Chapter 3120

Only compared to back then, Ji Ju's figure had actually shrunk by two sizes, looking more solid, and the flames had changed from the original crimson to platinum white.

"Isn't this the Nine Nether Great Emperor?" The deep voice of the great fireball echoed above Mount Xushan, "How come, this time you're willing to show your true face?"

Last time He Lingchuan sneaked underground to discuss cooperation with it, he kept wearing a mask until he left after causing havoc in the Heavenly Palace, and Ji Ju never knew his true identity.

He Lingchuan ignored its sarcasm, merely smiling: "Your bearing surpasses the past; it seems after breaking free of the shackles, you've been doing well these years."

He was reminding Ji Ju not to forget who helped him break free of his bonds!

If not for He Lingchuan causing havoc in the Heavenly Palace over twenty years ago, Ji Ju would still be the Heavenly Palace's watchdog chained before the Star-Plucking Tower to this day, how could he now come and go freely, swaggering about?

Ji Ju snorted twice, not taking his cue: "Looks like Mount Xushan has changed hands. What do you want with me?"

It appeared nonchalant, but in fact, when facing He Lingchuan, it had raised its guard to twelve parts. Even the Grand Void Sacred Venerable regarded this fellow as a formidable opponent, so how could Ji Ju dare to be careless with him?

This was no longer the petty boy from over twenty years ago whom it could kill with a mere spit.

He Lingchuan said slowly: "Over these years, you've also not spared effort for the Heavenly Palace."

After the Star-Plucking Tower was destroyed last time, Ji Ju regained his freedom, and the Heavenly Palace could do nothing to him, so both sides reached an equal cooperation. Ji Ju continued to guard the mountain for the Heavenly Palace, while the Heavenly Palace had to double its offerings to Ji Ju, yet could no longer compel him, for the Mount Xushan Grand Array that suppressed him had been wrecked by He Lingchuan.

"If I truly aided the Heavenly Palace, you wouldn't have so easily taken Mount Xushan." Ji Ju pointed to the abyss beneath him, "When you first began your assault, the Heavenly Palace begged for my help, and I paid no heed."

He Lingchuan knew he spoke the truth.

Beneath Mount Xushan lies the volcanic mountain range, which is Ji Ju's domain.

The Great Fire Spirit has the power to alter terrain and shift mountain peaks; if it truly guarded the mountain for the Heavenly Palace, the War Alliance would absolutely not take Mount Xushan so easily.

Of course, He Lingchuan also believed the Great Fire Spirit, after judging both sides' strength, decisively refused to help. As fellow beings born of heaven and earth, this fellow differs from the Earth Mother, indifferent to good and evil, right and wrong, acting solely from self-interest.

It guarded the mountain for the Great Return Sect for a thousand years; when Between Between Between Beijia defeated the Great Return Sect, it switched to guarding the mountain for the Heavenly Palace;

It guarded the mountain for Between Between Between Beijia for six hundred years; when He Lingchuan used the two words "freedom from trouble" to lure it, it immediately cooperated with He Lingchuan, burning the Star-Plucking Tower.

And after regaining its freedom, it immediately turned against him, returned to cooperate with the Heavenly Palace, and incidentally reported He Lingchuan.

Thus He Lingchuan felt at ease dealing with it, for its needs have remained unchanged over these years; he only needs to reason with it and lure it with profit.

"You also secure a karmic blessing for yourself, otherwise I wouldn't be here speaking to you kindly." He Lingchuan smiled, "I want you to do something for me."

"Do something for you?" Ji Ju scratched his head, momentarily dazed. The scene of this fellow first entering the underground twenty years ago to talk to it is still vivid; back then, the Nine Nether was so abject, for its cooperation he would have spared no effort.

Now look, the fellow stands tall and speaks with vigor, opening his mouth with "you must do this" rather than "please do this."

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Such a commanding tone, Ji Ju naturally disliked it.

