Chapter 304: To the Imminent Point
Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
The disciples of the three religions were not the only ones aiding the Western Zhou in its expedition to suppress the Shang dynasty. Shen Gongbao also gathered seven people with extraordinary power that had shapeshifted from the Demon Tribe. They used to cultivate atop the Plum Mountain and became known as the Seven Monsters of the Plum Mountain. The burly, masculine man among them their leader, Yuan Hong.
The Seven Monsters of the Plum Mountain were said to be once a white ape, a pig, a cow, a dog, a sheep, a snake, and a centipede respectively. Yuan Hong had cultivated many years and even learned the Eight Nine Mysteries of Tao. Now his cultivation had already reached the peak of Taiyi Golden Immortal. Yet what the others didn"t know was that he hadn"t, in fact, shapeshifted from a white ape. He was the Long-armed Ape Monkey, the final one of the Four Monkeys of Destruction that Minghe and Liu Er had been looking for.
Back then, Minghe had once visited all the mountains in Untainted Land to look for the Plum Mountain in vain. It then occurred to him that Zhenyuanzi, who was taking over the Earth Immortal"s Residence, possessed a Book of the Nether World that could a.s.sign all Earthly Immortals. The book would definitely help him find the elusive mountain. Unfortunately, by the time he got there, the mountain was already deserted. Since then, the Seven Monsters of Plum Mountain seemed to have vanished completely.
Had he chose to hide, Yuan Hong might still be able to preserve his life. Yet he just had accept Shen Gongbao"s invitation to aid Western Zhou. It was a pity that he couldn"t seek luck and avoid calamity the way the Red-bottomed Horse Monkey could. He didn"t even know that Minghe and several other Sages already had their eyes on him. Once he showed up, he would be killed instantly.
Yuan Hong scoffed when he saw how Nezha gradually suppressed Yang Jian in their fight. He could tell Nezha was trying to manipulate Yang Jian and it wouldn"t be long before the latter would be defeated. He flew directly toward Bo Yikao and saluted him. "Elder childe, please give me permission to aid Yang Jian, catch Nezha, and send him to you."
Bo Yikao glanced at him before looking at Shen Gongbao. After all, he was someone whom Shen Gongbao invited himself. Noticing the glance, the latter came to Bo Yikao and whispered, "Don"t worry, elder childe. His cultivation is as high as that of Yang Jian of the Clan of Enlightenment. If he teams up with Yang Jian, it shouldn"t be a problem for them to defeat Nezha."
Bo Yikao smiled and said, "Taoist Priest Yuan, please help us." Holding a black iron stick in his hand, Yuan Hong then left the camp and walked toward Nezha and Yang Jian. The disciples of the Clan of Enlightenment were displeased to see this. Since Yang Jian represented their clan, they ought to be the ones helping him defeat Nezha. Did they need this Demon Tribesman, who was linked to the Western Religious Sect in some way, to take action?
After a few steps, Yuan Hong stared at Nezha and Yang Jian who was locked in a battle in the air. He was about to open his mouth when several forces of pressure descended from the sky upon him, so strong that he couldn"t even make a single movement. Even Nezha and Yang Jian stopped fighting. The disciples of the three religions were also deeply shocked. Though the forces of pressure weren"t directed at them, they were so strong that only Sages were capable of unleashing it.
Everyone watched with confusion as Yuan Hong who couldn"t move under the forces of pressure. Though Yuan Hong hailed from the Demon Tribe, he was now in the same camp as the three religions. Why did the Sages suddenly pressured him this way? Furthermore, there was also another pressure defying the Sages" pressure. It could only belong to Minghe, the only one capable of rivaling the Sages.
Inside the pa.s.s, Liu Er became excited the moment he saw Yuan Hong. He had felt the throbbing between himself and the Origin of Good Separation and Evil Separation as soon as he had arrived. Only the final one of the Four Monkeys of Destruction could trigger such a response in him. But even after searching around with his Magic Skills for a long time, he found nothing.
