Chapter 55 Framing
Unable to find her way home, Ji Rong desperately took out the nautical chart that Jiao Pingbo had given her and planted it on what she thought was the nearest island to swallow the wind.
At this moment, some cultivators shared her despair.
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In the Bamboo Cloud Mountain of the Chijian Mountain Range, a black and white bear wearing a bamboo hat stretched out its paws and accepted a token engraved with the word "war" with a stiff smile.
Beside him were piles of various bamboo baskets, and an unfinished bamboo mat.
Every blade of grass, every tree, every flower, and every beast in the Chijian Mountains belongs to Emperor Rong, the chief god of the War God Temple.
The token was delivered by a unicorn dragon named Jiaojue. He usually pulled Di Rong's carriage, and today he bribed the Blood Phoenix Maiden, Di Rong's attendant, to get the task of delivering the jade token.
Lately, whenever he had free time, he would serve the girl diligently and even presented her with many rare treasures, stating frankly that he wanted to improve himself.
The woman was very pleased and rewarded him with the task of delivering the jade pendant, asking him to pass on a few words to her while he was at it, so that when he returned, he could show his face before the gods.
Jiao Jue gave him the jade token, but didn't leave. He stood there watching Xiong Shi, who was silently breaking bamboo, and said, "Shi, do you know why you were suddenly promoted?"
Upon hearing this, Shi violently crushed five thick spirit bamboos. He looked up at Jiao Jue, his eyes flashing with a fierce light, and said, "Promotion? Would you like such a promotion?"
Jiao Jue was neither afraid nor angry. He wrapped himself around a large bamboo pole, stretched his head closer to Shi, and said, "Do you want to know who recommended you?"
Without saying a word, Shi slammed his claw down on the spirit bamboo beneath him, shattering it into dust.
Seeing Shi's reaction, Jiao Jue felt pleased. He squinted and leaned closer to Shi, whispering, "I'll tell you now."
Shi could no longer hold back. He grabbed Jiao Jue by the seven-inch mark and roared, "Speak your mind, or I don't care whose dragon you are."
The immense force caused the veins in Jiaojue's neck to bulge. He desperately pried at Shi's bear paw with his claws, saying, "Cough cough... I'll talk, I'll talk, you... let go..."
"Bang!" The jade pendant was thrown to the ground.
Jiao Jue got up from the ground, coughed a few times, swallowed the metallic taste in his mouth, and dared not keep him in suspense any longer, saying, "The Demon Emperor Pingbo perished in the desolate sea."
"Without a vanguard general to quell the rebellion in Liangzhou's Extreme Evil Abyss, the situation in Liangzhou has worsened in recent years. Therefore, the Divine Attendant Qiyang recommended you."
Qi Yang was one of the twelve attendants of the God of War Di Rong, and also the former lover of Yi Nu.
Shi said coldly, "I have no connection with the Divine Servant of Qiyang."
"But he learned from Huang Wen in the Heavenly Mandate Palace that you are about to be promoted to Demon Emperor. When you go to the War God Hall to receive your orders, the War God might even reward you with pills."
Who is Huang Wen?
Jiao Jue replied, "He is a favorite of the Heavenly Mandate Lord. It is said that he often uses the Mirror of Fate to sell information."
Shi knew about the Fate Mirror. This object was an important magical artifact used by the Heavenly Fate Palace to monitor the Central Plains mountain range. Every so often, the Heavenly Fate Palace's divine servant would hold the Fate Mirror and shine it over all parts of the Central Plains mountain range.
Sometimes, he would even take his glasses to the other eight states to take photos.
"Could it be that I was caught in the light when I was unable to return in time and was suppressing my cultivation outside?"
Upon hearing this, Shi's expression grew even colder. He asked, "What is the basis for what you are saying?"
Jiaojue then wrapped another spirit bamboo around and said, "Naturally, it was my superior who asked me to pass this on to you."
As for why she asked me to reveal this to you, I don't know. I only know that she and Qi Yang Divine Servant are not on good terms in private.
But I also have something to say.
"you say?"
"The Demon Queen of Pingbo left her spear in the desolate sea. Her spear has been with her in battle for many years and is extremely fierce. If you go there, you can go to Liangzhou to quell the rebellion and you will be safe."
The magical artifact that had fought alongside the Demon Emperor for many years was naturally a valuable item, but would the dragon before him be so kind? Shi stared at the horned jade, his eyes dark.
Jiao Jue knew that his words would not gain Shi's trust, but he had thought it through on the way here and had nothing to hide, so he said, "Do you know? Jiao Pingbo is my sister."
At this point, he squinted and smiled, "That Huang Wen is like our older brother, but he's more like his fish-headed mother."
