Chapter 1443

"Guahaha, the Great Li Taizu? Doesn't matter, this Guild Master will deploy his webbed feet; once I've rested well, I'll seize the last one!" The old toad planted his arms on his hips, tilted his head back, and croaked wildly at the sky.

The fat fish cradled the meatball in its hands, spinning and leaping, whiskers whipping about with a whooshing sound.

Fresh blood dripped drop by drop; Bema's Qi mechanism had withered to the absolute limit, and the gathered Venerables were utterly dumbstruck.

They had thought of every possible method, yet alone had not anticipated the Supreme Embryo would be so "dead center on target," so "just right"; that old toad had snatched the Supreme Body using a method that transcended their understanding, bizarre in the extreme.

Liang Qu spread out the Chuan Kingdom; heaven and earth turned into currents of Qi of every color. He fixed his gaze on these four Snow Mountain Lamas, preventing them from self-destructing, escaping into the Netherworld.

The previous strategy of surrounding four and letting two go, catching the big and letting the small go then catching the small, was the exact same principle.

He was the only one capable of severing the Yin-Yang connection; if he gave them despair all at once, yet could not appear at both ends simultaneously, it would instead truly be possible for two to escape.

Fortunately, with the two Venerables of the Lotus Sect who had been restrained from self-detonating serving as a cautionary precedent, the four Venerables present, even with eyes bloodshot, breathing like oxen, vomiting fresh blood, still did not choose to go all-in on a desperate gamble.

"Three Supreme Bodies, at least one share per person guaranteed." Liang Qu was delighted.

Last time's Immortal Body was entirely taken by the Qintian Supervisory Bureau and the Ministry of Works to make life-and-death rituals; there wasn't any leftover material for extra research at all.

"Congratulations, Frog Lord; with this only the last one remains. Please, Frog Lord, operate your profound art once more." Li Da Wu felt clear-headed and refreshed; he felt the Netherworld wasn't actually that terrifying after all.

Thriving and flourishing, rising day by day; their Yang World's advantage was growing ever greater.

The Khan King and the other Northern Court people clearly remembered the Fifth Immortal's terror, and were not as optimistic as the Southern Frontier, merely likewise letting out a breath of relief.

Coming from the Netherworld to the Yang World carries suppression; without a physical body, it is naturally a massive weakening.

"A trivial matter; Qiankun Wuji, Heaven and Earth lend your laws!"

The old toad patted its round belly, waved a clawed web, and immediately, under everyone's expectant gazes, pinched its frog toes, furrowing its brow.

The change was sudden; everyone held their breath.

"Frog Lord." Li Da Xian cried out in alarm and doubt.

The old toad's brow locked tight; it pinched its frog toes once more, still no sign of optimism, then fished a pitch-black, glossy, patina-coated mysterious turtle shell from its Qiankun bag, extending a clawed web.

Everyone was baffled, looking toward Liang Qu.

Liang Qu scanned around: "Got any copper coins? Who has copper coins on them?"

"Copper coins?"

"Wolf Lord, do you?"

"I don't. This... who brings copper coins when they go out?"

Everyone patted their pockets; clean as a whistle.

Those present were either monarchs or Martial Saints, either pillars of the state or Great Manifestations; they had long transcended the stage of carrying money on their persons, let alone the smallest denomination of copper coins.

Ta Ta wasn't by his side————

Liang Qu lowered his head, gazing intently at the Third Prince in his sleeve cuff; the Third Prince rubbed his dragon horns, humming and hawing, shaking his head and swaying, unwillingly extending a dragon claw to fish out six copper coins from the Qiankun bag that E Ying had specially given him before departure.

Clatter.

The copper coins deflected, flashing golden light.

With a series of ding-ling-dang sounds, the six copper coins lined up in a row.

Heads leaned in, blocking the sunlight. "Huai King, this is———— a hexagram?" Chong King asked curiously.

"Mm."

"What does this hexagram mean?"

"Five reversed, one upright; great misfortune. Today, at least right now, is not a good opportunity to grab the last meatball." Liang Qu's expression was solemn; he could now fully understand the old toad's hexagrams. He scanned the crowd, "Grabbing it might cause trouble."

