Chapter 122: Preaching, Supreme

Chapter 122: Preaching the Dao, the Supreme

He Wu glanced at Ning Tao and said after a long silence, “This journey to the ends of the earth will take us through one hundred and eight thousand cities. We are both Northern Supremes, so we must be cautious.”

Among the Thirteen Demons of the North, only two were Great Supremes: Ning Tao and He Wu.

Hearing this, a flicker of killing intent flashed in Ning Tao’s eyes. “Is the Purple Daoist also among the one hundred and eight thousand cities?”

The Purple Daoist had schemed against her, exposing the Blood Demon.

This had led to a pursuit across ten thousand miles. Had it not been for her “husband’s” aid, she might have already fallen, blood spilled.

This grudge—she would repay it, no matter what.

“He should be in the Land of a Thousand Blood-Fallen Cities,” He Wu said without concealment. “But I advise you not to go. You are stronger than him, but not by much.

If he manages to detain you, the other Supremes of the North might join in and keep you here.”

Ning Tao gave a light laugh, a smile that concealed a knife. “I’ll just take a look.”

“Suit yourself!” He Wu glanced at her. “I must leave. If I stay with you any longer, I might not be able to resist… killing you.”

With that, He Wu’s form dissolved into the vast, icy wilderness.

Ning Tao touched her left cheek, then looked at the mass of flesh bound by chains behind her. She smiled seductively. “My husband refuses to see me—could it be that he, too, fears staying with me too long and cannot resist killing me?”

The Thirteen Demons of the North were not merely despised by heaven and loathed by men.

Ning Tao, in particular, was the most unique among them.

It seemed her “demon nature” ran deeper. Anyone who spent time with her would inevitably be seized by a murderous urge to slay her.

The other demons shared this trait, but none as intensely as she.

…

Within the City of No Return.

Qi Yuan sat cross-legged atop the city wall. “Right now, my cultivation in the real world should be nearing the late stage of Foundation Establishment.”

Due to the disparity in time flow, it was inconvenient for him to log out of the game at this moment.

“I’m still too weak,” Qi Yuan mused.

Whether in reality or in the game.

Not long ago, he had challenged and slain a Great Supreme, leaping across ranks.

It had seemed effortless, but in truth, it was exceedingly difficult.

His mastery of the Great Forgetfulness Sutra, a primordial divine ability, had only reached the level of “Time Exhaustion.”

Killing the Purple Daoist had drained that primordial power, and it would take considerable time to replenish.

As for the Heart Demon’s Call, the ruler of the Void Realm, he had an abundance of it—far more than he could ever exhaust.

After all, even a trace of it could overwhelm a Supreme of the same rank.

“Sigh. In the real world, I can leap two major realms—killing a Divine Infant with Foundation Establishment. Why can’t I do the same in this game? Kill a Yang God as a Supreme?”

Qi Yuan felt that his in-game self was far too weak. He could only be invincible among his peers; challenging those above his rank was nearly impossible.

Of course, this was largely because the higher the cultivation, the greater the gap between minor realms.

“In the real world, even if I break through to the Golden Core realm, leaping two major realms, I still couldn’t contend with a Yin God.”

“I must destroy the Bright Palace quickly. Otherwise, if the high-interest loan that Ice Mountain Dominatrix took out gets trapped by the Bright Palace, and she comes looking for me…”

“I wonder what reward the game will give me for guarding the City of No Return for so long… Will it help me, as a Golden Core, slay a Yin God?”

“A key fragment?”

“If not… then I’ll just have to condense the Flowing Wind Realm into my Golden Core. Heh heh heh…”

At that moment—whether it was an illusion or not—Qi Yuan felt the very heavens and earth tremble.

How could the heavens and earth tremble?

Clearly, it was just his imagination.

“Ah, it wasn’t the heavens and earth trembling—it was Chen Huan returning.”

Qi Yuan rose to his feet and gazed into the distance. There, a group of five people was rapidly approaching the City of No Return.

At their head was Chen Huan.

Behind Chen Huan followed four Land Gods.

Three appeared very aged, while one still retained the appearance of a young woman.

Qi Yuan could sense that they were steeped in a dying aura, not far from their end.

In this world, Land Gods lived only a little over a thousand years—far shorter than the Divine Infants of the Canglan Realm.

These people were already halfway into the grave.

Only such Land Gods would be willing to come to the City of No Return.

Qi Yuan was not surprised.

A single spark can start a prairie fire.

Once he preached the Dao once, more and more people would surely come to the City of No Return.

