Li Daoyi reached out and grasped the God-Slaying Spear. The God-Slaying Spear emitted a burst of light, and Li Daoyi felt a slight tremor in his hand, as if he had established some kind of connection with the God-Slaying Spear.
“It’s a pity I’m not used to using guns,” Li Daoyi said, looking at the God-Slaying Gun in his hand.
"Buzzing..."
"Alright, you can come with me for now."
“Spit out Hongyun’s soul,” Li Daoyi said, pointing at the God-Slaying Spear.
A slight light appeared at the tip of the spear, and a blue dot the size of a pea slowly emerged. This was the part of Hongyun's soul that had been absorbed back then. Li Daoyi took out a bottle, and the dot immediately entered the bottle.
He then examined the divine spear in his hand, pondered for a moment, and then spoke.
"Shrink to a smaller size."
After Li Daoyi finished speaking, he tossed the God-Slaying Spear into the air. With a thought, the God-Slaying Spear rapidly shrank, eventually becoming the size of a hairpin. Li Daoyi caught it and inserted it directly into his hair.
This scene left the people behind him speechless. A powerful magic weapon that had slain countless demons had actually been reduced to someone else's hairpin. Everyone had to admire Li Daoyi's audacity.
Immediately afterwards, Li Daoyi picked up Mengmeng and walked back, and soon arrived in front of Houtu.
"You are truly astonishing. I never imagined that such a remarkable person would emerge from the primordial world," Houtu exclaimed.
"You flatter me," Li Daoyi said with a slight smile.
"Speaking of which, since you collected this item for the Underworld, I owe you a favor," Houtu said.
The God-Slaying Spear being placed in the Underworld is actually not a good thing for this place. This thing often erupts, and each time it erupts, it absorbs many living souls. This time, it was taken away by the other party, and the Underworld has finally settled down.
"It's nothing, and besides, I'm here to retrieve Hongyun's soul," Li Daoyi said with a smile.
Houtu shook her head, then stretched out her hand, and a red jar appeared in her palm.
As soon as the jar appeared, everyone felt a wild and untamed aura emanating from it, as if it contained something full of power.
"Hmm?" Li Daoyi looked at Houtu with a puzzled expression.
"This contains the essence and blood of the Ancestral Witches, left behind by my brothers before they perished. I've kept it with me for many years without ever using it, so I'll give it to you!" Houtu looked at the jar and fell into a kind of reminiscence.
Li Daoyi was somewhat surprised that the other party would produce such a precious item on their first meeting: the essence blood of the Ancestral Witches. Each of the twelve Ancestral Witches of the Witch Clan possessed the strength of a Quasi-Saint, and their essence blood could completely create a new Quasi-Saint.
"Fellow Daoist, this is far too precious," Li Daoyi said in a deep voice. Although he had accepted the God-Slaying Spear, thus relieving Houtu of her worries, the gift was indeed quite valuable.
“I give you this item as a way of forming a good connection with you. I can’t see through you, nor can I imagine what kind of existence you are, but I know that someone like you is definitely not an unknown person.”
"If I need your help in the future, I will ask you for it again." After Houtu finished speaking, she handed the jar to Li Daoyi with her delicate hands.
"Alright then, I won't stand on ceremony," Li Daoyi said, taking the jar.
Houtu nodded to Li Dao, then smiled gently and reached out to pat Mengmeng's little head again.
Then Houtu slowly rose up and flew back in the direction she had come from.
"People come and go in the mortal world, and wandering souls in the underworld rush about. No matter how many partings and deaths they experience, how many reds and whites they welcome, they cannot fathom the Zen meaning of the full moon in the sky and the blossoming branches in spring, nor can they see through the foresight of the lotus in the lake and the birds in the sky."
Houtu's voice slowly came from the sky. Li Daoyi watched her flying away and felt her helplessness, desolation and loneliness.
"Alas..." Li Daoyi sighed deeply.
Others only saw Houtu's merit in establishing reincarnation and saving all living beings, and they only saw her becoming a saint in the underworld and reaching the height that everyone longed for. But they did not see that she gave everything for this, including her freedom. When the Wu tribe was defeated, this was the only way she could save her people.
"Is it worth it?" Li Daoyi murmured.
"This is the path she chose herself, and for her, it's worth it," Zhen Yuanzi said slowly as he stepped forward. He understood the meaning behind Li Daoyi's words.
Just then, a small hand stealthily tried to reach for the jar in Li Daoyi's hand.
"Don't do anything reckless." Li Daoyi quickly put the jar away and said to Mengmeng.
The little guy pouted in dissatisfaction.
“This thing is useless to us, but for Yin Shou and the others, it’s a treasure comparable to the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir,” Li Daoyi said.
The Wu Clan possesses powerful physical bodies, and this jar of essence blood naturally retains the essence of their physical bodies. Once absorbed by Yin Shou and others who cultivate martial arts, it will transform them completely.
"Alright, let's go."
Li Daoyi said. After speaking, he tossed the porcelain bottle to Hongyun.
"Thank you, senior." Hongyun was overjoyed. He was still not used to calling Li Daoyi "fellow Daoist" and chose to address him as "senior" like Guanyin.
Then Mengmeng stretched out her little hand and swiped it forward, and a spatial portal appeared instantly. The group walked in one by one, and the other end was Wuzhuang Temple.
Shortly after everyone went inside and the portal disappeared, a cloud of bloody energy flew in from outside Yinshan.