"Then what do we do?"

The Sacred Emperor pondered briefly, looking at the Khan King and the Tusi: "Wait a bit?"

Bema and the others couldn't hear the group's discussion; they only felt the atmosphere suddenly shift, returning from relaxed to serious.

The Great Venerable Bema's expression changed several times; he guessed something, his gaze flickering.

The Khan King and the Tusi didn't understand this kind of metaphysical stuff, and were just about to agree.

"No! My hexagrams are never wrong." The old toad flew into a rage to stop them, roaring at the sky; its body became like willow catkins in a frenzy, rolling torso surging with vigorous power, flesh waves like a tide. It pressed its two webs together, as if using a special ability: "Ruyi Ruyi, follow my heart's intent, grab grab grab! Gua!"

The frog's croak was melodious and far-reaching.

In Liang Qu's dilated pupils, in the shocked gazes of the crowd.

The copper coins that had originally landed on the ground, stable and secure, five reversed one upright — among them four actually began to vibrate violently, bouncing and spinning from the edge in a circle, amplitude growing larger and more violent, until a certain extreme point, like a folded paper frog pressed on its butt, they suddenly sprang up from the ground, transforming completely, facing upright!

"This————"

Li Da Wu grew even more alarmed and doubtful; he looked at the old toad, then at the hexagram, confirming the old toad had just now used no hidden force, and right before the eyes of so many Yao Dragons, had secretly flipped the copper coins over.

"Huai King, what hexagram is this now?" Wolf Lord asked again.

Liang Qu's face was constipated: "Five upright, one reversed; medium auspicious or great auspicious, anyway not bad, at least not ominous."

"A hexagram just calculated can still change?" Wolf Lord was greatly shaken.

What does this count as?

A changing hexagram?

"Ha!"

Not giving everyone time to settle, the old toad regained its spirit, fighting spirit high: "Mandate of Heaven is in the web, follow me! Seize the Supreme, weaken Great Li! Footless Frog!"

The old toad leaped up; the fat fish sprinted through the air, catching it smoothly.

"Khan King, this matter is suspicious; I suggest we temporarily not risk ourselves; we can go ahead." Wolf Lord pleaded.

Li Da Xian and the others followed along urging caution.

A "changing hexagram" right on the spot, first time seeing it; ultimately not too reliable.

The Sacred Emperor and the others thought it over, felt it made sense, and no longer accompanied them.

Thus, the three monarchs and three Yao Dragons remained; the rest — Liang Qu, Dragon Elephant King, Wolf Lord, Li Da Wu — brought the four Venerables along.

Swift as the wind, scenery receding backwards.

Bema wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and regained his composure: "A cultivator walks the path of cultivation. Four Gates, Seven Passages. After the Infant Dragon comes the Furnace; after the Furnace comes the Rainbow Transformation. Lifespan extends endlessly.

My Lotus Sect speaks of Bodhisattvas, speaks of Buddhas; the outside world speaks of Immortals, speaks of the Sole One. Immortals still face a tribulation every three thousand years; the Sole One lives forever, undying. Family, children, wives — all can be ferried across. This is the Myriad Worlds' sole tru————"

"Boom!"

Tremendous force traveled along his cheek into flesh and bone, ultimately engulfing his entire skull. A mouthful of shattered teeth sprayed out, embedding into the earth like bullets, disappearing without a trace.

Bema felt the head on his neck separate from his body, each going its own way. His vision shook and blurred inexplicably, finally locking onto golden pupils once more.

Liang Qu shook his hand, withdrew his cold gaze, and continued running.

Grand Venerable Bema stood dazed and stupid, covering his face.

He didn't understand why, but he saw terror on the faces of the other Venerables, their palms trembling as they reached down to touch.

On necks that should have been smooth, a layered structure had appeared, ridge upon ridge, like smooth rubber bands twisted round and round.

Bema's pupils dilated. He stared dead at his colleagues' trembling eyes, finally seeing the true state through the reflection in their irises. His whole body trembled.

The remaining Venerables' pores shrank in absolute terror.

