Chapter 169 Unstoppable Force, Retribution Awaits!
Bitao led the group to break open the second elder's palace, where they also found the Xun Formation. They then killed that elder, as well as the group of immortals and mortals in the elder's palace who were aiding and abetting the evildoer.
Then she led her people to smash up the palace of the next elder.
Bitao's men were so excited they were practically going crazy. Even when they were at the Nine Heavens Immortal level, they had never experienced the thrill of challenging someone of higher rank and "slaying a god" beyond their level.
Especially with Dongjun and Jichunjun attacking and defending respectively, Bitao's side suffered very few injuries and almost zero deaths.
They marched with overwhelming force and unstoppable momentum. There were eight elders in total in the Nine Heavens Palace, and the palaces surrounding the Nine Heavens Palace stood in all directions. By the time Bitao led her men to kill the fourth elder in the order of the Bagua, it was past midnight—their army had already swept through the land like a whirlwind, subduing the enemy without a fight.
The fifth elder, "Songtao," fled at the first sign of trouble, leaving behind a group of subordinates who held a hostage to a group of mortals dressed as immortals, setting up a trap for Bitao and the others.
He fantasized that Bitao and the others had gone mad with killing intent, and that they would enter his palace and start indiscriminately "killing" people in order to incur karma.
Bitao and the others brought the crowd under control, and Taiji and Hanshang checked each person one by one.
The forced mortals simply took the silver from the palace and sent them away. The remaining immortals who had been holding the mortals hostage were either captured without resistance or defected on the spot; they were all ignored and killed without hesitation.
Along their journey, they left corpses strewn everywhere. If it weren't for the fact that Dongjun was a member of the Golden Crow clan, and that the heatwaves that generated his spiritual energy could dry the bloodstains, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the places they passed through were filled with flowing blood.
Among their ranks, some accidentally injured ordinary people who were fickle and easily swayed, and were thus punished by karma.
However, Taiji, a powerful being who can "create" immortal positions, is constantly stripping away and transferring immortal meridians. Those cultivators who have just been afflicted by karma can have their immortal meridians replaced. They only need to borrow the "immortal pearls" condensed from the life force of the common people by the elders to activate their healing. In an instant, their skin and flesh will be healed and their meridians will flow smoothly.
Some people, as they fought, became spirits, but this did not stop them from charging into battle for Bitao, their robes stained with blood.
Han Shang was always somewhat apprehensive. He had been in this star realm for hundreds of years and had never seen these immortals die as easily as roadside weeds that no one cared about.
He thought of how he had almost given up on his principles, considering joining the tutelage of some elder, engaging in petty scheming, and living only for his own prosperity.
But now he only feels lingering fear. If he had been corrupt back then, he might be one of those people lying dead on the roadside right now!
Mingguang could neither speak nor move, but whenever Bitao looked at him, he would do his best to express his dissuasion with his eyes.
But later, when they had emptied the palace of the fifth elder, looted countless immortal pearls and silver coins, and were on their way to the palace of the sixth elder, Mingguang closed his eyes and no longer tried to express any opinion.
Because it's too late to stop now.
Throughout the night, amidst the deafening sounds of battle and the swirling winds of blood surrounding the Nine Heavens Palace, by the fifth watch, Xu Xingshen's subordinates had reported to him for the fourteenth time that night.
They had sent some people to rescue the elders, but Dongjun was too strong. No sword formation or magic array could withstand his flapping of the golden crow's wings, which carried waves of heat.
Star God Xu Li had been observing, watching to see just how far the wild fairy Bi Tao, whom they had deliberately left untouched to attract the attention of the Nine Heavens, could go.
But when Bitao killed Qingwen, a single word of judgment summoned the Soul-Hooking Impermanence of the Underworld, and even Xu Li couldn't sit still anymore.
They also secretly bribed many ghost officials in the underworld. However, the Emperor of Fengdu had been strict for many years, and if a ghost official made a slight mistake, he would sweep him into the River of Oblivion to be punished.
After the ghost official survives being devoured by countless ghosts in the River of Oblivion, it's questionable whether he can retain his human intelligence, let alone remember his cooperation with them.
Therefore, few ghost officials from the underworld were involved in their plan.
They had schemed for so many years, yet they couldn't pry open a corner of the Netherworld that was separated from the Heavenly Realm. This Little Fairy Bitao could summon the Black and White Impermanence of the Underworld with a single decree. This was simply absurd.
