felt a chill in his heart and hastily said, "Celestial Venerable, we were planning to go warn Chen Shi. His move against the Thirteen Great Clans makes his unification of the Western Ox New Continent a certainty. This man is ambitious, and he's also colluded with the foreign goddess Empress of Earth, plotting mischief. He needs to be taught a lesson."

The Celestial Venerable waved dismissively. "Chen Shi's ambition does need to be checked. And Empress of Earth harbors evil intentions, attempting to replace the True God and seize the orthodox position. Her crimes are heinous. Since you're going anyway, kill Empress of Earth as well."

Feng Ruotong felt much lighter upon hearing this and smiled, saying, "As you command."

The Celestial Venerable nodded lightly, offered a few words of encouragement, and prepared to enter Despair Slope.

Feng Ruotong and the others all breathed a silent sigh of relief. Just as the Celestial Venerable was about to step into Despair Slope, he suddenly stopped and let out a snicker.

"Daoist Qingyuan, it really is you."

The Celestial Venerable turned around to look at Qingyuan Daoist, who had kept his head lowered the entire time. He smiled and said, "Daoist, you really are hard to kill. I exiled you twice, and yet you still managed to come back alive."

Qingyuan Daoist's body trembled slightly. Knowing he couldn't avoid this, he slowly straightened his back to face the Celestial Venerable directly and said, "The Celestial Venerable had no killing intent toward me. What was nominally exile was actually giving me a sliver of hope to live. That's how I survived."

Feng Ruotong, Immortal Xi, and the others felt their hearts sink. The Celestial Venerable had recognized Qingyuan Daoist. With his intelligence, he would likely immediately guess why they had brought Qingyuan back to Despair Slope.

Shen Liujun smiled and said, "The Celestial Venerable recognizes Qingyuan? We ran into this Daoist at Tiandao City, acting all suspicious, and were just about to interrogate him."

The Celestial Venerable's gaze landed on Qingyuan Daoist. "So, Daoist Qingyuan, what brings you back to Despair Slope this time?"

Qingyuan Daoist's eyelids twitched. His voice was hoarse as he said, "Tiandao City was built by me. I can come back whenever I want. You exiled me twice, and our enmity runs as deep as the sea. This time I came back to destroy Tiandao City and make your Despair Slope truly despair! Today I'm done for. I was discovered by your people the moment I arrived at Tiandao City, and now you've cornered me. Fine. Kill me or torture me, whatever you please!"

As soon as he said this, a glimmer of hope rose in everyone's hearts.

The Celestial Venerable's gaze swept across everyone's faces. He smiled ambiguously and said, "Childish tricks. Ruotong, you've lost your honesty too. Don't you recognize Qingyuan? Back then, it was he who led you to Despair Slope."

Feng Ruotong felt strangely calmer inside. He smiled and said, "The Celestial Venerable's rebuke is well deserved."

The Celestial Venerable's gaze settled on Qingyuan Daoist. "So, you've taken them to the forbidden ground?"

Qingyuan Daoist laughed. "That's right. I took them to dig up several skeletons. These skeletons belonged to the Shang King's former ministers, who were responsible for the operation of Despair Slope. Back then, the Shang King sacrificed himself and transformed into the Celestial True God, becoming the deity who provides light and heat to this world. He needed eighteen Shang ministers to manage Despair Slope and monitor calamities across the realm. Poor souls, they were killed by a Shang commoner they had rescued. Of the eighteen ministers, thirteen left no remains at all. Only five left behind skeletons, and I buried them with my own hands."

The Celestial Venerable said, "You told Ruotong and the others about this, but they didn't believe you, so you brought them here to see for themselves, right?"

Qingyuan Daoist nodded. "Words alone prove nothing. You sit high above as the Celestial Venerable of Despair Slope. If I wanted to expose your true face, I naturally needed solid evidence."

The Celestial Venerable sighed and shook his head. "Qingyuan, you've harmed them, you know."

Feng Ruotong smiled. "Is the Celestial Venerable admitting it?"

The Celestial Venerable smiled. "What's the harm in admitting it?"

Immortal Ping stepped forward, and the immortal sword on his back shot out of its sheath with a whistle. His killing intent blazed as he said, "So you're the one who caused the curse to spread across the world?"

As he summoned his sword, the other immortals also raised their immortal weapons, all pointed at the Celestial Venerable.

Wen Daoist was beside himself with fury. "All these years, you've been fooling us, making us work for you, all to maintain your own rule, not the rule of the Celestial True God!"

Immortal Xi said with grief and indignation, "So the hundred-day demonic transformation was also a rule you established, not the True God's rule! How many people died because of your hundred-day demonic transformation?"

