Chapter 1309: This Isn't Dying for Nothing, Is It (Two-in-One)

Thunder erupted from the mountains, the earth shook and the heavens trembled.

A strand of golden silk thread shuttled back and forth; crushed stones tumbled down Shou Mountain, the shanxiao moved on all fours, vaulted onto the big mountain boar, slapped its fat buttocks with a palm, and fled noisily into a cave.

Gray dust gathered behind them, forming a rolling canopy of sky, drifting into the cavern; occasionally two massive black shadows flashed and vanished within the waterfall-like dust flowing from the cave mouth.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

One deafening boom after another — boulders smashed the ground, pulverizing flowers and grasses, shattering into countless small rocks; the rocks struck exposed turtle shells, bounced into Peng Ze, plopping into clusters of white spray.

Crashing through the mountain stones without a moment's pause, the golden silk thread coursed like a dragon, its speed inconceivable, blasting out layer upon layer of air waves; colors froze in midair, hazily encircling Shou Mountain, weaving a dazzling golden-threaded robe.

Finally the golden silk thread jerked upward, leaping into the high sky. Accompanied by a sharp, prolonged cry, a massive cold condensate cloud blossomed at the horizon like a flowering epiphyllum; the remaining threads in sight slowly retracted, as if gathering loose ends, pressing close to Shou Mountain. Jin Guang plunged into Peng Ze; the Yellow River giant carp with golden-red eyes instantly dyed a cloud of blood mist.

"Hahaha, hahaha! Good, good, good — the divine ability is complete, the divine ability is complete!"

The old turtle was beside himself with joy; he unfolded his divine ability, and while protecting the longevity treasures in the mountain, his turtle palms alternately slapped the water surface. The occasional water beast that drew near heard a buzzing in its ears and nearly vomited blood, flipping over to reveal its white belly.

Before long.

Another Yellow River giant carp shot through the 【Vortex Escape Path】, streaking toward Shou Mountain.

Jin Guang leaped again.

Pa!

Pa!

Three clusters of blood mist surfaced in succession, appearing at different times, their colors deepening from light to dark.

The Time Insect's bearing was like a rainbow; it coiled atop Shou Mountain's peak, articulated limbs akimbo, looking as if it had won three great victories — proud and imposing, flaunting its might.

A fourth shadow slowly emerged underwater; the Time Insect's eyes narrowed, it stuck up its rear, gathered its spirits — before it could leap out, the thing conveying the message was no longer a paper note.

"Old thing, things don't go past three; pull it again and what comes over won't be fish!"

A sharp, explosive cry.

General Yuan moved with keen eyes and fast claws, snatching the Jin Guang that had lunged out to clash with the newcomer. The Time Insect struggled left and right in the turtle's grasp, its explosive cries unceasing, ding-dang-ding-dang, pecking out sparks.

"Huala."

The water bubble burst; water flowed down along the green scales of its spine. A green fish yaomo rose up, its eyes golden-red, speaking human words: "I gave you so many longevity treasures for free; I've been managing flood control on the Yellow Sand River, and I've taken quite a bit of personal leave this past month — inconvenient to run around heading south, but not that I can't go south!"

General Yuan narrowed his eyes: "Your divine ability can even control yaomo beasts?"

"Heh, how novel — there's a ton you don't know; outside, development changes by the day, these are all just household tricks, even a Tiger-Hunting Grand Martial Artist would know them. No ambition to advance — the longer you live, the faster you're eliminated!" The green fish yaomo manifested limbs.

General Yuan sneered, absolutely refusing to believe Liang Qu's ghost talk. He lifted the Time Insect in his hand: "You saw it too — I'm perfectly willing to help; the Time Insect itself isn't willing, it gets agitated the moment it sees you, what's that got to do with me? I helped you block it; you should be thanking me."

"You're willing? Then why are you laughing?"

"Thought of something happy."

Liang Qu couldn't be bothered with him; the old thing's face was thicker than his own. He glanced at the Time Insect, surprised: "Yo, didn't look closely just now — the little thing's grown pretty well under you; can it understand human speech now?"

The Time Insect used to be tiny, covered in golden armor, elongated — like a giant golden prawn, only without the arched back, even more slender; the carapace on its head was integrated like a helmet, leaving a small pointed beak, razor-sharp, unable to be blocked even by Dragon-Tiger Golden Body.

After several cocoonings, it kept growing larger, from palm-size to forearm; seeing it today, it had gone up another level — actually three chi long, just under a meter.

Even with the green fish yaomo's eyesight, it surprisingly couldn't even see the traces of the Time Insect's shuttling.

Probably even a Entering Zhen Xiang Sect master coming to catch it would have to expend some effort; might even draw blood.