If not, then there was something wrong with this world—and it needed to be corrected.

“Brother, I went to the City of Great Sorrow, and only these four were willing to come,” Chen Huan said, his eyes filled with guilt.

The four behind Chen Huan were now sizing up Qi Yuan.

He wore a crimson robe, strikingly handsome, with a dense, restrained bloodlight in his eyes. One word described him: “enchanting.”

Wang Gai stared at Qi Yuan, growing more astonished the longer he looked.

This was the first time he had seen such an extraordinary… person.

Even the mighty Supremes had never given him such a feeling.

Could he truly help them break through to the Supreme realm?

That was… the Supreme.

“It’s nothing. Since you have come to the City of No Return, you must join the Blood Palace. Do you understand?” Qi Yuan looked at the four, his expression calm.

“Lord Warden, if you can help this concubine step into the Supreme, I would not only serve the Blood Palace—I would even go to war with the City of Great Sorrow,” the young woman said.

Wang Gai and the others nodded as well.

If they could truly become Supremes,

then the conditions set by this Warden of the City of No Return were not too harsh—on the contrary, they were so lenient as to be almost unbelievable.

How many Land Gods existed in this world?

No one knew.

But the number of Supremes was fixed—barely a few thousand.

Only by becoming a Supreme could one have the chance to step off the chessboard and become a player.

Beneath the Supreme, all are but pawns.

“Well, since that’s the case, let the sermon begin,” Qi Yuan said indifferently.

Wang Gai’s heart skipped a beat at these words.

So soon?

No contract to sign?

No oath on one’s heart demon?

No trial of loyalty?

Was the Supreme’s opportunity to be handed over so simply?

Wang Gai felt it was far too frivolous.

Hard to accept.

It was even easier and more casual than taking his ninth concubine.

The thoughts of the others were mostly the same as Wang Gai’s.

In their hearts, they all found it somewhat absurd, and then disappointment set in.

Because the simpler it was, the more likely it was false.

As if they couldn’t even be bothered to put on an act.

Chen Huan knew Qi Yuan’s character best; he understood that his elder brother’s mind was wild and unfettered.

Chen Huan cast a meaningful glance beyond the No-Return City: “Some little bugs from the Great Sorrow City have followed us. Should we deal with them?”

“No need. Since our Blood Palace lacks a propaganda department, let them do the advertising for us—saves us the payroll,” Qi Yuan said casually.

He had long noticed the few Terrestrial Myths outside the No-Return City.

He simply couldn’t be bothered.

“Everyone… the sermon begins now.” Qi Yuan looked at the four before him, his gaze growing profound in that moment.

The aura about him became ever more mysterious and unfathomable, as if he had merged with heaven and earth.

The four on the field also grew solemn, listening intently.

True or false, it concerned the great matter of ascending to the Supreme. Even if there was only a ten-thousandth chance it was real, they had to treat it seriously.

“The Way of Man and Demon, the Way of Man, the Way of Demon…”

“Man and demon as one, two sides of the same coin…”

The voice was ethereal, like celestial music.

The four present instantly entered a trance, as if they had appeared in a fairyland, with cranes and jade pools, auspicious clouds and phoenixes.

Suddenly, their surroundings shifted, and they found themselves in an endless demonic realm.

The cranes turned into black crows, the jade pools into pools of blood, the auspicious clouds vanished, and red-and-white burning sunsets spread across the sky. Countless demonic fiends reached out from the ground, grabbing at everyone’s ankles, as if dragging them into hell.

The sermon continued.

Chen Huan stood to one side, also listening intently.

Even as a Supreme, hearing the sermon again brought deep insights, greatly aiding his strength.

At that moment, outside the No-Return City, three Terrestrial Myths wore expressions of stunned disbelief.

“And so the sermon begins? That’s far too frivolous,” said Li Yunzhi.

He was a close friend of Wang Gai, who had entered the No-Return City.

When his friend entered the city, Li Yunzhi had tried to dissuade him, fearing a great conspiracy within.

But Wang Gai, considering his own interests and unable to let go of his family, had still chosen to come.

Li Yunzhi, somewhat uneasy, had followed the instructions of a Supreme from the Great Sorrow City and arrived at the No-Return City.

He thought that with him here, even if the city’s guardian had some scheme, he might show some restraint.

As for being born divine and granting enlightenment of the Origin to ascend to the Supreme—that was simply too absurd.

Something even the White Emperor and the Venerable One could not achieve.

“This matter is truly suspicious. Why would the No-Return City’s guardian do this?

