Chapter 388: Battle Between Demon Immortal and Wood Immortal

"The two most critical possessions for a painter are immortal paper and an immortal brush, but by that time he had already ascended to immortality, and a brush fit for an immortal's touch was nearly impossible to find in the mortal realm; there were not even raw materials capable of refining one, and without those materials, not even the Immortal of Yingtian could forge it."

"Immortal paper, however, caused him no worry, for he needed only to pluck a few wood shavings from his own form to craft it, yet the immortal brush remained an elusive dream."

"The closest material for an immortal brush lay within the hair of us few, but perhaps because we were all of the human race, our hair could not be refined into such a tool, and so he cast his designs upon the Qilin Immortal."

"The Qilin Immortal bore a tuft of hair upon his tail, perfectly suited for the refining of an immortal brush."

"First, he used a semi-immortal grade brush to paint a Scroll of a Hundred Beasts, wherein dwelt a gathering of females deemed exquisitely beautiful in the eyes of demonic beasts, and then he invited the Qilin Immortal to his home as a guest, permitting him to contemplate the scroll; seeing the Qilin Immortal's heart stir, he remarked that the Qilin Immortal might well venture into the painting to try his luck."

"The Qilin Immortal was overjoyed and suspected no deception, declaring aloud that the Immortal of Time was his true brother, and he quickly lost himself within the Scroll of a Hundred Beasts."

"Taking advantage of the Qilin Immortal's distraction, the Immortal of Time slipped into the painting and shaved the Qilin Immortal's tail entirely bare."

"Just as the Immortal of Time intended to use the power of time to accelerate the growth of the Qilin Immortal's tail hair and conceal the traces of his theft, he was discovered by the Qilin Immortal."

"The Qilin Immortal flew into a grand rage and fell into a fierce scuffle with the Immortal of Time, their immortal arts bursting forth in endless succession, a spectacle witnessed by the cultivators of several planets who deemed it a divine marvel; so immense was the commotion that it alarmed the geniuses of the Dragon and Phoenix clans."

"Learning that a battle had erupted, the geniuses of the Dragon and Phoenix clans rushed over in great haste to inquire after the cause of the matter."

"Naturally, the Qilin Immortal could not admit that he had been moved by lust and ensnared by the Immortal of Time, so he declared with bitter resentment that through a momentary lapse of vigilance, he had been imprisoned within the painting by the Immortal of Time."

"The Immortal of Time also claimed he merely wished to test the heights to which his path of painting had attained, using the Qilin Immortal to try his hand, and begged the Qilin Immortal's forgiveness."

"The Qilin Immortal remarked that his attitude was commendable and granted him forgiveness."

"The Immortal of Time promised that a grand gift would surely be presented in gratitude thereafter."

"The Qilin Immortal replied that they were as close as brothers, so what need was there for a grand gift."

"The Immortal of Time insisted that it was only proper."

"The geniuses of the Dragon and Phoenix clans were greatly astonished and exceedingly curious, proposing to see the very painting that had trapped the Qilin Immortal, whereupon the Qilin Immortal and the Immortal of Time spoke in unison, claiming the painting had been destroyed during the battle."

"The geniuses of the Dragon and Phoenix clans thought no further on it, believing the words to be true, and merely felt it a pity."

"Afterward, the Immortal of Time gifted the Scroll of a Hundred Beasts to the Qilin Immortal, and the two reconciled as before, as close as brothers."

Lu Yang: "..."

What a fine reconciliation.

Seeing Lu Yang lost in a daze, the Great Elder assumed he was reminiscing on past events and added another word.

"I recall now that ancient texts also say the Wood Immortal painted a 'Scroll of a Hundred Beasts,' trapping the Demon Immortal within and commanding the hundred beasts to besiege him; do you have any impression of this?"

Lu Yang thought to himself from what manner of ancient text this had come, for the romanticized embellishment knew no bounds.

He felt it best that the truths of antiquity remain buried deep within his own belly; if this matter ever reached the ears of the geniuses of the Dragon and Phoenix clans, and they gave the Qilin Immortal another thrashing, the Qilin Immortal might follow the clues straight to his own head, and his meager life might not be preserved.

He shook his head blankly: "I have never heard of this matter."

"Very well." The Great Elder did not doubt Lu Yang, for Lu Yang was still young after all, and it was impossible for him to know everything.

Even as they spoke, the Great Elder manipulated the scroll painting, returning Lu Yang and Tao Yaoye to the sect before vanishing to parts unknown.

