Chapter 138: The Golden-Horned Giant Beast (Two-in-One, 5,000 Chapters)

Upon Mount Wudu, a thick mist shrouded the land; no living being dared to cross, and the mortal realm was forbidden entry. This was the mountain gate of the Hidden Divinity Sect.

Jiang Fan stood silently, merely an observer. Suddenly, Ji Changkong soared into the air; with a flick of his palm, a sacred edict appeared, which he cast towards Mount Wudu.

From the edict descended a myriad of violet energies, radiating supreme majesty and overwhelming authority that suppressed all. In an instant, it reached the skies above Mount Wudu, and five grand characters blazed forth: “Those who do not submit will be killed!”

Each character was a hundred zhang tall, glowing with golden light, illuminating hundreds of miles around. These five words were domineering and arrogant, proclaiming absolute supremacy.

“Open the mountain gate and dismantle the formation. Before the fifth watch, Sect Leader Liu Daozi, Great Elders Yang Daozi, Ma Daozi, Scarlet Daozi, Guanshan Daozi, Yun Daozi, and Feilong Daozi will come aboard the Golden Tower Ship to offer their apologies. No delays will be tolerated!”

Ji Changkong’s voice carried for miles, spoken only once before retreating back to the tower ship.

On Mount Wudu, not a single movement stirred.

“This isn’t right!” Jiang Fan transmitted mentally.

“I sense it too!” Ji Changkong replied. “Back then, when the Crimson Fire Venerable was involved in the County City massacre, the Hidden Divinity Sect didn’t expose him but protected him. Later, when Yuan Cheng allied with Mo Shaluo and others, I felt something was amiss. Now the sacred edict descends, yet Mount Wudu remains silent—clearly abnormal!”

“Feels like we’re being led here step by step,” Jiang Fan pondered aloud. “The County City massacre cannot be concealed. The Crimson Fire Venerable will inevitably be exposed, yet the Hidden Divinity Sect insists on protection. Would that not enrage the Human Emperor? Furious, he would come to annihilate them. How could the Hidden Divinity Sect dare resist?”

“This…” Ji Changkong’s expression changed, yet he shook his head. “The Hidden Divinity Sect cannot withstand the Human Emperor’s wrath, not even with the combined strength of the Supreme Sword Sect and the Primordial Sect!”

“That’s odd,” Jiang Fan murmured.

Suddenly, countless black threads appeared in the void around them, instantly sealing off the space.

Simultaneously, divine lights erupted from the surrounding mountains, forming a grand array that summoned a sky-piercing sword light, cleaving the heavens and descending toward the Golden Tower Ship.

“The Seven Mountain Divine Sword Array!” Ding Haichuan abruptly stood. “The Hidden Divinity Sect was prepared all along! Orders: Nine-Tier Pagoda Array, activate!”

Golden light condensed on the tower ship, forming a nine-layered pagoda that enveloped the vessel, erecting an impenetrable defense that blocked the descending sword light.

Buzzing sounds filled the air as the fog on Mount Wudu dispersed, revealing a sprawling palace complex extending endlessly across the mountaintop.

At that moment, a figure emerged, wielding a celestial sword, slicing the sacred edict cleanly in two.

“A celestial sword!” Ding Haichuan gasped. “Unexpectedly, the Hidden Divinity Sect conceals a celestial sword. This complicates matters! I thought the Human Emperor’s edict would suppress them easily, but now it seems we need reinforcements!”

His divine sense penetrated the void beneath the tower ship, connecting to a mysterious mirror linked to the Imperial Capital’s Patrol Headquarters.

Moments later, two elders emerged—both emanating power comparable to Ding Haichuan. They were evidently Earth Immortals.

“Old Ding, what’s going on?” they asked directly.

“Old Deng, Old Wang, look around,” Ding Haichuan gestured toward Mount Wudu. “The Seven Mountain Divine Sword Array, plus a celestial sword! There’s a terrifying energy lurking within the sect. Since when did the Hidden Divinity Sect possess such depth?”

“Something’s wrong,” Old Wang frowned.

Suddenly, a maniacal laugh echoed from the Hidden Divinity Sect. A middle-aged man appeared, wielding the celestial sword, floating in the air and facing the tower ship.