Something so easily exposed—why bother?

Could it be just to trap a few Terrestrial Myths? As a newly ascended Supreme, why would he need to go through such trouble?” A bearded man who looked wise but simple-minded mused.

“Is it possible that the No-Return City’s guardian truly is born divine?” the only woman present said with a smile.

Li Yunzhi shook his head: “Even one born divine cannot help another step into the Supreme.

Even the White Emperor’s sermons could not grant enlightenment of the Origin.

The Origin must be comprehended by each person alone, to forge their own path.”

The bearded wise man nodded and sighed: “What Yunzhi says makes sense. Such an obvious truth—why don’t those four understand?”

Li Yunzhi continued: “Cultivation is a struggle against heaven. The world’s resources are limited.

There cannot be so many Supremes in the world!

Even if the No-Return City’s guardian were born divine and could help others ascend,

he would offend this realm and incur heavenly punishment.”

From every angle, Li Yunzhi concluded… this was an unfathomable deception.

If he had to find a reason, it was that the No-Return City’s guardian was simply mad.

The three waited outside the No-Return City.

Time flew, and night had fallen.

Li Yunzhi stretched lazily: “Looks like we’ll be waiting here a long time. If his sermon drags on for ten or twenty years, and my foolish brother Wang Gai’s lifespan runs out and he dies inside… well, we can’t deny that the No-Return City’s guardian’s sermon was ineffective.”

Just then, the woman frowned and said: “The No-Return City’s guardian… has left? The sermon is over?”

All three were somewhat surprised.

Li Yunzhi gave an awkward laugh: “The No-Return City’s guardian… is quite unexpected.”

He had just said the guardian would try to outlast them, and now the sermon had ended.

“Was it effective?” The bearded wise man looked over, his expression unreadable.

“Enlightenment of the Origin is never so simple. Even if it worked, it would take months…” Li Yunzhi’s words trailed off.

He stared at Wang Gai on the wall of the No-Return City, his eyes wide.

His close friend, who had been stuck at the Terrestrial Myth level for ages, unable to touch the Origin, was now radiating a terrifying aura.

“The Origin!” Li Yunzhi’s eyes bulged.

That aura—he knew it all too well. It was the Origin he had dreamed of for centuries!

The woman's eyes widened like copper bells: "It truly is the Origin!"

"Son of a bitch." The bearded Big Smart slapped himself, then looked at Li Yunzhi, "That close friend of yours—he's not a plant, is he?"

"No!" Li Yunzhi said indignantly, "Damn it, that kid had worse talent than me, worse luck than me—how did he suddenly become a Sovereign?"

Before coming, he had hoped his good brother would be well, with a bright future.

But now, seeing Wang Gai seemingly stepping into the realm of Sovereign, about to condense his Origin divine ability,

his heart instead turned sour.

This feeling was like: afraid your brother won't do well, but even more afraid he'll do too well!

"This matter is truly suspicious. Even with my intelligence, I can't fathom the key. I think we should report this to the Sovereign immediately," the bearded Big Smart said, pondering seriously.

The woman rolled her eyes at him: "What's the point of reporting now?"

"But the task the Sovereign gave us—if we fail, we'll face punishment!" the bearded Big Smart insisted.

"Hmph, if we become Sovereigns, can he still punish us?" Li Yunzhi said, his face flushed with excitement as he stared at Wugui City, his eyes blazing with fervor.

The woman felt the same.

Now, the task was long forgotten.

This was the chance to become a Sovereign.

"Let's go!" the woman said, and instantly transformed into a streak of light, flying toward Wugui City.

Li Yunzhi followed, flying in as well.

The bearded Big Smart stood stunned for a moment, not quite understanding.

"Could it be they're going in to gather more useful information, to report back?" he thought, and quickly followed.

He couldn't let those two sycophants outshine him!

After a dozen breaths, the bearded Big Smart, the woman, and Li Yunzhi arrived outside Wugui City.

Chen Huan looked at the three before him, a faint smile in his eyes.

He gazed at them and said slowly, "Today's sermon is over. The Blood Lord said he finds it troublesome. The next sermon will be held only when ten people have gathered.

The one after that might be twenty, or a hundred, or a thousand."

"What?" Li Yunzhi was disappointed, but quickly rallied, "That makes sense. The transmission of the Dao shouldn't be so easy."

Chen Huan finished speaking, turned, and returned to Wugui City.

Leaving the three standing there.

They looked at the four on the city wall, envy in their eyes: "All of them have the aura of the Origin..."