Could it be that the Emperor of Fengdu really thinks so highly of this wild fairy spirit and has already secretly decided that she will be the next Emperor of Fengdu?
Moreover, after Bi Tao punished Qing Wen and summoned the Netherworld Impermanence, the many immortals on the Silver River Net experienced a new wave of reverence for Bi Tao.
In this world, whether it is the mortal realm or the celestial realm where gods reside, the strong have always been respected.
The cunning abilities that Bitao has displayed, and her methods of manipulating and even controlling the immortals, have already attracted too much admiration from the immortals, exceeding their expectations.
Therefore, while all the immortals on the Milky Way were cheering for Bitao from afar, praising her for acting on behalf of Heaven, punishing the tyrannical and rebellious, and regretting that they could not participate in the third competition, to be Bitao's vanguard, and to take the lead in sentencing these Nine Heavens Palace elders who harmed the people—Xu Xingshen had already left this star realm.
He went to other star realms with other ancient immortal clan leaders to discuss the next steps.
Xu Xingshen heard all of the dozen or so reports from his subordinates after he left, while his alter ego sat behind a screen in his own palace.
They did not express their opinion on the battle situation reported in real time, but remained on the sidelines.
Xu Xingshen himself, along with a group of ancient immortal clan elders, was watching Bitao and the others through the silvery net.
"This wild immortal is truly arrogant. If we just watch her slaughter all the elders, Xu Li, you'll lose all face as the Star God!"
A man with long, fiery red hair sat in the hall, looking at the Silver Han Gu floating in mid-air, then at Xu Xing Shen, his tone somewhat sarcastic.
Xu Li tilted his head slightly, the tassels on his head swaying gently. He shifted the direction of his elbow, which was resting on the back of the chair, and slowly rotated the white jade thumb ring on his right thumb.
He chuckled and said, "King Jinghai is mistaken. If she were to kill all these elders, it would actually be a good thing for us."
"The life force here has been extracted too much and needs to be slowed down. These elders died because of the crime of 'stripping the life force of all living beings,' and the heavens watched them pay their respects. Isn't that perfect?"
Rescue the elders?
No, those elders were merely targets they set up here, scapegoats to "take the blame".
Otherwise, where did the life force of the mortal realm and the immortal realm that was discovered go, and how can it be explained?
It can be said that Bitao's current actions are "covering up" their crimes of exploiting the lives of the people here.
They were just hoping that Bitao would kill all the elders so that there would be no way to prove anything.
Jing Haiwang choked, his gaze towards Xu Li was indescribable.
He wanted to say that all the inhabitants of this astral plane are people from your territory, and you really are... utterly devoid of any compassion or mercy when it comes to scheming.
However, Jinghaiwang glanced at the "Celestial Venerable" sitting in the head seat, who was always shrouded in a thick white mist of vitality.
The Celestial Venerable revealed only one hand, and the crimson-gold sun and moon embroidery on the cuffs of his tightly bound fingers was extremely eye-catching.
His fingertips lightly touched the edge of the chair back, long and smooth like white jade. The last time we met, when these fingers were accidentally exposed, they were clearly covered with wrinkles that showed signs of weakened strength.
Clearly, his power has increased due to the astral planes that have been "collapsed" in recent days.
Jing Haiwang didn't dare to provoke Xu Li again, lest he displease the "Celestial Venerable".
Xu Li turned his head and looked at a beautiful woman with lowered eyes and elegant demeanor sitting quietly at the entrance of the main hall. He said, "I have not found any trace of demons in this realm, nor can I create demons while evading the Heavenly Dao. Yu Jian Xuan Zhen, you have been transferred from the Ministry of War to the Shangqing Realm for many years. Now, as Fang Yi Zhen Zhen's attendant who is assigned public office in the Shangqing Realm, find some legitimate reasons to transfer Dong Jun back to the Shangqing Realm."
The woman known as Yu Jian Xuanzhen spoke, her voice still soft and clear. She said, "I have already tried to ask Fang Yi Zhenzhen, but she is very secretive about Dongjun's trip to Taiqing Realm for the competition. She only mentioned to me that it was the will of the Heavenly Dao of the Myriad Realms."
Yu Jianxuan slowly raised her head, her every move resembling that of a well-mannered young lady from a prominent family in the mortal world.