“Unexpectedly, I’ve only shown a fraction of my power, yet three Earth Immortals have appeared. No, including that Jiang Fan, four Earth Immortals. With four Earth Immortals and the cultivators aboard the Golden Tower Ship sacrificed, this should be enough! Black Sanbao, why haven’t you acted yet?”

“Already prepared!” a voice came from afar. “I have a demonic artifact called the Void Severing Plate, which can cut off connections in the void, severing the link to the Mysterious Heaven Mirror!”

“Severing the void!” Black Sanbao’s voice resounded as a perfect sphere suddenly melded into the void.

In an instant, a strange fluctuation spread, severing all ties with the outside world across a thousand-mile radius.

“The Void Severing Plate?” Ding Haichuan’s face darkened. “The Mysterious Heaven Mirror truly lost connection with headquarters!” Then he shouted, “Liu Daozi, you’ve betrayed the Human Emperor and joined the Demonic Sect. Such audacity! For your deeds, the Hidden Divinity Sect will be utterly wiped out, never to exist again!”

“I never betrayed anyone; I was always part of the Demonic Sect!” Liu Daozi laughed. “Long ago, I laid a grand plan. I infiltrated the Hidden Divinity Sect under their shadowy support, rising step by step until I killed the former sect leader and took control. I replaced all powerful figures within the sect—those who resisted were killed, those who submitted were subdued. The current Hidden Divinity Sect could almost be considered a branch of the Demonic Sect!”

“Liu Daozi is my junior brother!” Black Sanbao appeared, smiling contentedly at the treasure ship. “We’ve waited so long for this day.”

“Today is the day we complete it,” Liu Daozi smiled.

“Yes, today!” Black Sanbao laughed. “Junior brother, begin!”

“Very well!” Liu Daozi stamped the void, causing a tremor. Suddenly, countless palaces on Mount Wudu burst forth with light.

Array lines connected, instantly forming a massive demonic formation.

Then a blood-curdling scream echoed from all directions of Mount Wudu.

“Liu Daozi, what are you doing?!” Ding Haichuan’s expression darkened further.

“The Hidden Divinity Sect has 136,542 outer disciples, 24,038 inner disciples, 3,000 core disciples, 108 souls, and originally one Earth Immortal, who has been slain!” Liu Daozi sighed deeply. “Seeing them all slaughtered and sacrificed pains my heart terribly.”

He wiped a tear away, then snarled viciously, “But for the grand cause, it’s all worth it!”

Black Sanbao said, “Our Demonic Sect has prepared for over a thousand years. With you all, this sacrifice is sufficient!”

Boom!

Suddenly, the palaces on Mount Wudu shattered, and atop the peak rose a gigantic altar over a hundred meters wide.

Endless blood and struggling souls poured into the altar.

The altar emitted a black light, faintly revealing a portal above.

“A dimensional gate?” Ding Haichuan’s face twisted in horror.

“Old Ding, I didn’t expect you to recognize it!” Black Sanbao was slightly surprised. “Indeed, this altar is to activate the gate, allowing our demonic brethren to descend into the Great Hong world and utterly destroy it!”

“Everyone, strike down all of them, then sacrifice them to complete our great work!” Black Sanbao roared.

Buzzing!

The void trembled as three figures appeared from three directions, seated high above.

Each was an Earth Immortal, and around each hovered thirty-six soul cultivators.

“The Triple Origin Immortal Slayer Formation, attack!”

Black Sanbao moved to the center of the void. At his command, the three Earth Immortals and 108 soul cultivators formed a grand array, channeling their power into Black Sanbao’s body. The celestial sword in his hand burst forth with boundless radiance.

One slash fell, destroying heaven and earth.

His demonic artifact unleashed its full might.

Boom!

The nine-tier pagoda surrounding the treasure ship collapsed instantly, and the ship itself was cleaved open.

Countless armored warriors aboard were sent flying, many surely dead.

“Damn it!” Ding Haichuan roared, soaring to attack Black Sanbao.

“Ants, perish!” Black Sanbao’s sword fell like a thunderbolt, slaying Ding Haichuan instantly with no chance to evade.

Old Deng and Old Wang were horrified.

Ji Changkong’s face was pale.

Jiang Fan frowned deeply.

“How can we resist three Earth Immortals, 108 souls, and Black Sanbao’s formation-empowered celestial sword?” Old Deng despaired.