Besides Wang Gai, the other three were also slowly revealing traces of the Origin's aura.

Li Yunzhi knew that within a day or half, these four would all step into Sovereign.

What a fortune this was.

He looked up at the sky, lost in thought.

The bearded Big Smart also looked up, saw nothing, and asked in confusion, "Li Yunzhi, what are you looking at?"

"I'm looking... why hasn't Heaven sent down a heavenly punishment?" The Blood Lord's act defied Heaven; it should have drawn divine retribution.

But there was nothing.

"What heavenly punishment? And weren't you two sent to gather intelligence? Why do you also want to join the Blood Palace?" the bearded Big Smart said.

"Have you been burned by your inner demons? Of course, to become a Sovereign!" the woman replied.

"Let's go. We need to go to Dabei City, gather ten people, and hear the Blood Lord's sermon!" Li Yunzhi was in a hurry.

His brother was about to become a Sovereign.

He couldn't bear to see his brother flaunting it before him.

...

One day later.

Dabei City.

Huang Mengling opened her eyes, staring at the information before her, disbelief on her face: "Sovereign... truly a Sovereign? How is this possible?"

Just now, news came from within Dabei City that Wang Gai and the other three who had gone to Wugui City had comprehended the Origin and were condensing their Origin divine abilities. Once successful, they would become true Sovereigns.

It was utterly baffling.

After all, Huang Mengling had seen Wang Gai just a few days ago.

Wang Gai was old and decrepit—how could he have the look of someone about to comprehend the Origin?

"Is this news true or false?" Huang Mengling still couldn't believe it.

"This matter... is absolutely true," said a Sovereign, one of the several Sovereigns of Dabei City.

Hearing this, Huang Mengling fell silent.

She had met the Wugui City Garrison Commander just days ago.

He was clearly no different from Chen Huan—how had he suddenly stepped into Sovereign?

"This... must be suspicious!" Huang Mengling paced, finally making up her mind, "This must be reported to the Senior Brother!"

She had no way to meet the White Emperor directly.

With such a major event happening here, she had to report it to the Senior Brother.

The Sovereign nodded in agreement.

Such a momentous event indeed needed to be known by the truly powerful.

He was a Sovereign, but only at the early stage—this matter was beyond his ability to resolve.

Just then, the Sovereign recalled something and said quickly, "Recently, the Demon-Suppressing Sovereigns of the Blood-Falling Thousand Cities region seem to have vanished.

Even the Purple Daoist hasn't appeared. I wonder if there's a conspiracy, and if it's connected to what happened in Wugui City."

"What? Those Sovereigns are gone?" Huang Mengling was startled.

She remembered what Chen Huan had said: that the Wugui City Garrison Commander had killed the Purple Daoist and a group of Sovereigns.

She hadn't believed it then.

But now, the Purple Daoist was missing?

Could it be... he was really killed?

But that was a Great Sovereign!

Even if the Senior Brother acted personally, it wouldn't be easy to kill him.

How could a cultivator who had just become a Sovereign kill a Great Sovereign?

Or was there some other twist?

Huang Mengling tugged at her hair, finally saying, "Sovereign Yintian, you need to send someone to investigate this thoroughly—find out if the Purple Daoist... has already fallen."

"Fallen? What!" Yintian the Supreme exclaimed in shock.

That was a Great Supreme.

A being standing at the very pinnacle of this world.

"There is another matter I must inform you of, Yintian the Supreme.

In the coming days, the Thirteen Demons of the North may cross the One Hundred and Eight Thousand Cities, perhaps passing through Great Sorrow City. Please do not obstruct them—this is the will of my senior brother," Huang Mengling said.

Her senior brother's intent most likely represented the will of the White Emperor.

"Easily said, easily said," Yintian the Supreme agreed. Compared to the first matter, the second was nothing at all.

The schemes of the higher-ups—they merely needed to carry them out.

"Mm, I trouble you, Yintian the Supreme." Huang Mengling's words carried a hint of dismissal.

With a look of suspicion in his eyes, Yintian the Supreme finally departed.

Inside the palace, Huang Mengling's head ached.

The turn of events had exceeded her expectations.

She did not know whether this was good or bad.

"I hope that when Senior Brother arrives, he can resolve this matter." She knew this was beyond her ability.

Nor could she understand—the Land Myth she had met a few days ago, merely handsome and with some presence, how had he suddenly...

ps: A bit of writer's block, apologies, apologies. One chapter for now, another around nine in the evening.

(Chapter End)