"Of course — in all of Peng Ze, who doesn't know I, the old turtle, treat people generously? Everything I raise turns out plump and fat."

"Houhou haha!"

The shanxiao rode the wild boar out of the cave; seeing the green fish yaomo's golden eyes, in a split second its own eyes shone, it shouted and jumped about, hopping up and down, holding melons and fruits in its hands.

General Yuan: "?"

Wait — they've all switched from golden-furred monkeys to mountain demons, so why are they still the same?

Liang Qu took the honeydew melon, floated on the water surface, took a couple of bites, crossed his legs: "Yo, not bad — haven't seen you for a while and you're even raising wild mountain pigs now; for loosening soil or weeding? Careful they don't sneak-eat your longevity treasures at night."

The old turtle didn't want to speak; in his mind he calculated what kind of beast — without needing yaomo or great jingguai — would be as smart as a monkey but not too clever for its own good, still have hands and feet, and know how to tend longevity treasures —

"Alright, I'm pressed for time today, not chatting more with you." Seeing the old turtle stay silent, Liang Qu finished the honeydew in two bites, flipped his wrist, produced a 【Dew Seed】, tossed it onto Old Yuan's palm: "This is for you; teach the Time Insect to give me the secretions for weaving Changqi."

"Eh?"

A flash of turtle claw, pinching the Dew Seed.

The Time Insect, still clamoring a moment ago, fell instantly silent; its bean-like little eyes followed the Dew Seed's movement.

Liang Qu smiled faintly.

Time Sequence, Sun, Xuanhuang, Withered Wood, Heavenly Water, Ruyi — gathered into Changqi Heavenly Dew; the Dew Seed is produced periodically by the Heavenly Dew, following seasonal changes — obviously inseparable from Time Sequence; and as long as it relates to Time Sequence, whether usable or not, General Yuan and the Time Insect both have to hoard it like treasure.

General Yuan truly is a genius — under heaven there's no second share of Time Sequence Changqi; even related or similar things don't exist; a byproduct like the Dew Seed is already scorpion dung.

Sensing the qi mechanism, General Yuan's heart stirred immediately: "How many of these do you have?"

"Just this one — got lucky and scraped it together; I want fifteen times the amount from last time."

"Fifteen times — how could that be possible? Too much; I don't believe it; you definitely have more! Another five — make six total and we'll trade! Six-six great smoothness, a lucky omen — how about it?"

Liang Qu glanced at the Ze Ding.

【Dew Seed: Five】

The old thing sure knows how to bid.

But —

The green fish yaomo turned and swam away, head never turning back.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"Going to find the imperial court — twelve major merits for a Time Insect there, isn't that cheaper than yours?"

"Has your Time Insect ever woven Changqi? Evolved? Understand human speech? Have intelligence? Is it as full of vitality as mine? Time Sequence unique to me alone — could the effect be the same? Hey, four! Another four!"

"One! If quality isn't as good, can quantity not make up for it? Worst case I'll crush it and use it."

"You don't need this stuff often — three! Just three! I'll give you ten portions!"

Liang Qu crossed his arms, looking him up and down.

"Are you sure? I didn't originally want to invite Frog Lord————"

"————" General Yuan's head ached, "Fine fine fine, just three pieces, fifteen portions."

Clang clang bang bang.

Turtle claws sparked flying, the Time Worm began pecking again.

"Wow!"

Two Dew Seeds thrown out.

【Dew Seed: Three】

"Fifteen portions, I need them today."

"How is that possible? At least ten days! Even this is rush order!"

"Don't you have Time Sequence divine ability on Shou Mountain? Normally one day equals five days' use, push yourself a bit more, if you don't push yourself how will you know where your limit is? If you don't know how to break through, fine, less nonsense, hurry up, the earlier you start the earlier you finish right?"

General Yuan laughed angrily yet helplessly, extended a turtle claw, poked the Time Worm.

"Squeak!!!"

Burning clouds and rosy mist.

Liang Qu looked up at the sky, calculated the hour, urged again.

Seven days until the duel, time was ultimately a bit tight, had to make up from other places.

"Squeak~"

On Shou Mountain, two Shanxiao rolled up leaves to feed the Time Worm honey water, the Time Worm looked utterly exhausted, hugging Dew Seeds left and right, tail coiled around another, lay flat on the ground, revealing a blissful smile.

Turtle claw large and dexterous, sent the Time Worm into the clear spring, fifteen portions of fusion substance stuffed into small bottles.

"I say, kid, why are you like a monkey with its butt on fire, so frantic?" General Yuan narrowed his eyes, "Something big happen recently? Not planning to deal with someone again?"