It possesses the arrogance of an innate spirit being.

Only twenty years have passed, yet it usually naps for longer than twenty years—has the world really been turned upside down like this?

"On what grounds?" Ji Ju yawned again, "I don't aid the Heavenly Palace against you, already out of regard for past ties."

"Past ties?" The Soul-Capturing Mirror in He Lingchuan's bosom chuckled coldly, "Back then we hadn't even left the Mount Xushan region when this fellow went to the Heavenly Palace to inform on us—what past ties are there to speak of?"

This foul-mouthed wretch dripping with fire, it remembers him crystal clear.

"The Heavenly Palace is the terrestrial abode of the Grand Void Sacred Venerable. The day of the decisive battle between the War Alliance and the Demons is near; if you now refuse to aid the Heavenly Palace, you oppose the Grand Void Sacred Venerable. When He descends, you guess how He will treat you?" He Lingchuan said confidently, "I've heard that over these twenty years you've been extorting the Heavenly Palace nonstop, taking more supplies than in the previous six hundred years combined."

"Over the past six hundred years, they've withheld my pay countless times, so of course I want it back!" Ji Ju spat fire, his face blackened, "Besides, these twenty years the world's spiritual energy has been abundant, so their offerings naturally should increase!"

"You guess, has the Heavenly Palace gone to the Grand Void Sacred Venerable to complain about you?"

"————" The petty trinkets of the Heavenly Palace.

He Lingchuan asked again: "Over these years, the Grand Void Sacred Venerable and other great heavenly gods have never personally provoked you, not even once, right?"

"That's correct." Ji Ju knew the Grand Void Sacred Venerable liked to transmit so-called "divine edicts," but never once had it been directed at Him.

Over these years its appetite has grown ever larger, only the Heavenly Palace occasionally complains, but the Heavenly Palace's master remains silent.

"Why? Is it because they're kind-hearted and won't quarrel with you?" He Lingchuan said leisurely, "Do you think the Grand Void Sacred Venerable is swallowing his grievances in silence, a soft persimmon?"

Ji Ju wanted to speak but held back; he had never deeply considered this matter.

"Sowing good causes does not necessarily bring good results, but sowing evil causes inevitably brings evil results!" He Lingchuan said solemnly, "You first betrayed the Grand Void Sacred Venerable,

then constantly made things difficult for the Heavenly Palace, and today you again for the second time violated the mountain-guarding agreement. Hah, do you not fear the Grand Void Sacred Venerable settling accounts with you after His descent?"

————" Ji Ju put himself in the Grand Void Sacred Venerable's perspective, as if he'd be a bit displeased? But he still wanted to harden his mouth, "So what? I dive underground—what can the Grand Void Sacred Venerable do to me?"

"He may not seek you out first upon descent; but whenever He frees His hands, He has plenty of ways to ambush your lair." He Lingchuan said slowly, "You have nests at the End of the Shining Sea, on Luo Qing Mountain, and in the Pine Forest Plains, right?"

Many regions' subterranean fires are interconnected.

But put another way, Ji Ju, due to his origin in subterranean fire, is also confined to certain regions and cannot roam the world like ocean currents; for example, his activity range is basically within Between Between Between Beijia's territory, unable to reach the volcanic clusters of the Jin Gold Plains.

The white light on Ji Ju's body turned into a doubtful orange hue: "How do you know?"

He Lingchuan gave him an ill-intentioned smile: "The Demons told me."

"After the Grand Void Sacred Venerable descends, Mount Xushan will no longer matter to the Heavenly Palace, which means your usefulness will vanish." He Lingchuan gazed at him, completely at ease, "If you had beforehand understood the Grand Void Sacred Venerable even a little, you'd know He loves to avenge overnight slights. The deity Yun Jia merely scolded Him a few sentences, yet three hundred years later He flayed Yun Jia, dried his bones, and even extracted his soul to craft a magical implement."