If Bitao were here, she would immediately recognize that Bitao's words and actions are exactly the same as Jichun Jun's.
Yu Jian Xuanzhen looked at the "Celestial Venerable" at the head of the table who had not spoken and said, "I also subtly inquired about some of the friends who are close to the Origin God Zhen."
"It was learned that Lingzhen Dongjun did not descend to the competition arena of Taiqing Realm without permission, but was personally arranged by the Heavenly Dao of the Myriad Realms to descend to the mortal realm and be given the special position of Taiqing Realm Companion Immortal Master. That is why he appeared in the competition star realm."
"What special position?" King Jinghai asked gruffly.
"I heard from Shangyuan Shenzhen's friend that Dongjun's mission is to protect the safety of Bitao Yexianling, the only fairy in the competition."
"Because of the previous two competitions, the younger generation in our clan disliked that wild fairy and repeatedly tried to get rid of her. As a result, in order to maintain the fairness of the competition, the Heavenly Dao of the Myriad Realms sent Dongjun down to the mortal realm for this competition."
Yu Jian Xuanzhen turned to Xu Li and said, "Xu Xingshen, I'm afraid I can't help you. Lingzhen Dongjun is a competition immortal personally appointed by the Heavenly Dao of the Myriad Realms. I cannot use other missions to recall Lingzhen Dongjun until his mission is completed."
"The Heavenly Dao of Myriad Realms?" King Jinghai exclaimed in shock. "Has Kunyi's brain been fried by lightning?"
"She ran all the way to Shangqing Realm to find her own son in the mortal world, not to protect his other son, but to protect some wild immortal? Hahahaha... Damn it, you really see all sorts of things when you live long enough!"
The entire hall echoed with the wild laughter of the King of the Well.
Soon, the other immortal elders of the ancient immortal clans, who had no say at all, also joined in the laughter.
For a moment, the entire hall was filled with a harmonious and joyful atmosphere.
The "Celestial Venerable" at the head of the table did not make any attempt to dissuade him; he simply stopped tapping his fingers on the back of his chair, as if he were deep in thought.
Xu Li was quite perceptive and knew that "Celestial Venerable" was annoyed.
King Jinghai was somewhat foolish, but as the great god who ruled over the mountains and rivers of the human world, all the dragons of the Three Mountains, Five Peaks, and Four Seas were under his command.
The dragon race is skilled in battle and knows the most about the places in the human world where life is abundant, such as those near mountains and water. They still need the Well Sea King to provide them with a suitable place to set up an array to transmit life force, but one that will not be easily detected by the Starry Sky Rotating Yin-Yang Sundial.
Only then did everyone reluctantly agree to cooperate with this "roughneck" who always spoke foul language and had picked up a lot of dirty habits from the human race.
Xu Li spoke up at the right moment to cut off the laughter of the crowd, and said to the "Celestial Venerable" at the head of the table: "Although Dongjun has caused quite a bit of trouble in this realm."
"But since Yu Jian Xuan Zhen said his mission was only to protect Bi Tao, doesn't that just prove that the Myriad Realms Heavenly Dao Kun Yi was completely unaware of our true purpose?"
If the Heavenly Dao of Myriad Realms and the Azure Nether Immortal Emperor knew even the slightest thing, they would not have sent both of their sons to the star realms they ruled.
Xu Li twirled the ring around and continued, "Dongjun's mission really is just to protect Bitao..."
"Didn't Yu Jian Xuan Zhen prepare a mission for Dong Jun that was specifically designed for him, a Spirit True Lord?"
“It can be started now. Two days later, I will send Dongjun and Bitao back together. One will go to the West, and the other will go to Shangqing Realm.”
Beside Yu Jian Xuanzhen was a female ruler who was also in the Shangqing Realm. She looked almost identical to Yu Jian Xuanzhen, as if they were twins.
However, their demeanor and voices were worlds apart. If Yu Jianxuan was a well-educated and refined lady with a refined and elegant demeanor, this woman was merely a lady in appearance, but in reality, she was like a vulgar kitchen maid.
Upon hearing this, she couldn't help but seize the opportunity to boast about Yu Jian Xuanzhen, her voice hoarse and mocking: "Xu Xingshen, you are mistaken. That mission is not aimed at the Lingzhen True Monarch level, but at the bird race whose feathers haven't even fully grown yet!"