To make Liang Qu so frantic, it had to be a Yinglong-level matter, and Yinglong-level matters, none fail to cause world upheaval, if it affects oneself, must prepare in advance.

"Dealing with dead people, you want to hear?"

"Hmph, if you tell me I might not even want to listen."

"Then it's none of your business, is the stuff ready or not."

"Ready ready, giving it to you, this deal I lose big." General Yuan felt a pang of heartache, "My little darling."

The Time Worm had been here several years, it never dared use it like this, Liang Qu opened his mouth and asked for fifteen portions, and wanted to use Time Sequence to accelerate production, at least equivalent to seven or eight weavings' worth, conservatively over half a month to recover.

"Right, Old Yuan, ask you something."

"What?"

"Forget it, nothing."

"?"

The Green Fish Yaoguai reverted to fish form, few flicks of tail, vanished without trace.

Sensing Liang Qu's departure, the Time Worm suddenly jumped up, pointed at the old turtle.

"I'm useless? Little ancestor, what can I do? Dragon Palace all let the monkey live in, these two wear one pair of pants."

The Time Worm went all sparks and lightning, clang clang bang bang for a long while, fell back into the mountain cave, limb pointed, directed the Shanxiao King to cook.

Shanxiao King hugged chest with both claws, raised head, the Shanxiao behind one after another, all hugged chest with both claws, struck poses.

The Time Worm hugged head and screamed.

Bullying heaven!

General Yuan did not notice the Time Worm's sharp shriek, he silently pondered Liang Qu's purpose, and that last inexplicable question.

Just who does he want to deal with?

"Sigh————"

Dragon Lord to appear, East Sea Grand Hunt, Immortal Island Above Clouds————

Past ten thousand years' events, all seem to have poured out at once, even feeling faster and faster. These things, completely different from dynastic changes, ordinary Wu Sheng, Yao Wang life and death, are existences touching something even more terrifying.

Heavenly Dragon was originally the world's pinnacle, carefree and happy, but the frequent appearance of the Crucible phenomenon, would make it gradually recall its weaker days, holding a branch in mouth, apologizing to the Dragon Lord, that carefree feeling after becoming Yao Shou is continuously weakening, this is fundamentally abnormal, like watching something drill out from the earth, bit by bit surrounding oneself.

Past thousand years, it never had this feeling, in Peng Ze minding its own business, Da Shun and Da Qian beat their brains out also had nothing to do with itself.

"The world is not peaceful————"

General Yuan somewhat regretted hooking up with Liang Qu back then, the subsequent chain of events, no, not right, clearly this kid doesn't speak martial virtue, ran to Peng Ze to steal its Long Qi, dragged it down.

Before lived own days, self-content, everything under control, but now, faintly a feeling of being unable to stay out of it.

Seeing Old Yuan ignore it, the Time Worm collapsed, didn't punish the Shanxiao, Liang Qu still came by from time to time, that kind of on Shou Mountain, I alone am supreme, summon wind and call rain pride collapsed in one evening.

Long while.

The Time Worm jumped up from ground, overlooked Peng Ze, turned head ran into mountain cave, picked and chose, found a tattered ragged cowhide map.

Before didn't know characters, couldn't understand map, current it, no longer what it was!

World so big, time to go out and see.

The Green Fish Yaoguai dazedly came to, looked around, unexpectedly discovered it was actually dark, only remembered Huai Wang asked self, want to earn treasure fish, after that lost consciousness, completely didn't understand what happened in between.

Touched butt, didn't feel pain, the Green Fish Yaoguai saw Little Shenlong hand over treasure fish, happily accepted, no longer cared about process, secretly sighed Huai Wang's treasure fish easy to earn, wagged tail left.

Along with realm growth, Liang Qu's 【Strong Control】 grows ever stronger, lower realm yaoguai can also be forcibly controlled, speak human language, transform limbs, compared to controlling small fish relying on swimming to communicate, convenient too much, just yaoguai intelligence developed, generally all know to find backer, groundlessly 【Strong Control】, easy to trigger conflict.

One hand Time Worm woven Long Qi secretion, one hand lined up fifteen clay pots.

Final insurance, all preparations complete.

Liang Qu took a deep breath.

Yellow Mud Mother, activate!

First take one portion Time Worm secretion, tilt head swallow down.

Although a bit like eating Time Worm saliva, but bird's nest is still golden swiftlet saliva, if everything makes you squeamish, how become a star?

Right after the Time Worm Brand glue, Liang Qu consumed another strand of Yellow Mud Mother; a blue-yellow strand of long Qi fell into his Lower Dantian, and in an instant the entire sea of clouds took on a faint earthy yellow, rapidly turning "substantial" from the ethereal mist and clouds.