Bema's entire head had rotated a full circle, then returned to its original position!

Zhang Longxiang tossed the man to Liang Qu, freeing a hand. Five fingers pressed against Bema's forehead, gently turning, turning his head like inspecting porcelain patterns, twisting Bema's head back onto the right track.

At the Awakened Realm Infant Dragon stage, a mere head rotation, a broken neck — it's no hindrance. Given time, it can heal on its own.

Agonizing pain struck.

Bema convulsed and vomited blood.

The Wolf Lord and Li Daxi secretly marveled.

What a resounding slap!

Since Liang Qu's breakthrough in the imperial capital, his whole person's strength has simply entered an unfathomable realm. Just now, if it had been them————

The two shuddered, daring not think further.

Boom!

The toad landed. Bema was dizzy and vision-blurred, forcing his eyes open. His pupils were completely congested, blood-red, turning even his pitch-black eyeballs into a nearly eye-white-less dark red.

Zhang Longxiang gripped the Town Prison Saber, glancing at the exposed necks of the four Venerables.

Before long.

"Right now!"

The Fat Fish struck from the sky. From the infinitely distant horizon, a streak of rainbow light closed in instantly, once again a "direct hit on the bullseye"!

Receive! Transform! Release!

The Fat Fish swelled its belly, continuing to unleash its martial arts profundity, scoring a second success.

The flesh ball rotated and rubbed. The Fat Fish smoothly suppressed it, dissipating the impact force, landing heavily on the ground.

Behind him, Bema could see nothing anymore. His vision had completely plunged into darkness.

Wind blows, grass lies low.

Liang Qu, Zhang Longxiang, Wolf Lord, Li Daxian — all fully focused.

The Fat Fish prostrated, pinning the flesh ball dead under its buttocks.

Suddenly.

Qi mechanism erupted. The remaining three Venerables' gazes surged.

The flesh ball throbbed violently, writhing! It actually began to stretch gradually. The Fat Fish was greatly alarmed, desperately squeezing, but couldn't suppress it no matter what. Its palms even transmitted searing, scorching pain.

"Take this!"

With a frog croak, the Old Toad suddenly lunged, spitting out a pale golden pearl that slammed heavily into the flesh ball.

The two collided. It seemed the pearl had struck a switch. The flesh ball's transformation halted abruptly, the eerie Qi mechanism vanishing like smoke.

The Venerables fell silent.

Wolf Lord and Li Daxian exchanged a look.

The Old Toad held the pearl in its palm, looking exceedingly smug.

Waited a long time.

Zhang Longxiang returned saber to scabbard. Liang Qu relaxed his stance. The unconscious Bema's limbs went limp and splayed wider, like a snail smashed out of its shell.

"Done?"

Lan Jicai stared at the three flesh balls before him, unable to believe it.

Three Supreme Bodies, the flesh body of Great Li's Grand Ancestor returning to the living world — retrieved so easily and leisurely?

No fourth Immortal rising from the Netherworld?

No Whale Emperor who couldn't bear to watch?

No traps lying in wait in the dark?

Just like that———— retrieved?

"Mm." Liang Qu nodded, smiling, "Thanks to the National Preceptor."

The Old Toad lifted its frog head high, as if it had elegant hair tossing atop its head. It leaned against the wall, fiercely spat out the pearl, then sucked it back in great gulps from dozens of meters away. One pull, one push, one drag, one toss. Finally, it gave the pearl a deep kiss, making a smacking sound.

"Lerou lerou lerou lerou————"

Lan Jicai:

Think carefully.

Great Li's Grand Ancestor is the First Immortal. The Old Toad is also Jianghuai's First Transformed Demon of Many Treasures, no, Jianghuai's First Transformed Great Demon of Many Treasures. Two instances of opening heaven and earth. In terms of pioneering achievement, Great Li's Grand Ancestor would need to achieve Rainbow Transformation to match the Old Toad's status in the martial world.

As for the Tusi and Khan King's side, facts speak louder than words. No matter how unwilling, no matter how reluctant, there's no way around it.