The blood energy surged and swirled around Yinshan for a long time before gradually transforming into a figure—an old man dressed in a black robe, his body as thin as a rake. The old man had red hair, bloodshot eyes, and his small body seemed to contain immense power. The newcomer was none other than the Styx Ancestor.
Generally speaking, in order to avoid encountering Houtu, the Styx Ancestor rarely leaves the Blood Sea, but today he sensed a familiar aura while in seclusion, and then came out of seclusion and headed here.
The Styx Ancestor landed at the foot of Yin Mountain and sniffed around.
"It's Houtu. She came here. Could it be that she took it away?" Styx asked in confusion.
Clearly, the Styx Ancestor also knew the whereabouts of the God-Slaying Spear.
He glanced somewhat reluctantly toward the underworld, but ultimately lacked the courage to go. In the underworld, Houtu was invincible, and no one dared to provoke her.
Shaking his head helplessly, the Styx Ancestor once again transformed into a wisp of blood energy and flew away.
March 15th, three days before the Nuwa Ceremony held once every five years.
Chaoge City has begun to bustle with activity. Lords from all over the country have also flocked to the city. Chaoge is now more than twice the size it was back then, which amazes everyone.
Of the four major vassal states, only the Eastern Marquis and the Southern Marquis came, while the Western Marquis and the Northern Marquis were absent due to leave of absence.
This time, Marquis Su Hu of Jizhou was the first to arrive in Chaoge. In the past few years, with the help of Wen Zhong, the reforms in Jizhou went very smoothly, and Marquis Su Hu naturally became Yin Shou's confidant. Over the years, the two have often corresponded. Daji staying in Chaoge was actually Su Hu sending a hostage to Yin Shou in disguise.
Zhutian Tower.
A large crowd had already gathered by then.
Li Daoyi and the others had already returned to Chaoge, and Zhen Yuanzi had also come along.
In addition, Kong Xuan also returned from the North Sea, accompanied by Kunpeng.
The meeting between Kunpeng and Hongyun was somewhat awkward, but fortunately, neither of them were ordinary people. With Li Daoyi's intervention, Kunpeng held up a wine cup and knelt down to Hongyun as a gesture of apology.
Hongyun had long since come to terms with what happened back then. He understood that Kunpeng was merely being used as a pawn. He readily accepted the wine offered by the other party and drank it all in one gulp. Afterward, the two looked at each other and smiled, which could be considered a reconciliation.
"Fellow Daoist is very generous. From now on, your affairs are my affairs, Kunpeng's affairs." Kunpeng stood up and said excitedly.
"Haha, I told you before I came that Fellow Daoist Hongyun is broad-minded and will surely forgive you," Kong Xuan laughed loudly from the side.
His expression then froze.
“The person behind that back then was the real villain,” Kong Xuan said.
“Jieyin, Zhunti.” Kunpeng nodded, a murderous intent flashing in his eyes.
Hongyun's face also darkened. This shameless duo had targeted him many times in the past, ultimately causing his death.
"Don't worry, there will be opportunities in the future," Li Daoyi said, patting Kunpeng on the shoulder.
"Hahaha..."
Just then, a laugh rang out.
Tongtian's figure slowly appeared.
"Fellow Daoist Tongtian."
"I have met the sage."
Everyone quickly replied.
"I thought you wouldn't come," Li Daoyi said with a smile.
Tongtian cupped his hands in greeting to the crowd.
“The great calamity is about to begin, how could I possibly miss it?” Tongtian said.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" At this moment, Tongtian saw Guanyin hiding behind Wutian.
Guanyin timidly leaned out and bowed to Tongtian.
"Greetings, Uncle Tongtian."
Tongtian looked at the other person with some doubt.
“Amitabha, there is no more Cihang Daoren in this world. She is now Guanyin of our Buddhist sect,” Wutian said, his hands clasped together.
Tongtian immediately showed a surprised expression, then realized what was happening and gave Wutian a thumbs up.
Now that everyone has arrived, they take their seats in turn. Li Daoyi sits in the main seat without hesitation, while the others sit on either side. No one objects to this arrangement, and even Tongtian thinks it is justified.
"Everyone, are you all ready?"
Li Daoyi said in a deep voice.
Everyone's expressions immediately turned serious.
"Three days later, everything will begin."
“If any of you want to quit, do it now, otherwise once the great calamity begins, you and I will be in the same boat, and it will be difficult to extricate yourselves.” Li Daoyi squinted at the crowd, his gaze sweeping from Tongtian down to Guanyin.
The people present had firm expressions and showed no fear whatsoever.
"I haven't made a move in a long time. I wonder if my senior brother can withstand my Immortal Slaughtering Formation," Tongtian said with a slight smile.
"Everyone says I, Kunpeng, am afraid of death. Damn it, this time I'll shut them all up!" Kunpeng said with a ferocious expression.
"I will surely kill the two Western Saints!" Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun said in unison, then exchanged a knowing smile. A palpable sense of camaraderie filled the air.
“Amitabha, if I don’t go to hell, who will? How can humanity continue to be enslaved by the gods?” Wutian said slowly. Guanyin beside him also put her hands together, indicating her stance.
"Fellow Daoist Li, as long as you can fulfill what you promised me, what's wrong with selling my life to you?" Kong Xuan raised his wine cup and walked towards Li Daoyi.
"..." At this moment, everyone looked at Kong Xuan with curiosity, wondering what Li Daoyi had promised him.
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