Chapter 657: Yellow Millet Gang Fight

Chapter 657: Yellow Millet Melee

Clang!

Azure true qi burst from his body, ringing like a sword, and two inscrutable True Martial heroic spirits appeared, one on each left and right, gripping Zou Sijiou's shoulders, pinning him tightly in the middle.

"I didn't catch what you just said; could you repeat it?"

Chen Qisheng narrowed his eyes, his expression half-smile, as he regarded Zou Sijiou.

"Look at you—now you're officially an elder of the Old School, a Third Rank Pastoral Lord; even back on Wudang you'd be an elder, so why are you still so unsettled?"

Zou Sijiou slowly lowered his raised leg, placed both hands on his thighs, and sat bolt upright.

"What I mean is, Old Li is the Reform Lord, you are the Pastoral Lord; in title you are his equal. He is the source of the Solitary Martial Lineage, you are the source of the Old School Dao Lineage; in status there is no difference whatsoever—there's no need to belittle yourself."

"Oh, I see now; that was my mistake, wasn't it?"

Zou Sijiou glared: "Of course!"

"And just now you said something about 'supporting the elderly'..."

"Support the elderly? Support what elderly? Seeing them off is about as close as it gets!"

Zou Sijiou's expression turned solemn: "You know that Yan Dongqing's grandson has ascended Longhu Mountain, right? Once Old Li finishes with Zhili, we brothers ought to go settle the score. If that old fogey Zhang Jiji doesn't behave and jumps out to block the way, then you'll have to help the Dao lineage clean house."

"Having me, an Old School Third Rank Pastoral Lord, go toe‑to‑toe with the New School's Second Rank Position and Career Heavenly Lord, Zou Sijiou—you really can't bear to see your brother live long."

"What nonsense? Dare or not dare, we must muster our spirit! If we lose, we just turn and run; with Old Li backing us, what do we have to fear?"

"Then let me thank Old Li on your behalf?"

"We're brothers—why be so formal?"

Zou Sijiou chuckled, shrugging off the two heroic spirit arms draped over his shoulders: "Let's talk serious business—about the Old School Dao Lineage's Second Rank, Old Chen, have you figured it out?"

Zou Sijiou jabbed his own temple: "All those fellow disciples in your head—surely you haven't forgotten something this important?"

"I haven't forgotten that."

Chen Qisheng withdrew the two strands of true qi heroic spirits, his tone calm.

Zou Sijiou raised his eyebrows: "What do you mean—are you not going to have me rebuild Wudang?"

"Wudang still stands; no need to rebuild. As long as I retrieve the name of the Dao ancestral seat, I'll naturally ascend to Dao Second Rank."

"Is that really all it takes?"

Zou Sijiou looked astonished: "How is that any different from sending you to destroy Longhu Mountain?"

"Senior Brother Yanlong led me through the gate; I am now a Wudang disciple. Even without formal rites, sooner or later I'll have to settle accounts with Zhang Jiji. Either way we must fight—why overthink it?"

"Your Dao heart is as firm as stone; little brother, I admire you."

Zou Sijiou gave a thumbs‑up, then fell silent for a moment, his face lighting up with sudden realization.

"Now I understand why Wudang once backed the New School Dao lineage—there's this whole backdoor deal. Looking back, Zhang Jiji was truly devious, laying out such a blatant ploy that forced Wudang to step forward and shield him."

Zou Sijiou clicked his tongue: "Doesn't he worry that Wudang might actually pull through? If the Old Master had smoothly ascended to Second Rank, there'd be no place for Longhu Mountain in the Dao world at all."

Chen Qisheng nodded: "The elders of Wudang thought the same back then; they placed their bet and lost everything."

"At bottom, it's because you Old School folks are too honest—that's why you fell for Old Zhang's treacherous scheme."

Zou Sijiou snorted: "If you ask me, to have all Dao lineages revere Wudang as their ancestral seat, you don't need all this rigmarole—just join forces with the Martial Lineage of the sects. Whoever refuses to bow, I'll stare them down and fight until they yield. Gratitude for a measure of rice, enmity for a bushel—those white‑eyed wolves who can't be fed are best silenced with a fist."

"No wonder I'm Grandpa Zou; this one‑of‑a‑kind Yellow Millet Martial Lineage is truly overbearing."

Chen Qisheng teased: "I wonder when Grandpa Zou will ascend to Yin‑Yang Second Rank and dominate the Yellow Millet?"

"Soon—I'll be the first to let you know."

Zou Sijiou gave a hollow laugh, but seeing Chen Qisheng's teasing gaze fixed on him, he felt a twinge of regret, scratched his head, and let out a heavy sigh.

