Chapter 177: Black Dog Howling at the Sky, the Vertical Pupil Shows Its Might!

Chapter 177: Black Dog Howls at Heaven, Vertical Pupil Shows Its Might!

At this moment, far from Little Stone Village, two men clad in iron armor lurked in a corner, their eyes carrying the look of spectators.

“Really not going to help Liu Yan?” the taller iron-armored man spoke.

“That Liu Yan is arrogant and disrespectful to the divine lord—he deserved to die long ago, to free up a spot!” the shorter iron-armored man replied.

The taller man nodded: “This ancient god of Green Water Village has some skill, having killed two new gods already.”

The shorter man said: “Perfect—the new gods beneath Gale Town are none of the lord’s direct line. Once they’swept clean, the lord can strike, slaughter the ancient god of Green Water Village, and then bring in his own people!”

The She Wolf evil god of Gale Town had naturally known of Qi Yuan’s arrival days ago.

But She Wolf paid it no heed.

It so happened that the new gods descending beneath Gale Town were not his direct line, and even hostile to his faction.

So he simply used the ancient god Qi Yuan’s hand to butcher the villages under Gale Town.

Then, when he killed Qi Yuan, he could openly insert his own people.

Of course, She Wolf was no fool; he understood the danger of nurturing a tiger.

Thus he had dispatched two temple guards to scout the enemy.

Just then, the sound of suona horns rang out, and the two temple guards perked up, looking over.

They saw a long procession advancing swiftly.

But the procession looked less like an army on campaign and more like a funeral cortege.

The taller iron-armored guard couldn’t help but smile: “This ancient god of Green Water Village is truly a delightful deity.”

“The divine dog at the lead seems extraordinary!” the shorter one said.

“But early Zifu stage—nothing to fear!” the taller one said.

As temple guards, the elite warriors of Gale Town, they too were at early Zifu stage.

There were over thirty guards of their level in Gale Town.

So they naturally looked down on a mere early Zifu black dog.

“I heard that ancient god of Green Water Village isn’t even at Zifu in strength, but possesses a powerful sacrificial artifact—it’s with that artifact that he killed two new gods!” the shorter one said. “That artifact will surely be Lord She Wolf’s prize!”

Among the seven towns, Lord She Wolf’s reputation was not prominent.

But these assimilated temple guards knew best: the She Wolf they worshipped was far more than just a peak Zifu cultivator.

He had even opened half a divine aperture!

That could be called a demigod!

That was why Nangong Wuji, at peak Zifu, had been wounded by She Wolf.

The two hid to one side as the suona grew louder.

The taller one laughed: “The show begins!”

Both watched the village battle with the lofty air of superiors.

At that moment, Liu Yan of Little Stone Village soared into the air, radiating a terrifying aura.

“Sending a dog to provoke me—Green Water Village insults me so; they will face retribution!”

Before the suona procession arrived, the voice came first.

The evil god Liu Yan rose into the sky, and the villagers’ faith coalesced into a sacrificial artifact, exuding the aura of a source divine ability.

Without any hesitation, he struck directly, venting the fury in his heart.

This strike of source divine ability, accumulated over decades, was utterly terrifying.

Its power was such that even a mid-Zifu cultivator would struggle to withstand it easily.

Of course, it was only one strike.

Zhu Zhuangshi’s face showed worry: “Can the big black dog handle it?”

Though the big black dog was at Zifu, it would surely outlast Liu Yan in a prolonged fight.

But it had just broken through to Zifu using the visualization method.

Its mastery of the source divine ability was not yet refined.

Unless the energy level of the source divine ability was high enough, it could only barely block this attack!

Village Chief Yulei and Priest Shenshu shared the same thought.

They hadn’t expected the enemy to be so troublesome.

But ahead of the villagers, a mocking glint flashed in the big black dog’s eyes.

It shot into the sky, letting out a thunderous roar like a lion’s.

Its gaping maw sucked in the sky.

Then… a terrifying thing happened.

The clouds in the sky, at that moment like river water through a great hole, all poured into the big black dog’s mouth.

The divine ability of the Howling Celestial Dog was to swallow clouds and spout mist.

The big black dog had visualized and acquired it!

It gulped down the clouds like a whale.

Then the big black dog spat at Liu Yan.

Instantly, a multicolored mist burst forth.

Heavenly scorch, earthly fire, gale winds, and more mixed within.

This mist was no ordinary mist.

Liu Yan’s eyes widened.

“Your source divine ability… how is it not of this world’s origin!”

He could not comprehend, and then let out a scream.

His sacrificial artifact had already been burned away by this source divine ability.

His body, too, was breaking apart.

That was not mist!

It was fire!

At that moment, the taller and shorter men hiding in the distance stared wide-eyed.

“A source divine ability not of this world—an evil god?”

If Qi Yuan had long since learned to conceal the origin of his source divine ability, even influencing those who saw it through his stellar golden core,

the big black dog could not.

Its newly comprehended source divine ability had not yet had time to adapt, transform, and become the source divine ability of this world.

Thus, with a single strike, every expert present could tell that this was a primal divine ability not of this world!

The tall man and the short man’s faces turned ashen.