In the center of the sea of clouds, the peach trees grew lush and verdant, their branches swaying.

Blood River Realm, Heavenly Fire Sect.

Nine Dou Mountain Ancestor Bu Ji, Autumn Leaf Great Power, Sect Master Bu Qing, and several others were all present; River God Sect Deputy Sect Master Shen Zhongliang, several elders,

and Sect Master's personal disciple Lao Mengyao were also there; Heavenly Fire Sect core elder Fei Taiyu sat presiding in the center.

Besides them, there were also the Rinsing Jade Pavilion, Big Dipper Valley, Great Enlightenment Temple, and other first- and second-rank sects.

——

Although reverse flow is rare, it has not been nonexistent from ancient times to the present.

There have been successes and failures, but today's situation is truly rare — whoever loses must additionally produce a supreme-grade blood treasure, and all comers are accepted without exception?

Along with the news of the wager spreading, it immediately became a huge sensation.

No one knew why the River God Sect Master, a second-rank Great Power whose advancement took two and a half years, dared to boast so boldly against both an eighth-rank Great Power and a first-rank Great Power simultaneously.

Although they felt there was a trick, they couldn't figure out where the problem lay; the prospect of earning blood treasures for nothing attracted quite a few sects.

Nine Dou Mountain originally wanted to draft and arrange the agreement at their own mountain gate, but River God Sect directly invited all sects under heaven to participate in the wager, forcing the venue to be moved to Heavenly Fire Sect.

"Then————" Core Elder Fei Taiyu set down his brush, "According to the agreement, Big Dipper Valley, Nine Dou Mountain———— any objections?"

"No objections." Bu Ji shook his head.

Shen Zhongliang, sweating profusely, also said: "No objections."

"Good, the agreement is set. The River God Sect Master is in seclusion and cannot attend; he entrusts his personal disciple to sign on his behalf. Both parties sign and affix their seals."

For the first time being watched by so many sixth-realm Great Powers, Shen Zhongliang's fingers trembled slightly; he signed his own name, affixed his own seal, feeling a dread that he would have to repay if they lost, but thinking that at worst River God Sect would just walk away, he gritted his teeth, stomped his foot, and signed his name.

Lao Mengyao was even more muddleheaded, inexplicably coming to sign some agreement, feeling like she had been sold out and still had to help count the money.

Subsequently, Big Dipper Valley and the other sects stepped forward in turn, until the first-rank sect Great Enlightenment Temple.

"Master Huizhen?" Fei Taiyu asked.

The middle-aged monk stopped and did not advance, bowing deeply: "This old monk believes this matter is improper; moreover, monastics should not participate in wagers, as it violates the precepts. Let us simply strike Great Enlightenment Temple from the contract."

The monks behind him were startled: "Martial Uncle, this is the Abbot's requirement! How can you give it up on your own?"

Huizhen turned his head: "This matter, this poor monk alone will explain to the Abbot. Elder Fei, please strike it out."

"Master!"

"Martial Uncle! You must not!"

Fei Taiyu held his brush suspended, glancing at the other monks: "Is Master Huizhen certain?"

"Certain."

"Good!"

Fei Taiyu flicked his wrist, removing Great Enlightenment Temple from the contract; the sects behind automatically moved forward in line.

The monks of Great Enlightenment Temple instantly felt regret, beating their chests and stamping their feet; they didn't want the supreme-grade blood treasure they could have gotten for free, and they vaguely resented Huizhen, muttering that the Abbot shouldn't have sent Master Huizhen — in all of Great Enlightenment Temple, only Huizhen has so many issues and acts so eccentrically.

Shen Zhongliang glanced unexpectedly at the middle-aged monk.

The middle-aged monk bowed deeply; Shen Zhongliang immediately returned the salute.

One by one they all finished signing; Fei Taiyu put away the contract: "Then, this reverse flow challenge will be presided over by me, held in five days' time at River God Sect. Neither side may be late; anyone late by six hours will be deemed to have voluntarily forfeited and admitted defeat. If River God Sect loses, Nine Dou Mountain's reverse flow succeeds; after three years they will relocate, and additionally pay a supreme-grade blood treasure to each sect. If Nine Dou Mountain loses, per the contract, all the Geda Sects must each pay a supreme-grade blood treasure to River God Sect."

Daxibei.

King Chu held the secret decree, demanding a siege of Nine Dou Mountain, hating so much his teeth itched.

In the past, when he was enfeoffed as king, he was forced to block the Huai River and commit suicide; today, the Yin Ghost still orders him about.

Alive he let Great Shun bully him; dead he still has to let Great Shun bully him — isn't that dying in vain?

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