"Your Dao Second Rank ritual may send you to challenge the entire New School Dao lineage, but it's still a fight in the mortal world, and with our brothers beside you there's at least a hope. I, Grandpa Zou, am different—Yellow Millet's dreamscape is a place you and Old Li can't enter; I'm a lone wanderer, how am I to contend with others?"

Zou Sijiou's face fell: "They say once you become the Dream Master you're the beloved son of the Yellow Millet Bell, but even a beloved son must observe seniority. I'm at most a solitary second son—how can I vie for the eldest's place? And now that seat is already occupied by someone else; trying to take it would drive one's brains to dog‑brains."

"Lighten up—at least we're better off than Old Li."

Chen Qisheng eyed Zou Sijiou's twisted visage, suppressing a smile: "He's still feeling his way across the river by feeling for stones; he may not have a direction yet."

"What's he afraid of? Apart from those ancient Second Rank monsters, who could stand against him?"

"Actually, Grandpa Zou, I have a way to solve this for you."

Chen Qisheng's face suddenly hardened, and Zou Sijiou couldn't help but feel delighted.

"I knew you carried the souls of countless Wudang heroes and knew many secrets—so, is there a way to get you and Old Li into the Yellow Millet to help me?"

"It's simple—no need for Old Li; I'll do it myself."

Chen Qisheng met the other's hopeful gaze, speaking firmly: "I'll take a loss; if you now call me 'father,' I'll let you become the eldest son of the Old School Dao Lineage—just like Zhang Siyuan, an only child. How does that sound?"

"Get lost!"

"Zou Sijiou, his hopes dashed, shouted in anger: 'I've discovered you, you stinking cow‑nose, are no good at all! Here I am laying my heart bare, and you're gloating—are you even human?'"

"Banter and jokes, laughter and anger."

"Such rare tranquility was shattered by a sudden, urgent ringing."

"Chen Qisheng's smile froze; he jerked his head up toward the corner bronze wind chime hanging from the eaves of the Dream‑Catching Pavilion."

"Ding‑ling! Ling."

"The bronze chimed without wind, sending out clear, crisp notes that echoed across the mountain slope."

"Chen Qisheng sprang to his feet, his expression growing grave as he looked toward the eastern courtyard."

"The eastern courtyard is split into upper and lower levels; its various buildings constructed on the ground form a little mountain town, mainly inhabited by low‑rank Ink Lineage practitioners who cultivate and live there."

"Yet now, on the streets, not a single standing figure could be seen."

"In their place lay the eastern courtyard members, sprawled helter‑skelter across the ground, eyes shut tight, breathing long and deep, lost in a deep slumber."

"Aang!"

"A mighty whale‑shaped shadow leapt from the town’s central courtyard, shaking its head and tail, crying out angrily to the heavens."

"Within that roar lay a hint of helplessness and repression, giving the feeling that although they knew they’d been struck, they could find no trace of the enemy—possessing great power but nowhere to strike back."

"Finally, some action."

"Zou Sijiou rose lazily, stretched his arms overhead and yawned."

"I said it should have been like this ages ago; playing those dog‑topsy‑turvy plots is pointless. Better to line up, clash blade to blade—win and ascend to heaven, lose and be buried beneath the green hills. How simple is that?"

"What time is it, and you're still spouting nonsense?"

"Chen Qisheng warned in a low voice: 'Stay alert; don't let yourself capsize in a gutter.'"

"Don't worry, Grandpa Zou—I can sum myself up in one word: terrifyingly strong."

"Zou Sijiou grinned, snapped his fingers."

"Snap!"

"The sound of the snap faded, and before Zou Sijiou's eyes unfolded an endless black ocean."

Zou Si-jiu stood on the water's surface, his hands tucked into his pockets. Within a ten-zhang radius, the sea was perfectly still, as if no ripple dared disturb him.

But look closely, and you'll see that in the shallow waters beneath his feet, a yellow sea creature resembling a giant turtle was floating.

"You two have traveled far. Why don't you introduce yourselves first? Otherwise, you'll die in confusion, and this life will have been in vain."

Zou Si-jiu smiled, looking at the two distant figures and raising his chin. "Tell me, which lord of the Eastern Palace are you?"

"Zou Si-jiu, we're not here for you today. If you know what's good for you, you'd better step aside."

The speaker was over ten feet tall but had an extremely slender build, resembling a thin bamboo pole. He wore a black robe embroidered with large cloud patterns that flowed endlessly across the fabric.

The man beside him was enveloped in a thick yellow mist, which stood out starkly in the dark sea.