An evil god had appeared—this matter must be reported to Lord She Wolf at once.

The two were about to slip away quietly.

Suddenly, beside the big black dog, a vertical pupil materialized.

A voice, as if imbued with the laws of heaven and earth, rang out.

“What petty scoundrel dares spy here?”

All eyes involuntarily turned toward the afterimage of that vertical pupil.

“This…” The short, armored man trembled all over.

Merely the afterimage of that vertical pupil made him quake with terror, his whole body shuddering, as if facing an invincible, majestic celestial god.

“What kind of… true god is this?” The tall man could not comprehend.

He had once seen a devotee of an ancient god manifest a Great Venerable-level primal divine ability.

Yet, compared to this afterimage of the vertical pupil, it was not even a hundredth, not even a ten-thousandth!

This was an existence beyond his understanding!

Following that majestic, cold, and merciless voice.

A golden light appeared out of thin air, and in that instant, the bodies of the short armored man and the tall man turned directly to ashes!

They vanished utterly from this world.

In Gale Town, She Wolf suddenly opened his eyes, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth: “What happened?”

Just moments ago, he had felt a sudden sense of impending doom, as if some great terror were descending.

And his body had been inexplicably wounded, for no reason at all.

“Could it be… a god is targeting me?” She Wolf’s expression shifted between gloom and uncertainty.

“I need to… keep a low profile lately.”

She Wolf decided that until he figured this out, he would stay out of sight.

…

“This…”

Village Chief Yu Lei stared at the vanished vertical pupil, his heart unable to calm for a long time.

Shi Zhongshan felt the same—in all his years, he had never seen such a powerful, majestic, and indescribable phantom.

The big black dog knelt on its front legs, its tail wagging wildly.

Everyone present wore solemn expressions, knowing that this matter was utterly terrifying and must not be leaked.

“Anyone who speaks of today’s events shall perish, body and soul!” Village Chief Yu Lei declared.

Zhu Zhuangshi also grasped the gravity of the situation.

The weeping aunts and the fat-headed cook all nodded.

The lowest among them were at Foundation Establishment.

Most were at Primordial Pill.

Far away, in the temple, Qi Yuan opened his eyes, a hint of surprise in his gaze: “Buy one, get one free?”

He had never imagined that merely visualizing the Howling Sky Dog would gift him… Erlang Shen, the Illustrious Sage, as a bonus package!

In the mythological history of Blue Star, Erlang Shen possessed an extremely legendary divine aura.

Whether it was Yang Jian in *The Investiture of the Gods*, or Erlang Shen splitting the mountain to save his mother, or the Guankou God who fought the Great Sage Equal to Heaven to a standstill—in every myth and legend, this was top-tier combat power.

You see, Qi Yuan had the feeling that even the evil god’s spiritual power from a hundred levels ago could not summon this great deity.

Yet, visualizing the Howling Sky Dog had resulted in a buy-one-get-one-free deal.

Although it was not the true body of Erlang Shen, the Illustrious Sage, nor even a projection—merely an afterimage condensed from the Howling Sky Dog’s memory—it was still terrifyingly extraordinary.

“So, should I visualize for buy-one-get-one-free later?” Qi Yuan mused, then ultimately dismissed the thought.

Let it be as fate wills.

Still, this feeling of leveling up while sitting still was truly exhilarating.

Now, he was already a Divine Being at level 30, which, by this world’s reckoning, placed him at the early Divine Infant stage.

That was far faster than leveling up in Wangyue Continent or Liufeng Realm.

“Let’s go—time to feast!”

Qi Yuan waved his hand grandly.

“Qi Qi, come to the feast!”

In Green Water Village, Qi Qi, who had been frowning at the crops, and her maid Xiao Xue heard the voice, and their furrowed brows relaxed.

“Forget these worries for now—let’s go feast with my godfather!”

When Maid Xiao Xue heard this, her eyes lit up, as if slabs of fatty pork were laid before her, and she couldn’t help but drool.

…

“Everyone, turn grief into appetite—dig in!”

At the start of the feast, Qi Yuan’s opening words were simple, and he said little more.

But the aunts of Stone Family Village wailed as if mourning heaven and earth.

Qi Yuan ate, feeling sorrow well up from within.

“Godfather… you actually visualized such a powerful Divine Observation Art!” Qi Qi, sitting beside him, looked at him with astonishment.

She had not seen the vertical pupil unleash its power; only after the feast, when she saw the big black dog, did she realize that Qi Yuan had given a Divine Observation Art to the dog.

The big black dog sat next to Qi Yuan, its tail wagging frantically, a pig trotter clutched in its paw, its eyes gleaming with pride.

Seeing this, Zhu Zhuangshi beside him wore a look of dejection.

Village Chief Yu Lei also seemed to want to speak but held back.

Because such a precious Divine Observation Art had been given to a dog.

What a waste of a heavenly treasure!

“Alas, a Divine Observation Art so powerful it could forge a true god… used so carelessly—it’s a pity,” Qi Qi couldn’t help but say.

Zhu Zhuangshi, who had been silent, now chimed in, his voice plaintive: “Divine Lord, in what way am I inferior to Big Black?”