Shen Daoist roared in anger, "You made us destroy all the Dao Fields of foreign gods and drive away the Empress of Earth, all for your selfish motives! You were afraid they would attract experts from the Divine Continent!"

"Back then you killed the True King and said he had blasphemed against the gods, but that wasn't the case at all! You're the one who blasphemed!"

"You killed Immortal Kou too, didn't you?!"

One after another, they listed the Celestial Venerable's crimes, growing more furious with each word. Suddenly, with a soft hiss, a large hole burst open in Immortal Lu's forehead, straight through front and back.

Immortal Lu froze. He raised his hand to touch his forehead, then the back of his head. His body swayed, and he collapsed to the ground.

The accusations around him came to an abrupt halt.

The Celestial Venerable withdrew his finger and smiled. "Everything you said is correct. So what? Ruotong, Qingyuan led you into Despair Slope, but I was the one who taught you Dao techniques and divine abilities. You count as my disciple. Despair Slope has been in perfect order under your management. I appreciate you, so I'll give you a chance. Kill them, and select new Celestial Way Walkers to become Celestial Way Immortals."

Feng Ruotong hesitated for a moment, glancing at Immortal Ping, Wen Daoist, and the others.

The Celestial Venerable smiled. "Don't worry, I keep my word. As long as you kill them, you remain my disciple, and Despair Slope remains what it was. You wouldn't be thinking you could fight me, would you? Don't forget, everything you know, I taught you."

"Ruotong wouldn't dare."

Feng Ruotong bowed deeply and said, "When Senior Qingyuan was building Tiandao City back then, I worked as a laborer inside. At that time, many of my friends and relatives had died, and the others had become the ghost clan. I thought that if I became a ghost clan member, I'd probably be a Little Yaksha, and the greatest achievement of my life might be just surviving to adulthood. Senior Qingyuan led me into Despair Slope, but the one who took me in was the Celestial Venerable. You taught me cultivation, passed down techniques to me, and guided me step by step in my spiritual practice. To me, the Celestial Venerable is both teacher and father."

The Celestial Venerable smiled. "You've been exceptional since you were young. No matter what Dao technique, you learn it the moment it's taught, and master it the moment you learn it. I've always been very satisfied with you."

Feng Ruotong said, "Despair Slope has one hundred and eight Celestial Way Walkers. If a few Celestial Way Immortals die, they can quickly be replaced with Celestial Way Walkers. The Celestial Way Walkers' cultivation has also reached the edge of Dao Unification. Because there's no space for Dao Unification, their cultivation has been stagnant. Killing these few won't affect Despair Slope's strength in the slightest."

The Celestial Venerable smiled. "I'm glad you understand."

Feng Ruotong made a deep bow to Immortal Ping and the others, his expression sincere as he said, "Fellow Daoists, each person has their own path. Please forgive me for not being able to walk with you any longer!"

As he straightened up, he had already activated his immortal technique. Peach blossoms filled the sky, drowning Immortal Ping and the others!

Immortal Ping, Wen Daoist, and the others were both shocked and furious. This divine ability was the one Feng Ruotong had used to destroy the Upper Realm, called Peach and Plum in Bloom.

"Feng Immortal, you're aiding the wicked! You'll be punished by heaven!"

Immortal Ping resisted while shouting, "The Celestial Venerable is the true culprit who destroyed the Great Shang Era, the enemy who annihilated your clan..."

Before he could finish, the Yin Yang Qi Bottle flew out of Feng Ruotong's sleeve, inverted itself over the Celestial Venerable. The yin and yang qi within the bottle merged like water and milk, pouring downward, instantly enveloping the Celestial Venerable.

Around the Celestial Venerable, water and fire coexisted in harmony. Water within fire, fire within water, refining everything without exception!

The Yin Yang Qi Bottle was the most powerful magic treasure to come from the Divine Continent, even more fearsome than the Golden Coin That Falls Treasures and the Tianluo Blood-Transforming Divine Blade!

The profound yin and yang principles contained within the bottle were unfathomably deep. Even a Tai Yi Golden Immortal couldn't withstand the washing of that water or the burning of that fire. In mere moments, they would be reduced to a pool of liquid!

Feng Ruotong's heart soared as he trapped the Celestial Venerable in a single strike. He immediately channeled the Yin Yang Qi Bottle and shouted, "Rise!"

The Yin Yang Qi Bottle lifted toward the sky, attempting to raise the Celestial Venerable's body along with it and drop him into the bottle. But when he pulled, he couldn't budge the Yin Yang Qi Bottle at all.

Feng Ruotong's face changed drastically. He pulled again, but the Yin Yang Qi Bottle remained as immovable as a mountain.

His heart plummeted.

The power of the Yin Yang Qi Bottle was immense, but the gap in strength between Feng Ruotong and the Celestial Venerable was equally immense.

