Chapter 261 - 288: 9 Calamities Realm Level 2, The Fierce Demon’s Origin

"Damn it! Who are you?"

Under the bright moonlight, Su Bai stood atop a mountain, clutching the old monk’s Divine Soul Body in his hand. The figure thrashed and struggled in his grasp, roaring incessantly.

"I am from the Wansheng Institute—"

The old monk’s eyes were wide with rage, his face twitching. In the dark of the night, he looked quite ferocious.

BANG!

Su Bai slapped him unconscious, then reached out with his right hand toward the old monk’s brow, quickly searching his memories.

Then, his gaze shifted toward a certain location within the Prefecture City.

The next moment, a scene appeared in his mind, and a strange look crossed his face.

’He really knows how to live it up.’

This old monk had none of the characteristics of a man of the cloth. Not only did he indulge in wine and meat, but right now, his physical body was lying in a den of pleasure.

BOOM!

Su Bai’s right hand shot out, and he snatched the monk’s physical body from a tavern somewhere in the Prefecture City.

Then, amidst the old monk’s unwilling roars, he forced the Divine Spirit back into the physical body.

A ball of Karmic Fire surged violently!

In an instant, he had imprisoned the monk within the Dharma Tripod Prison.

And with the old monk’s Divine Spirit and physical body made whole again, the Experience Points reward Su Bai could obtain naturally increased a bit.

[Criminal: Elder Huinian]

[Sin Level: Eight-Star]

[Strength: Returning Void Realm First Layer]

[Status: Near Death (Imprisoned)]

[Suppression Involvement: 90%]

[Reward: 7,000,000 Experience Points/Hour]

’As expected of someone with a Void Realm Cultivation. This old monk’s Experience Points reward is truly substantial.’

’I never thought that old Daoist Cui Yanliang going to a banquet would lead me to such a fat XP mob.’

’A pleasant surprise, indeed.’

’But I forgot, there’s one more.’

A moment later, Su Bai’s gaze turned to a certain spot on Celestial Origin Mountain, where a three-zhang-tall black shadow trembled, its face filled with terror.

This black shadow was the very same Fierce Demon that the old monk had sent scurrying for its life earlier.

Su Bai reached out with his right hand. Before the black shadow could use any techniques, he suppressed it and threw it into the Dharma Tripod Prison as well.

With that, his mind was finally at ease.

Afterward, bathing in the cascading moonlight, Su Bai took a step forward.

In an instant, he vanished on the spot.

「At the foot of Celestial Origin Mountain.」

The caravan of traveling merchants, who had already fled for dozens of *li*, were now gathered together, panting for breath.

"Huh? Why has it gone quiet?"

Within the group, the young man leading them suddenly seemed to sense something. He frowned, turned around curiously, and looked up.

In the next breath, his pupils contracted. He pointed ahead, his voice a shocked murmur:

"The mountain... the mountain..."

The old man beside him, holding a Jade Staff, saw that the youth—who was usually so sharp and alert—was suddenly stuttering. He too turned around curiously and looked up.

Immediately after, his eyes also widened in disbelief and horror as he exclaimed:

"How is this possible! The mountain..."

"How did the mountain restore itself?!"

Just moments ago, they had watched with their own eyes as a golden light shattered this very mountain, turning it into countless fragments of rock that scattered in all directions.

But now, the mountain had actually restored itself?

How was that possible!

The others also sensed that something was amiss and all looked up.

The entire group was filled with shock and amazement.

"Was that one of the Immortal Gods from the heavens, coming to save us?"

One of the young men holding a longsword muttered, his eyes glazed over as he stared at the scene.

...

"Whew!"

「The Divine Spirit returned to the body.」

Cui Yanliang shot up into a sitting position. Seeing Su Bai before him, he let out a sigh of relief. "Sen... Senior!"

After his Divine Spirit resettled, he was disoriented for a moment. After a short while, he finally remembered everything that had just happened.

"How was Qingming Daoist’s banquet?" Su Bai asked with a faint smile.

Although Cui Yanliang had spent a hundred years wandering the Desolate Province, in truth, he was only famous in a few small places.

For instance, in some remote mountain villages and county towns. But when it came to commanderies, his fame amounted to nothing.

In the Prefecture City, he was a complete nobody. This was the first time he had ever encountered something like this.

Cui Yanliang put on his shoes and said with a wry smile, "Senior, please don’t poke fun at me. That wasn’t a banquet to host fellow Daoists. It was clearly about three factions dividing up the Incense, and we were just there to witness it."

His Cultivation and Daoist Skills might not be high, but he wasn’t a fool.

He had, of course, figured out the purpose behind Qingming Daoist’s banquet.

However, even though he was just a spectator, the feast on that table had benefited him quite a bit.

Right now, he was full of vigor and highly energized, his skin glowing with a crystalline luster as if he had consumed some potent Spiritual Medicine.

Cui Yanliang recounted what he had seen and heard at the banquet to Su Bai.

When he got to the part about the golden hand that had descended domineeringly to seize Elder Huinian, Cui Yanliang couldn’t help but sigh:

"The path of the Martial Dao is truly vast."

"There’s always a higher mountain to climb!"

In his eyes, Elder Huinian was already unimaginably powerful, yet he had been completely helpless against the owner of that golden hand. He was captured in an instant.

Wait!

As he thought about it, his heart suddenly skipped a beat!

’That... The owner of that golden hand... could it be Senior?’

Cui Yanliang glanced at Su Bai out of the corner of his eye.

He found that the latter was just listening quietly, his expression unchanging.

As for whether it was really Su Bai...

He didn’t know, and he didn’t dare to ask. He could only guess in his heart.

Su Bai strolled to the table, lit a candle, and looked at Cui Yanliang through the flickering light.