The big black dog immediately shot Zhu Zhuangshi a glare.

If Qi Yuan were not present, it would likely have attacked its former master directly.

“Because you are not a dog,” Qi Yuan answered truthfully.

“I… could also be a dog.” Zhu Zhuangshi stole a glance at the big black dog.

Compared to such a powerful divine visualization method, what does it matter to be a dog?

This is an existence with the chance to become a true god.

Qi Yuan chuckled upon hearing this: "There will be plenty of opportunities later."

Qi Qi's eyes lit up with surprise at these words: "Godfather has seen other true gods?"

"Quite a few," Qi Yuan replied truthfully, adding in his mind: on TV, in movies, in miscellaneous books.

Qi Qi was also pleasantly surprised upon hearing this.

The godfather she had invested in was indeed no ordinary mortal.

Her judgment was quite good.

"Godfather, a powerful divine visualization method like this is hard-won; it cannot be given so casually as now... to a dog," Qi Qi said seriously.

In her view, even the godfather could probably visualize only a few such high-level methods.

After all, there were only so many true gods, and those once worshipped with incense were but a handful.

The godfather had seen them, and other ancient gods had seen them too.

If the resulting divine visualization method lacked uniqueness, it might not be that strong.

"It's fine, there are plenty more. As long as there's enough evil god spiritual power, we'll have whatever we need."

Qi Yuan was eager to see what it would be like if he could visualize all the celestial immortals and gods.

It would surely be interesting, wouldn't it?

Watching her godfather, Qi Qi did not dissuade him further but said: "Godfather, now that we have four villages, holding a feast every time we take one is not a long-term plan."

Qi Qi spoke the truth.

Everyone was enjoying good food and drink now, but with more people, this couldn't last.

Holding feasts every day would soon deplete a village's resources.

Even if they conquered new villages, what if those villages lacked grain and meat?

Qi Yuan nodded: "We need to take more villages. As long as we keep the game going, there will always be feasts."

Qi Qi smiled bitterly at this: "Godfather, that won't work. We need to build our own base."

Qi Yuan understood what she meant.

"It's all the enemies' fault for being so poor; otherwise, we could throw them feasts every day!" Qi Yuan lamented.

These new gods were too useless—after running things for so many years, they couldn't even become filthy rich.

Their leftover wealth made even a grand feast a cautious affair.

Those present felt a flicker of pity for the dead evil gods upon hearing this.

Kill him, take his things, use his things, and still feast on him.

How tragic.

Indeed, one must not oppose the Origin Heavenly Lord, or it would be too miserable.

Qi Qi was also somewhat speechless and said: "We need to plant more crops and ensure good harvests."

Qi Yuan nodded: "Should we also raise some pigs?"

The maid Xiao Xue, who was eating pork, nodded frantically: "Yes, I support raising pigs."

"These matters are up to you," Qi Yuan said, looking at the maid Xiao Xue.

He couldn't very well leave pig-raising to his goddaughter, could he?

The maid Xiao Xue was taken aback, then her eyes lit up: "Okay."

Then Qi Yuan asked: "In Windstorm Town, how many new gods are left unkilled?"

"Including the one in Windstorm Town, nine more."

"In that case, over the next few days, kill one each day!" Qi Yuan commanded.

He couldn't kill too many in one day, or the feasts would clash.

...

Windstorm Town.

Inside the temple.

The Lynx Wolf Evil God appeared, his expression grim.

"What do you want with me?" Since his mysterious injury last time, he had been lying low to recover.

"Divine Lord, our five families are ready to summon that lord!" The portly man's eyes gleamed with excitement.

The Lynx Wolf Evil God's eyes showed surprise: "Wasn't it supposed to be a few years from now?"

"We have confirmed that the Ancient God Yuan is gravely wounded and cannot awaken.

This is the perfect time for us to summon the new god!"

"This is good news." The Lynx Wolf hesitated, then spoke slowly.

If a true god descended, Flying Wasteland City would fall completely under his control.

"However, summoning the new god requires your assistance, Lord Lynx Wolf!" The portly man's eyes pleaded.

"Oh?"

"To summon this true god, we need to create an environment of plague, which requires your effort, Lord Lynx Wolf."

"Spread a plague in Flying Wasteland City? Agreed, but you'll need to wait a few days."

The portly man's face lit up with joy: "Thank you, Divine Lord!"

...

Greenwater Village. Qi Yuan walked with Qi Qi along the ridge by the fields, gazing at the sparse crops with a complex expression: "You're right, these crops are growing a bit..."

In the past two days, Qi Yuan had slain two more new gods.

He now had two more evil god spiritual powers.

One of them was at the Purple Mansion level, surpassing many others.

Now, with his territory expanding, he felt the shortage of grain.

He couldn't help but sigh: the Canglan Realm, where one could abstain from food, was much better.

The cultivators here ate far too much.

"Godfather, do you have a solution?" Qi Qi, who managed the logistics of Qi Yuan's domain, said, "Our current grain stockpile, even piled together, will only last three months."

"Too bad I don't have Gold Kela," Qi Yuan lamented.

(The chapter ends)