togophonebook Chapter 15: Even the straight man is ready.
Chapter 15: Even the straight man is ready.
Xu Changqing remained seated, raised his right hand, and several ancient imperial coins slid out of his sleeve, tossing them into the air.
The copper coins were not legal instruments, but merely ordinary divination objects. However, under the infusion of his illusory destiny energy, they emitted a low hum, spun around, and formed a complex array, hanging above his head.
It is precisely the exquisite formation described in the "Ziwei Zhusi Jing".
The poisonous miasma pressed down, but was restrained by the invisible vortex created by the spinning copper coin, making it difficult to fall. The two were locked in a stalemate, emitting a dull hissing sound.
He deliberately concealed his true abilities, so he barely managed to suppress the opponent's attack, showing some strain, and even broke out in a few beads of sweat on his forehead.
The starlight barrier flickered, and the copper coin's rotation slowed, as if it were about to collapse under the corrosive influence of poisonous miasma.
Just then, the Illusionary Demon Bell quietly appeared in Xu Changqing's hand. As his life force surged, strange sounds emanated from the bell.
The voice was neither crying nor laughing, like the whispers of a hundred ghosts, piercing straight to the soul.
The poisonous miasma abruptly halted under the assault of this demonic sound, and its surging momentum became somewhat chaotic. The centipede behind the Hundred-Legged Boy's ear was agitated, hissing and shrill, and his face turned pale, clearly indicating that his mind had been ambushed.
The Black Wind King, seated high above, took everything in view, his copper bell-shaped eyes gleaming. "This pale-faced abbot's methods are quite solid, far surpassing those of ordinary rogue cultivators. If I could subdue him, he would be a useful subordinate."
It figured the situation was about right, and it was time for its master to step in, clean up the mess, and show off his power.
"Enough!" A thunderous shout rang out.
The Black Wind King suddenly stood up, and the oppressive aura emanating from its massive body instantly enveloped the entire arena. It didn't leave its seat, but instead unleashed a punch from a distance.
This punch was devoid of any fancy moves, only possessing a single, powerful force. The surging black demonic power condensed into a tangible fist aura, striking first despite being delayed, and crashing headlong into the point where the poisonous miasma clashed with the starlight.
"boom!"
The shockwave exploded, forcefully shattering the poisonous miasma, and the starlight barrier and copper coins were also shattered by the aftershocks.
Xu Changqing groaned, leaned back slightly, his face paled, and then he used his internal energy to suppress it, showing a somewhat disheveled appearance.
The centipede boy was thrown back several feet by the shock, staggered to the ground, his colorful clothes disheveled, and the centipede in his ear shrank back in fright.
Black Wind King withdrew his fist, his demonic energy surging around him. That aura... had clearly surpassed the limit of perfect Qi Refining and was faintly touching the threshold of Foundation Establishment. Although he had not completely crossed it, it already carried a trace of terrifyingly heavy pressure.
Many of the demons in the arena had a slight change in expression.
"He's really close to Foundation Establishment..." Xu Changqing lowered his eyes, concealing the cold light in them. "This banquet is definitely not just about eating and drinking. This black bear spirit probably wants to use this opportunity to gather a crowd and complete some kind of ritual to break through in one fell swoop."
He feigned defeat, paused to catch his breath, and then looked up, his anger replaced by a forced calm. He cupped his hands in the direction of the Black Wind King, his voice slightly low: "Your Majesty's cultivation is impressive; I admire you."
Having said that, he stopped looking at the smug centipede boy, sat back down at the table, and glanced at the mess of "delicacies" on the table. His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone present.
"Amitabha. I presume all of you fellow Daoists have eaten and drunk well. Well then, Your Majesty has summoned us here not only for a feast and celebration. If there is anything important, please speak frankly. This humble Daoist... is still waiting to taste what the Blood Apricot really tastes like."
These words were direct, even carrying a hint of impatience and urgency after a defeat, perfectly portraying the image of a master who was worried about his own interests being harmed but had to endure due to the situation.
Upon hearing this, the Black Wind King sneered inwardly, "This pale-faced abbot is finally getting impatient. He's probably worried that I'm eyeing his Lotus Pond on Green Sheep Mountain, isn't he? Hmph, you're smart enough to know what's good for you."