Lan Jicai chuckled, turning to pour all his enthusiasm into researching the Supreme Embryos.

The core of Great Li's Grand Ancestor's plan, the Great Snowy Mountain's ten-thousand-year accumulation, the concentrated essence of all martial bones ah.

The three sides joined forces and crushed them like ants.

By this point, aside from failing to find the Blood Treasures, the extermination of the Lotus Sect could be called perfectly complete.

Only Liang Qu understood that the remaining Blood Treasures might not be found after all.

The Supreme Body cannot be placed in the Netherworld to endure wear; Blood Treasures can.

"How did the Lotus Sect deliver things to the Netherworld? Without Senior Mirage Dragon's Five Elements Plate, the two realms should not connect at will," Liang Qu pondered.

In the following days, everyone devoted themselves to tallying the Lotus Sect's gains and legacy.

The ritual for re-refining Calamity Qi and Misfortune Qi was likewise found by Great Shun; it was originally of little use since the Position Fruit had already emerged — keeping the Lamas to make Divine Ability Tokens was more worthwhile — yet Liang Qu still insisted on reversing one Calamity Qi Lama and settled the ownership of the Auspicious Qi.

Although the spoils had not been fully tallied and could not be taken at will, given Liang Qu's merit and status, it was merely a small caprice of power.

April 14th.

Inside the Lower Dantian, the shattered Immortal Island began to knit together again; as expected, the Compass Needle had returned to its comfort zone, and the Old Dragon Lord once more began managing the yellow sands.

Liang Qu would not forget the Old Dragon Lord's contribution; he activated the Great Sun Tathagata to reverse the Auspicious Qi.

【Auspicious Qi: Turns misfortune into good fortune, slightly boosts luck】

"It really is Auspicious!"

Liang Qu was surprised at how accurate his intuition was, and he clearly remembered that the Size Ruyi Qi's latter half bore the same description — a high degree of overlap.

——

As for the effect of turning misfortune into good fortune, that could not be tested.

With no immortals appearing, it was hard to manufacture misfortune for Liang Qu.

"And why would the Great Snow Mountain's Qi show signs of a living thing?"

At the same time, Liang Qu grew increasingly curious; he had the Great Sun Tathagata and could reverse things — how had that Size Ruyi which Mr. Hai Fangzhu purchased come to be?

"Man-made Qi like Calamity Qi and Misfortune Qi seem capable of transforming into quite a few things—"

Although Withered Wood Meets Spring carries more connotation of succession — equivalent to Calamity Qi needing the first half, while Withered Wood needs both the first and second 'halves', a full set — it can likewise be regarded as a transformation of calamity.

Now there is also Auspicious Ruyi; oh, and including Xuan Huang, produced by Great Shun, the world's most upright and peaceful — it can likewise convert.

"Do all man-made Qi differ from each other?"

"If only Frog Duke hadn't refined it; I could take the Position Fruit in and check the intel—Third Prince, go call Frog Duke over."

"You got it, Boss."

"Quack!" The old toad hopped over leisurely, auspicious clouds drifting around him, fully displaying his golden toad nature. "Lord Liang Qing, what is it? Don't panic, this Duke will lend a webbed foot!"

Liang Qu smiled without speaking, simply producing the Auspicious Qi.

The pale gold Qi drifted ethereally.

Without a vessel, the Auspicious Qi had barely appeared between heaven and earth before it was about to dissipate.

In a flash.

The old toad's eyes blazed with light, his mind turned clear and bright; he croaked once, opened his gluttonous maw, swallowed both the Qi and the hand in one gulp, and refined it in an instant.

"Burp! Any more? Any more?"

"None left, Frog Duke. This was an extra reward; such Qi is rarely seen."

The old toad was greatly disappointed.

"As expected!"

Watching the old toad's retreating figure, a sharp light surged in Liang Qu's eyes.

He had originally lacked certainty; now he could be eighty percent sure.

After the Size Ruyi Fruit was swallowed by the old toad, it most likely became the old toad's "Self-Cultivated Position Fruit"!

"An ordinary Position Fruit has no logic of being refined the moment it is obtained — unless it is Self-Cultivated! Only a Self-Cultivated one, belonging to the person themselves, would have no mention of refining."