"That's the desolate star realm that my sister Yujian has nurtured for over two thousand years. She has raised over a hundred thousand birds of prey and beasts to hunt, and most of them are ice-type mutated spirits! It corresponds to the Golden Crow heat wave of Dongjun, and I guarantee that Dongjun, who has never even grown 'Heaven and Earth Feathers', will never return!"
Xu Li frowned slightly. Although this woman came with Yu Jian Xuan Zhen, she was only at the Zhi Zhen level, which was not even as high as Ling Zhen Dong Jun's level.
In this situation, how could she possibly have the right to speak? Yu Jian Xuan Zhen is truly lax in his governance.
However, Xu Li did not show any dissatisfaction, after all, the "Celestial Venerable" had not yet spoken.
Xu Li simply followed the woman's words: "Speaking of the spirit attribute of ice and snow mutation... Dong Jun beside Bi Tao is indeed powerful, but he is controlled by Bi Tao. As long as Bi Tao wants to use my hand to return to heaven and prove her position, she will not dare to touch the Nine Heavens Palace. Her wild behavior around the area is only to attract the attention of the Nine Heavens Palace so that she can have more bargaining chips in her hands."
“But Bitao also has an uncontrollable Jichunjun by her side. If I remember correctly, this traitor who learned of our plot and wanted to inform Taiqing Realm was Yujian Xuanzhen’s older sister, whom he sent to my Star Realm to be ‘fostered’ out of pity.”
"Over the years, this Ji Chun Jun has never suffered the slightest humiliation in my star realm. In fact, to maintain her immortality, my star realm has shared its resources with her. If she had just lived a quiet life as a mortal for thousands of years, that would have been fine. I would have just kept her as a pet."
"Now that she is associating with Bitao and has had her immortal lineage continued, I'm afraid the consequences will be endless."
"Yu Jian Xuan Zhen, your elder sister... will you cook this yourself, or should I do it for you?"
"You!" The woman next to Yu Jianxuanzhen impulsively stood up, pointing at Xu Xingshen and about to curse.
This time, Yu Jian Xuanzhen finally spoke: "Xiangxue, you must not be rude to Xu Xingshen."
As Yu Jianxuanzhen spoke, he stood up and bowed respectfully in the direction of Xu Xingshen.
As a Xuanzhen True Lord of the Taiqing Realm, Xu Li was absolutely not worthy of her respect.
However, even a powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake.
The current competition is key to their plans, and this is Xu Xingshen's territory.
Furthermore, Xu Lizhen had been raising this traitor, Yu Jianxuanzhen, for over four thousand years, so he naturally deserved her bow.
After Yu Jianxuan sat back down, he spoke softly again: "My sister has long lost all her memories. Back then, the Heavenly Venerable personally dug out her Immortal Pearl, extracted part of her Immortal Vein, and wiped away her memories. She was then placed in the realm where Xu Xingshen resides, and she no longer poses any threat to us."
"Xu Xingshen need not worry too much. Even if her immortal veins are restored, her strength is still less than one ten-thousandth of what it was when she was the Water and Ice Twin Spirits."
Xu Li originally wanted to "show off" in front of everyone and make Xuanzhen of the Shangqing Realm bow down to him.
However, when Xu Li heard Yu Jian Xuan Zhen say that Ji Chun Jun was someone whom the "Heavenly Venerable" had personally dug out as a Celestial Pearl and extracted a portion of his Celestial Veins before casting it into his Star Realm, Xu Li immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
Even with the Heavenly Venerable personally taking action, Ji Chunjun was not killed... This can only mean that there is some unknown relationship between Ji Chunjun and the Heavenly Venerable.
Xu Li lowered his head, unsure whether to apologize or remain silent.
He couldn't help but wonder what kind of relationship it was that made the "Celestial Venerable" willing to go through the trouble of digging out the Immortal Pearl, extracting the Immortal Vein, and erasing memories, rather than simply killing the person.
The atmosphere in the main hall became strange for a moment.
At this moment, the "Celestial Venerable" sitting at the head of the table finally spoke.
Last time he spoke, his voice was like that of an old man about to blow out a candle; this time, his voice was like the cry of a phoenix and the call of a crane, authoritative yet not angry.