Liu Er only found Yuan Hong when the latter displayed his fighting intention. Such an intention was formed by personal will. Being the Long-armed Ape Monkey, one of the Four Monkeys of Destruction, his fighting intention carried a sliver of the vital force of Chaos. That was what exposed him completely to Liu Er. Just as Liu Er was about to take action, Laozi, Honored Lord of the Origin, Jieyin, and Zhunti had made their moves. So did his teacher, Minghe, at the same time.
Laozi and Honored Lord of the Origin stood atop Mount Shouyang, wearing grim expressions when they saw Minghe and Red Lotus Taoist. They had been searching for the final one of the Four Monkeys of Destruction all along, but how could they antic.i.p.ate that he would be hiding in the camp of the three religions? The secrets of heaven were messed up by the Way of Heaven. No matter how they calculated, they could only find out that he would be shapeshifted from a white ape.
Laozi and Honored Lord of the Origin took action the minute they realized that Yuan Hong was the Long-armed Ape Monkey they were looking for. They were planning to take control of Yuan Hong in advance and use him as a bargaining chip in a deal that Minghe would be forced to make. Laozi was planning to use his Map of Taichi to capture Yuan Hong, but even if he was fast, Minghe wasn"t slow either. Before the map even left Mount Shouyang, it was blocked by Minghe.
Minghe stared at Laozi, clapping his hands. "Laozi, of all the Sages, I admire you and Tongtian the most. Tongtian is born a candid person, like a guileless fighter. You, Laozi, has profound cultivation and is also the most calculating one. Seeing as you"ve discovered my disciple"s way of actualization, that means my guess back then was correct. It was you who directed Wu Zhiqi to baby girl."
Honored Lord of the Origin became infuriated. Laozi and Tongtian were the ones Minghe respected the most? Then what about him? Though he had to admit that Minghe was powerful, Minghe was being so dismissive of him as if he was the weakest of the Three Pure Ones. This might be the truth, but he would never admit to it. Now that Minghe was putting it so blankly, Honored Lord of the Origin felt like he was being humiliated. How could he not be furious?
Laozi was too busy to care about Honored Lord of the Origin"s feelings. Though he had also told Jieyin and Zhunti about Liu Er"s actualization, Minghe and his Evil Separation, Red Lotus Taoist, had shown up to block them. This meant his Good and Selfcentric Separation had definitely left to obstruct Jieyin and Zhunti. Evidently, Minghe didn"t want any of them to stop Liu Er from gaining his last Fated Chance.
Looking at Minghe, he said coldly, "You"re really powerful to not only go for the way of Rakshasa, but also put your disciple on the same path. But even if you stop us here and obstruct Jieyin and Zhunti over at the Square Mountain, don"t you forget we still have Zhunti"s Good Separation at the Golden Chicken Mountain. Liu Er…"
Before he could finish his sentence, a grin appeared on Minghe"s face. Minghe scoffed and said, "Do you think I"ll be fooled by Zhunti"s trick?" "Of course I"d know about Zhunti"s Good Separation being on the Golden Chicken Mountain, but why do you think I just left him be?" His smile was peculiar, so peculiar that it was frightening.
Laozi looked even more stunned and he nearly lost his voice. "Y-You... You"re truly a madman. You actually used the Separation of a Sage as fodder for Liu Er"s actualization? Don"t you worry about his failure?" Minghe was truly insane beyond imagination to use a Sage"s separation to help his disciple in the way of actualization.
Minghe burst into laughter. "Insane? No, that ain"t right. That"s just what Liu Er has to confront. If he can"t even deal with Zhunti"s useless Good Separation, then he has no promising future even if I help him turn into Rakshasa. He only has two choices now. Win and he can step on the path of being a truly strong person and pursue the supreme Great Way. Lose and he"ll destroy himself with his failure. Which one will be his future? I can"t wait to find out."
Both Laozi and Honored Lord of the Origin were stunned by Minghe"s lunatic words. The two choices that Minghe presented to Liu Er were exactly the ones he faced himself! Minghe won, so he became supremely powerful. That was why the Sages and the Way of Heaven feared him. What would Liu Er, Minghe"s heir, choose?