"Old Second, wake up, do you know what I have just been doing?"

The Great Elder found Old Man Ba sleeping at the entrance of the medicine garden and shook him awake.

Seeing it was the Great Elder, Old Man Ba paid him no heed, turned over, and went back to sleep.

How could the Great Elder allow Old Man Ba to sleep? He spoke at his side: "Just now, I went to meet the Vice Sect Master of the Demon Sect, using the identity of the Netherworld Heavenly King."

"What?!" Old Man Ba was instantly stripped of his drowsiness, snapping his eyes open and sitting up abruptly, "Tell me, how did this come about?"

"Lu Yang was going to meet the Vice Sect Master of the Jiuyou Sect, and fearing for his own safety, he implored me to go and reinforce him, begging me earnestly; seeing that Lu Yang is the most exceptional disciple of our sect, and since he begged me so, I naturally agreed, concealing myself in the shadows to protect his safety."

"The Vice Sect Master of the Jiuyou Sect is surnamed Shi; upon meeting him, because Lu Yang had my protection and a backer behind him, he spoke with absolute composure and effortless ease, completely aweing that fellow surnamed Shi."

"The one surnamed Shi claimed to have discovered the traces of an ancient cultivator and invited Lu Yang to accompany him; with my protection, the world is vast, so where could Lu Yang not go? He gladly ventured forth."

"The information of the one surnamed Shi was without error; there truly was an ancient cultivator there, one exceedingly evil, who used the blood-soaked aura of the skies to refine a Banner of Ten Thousand Souls; the moment it was forged, ten thousand beasts howled, blotting out the sun and sky, deafening to the ears, while a sinister wind roared in fury; anyone who looked upon it would be struck with terror, and Lu Yang was utterly frightened out of his wits, standing frozen on the spot, having never witnessed such a grand display!"

Old Man Ba nodded; a Banner of Ten Thousand Souls of the Unity stage, once refined, would unleash ten thousand ghosts to sweep across the universe, a troublesome sight even for those of the same tier, let alone Lu Yang; it was only natural to be frightened.

Moreover, it was a beast-type Banner of Ten Thousand Souls, and the souls of demonic beasts grew far more vicious when driven mad than those of the human race; those who were weaker would lose their minds merely by hearing the cries!

"The one surnamed Shi fought fiercely with the ancient cultivator, and seeing the opponent was difficult to deal with, I struck out boldly, holding an immortal treasure and ignoring the attacks of the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls, subduing him with a single blow!"

"Seeing my cultivation was profoundly unfathomable, the ancient cultivator was struck with terror, unwilling to accept defeat just so, and demanded hysterically to know who I truly was; I stepped upon the ancient cultivator, looking down upon the world, and slowly announced my title, declaring that this seat is the Guardian of the Heavenly Court Sect, the Netherworld Heavenly King!"

Old Man Ba's eyes shone with excitement as he listened; why had he not encountered such a magnificent affair?

The Great Elder thought to himself that since he managed the intelligence of the Wendao Sect, he naturally knew of Lu Yang's departure before anyone else.

"Very well, I still have matters to attend to, so I shall talk no further." The Great Elder departed in haste, leaving behind an envious Old Man Ba.

"Old Third, stop tilling the fields, do you know what I have just been doing?"

"Old Fourth, stop reading, do you know what I have just been doing?"

Tao Yaoye bid farewell to Lu Yang; having followed Lu Yang to witness such a grand scene this time, she realized her own deficiencies.

"It seems I still have a long path to walk before I can catch up to Senior Brother Lu's footsteps!"

"Even when facing the Unity stage, Senior Brother Lu converses and laughs with ease, invoking various classical allusions and cultivation philosophies at will; how does he accomplish this?"

"Senior Brother Lu possesses rich knowledge and remains unruffled by events, making him the perfect model for my studies; I hear Senior Brother Lu is particularly adept in ancient history, surpassing even the elders, and if that is so, then I shall study ancient history first!"

Suddenly, Tao Yaoye felt a wave of pressure, a pressure sufficient to suffocate a person.

She turned her head to see her own master smiling gently at her, transmitting her voice with concern for her cultivation progress.

"Just returned from outside? How is the cultivation of the Feathered Immortal Body progressing?"

Cold sweat poured from Tao Yaoye; having previously heard she could go out to play with Senior Brother Lu, she had been so delighted that she completely forgot she still needed to cultivate the Feathered Immortal Body.

(End of Chapter)