“If we die and the sacrifice completes, opening the gate, the demonic realm’s forces will flood in, and the Great Hong world will be devastated!” Old Wang trembled.

“What can we do?” Ji Changkong panicked.

Against such overwhelming power, scheming was useless.

Even Ding Haichuan, a mighty Earth Immortal, fell to a single blow without escape.

Old Deng and Old Wang were helpless as well.

The enemy’s preparation was flawless.

They had poured the Demonic Sect’s entire might into this, plus countless enslaved soul cultivators from the Hidden Divinity Sect. There was no turning the tide.

If the Mysterious Heaven Mirror hadn’t been severed, they would not fear.

But now, isolated and unsupported, reinforcements were impossible.

“Your turn!” Black Sanbao declared, his demonic sword blazing with a blinding light that distorted the void.

“Looks like I have to act!” Jiang Fan sighed helplessly. He had hoped to watch the spectacle and gain some advantage but never expected such a crisis.

A dimensional gate had appeared, summoning demons to wreak havoc on the Great Hong world—he could not allow it.

When he first heard from Nangong Rou about the Demonic Sect, Blood Demon Abyss, and the Sky Sword Sect’s sudden appearances and inability to be eradicated, he sensed something was wrong.

Now, with the Demonic Sect exhausting their strength to sacrifice and activate the gate, Jiang Fan had a suspicion.

The Great Hong world was a battleground, perhaps hiding treasures that enticed those from higher realms.

Whatever the case, today he must intervene.

Life and death were at stake; concealment was impossible.

Buzzing!

Two celestial swords flew from his body.

When Jiang Fan had entered the battlefield ruins at the Red River estuary, he obtained the Immaterial Bracelet, which contained thirty-six Celestial Swords of the lower grade.

Today, he wielded two of them.

Two was his limit.

Above, the demonic sword descended.

Below, Jiang Fan activated the two celestial swords, forming the Yin-Yang Dual Qi Formation.

“Go!”

With a fierce roar, the sword formation spun, shattering the demonic sword’s light and ascending into the heavens.

“How can my demonic sword, powered by three Earth Immortals, 108 souls, and myself, be destroyed by a mere Earth Immortal? No, those two swords are celestial swords—how can they unleash such power?” Black Sanbao was stunned, then horrified. “No!”

He tried to evade but found himself completely immobilized, locked in place.

Pfft!

Two Celestial Swords swirled, and Black Sanbao was instantly turned to ash, breaking the grand formation.

The three Earth Immortals and 108 soul cultivators trembled violently, spitting blood.

Jiang Fan’s face paled; his mind rapidly converted high-grade spiritual liquid into mana.

“Kill!”

He barely managed to maintain the sword formation, swinging it through the air to slaughter all three Earth Immortals and 108 souls, causing the Void Severing Plate to be ejected.

Jiang Fan trembled, his face ashen, collapsing to the ground.

The two celestial swords reversed course, returning to his body.

“I leave the rest to you,” he said weakly before closing his eyes to recover.

“Yes!” Old Deng and Old Wang were stunned, then overjoyed.

They never expected such a dramatic reversal in despair.

Without hesitation, the two flew forth to attack Liu Daozi.

Ji Changkong stood guard, gripping his great halberd and channeling power to protect Jiang Fan. Jiang Fan opened his eyes briefly, then closed them to continue recuperating.

The ensuing battle held no suspense.

Liu Daozi wielded his celestial sword and fought fiercely.

But before he escaped a hundred miles, a figure suddenly appeared before him.

Smack!

A single palm struck, killing Liu Daozi instantly.

Even his celestial sword was useless.

“Greetings, Human Emperor!”

Seeing the middle-aged man approach, Old Deng and Old Wang bowed.

It was none other than the Emperor of Great Song, Song Qian.

“Well done!” Song Qian raised a hand graciously. “I predicted no danger in this battle, but the turn of events surprised me. The Demonic Sect infiltrated the Hidden Divinity Sect, orchestrated a full-scale sacrifice, and even targeted the Patrol Headquarters to open the dimensional gate. Fortunately, with young Jiang present, it was only a false alarm!”

“Your Majesty!” Jiang Fan’s complexion brightened as he stood and cupped his hands. “What should be done with the Demonic Sect?”

“Annihilate them!” Song Qian replied.

A mirror appeared above his head, emitting a beam that shot eighteen thousand miles away into a sect concealed by a grand array.