"Dongjun and Mingguang, including Jichunjun, are no longer a threat. No matter what kind of illicit affair that Little Fairy Bitao has with the Great Emperor of Luofeng Mountain in the Netherworld, Xu Li, you said you would deal with her within two days."
Just as Xu Li was worried about having no way to back down, he immediately stood up from beside the table, bowed to the "Celestial Venerable" and said, "Celestial Venerable, rest assured, at the ascension ceremony the day after tomorrow, I will make sure that little fairy Bitao is utterly destroyed and leaves no trace of her body!"
The "Celestial Venerable" at the head of the table rose, and white mist emanated from his body, spreading towards the Silver Han Gu that had been suspended in mid-air.
He concluded, "This farce should end..."
As he spoke, his figure vanished into the white mist that filled the hall, and the other ancient immortals also disappeared from their original positions.
The crowd dispersed like dust, and the ancient temple that had stood for hundreds of years collapsed in the dark night.
The Taoist priest in the temple was half asleep when he heard the loud noise and scrambled out of the temple.
However, the statue of the "Great Emperor of the Eastern Pole Qinghua," whom they worshipped and worshipped throughout their lives, was torn apart. The sun and moon symbols on the statue's shoulders were broken off, and the head was as if it had been severed from the sky, rolling to the ground with a rumble.
"My head! My eldest son's head! Ahhhhhh—"
Amid the chaos, a woman began to wail in anguish.
Holding her child's headless corpse, she looked back at the elders they had worshipped for so many years, and at these "immortals" who provided them with generous rewards, allowing them, ordinary mortals, to live a life of luxury.
There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
They are now being used as bargaining chips to threaten others, pushed forward as targets, and in the eyes of these immortals, they are no better than pigs and dogs!
The woman's eyes, filled with hot tears mixed with the blood of losing her loved one and the sharp blade that had suddenly awakened her, pierced the immortal behind her who had beheaded her child.
The immortal swordsman trembled under the gaze of this ordinary woman, and his sword-wielding hand went limp.
However, he quickly regained his composure, showing no remorse in his eyes. He continued to hold his longsword across the head of the defenseless mortal before him and roared, "Come on! We are not afraid of karmic retribution and are willing to die for the Nine Heavens Palace!"
"If you dare take another step forward, let's see if you can strike faster, or if these mortals' heads will fall off faster!"
The sky was darkest before dawn, pitch black, except for the burning palace complex, which illuminated the magnificent palace of the Nine Heavens Palace and its surroundings as bright as day.
Of the eight elders of the Nine Heavens Palace, only the last two, who were seriously injured, and some of their henchmen remained.
They had been driven to the brink of despair by Bitao and the others.
Unlike any previous battle, we cannot surrender and have the chance to start over even if our immortal pearl is removed.
Once they lay down their weapons and stop resisting, they will be killed by this group of ruthless people.
They didn't want the immortal pearl; they burned, killed, and looted.
They were like the "human butchers" who, after winning a battle, would kill all the prisoners and even civilians.
They were simply "Immortal Slayers," their eyes bloodshot as they excitedly and wantonly slaughtered every immortal they deemed to be "harming the common people."
Moreover, they are completely unaffected by the backlash of cause and effect!
Heaven is clearly on their side.
Therefore, the remaining hundreds of people are fighting to the death, and they no longer care about the karmic consequences.
Some of them only learned tonight that the elders they served were "demons" who grew powerful by absorbing the life force of mortals.
However, they have already transported batches of mortals to these elders for them to consume, and their hands are stained with the "blood" of the living, so they can no longer be called immortals.
"I don't know, I really don't know, please forgive me, please forgive me—ah!"
Another immortal stepped forward, claiming he had no idea these elders were harming the people, and tried to surrender to Bitao and the others.
But soon, this immortal was pierced through the chest by a sword.
Bitao's subordinate looked at this banished immortal and said, "I don't think you're innocent. Don't you really know that you're aiding and abetting evil?"
"Look, I stabbed you, and you died immediately, but I didn't suffer any karmic retribution. What does that mean?"
"That means you know, you know everything, you're just making excuses!"
"You..." The immortal who had "surrendered" and was killed stared in disbelief at this person for using the method of "killing him first" to personally verify cause and effect. Even in his dying moments, his eyes were wide open.
Why did he end up in such a state?
Why... He shouldn't have been so afraid of death and abandoned his original intention to become an immortal.
retribution.
Karma!
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