"I can tell you wouldn't have dragged so many irrelevant people into the dream otherwise. What is it? Did the Little Emperor send you here to force Old Li to leave Beizhili?"

Zou Si-jiu shook his head and laughed. "To be honest, you Eastern Palace people are really too idle. You can't even wipe your own buttocks clean, and now you have the heart to help others?"

"Since you understand, there's no need to waste words. Go and tell Li Jun that as long as he stops hunting down the people of Chunqiu Hui, these Eastern Palace scholars won't die."

"No, no, there's definitely something wrong here, about nine-tenths of it."

Zou Si-jiu suddenly shook his head, his right hand's tiger mouth rubbing against his chin.

"What do you mean?" the slender man asked coldly.

"When I mentioned the Little Emperor, you followed my line of thought and continued to speak. When did your Eastern Palace people become so honest?"

Zou Si-jiu wiped his hands over his temples, revealing a few red hairs in his back hair, and smiled with squinted eyes. "We're all in the business of yin and yang order. Although I'm not always accurate in my calculations, you don't need to treat me as a fool and play with me, right?"

"Zou Si-jiu, what do you want to say?"

"The Zhu family has already suffered once before, so they should know that even if they target the Eastern Palace, they cannot force Old Li to submit; they will only make themselves suffer more. On the other hand, Yan Dongqing is eager for Li Jun and the Zhu family to fight to the death, right?"

Zou Si-jiu asked curiously, "What benefits did Yan Dongqing give you to make you help him in this way?"

"Whether you understand or not, you can't save these people today."

A deep voice came from the thick yellow mist.

"That's the right tone. That's what the nine lords of the Eastern Palace should say. They should be so domineering."

Zou Si-jiu crossed his hands in front of him. "But I'm putting it out there today. Unless you step over my dead body, you won't be able to take any of these people away. If you still have some dignity as dream masters, disperse this dream and let these low-ranking scholars leave. As for what you do next, I'll be there to accompany you to the end!"

The words had barely been spoken when a sudden alarm arose from afar.

Dark clouds flew out from the slender man's robe, swelling into heavy clouds in an instant, covering the sea area.

Zou Si-jiu's feet, which were standing on the sea surface, suddenly sank deep, almost up to his calves. His arms were suddenly wrapped in black clouds, like a layer of shackles.

"You people are really despicable. You didn't even let me have a good time before attacking me sneakily."

Zou Si-jiu muttered under his breath and looked up at the dark clouds covering his head.

"Dream Master Rule [Long Night Burial]. So you're the one known as 'Dong Jun' who calls himself Hu E?"

Zou Si-jiu immediately revealed the slender man's name and title, and asked with interest, "But I have two dream master rules. Which one are you going to lock me up with? Is it [Heaven and Earth Share the Same Destiny] or [The Great Dream Has No Boundaries]?"

The rambling words echoed in the dark sea, but the only response to Zou Si-jiu was the gradually roaring sound of the waves.

Wham!

A ferocious beast head suddenly broke through the sea surface. It was the giant turtle sea beast that Zou Si-jiu was stepping on!

Its mouth opened wide, and it swallowed him whole in one bite.

In an instant, the vision shifted, and the boundless ocean was replaced by a cracked earth.

Wind and sand swirled, yellow earth flew everywhere, and a fierce sun hung high in the sky.

The scorching hot air seemed to ignite one's lungs with every breath, causing a burning pain.

Zou Si-jiu kicked his feet a few times, then looked around curiously, showing no fear or worry about being trapped in an enemy dream.

"This is [Eternal Seal of Yellow Earth]. So you're 'Shuo Jun' Mou An, right?"

Zou Si-jiu laughed. "Using [Long Night Burial] to lock up my [The Great Dream Has No Boundaries], and then using [Eternal Seal of Yellow Earth] to trap me here. I must say, your design is quite clever and interesting. But I still have one [Heaven and Earth Share the Same Destiny]. What are you going to do about it?"

"Zou Si-jiu, whether you limit the strength here to order three or mortal flesh, this place is still my Yellow Earth Hell."

The thick yellow mist surrounding Mou An had dissipated, revealing a dark yellow, rough face.

"In this place, your technique of constructing Li Jun and others is just a small trick."

As the words fell, countless hands suddenly emerged from the cracked grooves and ravines across the land, and many figures slowly crawled out from them.

Zou Si-jiu could see clearly that these people were none other than the Eastern Palace scholars who had been dragged into the dream.

Their bodies were covered in dust, their eyes were empty and lifeless, and they had clearly lost control of their bodies.

Like a group of mud soldiers, they surrounded Zou Si-jiu!

"Zou Si-jiu, let's see this time who has more people, you or me!"