The mirror’s light engulfed the entire sect, erasing it silently.

“With several Earth Immortals gone, the Demonic Sect’s protective array cannot function properly. This gave me the chance to utterly destroy them,” Song Qian smiled. “Their entire sect is now sealed within the Mysterious Heaven Mirror. Young Jiang, your reversal of the tide and prevention of the gate’s opening is a great merit. Ask for whatever you desire as a reward.”

“Then I won’t be shy!” Jiang Fan replied.

“No generosity means no reward,” Song Qian joked.

“Your Majesty, I wish for some spiritual items and elixirs to assist Earth Immortal cultivation. Is that possible?”

“Certainly!” the Emperor nodded. “Within the Demonic Sect’s treasury are Nine-Turn Demon Essence Pills, Earth Spirit Fruits, and Primordial Flowers—excellent items. From my own treasury, I’ll gift you Immortal Essence Fruits, Three-Leaf Immortal Bone Grass, and Golden Body Elixir Pills.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Jiang Fan was overjoyed.

“These are nothing compared to your merit,” Song Qian mused. “You have attained Earth Immortal enlightenment, and your patrol rank is elevated to Elder. I’ll also give you Black Sanbao’s Void Severing Plate and a treasure ship for easier travel. In the future, should you encounter trouble in the Great Hong world, contact me anytime!”

He presented several items to Jiang Fan.

“Many thanks, Your Majesty!” Jiang Fan accepted them all into the Immaterial Bracelet.

“Haha, young Jiang, continue your cultivation. When you reach Earth Immortal perfection, I will grant you a great opportunity!” Song Qian said, glancing at Ji Changkong and the others. “Your rewards will be granted soon. I entrust the aftermath to you to manage properly.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” Ji Changkong and the others bowed deeply, including Old Deng and Old Wang.

Moments later, the Emperor departed.

“Brother Ji, Old Deng, Old Wang, we shall meet again!” Jiang Fan called out, his form flashing as he rapidly left. Staying here further was pointless.

“See you again!” Ji Changkong’s voice echoed far behind.

“What an extraordinary man!” Old Deng sighed. “Single-handedly, he slew Black Sanbao and all those Earth Immortals, breaking the grand array—it’s truly unbelievable. I feel, even if he’s not the Human Emperor, he’s not far behind.”

“Probably so,” Old Wang said. “I envy his rewards and the Emperor’s promises.”

“Those are well-deserved,” Old Deng said, then looked at Ji Changkong. “Young Ji, tell us more about Jiang Fan’s deeds. Perhaps we should curry favor with him in the future!”

“Could you just call me Changkong?” Ji Changkong said plaintively.

“Changkong is just a name. Come, come, sit and share your tales.”

“Yes, Changkong, having such a friend makes us all envious!”

Back on the tower ship, lively scenes unfolded again.

As for the deceased Ding Haichuan, few cared anymore.

Jiang Fan returned to the county city silently, landing at the Jiang family’s East Peace Pavilion without disturbing his parents. He shifted his form and entered the Jade Spring Mansion, sitting cross-legged upon the Enlightenment Platform.

“The two little girls have entered the True Illusion Realm. Good, let them stay there for now. As for this place, I’ll not let them return—for now,” Jiang Fan smiled faintly, raising a hand to seal the portal to the True Illusion Realm. Unless he unsealed it, Xiao Qing and Xiao Qian could never return.

“This haul isn’t bad…”

“A treasure ship as transportation!”

“The Void Severing Plate is a celestial artifact that severs the void and blocks escape. It’s rare for the Human Emperor to be so generous.”

“But what I love most are the Golden Body Elixir Pills!”

As Jiang Fan sorted his gains, his thoughts turned, and plans formed.

After storing everything, he closed his eyes, his consciousness traversing time and space to descend elsewhere.

Jiang Fan became Qin Ming.

With many spiritual items and elixirs in hand, he began a new round of frantic cultivation, his progress alarming even Babata, who was at a loss to understand.

Whenever Babata tried to investigate, Qin Ming brushed it off casually.

Until one day—

“Sea beast uprising? A beast emperor swallowed a war base in North America?” Qin Ming was stunned upon receiving the news, then laughed, thinking, “A Golden Horned Giant Beast? Finally appeared. I’ve waited so long for you!”

From here begins the tale of devouring...