It looked around at the audience and saw that after the earlier incident, the demons' attention was now fully focused, and many of them had questions and inquiries on their faces.
The Black Wind King laughed heartily, his voice echoing through the cave and drowning out all other noises.
It did not answer Xu Changqing immediately, but instead waved its hand dismissively.
Upon receiving the order, the black bear demon, the pig demon, and other subordinates standing guard throughout the cave quickly formed ranks.
Several exceptionally tall bear demons worked together to lift a huge, ferocious throne made of some kind of black metal and animal bones, and placed it high up directly behind the fire pit.
Other lesser demons held up several giant umbrella-shaped ceremonial guards made of black feathers and animal hides, which were arranged on both sides of the throne. Although crude, they still gave off the air of a mountain king.
The torches on the cave walls were deliberately adjusted so that the light converged on the throne area, making the Black Wind King appear even more imposing and powerful.
"This Blood Apricot Feast," the Black Wind King's smile vanished, a chilling glint flashing in his copper bell-shaped eyes, his voice deep and resonant, "is primarily about two things: first, gathering with friends, neighbors, and like-minded individuals to reminisce; and secondly..."
It paused deliberately, its gaze sweeping across every face below the stage before it spoke, word by word: "I wish to discuss an important matter with you all."
"Oh? What important matter does Your Majesty wish to discuss with us?" A hoarse, aged voice rang out at the opportune moment, carrying just the right amount of curiosity.
Xu Changqing looked up and saw a gaunt old man dressed in a gray-white funeral shroud sitting in the next seat. The old man's face was as withered as dried meat, his eyes were sunken, and two eerie green flames burned quietly in his eyes, yet they gleamed with flattery and shrewdness, clearly indicating that he was one of his own people who had been arranged in advance.
"They've even prepared a straight man," Xu Changqing thought with a sneer. "It seems this black bear spirit has come quite well-prepared."
He glanced around discreetly. Old Huang had already slipped back to his seat, embracing the fox demon, looking drunk and dazed, but his eyes kept glancing at the head of the table.
Blood Sword Liu Canyang had opened his eyes at some point, his pitch-black eyes staring blankly at Black Wind King.
The Blood Monk stopped chanting, his gaunt hands tucked into his sleeves, and he tilted his head slightly.
The Painted Skin Lady lazily played with a strand of hair, a smile playing on her lips, as if she had anticipated everything that was happening before her.
The centipede boy retreated to his original position, secretly stuffing some kind of powder into his ear, his eyes darting around.
Jade Fairy and the two young masters, Yuan and Jia, remained calm, clearly already aware of the inside story.
"It seems this black bear demon has secretly recruited quite a few people; a considerable number of them have probably already fallen into his hands." Xu Changqing's mind raced. "The so-called 'discussing important matters' is probably more accurately described as informing and coercing. If we don't agree to this trap, things will likely end badly."
There were many astute people in the room, and they gradually began to appreciate the nuances.
Some of the demons and evil cultivators who had not been informed in advance gradually turned ugly, their eyes revealing vigilance and dissatisfaction, and a fierce glint appeared in their eyes.
The atmosphere inside the cave suddenly became stagnant, the previous clamor and debauchery vanished, replaced by a sense of oppressive tension.
The Black Wind King took in everyone's reactions and was not surprised at all.
It grinned, revealing its gleaming white fangs, and its voice, though soft, carried an undeniable air of authority: "Rest assured, everyone. I, Black Wind, am not the kind of person who would hoard wealth and abandon friends. I invited you all here today to... share in the riches and honors."
Before it finished speaking, it suddenly opened its huge, fan-like hand and grabbed and spread it in the air.
A surge of black demonic power, mixed with the dusty, foul smell permeating the cave, burst forth, rapidly condensing and expanding in the air, transforming into a vivid, detailed illusory map several meters square.
Mountains, rivers, cities, and villages are faintly visible, forming the terrain that stretches for hundreds of miles around Black Wind Mountain.
In the central-eastern part of the map, a rather large city is circled by a striking scarlet light. The red light is like blood, pulsating slightly, like a heart eagerly awaiting to be plucked.
Xu Changqing recognized the outline of the city.
It is Qinghe County, which is less than 200 miles from Qingyang Mountain and has a population of tens of thousands.