"The Wansheng Institute of Yu Province wants to establish a branch in the Prefecture City."

"What are your thoughts on this?"

"You’re asking me, Senior?"

Cui Yanliang was clearly taken aback for a moment before replying, "Now that the Wansheng Institute has lost Huinian, a Martial Arts Great Power, their strength has been greatly diminished. I’m afraid they won’t be able to contend with the Gui Chen Sect."

"The Gui Chen Sect’s foundations are too deep, and they have numerous members. Unless the Gui Dao Mansion..."

As he spoke, he had a sudden realization. "That’s right. The Gui Chen Sect is powerful, and the Gui Dao Mansion has long suffered because of it."

"In this matter of dividing the Incense, the Wansheng Institute and the Gui Chen Sect are bound to clash. The Gui Dao Mansion will likely lend their full support from the shadows."

"Full support is an overstatement. These people all have their own agendas."

Su Bai sat down, a smile in his eyes.

"The Wansheng Institute isn’t that simple. And with the Gui Dao Mansion helping from the shadows, the outcome is hard to predict."

Having observed Elder Huinian’s memories, Su Bai now had a certain understanding of the Wansheng Institute.

Even though he had already captured the old monk Huinian, they wouldn’t give up on the Incense from this entire prefecture.

The Power of Incense was profound and mysterious.

Some special Dharma Gates could absorb Incense to enhance one’s Cultivation and facilitate Breaking Realms.

Therefore, for many powerful and influential experts, the Incense from the teeming masses was extremely important.

This was especially true when they had no hope of breaking through and had nowhere else to turn.

"This... shouldn’t have anything to do with us, right?" Cui Yanliang asked tentatively.

After attending the banquet, he had a faint feeling that the Prefecture City might soon become a quagmire. If he stayed here, would he just become cannon fodder?

Su Bai just smiled without saying a word.

To him, this Incense also had an important use. Absorbing it all would definitely allow him to exchange it for a large amount of Merit Points.

"Get some rest."

With that casual remark, Su Bai walked out of Cui Yanliang’s room.

Watching Su Bai’s departing figure, Cui Yanliang’s eyes were dazed as he murmured to himself.

"Senior, what is your identity, really?"

The longer he spent with Su Bai, the more he felt Su Bai’s mysterious and unfathomable nature.

He was like an Immortal Mountain shrouded in thick fog. You might think you’ve seen its majestic peak, but as you get closer, you realize you’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg.

What was his true nature?

It was impossible to see clearly, impossible to imagine.

「Back at his residence.」

Su Bai glanced at his accumulated Experience Points.

’I’ve saved up a decent amount of Experience Points. Time to break through.’

After this period of accumulation, he had enough Experience Points to break through to the next Realm, with some to spare.

Thus, as the thought crossed his mind, Su Bai’s Cultivation advanced once more, reaching the Nine Tribulations Realm Second Layer.

BUZZ!

An invisible ripple emanated from his body, filling the heavens and the earth in all directions.

...

A hundred *li* outside the Desolate State Prefecture, inside a Daoist Temple, Chu An slowly opened his eyes.

"Elder!"

Two Daoists waiting outside immediately bowed in respect.

"That person... Who in the world was he?"

Even now, his eyes were filled with utter shock.

’To be able to snatch away that old monk with a single hand, his Cultivation must be immense. Perhaps he’s another powerful Void Realm Martial Arts Great Power.’

After thinking for a long time, Chu An gradually calmed his emotions and said calmly:

"Come in."

The two Daoists standing outside the door then slowly walked in.

Of the two Daoists, one was tall and the other short.

The tall one was thin, the short one was fat, and both asked with serious expressions:

"We venture to ask, Elder, how should we deal with the Wansheng Institute?"

"That old Monk came with ill intent. He originally planned to ally with the Gui Dao Mansion, which would have been a big problem for our Gui Chen Sect."

"But now that he’s been captured by a mysterious expert, the threat is greatly reduced."

Chu An replied with an indifferent expression:

"However, the Wansheng Institute is a major sect of the Righteous Dao in Yu Province, with many experts within its ranks. Even without one old monk, I’m afraid they still have designs on this prefecture’s Incense."

"Let’s wait for the Sect Leader to decide. For now, we might as well take a step back and watch the tigers fight."

"Our sect has been developing in the Prefecture City for several hundred years. We have countless followers, and our power is at its zenith. If we retreat now, I fear many followers will lose faith, and our Incense will plummet."

The two Daoists exchanged a look, hesitation in their eyes.

"Heh... Even if we don’t make a move, do you think it will be that easy for the Wansheng Institute to establish a foothold in the Prefecture City?"

"Let’s not even mention whether they have the permission of the Lord of the State."

"Just the fact that the old monk injured that Fierce Demon is enough to give the Wansheng Institute a massive headache."

"Elder, are you saying that the injured Fierce Demon will retaliate against the Wansheng Institute?"

The tall, thin Daoist’s interest was piqued.

"I heard that Fierce Demon has some connection to the Netherworld?"

"Correct!"

Chu An sneered, "Ever since that Venerable Lord of the Netherworld disappeared, the entire Netherworld has fallen into chaos. Countless ghosts and gods have carved up the territory, each ruling their own domain!"

"And that Fierce Demon comes from the Netherworld. It’s not without its backers."

If that weren’t the case, with their strength, they could have easily suppressed the Fierce Demon, albeit at some cost.

This was precisely why they hadn’t dared to act.

"This time, the old monk injured that vengeful Fierce Demon. If this draws out the Ghost Dao titan behind it..."

Hearing this, the eyes of both Daoists lit up.

"Hm?"

Suddenly, Chu An’s brow furrowed. He stepped out of the building and gazed into the distant void.

"This fluctuation... is it coming from the Desolate State Prefecture?"