"Frog Duke's craving for Auspicious Qi is essentially the growth requirement of a Self-Cultivated Position Fruit!"

"Clearly the Size Ruyi Fruit should be of the Healing attribute, yet it displayed the calamitous nature of bad luck! Calamity and Healing coexisting — that should be a Major Position Fruit! At least it has the foundation of a Major Position Fruit!"

All these miscellaneous clues sparked a flash of inspiration in Liang Qu.

"Heaven-and-Earth Position Fruits can only advance by completing the Advancement Ritual; they cannot grow on their own through cultivation and Qi. The only ones capable of such growth are Self-Cultivated."

"The Size Ruyi should be a Heaven-and-Earth Position Fruit — could it be because it perfectly matches Frog Duke? One's own attribute perfectly matching the Position Fruit, even if heaven-and-earth nurtured it, it could still follow self-growth?

No, that's wrong — nine hundred and eighty strands of Qi — because the Position Fruit appeared from Qi plus Frog Duke?"

Liang Qu halted his steps, feeling this was the truth.

Auspicious Ruyi itself possesses a compatibility with the Multi-Treasure Toad almost equivalent to Self-Cultivation; if the old toad could Self-Cultivate, producing an Auspicious Ruyi would be perfectly normal. On that basis, the old toad happened to participate in and complete the Position Fruit's birth.

Thus everything occurred so naturally.

There is no saying that Position Fruits can only be refined by those with Dragon-Tiger talent; refining a Position Fruit only requires fulfilling a specific ritual — theoretically even a three-year-old could do it, but a three-year-old theoretically wouldn't quite work.

Similar to the Charm Fruit — anyone at Entering Zhen Xiang would be reduced to ashes upon approach, unless it is of the Healing attribute and lacks strong destructive power; yet the refining process is not simple either, which makes it seem as though only those with Dragon-Tiger talent have the basic qualification.

Moreover, Frog Duke's case is half Self-Cultivated — unlike when Liang Qu started from scratch and the Root Sea directly sucked it dry — the old toad's Size Ruyi mostly relied on nearly a thousand strands of Qi; once born, it was basically at the Mid Position Fruit level or above, in a stable state, not passively absorbing 'nutrients'.

One Auspicious Ruyi, one that seeks fortune and avoids calamity.

It counts as—

A pair of wretched mandarin ducks rushing toward each other.

Position Fruits — no expert in the world dares claim to fully understand them.

The conjectured logic is self-consistent; Liang Qu felt he had already largely figured it out, understood the reason behind the old toad's entire outrageous fruit-plucking process.

"Frog Duke's is mine."

"I've gained another Position Fruit, and a Self-Cultivated one at that — a Major Position Fruit can be anticipated. Heh heh heh."

Liang Qu rubbed his hands, mood excellent, and went off to find Lan Jicai, looking left and right: "Pipi, Mr. Lan, how's the situation?

""

Lan Jicái secretly handed over two fist-sized meatballs, and along with them a booklet: "Some progress has been made; follow my method, these two lumps just need a bit of precious medicine, plus some cultivation, and they'll be enough for your cheap disciple—take them."

"Stem cells."

"What?"

"Nothing, great kindness needs no thanks."

"Hey! We're all buddies."

"Rest assured, I understand—genuine Huangzhou shark-skin gauze, eight hundred pairs!"

"One thousand pairs, three hundred black, three hundred white, three hundred flesh-colored, one hundred purple, all shades and lengths needed, evenly matched."

"Fine."

The second minor whim of power.

Taking a small portion of the supreme embryo, Liang Qu glanced at the spiritual link, set the coordinates, and just happened to go outside to welcome them.

Outside the Lotus Sect, a dark crowd of commoners wailed, three large pigs charging to block the way.

Liang Qu glanced at them, a sense of helplessness arising.

These people weren't coming because the Lotus Sect had fallen, traveling thousands of miles to feel gratitude and reward the heavenly soldiers sent down; instead, they came to attack Dashun, Nanjiang, and Beiting, destroying their faith.