"Ruotong, you've disappointed me."

The Celestial Venerable's voice came from within the sea of fire. "You would betray me. Betray Despair Slope."

He was walking out. Feng Ruotong poured every ounce of his magical power into the Yin Yang Qi Bottle, trying to trap the Celestial Venerable within the sea of fire formed by yin and yang qi. If he could stall long enough, he could soften, even melt, the Celestial Venerable's physical body and Primordial Spirit!

But every step the Celestial Venerable took forward felt like a weight pressing down on his chest, causing his blood and qi to churn violently. He could barely maintain control of the Yin Yang Qi Bottle!

"Feng Ruotong, you truly overestimate yourself!"

Step after step, the Celestial Venerable advanced. His overwhelming magical power clashed against the sea of fire, against the Yin Yang Qi Bottle, against Feng Ruotong himself, causing blood to continuously seep from Feng Ruotong's eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

The Celestial Venerable took another step forward. Feng Ruotong's body trembled, and blood gushed from his mouth in torrents.

He felt like he couldn't hold on much longer. His cultivation was extraordinarily profound. Years ago, he had already comprehended the mysteries of the Gold Immortal realm. Even though he only had a small piece of True God Dao Field within Despair Slope to achieve Dao Unification, he still broke through and cultivated to become a Gold Immortal.

But even the achievement of a Gold Immortal was far too weak before the Celestial Venerable.

Whether in cultivation or accomplishment, the Celestial Venerable surpassed him by too much. In a mere moment, he was already on the verge of walking out of the sea of fire!

"Senior Brother Feng, we'll buy you time!"

Immortal Ping, Immortal Xi, Wen Daoist, and the other immortals each raised their immortal treasures and charged into the sea of fire, rushing toward that looming figure.

Shen Liujun shouted at the top of his lungs, "You have to refine him to death!"

Even though the sea of fire formed by the harmonious merging of yin and yang water and fire was extremely dangerous to them as well, they still charged forward furiously, surrounding the Celestial Venerable, striking at him with reckless abandon!

Feng Ruotong gritted his teeth, surging all his magical power, raising his Celestial Way Primordial Spirit and pushing the Yin Yang Qi Bottle's power to its absolute limit.

His hair stood on end, his teeth stained red with blood. His robes billowed as if inflated, and his skin cracked open inch by inch under the pressure of his own hyper-circulating blood and qi!

Even a Gold Immortal's body couldn't withstand the sheer force of true energy circulation at this level!

Within the sea of fire, Immortal Ping's head suddenly flew up, severed by the Celestial Venerable. The next moment, Immortal Xi was cut clean in half at the waist!

Wen Daoist leaped into the air, raising his immortal artifact, the Brahma Fire Token, pushing the Great Brahma Sacred Fire Technique to its limit, and slashed at the Celestial Venerable. The next instant, the Brahma Fire Token exploded along with his physical body and Primordial Spirit!

One Celestial Way Immortal after another fell. Even while suppressed by the Yin Yang Qi Bottle, even while resisting the refinement of yin and yang qi, killing these Celestial Way Immortals took only a single strike from the Celestial Venerable!

Finally, the last immortal collapsed.

The Celestial Venerable was panting heavily, his expression somewhat ferocious. His nose had been burned away, drooping down like a strip of noodle.

His legs had also been softened by the burning, barely able to support his own weight.

He walked forward, finally reaching the edge of the sea of fire.

Feng Ruotong's skin had burst open across his entire body from the Celestial Venerable's overwhelming magical force. Blood had poured out and pooled around him, forming a pool of blood.

Feng Ruotong stood in the pool of blood, his Celestial Way Primordial Spirit looming behind him, both arms wrapped around the Yin Yang Qi Bottle, trying to press it down upon the Celestial Venerable.

The Celestial Venerable raised his right hand, magical power pushing upward. He let out a snort, and Feng Ruotong's Celestial Way Primordial Spirit began to crack and shatter across its surface like porcelain!

The Celestial Venerable's expression shifted slightly. He saw the five fingers of his right hand go limp, drooping downward.

His hand had been burned soft too.

The Celestial Venerable grabbed at Feng Ruotong with his other hand, seizing his throat. He squeezed hard, and a cracking sound echoed as his neck shattered.

In the sky, Feng Ruotong's Celestial Way Primordial Spirit exploded. In the instant of its destruction, it hurled the Yin Yang Qi Bottle far away!

The Yin Yang Qi Bottle transformed into a streak of light, flying off into the distance.

The Celestial Venerable started to chase after it, but his legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground.

His legs had been burned so soft they were like mud.

He raised his hands, looking at their deformed state, and couldn't stop trembling.

"Feng Ruotong!"