I've already thought of a reason for you to get the gun. Huang Wen often uses the Life Mirror, and the Heavenly Mandate Lord knows that.
"Have him come with you to take the gun, and while you're at it, intimidate the remnants of the witch tribe. The two patriarchs will surely agree."
Shi listened, but still looked unconvinced.
Upon seeing this, Jiao Jue growled sadly, "You don't need to worry about me harming you."
He gripped the ground with all four claws, and drops of blood flowed into the earth.
"I am not very talented. The vast wealth that allowed me to cultivate to the Demon King realm was all given to me by her through hard work. She also arranged this job of pulling the chariot for the God Lord for me."
However, that scoundrel Huang Wen had ill intentions and took the opportunity to sow discord, causing her death far too early.
Jiaojue continued, "This matter is entirely beneficial to you."
"If it weren't for Huang Wen, you could still be making mats and weaving baskets here, and no one would ever know that you've been suppressing your cultivation and not breaking through."
After saying this, Jiao Jue tossed out a large bag of spirit crystals as a congratulatory gift and left, which Shi accepted.
When Shi went down the mountain to inquire about Huang Wen, sure enough, many cultivators knew that he was using the convenience of the Heavenly Fate Palace to sell information.
Shi tightened his grip on the bear.
But he was cautious. After thinking it over, he decided to investigate. He asked Tiger Head, who had inquired about Huang Wen from the neighboring mountain, to introduce him to the truth.
Tiger Head, whose face was bruised and swollen, naturally dared not refuse. Many cultivators from various races were searching for Huang Wen in this way, and Huang Wen himself was happy to do so. The two then agreed on a meeting time.
Upon arriving at the destination, Huang Wen wanted to leave as soon as he saw Shi. His feigned composure caught Shi's eye, making Shi believe Jiao Jue's words even more.
At this point, Shi was no longer angry. He took out the "Battle" token and waved it in front of Huang Wen, then said with a simple and honest smile, "I have long admired your name, fellow Daoist. You see, I will soon be embarking on a long journey. I wonder if you could help me see whether it will be auspicious or inauspicious?"
Huang Wen's eyes darted around. After taking the treasure and saying "good fortune," he didn't want to stay a moment longer and ran away.
Back at the Lotus Pond of the Heavenly Mandate Palace, Huang Wen squatted under the lotus leaves and refused to come out, feeling that he had been having a lot of bad luck lately.
This is the fifth one to come knocking on the door recently. Although Huang Wen doesn't know if Shi knows the inside story, Huang Wen doesn't want to see him at all.
"This business can't continue," Huang Wen thought to himself.
However, he was already famous, so he couldn't just cut ties with the business.
When the day of conscription arrived, Shi was overjoyed and waited outside the Temple of the God of War for Di Rong's summons.
In fact, he didn't have to come so early, but having received the battle order, Shi Xin knew there was no room for maneuver, so he made the necessary gesture.
After the attendant announced his arrival, Shi bowed and entered the hall, catching a glimpse of a pair of gleaming hooves beneath the divine throne above.
Upon reaching the front of the hall, Shi Na bowed deeply, prostrating himself on the jade bricks with a loud "thump, thump, thump," before finally raising his head.
He looked at Di Rong's radiant back, his gaze burning with a hint of naivety; his voice booming with excitement, he said, "Little Xiong Shi of Zhuyun Mountain pays respects to the Divine Lord."
The deity before the throne turned his head. He had four eyes, six hands, two horns on his head, and hair like sharp swords. He sat on the throne, looked down slightly, and asked, "What is your surname?"
Shi respectfully said, "The little bear has no relatives or surname. Please, God, grant us a little bear."
"From now on, let's call you Zhan Shi. I'm sending you to Liangzhou. Are you willing?"
Shi kowtowed to the ground again: "Thank you for your appreciation, Lord God. I am willing to go and will certainly not fail in my mission."
Upon hearing this, the deity at the head of the table smiled.
“My Lord, I have a request,” Zhan Shi said, supporting himself on his paws. “I don’t have a suitable weapon, so I beg you to grant me one.”
Emperor Rong nodded in agreement.
In the past, when he conscripted cultivators for battle, some would cry and wail.
A few resisted to the death;
Most of them agreed, but this was the first time I'd ever seen a cultivator agree so quickly and immediately ask for benefits.
Di Rong seemed to have taken a liking to the bear on the ground.
At this moment, a divine attendant on the left of Emperor Rong saw that the Divine Lord looked pleased and said, "My Lord, the weapon of the Wave-Treading Demon Emperor is still in the Desolate Sea. Why not bestow upon him the Battle Power?"
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